Quick guide to the Freeview retune on 30 September

All you need to know to make sure you can still watch your telly

Quick Guide to the Freeview Retune on 30th September View more images

30 September 2009 9:30 GMT / By Dan Sung

You may have noticed a rather annoying message on your TV screens for the last few weeks getting right in the way of Ian Beale, Holly Willoughby, Jeremy Clarkson and most of the United midfield. If you've taken the time to read the message, rather than scowl at it until it disappears, then you'll have noticed that there's something going down on Wednesday 30 September, and yes, there's a very good chance that it applies to you, so read on for all the info you're going to need.

What is this the Freeview retune all about?

In a nutshell, the TV broadcasts are upping sticks from where they currently sit in the electro-magentic spectrum and setting up camp elsewhere at another wavelength where there's more room. One of the problems with the current set up is that firstly, there's no extra bandwidth about for the upcoming Freeview HD channels to use - and they're going to use a lot of it - and, secondly, not everyone in the whole country can receive the section that carries Channel Five. So, all of the TV and radio stations are moving to a different wavelength where your digi boxes are not trained to look for them. On 30 September, you'll have to retune your box so that you can find out where they've gone.

Will I need to retune?

The retune will effect 18 million homes in the UK, so chances are, yes. If you use Virgin, Sky or Freesat you don't have to. Satellite and cable services go through those kinds of updates without you having to tell them to all the time, so they'll take care of that one for you. But, if any of your TVs in the house work on Freeview - including Top Up TV and BT Vision - then you will have to retune those sets and DVD/Video recorders.

When do I need to do it

Freeview is saying to get on the case any time from after lunch on 30 September 2009. The channels might not have all finished their migration before 1pm, so best to leave till after, otherwise you may have to do the whole thing twice. You might see that the the names of the stations are there but it doesn't mean that the actual broadcasts are, so hold off till the afternoon.

How do I retune?

Well, every set top box, TV, and recorder is slightly different but the typical scenario goes:

Step 1 - Turn on your TV

Step 2 - Press the Menu button on your remote control

Step 3 - Navigate to the Settings area and then Set Up and Installation

Step 4 - Select the option entitled "Full retune"/"Default settings"/"Factory settings" or a similar choice. It may give you a panic warning like "Do you really want to delete all channels" but there's no need to be alarmed. Just say yes. They'll come back.

Step 5 - Sit back with a cup of tea and wait while your equipment scans the aerial's input and locates the channels for you. You'll most likely see a progress bar letting you know how it's all going.

If your set top box or TV receives the aerial signal through a DVD or video machine, then make sure the recorder is on standby before you start tuning and if you're at any point prompted for a PIN or 4-digit code then try 0000 or 1234.

What will I find after I've retuned

Your equipment may switch itself off during the process but that's fairly normal, so don't worry. Turn you TV back on and you'll find that all the channels are there including a new one on 38 called Quest. You may also be pleased to see Five if you didn't have it before.

On the downside, there's an excellent chance that all your personal settings will be lost - including your favourite channel selections, whether or not you want subtitles on and the entire order in the onscreen TV Guide will probably have changed too. If you use a Freeview+ recorder, then you might also need to check the future recording settings to make sure your system is scheduled properly to catch your favourite shows.

The other bad news is that in areas where digital switchover has already occurred you will probably lose the Community Channel and 460,000 people in such areas who receive their signal through a relay transmitter will also lose access to ITV3 and ITV4.

Will the retune work for everyone?

Sadly not. There are a few people out there whose equipment will not cope with the retune because they cannot receive certain bandwidths and you will retune to find absolutely zip. Not fun. This is only true if you're using old equipment and many of the manufacturers of that hardware will be offering firmware updates to fix the problem. Unfortunately, some will not. The one's to watch out for are:

Set Top Boxes
Daewoo DS608P - Call 0870 100 25 25
Labgear DTT100 - No longer trading
Triax DVB 2000T - No longer trading
Portland DP100 - Call 0870 100 25 25

Set Top Box/TV combos
Daewoo SV900 - Call 0870 100 25 25
Bush IDVCR01 - 0871 230 177

A small handful of other systems may also have the odd teething problem, such as BBC channels moving up to the 800s, but it's only the ones above that you'll probably have to replace. Not fair, we know, but the good news is that the cheapest Freeview boxes start at £7.

Err, Pocket-lint, it still hasn't worked?

It should all run relatively smoothly and will do for the vast majority of people but there's bound to be a hitch or two somewhere. It'd be difficult for such a big move to go entirely to plan. So, if you find yourself stuck, then the best thing is to call Freeview which has set up a hotline especially to troubleshoot any issues and sort out individual problems. The number is 08701 111 270 and if that's jammed up, then try your hardware manufacturer too. Good luck and see you on the other side.

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Comments

  • Factory settings will probably delete all recordings on a PVR so please do not select it if you can find any of the other possible options

    These should find the new channels but may leave duplucates

    "Automatic scan / Retune / Full Retune"

    This should delete all the channels but may also delete your scheduled recordings timers (but not the recordings)

    "Default Settings"

    This will probably delete all channels and recordings

    "Factory Settings"     Posted by Graham Robinson, UK
  • Re tuned my digital freeview tv and lost itv, channel 4, five and itv2. now i have to switch to analogue to watch these channels Posted by sarah potter, England
  • Retuned two STBs for new CH5 locations ; Philips and Humax.
    Aerial reception from the main London Crystal Palace transmitter .
    Both only found Ch5 in location 800 .

    No wonder help lines are so busy !!!!!     Posted by GP, London UK
  • same here, Sally. No ITV, Chanel 4, five, or itv2 - will they reappear, or have we lost them for good? Posted by claire c, uk
  • Thank you for hints about possible pin numbers - I tried 0000 and it worked! (had no luck telephoning the hardware company earlier and it does not mention this hint on the freeview or retune web site) Thank you. Posted by Mrs R Cotten, Scotland
  • We've lost channel 5, ITV 3, ITV4 and GOLD but seem to have gained a few others not seen before, but with no channel or program guides. Posted by Clive, Hants
  • Thanks you for stating that, Graham. Yes, the Factory Reset option should be a last resort. Also many systems, such as BT Vision have an automatic retune setting and may have taken care of it by the time you've already switched on.

    Sadly, the two ITV channels might well be a permanent fixture, Clive depending on whether your part of Hants has gone through digital switch over or not but certainly Five should be available. Worth trying a second retune but it could be a problem in your area too.

    Sarah, which part of the UK are you in and what Freeview TV/digi box are you using? With any luck it's a temporary problem with the transmitter and not something at your end.     Posted by Dan Sung, United Kingdom
  • I have lost about 60% of my channels and I can't get them back!!!! All the kids channels have gone and I have 3 kids who are very upset. I have evn moved the T.V around all day to try and get a better signal (not that I have a bad one to begin with!) and still it makes no difference.

    What am I supposed to do?? Any help would be GREATLY APPRECIATED!!     Posted by Ally Gordon, United Kingdom
  • Cock up here in Chester too. No Channel 5, ITV2, E4 etc etc... What a shower... Posted by Steve Howe, UK
  • Afterthought.. is this a conspiracy to get us all to buy Sky?

    "This (dis-) service brought to you by Rupert Murdoch"
     Posted by Steve Howe, UK
  • Hi Ally,

    Let us know what freeview box you're using and which area you are in. We might be able to work out where the problem lies. I know it's obvious but it's always worth switchng your kit on and off and retuning for a second time. If you've done that and checked that your box isn't on Freeview's problem list then it could well be an issue with the transmitter in your area. Worth checking if your neighbours are having similar issues.

    Freeview box check site - http://209.197.11.128/i3c3v8h5/cds/uploads/pdfs/Split_Nit_Product_List__Contacts_2.pdf?dopvhost=cdn.tvretune.co.uk&doppl=0b944f1c4157c3044107c35490c2c8384107c390&dopsig=c7464488ca57760e1c14c2cf7c5aff46     Posted by Dan Sung, United Kingdom
  • I'm running a TV with a built in reciever, itsa BUSH 37" HDTV (only a year or two old!) model number is IDLCD37TV16HD, i live in the north yorkshire region. I've lost (on initial inspection) ITV1, ITV2 CHAN4 CHAN5 ITV2+1 MORE4 E4 CHAN4 +1 but i can get E4 +1 and film four??? i also still recieve ITV3 and 4.

    Have run the scan about 3 times, i open the channels in the 800 region and they say no signal?     Posted by Brian Fitzpatrick, UK
  • Hi! I'm running a phillips DTR 200/05 freeview box in Glasgow, after the retune, which i have tried several time, I am no longer able to recieve channel 5, fiver, fiveusa or virgin 1, any tips? Posted by Emily Gibson, Scotland
  • Freeview is getting many more issues than they had anticipated with around 200 calls a minute this afternoon. There's a very good chance that it's a problem at their end of things rather than most people's equipment.

    The advice from Freeview is to keep trying at the moment and to put your postcode in to the search on their website to check which channels you should be getting - assuming the thing hasn't crashed under the traffic already.

    I would suggest that it's something they're trying to clear up but it might take them a while. If you still can't get the channels by the morning, I'd give them a call. In the mean time, keep your eyes out for others in your area with the same issues. I know that it's incredibly frustrating in the mean time but you should rest assured that your hardware is most likely ok.     Posted by Dan Sung, United Kingdom
  • Hi, I'm running a Goodman's GDB2 on the north coast of Northern Ireland. Only receiving Fiver, Five USA, ITV3 and QVC and all the dodgy dating channels. My retune keeps getting stuck at UHF CH:53 during the retune. Postcode checker said the area should be fine - and it indeed it was before I started trying to retune. Posted by Claire Shepherd, NI, UK
  • Just retuned my Digihome DTR0207 on the 30th Sept 2009, as required - and all channels are now black and white with a lovely hint of dull green :)
    Retuned again and it's still the same - I'm in the St Albans area, with an aerial pointing towards Hemel Hempstead. Anyone else got similar issues, or know a fix?
    I'm old enough to know that B&W TV isn't too bad, except when Daniel Corbett (weatherman) goes on about 'the greens, the blues' - all I've got is the greens!     Posted by geoff, England
  • I'm using a Humax PVR9300T and was getting perfect performance till retune. Now I find the signal strength is the same, but the quality of signal has dropped so much as to make freeview unwatchable. Any suggestions? Posted by Jim, England
  • I lost channel 5 and Itv 2 when I retuned in the afternoon. How do I get them back? I've tried retuning a few times but it doesn't help.

     Posted by Claire, Ireland
  • If you have a problem don't bother calling the Freeview number - an automated voice will tell you they're very busy, then cut you off!

    Waste of time and money.     Posted by geoff, England
  • tried to retune my Sony KD-28DL10U and the autotune just stuck for hours at 4%. I don't have any channel 5 or channel 10 (and maybe others), although I still have BBC and ITV. Posted by Alan, England
  • Try Channel 800 for Channel 5 and 801 and 802 for the ITV ones, it has worked for me Posted by Ed, N Ireland
  • I've lost film4 sice retuning, I quite like that channel, how do i get it back Posted by CB, uk
  • trying to retune my freeview and cant figure out how to do it... iv got a tevion freeveiw box and no idea how to do it does anyone else no how to work this thing?? iv been at it an hour Posted by cj, uk
  • After retune have a strong signal on C5 but have lost many more. Sandyheath transmitter. What a mess (Terminal 5). How on earth do we have the bandwidth for HD when they can't even give us enough for SD. Ridiculous. Posted by Steve, U.K
  • I've retuned and also lost ITV2+1. The screen tells me that it has moved from channel 27 to 33, but I cant get 33!! I also appear to have lost E4! Any help would be much appreciated! Posted by MB, UK
  • havnt retuned mine at all but still got my channels, thought i was supposed to loose all channels if i didnt retune today ? something weird is going on i no it Posted by mak, uk
  • Five, ITV and Channel Four all show no signal here in Essex.

    My STB can (about one second every ten seconds) get a quick frame from Five and then freezes. My DVD-Recorder even moved the channels to the 800's, but still show as no signal, but am getting a very strong signal for all the other channels. Both machines are only about 2-3 years old.

    A 'simple' retuning is a nightmare!

    Looks like my family will have to start talking to each other again for something to do!     Posted by Neal, UK
  • I have a Digihome DG250DTRA08 freeview recorder, similar to many people that have commented - I have lost Channel 5, which worked perfectly before, then got over 200+ messages telling there was conflict on all my set recordings! so had to go thru it all and reset the series recordings again.
    I haven't even looked to see what else is missing. All the instructions tell you to go to the set up then reset factory settings, my unit just says rescan as an plain option. Pretty upset as much of our favourate planned recordings are on C5 !!! wish I hadn't bothered retuning, I too believe there's an element of conspoiracy here RUPERT!I've even tried going into the settings to choose the frequencies it looks for but to no avail. ubnder the performance criteria it states 126 channels, now my unit only receives 101????     Posted by Chris J, UK
  • Like Alan, tried to retune a Sony IDTV and got autotune stuck at 4%. Gave up after 5 attempts. Sony problem or Freeview? Posted by BP, UK
  • Panasonic DRMES20D has no tv station guides or tv info when pressed just free tv or change category display after doing retune, but i can scroll through channels to watch? Thanks for any help Posted by Den, uk
  • Have retuned and all BBC channels now breaking up - all OK until retune. All others are fine.
    Suggestions?     Posted by Michael, England
  • I accidentally did a software reset on my flatmate's Ferguson instead of a retune! I now get a black picture on all the channels and no sound, but the signal bar says there's a full signal. I have retuned it again, by replacing all the channels but to no avail. The box isn't listed as needing to be replaced, and the signal is reported as being good, and it was working ok before all this!

    Can anyone suggest anything before my flatmate finds out?!     Posted by Liz, Manchester, UK
  • my god i feel like im going mad, i ve also lost itv2 and itv2 +and lots more.i also phoned up and all the lady could say was what do you want me to do about it.and that people will just have to wait tell it comes back. friendly or what Posted by hayley, suffolk, england
  • @geoff: sounds like your box might have reset a display setting that is not compatible with your TV. Check the Picture settings - particularly the SCART settings. If that doesn't help, try investigating the similar settings on your TV.

    BTW, I have a fancy Sharp PVR - only 6 months old - which has found all the channels (inc. old ITV2+1 and Five stations...???) but is missing EPG info for:
    FIVE, ITV3, ITV4 and other minor interest stations. Sounds like it might need a SW update...?

    P.S. Here's the 'local' version of the Freeview helpline: 01204 771025 - circumvents 0870 charges :)     Posted by Ed, Bristol, UK
  • Sony KD-32 retunes to 42% then does nothing.
    Lost channel 5 and some itv ones.
    The set-top box on our portable took about 60secs and job done and it's off the same aerial.
    Help!!     Posted by Andy, Scotland
  • OK, had a moan earlier but did a second retune later in the evening and the mssing channels are back.
    Channel 5 reception is definitely improved but 5 US is as dreadful as its always been as, sadly, is the new Quest channel. A great shame as this newby looks very good, a worthy successor to the Discovery- type channels I miss so much from Sky. But blocky/freezing pictures on both channels for us.... sigh...     Posted by Steve Howe, UK
  • We have two freeview + boxes and both of them have the channels to view but only part of the 8 day guide and none of the 14 day guide so can't record anything Posted by Sandra, UK
  • this is so dumb. i did it a few days ago with my Goodmans box and my channel 10 is gone which i love and my channel 27 claims to have gone to 33 but it's lying to me!!! Gr.... Posted by Kristine , London, England
  • since my re tune my channel 7 comes on ok for a few seconds then picture goes leaving sound only . Any ideas please Posted by Dave , uk
  • @Ed - Thanks for the suggestions mate - I'll try this when I get home. I don't hold out much hope and I daren't retune the other sets in my house, just in case, but I appreciate your help. I'll try the 'local' number today too.

    By the way, it was good to watch Man Utd play last night in a lovely dark green strip on an acid yellow pitch!

    I have a feeling that there are far more problems with this retune than the authors of the retune expected - What do we call it Digigate? Retunegate? Cockupgate? SodsLawgate? :)

    Does anyone know of the main outlet for online complaints about this retune? I want to add my moan as effectively as I can.     Posted by geoff, England
  • Retuned my Pace PVR - but got RTE1,rte2,tv3,and tg4 on positions 1-4 instead of the usual BBC etc - however cannot see pictures as they are the wrong mpeg version - why are irish channels interferring with our Freeview? Signals come from the Limavady Transmitter. (My Sony TV retuned perfectly and I get all available )channels Posted by Alan, Northern Ireland
  • I live in Bayswater and am using inbuilt freeview (opposed to a separate box), and we seem to have lost ITV2+1 E4 and Sky (which was 82). Is anyone else having these problems?? THIS IS SO STUPID AND FRUSTRATING!! Posted by LC, UK
  • channel 5 is watchable but the listings arent there which means i cant record it on the DTR. the listings for channel 5 are on 801 with amessage telling me to retune. which i have done several times. ITV3 and 4 are gone which is fine, i am not fussed about them. any ideas on how to sort the channel 5 issue out? its a BUSH DTR which is about 6 months old! Posted by Joanna, england
  • I retuned by Philips freeview box last night and channel 5 has now moved to channel 816, which is really frustrating because I had no problems with it before. ITV4 has also moved into the 800s. Any idea how to get channel 5 back to it's rightful position? I've tried an automatic and manual retune to no avail. Posted by Anne, England
  • Retuned a Panasonic tv with integrated freeview and lost BBC1 and BBC2, tried several times including a factory reset. Any suggestions? Posted by Anne, England
  • I have a Samsung 2333HD PC Monitor which I watch TV from. Was fine before update, received nearly all channels at good signal. I have lost Yesterday, Film4, 4Music, Virgin1, TMF, ITV3 and 4 (and lots of shopping channels which I don't care for). I have the other channels yet the BBC and Sky channels (news and sports news) are unwatchable as the screen stutters and freezes with the audio jumping too. I have performed Self Diagnose and it seems as if the 'Bit Error Level' is extremely high (I presume this means that the signal is almost scrambled). I'm going to leave it till tomorrow to let Freeview sort their signal out but then I'll be on the phone... Posted by Thomas, England
  • As posted by Sarah Potter I have lost ITV ITV3 5 and probably more. Rubbish idea by someone to force us to re-tune when we will have to change for complete digital soon.
    I gave up in the end and now have to switch to Analogue for the missing stations of ITV and Five.     Posted by Sarah, Washington, Tyne & Wear, England
  • Have tried again and again to retune both last night and this morning, still to no avail. The helpline number has been reduced to inane instructions - I know how to retune, pity that freeview doesn't! It's still getting stuck halfway through the retune scan and I'm still missing the vast majority of channels. Can't wait for round two of this nonsense when analogue gets switched off!!! Anyone know where else to get information? Posted by Claire Shepherd, NI
  • We've been trying to get hold of someone from Freeview all day to tell you all what's going on but, despite promises, so far they have got someone to speak to us. What I have heard is that from their end, the migration has taken place successfully, so I hope they're mistaken for everyone here's sake. I'll post more info from Freeview when I get it. Posted by Dan Sung, United Kingdom
  • I have lost ITV2 and ITV2+1.....is there any way of getting these back? Please let me know if you find anything out. Thanks Posted by Jason, England
  • I have a samsung TV bought it new last year. It is one of the 4 series model cannot remember the exact number at the moment. I retuned yesterday and the system was working fine. Came home today i was reduced to 20 channels. This number is rapidly decreasing, and i now have 6. They are as follows: BBC1, BBC2, BBC3, CBBC Channel, BBC News and BBC red button. Posted by Tolu, United Kingdom
  • Ed - I've sorted out my 'black, white & green picture' issue. I changed one of the configuration settings on the freeview digital recorder from RGB (which used to be the correct setting) to CVBS (apparently it stands for Composite Video, Blanking and Sync) and hey presto - FULL COLOUR returns!

    Hope this may help someone else.     Posted by geoff, England
  • We've lost many channels from their usual slots, but they do crop up in the 800s. Not consistently, though, on one re-tune BBC1 was found at 804, and on another it had moved to 810. All the missing channels are there in hte 800s but that is really inconvenient as it's so slow to scroll to and through them. it's a Daewoo DS600 box. Posted by Jackie, England
  • Still only getting channels in the 900s and that's only by cancelling the retune - it keeps getting stuck at UHF CH53 for hours and hours and never getting any further. I've tried to contact Goodmans but they've taken the duck and cover approach and are telling people to call the freeview number, which still doesn't work. Posted by Claire Shepherd, NI
  • Hi, hope someone may be able to help as the Freeview telephone number cut me off and Philips have told me to call back next week while they investigate the issue!

    Philips dtr100/05 box was never great I'll admit it. I never had ITV1, 2, 3 or 4, Channel 4, E4, More4 among others but I DID have Channel 5. Since retune, which I have tried Automatic Search, Manual Search and First Time Installation both yesterday 4 times, and today 4 times. For some reason Channel 5 is appearing on 800. However, instead of being able to watch it I just get the message about needing to retune!

    So is there anything anyone can think of I can do? I'm reasonably technologically savvy (or at least I can follow instructions), even tech support at Philips seemed surprised/impressed by my efforts to fix the problem!

    Checked the Freeview site about what channels I should be able to get and there are tons that I never had/still don't have. Box issue perhaps? If so, does anyone have any recommendations for a Freeview box that works?!

    Ironic isn't it, they try to make Channel 5 available for more and end up taking it away from people. Oddly, still have Five US and Fiver.

    Thoughts? Thanks everyone!     Posted by Charlotte J, UK
  • I retuned my Daewoo DS700 last night and had every channel but this morning no channel worked and have since retuned 5 times and have lost ITV, ITV2, ITV2+1, Channel 4, 4+1, E4, Five, Five US and Fiver and cannot find them anywhere. My screen says is tuning in new channel then says cannot find and should check leads and retune but all other channels work perfectly like they used to do before this palaver.
    Living in North London can anyone help?     Posted by Rob, UK
  • I retuned my Sony RDR-HXD710 yesterday and all the channels appear to be there, and in the right places (i.e. if you press '5' on the remote, it shows C5!). But I've got it set to record daily from 6pm on C5, and it doesn't 'look' at C5, it looks at channel 800 which is of course only showing the message about the need to retune! Does anyone else have this problem, or could offer some help? Thanks!
     Posted by Kirstie, UK
  • I have a wharfedale freeview box retuned it and hardly have anything im in the Essex area, anyone have the same box and same problem?? Thanks Posted by Lisa Rae, England
  • I had perfect reception prior to retune, since then Toshiba tv refuses to retune, but kind of get's C5 on analog and Humax had to be retuned well nearly 20x,but still no ITV 3 or 4 and C5 very temperamental , as sometimes reception is good and other times there is no reception at all, which is very annoying, when busy and trying to watch anything,when time allows.
    I do wonder, if it's a way for folk to buy skye boxes....
    This whole retune is a total farce and everyone should be given a reduction in TV license     Posted by Chrissie, Scotland
  • just bought hitachi combi with built in freeview; every time we switch it on it keeps showing the meesage; make sure your ariel is plugged in; which it is; then you have to go through the whole retune again. its setting us mad. linda . north london. Posted by elizabeth mulligan, london
  • Has anyone else tried the website 'TV re tune'?
    It's telling me every day since 30/9, after adding my postcode and house number, that re tune is essential to continue to keep existing services.
    How log will this keep going?
    Anyone got any idea?     Posted by Chrissie, Scotland
  • Panasonic TH Integrated freeview TV.
    sandy Heath Transmitter
    Can anyone get BBC 4 ?     Posted by frankie, United Kingdom
  • Nooooooooo!!! Ive lost sky sports news!!! :-( :-( :-(
    I wish they ust left freeview as it was!     Posted by Jamie W, Wales
  • I've lost BBC4 too and it's about the only one I normally watch.
    As the information zooms through, it says that it is at 105 and 115 with quite a strong signal.
    The trouble is that the guide doesn't show 105 or 115 and if I type them manually, it says not available.     Posted by Getting too old, UK
  • Im trying to retune my sky box as I only have the freeview channels, how do I do this or do I not need to? Posted by Claire, england
  • have retuned freeview for channel 5, which is still showing as 5 - channel 5
    but can not now get 5 through dvd player so can not record this channel or watch
    all other channels are ok
    what has happened     Posted by carole dillon, england
  • have managed to find channel 5 itv and itv2 but the picture just breaks up. never had this problem before re-tuning. Any ideas. using a humax f2-fox t freeview box. Posted by franklin, west norfolk
  • I have a panasonic with integrated freeview and as many others ended up losing BBC 1, BBC 2 in digital and not really watchable in analog also lost ITV1 and Channel 4 when I retuned. I've just tried reutuning using the buttons on the side of the TV as opposed to using the remote control and....I now have the channels back and they are in the right order! Hope this helps others!
     Posted by Beth, UK
  • I 've lost channel 4, itv1, 2, +1 and E4! how do i get them back. Posted by Tasha, England
  • I can normally watch all channels, even 5, 5er, 5US, but after stupid retuning, I lost itv4 and my favourite film4 . Posted by Aor, UK
  • I have retuned my Panasonic with inbuilt digibox and have lost BBC1 & 2. Are they comming back? I hope heads roll over this! Posted by Patrick, England
  • Following a re-tune of my Wharfedale LPDV832B set top box the only BBC TV channels that I CAN receive are BBC4, BBC Beebies and BBC Parliament.

    So what has happened to the much-used BBC1 and BBC 2 (as well as BBC3)? Fortunately I can still access BBC1 and BBC2 via analogue.

    It is ironic and irritating that the dozens of never-to-be-watched garbage channels are there, with their marketing and porn, loud and clear.     Posted by Ray Brown, UK
  • I have a Goodmans STB [GDB3], which has always served me well. However, since the retune I have got very bad reception with 5; ITV 1, 2, 2 +1, 3 & 4; channel 4, 4 +1, more 4, film 4;E4, E4 +1 & even the BBC [all 4] is pixelating now. Basically, it is impossible to get any picture & sound solidly throughout. So I retuned & retuned again [maybe 20x all together?] and this seems to be it, no more telly. I find it strange that Freeview blames either the STB or the position of the aerial. What to do? Posted by joanna, england
  • i have a digihome 250 freeview box since retuneing the chanels are all mixed up how do i solve the problem Posted by joe mc keown, tyrone, n ireland
  • i retuned my toshiba tv and it seemed to be ok but know whenever i turn on the tv it retunes itself which is mega annoying! Does anyone know how to fix this? Posted by Laura H, England
  • since tuning my digihome 250freeview pvr the channels are all mixed up how do i fix the problem Posted by joe mc keown, tyrone, n ireland
  • hi i retuned my 160 thomson freeview box since retuning i have lost virgin and the menu for ch5 how do i fix the problen Posted by d j webster, norfolk
  • Where do we get help with this morass of problems?! I've lost BBC1 and BBC2 from my freeview thanks to the retune. What am I supposed to do? Some people talk of a hotline number to phone, but there's no such number listed on this website.

    We used to say "the customer is right". Clearly, we don't pay for freeview, but I guess millions invested pounds in set-top boxes, seduced by the chance to get more channels. Does that not make us customers? No customer asked for this retune: it's been forced on us with almost no warning and no mechanism to sort out the problems it's caused.     Posted by Frank Odds, UK
  • There are a lot of Freeview boxes that won't work after being retuned. There is a list here http://www.gadgetthoughts.com/?p=62 of almost 50 that I know there are problems with and some phone numbers that may help.... Posted by Freelancer, UK
  • I have a Philips set-top box. I can re-tune and get all the channels.
    After a day I lose BBC2. Annoying.     Posted by Jason, UK
  • my dad has a thomson DTI 3600 when he retuned he lost the program guides for some channels (5 vigin itv 3-4 bbc 3 etc) when he rang the freeview helpline they said the thomson boxes cant take the updates and wont be able to so he gave us the thomson number to call he got an automated message saying sorry we are unable to take your call try again later this happened on the last update and they changed my fathers box but this time he cant get to speak to anyone at all i think its a bloody disgrace hes 70 yrs old and had this box because he could record the films now he cant record anything cos of having no programme guides Posted by colleen , England
  • i had all my channels prior to retuning , now am missing itv , c4 , 5 , e4 , itv2 , tv is lcd built in freeview tosumi tom1058 , how do i get channels back , am in oxfordshite Posted by hailie, england
  • retuned our box and have lost skysports news.has anyone else had this problem? Posted by sarah, uk
  • HELP !!
    I retuned my Philips box and now nothing works...!!?? It says ' no signal , check antena/ cable ' Everyday Im losing more and more chanells and now Im left with 6 chanels like BBC, etc. What am I suppoesed to do now ?     Posted by ela, UK
  • Since the 30th September retune, my itv, channel 4 and channel 5 channels have also got really bad they keep breaking up so its not watchable. Posted by Steve, UK Herts
  • After retune had perfect picture on all channels. About 4 days later all BBC channels became unwatchable due to poor signal. Everybody in the area is having the same problem. Signal received from Dover transmitter, which i can see. Also retuned 3 Panasomic boxes, 1 retuned correctly, other 2 boxes retuned with channels in different random orders. Whole thing is a complete shambles. Posted by John, UK
  • Since the retune of freeview,channel 4 on our television is picture perfect but with broken sound every other second leaving it impossible to listen to!
    Anybody else with the good picture/broken sound problem?
    All channel,s perfect bar channel 4 so I have to watch c4 programmes on channel 4 plus 1     Posted by Paul, Northern Ireland
  • Having followed all the rules we now have a weak/breaking up signal on the ITV-related channels. However, if as a result of retuning someone is now unable to get the BBC channels they could presumably stop paying the licence fee? Now THAT should get someone's attention... Invite the detector man in and ask him to bring his screwdriver! Posted by David Condon, UK
  • We live in Bristol in Hotwells and since the retune, our wharfdale set top box has recieved all of the channels but the signal strength is very poor and disappears almost completely when we have any bad weather (rain and wind) which makes watching them almost immpossible. The channels most affected by this seem to be BBC, ITV and channel 5. This never occured before the retune. Any one having the same problems? Any ideas? Posted by Jim, England
  • What recourse do the millions of people have when they have lost functionality due to this re tune?

    I read that many people like us have lost functionality which affcects our viewing lives ; many have lost channels, we have all the channels it seems but can no longer record anything on our recordable freeview box, and are unable to access the many hours of stored film an programmes in our library.

    I understand that there are set to have more re tunes in future - what will freeview be doing about this as we are unable to afford a new box and when we finally are able to what's to stop this happening again - causing yet more inconvenience and financial loss? How can we minimise ?     Posted by G Giles, England
  • We've had to slightly turn our aerial to a different position and the booster box we used to use, were able to go away.....have had bit better reception since, but still since re tune no itv 3.
    Hope this helps anyone else having problems.     Posted by Chrissie, Scotland
  • Not sure if this is just particular to my Humax STB, but I lost nearly all my channels after the retune - even BBC. I have just unplugged everything - including the aerial from the wall, which someone had advised on another website, left it for a while, plugged it all back in again and restored the default settings and now have a good picture for nearly all the channels I previously had - the only one that seems to be missing is E4+1. So my advice is try unplugging and setting everything back up again. Restoring the default settings did not delete any of my recorded programmes, but did delete the series I have set up to record.

    Hope it helps someone!     Posted by C, London UK
  • I retuned my digital tv and lost itv1 channel 4 & 5 and itv2 how do i get them back Posted by bill, scotland
  • I find the replies here hilarious!

    All addicted to the radiation omitting box,
    why don't you do something else with your lives.     Posted by Gertrude Fudpucker, U.K
  • says the person sat on the computer taking the piss out of people who watch tv? GEEK!!! Posted by unknown, england
  • WELL, i have retuned my sony bravo and my Humax PVR and the funny thing is that whilst both sets indicate a strong signal on ITV3 with 100% quality I can only get a picture for this channel on the Sony TV. The Humax finds ITV3 (Ch 10) upon retune and it appears in its Freeview guide but with no info. and selecting it results in a black screen. Again, system info indicate a 60% strength signal for the channel. Am bemused - any suggestions please?? Posted by Mr Jelly, UK

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