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Can I use Sky box to get freeview through an aerial?

  • 21-06-2015 1:24pm
    #1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,137 ✭✭✭


    Recently cancelled my Sky subscription and moved home. I noticed the Sky box as an aerial in port which fits our external roof aerial connection.

    Can I tune in any freeview or Saorview channels through the Sky box? Or am I limited to using it to watch stuff I already recorded and saved on the box? No plans to take out a new Sky subscription.


Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,228 ✭✭✭wally1990


    Post deleted. While the hardware itself is not illegal the poster quite clearly advocated the use of IT for piracy and as such gets a warning. Ban next time..


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,637 ✭✭✭brightspark


    It's not a saorview tuner so you can't watch it, (the aerial connection is just to allow the signal through on older non HD boxes.)

    And without a subscription you can't even watch your recorded programs.

    What you can do is connect it to a dish aligned to the Astra satellites and watch Free To Air Channels, such as BBC and ITV etc.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,137 ✭✭✭veganrun


    It's not a saorview tuner so you can't watch it, (the aerial connection is just to allow the signal through on older non HD boxes.)

    And without a subscription you can't even watch your recorded programs.

    What you can do is connect it to a dish aligned to the Astra satellites and watch Free To Air Channels, such as BBC and ITV etc.

    We don't even have a dish here, just an external roof top aerial. Thought maybe if I plugged it in it might let me get some freebies channels (I'm in the north now).


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,637 ✭✭✭brightspark


    veganrun wrote: »
    We don't even have a dish here, just an external roof top aerial. Thought maybe if I plugged it in it might let me get some freebies channels (I'm in the north now).


    No it won't, however I imagine your TV probably has Freeview built in anyway?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,137 ✭✭✭veganrun


    No it won't, however I imagine your TV probably has Freeview built in anyway?

    It does but not a HD tuner unfortunately. Sounds like this Sky box isn't much use anymore. Can I even watch recorded programmes from FTA channels like RTE?


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,637 ✭✭✭brightspark


    RTE isn't FTA (on satellite anyway). But regardless, no sub, no access to sky+ features.


    A satellite receiver is of course no use without a dish!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,137 ✭✭✭veganrun


    RTE isn't FTA (on satellite anyway). But regardless, no sub, no access to sky+ features.


    A satellite receiver is of course no use without a dish!

    That's annoying alright, it's effectively completely unusable.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,278 ✭✭✭Thurston?


    veganrun wrote: »
    We don't even have a dish here, just an external roof top aerial. Thought maybe if I plugged it in it might let me get some freebies channels (I'm in the north now).
    veganrun wrote: »
    It does but not a HD tuner unfortunately.

    What do you mean by 'HD tuner'? If it has any kind of DVB-T tuner, it should at least get Freeview SD services.

    Have you tried hooking up the aerial to the TV, & scanning?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,278 ✭✭✭Thurston?


    RTE isn't FTA (on satellite anyway).

    It's free on Saorsat, on a satellite at 9 degrees east, & a bigger dish than is typically used for Sky is recommended. Also needs a different LNB.

    And I'd doubt the Sky box would be any use, as it probably doesn't allow selection of the correct symbol rate in 'other channels'. (And no DiSEqC switching for a 2 LNB UK/Ireland setup.)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,786 ✭✭✭slimjimmc


    veganrun wrote: »
    That's annoying alright, it's effectively completely unusable.

    You could buy a Sky dish, they're not expensive and you can install it yourself if you're patient enough.

    A Sky dish complete with mounting brackets is about €25, a Sky single LNB < €10 or a Sky quad LNB (allows multiple receivers) costs about €20. Add another €25 for sat cable and F-connectors. NI prices might be cheaper.

    BTW some FTA channels will be available in the normal programme guide but others may need to be manually tuned and stored in "Other Channels". It's a real pain because you have to go through the menus into "Other Channels" every time you want to to view one of these channels.
    No RTE/TV3/TG4 though.


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