Old Sky+ box

[mike9009]

Hi all,

We have an old Sky+ box and we are thinking of cancelling our Sky subscription - as the reality is, it is not good value for money. So, if we cancel the subscription, can we still use the box for Freesat channels. How does this work?

Or do I need to buy a new Digibox with Freeview, HDD and HD (our telly does not have built in freeview)

Many thanks


Mike

[WattsieST170]

I cancelled the Sky subscription about two years ago. Just use it for free channels now, so have all BBC, ITV, 4, 5 and Film4 which is all we really watch as we tend to watch DVDs more than TV.

I just had a look on mine, and there are some other free channels like E4, More4, 4Seven, 5USA, 5*, Challenge, CBS, Horse & Country, Forces TV, CBS and two film channels The Horror Channel and True Movies which work on mine, though "Dave" isn't available and I'm sure I've seen it working on terrestrial freeview.

[Alucidnation]

Dave is available on Freesat i think?

[Torquey]

What Wattsie said.

I'll also add that the recording functionality will no longer work (unless you pay sky £10).
HD will continue to work on the free channels (bbc1, itv) if you a sky+ HD box.

I've done the same as you and don't miss any of the expensive channels. It's only the recording that i miss. I know a humax box will do this but £200...

[mike9009]

Torquey said:

What Wattsie said.

I'll also add that the recording functionality will no longer work (unless you pay sky £10).
HD will continue to work on the free channels (bbc1, itv) if you a sky+ HD box.

I've done the same as you and don't miss any of the expensive channels. It's only the recording that i miss. I know a humax box will do this but £200...

Thanks for the replies!!

Ahh - that's the deal breaker. I need it to be able to record still.

I have seen this at Currys and seems like s decent box.... any other recommendations?

http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/tv-dvd-blu-ray/digita...

Thanks again

Mike

[pozi]

I agree the loosing the recording function and access to anything previously recorded when I had Sky is annoying, I now hardly ever turn on my old Sky Box because there is little on Freesat that I can't pick up on Freeview.

If it was not for the fact that I can still access BT Sport through the Sky box I would have unplugged it a long time ago.

Edit to add, Dave is not on Freesat.

Edited by pozi on Saturday 10th January 10:38

[FlossyThePig]

One disappointment for me with Freeview is the lack of BBC4 HD as it is not transmitted on the Sudbury transmitter. I can get it on Freesat though so it's not a real problem.

I'll be watching Spiral at 9:00 tonight.

[sjn2004]

mike9009 said:

Torquey said:

What Wattsie said.

I'll also add that the recording functionality will no longer work (unless you pay sky £10).
HD will continue to work on the free channels (bbc1, itv) if you a sky+ HD box.

I've done the same as you and don't miss any of the expensive channels. It's only the recording that i miss. I know a humax box will do this but £200...

Thanks for the replies!!

Ahh - that's the deal breaker. I need it to be able to record still.

I have seen this at Currys and seems like s decent box.... any other recommendations?

http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/tv-dvd-blu-ray/digita...

Thanks again

Mike

If its a Sky+ (rather than HD) box then it may still record. I had mine unplugged from the phone line for about 2 years and it still worked. Maybe newer versions need a constant phone home to stay active?

[bristolracer]

sjn2004 said:

If its a Sky+ (rather than HD) box then it may still record. I had mine unplugged from the phone line for about 2 years and it still worked. Maybe newer versions need a constant phone home to stay active?

Recording is dependant on the viewing card not the phoneline.It receives a "stay alive" signal from sky via the satellite. Chances are when you cancel the subscription the recording function will stop.

OP that Panasonic looks good value, slightly more pricey are the youview based boxes which allow catch up (iplayer built in etc )
If budget is tight then you can get an ex talk talk you view box on the bay for not a lot, but they do need a good aerial signal,they dont like poor or weak signals.