This article will focus entirely on how to set up digital channels on LG TVs with and without Smart TVs. If you have an LG TV and you decide to abandon analog television and watch digital terrestrial channels, then most likely you have several popular questions: does my LG TV have a built-in DVB-T2 tuner, what needs to be purchased for receiving T2, how to perform setting up digital channels, etc. I will try to answer these and other questions in this article.
First you need to find out if your LG TV has a built-in digital tuner (DVB-T2). This is not difficult to do. We find out the TV model and look at the characteristics on the official website, or in online stores. It seems like all LG TVs since 2012 come with a built-in digital tuner. There are many ways to find out your TV model. The most reliable one is to look at the sticker on the back of the TV itself. For example, I have a model 32LB552U.
Then we type the model in the same Google, go to the official website and on the "Broadcasting Systems" tab, look for DVB-T2. If there is a dot near this point, then the TV has a built-in digital terrestrial receiver. Or we just look to have the DVB-T2 standard specified in the characteristics.
Well, then two options are possible:
- If you have an LG TV without built-in DVB-T2, you need to buy a separate set-top box for it to receive digital channels. I am leaving a link to an article where you will find a lot of useful information on this topic: what you need to receive digital terrestrial television. Including the antenna.
- If your TV has a built-in digital tuner, then just connect an antenna to it and tune digital channels through the TV menu.
I think this article will be equally relevant for Ukraine and Russia. The only moment, incomprehensible to me, is with the CAM modules that are inserted into the CI slot of the TV. Now I will explain everything. When I started writing this article, of course I decided to check everything. I came across an LG 32LB552U TV, on which digital channels were already tuned in. But the CI slot of the TV has a T2 CAM module. The task of which is to decode the signal. But as it turned out, even without the CAM module, this TV finds and shows digital channels. Perhaps earlier, to view T2, you had to buy a CAM module (conditional access module), but now it is not needed.
In any case, if during the process of tuning digital channels your LG finds these channels, but displays the error "Missing CI module", then you will need to buy this module. It looks something like this:
But I think that you will not need it, everything should work without this module.
As for the antenna, there are no special requirements. It does not matter whether a TV from LG, or a separate set-top box - you need a regular antenna that is suitable for receiving digital terrestrial television. The antenna used to receive analogue channels will work. I talked about antennas in more detail in the article at the link that I gave above.
The antenna must be connected to the TV.
Remember that T2 either catches or not. If there is poor reception (far from the tower, interference, insufficient antenna power), the TV may not find digital channels. Or find one / more packages. For example, only 8, 16, or 24 channels from 32-x (for Ukraine). In my case (in the regional center) all available channels were found.
Setting up digital channels on your LG TV
Search for digital channels must be started in the TV settings. Of course, depending on the TV itself (no Smart TV, with the new Smart TV system (webOS) and the old one), the settings may differ. But on all TVs, the menu is simple and straightforward.
On new LG Smart TVs
Usually the settings can be opened with the SETTINGS button on the remote control. Or open the Smart TV menu (the button with the house icon) and go to the settings.
Next, open the "Channels" section and select "Search for channels and settings".
We put a tick next to "Terrestrial TV (DVB T / T2 and analog)". Click "Next".
If we want to search only digital channels, then put a tick next to the item "Digital only" and click "Next".
The automatic search for digital channels will start. We wait. The photo below shows that the TV has caught 34 channels.
If not all channels were found for you, then you can try to tune the antenna (raise, turn towards the tower, check the connections) and start the search again by clicking the "Retry" button. Or press "Finish" and go to viewing the found channels. They will be saved.
Search for digital terrestrial channels on TVs without Smart TV
On my LG TV without Smart TV, the T2 setup is a little different. By clicking on the SETTINGS button, go to the settings.
Go to the "Channels" section.
Selecting "Autosearch" put a tick next to "Broadcast TV" and click "Next".
Put a tick next to "Digital only (Antenna)" and start the search with the "Run" button.
The TV starts searching for channels. When the search is complete, the number of digital channels found will be indicated.
My LG TV found 32 channels. By clicking on the "Close" button the channels will be saved. If your TV was unable to pick up all the channels, then after tuning, or replacing the antenna, you can restart the automatic search.
If something did not work out - do not rush to get upset. Write in the comments about your problem, I will try to help.
