topic Re: Sky Freesat or Freesat TV/box in Sky Q

Sky Freesat or Freesat TV/box

JayneBG — Sat, 25 Oct 2025 15:22:02 GMT

I'm using Sky Q atm, but I'm thinking of downgrading to freesat. Freeview is not an option because the digital signal is almost none-existent in our village. How would the downgrade work through Sky, or am I better off just buying a freesat TV or box?

Re: Sky Freesat or Freesat TV/box

BenJoBanjo — Sat, 25 Oct 2025 15:27:54 GMT

@JayneBG wrote:
I'm using Sky Q atm, but I'm thinking of downgrading to freesat. Freeview is not an option because the digital signal is almost none-existent in our village. How would the downgrade work through Sky, or am I better off just buying a freesat TV or box?

You can ask Sky to downgrade to Sky Q Essentials which is basically the Freesat service on a Sky Q box. They usually charge £15pm for this but some people I know get it for £5pm.

Alternatively you can purchase your own Freesat box which you then own and which has no monthly fee.

Re: Sky Freesat or Freesat TV/box

JayneBG — Sat, 25 Oct 2025 15:30:50 GMT

Thank you. That sounds so much less complicated than I had envisioned x

Re: Sky Freesat or Freesat TV/box

JayneBG — Sat, 25 Oct 2025 15:37:14 GMT

Would I still be able to use the pause, fast forward and record functions of the Sky Q box? x

Re: Sky Freesat or Freesat TV/box

BenJoBanjo — Sat, 25 Oct 2025 15:41:10 GMT

@JayneBG wrote:
Would I still be able to use the pause, fast forward and record functions of the Sky Q box? x

Yes. That's what the monthly fee is for. You continue to be loaned the Q box and can still pause, rewind, fast forward and record. The channel list is the same as what's on the Freesat listings.

Re: Sky Freesat or Freesat TV/box

JayneBG — Sat, 25 Oct 2025 15:44:38 GMT

Thanks again. I think that's probably the most convenient way to go for now, I can always have a rethink in the future x

Re: Sky Freesat or Freesat TV/box

BenJoBanjo — Sat, 25 Oct 2025 15:46:56 GMT

@JayneBG wrote:
Thanks again. I think that's probably the most convenient way to go for now, I can always have a rethink in the future x

Yes, if you like the Sky Q user interface then this is a good way of keeping it and paying less.

Be aware that the satellite service, both Sky and Freesat, will likely cease in the next 5 years or so. Streaming will become the norm, as it is already for many people, so be prepared to switch at some point in the not so distant future.

Re: Sky Freesat or Freesat TV/box

TimmyBGood — Sat, 25 Oct 2025 16:34:06 GMT

@JayneBG

If you do decide to go for a Freesat box, be aware that only the ones (misleadingly) branded 'Freesat 4K' will work when there's the standard Q-compatible LNB on the satellite dish: older models won't function unless the LNB is replaced (which Sky won't do, and a local independent installer would charge for)