Testing satellite dish feed?

[aclivity]

I've had a wok attached to the back of my house since we moved in over 5 years ago, apart from a brief SKY usage for a couple of weeks initially (until the previous sky subscription ended and the cable setup was installed) I haven't used the dish.

Having bought a new TV just before Christmas I have been looking at getting an HD source - I already have an HD media player, but the HDMI port going spare is a cause of concern for me! I was originally waiting for the new VM TiVo box (I missed out on getting one before the holidays, sadly) but have been idly surfing the web and found that with a freesat box I can get most of the channels I watch, and also the HD BBC and ITV channels. As the installation and activation for the TiVo would be between £50 and £150, and a freesat HD box starts at £80, it's worth having a look.

I don't want to waste my money though, so is there a cheap (read: free) way to test the satellite feed in my living room before I go and buy a set top box? As I say, it's not been used for 5 and a half years, but as far as I know it hasn't been moved either.

I suppose my next thread will be about recommendations for a freesat HD receiver ... not that bothered about PVR functions to be honest, but I do like the fact that iPlayer and ITV player will be available over the net on the same box though!