Can watching FTA be illegal? Simple Question

[amjadhussain]

Hi, sorry for the strange question.

Lets say I install a satellite dish/pay someone to do so.
Then buy a proper $ky box (used) off ebay, which of course will let me enjoy all the FTA channels on sky.

Is this against the law? Just curious...

[iain66]

I think the answer is in FTA...................... free to air but someone will put me right if Im wrong

[ramjet]

nope, you are free to watch "free to air" broadcasts at any time in almost any country , especially in europe (the EU)

so no restrictions on watching say bbc1 in the uk , or in any fringe areas like northern france

doesnt even have to be a sly box, could be any digital satellite receiver of your choice

there may be local restrictions on fixing or siting the dish, like in conservation areas or on listed buildings, otherwise its fine

[Bulld0g]

It is a strange question. Are you asking if watching FREE to air channels is legal?

[amjadhussain]

Haha, strange question indeed.
I know they are FTA hence clue is in the title but I thought maybe this may still be wrong, as the box is a "$ky" box, and "$ky" are the provider at the end of the day.

Anyway, seperate question please if someone can help, I have a dish which was installed maybe 10 years or so ago, works fine, but will I be able to connect another feed from this dish into another room of my house? Or may it need some extra equipment before I can run a cable from dish to my extra room?
Not a very technical guy in this regard and climbing on the roof to check my dish out isnt my thing either

[ramjet]

you can use any box for this fta business, even a second hand sly box as its the owners after 12 months have passed so not illegal to use a sly box for fta channels, also not illegal to use any box to watch fta

as for your new question, check the lnb on your dish and see if its a single or quad lnb (one or four ouputs)

to do what you require it needs to be a quad lnb and each tuner needs its own coax cable from the quad lnb, so the more tuners or boxes used the more outputs and cables are used

so lets assume you had sly plus in the living room, thats 2 feeds from a quad lnb, so to feed one or two bedrooms you need extra cables from the spare outputs on the quad lnb going directly to the other rooms or bedrooms

so the golden rule is that each tuner requires its own cable feed from the lnb , so now that means they fit quad lnb,s and have more than one cable feed , typically single or twin coaxial cables (the twin being called "shotgun")

for subscription channels (scrambled) you are legally expected to pay a valid subscription to view them

ps:- sly are NOT the provider of the fta channels, freesat is _http://www.freesat.co.uk/channels

[amjadhussain]

Have a look at your lnb, thats the part on the arm of the dish with the coax cable going into it, see if there is another connector on there that you can screw another coax cable into.

If it is only a single connector then you will need to change it for one that has 2 or better even 4 connections on it.

JoK

EDIT Ramjet already answered your question

Just spoke to a satellite installer too. He said he reckons it will be a single LNB which isnt a problem because he can install a new quad LNB on the existing dish for an extra ?10. Dont think there is need for a new dish even though this is 10yr+ old and a basic dish I got with sky! Does the job and also receives BBC HD/ITV HD etc well without a problem.

[ramjet]

the dish will be fine, just needs the quad lnb and extra cables running to the new locations

[cactikid]

if for some reason you want to move further ahead and you are getting a quad lnb and adding 2 feeds/shotgun cable for a twin tuner box you will be ready rather than running a single cable feed.twin cables will allow for recordings if you want.
just to add satboxes now may need a lan connection also.

[amjadhussain]

Thanks guys!!! Where I would I be without this forum! Appreciate it.


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[Benzade]

The only way I could see watching Free To Air channels in the UK being illegal would be if you did not have a current up to date TV Licence. (Draconian law I know especially if like myself you hardly watch Terrestrial TV.)

[alec]

Hi, sorry for the strange question.

Lets say I install a satellite dish/pay someone to do so.
Then buy a proper $ky box (used) off ebay, which of course will let me enjoy all the FTA channels on sky.

Is this against the law? Just curious...

FTA is no problem, but buying a Sky box could be considered a grey area.

[flyingpig]

You would be breaking the law if you sold this service on on displayed it in a public place. It is FTA only for you and not for public display - unless of course you have the neccessary license and or approval of the copyright holder.

But you can watch FTA on any device you like as long as you have a valid TV License.