Freesat from Sky

Just wondered if anyone at all had ordered this. It seems like a
deliberate rip-off.

£150 for freesat, which doesn't even give more4, or free Sky
installation, plus 3 months at £7.50, and then 9 @ £15, with 2 of
their mixes, total cost £157.50, after which you are free to cancel.

Has anyone actually ordered the £150 offer, as it doesn't look at all
attractive.

On 21 Oct 2005 04:01:50 -0700, wrote:

| Just wondered if anyone at all had ordered this. It seems like a
| deliberate rip-off.
|
| £150 for freesat, which doesn't even give more4, or free Sky
| installation, plus 3 months at £7.50, and then 9 @ £15, with 2 of
| their mixes, total cost £157.50, after which you are free to cancel.
|
| Has anyone actually ordered the £150 offer, as it doesn't look at all
| attractive.

You do not have to pay GBP150 to get freesatfromsky you need only spend
GBP20 see sig.

Next year BBC and ITV will launch a *real* freesat
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertain...io/4221722.stm
This will work off generic STB and dish.

--
Dave Fawthrop dave hyphenologist co uk Sat ITV, Ch4, Ch5, only GBP20
http://www.freesatfromsky.com - "what is freesat?" - "view T&C" -
What will I receive "£20 ... one Viewing Card". You will also need
$ky box and dish. List of Channels at http://www.wickonline.com/fta.htm

"Freesat"?

Sky are canny, they have an effective monopoly, and "pitch" prices at
whatever they believe will maximise revenue.

Most people can't self-install, and even buying 2nd hand equipment
often might not leave too much change from £150, after getting a card
for ITV (and of course, in some places satellite is the only viable tv
reception system!).

After which, once you've got a receiver and card, it's so easy to
upgrade to subscription channels, just needs a phone call .........

As Dave Fawthrop says, ITV wil be going actually free to air
(unencrypted), then there should be some competition, forcing prices
down.

Unfortunately, good tv progs cost money to make, and that's why we
should properly fund public service broadcasting, despite this being a
"tax".

spiney wrote:
"Freesat"?

Sky are canny, they have an effective monopoly, and "pitch" prices at
whatever they believe will maximise revenue.

Quite. Their is a perception in the UK that satellite TV = Sky and only
Sky. There are more satellites receivable in the UK than the Astra 2
cluster that Sky use.

Most people can't self-install, and even buying 2nd hand equipment
often might not leave too much change from £150, after getting a card
for ITV (and of course, in some places satellite is the only viable tv
reception system!).

Really? With kits like these
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?...=1&doy=21 m10
and those sold by Lidl is slowly dispelling the myths that DIY isn't an
option and the only route is Sky.

After which, once you've got a receiver and card, it's so easy to
upgrade to subscription channels, just needs a phone call .........

If you haven't already fallen for the sales pitch and committed yourself to
£500 a year in subs :-(

As Dave Fawthrop says, ITV wil be going actually free to air
(unencrypted), then there should be some competition, forcing prices
down.

Which is good for everyone except Sky.

Unfortunately, good tv progs cost money to make, and that's why we
should properly fund public service broadcasting, despite this being
a "tax".

Minty wrote:

Quite. Their is a perception in the UK that satellite TV = Sky and only
Sky. There are more satellites receivable in the UK than the Astra 2
cluster that Sky use.

Most people can't self-install .....

Really? With kits like these
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?...=1&doy=21 m10
and those sold by Lidl is slowly dispelling the myths that DIY isn't an
option and the only route is Sky.

After which ...

If you haven't already fallen for the sales pitch and committed yourself to
£500 a year in subs :-(

As Dave Fawthrop says, ...

Which is good for everyone except Sky.

Yes, Minty, agreed.

The Lidl receivers/kits are unbelievably good value, and (of course)
will get ITV after it starts non-encrypted satellite broadcasting.
However, note that Sky's version of BBCi can't be got on such receivers
(special software).

Minidishes are cheap, and used Sky digiboxes too, but new digiboxes
cost more than "Freesat" (due to Sky's installer subsidy).

Dave Fawthrop wrote:
On 21 Oct 2005 04:01:50 -0700, wrote:

| Just wondered if anyone at all had ordered this. It seems like a
| deliberate rip-off.
|
| £150 for freesat, which doesn't even give more4, or free Sky
| installation, plus 3 months at £7.50, and then 9 @ £15, with 2 of
| their mixes, total cost £157.50, after which you are free to cancel.
|
| Has anyone actually ordered the £150 offer, as it doesn't look at all
| attractive.

You do not have to pay GBP150 to get freesatfromsky you need only spend
GBP20 see sig.

Well that's clearly not true. £20 gets you a card, which you still
need to stick in a skybox, which needs to be connected to a satellite
dish.

These are not free.

Here's an alternative option from Maplin (£130).
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?...305&doy=21m10D

The text obviously wasn't read before being cut and pasted on the site:

Free to Air Digital Satellite Kit
Includes Satellite dish, receiver, and LNB
PLUG AND PLAY, No Subscriptions, No Cards, No Hassle
DIY instructions and National Install Hotline included* (* Note
Installation quotes available from National qualified and insured
company) do this in small letters at bottom end somewhere!
Complete list of Digital channels available for multi languages
Receive BBC1, BBC2, ITV News, ITV3 etc. Coming soon early 2006 - ITV1
&ITV2

wrote:
Dave Fawthrop wrote:

etc, see the actual post .....

OK, agreed, but the Maplin kit is roughly twice the price of the Lidl
kit (when available!).At Present time, it can't get ITV/Ch4/Ch5. And -
of course - can never receive any Sky subscription channels.

Also, Sky offer many interactive facilties via phoneline (very
expensively, fair enough!) you can't get on non-Sky receviers.

I believe there's currently a Sky CAM, which will accept Sky cards in
CI slot satellite receivers.

I believe there's currently a Sky CAM, which will accept Sky cards in
CI slot satellite receivers.


I think you believe wrong

John Patrick wrote:

I believe there's currently a Sky CAM, which will accept Sky cards in
CI slot satellite receivers.


I think you believe wrong

Sky haven't officially authorised this, and it probably doesn't work
reliably, but see:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Videoguard .

John Patrick wrote:
I believe there's currently a Sky CAM, which will accept Sky cards in
CI slot satellite receivers.


I think you believe wrong

No, he's right, it's called the Dragon Cam.