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Freesat versus Freeview. What’s Best for You?

Freesat versus Freeview. What's Best for You?

Hot on the heels of Freeview digital TV, Sky has come up with its own subscription-free digital TV option in the form of Freesat, Freesat HD and Freesat+.

Similarly to Freeview, Freesat is received via a set top box. There’s a one-off payment of around £175 (depending on any TV aerial installation costs) and there is no monthly subscription. Included in the one-off payment is the Freesat set top box, mini Sky dish and viewing card (included to make upgrading to Sky TV’s monthly subscription packages as quick, cheap and easy as possible) Of course prices can vary a little depending on what type of TV aerial installation you might require.

Remember a few blog entries ago when we told you about the magnificent 40 channels or Freeview? Sky Freesat boasts a massive 240 channels including music, films, sports, documentaries, and comedy – all the favourites that have made Sky TV the monolith of media we recognise it as today.

The most recent revolutionary addition to the Sky family is Freesat HD. You’ll need to make sure your current Freesat set top box is HD compatible, otherwise an upgrade could be in order.

Also on offer is the fabulous Freesat+ option, with which your remote becomes almost like a magic wand. Freesat+ enables you to record, pause and rewind live TV, and set programmes to record the same show weekly. You could pause Life on Earth while you nip to make a cup of tea, leaving you wondering how you ever lived without Freesat+ set top boxes before.

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Please complete the enquiry form below, and send your details to our customer service team. Once you have completed this form, one of our engineers will contact you to discuss your requirements further and to arrange a suitable appointment.

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Common Problems – Digital Set Box Crashed?

freeview tv

Common Problems – Digital Set Box Crashed?

A common yet easily rectifiable problem when watching your favourite digital television programmes, is for your pictures to freeze or not appear, and your digital set top box (which is used for either Sky, BBC Freesat or Freeview systems) to stop responding to any commands to change the channel or enter the menu.

Digital set top boxes (or satellite receivers in general) are like mini computers, and are prone to crashing which is where the software fails to operate as expected and cannot be operated by traditional methods.

The solution to rectify this problem, and return either your Freeview, Sky or BBC Freesat satellite receiver to a functional state, a reset of the box will be required.

We have outlined below the necessary procedure to perform a reset:

For BBC Freesat, Sky Digital & Freeview Receivers:

  • Unplug the set top box from the power socket for approximately five minutes. This allows the receiver to power down and clear it’s memory
  • Reconnect the set top box and allow the software approximately one minute to load itself correctly
  • Take the receiver off standby mode by pressing the power button on either the box or the remote control.
  • If successful, your digital television channels should be ok and watchable, and you should be able to change channel as expected.

If you have a Sky Digital satellite receiver and the above method didn’t cure your problems, you may need to perform a ‘system download’ to force the box to download the latest software and channels.

To perform a system download for Sky, follow the instructions below:

  • Unplug/Turn off the power supply powering the Sky digital(Sky, Sky+ or Sky HD) receiver.
  • Hold you finger down on the ‘backup’ button located on the front of the receiver (Please note, holding the backup button on the remote control will not work)
  • Reconnect the receiver or turn the power back on at the supply, whilst pressing down the backup button
  • After approximately 15 seconds, lights should appear on the front of your Sky digital receiver, and a message on screen explaining a download is in process – DO NOT SWITCH OFF THE RECEIVER!
  • Allow this process upto 15 minutes to perform fully. Once completed, the Sky digital receiver will automatically go to standby mode by default.
  • Press the power button on your remote control, and your Sky digital viewing service should be resumed!

If the above procedures do not cure your home viewing problems, there may be something else in your digital system which could be causing a disruption to your service, such as, the satellite dish or aerial, cabling or even slight mis-alignment or your satellite dish or TV aerial. A visit from an highly trained Aerialforce engineer can help fully diagnose the fault, and implement a remedial course of action.

Book Online

Please complete the enquiry form below, and send your details to our customer service team. Once you have completed this form, one of our engineers will contact you to discuss your requirements further and to arrange a suitable appointment.

Free Estimates for new installations

Free Estimates*