Using both Sky and Freesat

melaniem · 06-12-2011, 14:28

Hi all,
I currently have Sky but am likely to buy a new TV with integrated Freesat. How easy is it to retain both platforms and switch from one to the other, eg so i can use Freesat for HD viewing and not have to fork out a tenner a month Sky?

Do i just switch the satellite cable and scart? I guess I lose any planned recordings on Sky if I temporarily switch to Freesat?

Any advice welcome!

Chris Frost · 06-12-2011, 14:54

There's very little reason why you can't run both at the same time. All it takes is a Quad LNB (4 outputs) and some extra cable to the Freesat TV.

Nigel Goodwin · 06-12-2011, 14:58

You also don't have to pay Sky £10 for HD, you just need a Sky HD box (which is the standard install now) which gives you more free HD than Freesat (or Freeview) does.

But as already suggested it's perfectly easy (and normal) to have both if you really want to.

chrisjr · 06-12-2011, 14:59

The best way by far is to run a separate cable from the LNB on the dish to the TV. Leave the Sky box alone. That way you can use the Sky box as you do now and just dial up a Freesat channel on the telly with out having to faff about changing cables.

It also means the Sky box won't stop recording (assuming you have a + box) randomly when you unplug one of it's satellite feeds.

Believe me if you go down the plug/unplug route you will be banging on the doors of the local loony bin asking to be put in a padded cell after a week as it will drive you to distraction

And of course one day you WILL forget to plug up the Sky box in readiness for that programme that you simply cannot afford to miss!

If you value an easy life and your sanity get a cable run from the dish so the TV and the Sky box have their own completely separate feeds.

grahamlthompson · 06-12-2011, 15:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by melaniem

Hi all,
I currently have Sky but am likely to buy a new TV with integrated Freesat. How easy is it to retain both platforms and switch from one to the other, eg so i can use Freesat for HD viewing and not have to fork out a tenner a month Sky?

Do i just switch the satellite cable and scart? I guess I lose any planned recordings on Sky if I temporarily switch to Freesat?

Any advice welcome!

Without paying the £10.00 you can't use the Sky+ box to record. Presumably as you are recording you will already have a quad lnb so just need an extra coax from a lnb spare output to the TV to use the tuner. There's no interaction between the two.

melaniem · 06-12-2011, 15:55

Many thanks for all the speedy responses - I suspect you are right that trying to change inputs will send me mad!

chrisjr · 06-12-2011, 16:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by melaniem

Many thanks for all the speedy responses - I suspect you are right that trying to change inputs will send me mad!

It would be easy if you could split satellite feeds in the same way you can aerial feeds. But sadly that isn't really possible for all sorts of techie reasons that you probably don't want to know about

If it were possible then you could simply split one of the existing Sky feeds into two to feed the Sky box and the TV. No swapping round of cables required then. But as I say that isn't really an option so a separate feed for the telly from the dish is the way to go.

stanandjan · 07-12-2011, 12:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin

You also don't have to pay Sky £10 for HD, you just need a Sky HD box (which is the standard install now) which gives you more free HD than Freesat (or Freeview) does.

That's interesting to me Nigel as my wife has a standard SKY SD Remote in all rooms..
Obviously the HD box feeds out HDMI but is there also a Modulator in the unit?
If it does provide this facility then I suppose that we would need an HD type Remote in all the rooms too?
Thks

Stan

06-12-2011, 14:28	#1
melaniem Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 363	Using both Sky and Freesat Hi all, I currently have Sky but am likely to buy a new TV with integrated Freesat. How easy is it to retain both platforms and switch from one to the other, eg so i can use Freesat for HD viewing and not have to fork out a tenner a month Sky? Do i just switch the satellite cable and scart? I guess I lose any planned recordings on Sky if I temporarily switch to Freesat? Any advice welcome!

06-12-2011, 14:54	#2
Chris Frost Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Cheshire Posts: 6,462	There's very little reason why you can't run both at the same time. All it takes is a Quad LNB (4 outputs) and some extra cable to the Freesat TV.

06-12-2011, 14:58	#3
Nigel Goodwin Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Derbyshire Posts: 41,789	You also don't have to pay Sky £10 for HD, you just need a Sky HD box (which is the standard install now) which gives you more free HD than Freesat (or Freeview) does. But as already suggested it's perfectly easy (and normal) to have both if you really want to.

06-12-2011, 14:59	#4
chrisjr Forum Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Reading Posts: 27,916	The best way by far is to run a separate cable from the LNB on the dish to the TV. Leave the Sky box alone. That way you can use the Sky box as you do now and just dial up a Freesat channel on the telly with out having to faff about changing cables. It also means the Sky box won't stop recording (assuming you have a + box) randomly when you unplug one of it's satellite feeds. Believe me if you go down the plug/unplug route you will be banging on the doors of the local loony bin asking to be put in a padded cell after a week as it will drive you to distraction And of course one day you WILL forget to plug up the Sky box in readiness for that programme that you simply cannot afford to miss! If you value an easy life and your sanity get a cable run from the dish so the TV and the Sky box have their own completely separate feeds.

06-12-2011, 15:00	#5
grahamlthompson Forum Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Redditch Worcs Posts: 17,293	Quote: Originally Posted by melaniem Hi all, I currently have Sky but am likely to buy a new TV with integrated Freesat. How easy is it to retain both platforms and switch from one to the other, eg so i can use Freesat for HD viewing and not have to fork out a tenner a month Sky? Do i just switch the satellite cable and scart? I guess I lose any planned recordings on Sky if I temporarily switch to Freesat? Any advice welcome! Without paying the £10.00 you can't use the Sky+ box to record. Presumably as you are recording you will already have a quad lnb so just need an extra coax from a lnb spare output to the TV to use the tuner. There's no interaction between the two.

06-12-2011, 15:55	#6
melaniem Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 363	Many thanks for all the speedy responses - I suspect you are right that trying to change inputs will send me mad!

06-12-2011, 16:40	#7
chrisjr Forum Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Reading Posts: 27,916	Quote: Originally Posted by melaniem Many thanks for all the speedy responses - I suspect you are right that trying to change inputs will send me mad! It would be easy if you could split satellite feeds in the same way you can aerial feeds. But sadly that isn't really possible for all sorts of techie reasons that you probably don't want to know about If it were possible then you could simply split one of the existing Sky feeds into two to feed the Sky box and the TV. No swapping round of cables required then. But as I say that isn't really an option so a separate feed for the telly from the dish is the way to go.

07-12-2011, 12:44	#8
stanandjan Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Scouser in Chilterns Posts: 711	Quote: Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin You also don't have to pay Sky £10 for HD, you just need a Sky HD box (which is the standard install now) which gives you more free HD than Freesat (or Freeview) does. That's interesting to me Nigel as my wife has a standard SKY SD Remote in all rooms.. Obviously the HD box feeds out HDMI but is there also a Modulator in the unit? If it does provide this facility then I suppose that we would need an HD type Remote in all the rooms too? Thks Stan

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Using both Sky and Freesat