Freeview tuning

[Holio]

Hello anyone who can help, I have had my TV for about 2 or 3 years, anyhow, had always just run my Sky through it and never tuned it in. Anyhow today I finally tuned it in, and it doesnt pick up ITV or CH4, and thus it goes BBC1, BBC2, FIVE etc

With the DVB, you cant seem to manual tune any channels in, does anyone have any clue why it isnt picking up those channels? I have an aerial booster already on it. Have retuned it 3 times and it still wont pick up anymore channels.

It's a Panasonic 32" LCD.

Thanks for anyone who can help!

[Taka]

Could be your actual aerial on the roof. Whilst most people generally have no problems with the one they've used for years, some (like me) need to fit a high gain one designed to pick up digital Freeview specifically.

Do you have any other Freeview devices you could test it out with, just so you can definitely take the TV out of the equation?

[Holio]

Well I recently purchased PlayTV for my PS3, so will hook that up and see, that's the only other Freeview thing I have. I know some channels can get a poorer reception and thus it says, Bad Signal or Weak Signal. Just found it very hard to understand the fact that is just goes 1,2,5 without even saying ITV or CH4 there.

[Holio]

Well I got my PlayTV working and it picks up ITV and CH4, tho the signal aint just the best, so I guess I would need a new aerial for my TV to actually find the channels before getting them tuned in?

[smouty]

I added a booster from Maplins which was enough to improve the signal to an acceptable level.
They start at about £10-15 for a single output.

Also, if your TV has never been connected to an aerial it may need to update the program data OTA first before all the channels are correct.

[Holio]

I got a booster yesterday and have it on it, will have to check my aerial now I think, see if I cant adjust it and get a better signal.

The software is up to date on my TV as I checked that as well and then done a another re-tune, just find it weird that it cant even see the bloody channels, I mean ITV is UTV which is a local broadcaster!

Thanks again for the replies.

[Widegoat]

This is from memory so I might not be right with all the details, but I think there are six channel multiplexes (1, 2, A, B, C and D) on Freeview - each of which carry bundles of channels (not necessarily in order). If you can't receive an entire multiplex - it is likely that the channels in that multiplex will simply not appear in your channel list.

I suspect you'll need a good booster or an aerial upgrade.

[huxley]

Hiya chaps I had the same problems, I had a go with a few boosters in the £15 to £25 range and to be honest they didnt do much good and the tuner needed to be retuned every couple of days. In the end I bit the bullet and got a new ariel from homebase (£35).
If you can change the ariel it may well save you a bit of money and a lot of hassle.
ie - A £20 booster is plugged into the mains all the time sucking power.

[Jebus]

I've never been able to get a decent freeview picture on any TV. I've put that down to the signal being ****e.

[huxley]

I've never been able to get a decent freeview picture on any TV. I've put that down to the signal being ****e.

Chuck your postcode into this to see what you should be able to get in your area.

http://www.freeview.co.uk/availability

[fallenangle]

It could be a reception issue but could also be something else which produces effects which sound very similar to the problems described here.

Try Googling: "Split NIT" - don't understand it myself but apparently it means some older Freeview receivers won't be able to tune in certain TV channels now.

As I understand it if the TV or STB software is not updated (and many older Freeview TVs/STBs aren't supported any more) - guess what? Yes, that's right you'll have to buy a new STB if you want terrestrial Freeview even if you're in a good reception area.

[Stakers]

You're not on the South Coast are you? We've lost Freeview reception for the channels you mentioned over the last couple of months. Anyway, I finally got round to getting the Tv man round the other day and it is due to the analogue switchoff.
The Isle of Wight transmitter had been upgraded in March and it has affected loads of houses in our area.
That's not TV man bull either because my neighbour was told the same thing. Had to get a new aerial and point it at the Brighton transmitter but that sorted the problem.
Hope this helps