Digital TV - what are my choices?

What is Freesat? Freeview or Free To View or Free To Air or FreesatFromSky or Free Sat?

Everyone is confused by these terms but it's really quite simple.

What is High Definition TV - "HD Ready"?

Do I need to buy an "HD Ready" TV?

An "HD-Ready" TV has extra circuitry that lets it accept an input from (for example) a High-Definition satellite TV receiver. High Definition broadcasts on Freeview digital terrestrial started up in January 2010 and suitable TVs are only just (2011) becoming available so be careful what you buy. "HD Ready" does NOT mean "HD tuner inside".

Do I need to buy a Set Top Box?

If you wish to record, you will need a separate "PVR" receiver. If your TV does not have a suitable tuner for receiving SD or HD broadcasts then your other option is to buy a suitable receiver and connect it to your TV set. Note: the term "set top box" is misleading. You should never place equipment on, or very close to, a TV set. TV sets generate heat (bad for electronics) and interference (can cause viewing problems). Electronic equipment should be installed on separate shelves, with adequate ventilation, and never stacked.

What is Freeview terrestrial?

Nothing to do with satellite TV. You will need a terrestrial TV aerial in the UK and a Freeview receiver. In good reception areas, any suitable aerial and Freeview receiver should work (but depends on local conditions). In fringe reception areas the choice of aerial and receiver may be critical. No viewing card is required. Viewing is free. Click here for more information.

Click HERE to see the Freeview terrestrial channel listing (this is not satellite TV).

Note that most Freeview receivers do not incorporate an RF modulator so you must use a Scart lead to connect the TV (or HDMI if you have a Freeview HD receiver). The very cheap ones have only one Scart socket, making it awkward to record programmes. We stock Freeview receivers with TWO Scart sockets AND an RF modulator. If your TV has no Scart socket (e.g. a bedroom TV) you need an RF modulator. Buying a Freesat receiver with an RF modulator built-in is cheaper and less messy than buying one separately.

If you wish to record Freeview programmes, you will need a Freeview "PVR" receiver.

Can I receive terrestrial Freeview at my UK location?

Click HERE to find out

Do I really need to buy a Freeview TV?

You can plug a Freeview receiver into an ordinary TV set. However, you will then have two remote control handsets to use, which can be confusing for some people. If this gives you a problem then you will find a Freeview TV is easier to use. However, if you wish to record Freeview programmes, you will need a Freeview "PVR" receiver.

If I buy a Freeview TV, will I be able to record programmes from it?

Possibly, if you have a suitable recording device connected, but you will be able to record only the programme that you are actually watching so the TV has to be left switched on. If you want to watch a different programme you will need to connect a separate Freeview receiver to your recording device. A better choice would be a "Freeview PVR". This is a Freeview receiver with a Hard Drive built-in. Recordings are saved to the Hard Drive for playback later. You can erase them after watching or transfer them to a VCR or a DVD recorder if you wish to keep them. We stock Freeview PVRs such as Humax.

What is Top Up TV (terrestrial)?

With a suitable terrestrial Freeview receiver and a TopUpTV viewing card, it may be possible to watch additional programmes. Viewing currently costs around £8 per month. For more information please visit www.topuptv.com

What is Free To Air (FTA) satellite?

FTA means you can receive the programmes with a simple digital satellite receiver and a suitable size of dish with universal LNB fitted and aligned. You don't need a viewing card or Conditional Access Module (CAM). In the case of FTA programmes broadcast from the satellites at 28.2 degrees East of south (28.2'E), you can use ANY Sky Digibox or any other Digital satellite receiver. All BBC and ITV programmes are FTA. (CH4 is also now FTA). Viewing is free. The main drawback is that there is no comprehensive EPG (Electronic Programme Guide) incorporated. If you wish to record FTA programmes, you will need a FTA "PVR" receiver.

What is Freesat?

If you already have a Sky system, you can swap your Sky Digibox for a Freesat receiver. If the LNB on your dish has enough output connectors, you can even install Freesat as well as Sky, simply by adding extra cable. See our Sky/Freesat LNB upgrade kits.

The BBC partnered with ITV to launch a free-to-view digital TV service transmitted by satellite in spring 2008. You can buy a suitable "Freesat" receiver in many High Street stores or from SatCure. It can be used with your existing Sky dish system. NO subscription is required. It is similar to Freeview terrestrial but is broadcast via satellite. Many (but not all) of the programmes are the same as Freeview. You can buy a simple Freesat receiver, or a Freesat PVR (for recording), or a TV with built-in Freesat tuner.

Note that Freesat receivers do not incorporate an RF modulator so you must use a Scart lead to connect the TV (or HDMI if you have a Freesat HD receiver). We stock Freesat receivers. If your TV has no Scart socket, or if you want to pipe the Freeview programme to a bedroom, you need an RF modulator. If you also want to control the Freesat receiver remotely, you need our complete Freesat kit.

Please see more information click here.

What is Free To View (FTV) satellite or Freesat (from Sky)?

As FTA but, in the case of FTV programmes broadcast from the satellites at 28.2 degrees East of south (28.2'E), you will need a Sky Digibox and suitable viewing card to watch SKY3, and FIVE in addition to the FTA channels. (At the time of writing, FreesatFromSky cards are available direct from Sky.) If you have one, you will be able to watch these programmes with ANY Sky Digibox). You can buy a second-hand Sky Digibox for as little as £20.

A "FreesatFromSky" card is simply a Sky card (white). This card gets you SKY3, and FIVE (in addition to all the Free To Air channels like BBC and ITV).

(A common scam on auction sites is for a person to cancel his Sky subscription then sell his Digibox and card. The card will continue to work as a FTV card for a while but IS NOT GUARANTEED. It could stop working at any time if the card is reported as stolen).

If you cancel your Sky subscription your card will become a Freesat card. You will continue to receive SKY3, and FIVE plus BBC, ITV and all the FTA programmes. However, a cancelled subscription card will not allow you to record. You MUST have a Sky subscription in order to record programmes on a Sky+ or Sky+HD Digibox. If you don't want to pay a subscription, then consider a Freesat PVR instead.

Note: CH4 is broadcasting FTA and, if you can't see it in the EPG, can be tuned in via "Add Channel" in the Sky Digibox menu, without needing a viewing card at all. But it can not be recorded there.

Can I therefore receive BBC and ITV at my location?

YES if you are in or near the UK and your dish has a clear view of the satellite. If you are well outside the UK then Click HERE to find out the required dish size. (With the launch of new satellite(s) in August 2011 this answer may change.)

Sky Digital via satellite

As above. You can receive the programmes broadcast from the satellites at 28.2 degrees East of south (28.2'E). You will need a Sky Digibox and suitable viewing card to watch Sky programmes (SKY3, CH4 and FIVE are also included as well as all the FTA channels such as BBC and ITV).

Can I receive Sky Digital at my location? YES if you are in or near the UK and your dish has a clear view of the satellite. If you are a long way outside the UK then, even if you can't receive BBC and ITV, you may be able to receive many of the Sky Digital programmes with a suitable size dish.

Sky-Plus (Sky+)

Sky plus is a special Sky Digibox which incorporates a Hard Drive and two tuners so that you can record one programme while watching or playing back another. This record/play system will not (currently) work without a Sky viewing card costing a minimum of £10 per month. Sky is no longer providing Sky+ Digiboxes for new subscriptions. Instead it is supplying Sky+HD Digiboxes (but you don't have to use the HD facility if you don't want it).

Sky High Definition (Sky+HD)

Sky+HD is a special Sky+ Digibox which includes a decoder to handle High Definition pictures that can be displayed (via a HDMI connection lead) on a suitable HDTV. Most model incorporate a Hard Drive for recording. The record/play system will not (currently) work without a Sky viewing card costing a minimum of £10 per month. The encrypted HD programmes will not be displayed unless you pay an additional £10 per month per household. (BBC-HD is not encrypted). ITV-HD can not currently be displayed by a Sky+HD Digibox.

FreesatFromSky

BskyB announced the launch of a new marketing campaign on 22nd October 2004 in which they will install a satellite dish and Sky Digibox with a card for a one-off payment of £150. This is identical to the FTV system (above). You can phone 08706 061111 to order the installation of a dish, Sky Digibox and FTV card which will get you all the Free To Air programmes available from the Sky platform, plus SKY3, CH4 and FIVE. The cost is £150 inclusive. (I haven't checked recently so this information may be out of date.)

There is also an option to phone the number and buy for about £25 inclusive just the Freesat card.

You may be read a legal notice telling you that you must not use the card outside the UK. (However, it will work outside the UK of course). Sky often quote a delivery time of "3 days" for the card but some people have received theirs next day. The card is guaranteed for 3 years. There is currently no official limit on the number of cards (I know someone who has ordered five) but you'd better be ready with a good excuse if you need more than one. You have to call Sky to get the card activated in your Digibox.

You can also phone the above number and get a free information pack posted to your UK address without speaking to a human being.

Or you can order your Freesat card online. Click HERE. Ignore everything on that page and simply click on the link "Don't have a viewing card?" A new page will open with the order form that you can complete. (Correct as of August 24, 2011 .)

See the Freesat/FTA programme listings HERE (may not be up to date).

Phone connection for FreesatFromSky?

Not required and not mandatory but if you have the £150 installation "we will connect the Digibox to your phone line if a socket is available unless you ask us not to". Obviously a phone connection will let you make use of the Interactive Services and I'm fairly sure that you will be able to pay to watch Pay Per View movies, although, curiously, the Sky information doesn't push this point. Anybody know?

(Although people refer to Sky's system as simply "Freesat", this is a registered trademark of the BBC/ITV consortium).

Can I record Sky Programmes on my VCR/DVD?

Yes but you can only record the programme that you are watching. If you want to watch a different programme you would need to use a separate Sky Digibox or get a "Sky-Plus" Digibox (Sky+ or Sky+HD) which has a built-in Hard Drive and works like the Freeview PVR mentioned above. You have to pay Sky a monthly fee to use this recording facility.

Sky Multiroom

BskyB will supply additional "multiroom" viewing cards for (at the time of writing) just over £10 per month extra subscription. These can be used in additional Sky Digiboxes to give you independent programme choice in each room. The Digiboxes can be new or used. You can get them installed by Sky or buy them independently. You will need a suitable multi-output LNB on your dish. A quad-output LNB will give you four outputs for either four standard Sky Digiboxes or two SKY+ boxes (or a mixture). Make sure you get the correct LNB for your dish. An "OCTO" LNB will provide eight outputs. A Quattro LNB connected to a multiswitch will provide even more. (A Quattro LNB is not designed to work efficiently with a Sky minidish and will give poor results in bad weather.)

How Many Cards?

You can have up to four cards per household.

Card won't work

A viewing card has to be "paired to its receiver" before it will work. If your Sky Digibox is connected to a phone line you can try "New Installation" in the on-screen menu to do this. If it doesn't work you'll have to phone Sky. Note that card activation can take up to three days!

A viewing card has to receive a "refresh" signal periodically (about once a month). If the card is left out of the Digibox or if the Digibox is not receiving a signal, the card will miss its refresh signal and will no longer allow you to view the channels that you are paying for (does not affect FTA channels). You must leave the card in a working Sky Digibox for up to three days so that the card receives its "refresh" signal.

A Freesat/FTV card will work in *any* Sky Digibox.

A Sky viewing card will work in *any* Sky Digibox except for the "Premium" channels.

What is Freeserve?

Freeserve was a UK Internet Service Provider, founded in 1998. It was once a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index but merged into the Wanadoo group in 2000, itself a subsidiary of France Telecom. Its current successor is Orange Home UK, the ISP operation of Orange UK. Freeserve has nothing whatsoever to do with TV viewing but I mention it because some people still think it has!

Mistakes Here?

I try to keep this page updated so please tell me if you are certain that any details are incorrect.

Digital terrestrial TV.