Before sending us your question, please have a look to see if it has already been answered on this page.
Will I need to subscribe to Sky to receive satellite television and radio?
No. To receive satellite television you do not need to subscribe to Sky. You can receive none subscription channels for free with both a Sky receiver and a freesat receiver. Have a look at our “Sky or freesat” page for more information. (Click here)
I already subscribe to Sky; can I have a new satellite box and just take my viewing card out of my old Sky box at home?
If you take your sky viewing card out of your Sky receiver at home it will allow you to watch the channels you subscribe too except the movies and sport channels.
I am thinking of taking my caravan to the continent, will I be able to use my satellite equipment in Europe?
Yes you will be able to use your satellite equipment in Europe to receive British TV.
As I travel around Europe I would like to be able to watch my favourite TV programmes and listen to English Radio where ever I go. Will a satellite system work all over Europe?
Yes satellite television will work all over Europe; however the further away from the UK you go the larger the satellite dish needs to be. Have a look at our “Dish Sizes for Europe” page for more information on what channels you can receive with different size dishes in Europe.
Will I need a special receiver pacifically designed to work in Europe when I travel to the continent.
No you just require a standard Sky or freesat receiver.
If I do not subscribe to Sky how many channels will I be able to receive?
Have a look at the freesat website. It lists all the channels you can receive for free including High Definition TV.
What is the difference between freesat and Sky?
Have a look at our Sky or Freesat page.
Do I need an additional TV licence to watch TV in my caravan or motor home?
If you are watching TV in the UK you need to have a TV licence. However as long as you have a TV licence at your main address you are covered by that for use in your caravan.
Will I be able to pick up foreign channels on Sky?
If the channels are broadcast on the Sky platform, then yes you will be able to pick these channels up with out any problems. If however you wish to pick up TV channels from other satellites like Hotbird and Astra 1 then theoretically yes. But you will need to retune your Sky receiver. You are better off getting a satellite receiver designed for picking up those other satellites and it is something that we do not get involved in.
My caravan already has an aerial attached, can I use this to pick up satellite TV with?
No you need a satellite dish to pick up the satellite signal. You will often be able to pick up freeview with the aerial as long as your caravan is in a good signal area. If you go abroad then a freeview box will certainly not work.
When I tune the TV into satellite receiver the picture is a very poor quality.
Firstly check that all your connections between the receiver and the television are all correct. If everything is OK, you may need to retune your satellite receiver. Have a look at our software update page.
When I travel abroad or to different parts to the UK my own regional TV station is still received as normal.
This is simply that the Sky viewing card is programme to the region of the post code address is was sent to.
Can I buy a 12v satellite receiver to operate in my caravan?
Pace use to make a 12v Sky receiver called a Sky Javelin. However they have stopped making them. You can still sometimes find a second hand one for sale. They do hold there value and you would probably be better buying a 12v / 230v inverter.
I have only had my Sky installed recently and I signed a contract with Sky that insists my sky receiver is permanently connected to a phone socket for 12months. Will I be able to disconnect this sky box from the telephone socket and take the sky receiver with me in the caravan?
No is the official answer. Sky does monitor the phone connection, but not very often. If they do discover your Sky box disconnected they will usually ask you just to re-connect it to the phone socket. Alternatively you can buy a Sky box with out a contract or buy a freesat receiver.
I have Cable TV at home; can I purchase a Sky dish and just take my Cable box from home when I go on holiday?
No. You need a proper Sky or freesat receiver.
Can I use a freeview digital receiver with my caravan?
Freeview is different to freesat. Freeview is designed to work in conjunction with an aerial not a satellite dish. The freeview box should work fine with an aerial as long as you are in a good signal area. In poor reception areas and abroad it will not work. This is one of the main advantages of a small satellite dish is that it should work nearly every where, including Europe.
I have quite a large caravan. Can I watch Sky in more than one room?
Yes. There are two options available. You can run two separate satellite receivers from one dish with a dual output LNB. This method is like having two separate satellite systems. Or you can use something called a magic eye. This sends the signal from your Sky receiver to a second room and allows you to change the channels on the receiver in the second room. Visit our Magic Eye page for more information.