TV retune guides by brand
Retuning rebuilds the channel list your TV holds by scanning the signal arriving from your antenna. You need it when a transmitter changes its channels, after moving house, when a network disappears, when channels turn up twice at numbers in the 350 range, or after a new antenna or amplifier is fitted. Choose your brand below for the exact menu steps.
Popular brands
- HisenseHisense TVs sold in Australia run VIDAA. Tuning is under Settings > Channel, reached from Live TV.
- LGLG calls channels Programmes on Australian models. Tuning lives under Programmes (or Channels on older webOS) in All Settings.
- PanasonicPanasonic moved its tuning menu in 2024: current Fire TV models keep it under Live TV > Broadcast Options; earlier Viera and My Home Screen models use Setup > Tuning Menu.
- PhilipsPhilips TVs run one of five systems: Titan OS (2024 onwards), Google TV, Saphi, Android TV or the older Linux menu. Saphi and Linux models keep tuning under Settings > Channels > Antenna/Cable installation.
- SamsungSamsung's tuning menu is called Broadcasting. It only appears when the source is Live TV, and its position in Settings depends on the model year.
- SonySony Bravia TVs come in three generations with different menus: Google TV, Android TV and older Bravia. All of them separate Digital tuning from Analogue tuning; only Digital matters in Australia.
- TCLTCL has sold Google TV, Android TV and Roku TV models in Australia. The Roku models (from late 2022) use a completely different menu.
More TV brands
- Bauhn (ALDI)Bauhn TVs from ALDI are distributed by Tempo. Basic-menu models tune from MENU > Channel; Android TV models from Settings > Channel.
- CHiQCHiQ (Changhong) sells Google TV and Android TV models in Australia. CHiQ's own advice: set the TV to Australia during setup, switch to the Antenna source, then scan.
- FFalconFFalcon TVs run Google TV. Changing the country during a scan asks for the parental control PIN.
- HitachiHitachi TVs in Australia are distributed by Tempo and share their menu with Bauhn and Linsar Android TV models.
- JVCJVC-branded TVs in Australia are sold through Big W and jvctv.com.au in basic-menu, Android TV and Google TV versions.
- KoganKogan sells Android TV and Google TV models plus older basic-menu sets. The country defaults to Australia during setup; leave it there.
- LinsarLinsar (distributed by Tempo) sells basic-menu models, Tizen-based models that use Samsung's Broadcasting menu, and a set-top box.
- SharpSharp AQUOS TVs run Google TV or Android TV; the tuner sits under Channels & Inputs. Setting the wrong region at first start can stop the TV receiving broadcasts.
- SoniqSoniq's basic-menu models tune from MENU > CHANNEL (or Programmes); its Android TV models use Settings > Channel.
- TeacTeac TVs use a basic MENU with a CHANNEL tab. Manual tuning on Teac asks for a frequency in MHz rather than a channel number.
- ToshibaToshiba TVs in Australia are sold by TVS Regza. The C350 series runs Google TV; other current series use a similar Channels menu.
Set-top boxes and Fetch
- Fetch TV (Mini, Mini 4K, Mighty)Fetch boxes have their own free-to-air tuner and their own antenna socket. If the antenna only goes to the TV, the Fetch box will show no free-to-air channels.
- Set-top boxes and recorders (Strong, Beyonwiz, Topfield)Recorders keep stale channels unless the list is cleared first. Strong's auto scan clears it for you; Beyonwiz has a Clear before scan switch; Topfield needs Reset Service List run first.
Before you start
- Plug the antenna lead into the socket marked ANT, RF IN, AIR or Antenna on the TV itself. If the antenna only goes into a set-top box or Fetch box, the TV's own tuner will find nothing.
- Switch the TV to its TV, Live TV or Antenna source first. On many brands the tuning menu is greyed out while an HDMI input is selected.
- If a masthead or distribution amplifier is fitted, make sure its power supply is plugged in and switched on.
- Leave the country set to Australia and, where asked, choose your state or region. A wrong country or region scrambles the channel numbers or finds nothing.
- Choose Antenna, Aerial, Air, Terrestrial or DVB-T when asked. Never choose Cable, DVB-C or Satellite: Australian free-to-air is terrestrial only.
- Choose DTV or Digital only. Analogue TV ended in Australia in 2013; scanning for it doubles the time and finds nothing.
- Look up the RF channel numbers your transmitter uses first, so you can tell whether the scan found the right transmitter.
If it didn't work
- The tuning or Broadcasting menu is greyed out
- The TV is on an HDMI or app input. The tuner menu only unlocks on the TV/Antenna source. Press Source or Input, choose TV, Live TV or Antenna, then open the menu again.
- The scan finishes but some networks are missing
- One multiplex is arriving too weak, or the antenna suits the wrong band (VHF versus UHF) for your transmitter. Compare the channels found with the list for your suburb. If one network's RF channel is missing, retune once more; if it is still missing the antenna, cable or connectors need checking on the roof.
- Channels appear twice, or at numbers like 350 to 399
- The antenna is receiving two transmitters that both claim the same channel numbers. Only one can keep each number; the weaker copy is pushed into the 350 to 399 range set aside for duplicates. Delete or hide the 350 to 399 copies. If the wrong transmitter won, clear the channel list and use manual tuning with the RF channels of the transmitter you want.
- No channels found at all
- No signal reaching the tuner: antenna lead not connected to the TV, amplifier unpowered, damaged cable, or Cable/Satellite chosen instead of Antenna. Check the lead goes into the TV's antenna socket, the amplifier power supply is on, and the tuner mode is Antenna. If the TV's signal screen shows nothing, the fault is outside the TV.
- Channels are in the wrong order or have odd numbers
- Country or region set incorrectly during setup. Set the country to Australia (and your state where asked), then run a full rescan.
- Channels disappear again a few minutes or days later
- Retail or demo mode on Samsung TVs wipes settings, or the signal is marginal and drops out in weather. Set the TV to Home mode. If the signal is marginal, the antenna system needs attention rather than another retune.
- Picture pixelates or freezes on some channels only
- Marginal signal on one multiplex: water in the cable or connectors, a tired amplifier, or the antenna moved in wind. Retuning will not fix a weak signal. Note which RF channel is affected and book an inspection.
If channels are still missing, the antenna may be aimed at the wrong transmitter. How to read the antenna direction results
Need your local RF channels?
A manual tune asks for the RF channel numbers your transmitter uses. Look them up by suburb or postcode.
Steps are taken from manufacturer support pages and user manuals; menu names vary by model year and software version.