Free to Air vs Freesat

INDEX

The 3 terms widely (and often incorrectly) used to describe a receiver to get the free satellite channels are as follows

Free to Air: Received by a Generic Satellite Receiver
Freesat: Received by an ITV/BBC Patented Satellite Receiver
Freeview: NOT Received by a Satellite Receiver - It's a Digital Terrestrial TV Service

Below we give full details of the differences

This is received using a generic satellite receiver and is used with a satellite dish
It is Free to Air meaning it is used to pick up free satellite channels
But can come with a card slot to allow it to be used for subscription services
It is capable of working with any satellite (so long as the dish is large enough)
Manufactured by a range of up to about 120 different companies
Boxes can come in the following formats
- Standard definition
- High definition
- Twin feed HD to allow you to record one channel & look at another
- HD Satellite & Terrestrial Combo receiver
Good Points
- It is non subscription
- It is very versatile in terms of channel line up and satellite's that can be accessed
- Huge range of different boxes
- Generally cheaper than official freesat boxes
Drawback
- Unlike freesat
  - It does not automatically update if their is a frequency change
  - or new channels becomes available
- Getting spare remotes can sometimes be an issue
Main channels include (on astra 2, but totally flexible):
- BBC 1,2,3,4,
- UTV, ITV 2,3,4,
- Channel 4, E4, More 4, Film 4
- 6 News Channels, 7 Childrens, 8 Movie channels etc
We stock these in our free to air satellite receiver section

Main points

This is a satellite receiver
- Works in conjunction with a satellite dish
It meets the Freesat standards set out by ITV/BBC
It will work anywhere in Ireland from a 60cm satellite dish
It comes in range of types
- Freesat SD: SD with no hard drive
- Freesat HD: HD with no hard drive
- Freesat+ HD: Twin feed, HD, with hard drive, series link, 7 day EPG etc
What makes Freesat special?
- It is non subscription
- It has a standard channel line up (program box with a UK Post code)
- It automatically updates if there is a frequency change
- or new channels becomes available
- Easy to get spare remotes
Drawbacks
- It is generally more expensive than free to air boxes
- It is not as flexible - i.e. you can't decide the order of the channels in freesat mode
- Only works off the Astra 2 at 28 East satellite
Main channels include
- BBC 1,2,3,4,
- UTV, ITV 2,3,4,
- Channel 4, E4, More 4, Film 4
- 6 News Channels, 7 Childrens, 8 Movie channels etc
We stock these in our Freesat Satellite Receivers section

Main points

This is a terrestrial service (NOT a satellite service)
- Works with UHF aerial rather than a satellite dish
It meets the Freeview standards set out by ITV/BBC
It does not generally work in Ireland (Except along NI border & East coast)
We do not stock Freeview boxes
What people generally mean when they say Freeview is that they are looking for either
- A Free To Air Receiver
- A Freesat Receiver