Freesat Frequently Asked Questions
About Freesat
What is Freesat?
Freesat is a new service offered within the UK to provide free digital TV and Radio via satellite. After a one off payment to purchase the box (and installation/dish if required), you can access a wealth of TV channels and radio for free - no monthly subscriptions required!
How many channels can I get?
Freesat has over 80 digital TV and radio channels and is growing all the time. This also includes some High Definiton channels such as BBC HD and ITV HD (see the related question for more information on high definition).
Is Freesat available in my area?
Freesat has a very high coverage area (98% of the UK) and is available to nearly all homes, even those not covered by Freeview.
A more common problem is installing a satellite dish. If you don't own your home you will normally need the landlord's permission to put up a satellite dish, and if you live in a high rise block of flats, getting the dish installed can be troublesome if not impossible due to the height. People living in communal flats such as residential homes, retirement homes and shelters can also find it difficult to get the dish installed.
What equipment will I need?
You will need a Freesat set top box (which can be found on the main page of this site), a television and a satellite dish. If you already have a Sky satellite dish, you can use this, or if you've having your Freesat box installed, nearly all installations include the price of the dish and installing it. For more information on the equipment and connecting the set top box to your TV, see the Installation FAQ.
How much does all this cost?
Freesat boxes range from £49.99 for a standard definition box to £299.99 for a high definition recorder box - you can get as good or as simple as you need. Installation is normally around £80 for one non-recording box (or £100 for one that records), and usually includes the dish and setup (all of the retailers listed on our Installation page do).
£130 may sound a lot, but this gives you access to a better picture, higher quality sound and more choice, all with no monthly subscription charges!
So there's no subscription fee?
No! Unless you choose to subscribe to some of the pay TV channels that will inevitably appear on Freesat, such as the ESPN sports channel), you'll never have to pay a subscription fee for Freesat, no matter how many boxes you have. The only thing you will need to have is a TV license - only fair really, as the BBC have a large stake in Freesat.
Can I have a Freesat box in more than one room? And if so, how much extra does it cost for installation of these?
Yes, you can buy multiple Freesat boxes and have them installed. Each non-recording Freesat box after the single one provided for in the £80 installation costs about £20 extra, while each recorder box costs about £40 extra, as these normally need two connections to be able to record one channel while watching another. For more information on how many connections you will need for your proposed setup, visit our Installation FAQ.
Do subtitles and audio description work with Freesat?
Yes - not only do they work, but subtitles and audio description will be enhanced by the use of Freesat. Subtitles on Freesat are much clearer and easier to read, and audio description can normally be turned on and off at will for almost everything. As new technologies are developed for helping those with problems hearing or seeing the TV, Freesat is one of the few broadcasting technologies futureproof enough to be able to adapt for these.
Can I still get Ceefax or Teletext on Freesat?
The old style Ceefax and Teletext services are being withdrawn as analogue is switched off, and are being replaced with new digital services. These are much clearer, easier to use and can contain pictures too, as well as being much easier to navigate as they no longer rely on page numbers but contain a menu structure. Look forward to a new and informative service that still contains all the best parts of Ceefax and Teletext!Freesat versus Freeview and the Competition
I've got a Freeview box already. Can I just replace it with my Freesat one?
No. Freesat boxes use satellite dishes, whereas Freeview uses an aerial. This means they have two different types of input, and you cannot use a Freesat box with an aerial in the same way you can't use a Freeview box with a satellite dish. The same goes for TVs with built in Freeview - they can't receive Freesat without a Freesat box being plugged into them.
Does this mean I can't have both Freeview and Freesat boxes in my house?
Not at all. You can have both Freeview and Freesat boxes in your house so long as they run off their correct connections. If you have an aerial that receives Freeview and is powering a Freeview box in your bedroom, installing a satellite dish and having Freesat in your living room will not affect it.
So other than the way they connect, what's the difference between Freesat and Freeview?
Freesat uses satellites, which can reach a much greater area and means better coverage for everyone. It has much more space available to broadcast, meaning that Freesat can have many more channels than Freeview, and can also broadcast more high definition channels. The technology is more adaptable, more reliable and less likely to be affected by geographical obstacles.
Freeview relies on broadcasting from ground-based TV transmitters, not all of which have been upgraded yet to broadcast it. It can be blocked by hills or other natural obstacles, and still doesn't cover as much of the population as Freesat does, even years after its launch. Freeview is very cheap, so long as your aerial is in good enough condition to support it, but Freesat is better quality, more reliable and more futureproof.So what's this about Freesat from Sky?
Freesat from Sky is a service that includes a basic Sky box, installation and dish. It can vary in cost from £75 to £150, making it cheaper than standard Freesat in many cases. However it doesn't include high definition, which is one of the main reasons for buying Freesat over Freeview, and expect some marketing from Sky - for example you get 4 months access to the Sky basic package free when you take Freesat from Sky - but they'll continue to charge you for it after the 4 months unless you tell them you don't want it.
It's a great basic package for those who can't get Freeview but don't want or need high definition, but for anyone looking for a better picture or a recording facility, it's best to stick with Freesat that's not from Sky.
So why would I choose Freesat over Sky or Virgin Media?
No monthly subscription! While Sky and Virgin Media both have great channel listings including Sky Sports and Movies, unless you require access to these premium channels you're better off with Freesat. It's a one-off cost - from then on you'll pay nothing more than your TV licence!
Why get a Freesat box and not a standard free-to-air satellite box?
While a free-to-air box is very similar to a Freesat box, it's lacking one major thing. Most don't contain the access codes required for channels such as Channel 4 and 5, which are encrypted on the Astra satellites (the ones that both Sky and Freesat use). This is the different between free to air and free to view - free to air channels are unprotected, while free to view ones have some protection on them. Freesat boxes have the permissions required to access the protected channels like Channel 4 and 5 (completley legally and with their approval!).
Also, Freesat boxes are generally aimed much more at the mass market, meaning they're usually made by much bigger manufacturers with better technical support and easier-to-use interfaces.
Features of Freesat
What is the EPG, or Electronic Programming Guide?
The EPG is an on-screen display that clearly and concisely lists what's on each channel. You can browse it easily using the arrows on your remote, going through the list of channels seeing what's on now, and able to see what's on for up to seven days in advance. You can easily set reminders that will alert you when the program is about to start, and set things to record simply through the EPG.
What's a Personal Video Recorder, or PVR?
A PVR is the technical name for a Freesat recorder.
Ok, so what does a Freesat recorder allow me to do?
A Freesat recorder allows you to record Freesat programs, and most will allow you to watch one Freesat channel while recording another. Due to this recording capability, they can also rewind and pause live TV - so if you paused a football match to answer the phone, and came back 10 minutes later, you'd be able to carry on watching from where you paused it - you'd just stay 10 minutes behind the live match.
Recording on a Freesat recorder is easy - you simply load up the guide, choose the program you'd like to record and hit the record button. No complex numbers to remember, or having to manually enter start and finish times - it's all done with a simple press of a button. You can even record an entire series (which counts as every unique episode that's on the channel you're recording) on most recorders simply by selecting to "Record Series" when choosing a program to record.