You’ll need a Freesat box or a TV with Freesat built in for each room you wish to watch Freesat in, all connected to a single satellite dish if you want to watch Freesat in more than one room. Depending on how old you are…
Is it possible to hook up my Freesat TV to my Sky dish?
Unfortunately, the original Sky+LNB or a Hybrid LNB that supports Q and Sky+ HD is required for the Freesat tuner in your TV. The Q Wideband LNB will only function with the most recent Freesat boxes.
Is it possible to connect a television to a satellite dish directly?
You won’t be able to connect your satellite dish to your television. Because satellite signals are sent from such a great distance, they have a unique format. To demodulate the signals from your dish, you’ll need a satellite TV receiver. So it’s a coaxial wire to the set-top box and an HDMI connection from the set-top box to your TV.
For Freesat, what kind of satellite dish do I need?
The vast majority of satellite dishes in the UK are for Sky TV and Freesat, which are also known by other names such as Sky+, Sky+HD, Sky Q, and Freetime. The same satellites are used for each of these services. The Astra 2 satellites are located at 28.2E, whereas the Eurobird satellite is located at 28.5E. The 28.2E position is currently occupied by four satellites, although this may change over time.
Sky and Freesat recommend a minimum dish size of 45cm in the south and 60cm in the north of the UK. A Zone 1 satellite dish is a 45cm Sky mini-dish style satellite dish, and a Zone 2 satellite dish is a 60cm Sky mini-dish style satellite dish.
Is an aerial required for Freesat?
You’ve made your choice. You want to get more from your television. Or you’ve chosen to cut ties with Sky or BT and don’t want to be stuck into another year of exorbitant bills. The point is that you want great television without having to pay any monthly fees.
But now you must decide what is best for you, beginning with whether to subscribe to Freeview or Freesat.
All of this can be a little perplexing, so here’s what you should know before purchasing your box.
Aerial or Satellite?
First and foremost, do you want superb television via an aerial or a minidish from a previous Sky subscription?
Freeview is transmitted from transmitters all around the United Kingdom and requires an aerial to receive. You’ll get the best results from a rooftop aerial, or if that fails, a loft aerial. Portable aerials can operate, but they’re hit-or-miss and rely on where they’re placed in relation to the transmitters.
Freesat is broadcast to the UK from the same satellites as Sky, and it’s ideal if you don’t have an antenna or live in a black spot and want to keep your minidish working.
What channels do I get?
You’ll get superb digital TV and all of the UK’s most popular TV channels, including several in HD, whether you choose Freeview or Freesat. Freesat has a minor advantage in terms of channel selection, but apart from a few news and religious programs, Freeview’s lineup is nearly identical.
The most apparent difference is that Channel 4 is not available in HD on Freesat due to a dispute between Channel 4 and Freesat. So, if you’re a big admirer of Channel 4, Freeview is the way to go!
It’s worth mentioning that Freeview advertises a limited number of channels because not everyone can receive all of them. Freesat channel counts always appear to be greater since they include all regional variations, such as BBC One London, BBC One South East, and so on.
Using the Freeview coverage checker and entering your postcode, you can see what channels you should be able to receive in your area. Visit Freesat’s channel listings website to see what’s available.
Got it. What’s next?
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Is it possible for me to use my old satellite dish as an antenna?
Will a satellite dish function as an antenna on its own? No, although it can generate spectacular results when used in conjunction with a simple outside antenna.
Is the satellite used by Sky and Freesat the same?
Sky’s Freesat is not the same as Freesat; it was introduced in 2008 as a rival to the BBC and ITV’s main Freesat service. The satellites used by both organizations to offer free TV channels to people’s homes are the same.
Sky Freesat allows you access to all of the channels accessible on Freesat, as well as a few extra networks. There are approximately 240 channels accessible, however only 11 are in HD, compared to over 20 on Freesat. BBC1, BBC2, ITV, Channel 4, Pick TV, 5 USA, and a few channels not available on Freeview or Freesat are among the channels available. Some, however, are more specialized, such as EuroNews, Holiday and Cruise, and Horse and Country TV. If this is something you’re interested in, make sure you receive the greatest picture quality possible when viewing Freesat from Sky.
I don’t have an aerial, therefore how can I get Freeview on my TV?
The truth is that you won’t be able to watch live TV without an antenna or a viable alternative. Without one, you’ll be able to view all of the catch-up and on-demand streaming services, but you won’t be able to see items as they air.
There are some apps that allow you to watch live TV through them, but the most of them aren’t very good. Another alternative is to check into indoor aerials, which may be a cost-effective way to get Freeview operating on your television.
So, what can you do if you don’t want to acquire an aerial but still want to watch live sports and TV shows? Here are a handful of the more effective methods.
Satellite Options
You may or may not have an aerial tied to your home, depending on your situation. However, you may have access to a satellite dish. If you have a satellite dish that you can connect to, there are a few simple ways to receive Freeview using it.
Freesat
If you have a satellite dish, the quickest way to obtain Freeview is to acquire a Freesat box. They’ve been around for more than a decade, despite their increasing popularity in recent years.
The BBC and ITV collaborated on Freesat to encourage you to install Freeview in your home. It’s essentially a satellite version of a Freeview box, however having a Freesat Box has several advantages.
The major incentive to choose a Freesat box is that it contains many more channels than a conventional Freeview box more than twice as many, in fact. This includes radio channels as well, although if they’re both the same price, it’s a good reason to choose one.
Your insurance coverage will almost certainly play a role in your decision. Many folks still can’t get a good signal from their TV antenna because their area isn’t covered. With satellite, however, this is not the case, as the entire country is capable of receiving a signal.
A Freesat box is a fantastic purchase if you’re thinking about buying a satellite or already have one.
Sky
Sky is, without a doubt, the most well-known alternative to watching Freeview channels on your TV without an aerial.
This may not be a good solution for some people, especially if you don’t already have a satellite dish. However, Sky usually doesn’t charge much to install a satellite, and once it’s up, you won’t have to pay anything again.
You might be wondering if, in the future, you’ll need a satellite dish to watch Freeview on Sky. The truth is that Sky’s goal with the SkyQ box is to eliminate the need for a satellite in the future. As a result, this could be a possibility in the future.
To watch Sky and Freeview with your Sky Box, you’ll need a satellite for the time being.
Alternative Use an Old Sky Box
Another important reason to choose a satellite dish over an aerial is that they are typically less expensive. So, even if you don’t have a satellite dish, getting one is rather simple.
However, if you already have a satellite, you can receive Freeview by purchasing an old Sky Box. You can get these for a very low price on eBay, and you won’t have to commit to a long-term Sky contract.
Even if you don’t have Sky channels, you can access Freeview on any Sky box for free. As a result, this could be a fantastic approach to save money.
Cable Options (Virgin Media)
What can you do if you don’t have both an aerial and a satellite dish? You’ll have to look into getting Freeview channels in a different manner.
You may or may not be aware that you do not require an antenna to watch Virgin Media programming. Obviously, Virgin Media bundles include Freeview, so this is a simple way to access Freeview without having to use an aerial.
The primary issue for Virgin Media customers is that it may be somewhat costly, especially for some of their comprehensive packages. This is especially true if you want to watch live television sports on your TV rather than just Freeview Play.
However, you can discover packages with a small number of channels that are substantially less expensive. Plus, if you currently have Virgin for your broadband, you should be able to get a better TV offer.
Internet Options
Another option for getting Freeview on your TV without relying on an aerial or a satellite is to use the internet. What exactly do I mean? Here are a few options for getting Freeview via your internet connection.
Streaming Stick
Using a streaming stick is the simplest, and possibly cheapest, way to access Freeview on your TV.
What exactly do I mean? You’ve undoubtedly heard of an Amazon Fire Stick or a Roku Stick, right? These are simply sticks or dongles that you insert into your television to connect to your wireless network.
These streaming sticks allow you to download apps to view on your television. They offer a wide range of alternatives, and one of the apps available for download on a Fire stick is TV Player.
This app allows you to watch BBC channels, as well as many of the channels available through Freeview on a Firestick in general. So, simply obtaining a streaming stick is one way to get these channels.
Get a Smart TV
A streaming stick is frequently described as “converting your regular TV into a smart TV.” This is really rather accurate, as many smart TVs will come pre-loaded with Freeview.
This eliminates the need for a second device, and you’ll be able to watch all of your favorite shows right on your television. There’s no Freeview box, no extra gear just the TV.
Another advantage of having a smart TV is that you can access a plethora of apps. This includes well-known apps such as Netflix as well as UK-specific apps such as Now TV.
The only difficulty with this is that they can be quite costly. If you’re interested in a smart TV, have a look at this 65-inch smart TV buying guide for the finest possibilities.
Of course, you’ll need an aerial if you want to watch live television on your smart TV. Without one, you can still view applications like ITV Hub and Amazon Prime Video. However, anything live will necessitate the purchase of an aerial.
Is there a difference between a satellite dish and an aerial?
All satellite dishes will be pointed in the same direction to receive this signal, giving them a clear line of sight to the geostationary satellite orbiting in space. One of the key advantages of satellite television is its extensive coverage. If you have satellite TV, you should expect a better, more dependable signal and a higher-quality television viewing experience if you live in an area with poor aerial reception. Your picture will be as clear as day whether you’re in a city, out in the country, in a caravan, or even on a boat.
