Cancelled Sky but can't see free channels?

Mad_Mike

I cancelled Sky recently as I dont use it at all and they told me at the time that I could still view the "free channels" even when my account was switched off

I havent used it since, but the young lad wants to watch the game tonight and I switched it on to see if RTE is available

However, after going through all the channels, I keep getting a message saying I need to subscribe?? If I remove the card and try, I am told to insert the card. How do I view the "free channels" please?

Owen

RTE isn't one of the free Channels.

Mad_Mike

Thanks a million. Just after going through more channels since I posted this and it seems I do get some channels. I just don't know which ones and as I had tried about 20 channels and got none, I assumed I was doing something wrong

Skerries

tell him to watch it on www.aertv.ie or the rte player

Gonzo

that aertv does not work. it says you need to be in Ireland to view which I am and it does not work on Eircom.

gtg60

Do you have a HD box?

Mad_Mike

Aertv works fine for me with UPC

Ended up we got ITV HD tuned in on the other channels section
Yeah, I have a HD box. Is there something different with them?

By the way, is there somewhere I can get a list of what the free channels are, not the one in the stickies with frequencies etc.

James__10

Didn't want to set up another thread but anyway.

I'm currently a SKY HD customer and my question is If I got my hands on a British Uk card would the likes of BBC , Itv , Channel 4 etc be channels 101?
Where would I get a British card from?

gtg60

Mad_Mike wrote: »

Yeah, I have a HD box. Is there something different with them?

By the way, is there somewhere I can get a list of what the free channels are, not the one in the stickies with frequencies etc.

Yeah, the HD boxes store the EPG cache so you'll always end up with the scrambled versions of normally FTA channels. Sky really limit the functionality of an ex-sub Irish HD box but there is a way around it, you need to get your hands on a UK card and that will get all the FTA channels back on your EPG and then no messing about with 'Other Channels'

Here's a good link on what channels will appear on your Sky EPG, it is worth noting that all Irish variations of the (normally) FTA channels etc are not available without a sub (bar the BBC's). You will also see what extra channels the UK EPG give you and the extra channels that an FTV card will give you:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_channels_on_Sky

zg3409

To answer Mad Mikes question, yes a sky box is crippled when you cancel. There is stickies for what channels can be added using other channels. It's probably best to put all the other free channels as "favourites" under the menu so you can access them quickly.

As for RTE best to get a seperate Saorview approved box and either try an indoor aerial or get a proper outdoor aerial pointed at the nearest Saorview mast. There is no other way to get the Irish channels for free except via an aerial and not a dish.

Mad_Mike

Cheers for the replies

I'll have a look about getting a UK card
In the meantime, a guy told me tonight that Sky can send you out a FTA card even if you cancel with them?? Is that true and if so, would that be the same as the UK card you mentioned

Kristopherus

Sky will only send those cards to a UK address.

IrishHomer

Kristopherus wrote: »

Sky will only send those cards to a UK address.

Yes but you can put down a N.I. ending Including a N.I. Postcode on your address and it will get to you

1dave

some hdboxes are ok. remove the sky card then plug out the sky box . then plug it in and start it up. if 101 is bbc1 then ur in business. if not i have a uk 1. i found i didnt need 1 when did the above.

Mad_Mike

Cheers!
I'll give that a shot first and see if it works for me also

Liameter

Mad_Mike wrote: »

a guy told me tonight that Sky can send you out a FTA card

There's no such thing, for obvious reasons. FTA means "Free To Air".

Maybe you meant "FreesatFromSky".

GoodisonPark

Setanta will send out one of these cards. Email them and tell them you need a card to watch Setanta , they'll send you the card and ask you to call them to subscribe and activate the card. Just ignore that and insert the card into the box , power off and back on again and you will have the UK EPG on your box.

Mad_Mike

Liameter wrote: »

There's no such thing, for obvious reasons. FTA means "Free To Air".

Maybe you meant "FreesatFromSky".

Thanks a lot for your input!

bryanbal

I cancelled sky in second room. I removed the card and have some fta channels. Can i record with this box? What happens if i put card in again? I also have a fta box. Is there any benefits to using the sky box over the fta box?

zg3409

bryanbal wrote: »

Can i record with this box?

No

What happens if i put card in again? I also have a fta box. Is there any benefits to using the sky box over the fta box?

Nothing will happen. The benefits of the Sky box are the TV guide (EPG), auto updating of frequencies if channel moves and also good for people used to Sky boxes.

The benefits of FTA are:
-ability to delete and move channels so best ones first
-ability to watch some free channels not possible via a Sky box (not all channels can be added through other channels on a Sky box)

Also if the FTA or Sky box has high definition capabilities you get the free to air HD channels.

donutheadhomer

I've anothrer thread on the go about this but

Just cancelled sky after 8 years

Removed the card and getting message to insert the card and also if the card is inserted no channels are displayed. What can I do?

Liameter

Select Sky News. It should be fine.