Freeview Channel Number problems
Question: I can’t get some channels on my Freeview box for some reason – As an example, I can’t get ITV 3. I can get them on the 800 numbers, i.e ITV 3 is on 825 (I think). Is there a list available for the channels I can get on the 800 numbers?
Question submitted online
Our Answer
Typically, if you’re seeing channels in the number range starting with 800, this means that the channels are duplicates. This can happen if you are getting the same channels from two different transmitters from your aerial.
If that’s the case, you ideally want to get the stronger signals.
How do I deal with duplicate channels?
Question: “I live in the North West and for some reason I have been getting BBC Wales which is a nuisance considering I live not far from Winter Hill. I have tried to re-tune several times without success.”
Realistically, you have three options:
1. Renumber the channels
Some TV sets and Freeview boxes let you renumber the channels. Let’s say you have the best ITV on channel 803, but you want it on 103. On some devices, you can edit channel 803 and renumber it to channel 103.
If your TV supports this, the TV manual should explain how to do it. Look for “Renumber” or “channel number” in the manual.
If that doesn’t work, you may be able to tune manually. Go to www.wolfbane.com/cgi-bin/tvd.exe? and enter your postcode. This will help you identify the UHF channel number you need to tune into.
For help on this, see How to tune in Freeview channels manually
2. Reject the unwanted signals
This may be a case of pointing your TV aerial at a different transmitter, or even changing your aerial type so that it’s more directional (and therefore able to reject signals from other transmitters
You can also use something called an aerial attenuator, which plugs into your TV aerial socket and reduces the signal. These can be quite effective at rejecting a weak signal, but allowing a stronger signal through. You can buy an inline RF attenuator cheaply at Maplin.
3. Consult a professional
Contact a local CAI-approved aerial installer, and ask them to come around, look at your system and give you some advice. They carry test equipment to measure signal strength, and it may be a simple case of pointing the aerial in a different direction, to get a good signal from the most appropriate transmitter.
We’d always encourage you to get a second opinion before spending money on any kind of aerial alteration
How do I deal with duplicate channels?
solution 4.
Unplug your TV aerial.
Do a ‘new install’ for the tuner to load in all the channels afresh.
When the channel search bar gets half way across the screen, reconnect the TV aerial.
This stops it finding the welsh channels.
The ITV channel which I used to watch covers Somerset,. Channel 3 covers Cornwall, Devon and Dorset. I can’t find my old West country channel anywhere, despite retuning the set’ Any advice?
I had a friend staying and we watched channel 800 with 60’s music on it. I had found it quite by accident and my friend loved it, but when they got home could not get it. Instead it was ‘Escape to the Country’! Will they be able to get it on another channel? They would love to watch it as like me they the 60’s.