Tuning a Sony Bravia to pick up Freeview on Digital Channels

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CJtheCregg

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Topic # 99844 28-Mar-2012 13:59

Hi,
I just bought a Sony Bravia, and was told that it has Freeview built in.
I have managed to tune the Analogue channels in to pick up 1, 2, 3 and 4, but have been unable to get the DIgital to tune - it doesn't seem to pick anything up - even when auto tuning.
I have a UHT (? - I think thats what it's called!!) ariel, which I was under the impression, meant that if I had a Freeview box, or a TV with Freeview built in, that it would work.
What am I doing wrong?

Other info that may help:

- The TV IS plugged into the wall using a ariel cord.
- I haven't had any issues getting 1,2,3 and 4 on Analogue - infact they are really clear.
- A friend had a look at it and said that Freeview is definatly built in, but that they can't figure out why it won't tune in with Digital either!

Hopefully someone can help me out here!!
I'd really like to be able to receive those Freeview channels!
-C

jbard

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Reply # 601290 28-Mar-2012 14:02

Are you in a Freeview coverage area: http://www.freeviewnz.tv/coverage.aspx

Jaxson

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Reply # 601293 28-Mar-2012 14:03

Where in NZ are you?

Does your aerial look like this?:http://www.freetv.co.nz/uploads/61418/images/52840/22-Element.gif

Do you have just that aerial connected, or a 2nd big aerial on the same pole as it etc?

When you go to tune in, do you get any options under the menu to tune for analogue or digital or both?
ie are you sure you're actually asking the TV to look for digital freeview channels?

chiefie

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Reply # 601295 28-Mar-2012 14:07

The remote has a button i-Manual and that should help with giving you guidance on setting up digital TV.

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CJtheCregg

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Reply # 601296 28-Mar-2012 14:10

To answer the questions:
- Yes i am in a Freeview area - just checked my address on the site - I'm in Auckland.
- I'm pretty sure I have the right kind of ariel!
- I've been doing the 'Digital Auto Tuning' - the same way I got the analogue tuning done - but that was with 'Analogue auto tuning' and it worked.. but digital isn't.

chiefie

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Reply # 601305 28-Mar-2012 14:16

What's your model of Bravia?

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trig42

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Reply # 601310 28-Mar-2012 14:26

If it runs through Digital Auto Tuning and gets nothing, then you either do not have a freeview aerial, do not live somewhere freeview can be received, do not have the correct aerial connected or the TV is broken.

As you live in Auckland, and are receiving good pictures on 1,2,3,4 - which are broadcast on VHF, then you probably a) do not have a UHF aerial or b) do not have the UHF aerial connected to your TV.
I assume you are not picking up Maori TV or Prime TV after an analogue tune? These two channels are broadcast on UHF and you need the same sort of aerial to get these as you do for Freeview|HD.

If you think you have a UHF antenna (like: http://www.freeviewshop.co.nz/element-aerial-freeview-p-76.html ), do you also have a VHF antenna (like: http://www.antennasdirect.com/store/V4_antenna.html )?? It seems that your TV is connected only to a VHF aerial.

mattwnz

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Reply # 601330 28-Mar-2012 14:49

CJtheCregg: To answer the questions:
- Yes i am in a Freeview area - just checked my address on the site - I'm in Auckland. ?
- I'm pretty sure I have the right kind of ariel!
- I've been doing the 'Digital Auto Tuning' - the same way I got the analogue tuning done - but that was with 'Analogue auto tuning' and it worked.. but digital isn't.?

You need to make sure the UHF aerial is pointed towards the freview transmitter. In the wairarapa for instance you have to rotate the aerial 90 degree clockwise as the freeview transmitter is in a different location from the old UHF signal. Contact freeview for a map of the freeview transmitters in your area, as your aerial is possibily not pointing in the right direction.

hdinsider

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Reply # 601463 28-Mar-2012 18:49

In Auckland it's most likely that you will get freeview from the same site (Waiatarua) as VHF analog tv. If you have prime and Maori tv on your analog and they look ok, then tuning freeview HD digital should work fine. If you haven't got a UHF aerial, buy one because it is a one off payment to get HD tv for years.

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Hiamie

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Reply # 601471 28-Mar-2012 19:09

My 2 cents worth...

1. You need to be sure the UHF aerial is actually working.... TV1,2,3 & 4 are all VHF channels! There are other UHF channels on analogue (Maori, TAB, prime etc) and you haven't mentioned receiving those clearly, hence I suspect you aerial is not working on UHF.

2. The TV must be set to NZ. If when originally set up it was told it was elsewhere in the world (say - Australia for instance), then it probably is not looking at the NZ digital channel allocations correctly. In this case you may need to reset the TV to original. I am not familiar with the Bravia, so cant help you on this point.

Cheers

mattwnz

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Reply # 601478 28-Mar-2012 19:22

If you can't get prime on the analogue tuner, than the UHF aerial won't be connected properly. Possibly best for the OP to get a pro in.

gustov

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Reply # 606272 6-Apr-2012 22:09

I set up a friend's Sony Bravia for them in Howick with the analogue channels and then had problems tuning in the digital freeview. I worked it out in the end - there is a built-in on-screen instruction manual - so read that carefully. It's discragful these sets don't include a printed handbook.

Otherwise, take the TV back to the shop you bought it from and get them to tune it in, or call the Sony workshop in Khyber Pass road and they will explain it.

mattwnz

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Reply # 606275 6-Apr-2012 22:22

gustov: I set up a friend's Sony Bravia for them in Howick with the analogue channels and then had problems tuning in the digital freeview. I worked it out in the end - there is a built-in on-screen instruction manual - so read that carefully. It's discragful these sets don't include a printed handbook.

Otherwise, take the TV back to the shop you bought it from and get them to tune it in, or call the Sony workshop in Khyber Pass road and they will explain it.

It is also available online I believe, and you can probably print it off. Other brands are the same with instructions, at least the sony one has it onscreen. I think one of the main reasons it is not printed, is because the software in the TV is regaully updated online. I mean apple don't provide an instruction book for their ipads or iphones. It is also about saving money, and you get lower priced TV as a result. Would you rather pay $10 extra for your TV, just for written instructions? At least the sony instructions are written in full english, not broken english like some of these cheaper tvs.
The sony bravias are simple to tune into freeview digital, the tv does it for you when you first switch it on. Even my borhter managed to do it, and that is saying something, as he is hopeless with technology.