Freesat Reviews 

Everyone TV Re: Darwin Update
On 25th September 2024, I switched on my Freesat box & immediately noticed that the format was different to what it normally was. The TV guide, recordings and on demand was listed horizontally across the screen.
Much preferring the way it was originally, as it was so much easier to use, with TV guide, recordings and demand listed vertically, I contacted Freesat Customer Service to ask if they could advise me how I could change it back.
On 26th September, I received a reply from Freesat advising me that Freesat customers would soon be provided with an exciting new update, enhancing their viewing experience. They went on to say that some viewers may have seen some early iterations of this during testing, with the full update due to come onto devices in the coming weeks.
On receiving that information, I felt compelled to advise Freesat of my intense dislike of the proposed new Home Screen Display and informed them that we find that the test display screen is NOT USER FRIENDLY, and more difficult to navigate.
The information and directing tabs are so small they are difficult to see and negotiate, they are also in an obscure place. The screen is filled with large unnecessary boxes advertising films and drama etc., much of which we’re not interested in.
The Recordings List is poorly designed, as well as being long and drawn out and fiddly to select our programs to watch, find programme information, and delete etc.
After sending my comments to Freesat, I received a reply to my email, stating my comments had been passed to the Development Team. Approximately two days later, to my delight, my TV Box reverted back to the original Home Screen Display.

However, on 15th October 2024, again without warning, I switched on my Freesat TV Box, only to discover with much disappointment, that once again my Freesat TV Box was displaying the NEW Home Display Screen.
Contacting the Freesat Customer Service Team again on 15th October 2024, I reiterated, that the original Home Screen design is much more superior and user friendly and we would be obliged if our TV Box was reverted back to how it was previously.
Today, 18th October 2024 I have received a response to my email from Freesat Customer Support with the following message:
“Thank you for contacting Freesat with your enquiry.
I am sorry you are not liking the new design layout there is helpful guide in the manuals on the website if you need help navigating this new design.
I am afraid there is no reverting back to the old format but I have passed your feedback on for you.
If you require any further assistance from us, please feel welcome to reply.”
As customers, we much prefer the original Freesat Home Screen, it is well designed, clear, and much easier to navigate.
The ‘new style’ frequently used tabs are very small and difficult to see.
The ‘new boxes’ used to show programs ready to watch, are too large, that space could be used to increase the size of important and regularly used navigation tabs.

I believe, it would have been common courtesy for Freesat and their designers to ask customers what they would like from a system, not thrust it upon us without consultation. Ask the people who know the system best…the people who used it every day, their customers.

Dear oh dear. Problem after problem. New TV guide better than the last excellent to see what’s on “if it worked”. Very often comes on blank of programs. Have to switch off TV to start again. Trying to use Freesat web sites Terrible and unfriendly. Wanted to get an account. Not easy went from site to site no luck.

The new 2Tb box was working well and we were very pleased - until the update on 15th October 2024 ruined it.
A screenful of recordings, that we had made, and wanted to select from, had turned into half a screenful. The other half was taken up by a huge advert banner for other programmes "selected by Freesat".
That this had not been thought through was painfully evident because the ability to scroll a pageful at a time (previously a great feature) now ‘loses’ about half the entries each time in the invisible area somewhere below the first few entries. Each scrolling misses seeing half your entries so the only way to do it is now one by one..
I do not want to be told what to watch in a giant banner - the reason for buying a recorder is to choose in advance for myself. There is no point in the user making lots of recordings only to find most of them are hidden by a software upgrade designed to display adverts!

without any warning freesat have changed the Home screen. Absolutely hate the new version. it takes longer to get to where i want to be. hope they change it back but they probably wont.

Freesat box failed irretrievably after 10 months' use. Freesat wouldn't provide returns reference and after a while they cease to respond to emails. Their products seem to have a short life span and their service is non existent. An appallingly bad company.

Hard drive failed after 15 months, 3 months out of warranty. Read other reviews, seems to be a known issue which Freesat choose to ignore.

I bought and installed a 500 GB Freesat hard drive receiver/recorder in April 2023. In October 2024 - 18 months later and only 6 months out of warranty - I was hit with the "Something's wrong..." screen. It does allow endless reboots with no effect so I tried to delete recordings as advised was necessary to restore hard drive functionality if the reboot didn't work. However, the "Delete recordings only" and "Ignore" options are not working and it would appear that my hard drive is toast after only 18 months. Compare that with my terrestrial Samsung hard drive recorder that still works after 12 years and it is evident that Freesat kit is a complete waste of money.

Only had freesat box 18 months and hard drive has packed up! Nothing they can do. Load of rubbish, don’t waste your money

Firstly, the product isn’t great itself and it’s expensive for the bigger hard drive storage options. The user interface is clunky and the quality of the box and remote control is not as expected for the price paid.

But it really gets interesting when things go wrong. My box failed due to a software issue someone after the warranty expired. Customer Sevices were not interested at all in helping. I received curt responses to emails pointing out that their warranty had expired and it was my responsibility to prove the faulty box was a manufacturer issue!! You couldn’t make it up.

Despite the fact I know my consumer rights trump the restricted warranty guarantee, it is just too much effort to deal with a company like this.

Suggest you find another solution for Internet television Appalling

I noticed that free sat replied to all the positive reviews, but no response to the negative comments Why?

Purchased a 4k recordable freesat box in Sept 2022 and the hard drive has failed and needs replacing - I contacted Freesat and they said there is only a 12 month warranty so It’s my responsibility to replace. I purchase Freesat as I thought it would last significantly longer than 2 years so be warned if you are considering buying one.

Freezes all the time and now they’ve removed the facility to record from app. What’s the point Freesat???

Hi all, my Arris Freesat 500gig box displayed the 'something's wrong' message. Contacted Freesat who talked me thru steps to reboot the hard drive. Unfortunately this failed, hard drive is knackered after two years of light use! Freesat apologised and confirmed that it was unusual for such a short lifespan and advised me to buy a new box (grrrr!) Freesat service seems to be dying with film and entertainment channels leaving the platform.

Bought a Freesat UHD-4X 1TB box less than a year ago, but since then, it has regularly failed to record a programme. 'ERROR. FAILED TO RECORD." I never had this problem with the old video-tape recorders. So much for progress.

Bought the Freesat 4k recordable 1TB box direct from Freesat. Quickly started making loud ticking noise which got worse as time went by. All recordings randomly self-delete overnight. Eventually Freesat agreed to replace it but to my shock sent me a refurbished second hand box. Customer service non-existent. Emails unanswered. Joke of a company.

Completely unacceptable behaviour from this company. I bought a brand new box for £259. It lasted 7 months. They had the cheek to replace it with a “refurbished” box that didn’t last a month. They told me they only replace with refurbished. After telling them I had paid for a new box and expect a new box in return. They refused so I’m now sat here with a box that doesn’t work and they’re not interested.
Do not buy the rubbish these crooks sell you, their product is as much use as their customer service!

Spent a lot of money on their 2Tb recordable box in January, on the basis that recordings can be set remotely using their app. Come June they have withdrawn that facility with no expectation that it will be reinstated. These people are cowboys with respect for their customers.

Scam company.

Bought a refurbed box, it arrived opened tried it, it didn’t work.

Company refusing to refund despite clear breach of UK Consumer contract regulations

What an absolute farce. Freesat has now seen fit to remove remote recording. What a step back in time. This aligned with a flaky app, Terrible support, I will be moving elsewhere

What is going on at Freesat. The app is now only for the guide!! No login to accounts any more. Spoke to one person who told me to reset my password. Next person said the login site has closed. Expectation is that Freesat will close unless anyone knows better. Don’t buy a box yet!