Could someone please advise me. Sky/Freeview.

[greenphotos]

Hiya all.

I've got a Sky dish and cable running into the house, it was left by the previous owners of the house.

Can someone please explain the difference between Freeview, and Sky Digital etc. Does Freeview use the dish?

I don't want all the channels, just the standard BBC 1,2, ITV, C4 and C5 etc but in digital quiality.

I'm not looking to spend a lot of money, (as I don't have much at the moment (darn car ) and was wondering what my options are.

Also thinking of getting broadband internet soon I hope...

Thanks!

Mark

[Chris Muriel]

Freeview refers to the digital terrestrial service which is viewable with a Freeview STB (Set Top Box) and provides all the channels you mentioned + some more. It uses a normal TV aerial.
Freeview STBs cost from 50-100 quid and , in many cases, can use your existing analogue TV aerial.
It is non subsciption and so would be your best option at present.
The $ky dish you have requires a satellite STB to make use of it ; some channels can be received with an open standard settop box , available from about 60-200 quid ; these channels are known as FTA - "Free To Air" because they have no encryption.
Otherwise a $ky box will get you more channels but needs a 20 quid card to get some of them ; I belive this card is still needed for ITV and Channel 4 - though this could change soon.
Personally I would go for the Freeview option.

Chris Muriel, Manchester.

[happyh]

Sky will install the whole lot for £150, with just the free channels available but no subscription at all. But there are loads more channels than freeview
Or they will selll you the card at £20 if you have your own kit.

http://www.freesatfromsky.co.uk/?pID=3

[Chris Muriel]

But the £20 card does require you to have a $ky digibox.
A normal CI (Common Interface) STB won't do.

Chris Muriel, Manchester