I used to hear about these years ago, are they still knocking around?

Am not even sure I'm allowed to ask

We've a huge dish on our roof and pick up all terrestrial UK TV channels just with our Spanish digibox.....I do have a sky box in the shed, but no card.....

The problem is that I hugely miss watching my rugby, which is on sky and ESPN and I am yet to find a decent local pub to watch all my rugby at, so would love to watch it at home ....

I cannot afford the monthly sky subscription charges so wondered if those chipped cards were still knocking around?

Or does anyone have any other ideas?

Help!

Sorry I can't answer your question Emma Louise

Just to say for those who were so judgemental about benefits

You do realise that if you watch Sky at home in Spain you are breaking the law? That makes the majority of Brits in Spain criminals!

Asking about getting PAY TV channels without paying for them may well be frowned upon on a forum...as it is theft...so I would say you are not really allowed to ask.

However, a bit of information may help you...

A sky box with no sky card will get all the same channels you are currently getting with your spanish box from oyur "big dish"

There are no such things as a "chipped sky card", and as far as I know, have never been any chipped Sky DIGITAL UK cards ever. Other pay TV services used to, but they have moved on to more secure encryptions.

That is one of the reasons wht Sky and all other pay tv providers change their cards at regular intervals, to ensure their encryption is secure.

Cardsharing maybe, but is totally illegal. You "share" a card with others via internet. You will need another receiver (like a dreambox, and a monthly sub to a cs network. Thats all I will say about it as it is not a good idea to talk about CS on an open forum. Google around if you want more information..

What about Sky news, thtas a SKy channel, and is FTA? Is watching that breaking the law?
I know it is against the terms and conditions of the Sky contract, and if Sky find out you are breaking the T&Cs they can cancel the card / contract but is it really a criminal offence / breaking the law. If so, then it means the use of a Sky card in Spain is written into Spanish law? Is it? If so then the guardia can come to your home and prosectute and bang you up for using a sky card in a private residence? If so, then they have not done so for many years, and, like you say, just about all british expats in Spain would be in jail! I know they have asked some public places like bars not to use sky UK cards....

Theft? They get heavier fines for allowing smoking in the bars.

It is not criminal to view Sky in Spain. It may be a civil offence but definitely not criminal. The criminal offence is having to pay them 63 GBP a month to watch.

A cheap Spanish digibox with a large dish will get you all of the UK freeview channels so no need for a sky box.... this is what we have and it does a great job....

I agree that the real theft is the cost of sky sports etc..... in my richer days, before the crisis here, I did have a sky box with a card and it cost me over 50 pounds a month to watch my beloved rugby, this is money I simply don't have now......

I am not too technical so I won't be looking at other ways i.e. the sharing thing as am bound to mess it up! Am obviously way behind the times with the chipped card thing, it was donkeys years ago!

I just want to watch my team play, it is upsetting enough not being able to afford to pop home and watch games anymore!

I hate being poor

What is the name of this magic Spanish digibox that picks up all the UK channels, cos mine doesn`t ?

Will get back to you on that one jdr

Ta, maybe my dish is too small

No one has to pay it...

Sky has rights to its programmes and sports in the UK only, so when you pay to watch say the Premiership or House on Sky in Spain it is breach of broadcasting rights

I think some British bars have got done for it, but no I cant image the Guardia knocking on people's doors...

Any free to air satellite digital receiver (even Televes satellite receivers) can be used on any dish.

If that dish is pointing to UK TV satellites, the you will get UK TV on that free to air receiver.

The channels you get will depend on the size of dish and location.

So it is correct that you do not need a Sky box or Freesat box for UK TV, most if not all free to air digital satellite receiver will do.

It will not get you "freeview", it will get the "free to air" channels.
Big difference: freeview - the name of the UK TV service via a TV aerial, only available in the UK.

Of course they are ,that's why the majority live on the Costa Del Crime

Not true.

you are in breach of your contract with Sky by receiving transmissions outside the UK.

If you read the Sky contract you will find that the only option they have is to cancel your contract and disable your viewing card.

Apart from that they have no other legal options available under the contract.

You are breaking no law, either UK or Spanish law.

If you use a sky box without a card in it you still get the likes of sky news and all the other standard uk channels. How can that be illegal?

jdr this is the unit that we have; http://cgi.ebay.es/Receptor-combinad...-/370435074415


that with a large enough dish (pointed in the right direction ) and you're sorted for receiving the free-to-air programs!