How to tune my TV to receive a station that is aired?

Question

I have a 1990 Hitachi TV for which I have an universal remote (RCA), and I also have an Philips UHF/ VHF antenna (I don't have cable or a satellite dish). I would like the TV to tune directly with the antenna, as there are only two channels I watch, and both these channels are available via an antenna signal (thereby I do not need cable services). When I select the MENU option on the remote, there are 4 options: 'AIR/ CABLE' ; AUTOPROGRAM; CHANNEL MEMORY and NEXT PAGE. The AIR/ CABLE is automatically selected (I am unable to use the + or - keys to move to other selections) and after a few seconds a new screen appears with three options AIR, CATV1, and CATV2, while CATV1 s automatically highlighted and then menu quickly disapperas after that. My question is this: How can i get to tune my TV to pick up the two channels on air with just my antenna? Should I try and tune the TV without a remote, by using the panel keys? If so, how would I do that? Currently my TV is not picking any signals at all. Thanks!!

Answer 1

Whatever the case, the fact is, there will ONLY continue to be analog TV broadcasts till Feb of 2009, 6 months from now. So I guess I would not put a lot of effort into this, as it will not work in 6 months anyway.

Answer 2

I'd proceed by buying another brand cheap universal remote and trying it.

Universal remotes vary in how well they mimic original remotes. I have a cheap Philips brand one (free after rebate!) that works fine for the menus on the TV & converter box I've used it on.

Unless you get TV through translator stations (or are not in the US), you will need to get a converter box to keep watching over the air broadcasts after the analog stations are shutdown on 2/17/09.

Getting a converter box might just solve your problem. When used with a TV's antenna input, they output on either channel 3 or 4. Cable and broadcast channels 3 & 4 are identical, so it wouldn't matter if your TV was stuck in cable mode.

It takes the government about a month to send out $40 off converter coupons, so you might want to request one now.

If you still have problems, it would help to know your zip code and which channel numbers your trying to receive. Also, does your TV have A/V inputs?

Old VCRs work fine as external analog tuners and are really cheap. All the old VCRs I've worked with can output on channels 3 or 4, so if your TV can pick those up as-is, that's another cheap fix.

If you have high speed internet, there are places on internet where you can watch TV for free, but the quality isn't too good.