Freesat channels with old sky + box

[Teddy_boy]

My neighbours daughter has just moved house.The previous tenant had sky and there's a dish in place.What would she need to get the free channels through her dish? My neighbour doesn't have the Internet and has asked me to look online for information. I googled and found sky boxes for sale on ebay.But i wondered if anyone here had first hand experience of using and old box and how easy is it to do? Obviously on ebay they say its simple but i don't want to pass on information to my neighbour that i haven't checked.

[VHG]

The free service from Sky is called "Freesat from Sky" and you can read more about it on the link below.

You can buy the dish and box from them, but it does cost £175 (but then no montly charge).

But I believe if you just buy any Sky box (from ebay) and connect it to the dish you automatically get all the free channels.

Sky talk about a £25 fee for a card, but I am not sure how important that card is or if it works without it (see the FAQ on the link below for more about the card)

http://www.sky.com/shop/freesat/home/

[Teddy_boy]

Thanks for the link.I never even thought of looking on the sky website.
Very helpful indeed.

[Postdog]

Don't have Sky and never would have (personal choice) but one thing not made clear here is that Sky Freesat is different from the other Freesat (satellite freeview). Yes you can get a card that will allow you access to Sky's free channels, but I believe I am correct in saying you cannot record anything on the box.

However, with the other freesat, a wide range of recordable digi boxes are out there and personally I'd go for this option rather than a second hand box. There shouldn't be a lot in it cost wise.

[anotheoldgit]

I had Sky years ago and when I un-subscribed I kept the box, (complete with the original card) and of course the dish.

I have this set up with a TV in the bedroom and everything works OK, even with the old card.

When I had my new TV in the lounge it had built in 'Free Sat' so I just got a fellow to connect that up to my dish also and that is now receiving 'Free Sat'

The programmes I receive with the Sky box are not the same as 'Free Sat'

[realcleverclogs]

May I suggest that rather than buying an old Sky box on ebay, you consider joining your local Freecycle group (www.freecycle.org) where these are often offered or posted as 'wanted'.
Please be aware that there is a difference between the old analogue satellite transmissions and the new digital ones, though I have no knowledge of the difference between older and more recent boxes' capabilities.