Vintage TV: Now Available on Freeview Channel 242

For the first time those with an internet-connected Freeview HD or Freeview+HD product (set-top box or TV or recorder) can enjoy full, subscription-free access to Vintage TV by streaming over broadband.

Simply select Vintage TV from the EPG or enter 242 on your remote control to view the channel.

While most Freeview HD products will automatically detect the Vintage TV channel, others might initially require re-tuning.

1) How do I check my current TV/set-top box (STB) is able to receive Vintage TV?

• You need a Freeview HD TV or recorder or set-top box (device) e.g. you can receive BBC One HD on channel 101.

• It must be connected to the internet via either a cable back to your home router or WiFi (some new TVs also have in-built WiFi that can connect). Follow your manufacturer’s instructions on how to do this.

• Re-tune your TV or STB as if you are installing new channels to ensure you have the latest listings in the Electronic Programme Guide (EPG).

• Once re-tuned check to see if Vintage TV is listed at channel 242 in your EPG. If it is not you are unfortunately in the small percentage of people only able to receive a limited range of Freeview channels due to transmitter coverage in your area.

• Select Vintage TV on channel 242. It may take up to 30 seconds to begin streaming. If you see a message on screen saying ‘your device is not compatible’ or ‘service loading please wait’, which doesn’t subsequently clear after about one minute, then your TV or STB is unfortunately not compatible with these services. Our providers are constantly working to open up access to as many devices as possible but some older TVs and STBs may not conform to the necessary requirements to receive our channel.

2) What can I buy to receive Vintage TV?

The top-level criteria is of course that it is a Freeview HD TV or Freeview+HD recorder, it is connected to the internet and has been re-tuned in order to ensure the latest EPG listings.

The list of compatible devices below is not exhaustive, but please be aware that the top four TV manufacturers cover more than 80% of the market.

Compatible set top boxes:

Humax HDR2000T

Logik L1HSTB12

Echostar HDT610R

Panasonic DMR-HWT230EB, DMR-HWT130EB, DMRBWT735, DMRPWT635 (NB: due to large internal memory buffers on these devices, the streams may not start until about 30-40 seconds after switching to channel 242)

View21 VW107ZRH50W

Goodmans GV102ZRH50

Bush 320GB HDR

Hitachi 500GB HDR

Samsung BD-F8500 / BD-F8900

Older (non available) STBs: Samsung E7500, Sony SVRHDT500, Digital Stream DHR8203U

Samsung TV model numbers Samsung Freeview HD TVs identified by the model number system below:

Generally any Freeview HD model from 2012 onwards such as: UE**H- - - - (e.g UE40H6400 ), UE**F - - - (e.g. UE32F5000), UE**EH6 - - - and UE**EH8 - - - series where ** is the screen size in inches and - - - - is a sequence of alphanumeric characters. (NB: some UE**F4000 models are not Freeview HD devices and UE-**EH5 - - - series are not compatible)

Sony TV model numbers: Models from 2012 onwards: KDL32HX753 KDL22EX553 KDL-42EX443 KDL-32EX343 KDL-46R473A KDL-40R473A KDL-32R423A KDL-W**** variants

LG TV models: Generally any Freeview HD model from 2012 onwards should work with Vintage TV.

Panasonic TV models:

2012/13 Freeview HD models that end in: 5B 5BTS 6B 60B 60BTS 61B. For example TXL42X60BT / TXL42DT60BTSAny 2014 Freeview HD model(Note: Some Panasonic TVs have a menu item to turn on or off the digital text services. Please check your TV User Manual to find this setting and ensure it is set to ‘On’)

3) Why doesn’t my device appear to support Vintage TV?

Assuming a viewer has followed the tests as outlined in 1) and not been successful it points to the device being one of the early generation of Freeview HD products that did not support MHEG streaming channels. Devices we know of that do not support streamed channels are below. These are all quite old devices and no longer available new in the shops.

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