freesat

[gucciman]

ive been hearing about freesat a lot lately, can anyone tell me anymore about it, cost, quality, choice of channels, is it worth the bother etc

we currently have a sky dish and subscription, i have been told that i can have freesat as well as sky so i can get hd channels free, is this true? can i install it myself?

[Ethel]

There is currently a lot of confusion re Freesat - mainly because there are to be two different services with the same name.

One is from Sky - you buy a card for �20 or so, and it allows you to watch their Freesat, forever, with no extra charge. You use your existing dish and box. The prices quoted on this page refer to a new set up, with no existing equipment:

http://www.freesatfromsky.co.uk/

The new Freesat is a BBC/ITV collaboration - more about it here:
http://www.astra2d.com/freesat.htm

One thing I do know - you will not be able to receive Sky Freesat on the BBC Freesat equipment, and vice versa.

[Buenchico]

To add to Ethel's excellent answer:

Freesat from Sky simply requires you to buy a card, for a one-off payment of �20, and insert it into your existing box. You get a subset of the subscription channels. (See Ethel's link for details). HD channels aren't available through Freesat from Sky. (You have to get a Sky HD box and take up an HD subscription to receive the service. That applies even if you only want the 'free' HD channels, such as the BBC service).

The BBC/ITV system offers a smaller range of channels. It requires a separate box but you might be able to use the same dish. (It's a case of 'ask in store for details'). When purchasing a box you can choose between a 'standard' or 'HD' version. If you get an HD box, you'll be able to receive 'subscription free' HD services (such as the one already in operation from the BBC and the new ITV service which will start shortly).

To back up Ethel's second link, here's the official website for the BBC/ITV service:
http://www.freesat.co.uk/

Chris

[deggers316]

in a few months time HUMAX is bringing out a freesat receiver with a hard drive that you will be able to record standard and HD progs
i'm waiting for that,