SKY+HD contract ends soon can I use my box with a freesat user card,without having sky subscrip

[robsie]

Record service for Sky plus HD is provided by Sky as essentials package.

[caesarome]

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@robsie wrote:

Record service for Sky plus HD is provided by Sky as essentials package.

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Not sure that is correct as confusingly there are two essential packages via Sky, one via Glass and Stream services:

https://www.skygroup.sky/article/sky-launches-essential-tv-bringing-together-sky-netflix-and-discove...

And one via Sky Q (and not Sky+) which gives you access to the free channels only so the likes of Sky Atlantic is not part of it.

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

[robsie]

It is correct i did it this morning.

[robsie]

Hi Annie.

Contacted Sky this morning Sky plus HD activated to record free chanels, not many channels available but it does what i need thanks for your help.

Robsie 

[Gazawest]

Hi,my contract has just ended and I'm receiving no signal for my Freesat box. The Sky engineers cut my original Freesat capable to install there own so in answer to you question you're screwed.

[Mark39]

@Gazawest unless you had Sky Q (you've posted in the Sky+ forum) the Sky cables can be used for a Freesat box. 

If you had Sky Q, the LNB on the arm of your dish would have been changed for a wide band device which isn't compatible with standard Freesat boxes. It would be compatible, however, with a 4K Freesat box. You would need to get the LNB changed for non-4K Freesat boxes.

[Razzio]

If anyone wanted to use their satellite equipment to record programmes, I would recommend buying a recordable Freesat box.

Currys sell 4k recordable boxes or there's plenty of second hand ones for sale, including the Humax brand.  

If buying second hand, ensure you buy a Freesat box rather than a Freeview box. Freeview boxes work via an aerial, whereas Freesat is through the satellite dish.

[Mark39]

@Razzio best in mind that any investment in a Freesat box would have a relatively short lifespan.

[robsie]

I have Sky plus HD with a basic subscription to Sky i can watch and record free to air channels  basicly Freest. If you contact Sky they will arange it for you well worth doing.

[KT4SKY]

I have today been offered and accepted a subscription to Sky TV Essentials on a 31 day rolling contract for £7pm reduced from £15pm. Apparently this price is valid for 24 months before it returns to the full price. I have a Sky+HD box with the viewing card still in place since I last subscribed to a full TV package earlier this year. Since cancelling I have been using the box as a freesat box without live pause, rewind etc or being able to watch previously downloaded programmes.

Can anyone on the TV Essentials package confirm whether they can download catch up programmes from ITV1 and Channel 5 in HD? I was fully expecting Channel 4 and Channel 5 downloads to be available in SD only, but not ITV1 (haven't checked the other ITV channels as yet). Not sure if this is how it should be or if I need to call Sky to fix something at their end? Recording and viewing live ITV1 programmes in HD from the TV guide works fine. Thanks!