How to check HD TV

Your TV is the “faithful companion” of many evenings spent at home in peace and so far it has always done its “job” very well, guaranteeing you hours and hours of entertainment. For a few days, however, the channels you used to watch are no longer available. In their place, all that is displayed on the panel is a completely black screen.

You’ve heard around that SD ( Standard Definition ) TV channels are giving way to HD ( High Definition ) ones and you fear that the problem you are having is due to this fact. This being the case and also considering that the device you use has more than a few years on its “shoulders”, you would need help in understanding how to check HD TV , right? Perfect, then I think this is the tutorial you are just starting to read.

The verification you intend to carry out takes only a few minutes of your time and carrying it out is really very simple. If you follow my instructions to the letter, therefore, I am sure that you will have no problem understanding if your TV has everything you need for high definition (and possibly for the new digital terrestrial and satellite broadcasting standards). Come on, then: make yourself comfortable, hold the remote control and read carefully what you find explained below. Have a good reading!

Index

• Preliminary information
• How to check HD TV: digital terrestrial
  • Tune in to HD channels
  • Re-tune the TV
  • In case of problems
• How to check HD TV: TV Sat
  • Tune in to HD channels
  • Re-tune the TV
  • In case of problems

Preliminary information

Before moving on to “practice” I think it is appropriate to provide you with some general information on the transition to the new standards of the television signal concerning both digital terrestrial and satellite channels . You should know, in fact, that with regard to DTT ( Digital Terrestrial Television ), the voluntary “shutdown” by the various broadcasters of the SD channels , ie those with standard definition , began in October 2021. behalf of those HD to HD .

This clearly results in higher (and sharper) image quality than that offered by SD channels. In “technical” terms, the aforementioned transition translates into the passage from the MPEG-2 video encoding format (the one used by the SD signal) to the MPEG-4 one . The compression algorithm used by the latter format is particularly efficient compared to that of the previous format and therefore manages to guarantee images characterized by the almost absence of visual artifacts.

The MPEG-4 standard, in current television signal transmissions, is combined with the Main10 (i.e. 10-bit ) HEVC ( High Efficiency Video Coding , also known as H.265 ) video encoding , while the MPEG-2 standard employs H .262. The new standard supports the maximum resolution of 8K (up to 8192 x 4320 pixels ).

At the time of writing, some Rai and Mediaset channels (such as Rai 4, Rai 5, Rai Movie, TGCOM24 and Mediaset Italia 2; for the complete list, I refer you to this page ) are only available in HD. From November 15, 2021 , also it began the process of re-farming due to the transition to DVB-T2 ( Digital Video Broadcasting – Second Generation Terrestrial ), or the new digital terrestrial television standard.

The European Commission , in fact, has established that the frequency band used for the transmission of television channels (the one between 694 MHz and 790 MHz ) is entirely destined for the 5G mobile data network , which is gradually spreading more and more. The switch-off (ie the “switching off” of the channels transmitted with the “old” frequencies) was staggered into various phases by the MiSE ( Ministry of Economic Development ).

The transition to the new frequencies will therefore take place at different times for each group of regions into which the Peninsula has been divided and the process will end on 30 June 2022 (for the details of the roadmap envisaged by the Government, I refer you to the specific page of the site of the MiSE).

From January 2023 onwards, the new DVB-T2 HEVC Main10 standard will be active throughout Italy and to continue watching broadcasts and various television contents it will be necessary to have a TV or decoder compatible with this standard (I will recommend some of them. later ). Before then, it will be enough to equip yourself with a TV or decoder with support for HD channels , in order to access the MPEG-4 broadcasts I mentioned earlier.

As for the satellite platform , however, the same transition from MPEG-2 (SD) to MPEG-4 (HD) began earlier, in November 2020 to be precise. In this case, the new video encoding format will match the DVB-S2 transmission standard ( Digital Video Broadcasting – Satellite Second Generation ) and the transition to high definition will end in early 2022 .

At the moment, some Rai channels (Rai 4, Rai 5, Rai Gulp to name a few, but you can view the complete list on this page of the official website of tivùsat ) can only be received in HD and all Rai channels and some Mediaset channels can already be watched in high definition.

To continue watching programs, films and other television content via satellite, therefore, it will be necessary to use a CAM module with tivùsat certification ; or, alternatively, a tivùsat HD or 4K decoder (also in this case I will propose you some product of this kind in due course ).

How to check HD TV: digital terrestrial

As you will see shortly, the steps to take to check if your TV can receive high definition channels are really immediate and all you need to do is press a few buttons on the remote control. You will find everything explained in the next chapters.

Tune in to HD channels

The first, and most obvious, thing to do to check if your TV can display HD channels is to try to tune in to them. To do this, simply turn on the device by pressing the ON button on the same or on the remote control and type on the latter the numbers assigned to the channels in high definition (according to the Italian LCN numbering ). I’ll bring them back to you below.

• 501 – Rai 1 HD.
• 502 – Rai 2 HD.
• 503 – Rai 3 HD.
• 521 – Rai 4 HD (only in some regions).
• 525 – Rai Premium HD (only in some regions).
• 57 – Rai Sport + HD.
• 4 or 504 – Network 4 HD.
• 5 or 505 – Channel 5 HD.
• 6 or 506 – Italy 1 HD.
• 507 – La7 HD.
• 529 – La7d HD.
• 509 – NINE HD.
• 569 – Deejay Tv HD.

If you are able to view at least one of the aforementioned channels, your device should have no problem receiving the signal in high definition and support HD (720p) or Full HD (1080p / 1080i) resolution . Eventually, if you have other doubts, you can type in Google [model name and TV brand] specifications or [model name and TV brand] resolution and check what is reported on the official website of the manufacturer of your device (you should find it in the first search results) .

Or, you can also check the manuals or the box of your device to see what is reported on the resolution of the same or if the DVB-T2 , lativù or lativù 4K stickers are present . For the numbering of other HD channels on digital terrestrial consult this page .

Re-tune the TV

How do you say? Have you just tried to type on the remote control the numbers assigned to the channels I have just listed but the latter were not present in the list of those stored (or instead you were shown a black screen)? In this case, before “running for cover” by replacing the TV or decoder, it is advisable to try to perform an automatic re-tuning of the TV.

The operation is really very simple: generally, it is sufficient to access the TV settings menu by pressing the Menu , Settings or Settings buttons , select the item relating to tuning , channels or broadcast and, from here, choose the option of automatic tuning (or automatic search ). To confirm the operation, the PIN code of the device may also be requested ; if the latter has never been previously set, it will be sufficient to dial 0000 , 1111or again 1234 .

To make it even clearer, I list below the steps required to tune a seventh generation Samsung Smart TV . First, press the Settings button and, in the menu that appears on the screen, press the Enter button (i.e. the one located in the center of the cross formed by the directional arrow keys ) on the Transmission item . Then, press this last button again on the Auto Tuning item .

Finally, press the Enter key on the Start and Search buttons . You may then be asked for your PIN . If you have never set one before, type in the ones I mentioned above; if you have previously registered a PIN code on your TV and can’t remember it, take a look at this tutorial of mine . Once the TV has searched for channels, to complete the procedure, press the Enter key on the Close button and you’re done.

Eventually, if by taking these steps you still do not correctly display the channels in high definition, you can make a last attempt by tuning them manually . To do this, it is generally sufficient for you to repeat the steps I initially listed in this chapter and select this time the words Manual tuning (instead of the item Automatic tuning ).

If you have a Samsung Smart TV available , to perform these steps, press the Settings button and go to Transmission> Advanced settings> Manual tuning> Digital channel tuning . You will then be shown a list with some groups of frequencies each of which corresponds to a series of channels. Then just press the Enter key on a certain frequency to retune all the channels related to it. How do you say? Not sure what is the frequency of the channels you are interested in tuning?

In this case, just type in Google [channel name] frequency ; the first results of the search should lead you directly to the official sites of the various broadcasters . If you are interested in viewing the Mediaset channels , for example, you can connect to the official portal of the broadcaster and obtain the data that interest you by selecting your region , province and municipality of residence . Alternatively, you can also use the search tool provided by the independent site Dtti .

Once you have opened the page relating to the latter, to carry out a search, click on the appropriate button that refers to your region of residence , then click on the name of your city on the next page and you will then be shown the list of the frequencies of all available channels including those in high definition. If you still need help with what has been explained so far, you can refer to what you find in my guide on how to tune digital terrestrial .

In case of problems

By carrying out the checks I advised you in the previous chapters and the appropriate searches on the Web, did you come to the conclusion that your TV is not enabled to receive HD channels ? If this is your situation, then all you have to do is consider purchasing a television in line with the new digital terrestrial television signal transmission standards; or choose a DVB-T2 HEVC Main10 decoder . Keep in mind that the Government has provided two different types of concessions for the purchase of the aforementioned devices.

If you are interested in a TV or a decoder among those listed on this page , you can be entitled to the Bonus TV – Decoder which consists of a discount of up to 30 euros on the purchase of the devices mentioned above (i.e. those compatible with the standard DVB-T2 HEVC Main10). It is possible to take advantage of this bonus until 31 December 2022 (or in any case until the funds made available for it are exhausted). The discount is aimed at families with a maximum ISEE of 20,000 euros and can be requested by only one person per family group.

Furthermore, to have access to the bonus, it is necessary to purchase a TV or a decoder from the resellers participating in the initiative, the list of which can be viewed on this page . The specific bonus request form filled out in its entirety must also be presented to the shop where the purchase is made . In addition to the aforementioned discount, it is also possible to request the TV scrapping bonus until 31 December . The latter is accessible to all residents in Italy in good standing with the payment of the TV license .

The discount is accessible without any ISEE limit and provides a maximum discount of 20% (up to a maximum amount of 100 euros ) only on the purchase of televisions compatible with the new broadcast standard (the same that you can view by opening the page that I linked you a few paragraphs above). To take advantage of the TV scrapping bonus, however, it is necessary to dispose of a television purchased before 22 December 2018 (date on which the Italian government made the obligation to sell devices compatible with the new standard in Italian stores effective).

The “old” TV can be delivered to the same retailers from which the new TV is purchased (the retailers must also be given the purchase receipt of the TV which is intended to be discarded). Alternatively, the “old” appliance can also be disposed of in an authorized ecological island . The WEEE operator must then sign the self-declaration form and the latter must then be presented at the shop where you intend to purchase the new appliance.

The MiSE has reported all the details relating to the use and validity of the bonuses I have just told you about in the appropriate section of its official website; so if you want to know more about it, I refer you to the same as well as to my tutorial on how to access the Bonus TV . How do you say? are you undecided about the purchase of the TV that will replace the one you use at the moment?

In addition to the television signal reception standard and resolution , the type of panel used (LCD, LED, OLED, etc.), connectivity (Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and so on), “smart” functionality and other features for which I invite you to consult my guide dedicated to the best TVs .

Would you rather buy a decoder ? Also in this case, in addition to the DVB-T2 HEVC Main10 standard, the types of connectivity , the inputs present (SCART, HDMI, USB, etc.), the multimedia recording and playback functions and other factors must be considered. I therefore invite you to consult what I have previously reported on which decoder to buy .

How to check HD TV: TV Sat

The solutions to check if your television or your tivùsat decoder are able to receive the channels in high definition are almost similar to those relating to the digital terrestrial signal. Here are all the details.

Tune in to HD channels

Are you wondering how to check HD TV if the one you use is the tivùsat satellite platform ? All you have to do is simply turn on the TV and enter the numbers associated with the channels listed below.

• 101 – Rai 1 HD.
• 102 – Rai 2 HD.
• 103 – Rai 3 HD.
• 10 – Rai 4 HD (only in some regions).
• 15 – Rai Premium HD (only in some regions).
• 21 – Rai Sport + HD.
• 4 – Network 4 HD.
• 5 – Channel 5 HD.
• 106 – Italy 1 HD.
• 107 – La7 HD
• 29 – La7d HD
• 9 – NINE HD

If you are able to view at least one of these channels that I have listed above, then you will have no problem being able to continue enjoying the contents you have always viewed previously without problems. Is your favorite channel not in the list you see above? No problem: on the official website of the tivùsat platform you will find all the channels of the latter listed (on the page that opens, just click on the channel icon to view its number).

Re-tune the TV

To be able to correctly view the channels in HD, you may first need to automatically tune them on your TV or paired satellite decoder. First of all, you will need to make sure that the coaxial cable for the satellite dish and the SmartCAM HD tivùsat module to be inserted in the CI (Common Interface) or PCMCIA slot are connected to your TV (or your decoder) .

Furthermore, I would like to point out that the DVB-S2 and lativù DVB-S2 or lativù 4K DVB-S2 stamps are shown on the manuals and packaging of TVs and decoders compatible with the new satellite television signal transmission standard .

The procedure for proceeding with the automatic tuning is essentially the same as I explained to you in the analogous chapter on digital terrestrial in this guide you are reading. However, as a search method for channel scanning, you need to select the satellite option . If you are using a Samsung Smart TV , to proceed, press the Settings button on the remote control and go to Transmission> Automatic tuning> Transmission> Satellite selection> Search> Start .

Once the automatic channel search has been carried out, you can also carry out the manual one as I indicated previously .

In this case, however, you will have to select the transponder you use and the type of satellite to search (HotBird, Astra, etc.). For the list of channel frequencies and the relative satellites from which they are broadcast you can consult this page .

For more details on these procedures I suggest you take a look at my tutorial on how to watch satellite TV . If you are still having trouble viewing the channels, the problem may also be due to the way you oriented the dish . To reposition the latter correctly, therefore, follow the “tips” that I gave you in my dedicated guide .

In case of problems

By carrying out the tests recommended in the previous chapter, were you unable to view channels in high definition or did you realize that you did not have a tivùsat certified CAM module or a tivùsat HD or 4K decoder available ? In this case you will necessarily have to consider the purchase of a TV with tivùsat certification coupled with a tivùsat HD CAM or a tivùsat HD or 4K decoder (the tivùsat smart card must obviously also be present to allow the correct functioning of these devices).

I inform you that, also in this case, the TV – Decoder Bonus and the TV Scrapping Bonus valid until 31 December 2022 (or until the allocated resources have been used up) can be used to purchase a device compatible with the new standard. DVB S2 (find the list on this page ). You can buy CAM modules to insert into the TV , both in physical stores and online . Here are some valid ones.

If you intend to replace your TV , you will need to check that it is DVB-S2 tivùsat certified . Many models, especially the more “equipped” and expensive ones, are compatible with both the DVB-S2 and DVB-T2 standards . To get an exhaustive overview of these devices, I refer you to my dedicated tutorial .

The compatibility discourse is also valid for satellite decoders . The latter also have the ability to connect to the Internet, record and play multimedia content. For all the details in this regard, please consult my guide on the best HD satellite decoders .