How to get more channels on Freesat? This popular satellite television service offers us some of the best free-to-air programs ranging from the most awaited Kids channels to relevant News programs.
But with the rise of new programs nowadays, we are left wondering if it is possible to add more channels on our Freesat boxes.
Now, we no longer need to look any further.
Because we will dive into the required steps to scan and add the latest programs on your existing list.
Can You Add More Channels To Freesat?
Freesat provides us with over 170 radio and TV channels with UK's most in-demand programs like ITV and the BBC.
However, there may be instances where you may want to add more programs to your existing channel list.
In reality, there is no exact number of channels on this entertainment platform because it tends to get updated every couple of months.
You can get their latest listings on their official website.
How Can You Perform a Freesat Channel Scan?
Freesat provides you with the most-awaited and relevant channels at your home's comfort.
But before we discuss how to get more channels on Freesat, let us first understand why and how we can perform a quick scan on our existing listings.
Reasons For Scanning
In most cases, you would need to scan your channel listings because Freesat's available programs tend to change from time-to-time.
These changes may be due to the following:
- The channels you are looking for have stopped their transmission.
- The channels you are looking for has changed its transmission process.
If a program has stopped its transmission, this might be because they have moved to paid services.
But in some cases, they may have also gone out of business. Meanwhile, other TV services may have changed how they transmit their programs, depending on what works for them.
But it is essential to understand that no matter the root cause of your issue, you can perform a quick scan of your channel listings to see which programs are missing.
Performing a Quick Scan
If you suspect that you have missing channels on this entertainment platform, you can follow the steps below to perform a quick scan on your Freesat box:
Steps
- Access your Freesat box's Settings Menu.
- Click on the Installation tab and choose TP Scan/TP Setup.
- Afterward, click on the Search button.
- Wait until the progress bar on your screen says, "Scanning is complete." Take note that this process usually lasts for a few minutes.
- Once the scan is done, you will now see a list of available channels on your Freesat box.
How To Get More Channels On Freesat
In most cases, performing a quick scan on your receiver adds new channels on your receiver automatically.
But if your desired show does not show up on your existing channel list, you can manually tune your programs.
We have divided this section into three significant steps to add your preferred programs on this entertainment platform successfully:
1 - Preparation
Adding channels onto your Freesat may look quite complicated for some users.
Because of this, we suggest you follow these quick and easy steps to prepare everything you would need to get the latest listings on your platform.
Steps:
- Click on your Main Menu and highlight the Settings tab.
- Once the menu opens, scroll down and locate the "Show Non-Freesat Services" option.
- Select and confirm this tab afterward.
- Once you see the sub-menu on your screen, scroll down again, and select the Yes option.
After confirming your selection, you will see a confirmation message located below the TV icon on the right side of your screen.
Ensure that this option says "Set: Yes" to guarantee that the following steps will be successful.
2 - Understanding Your Channel Listing
Adding channels on your Freesat may seem complicated.
But you can overcome this if you understand the numbers and symbols on your channel listings.
When you open the "Add Non-Freesat Services" tab, you will see the following options on the upper left side of your screen:
- Frequency
- Symbol Rate
- LNB Polarization
Every channel will have unique codes you would need to note every time you want to add new programs manually.
So you would need to do a quick search on the internet to know the specific TV satellite parameter for the program you want to add.
Now, let us understand what each number and symbol mean to know what to adjust on your end. For instance, Sky News has a TV satellite parameter of 12207 V 27000.
The first set of digits on this code refers to the program's frequency in MHz, followed by the LNB Polarization of V for Vertical, and the symbol rate.
3 - Adding Your Channels
After understanding what your channel codes mean, tap on the Frequency box and press the corresponding digits into the given field using your remote control.
Next Steps
- Next, press the Down Arrow and enter the necessary digits on the Symbol Rate tab. For this step, you should be able to see the level meter of your desired program.
- If not, you may have the wrong LNB polarization. So, highlight the tab below and press either the Right or Left Arrow on your remote.
- Lastly, select the Scan menu and press the Right Arrow again to begin scanning and adding your desired channel.
Wait for at least five seconds until your scan has been completed.
If you want to add more channels on your existing listing, repeat the steps above and enter the new channel codes for each of your desired programs.
If not, press the Exit button to continue watching your shows.
Tuning In On Freesat
Freesat provides us access to relevant programs to keep us occupied throughout the day.
But what makes this TV satellite service excellent is that we can view these shows for free.
Aside from this, we can also get more channels on our Freesat receiver.
But although this process may seem a bit complicated, we hope that the steps we discussed above guide you throughout the process.
Further Read: In the process of getting more channels, if you face no signal issue you can refer our guide on Fixing Freesat No Signal for more details.
