Getting and setting up freesat

[flamingo]

I need some advice- apologies if I'm in the wrong place, I want to set myself up with freesat.

I have some cables and leads already installed in my home which were used for a sky dish (the dish is now gone) but still able to be used, and an old sky box with card (and remote and even working batteries!). There is also a dish holder outside my home (just no dish).

I don't though, have a freesat box or a sky dish itself.

So, to set myself up with freesat, I would need a new dish, but would I need a new box too? Or would the sky box work?

Also, would I need someone to install the dish seeing as I already have the cables intact and just need to connect and arrange the dish? how difficult is it to put the dish into action? I am able to follow instructions, and would like to save the (£80?) installation fee- especially as the cable part is done already.

How hard is it?

 

[kenny1234]

Hi Flamingo welcome to the forum,

Yes you will be able to use your old sky receiver to view free channels although the epg will be a mix of free and (locked)ppv channels, where as a freesat box epg only shows dedicated freesat channels layed out in order.

Installing the dish is fairly straight forward to do, although you may need a little patience as is your first attempt ;). You will be able to use your sky receivers in built signal test to assist you with alignment.

You can to pick a dish up for around the £20 mark so if your comfortable attempting the install and working at height (if any) you will be anle to save yourself a little money.

 

[PaulR]

You say the dish is gone. What happened with the cables?

If they haven't been sealed at the ends (probably not likely) then water can get into the cable. Water will cause severe signal loss and you may have to put new cable in anyway.

 

[Lazarus]

I'd be inclined to scrap the lot and get a Dish/Installation pack in its entirety. The difference in cost is minimal and you'd start off knowing exactly what you'd got, so to speak.

Also, you might find the Sky Box is not up to scratch (Why leave that, yet remove the Dish?)

The Card will be u/s very soon anyway, if it isn't already, owing to the ongoing Card Swap by BSkyB.

But you can try it out on a neighbour's dish, I suppose.

If it is nailed to its perch, consider your budget: The Standard Definition Freesat Boxes are not of good quality, but the HD ones generally are.

Edit: Upon second reading, I am wondering if rather than being left behind, the Sky Box is your own and known to be working?