Visit Wotsat.com for daily news, reviews and updates from the world of digital TV, or join our forums.

Want to see more?

Step-by-step guides to understanding digital TV

ABC guide to...

Top 10 Freesat questions

Freesat Freeview euro tv skyThe best kit, The best programmes

2 What Satellite & Digital TV

Your top 10 questions answeredWe’ve rounded up the 10 most popular questions you’ve asked us about Freesat since its May 2008 launch

FreesatWhat does Freesat offer?The Freesat package comprises

about 75 digital TV channels in standard definition, plus a couple of channels in high definition (HD) and more than 25 digital radio stations. Freesat also provides interactive services (background information, news and games) alongside many of the channels, and a full onscreen 7-day guide to the programmes on all the TV channels (the EPG). Freesat already offers more channels than Freeview, and in 2009 is expected to include about 200 TV and radio channels.

Every channel is subscription-free, so you pay only for the receiver, the dish and installation (if not DIY). There’s no continuing charge or any contract.

Which satellite does Freesat use?The Freesat channels broadcast

from the same satellites as Sky Digital – Astra 2A, 2B 2C and 2D satellites and Eurobird 1 – all at the 28°E position.

In fact, it is the same transmissions that are used for both Sky Digital and Freesat.

01

02

So, BBC One on Freesat uses the same signals as a BBC One on Sky (or even BBC One picked up with an independent satellite receiver).

Is a Freesat system the only route to free UK satellite TV?

No. There are hundreds of free-to-air (FTA) satellite TV channels broadcasting to the UK and, although many are part of the Freesat package, most of the same channels are also part of Sky Digital and can be viewed without a subscription with a ‘Freesat from Sky’ system.

All the FTA channels can also be watched with an independent satellite receiver, but the Freesat and Sky packages provide a more comprehensive EPG and automate the tuning of the receiver and keeping it updated. The same goes for high-definition satellite TV. Most HD channels are encrypted and available only through Sky, but all the FTA HD channels (including BBC HD) can be viewed with a Freesat HD, Sky HD, or independent HD receiver – except ITV HD channel, which is currently exclusive to Freesat.

03

Freesat and Sky share the same group of satellites at 28°E, so one dish can be used to feed either a Freesat or Sky receiver – or even both

If you’ve already got a Sky dish for your main TV, fit a quad LNB and put Freesat receivers next to all your other TVs, or get a Freesat PVR

Freesat receivers Do I have to use a special receiver to get Freesat?

Any satellite receiver that you can buy in the UK, connected to a suitable dish, will receive the Freesat channels. But only official Freesat receivers (with a Freesat logo on the front) can make use of Freesat’s programme guide and interactive services because these use the proprietary MHEG-5 programming system – which is not found on Sky Digiboxes or independent satellite receivers.

Sky boxes can access Sky’s own EPG and interactive services, but most independent receivers provide no interactive services and only details for the current and next programmes on the selected channel.

How do I choose between the Freesat receivers?

All the official Freesat receivers can do the same basic job – they receive the Freesat TV, radio and interactive services and the Freesat seven-day EPG. The external design of the receivers, the look of the

04

05

Single LNB (1 output)

Sky Digibox (1 output)

Up to 3 additional Freesat SD or HD (1 input each)

Additional Freesat+ recorder(2 inputs) and

Freesat SD or HD (1 input)

+ QUAD

ABC gUIDe To

What Satellite & Digital TV 3

ABC guide to...

Freesat optionsSky Digibox and single LNB (top): Replace Sky with a Freesat SD or HD receiver on the same dish

Sky+ and quad LNB (middle): Add two Freesat receivers or a Freesat+ recorder

Sky+, Digibox and quad LNB (bottom): Add one Freesat receiver or replace the Digibox with a Freesat+ recorder

menu screens and the additional features they include vary from model to model.

There are also some differences in the picture and sound quality obtainable from different makes and models, but all receivers must perform to a reasonable standard to earn the Freesat logo.

You must select a Freesat HD receiver for the Freesat HD channels. This will provide all the standard-definition channels as well as the HD programmes.

Can I use a Freesat receiver to get Sky?

Not exactly. A Freesat receiver doesn’t have the CAM and card slot for the encrypted (pay-TV) Sky channels, and it is not able to access the Sky EPG and interactive services.

But if you are prepared to do a bit of work programming the menus, then a Freesat box can be used simply to watch FTA TV and listen to FTA radio, without the additional services.

installation Can I install the Freesat dish myself?

The same dealer who sells you a Freesat receiver can also arrange a reasonably priced installation package, but with some practical DIY knowledge you can install a dish for Freesat. It requires finding a suitable spot on your property for the dish, fixing it securely in place, aligning it accurately on the satellite and connecting up the receiver inside the home.

This is no task for the faint-hearted and without experience or the right signal strength measuring equipment you may not be able to achieve a satisfactory installation.

What’s more, you’ll have to source your own dish, LNB, cable and so on, as this is included in the price of the installation package and does not come with the receiver.

Can I use my Sky dish for a Freesat receiver?

Yes. Because Freesat and Sky Digital use the same signals from the same satellites the dish is interchangeable. If you already have a working Sky Digital system you can either replace the Sky Digibox with a Freesat box, or run both receivers off the same dish (subject to any contract you have with Sky).

If you want to use both Freesat and Sky receivers from the same dish, it must be fitted with a quad LNB, which can provide

06

07

toolkitWhat you need to install it yourself n Signal strength metern Wall fixings and toolsn Cable n Connectors

08

glossary

Free-to-air (FTA)Channels which are broadcast without encryption and do not require any payment to view. Some Sky Digital channels (notably, the regional variations of Channel 4 and the Five channels) do not need a subscription but are nevertheless encrypted to restrict access to UK residents.

MHEG-5Proprietary software (so-called ‘middleware’) used in some receivers, including Freeview and Freesat boxes, to handle multimedia presentations such as EPG and interactive services, alongside the actual TV reception. All Freesat receivers must include MHEG-5 software.

four outputs. Each Freesat or Sky receiver needs one output and the Sky+ and the forthcoming Freesat PVR receivers need two. If you have a Sky+ or Sky Multiroom system your dish will have a quad LNB.

in the home How do I connect a Freesat receiver to my TV?

A Freesat receiver connects directly to a TV via a Scart cable. This carries both the picture and sound signals to the TV set. Unlike most other satellite receivers (including Sky Digiboxes), there is no UHF modulator in most Freesat receivers so you cannot ‘loopthrough’ the aerial connection to your TV.

Freesat HD receivers must be connected to an HD-Ready TV set to make full use of the high-resolution pictures. The connection is made via HDMI or YPbPr, and your installer will do this for you if you are unsure. Freesat receivers

09

also have audio outputs that can be connected to a hi-fi or surround sound system to get the most from the digital radio stations and TV soundtracks.

How can I watch Freesat channels on other TVs in the home?

It’s not as easy to distribute satellite TV from a Freesat receiver to other TVs around the home as it is with a Sky Digibox or most independent receivers because of the lack of a modulated output. But you can use an external modulator, or CAT5 (computer networking cable) distribution system such as the Blue Delta Milestone to send the composite video and stereo audio signals from the Freesat box’s Scart output to extra sets in the bedroom or kitchen. This will also carry the IR remote control commands back to the Freesat receiver, so you can, say, change channel from your bed n Geoff Bains

10

Single LNB (1 output)

Quad LNB (1 output)

Quad LNB (4 outputs)

Sky Digibox (1 output)

Sky+ (2 inputs)

Sky+ or Sky+ HD (2 inputs) and Sky Digibox (1 input)

Replacement Freesat SD or HD (1 input)

Up to 2 additional Freesat SD or HD (1 input each)

Additional Freesat SD or HD (1 input)

Additional Freesat+ recorder (2 inputs)

Replacement Freesat+ recorder (2 inputs)