There are two main ways to get free satellite TV in the UK.

Freesat

Freesat is basically a different option to Freeview. The BBC and ITV setup Freesat so that viewers in areas with poor Freeview reception would have access to free digital TV. There are many differences between Freesat and Freeview.

Freesat offers far more digital TV channels - with up to 140 offered on its free satellite TV service. Freesat also has free high definition digital TV services from the BBC and ITV.

Freesat works from the same satellites that Sky use called Astra and Eurobird 1, they are parked high up in space giving coverage to 98 per cent of the UK. So this means that if you already have a Sky Digital satellite dish you don't need to change your dish to get Freesat.

This also means there is no need to get satellite TV installers to make more holes in your wall. All you need is a Freesat receiver, this can be purchased online or in many electrical retailers. When you get the box home all you need to do is follow the instructions, plug it in to the existing satellite dish cables, and hey presto you've got free satellite TV!

You may need extra installation from Freesat if you only have one cable from your satellite dish and you want to have a Freesat+ recorder. The Freesat+ recorder requires two cables from your dish to enable the Freesat+ recording facilities.

If you don't have a Sky digital satellite dish you will need to arrange Freesat installation. Freesat do two types of installation; standard installation and Freesat+ installation.

Basically the Freesat+ installation is different because as explained above, it's unlike standard Freesat - which requires one cable going from your dish to the Freesat box, Freesat+ will need two cables. This allows you make full use of the Freesat+ recording facilities.

The installers that Freesat use are fully approved to carry out such work and they will make sure that they position the dish in the best place possible to receive free satellite TV from Freesat.

Here are the different Freesat options you can choose from:

Standard Freesat from a Freesat box

This is the standard option. This will allow you to watch up to 140 free satellite TV channels. The box is a standard definition digital satellite TV receiver and cannot show high definition digital TV pictures. The digital TV pictures will be in standard definition and even though you can still watch the BBC HD channel the digital TV picture will be downgraded to standard definition.

HD Freesat box

With this option you don't just get the standard definition digital TV channels, but a host of HD digital TV channels that you can enjoy on your HD ready TV.
Included in the 140 free satellite TV channels are HD digital TV services from the BBC and ITV, as well as other HD digital TV services due to launch soon.

To watch Freesat HD digital TV you will need to have a HD ready television to plug the Freesat HD box into. Apart from the fact you are getting free hdtv, another benefit of Freesat HD is that if you connect your box up to a home cinema system you could enjoy amazing 5.1 surround sound in your living room - best that you turn it down a bit when someone is arguing on EastEnders though.

HD Freesat from a Freesat HD TV

You can also get Freesat HD through an integrated Freesat HD television. All you need is the Freesat HD TV, you don't need a Freesat HD box because the TV has a built in Freesat HD digital TV tuner. These televisions are now available from many high street electrical retailers.

Freesat+ HD Digital TV Recorder

This option gives you total control of the digital TV schedules. The Freesat+ HD digital TV recorder allows you to pause, rewind and record both standard and high definition digital TV. You can also record two digital TV channels at the same time, meaning you never miss that important programme.

Freesat from Sky

This is not to be confused with the Freesat service mentioned above from the BBC and ITV. Freesat from Sky uses the same satellites as Freesat, but it is a different service which is provided by Sky and not Freesat. For this service you will need to get your satellite TV equipment from Sky.

Freesat from Sky includes a one off payment for setting up the service. Sky installers will install the satellite TV service and then the equipment is yours to keep. There is no annual contract for Freesat from Sky, but obviously Sky hope that once the equipment is installed you might think about upgrading to a subscription package from them in the future - but the choice is yours.

You get over 240 digital TV channels with a standard Sky box - including Sky3 and Five US, as well as the main channels such as BBC1. Another bonus is Freesat from Sky gives you access to loads of free radio stations - many more than you would find on a Freeview box.

Unfortunately you won't be able to get Sky+ with Freesat from Sky, nor can you get Sky HD with Freesat from Sky. These services are only available by upgrading to a suitable subscription package from Sky. So if you want free HD TV, you might be better off with Freesat.

If you are already a Sky TV customer and want to get Freesat from Sky you will need a Freesat from Sky viewing card and a working telephone line for Sky interactive services. You can obtain a Freesat from Sky card to watch free satellite TV by contacting Sky.