Is it worth keeping Sky+ box

[rodpat]

Hi All
Today I've had to cancel my Sky subscription. I won't bore you with the details but due to my dad dying, we've had to cut our costs and Sky were unable to match the deal Virgin are offering so we have switched which was unfortunate as I love my Sky+, Sky HD and broadband and never had a problem with it.
Anyway, I'd just like to know whether it's worth keeping my Sky+ box and using it as a freeview box?
I've read on the forums that I can't use the record facility but that I can get some freeview channels with my expired sky card or do i need to pay a one-off fee to receive these channels?
I also have a Panasonic HDD/DVD recorder however my freeview signal from the aerial is poor so I never use it to record direct from freeview so was wondering if i could hook the Sky+ up to the Panasonic and then have the ability to record?
I'm just asking as the V+ box only gives me 80hrs recording so wanted to have a bit more space if possible.

Thanks for all your help,
Rod

[Broadz]

You can't get Freeview through a Sky box - Freeview is only accessible through a TV aerial - but you can get Freesat channels through a Sky box without a card - plus a few extra channels if you leave your expired Sky card in the box.

There are a lot more Freesat channels than Freeview channels - though most of the Freeview channels are included. All the BBCs, ITVs, shopping channels etc. To see what you will get, just take the card out of the box and start scrolling up and down the channel list.