SA
From http://www.freesatfromsky.co.uk/faqs-freesat.aspx#q3
Q: I already have Sky digital satellite equipment - what else do I need?
A: All you need to gain access to the free channels available on the digital satellite platform is a Freesat from Sky viewing card, which costs just £20. If you’d like to access the interactive services available, you’ll also need a working phone line. To purchase a viewing card please phone Sky on 08448 244 400.
Q: I already have Sky digital satellite equipment - what else do I need?
A: All you need to gain access to the free channels available on the digital satellite platform is a Freesat from Sky viewing card, which costs just £20. If you’d like to access the interactive services available, you’ll also need a working phone line. To purchase a viewing card please phone Sky on 08448 244 400.
NG
noggin
Founding member
Should point out it is a Free-to-VIEW operation (FTV means non-subscription but encrypted and requiring a card and a receiver containing a Conditional Access Module like a Sky Digibox. FTA = Free-to-AIR means unencrypted and no requirement for a viewing card or CAM)
These days it is only required to get Sky Three, Five and possibly C4 (and C4HD if you have an HD box) on a Sky box (but you don't require a card and CAM for C4 and Five on a non-Sky box!). It also maps the correct BBC and ITV1 regions to 101 and 103, and the correct C4 advertising region to 104. It isn't required for BBC One, and for most (but not all) ITV1 regions.
If you have a non-Sky box then you can get all the BBC channels, all the ITV channels (apart from about 6 regions which are encrypted FTV because ITV don't have enough space on the UK beam of 2D), C4 and Five - no requirement for a viewing card or CAM. (Freesat boxes don't have CAMs or card slots)
These days it is only required to get Sky Three, Five and possibly C4 (and C4HD if you have an HD box) on a Sky box (but you don't require a card and CAM for C4 and Five on a non-Sky box!). It also maps the correct BBC and ITV1 regions to 101 and 103, and the correct C4 advertising region to 104. It isn't required for BBC One, and for most (but not all) ITV1 regions.
If you have a non-Sky box then you can get all the BBC channels, all the ITV channels (apart from about 6 regions which are encrypted FTV because ITV don't have enough space on the UK beam of 2D), C4 and Five - no requirement for a viewing card or CAM. (Freesat boxes don't have CAMs or card slots)