Choose how to get TV
Compare over-the-air, satellite and internet on what matters to you: the number of channels, whether you have internet at home and whether you can mount an antenna outside.
Guides
Practical guides
Most TV problems can be solved without tools and without calling a technician. All it takes is knowing where the signal comes from, where it goes and which menu controls it. Here you'll find step-by-step guides for the most common situations at home.
A good setup doesn't start with the remote. It starts with a question: where does the signal actually come into this house?
How this section works: the guides are written in general terms and aren't tied to specific models. Menu names vary from one TV to another, so check against your own device's user manual.
Guides
Tasks that nearly every TV owner runs into sooner or later.
Find a spot for your antenna
Open a coverage map, figure out which direction the transmitter is in, and try a few spots near the window while watching the signal quality bar.
Connect a set-top box to an older TV
Unplug everything, connect the antenna to the box and the box to the TV, then select the right input and run a channel scan.
Receiver (in Russian)
Get your cables in order
Label both ends of each cable, keep loops out of walkways and don't pinch cables in doors or under furniture: a kink quietly degrades the signal.
Make sense of unfamiliar terms
Multiplex, LNB, signal quality: short explanations will help you follow your set-top box manual and your TV's menus.
Article catalogue for English-language readers
Over time, this section will feature standalone Mirsts articles written specifically for the English-language version of this guide.
- How MMO Guilds Manage Progression, Difficulty and Group Roles — A Resource-Led Overview #1
A trend report on how WoW guilds now handle rosters, log-based feedback, scarce tanks and healers, affix weeks, PvP units and the paid-help market.
- What players should know about Destiny 2 level progression: Digital Entertainment
How Destiny 2 level progression fits a live game: seasonal content, fireteams and raids, realistic ways to catch up, and the risks of outside help.
- Aion 2 ap guide: Beginner-Friendly Explanation
New to Aion 2? Learn what AP (Abyss Points) means, how the Abyss fits into faction PvP, and where to check current earning rules and rewards.
- Gaming Resources And Editorial Discovery: Progression Road Map
How players find reliable, up-to-date game information: an FAQ and checklist with examples from Rainbow Six Siege, MMOs, looters and extraction shooters.
- GTA 6 Money Systems and Economy Explained: Editorial Overview
A careful look at GTA 6 money systems: the few confirmed facts, lessons from older GTA titles, and why buying currency carries real risk.
What we plan to cover
- Why trees in full leaf can weaken antenna reception in summer
- How to talk older parents through getting their channels back over the phone
- What heavy snow and ice do to a satellite dish and how to wait it out safely
- How to label the cables behind your TV so a move or a cleaning doesn't undo your setup
Editorial rules
- Articles in this catalogue are written separately for each language version and are not translations.
- Some articles link to third-party websites, including gaming services; we do not control their content, prices or terms.
- We do not sell equipment and we do not publish advertising for providers, manufacturers or shops, rankings, prices or reviews.
How to set up digital channels on a new TV
Connect the antenna before powering on
Plug the antenna cable into the matching jack on the back panel while the TV is unplugged. That lowers the risk of damaging the input and makes it easier not to mix up the connectors.
Choose your country and signal type
The first time you turn it on, the TV usually launches a setup wizard. Pick your country and choose digital over-the-air (antenna) reception if the list offers antenna, cable and satellite.
Run an auto scan
Start the automatic channel scan and let it finish without pressing any buttons. It can take a few minutes, and that's normal.
Check the results
If you got fewer channels than expected, open the signal information menu and check signal strength and quality on the different frequencies.
A hypothetical example: one channel package showed up but the other didn't. That means the antenna is just barely short, and it's worth moving it closer to the window.
Adjust the antenna and repeat
Change the antenna's position or direction and scan again. Move it slowly, and each time give the meter a few seconds to settle.
Organize the channel list
Once everything's found, you can rearrange channels in whatever order you like and delete duplicates. Many TVs let you lock the list so it doesn't get rescanned by accident.
Write down your settings
Make a note of which input and which reception mode are selected. If someone in the family accidentally changes the settings, you can quickly put everything back.
Read next
- Tools
What to keep handy: a digital TV coverage map, your TV's manual, the signal menu on your set-top box, the right cable, labels and a flashlight.
- Comparisons
Over-the-air vs. satellite vs. internet, indoor vs. outdoor antennas, and set-top box vs. satellite receiver vs. built-in tuner, side by side in tables.
- No signal
What to do when there's no signal, the picture breaks into blocks, channels disappear, there's no sound, the remote won't respond or nothing works after a storm.
- Safety
The real risks around TV reception: working at height, outdoor antennas in a thunderstorm, cables underfoot, an overheating box and pushy "mandatory upgrades."
- Glossary
Key terms in plain English: multiplex, UHF band, coverage area, LNB, receiver, auto scan, and signal strength versus signal quality.
Sources
- RTRS (Russian Television and Radio Broadcasting Network): official information on digital terrestrial TV
- TV and set-top box user manuals (general provisions)
- Mirsts editorial materials
This information is given in general terms as of the date it was prepared. Channel lineups, TV menus and contract terms change over time, so when in doubt, go by your device's manual and the official information from your broadcast network.