How to retune a Hisense TV
Hisense TVs sold in Australia run VIDAA. Tuning is under Settings > Channel, reached from Live TV.
Which Hisense do you have?
VIDAA: home screen with a row of app tiles and a VIDAA logo; Settings opens from the Home screen or the menu button while watching TV. Pre-2016 Hisense TVs have a basic MENU with CHANNEL, PICTURE and SOUND tabs.
VIDAA (2016 onwards)
Auto tune
- In Live TV press the menu button, then Settings, then Channel.
- Choose Auto Scan.
- Set Tuner Mode to Antenna (not Cable or Satellite).
- Choose All Channels or Free Channels, then DTV as the scan mode.
- Start the scan and wait for it to finish.
Manual tune
This TV asks for the RF channel number (signal strength shown on screen).
- Settings > Channel > Advanced Settings > Manual Scan.
- Choose DTV Manual Scan, tuner Antenna, then the RF channel.
- Start the scan; repeat for each RF channel.
Get the RF channel numbers and frequencies for your suburb
Clear the channel list
- Settings > Channel > Channel Edit: select a channel and Delete (Restore undoes it).
- For a full reset: Settings > Support > Reset to Factory Default, then rescan.
Check signal
- DTV Manual Scan displays signal strength for the selected channel.
- Hisense AU: make sure the TV is connected to an outdoor antenna that supports digital reception before selecting Auto Scan.
Older Hisense (before VIDAA)
We could not confirm these menu names against the maker's own documentation for every model in this range. If your menu differs, look for the words Channel, Programme, Broadcasting or Tuning, and choose Antenna (never Cable or Satellite).
Auto tune
- Press MENU, choose CHANNEL.
- Choose Auto Scan (Auto Tuning), leave the country at Australia, choose DTV, then OK.
Manual tune
This TV asks for the RF channel number.
- MENU > CHANNEL > DTV Manual Scan > select the channel > OK.
Get the RF channel numbers and frequencies for your suburb
Clear the channel list
- MENU > CHANNEL > Channel Edit (Programme Edit): select and Delete.
Check signal
- MENU > CHANNEL > Signal Information.
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.
After tuning
- Check the channel list: you should see the main channels at 2, 3, 7, 9 and 10 (or 5, 6 and 8 in most regional areas) with their multichannels behind them.
- Channels at 350 to 399 are duplicates from a second transmitter. Delete them or hide them; the copies at the normal numbers are the strongest signal.
- If a Fetch box or recorder is connected, retune it separately; it has its own tuner.
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.
Free TV Australia assigns the channel numbers. When a scan receives the same service from two transmitters, only one signal can occupy each number; the other is stored at 350 to 399. This is not a fault with the TV or the broadcaster.
If channels are still missing, the antenna may be aimed at the wrong transmitter. How to read the antenna direction results
Hisense questions
- Where is Channel Scan on a Hisense VIDAA TV?
- Watch live TV, press the menu button, then Settings > Channel > Auto Scan. Set Tuner Mode to Antenna before starting.
Other brands
Still missing channels after a retune?
A retune cannot fix a weak signal. Our technicians check the antenna, cabling and signal levels on site.
Steps are taken from manufacturer support pages and user manuals; menu names vary by model year and software version. Sources: manufacturer support pages and manuals — hisense.com.au, commercial.appliancesonline.com.au. Report an error