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How to use Sky Box w/o subscription to get FTA?

  • 17-05-2017 2:30pm
    #1
    Fionne
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 392 ✭✭


    My parents have a Sky+ box that they no longer have a subscription on. Can this be used to tune in the free to air channels? Does that include RTE and the other Irish channels? Step by step instructions if someone knows how please.

    Thanks.


Comments

  • #2
    lertsnim
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,841 ✭✭✭lertsnim


    It can be used to view the FTA channels. RTÉ, TV3 and TG4 however are not FTA on the satellites used by the Sky system. To view RTÉ FTA then your only options are Saorview or Saorsat. Saorsat will require a new lnb and possibly a bigger dish.


  • #3
    decor58
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 926 ✭✭✭decor58


    FonE wrote:
    My parents have a Sky+ box that they no longer have a subscription on. Can this be used to tune in the free to air channels? Does that include RTE and the other Irish channels? Step by step instructions if someone knows how please.


    If the tv is reasonably recent you should be able to get Saorview on that and fta uk channels through the sky box. One remote should be possible, straight forward enough, depends on the individual.
    Unplug the sky box, take out the sub card and start up the box again. An aerial is needed for Saorview, an indoor might suffice but an outdoor is recommended. The sky remote can be programmed to operate the box and tv.


  • #4
    Johnboy1951
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,048 ✭✭✭✭Johnboy1951


    FonE wrote: »
    My parents have a Sky+ box that they no longer have a subscription on. Can this be used to tune in the free to air channels? Does that include RTE and the other Irish channels? Step by step instructions if someone knows how please.

    Thanks.

    No Irish channels available via Astra Satellite, so an alternative such as Saorview via aerial is required to receive them.

    Trying to use a Sky box like this is an exercise in frustration .... no recording, continues to list the encrypted channels causing a lot of jumping about with channels numbers to get a particular channel, cannot change the order of channels in list, even to use Favourites is frustrating and it requires multiple key presses at every channels change. A number of channels are not listed and need to be added via 'Other Channels' (never done this myself).

    Your parents would be much better off getting an alternate box which allows the user to list only FTA channels and to put that list into an order the user prefers.
    Even an old Ariva 120 leaves a Sky box way behind when used for FTA.


  • #5
    _Kaiser_
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 29,088 ✭✭✭✭_Kaiser_


    I've cancelled Sky this week and replaced it with a Humax Freesat box which does pretty much the same thing just fine for the FTA channels

    For the terrestrials I'm just using the built-in RTE player on my Samsung smart TV on the few times I'd need it (news/current affairs, some sport). Saorview signal is non-existent indoors here and as I'm renting I can't go sticking up external aerials.

    I'm happy so far.


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