Summary: This article answers questions about the UK digital television satellite system "Sky Digital": the equipment needed for reception, and channels and services carried. This FAQ primarily describes the Sky Digital package as provided to UK residents. Residents of the ROI may not have full access to all the features or channels, nor may the purchase subsidy or its UK requirements necessarily be applicable to them. Residents of other countries should be aware that much of the Sky Digital service is supposedly restricted to people with the use of a UK or ROI address.
These are the questions that are answered here:
1 >This problem just started with my digibox ...... 2 >How do I find a list of extra frequencies and channels? 3 >Where are the foreign channels? 4 >Can I get BBC 1's Scottish/Welsh/N Ireland version, instead of the English version, or vice-versa? 5 >Is it true you can't record Box Office movies? 6 >What's all this Freeview/Freesat business? 7 >I don't want to subscribe, I don't have a card or my card is old - what about me? 8 >What channels can I get? 9 >Why doesn't Skyview, the subscriber magazine, list all the programmes available? 10 >Which is the best box? 11 >What connections are there on the back? 12 >How much do they cost? 13 >What are those letter codes in the programme information banner? 14 >Do I get a choice of box? 15 >How do I get an extra remote control? 16 >My remote control doesn't do all of my television features. 17 >I have a One-4-All replacement remote. How do I programme it? 18 >How can I watch Sky throughout the house? 19 >How can I watch two different channels in two rooms? 20 >I've installed my TV Link but it doesn't work. 21 >Can I use my card in another box? 22 >What's with this phone connection? 23 >Do Sky telephone the box? 24 >Will the telephone connection mess up my internet? 25 >Where is the timer and programme planner? 26 >My signal strength seems a bit low - is this a problem? 27 >Is the picture affected by weather? 28 >But my picture freezes even when it's not raining 29 >My box is dead/not responding/freezing etc. What can I do? 30 >My box works but I can't get ITV/BBC 31 >How do I force a software download? 32 >Can I change the output channel that my digibox broadcasts on? 33 >I can't get rid of reminders or favourites in the EPG. 34 >How do I access the installer menu? 35 >Can I change the preset channel numbers? 36 >How does it all connect up? 37 >PAL or RGB? 38 >When I go into RGB mode, the picture jumps to the left. How can I stop this? 39 >What's in widescreen? 40 >Why do I have vertical black bars on my widescreen television? 41 >Why do I have bars at the top and bottom on my widescreen television? 42 >Is standard teletext still available? 43 >But I can't get analogue teletext on any channel... 44 >What about Sky+ and HD? 45 >What is interactive? What's "Sky Active"? What's "PlayJam"? 46 >That interactive red button drives me mad. What can I do? 47 >Can I surf the internet? E-mail? 48 >When do I get my interactive card? 49 >I'm moving. What about my dish? 50 >How can I get Sky outside the UK? 51 >Where can I discuss Sky Digital further? 52 >Where can I learn more about satellite and Sky Digital? 53 >This FAQ is rubbish. What can I do?
And here is where the answers start:
1
>This problem just started with my digibox .......
The very first thing to try if your box is doing strange things is to reset it. Remove your card. Put the digibox in standby. Switch the box off at the mains for at least 30 seconds. While unplugged, remove the card and clean it gently with a tissue. Switch the mains back on. Allow the box to restart which takes about 30 seconds. Insert viewing card when prompted. This cures most common problems. If it doesn't work then you can look a bit further for the solution to yours.
2
>How do I find a list of extra frequencies and channels?
The "add channels" function is there so that if a satellite channel wishes to start up but not pay for inclusion in the electronic programme guide, they can still be accessed by viewers, using the "Services" menu. You can use this feature to access all the ITV regional channels and quite a few extra radio channels. Many channels also have test transmissions prior to launch and these can also be accessed in the same way. See www.lyngsat.com for full lists of all channels. You can now find all the main BBC channels listed in the EPG from around channel 940.
3
>Where are the foreign channels?
Sky Digital comes from a different satellite, in a different position, than analogue Sky - so you won't get any of the old German channels that you used to get from analogue Sky. The digibox is not a fully-featured digital receiver, can only pick up certain digital channels, and has no facility for adding other decoding modules for other satellite operators. Despite that, there are some channels that are available to you if you have a motorized dish - again, the Lyngsat site carries full details. However, be aware that by moving your dish away from the Sky Digital satellite you may be operating the equipment outside the terms of your contract. If you use your digibox to view channels from another satellite you may find that it needs rebooting when switching back to Astra2. Try this workaround: After moving back to Sky at 28E, select ITN News (on EPG 525). Wait a few seconds and this channel should be received OK and then all the others should start working again too.
4
>Can I get BBC 1's Scottish/Welsh/N Ireland version, instead of the English version, or vice-versa?
All the BBC channels are now available from the EPG. See the frequency lists above.
5
>Is it true you can't record Box Office movies?
Yes, that's mainly true - they use Macrovision (which, incidentally, VCR tapes and DVDs also use). Sky say that most movie- makers insist on copy protection for pay-per-view channels. Not all Box Office movies (though the vast majority) are copy protected - any copy-protected programme is marked "C" in the information section of the EPG. Macrovision works by adding extra brightness pulses into the part of the signal that the TV doesn't normally display because of overscanning. The brightness pulses upset the automatic level control of the video which ends up overdimming the picture. Macrovision blockers are available, but to use them to breach copyright is illegal. Very, very old videos will record a Macrovision signal.
6
>What's all this Freeview/Freesat business?
Freeview is the digital system for terrestrial TV reception. It arrives via your regular TV antenna, cannot be received with a satellite dish and has nothing to do with Sky (though Sky do transmit a couple of channels on that platform). For Freesat (the satellite equivalent of Freeview) see the next answer.
7
>I don't want to subscribe, I don't have a card or my card is old - what about me?
You can use your box without a card to view the BBC and ITV channels that you are used to. You also get quite a few extra channels free (like BBC Three, BBC Four, ITV2, ITV3, ITV4, CNN, Sky News, Travel and many shopping and Asian channels). There are also many radio channels, some of them exclusively digital. Much of the output of the main broadcasters is in widescreen and all these are good reasons for getting a digibox even if you don't want to subscribe. All the above are FTA channels (Free To Air), meaning that you can watch them without a card and without payment (except for the equipment of course). The BBC and ITV call this Freesat. Now that the two main UK TV providers have joined forces in this it is likely that many more channels will join up and use the same term to describe the service. C4, C5 and Sky3 are currently FTV or Free To View, meaning that you can watch these channels without subscription but you will still need a card for copyright reasons. Sky call this FreesatFromSky. Confusing, isn't it? Any subscription card will give you these FTV channels but if you want to receive them without subscribing to Sky then you can ring 0870 606 1111 and ask for a card, or visit http://www.freesatfromsky.com/ where in the future you may be able to apply for a card also. The card costs £20.00 and will last for at least 3 years or more. These and all Sky cards can only be used officially in Sky digiboxes. You will need to provide a UK address with postcode and your credit card details to get this card. Caller ID is sometimes checked and overseas callers may be refused a card. For information about the situation in the ROI go to http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=55 for an Irish-based forum with answers to most of your questions in the Sticky FAQ
The card will be dispatched promptly by post to the given address. On arrival you should follow the instructions and insert it into the viewing card slot on the digibox. The card may activate on its own within a few hours or you may need to ring Sky to get them to activate it. If you do this you will need to give your digibox's serial number. You can also use the digibox's internal modem to activate the card. The digibox phone connection is NOT obligatory for FTV card use or activation. Once active, the card will decode the three FTV channels (C4, C5, Sky3) in any digibox. Older type viewing cards with a blue sky/clouds picture and the words "Sky Digital" on the front are no longer working.
If you don't have a digibox or dish and don't want to subscribe to Sky then you can get a digibox and dish installed by them for £150 which includes the cost of an FTV card. This is good value though you may be tempted to take the minimum subscription package instead as this costs very little more over the first year.
If you are currently a Sky subscriber then you do not need an FTV card. If ever you cancel then your existing card will continue to decode the three FTV channels until the next card change. You will NOT need to buy an FTV
Summary: This article answers questions about the UK digital television satellite system "Sky Digital": the equipment needed for reception, and channels and services carried. This FAQ primarily describes the Sky Digital package as provided to UK residents. Residents of the ROI may not have full access to all the features or channels, nor may the purchase subsidy or its UK requirements necessarily be applicable to them. Residents of other countries should be aware that much of the Sky Digital service is supposedly restricted to people with the use of a UK or ROI address.
These are the questions that are answered here:
1 >This problem just started with my digibox ...... 2 >How do I find a list of extra frequencies and channels? 3 >Where are the foreign channels? 4 >Can I get BBC 1's Scottish/Welsh/N Ireland version, instead of the English version, or vice-versa? 5 >Is it true you can't record Box Office movies? 6 >What's all this Freeview/Freesat business? 7 >I don't want to subscribe, I don't have a card or my card is old - what about me? 8 >What channels can I get? 9 >Why doesn't Skyview, the subscriber magazine, list all the programmes available? 10 >Which is the best box? 11 >What connections are there on the back? 12 >How much do they cost? 13 >What are those letter codes in the programme information banner? 14 >Do I get a choice of box? 15 >How do I get an extra remote control? 16 >My remote control doesn't do all of my television features. 17 >I have a One-4-All replacement remote. How do I programme it? 18 >How can I watch Sky throughout the house? 19 >How can I watch two different channels in two rooms? 20 >I've installed my TV Link but it doesn't work. 21 >Can I use my card in another box? 22 >What's with this phone connection? 23 >Do Sky telephone the box? 24 >Will the telephone connection mess up my internet? 25 >Where is the timer and programme planner? 26 >My signal strength seems a bit low - is this a problem? 27 >Is the picture affected by weather? 28 >But my picture freezes even when it's not raining 29 >My box is dead/not responding/freezing etc. What can I do? 30 >My box works but I can't get ITV/BBC 31 >How do I force a software download? 32 >Can I change the output channel that my digibox broadcasts on? 33 >I can't get rid of reminders or favourites in the EPG. 34 >How do I access the installer menu? 35 >Can I change the preset channel numbers? 36 >How does it all connect up? 37 >PAL or RGB? 38 >When I go into RGB mode, the picture jumps to the left. How can I stop this? 39 >What's in widescreen? 40 >Why do I have vertical black bars on my widescreen television? 41 >Why do I have bars at the top and bottom on my widescreen television? 42 >Is standard teletext still available? 43 >But I can't get analogue teletext on any channel... 44 >What about Sky+ and HD? 45 >What is interactive? What's "Sky Active"? What's "PlayJam"? 46 >That interactive red button drives me mad. What can I do? 47 >Can I surf the internet? E-mail? 48 >When do I get my interactive card? 49 >I'm moving. What about my dish? 50 >How can I get Sky outside the UK? 51 >Where can I discuss Sky Digital further? 52 >Where can I learn more about satellite and Sky Digital? 53 >This FAQ is rubbish. What can I do?
And here is where the answers start:
1
>This problem just started with my digibox .......
The very first thing to try if your box is doing strange things is to reset it. Remove your card. Put the digibox in standby. Switch the box off at the mains for at least 30 seconds. While unplugged, remove the card and clean it gently with a tissue. Switch the mains back on. Allow the box to restart which takes about 30 seconds. Insert viewing card when prompted. This cures most common problems. If it doesn't work then you can look a bit further for the solution to yours.
2
>How do I find a list of extra frequencies and channels?
The "add channels" function is there so that if a satellite channel wishes to start up but not pay for inclusion in the electronic programme guide, they can still be accessed by viewers, using the "Services" menu. You can use this feature to access all the ITV regional channels and quite a few extra radio channels. Many channels also have test transmissions prior to launch and these can also be accessed in the same way. See www.lyngsat.com for full lists of all channels. You can now find all the main BBC channels listed in the EPG from around channel 940.
3
>Where are the foreign channels?
Sky Digital comes from a different satellite, in a different position, than analogue Sky - so you won't get any of the old German channels that you used to get from analogue Sky. The digibox is not a fully-featured digital receiver, can only pick up certain digital channels, and has no facility for adding other decoding modules for other satellite operators. Despite that, there are some channels that are available to you if you have a motorized dish - again, the Lyngsat site carries full details. However, be aware that by moving your dish away from the Sky Digital satellite you may be operating the equipment outside the terms of your contract. If you use your digibox to view channels from another satellite you may find that it needs rebooting when switching back to Astra2. Try this workaround: After moving back to Sky at 28E, select ITN News (on EPG 525). Wait a few seconds and this channel should be received OK and then all the others should start working again too.
4
>Can I get BBC 1's Scottish/Welsh/N Ireland version, instead of the English version, or vice-versa?
All the BBC channels are now available from the EPG. See the frequency lists above.
5
>Is it true you can't record Box Office movies?
Yes, that's mainly true - they use Macrovision (which, incidentally, VCR tapes and DVDs also use). Sky say that most movie- makers insist on copy protection for pay-per-view channels. Not all Box Office movies (though the vast majority) are copy protected - any copy-protected programme is marked "C" in the information section of the EPG. Macrovision works by adding extra brightness pulses into the part of the signal that the TV doesn't normally display because of overscanning. The brightness pulses upset the automatic level control of the video which ends up overdimming the picture. Macrovision blockers are available, but to use them to breach copyright is illegal. Very, very old videos will record a Macrovision signal.
6
>What's all this Freeview/Freesat business?
Freeview is the digital system for terrestrial TV reception. It arrives via your regular TV antenna, cannot be received with a satellite dish and has nothing to do with Sky (though Sky do transmit a couple of channels on that platform). For Freesat (the satellite equivalent of Freeview) see the next answer.
7
>I don't want to subscribe, I don't have a card or my card is old - what about me?
You can use your box without a card to view the BBC and ITV channels that you are used to. You also get quite a few extra channels free (like BBC Three, BBC Four, ITV2, ITV3, ITV4, CNN, Sky News, Travel and many shopping and Asian channels). There are also many radio channels, some of them exclusively digital. Much of the output of the main broadcasters is in widescreen and all these are good reasons for getting a digibox even if you don't want to subscribe. All the above are FTA channels (Free To Air), meaning that you can watch them without a card and without payment (except for the equipment of course). The BBC and ITV call this Freesat. Now that the two main UK TV providers have joined forces in this it is likely that many more channels will join up and use the same term to describe the service. C4, C5 and Sky3 are currently FTV or Free To View, meaning that you can watch these channels without subscription but you will still need a card for copyright reasons. Sky call this FreesatFromSky. Confusing, isn't it? Any subscription card will give you these FTV channels but if you want to receive them without subscribing to Sky then you can ring 0870 606 1111 and ask for a card, or visit http://www.freesatfromsky.com/ where in the future you may be able to apply for a card also. The card costs £20.00 and will last for at least 3 years or more. These and all Sky cards can only be used officially in Sky digiboxes. You will need to provide a UK address with postcode and your credit card details to get this card. Caller ID is sometimes checked and overseas callers may be refused a card. For information about the situation in the ROI go to http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=55 for an Irish-based forum with answers to most of your questions in the Sticky FAQ
The card will be dispatched promptly by post to the given address. On arrival you should follow the instructions and insert it into the viewing card slot on the digibox. The card may activate on its own within a few hours or you may need to ring Sky to get them to activate it. If you do this you will need to give your digibox's serial number. You can also use the digibox's internal modem to activate the card. The digibox phone connection is NOT obligatory for FTV card use or activation. Once active, the card will decode the three FTV channels (C4, C5, Sky3) in any digibox. Older type viewing cards with a blue sky/clouds picture and the words "Sky Digital" on the front are no longer working.
If you don't have a digibox or dish and don't want to subscribe to Sky then you can get a digibox and dish installed by them for £150 which includes the cost of an FTV card. This is good value though you may be tempted to take the minimum subscription package instead as this costs very little more over the first year.
If you are currently a Sky subscriber then you do not need an FTV card. If ever you cancel then your existing card will continue to decode the three FTV channels until the next card change. You will NOT need to buy an FTV
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