Are there any free satellite channels?

I am trying to find out some info about satellite systems as an alternative to ITVDigital. are there satellite channels I can pick up without subscribing? Like BBC and ITV free to air channels on ITVDigital.

Does anyone know a site that gives a good introduction to Satellite Reception, etc.

Any help and advice would be most welcome.

I think there are over 25 free channels on SkyD.
All of the BBC channels are free - and there are loads of other smaller ones.
Sky News is free to air.

Thanks for the information:)

Could I pick these up if I bought a secondhand system from a car boot sale? And do I need to have some sought of subscription with Sky?

I suppose it would be the same as on Telewest.

They are:

BBC1
BBC2
ITV1/ITV2/GMTV/GMTV2 (Not launched I know but will be soon)
Channel 4
Channel 5
BBC Choice
BBC Knowledge
Shop!
ITN News Channel
BBC News 24
Sky News
QVC
BBC Parliament
bid up.tv (Is that on Sky?)
Radio Channels
The Interactive services I suppose
TV Travel Shop

http://www.lyngsat.com

This'll tell you all you need to know...I luv this site!:

You have to have a card don't you?

A standard Sky installation with subs is £40.
If you decide you don't want to subscribe to extra channels then installation is £100 and that's it.
You can get a BBC Card from the... BBC, which you will need to watch other channels.
But I've a nasty feeling the BBC card blocks access to otherwise FTA channels, but that might just be my bad memory.

Do you have to pay for the BBC card?

Thanks for the details of

http://www.lyngsat.com from BBCPrime.

It gives a lot of info about all the channels, but I could not find an introduction to Satellite Equipment/Reception.

Any ideas where I can find this sort of info



I gather from MikeG that analogue transmission is being switched off next month.  Is that just Sky?  Would I be able to pick up analogue signals from other European satellites?