topic Can I just have the free view channels on my sky Q box? in What's On

Can I just have the free view channels on my sky Q box?

Derek862 — Fri, 06 Sep 2024 18:40:43 GMT

Can I just have the free view channels on my sky Q box?

thanks. Those are all I watch.

Re: Can I just have the free view channels on my sky Q box?

caesarome — Fri, 06 Sep 2024 18:47:45 GMT

You can as per this:

https://www.sky.com/help/articles/tv-essentials

You will have to call Sky to speak to them about this.

Re: Can I just have the free view channels on my sky Q box?

TimmyBGood — Fri, 06 Sep 2024 19:45:42 GMT

@Derek862

You can, but on a Sky box they aren't free because you have to pay a subscription for the hardware recording and playback functionality (and with Q, just to keep the box on loan as well)

For actual free viewing (aside from the Television Licence fee) you'd need Freesat 4K or Freeview reception hardware, Freeview Play or Freely. A Sky+ HD box can actually as a Freesat receiver but not through a Q LNB on the satellite dish.

Re: Can I just have the free view channels on my sky Q box?

Mister_Dalek — Sat, 07 Sep 2024 08:08:19 GMT

@Derek862 wrote:
Can I just have the free view channels on my sky Q box?
thanks. Those are all I watch.

If you have a smart TV and an aerial which receives Freeview or free to air TV channels, there's a good chance you can just plug in a cheap USB flash drive and record programmes directly to it.
This is what I do on my Panasonic and Samsung TVs. The Panasonic even has instant rewind capability so if you miss the dialogue on something you're watching, you can rewind and play it again. It's very handy and completely free apart from the £20 I paid to buy a 256Gb flash drive.

Re: Can I just have the free view channels on my sky Q box?

Anonymous — Sat, 07 Sep 2024 11:48:51 GMT

@Derek862 wrote:
Can I just have the free view channels on my sky Q box?
thanks. Those are all I watch.

Well, you can cancel your TV subscription with Sky, but you will lose access to the apps, catch-up, on-demand, Sky+ functionality (rewind live TV, recording, etc.), provided you have a Sky+HD receiver.

If you have a Sky Q receiver, you will need to return it.

There are plenty of free-to-air receivers from Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=dvbs2+satellite+box&crid=2SLNXF6BMGMEE&sprefix=dvbs2%2Caps%2C72 . Make sure you get one that is DVB-S2 compliant.

If you have Sky Q, you will need to downgrade your satellite dish to use these receivers from Amazon or another online seller.