freesat from sky card

[ailie]

We have a freesat from Sky card in a Skybox for our main TV because we can't get good reception or channel 5 from our ariel. I have another skybox & wanted to have it wired in to a bedroom. Went on the Satellite Shop site to buy a freesat card & read that they are no longer needed. Is that right?
We have a Bush freesat box in another bedroom but we prefer the selection of channels available from the freesat from Sky box.

[AlBags]

The licensing for previously 'soft-encrypted' channels was supposed to have been ironed out. Previously one would need to use a Freesat card, or an OLD SKY card .. (blue one with house symbol on was best) to watch a few channels like 5. Just get a box and try it. The channel list needs overnight to update with extra channels IF they are sof-encrypted.

[Buenchico]

There are two types of free satellite channels. The vast majority are 'free to air', which means that they're unencrypted and can be received using any suitable satellite box. A very small number are 'free to view', which means that they don't require a subscription but they're encrypted (so you need a valid viewing card).

According to Wikipedia (which seems to be up to date) the following channels are 'free to view' (so you'll need a 'Freesat from Sky' card in order to view them):
Sky 3
Five USA
Five USA+1
Fiver
(Channel 4 HD &Channel 5 HD are also 'free to view' but, unless you've got an HD box, they're not relevant anyway).
http://en.wikipedia.o...st_of_channels_on_Sky

So, if you can live without those few channels, you don't need a 'Freesat from Sky' card. If you do want one, phone [phone] and Sky will send you one for £25.

Chris

[ailie]

Yep, can live without these channels so will give it a go, thnx u 2.

[AlBags]

An OLD Sky card works fine .. There is nothing special about a Freesat card. Sky just make revenue from selling these 'special' cards, that's all.