06 Oct 2020 01:13 PM
I had Sky Q fitted about 8 months ago so I took my old Sky HD box over to my static caravan thinking I could use it for free channels.
The reason I wanted to do this was;
I connected the box up and it will only show a few basic free to air channels. Not the free to view channels.
The question is how do I sort his out?
I’ve read hundreds of threads on the topic but not seen a definitive answer.
There are threads that claim to link to the fabled `free to view` viewing card that Sky will provide but the links don’t go anywhere and it isn’t mentioned on their website anywhere.
There are threads that say all channels will work if you have an old viewing card in the box but not if you don’t
There are also threads that say none of it works unless you pay a subscription
I’ve tried to get through to Sky to discuss it but they have switched off their chat service and it’s impossible to get through on the phone as you are either in a never ending queue or their auto connect service disconnects you
Could anyone give a clear answer on this please?
PS:-There is no viewing card in the box and I know live pause and record won’t work, I’m only interested in the full set of free channels.
12 Oct 2020 10:33 AM
An update on this, I bought a card from the link above but it won't pair with the box.
Initially I tried to pair the card online by following the sky guide. I did a manual software update as advised then put the card in the box and tried to pair it but I couldn't because their system only recognises my main Sky Q box, not the second Sky +HD box. I clicked the button to pair a different box as shown in the guide but it just sends me round in a loop.
So then I tried to set up a new Sky account online so I could add the box that way but I couldn't do that either because it has to be linked to an account where a Sky bill is present so I got stuck again....
So then I tried to link the second account to the first account which then takes me back to the account with the Sky Q box and round and round you go.........
So I then resorted to sitting it out on the phone line which took an hour and got passed round and round and round to every department in the building. They kept telling me it had to be paired online and they couldn't pair it over the phone but I told them I couldn't because it wouldn't let me for reasons stated above.
Finally I was put through to the Technical team who said the card is an old card and was paired to a different box so it can't be paired to my box, even though they can see it is a dis-used card. Job stopped.
So in a nutshell I've completely wasted my time and I'm back to the start which is ring 03 442 4 1 4 1 4 1 which is the main number and get put through to the freesat team and pay £25 for a card from them.
So `freesat` isn't free if you want to do it with sky. They have you by the short and curlies
06 Oct 2020 02:34 PM
Posted by a Superuser, not a Sky employee. Find out moreContact Sky and see if they still sell Freesat From Sky viewing cards (FSFS) IIRC they were about £20 (one-off payment)
07 Oct 2020 09:41 AM - last edited: 07 Oct 2020 02:44 PM by Chloe-W22
to help others, I'm going to update my own question with an answer which I finally found after much digging.
For whatever reason, the page is hidden on the sky website, in fact they may even periodically remove it because I can't actually find it today but I stumbled across it yesterday.
There is a basic web page somewhere that links to a phone number to ring.
The number is 0*** 241 0595 and it shows in your phone as FREESAT FROM SKY. (add an 844 instead of the ***. I couldn't post the number in full!)
You need to press the new customer option otherwise you'll disappear into a big queue. I got through straight away on this number.
The cost for a card is now £25 however, the operater was unable to tell me what channels this would give acess to and tried to get me off the phone very quickly when I asked.
I also found this web page that claims to sell the cards for £15.99.
I can;t vouch for it but it does show a full list of which channels you will have access to with the card
[removed]
moderator note: removed 3rd party URL
07 Oct 2020 09:42 AM
Description
‘FREESAT’ VIEWING CARD.
LIST OF ADDITIONAL CHANNELS AVAILABLE WITH THIS CARD :
Sony Entertainment
Sony Entertainment+1
Sony Movie Channel
Sony Movie Channel+1
Insight TV
4 Music
Motors TV
Yesterday +1 SKY
HD BOX EXTRA CHANNELS:
BBC One HD
Two HD
Three HD
Four HD
BBC News HD
CBeebies HD
ITV HD
Channel 4 HD
FULL CHANNEL LIST:
101 BBC One
102 BBC Two HD
103 ITV 1
104 Channel 4
105 Channel 5
115 BBC 1 HD
116 BBC Four HD
117 Made in Tn&Wr
118 ITV2
119 ITV3
120 ITV4
131 ITV +1
134 S4C
135 Channel 4 +1
136 E4 137 E4 +1
138 More4 139 More4 +1
140 4seven
141 BBC 2 Eng
142 BBC Two ALBA
143 BBC 4
145 Challenge
146 CBS Reality
147 CBS Reality +1
148 CBS Action
149 CBS Drama
152 Pick
153 Pick +1
155 Really
157 Sony Entertainment
158 Drama
160 Spike
164 Challenge +1
174 5 USA
175 Ch5 +24
176 5*
177 Channel 5 +1
178 ITV HD
179 ITVBe
180 ITV2 +1
181 Sony Entertainment +1 – only with this card!
182 BEN
183 True Drama
184 True Entertainment
185 True Crime
186 True Crime +1
187 BET
189 Propeller TV
190 5* +1
191 Irish TV
193 ITV3+1
198 Tru TV
199 Your TV
203 My Channel
206 ITV4 +1
207 ITVBe +1
212 Showcase
218 Vox Africa
219 5USA +1
227 Ch4 HD
235 ABN TV
237 FoTV
238 Property Show
248 Food Network
249 Travel Channel
250 Food Network +1
251 Travel Channel +1
252 Wellbeing
253 Horse & Country
256 Holiday + Cruise
257 Fashion One
261 Showcase +1
264 Forces TV
266 Showbiz TV
271 Tru TV +1
279 Insight TV only with this card!
315 Film4
316 Film4 +1
319 Horror Channel
320 Horror Channel +1
321 True Movies 1
322 True Movies 2
323 Sony Movie Channel
324 Sony Movie Channel +1
325 Movies4Men
326 Movies4Men +1
343 Talking Pictures
353 Viva
359 The BOX
360 4Music – only with this card!
361 Kiss
362 Smash Hits!
363 Magic
364 Heat
365 Chart Show TV
366 The Vault
367 Scuzz
368 Kerrang!
369 Vintage TV
370 Chilled TV
371 Starz TV
372 Chart Show Dance
374 Flava
378 NOW Music
383 Clubland TV
385 Channel AKA
387 Heart TV
388 Capital TV
389 Keep It Country
447 Motors TV UK
464 Bike
501 Sky News
502 Bloomberg Television
503 BBC News HD
504 BBC Parliament
505 CNBC
506 CNN
507 NHK World HD
508 Euronews
510 CCTV News
511 NDTV 24×7
512 RT HD
513 France Eng
514 Al Jazeera Eng
515 CNC World
517 TVC News
518 RT
519 Arise News
534 PBS America
537 Yesterday
538 Yesterday +1 only with this card!
539 Community Channel
570 BBC News
571 BON TV
572 TVC News +1
575 Channels 24
576 Times Now
577 News 18
580 God Channel
581 Revelation
582 TBN UK
583 Daystar
585 Inspiration
586 Loveworld TV
587 Gospel Channel
588 Word Network
589 EWTN Catholic
590 Faith World TV
591 KICC TV
592 Believe TV
593 Olive TV
594 SonLife
595 Flow TV
596 Daystar
597 Church Channel
613 CBBC HD
614 CBeebies HD
616 POP
617 Tiny Pop
621 CITV
624 CBeebies
625 Tiny Pop +1
626 Pop+1
627 Kix
629 Kix+1
633 CBBC
650 QVC
651 JML Direct
652 TJC
653 GR Shop
654 Ideal World
655 Gems TV
656 Tristar
657 Retail TV
658 High Street TV
659 Best Direct
660 TJC Choice
661 Ideal Extra
662 High Street TV
663 Hochanda
665 Jewellery Maker
666 High Street TV3
667 TV Warehouse
668 QVC Beauty
669 Pavers Shoes TV
670 Thane
671 V Channel
672 Rocks & Co1
673 QVC Extra
674 Create & Craft
675 Craft Extra
676 The Dept Store
677 The Mall
678 QVC Style
679 Craft Channel
781 B4U Music
785 PCNE Chinese
786 Colors
787 MTA Muslim TV
789 Zing
792 PTV Prime
793 MATV National
794 Abu Dhabi TV
795 &TV HD
796 TV5 Monde
797 UMP Movies
799 DM Plus TV
800 Hidayat TV
801 TV Record HD
802 ARY News
803 PDTV Global
804 ARY Qtv
805 Venus TV
806 Islam Channel
807 GEO TV
810 SONY SAB
811 ABP News
812 Noor TV
813 Peace TV
814 CHS TV
815 PTC PUNJABI
816 GEO TEZ
817 GEO News
818 Aaj Tak
819 IQRA TV
820 Ummah CH
821 Bangla TV
822 Rishtey
823 Glory TV
824 Brit Asia TV
825 IQRA BANGLA
826 Ahlebait TV
827 ATN Bangla UK
828 Madani Channel
829 Sikh Channel
830 Peace TV Urdu
831 Ahlulbayt TV
832 Samaa
833 Channel i
834 Takbeer TV
836 Sangat
837 Aastha
838 NTV
840 Sky News Arabia
842 TV 99
843 Akaal Channel
844 HUM Europe
845 British Muslim
847 Safeer TV
849 TV One
850 Dunya News
851 Islam Channel Urdu
853 &TV
854 Muslim Ummah
855 Al Arabiya
856 TV Record
872 Gay Network
873 Chat Box
886 Psychic Today
902 Playboy TV Chat
906 Babenation
907 Extreme Filth
908 Get Lucky TV
909 Lucky Star
912 Studio 66
914 Xpanded TV
939 Storm
940 Studio 66 2
941 Studio 66 3
945 Babes From TV
951 BBC 1 Scotland HD
952 BBC1 Wales HD
953 BBC1 Northern Ireland HD
954 BBC1 London
956 BBC1 Yorkshire
957 BBC1 YK & Li
958 BBC1 North West
958 BBC1 West Midlands
960 BBC1 East Midlands
961 BBC1 East E
962 BBC1 East W
963 BBC1 South East
964 BBC1 South
965 BBC1 Oxford
966 BBC1 West
967 BBC1 South West
968 BBC1 Cl
970 BBC2 Scotland
971 BBC2 Wales
972 BBC2 Northern Ireland
973 ITV 974 Channel 4
975 Channel 4 +1
977 BBC1 Scotland
978 BBC1 Wales
979 BBC1 Northern Ireland
980 BBC RB1
998 Sky Information
999 Sky Information
THIS CARD WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO RECORD OR PAUSE CHANNELS OR RECEIVE ANY PAID SUBSCRIPTION CHANNELS!
07 Oct 2020 09:44 AM
It seems bizarre to me that nobody has been able to answer this question fully.
They clearly aren't too keen on people using the service and they seem to make it as awkward as possible for you to speak to somebody. Typical modern day global company.
Get rid of customer help lines = no complaints
07 Oct 2020 02:17 PM
https://www.sky.com/new-search?q=freesat
This is the link, good luck tracking it down on the Sky website
12 Oct 2020 10:33 AM
An update on this, I bought a card from the link above but it won't pair with the box.
Initially I tried to pair the card online by following the sky guide. I did a manual software update as advised then put the card in the box and tried to pair it but I couldn't because their system only recognises my main Sky Q box, not the second Sky +HD box. I clicked the button to pair a different box as shown in the guide but it just sends me round in a loop.
So then I tried to set up a new Sky account online so I could add the box that way but I couldn't do that either because it has to be linked to an account where a Sky bill is present so I got stuck again....
So then I tried to link the second account to the first account which then takes me back to the account with the Sky Q box and round and round you go.........
So I then resorted to sitting it out on the phone line which took an hour and got passed round and round and round to every department in the building. They kept telling me it had to be paired online and they couldn't pair it over the phone but I told them I couldn't because it wouldn't let me for reasons stated above.
Finally I was put through to the Technical team who said the card is an old card and was paired to a different box so it can't be paired to my box, even though they can see it is a dis-used card. Job stopped.
So in a nutshell I've completely wasted my time and I'm back to the start which is ring 03 442 4 1 4 1 4 1 which is the main number and get put through to the freesat team and pay £25 for a card from them.
So `freesat` isn't free if you want to do it with sky. They have you by the short and curlies
12 Oct 2020 10:50 AM
Posted by a Superuser, not a Sky employee. Find out more@Bwfcboy Perform a New Install on the box you want to pair the card to (See my FAQ for instructions)
12 Oct 2020 11:05 AM
Hi, I did that. It still doesn't work because it won't link the box to my account as per above.
12 Oct 2020 11:53 AM
Posted by a Superuser, not a Sky employee. Find out more
@Bwfcboy wrote:
I also found this web page that claims to sell the cards for £15.99.
I can;t vouch for it but it does show a full list of which channels you will have access to with the card
Did you buy the Viewing Card via the link you originally posted here? Or from Sky?
12 Oct 2020 10:55 PM
I bought it from the link because it was cheaper but it doesn't work because sky won't make it work unfortunately
13 Oct 2020 09:28 AM
Posted by a Superuser, not a Sky employee. Find out moreIt's apparent from previous posts on the forum that it's just not possible to pair a Viewing Card and Sky box without an active Sky account. Purchasing a new freesatfromsky Viewing Card directly from Sky would be the solution, assuming they still supply them for that purpose.
It's hard to see how suppliers such as the one you obtained yours from, can sell used Viewing Cards legally when they always remain Sky's property.
14 Oct 2020 07:50 AM
You're 99% right but I do have an account.
I pay £90 a month to them.
They are charging for free channels is the issue I have.
Where is the justification for charging £25 set up for channels that any free TV can pick up for nothing? That's my gripe.
I'm not giving them the money, I'll fix the TV aerial and use my old BT Box instead. It will record, program and pause without a subscription and I can still watch all the recordings on it
14 Oct 2020 08:02 AM
Posted by a Superuser, not a Sky employee. Find out more
@Bwfcboy wrote:
.
Where is the justification for charging £25 set up for channels that any free TV can pick up for nothing? That's my gripe.
No, I wouldn't pay either, if there's an alternative Freesat or Freevoew option available.
02 Jan 2021 08:30 PM
Hi all, im new to this and iv just been reading theses comments regarding a second sky card, why don't you just take your sky card out from the downstairs box and put it in the box upstairs, its works on mine 👍
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