Sky Freesat or Freesat TV/box

[JayneBG]

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?

[BenJoBanjo]

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@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?

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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. 

[JayneBG]

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

[JayneBG]

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

[BenJoBanjo]

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@JayneBG wrote:

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

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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. 

[JayneBG]

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

[BenJoBanjo]

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@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

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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. 

[TimmyBGood]

@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)