Freesat and SkyPlus

[Steve vRS]

If I drop Sky and go to Freesat, what if any functionality will my SkyPlus box have?

[Ste1987]

My mum recently cancelled her Sky subscription and switched to Freesat. She pays a small fee per month to keep the recording function I think.

[silobass]

Recently cancelled for 24 hours or so here and the Sky functions don't work as standard without a subscription of sorts. I was quite disappointed I couldn't pause any more.

[sandman77]

As above, your box wont record, pause or rewind unless you pay a sub. I think you can pay £10 per month to keep your box functioning as a pvr.

[Zoon]

Or buy a freesat PVR and record for nothing each month (excluding initial outlay for the box) which should pay for itself in under 12 months.

[Alicatt1]

Got a Humax Freesat HD DVR with a 1TB HDD cost about £190 and it works, it was replacing a Humax HD Freesat box without DRV

Like this one Humax White 1TB DVR

Hmmm looks like it has Netflix on it too, not noticed that, will have to check it...

[Steve vRS]

So buying a new box seems the way to go.

[Zoon]

Steve vRS said:

So buying a new box seems the way to go.

Cheapest in the long run

[bernie_eccle]

I cancelled a couple of months ago but retained Sky broadband. Without asking they offered to leave me with my Sky HD box with full recording, live pause function etc. for no cost. This was ideal as almost all we watch is on freesat anyway. However things like E4HD aren't on freest.

They subsequently offered my a good retention deal so I ultimately did re-join.

Definitely worth asking if you are about to cancel TV but retain telephone and broadband.

[Rosscow]

Steve vRS said:

If I drop Sky and go to Freesat, what if any functionality will my SkyPlus box have?

OP, all depends on the TV you have?

If you have a Freesat TV, then chances are you can do what I did:

Ditch Sky
Bought a 2TB external hard drive
Plug the 2 satellite feeds directly into the TV to enable Freesat to work
Plug HD into TV

This enables me to pause/rewind live TV, and set up series links etc. using the TV's built in EPG. I access recorded programmes via the HD which sorts it into month and then programmes files.

Not as slick as Sky, but a damn sight cheaper than a Humax.

We have a Samsung TV and I bought a Samsung HD, it works flawlessly.