Channel 4 via the Astra 2D satellite

Wahoo, after all this time we have moved (5 years), and now we get UK t.v. We have from the sat ( astra d2, free to air) got all uk channels, but no channel 4, so can anyone tell me why?.
suzi

Because Channel 4 (and five) is not free-to-air

You need a freesat card from sky. They cost 20 quid. If you were previously a subscriber and cancelled your subscription, your card reverts to being a freesat card. http://www.freesatfromsky.co.uk/

yup. to summarise both posts above, Channel 4 and five are both free-to-view channels. They are free to watch but are encrypted so you need a Sky digibox and a freesat card to watch them. After the one-off purchase of the Sky digibox and viewing card you can watch them without any further monthly costs. In contrast the BBC and ITV are free-to-air, which means that not only are they free to watch, they are also unencrypted, ie broadcast "in the clear" and be viewed using any digital receiver (as long as the dish is pointed at 2D).

Can I basically buy a satalite dish at a DIY store here, have it connected and be able to watch BBC/ITV free?
That would be so cool!

Yes, but I'd strongly recommend you buy and have installation from the same place, or take advice from people who know. Might be more expensive, but at least you know it'll work are are not stuck with a useless pile of junk. There have been so many postings here of people who bought (or were sold) the wrong dish, who bought but found they could not install (no direction to satellite), couldn't install themselves or who could not programme their receivers for the UK channels.

Hi all,

are there any other channels between channels 4 & 5 that are are not free to air and require a freesat card from sky?

I thought i was the only one with the dish pointing out of the window idea - funny to see this forum. I get over a 1000 channels (most of them crap) with this method.

I bought a dreambox 7025 to try and decrypt some channels using the various websites and tips but no luck so far - at the same time i get enough free to air channels as it is.

James

Talk to Grinner.

In addition to Channel 4 and five, Sky Three, 5 Life and 5 US are all part of Freesat from Sky and require a card.

excellent - i ought to get me one of these cards then.

I wonder if it works with a dreambox 7025.

i'll pick one up when i go to the uk in a couple of weeks.

James

It can be made to work, but it's messy. You'll need an emulator such as CCcam.