[Technology] Using a SKY HD "box" for Freesat

[Papak]

Hello All,

Due to the recent BBC standard definition switch off, my incredibly old Sky box can no longer receive the affected BBC channels.

I have neve been a Sky subscriber or owned a viewing card etc.

Can I use a DRX890 box without anything other than electrickery and a dish, signal cables etc. to watch these BBC channels in HD?


Library photo for @Chicken Run

Thanks!!

 

[Chicken Run]

Hello All,

Due to the recent BBC standard definition switch off, my incredibly old Sky box can no longer receive the affected BBC channels.

I have neve been a Sky subscriber or owned a viewing card etc.

Can I use a DRX890 box without anything other than electrickery and a dish, signal cables etc. to watch these BBC channels in HD?

View attachment 175690


Thanks!!

Silly question I know but why don’t you try it?

 

[Cotton Socks]

Yes, you should be able to as long as the box is HD. I didn't even know that SD had been turned off!
Have you just tried rescanning your old box? Channels occasionally 'move'.
Edit ignore the channel moving bit, as long as the box is HD, it will work.
.

 

[Papak]

Silly question I know but why don’t you try it?

I don't currently have a box, the image was from Google so that folks who don't know the model designation would know what I was intending to source if it would work.

 

[Chicken Run]

I don't currently have a box, the image was from Google so that folks who don't know the model designation would know what I was intending to source if it would work.

Ahh ok, I know my father in law uses that type of box connected to a dish and watches free to air chans without a card in there?

 

[Cotton Socks]

I don't currently have a box, the image was from Google so that folks who don't know the model designation would know what I was intending to source if it would work.

If it's an HD receiver box, it will work. You don't need a 'sky' box you can just get a HD sat box from anywhere.

 

[Since1982]

BBC might have turned off SD but the SE News still looks to me like it’s been shot with a Super 8 cine camera.

 

[dazzer6666]

Hello All,

Due to the recent BBC standard definition switch off, my incredibly old Sky box can no longer receive the affected BBC channels.

I have neve been a Sky subscriber or owned a viewing card etc.

Can I use a DRX890 box without anything other than electrickery and a dish, signal cables etc. to watch these BBC channels in HD?


Library photo for @Chicken Run
View attachment 175690


Thanks!!

Yep……you should see all the free to air channels in the same way (not ‘freesat’ though which is a different service). No viewing card needed.

 

[thedonkeycentrehalf]

I did this a few years ago. Bought a Sky box from the British Heart Foundation shop for a tenner, connected it up to the old satellite dish and it worked fine for freesat viewing but it won't record.

When we moved house and didn't need it, I donated the box back to the BHF to sell again.

 

[Easy 10]

BBC might have turned off SD but the SE News still looks to me like it’s been shot with a Super 8 cine camera.

Agreed, the definition is appalling. It looks like there's clingwrap across the screen.

 

[Cotton Socks]

Yep……you should see all the free to air channels in the same way (not ‘freesat’ though which is a different service). No viewing card needed.

Free to air channels is what is known as 'Freeview' & you need an aerial. Freesat is via a sat dish which is what @Papak has and it's called Freesat, you don't need to pay or get any cards, you just need a Freesat (HD) receiver and a dish pointing at the Astra satellite which I think is 28.2 degrees (if the satellite and degrees are right, I'm officially tragic).
Edit... just checked, I'm officially tragic.

 

[dazzer6666]

Free to air channels is what is known as 'Freeview' & you need an aerial. Freesat is via a sat dish which is what @Papak has and it's called Freesat, you don't need to pay or get any cards, you just need a Freesat (HD) receiver and a dish pointing at the Astra satellite which I think is 28.2 degrees (if the satellite and degrees are right, I'm officially tragic).
Edit... just checked, I'm officially tragic.

Correct, I was confused between freesat and freeview

 

[Cotton Socks]

Correct, I was confused between freesat and freeview

This was one of those occasions where I was hoping someone would say I was wrong, especially as I don't use a sat dish anymore, It's there for back up now!
@Papak just type into Amazon via NSC link 'hd freesat receiver' there are loads and you can record on some.

 

[Papak]

Thanks all, I will try and source a box on FB Marketplace as there are quite a few about and less than a tenner!!

 

[BNthree]

Thanks all, I will try and source a box on FB Marketplace as there are quite a few about and less than a tenner!!

You should be able to use that Sky box you have already but you will need to reposition the satellite dish to the Astra 28.2°E satellite (if the dish is pointing towards the Sky satellite).

 

[Papak]

You should be able to use that Sky box you have already but you will need to reposition the satellite dish to the Astra 28.2°E satellite (if the dish is pointing towards the Sky satellite).

I have an old white box not the image in my OP which is what I believe I need to source.

I'll post the model number etc. later when I'm home.

Thanks

 

[Cotton Socks]

You should be able to use that Sky box you have already but you will need to reposition the satellite dish to the Astra 28.2°E satellite (if the dish is pointing towards the Sky satellite).

Sky uses the Astra satellite. If you go down the street and look at where the dishes are facing they'll all be pointing the same direction, unless someone is picking up channels from diff satellites to perhaps watch the football or something.

 

[Originunknown]

Thanks all, I will try and source a box on FB Marketplace as there are quite a few about and less than a tenner!!

I have a spare sky+ HD box and a dish if you would like them. It can be used as a freesat box yes, with the correct LNB type on the dish (not wideband like the Q dish)

 

[BNthree]

I have an old white box not the image in my OP which is what I believe I need to source.

I'll post the model number etc. later when I'm home.

Thanks

Ah OK, know someone that uses the same box as the picture and that works.

 

[Papak]

I have an old white box not the image in my OP which is what I believe I need to source.

I'll post the model number etc. later when I'm home.

Thanks

I have one of these currently (Amstrad DRX280):