How to turn on Xiaomi TV channels through the antenna without a console

Xiaomi’s Android TV smart TVs offer a wide range of entertainment options, but many owners forget or don’t know about the built-in digital tuner when they buy them, which means they don’t buy additional receivers and watch live TV directly using only a room or street antenna, and the picture quality often exceeds that of older analog systems, especially when it comes to the DVB-T2 standard.

In fact, the MIUI TV or PatchWall interface that is installed on Xiaomi devices is as simple as possible for the end user. You don't need special engineering skills or knowledge of complex technical terms. You just need to follow the step-by-step algorithm that we will describe in detail in this article, in a matter of minutes to enjoy your favorite programs in high resolution.

It is important to understand that for successful reception of the signal is critical not only the TV itself, but also the quality of the antenna cable, as well as the location of the receiving device. In some cases, especially if you are in the area of uncertain reception, you may need an active antenna with an amplifier. Built-in in Xiaomi TV tuner supports only the digital standard DVB-T2, analog signal (AV) without a converter it will not accept. This means that old antennas that worked with “rickets” may require replacement or upgrades for stable operation with new equipment.

Equipment and preparation for connection

Before you go to the software settings in the TV menu, you need to make sure that your workplace is physically ready. The main element that you can't transmit without is the antenna. It can be indoor if you're in close proximity to the transmitting tower, or external, mast, for remote areas and country houses, and the quality of reception depends on the type of antenna and the height of its installation.

The second important component is the antenna cable: Old, damaged or too long cables can significantly weaken the signal, which will lead to artifacts on the screen or complete loss of the image. It is recommended to use a coaxial cable with copper vein and shielding, which meets modern data transmission standards. If the cable was twisted or compressed, it is better to replace it with a new solid segment.

You will also need a remote control that comes with a Xiaomi TV. In some models, it can be voice-controlled, but a standard set of buttons is enough to set the channels. Make sure that the remote has fresh batteries installed, as the frequency scanning process requires active interaction with the menu and can take several minutes.

• 📡 Antenna: Decimeter (DMV) antenna that supports range UHF, digitally-receivable.
• 🔌 Cable: Coaxial wire with 75 Ohm resistance and serviceable F-type connectors.
• 📺 TV: The device Xiaomi Mi TV or Redmi TV built-in DVB-T2.
• 🔋 Remote: Original remote control for navigation on the system interface of Android TV.

⚠️ Warning: Do not connect the antenna cable to the TV connector if an active amplifier is connected at the other end of the cable, requiring separate power from the 220V network, without using an appropriate power injector.This can lead to short circuit and failure of the TV tuner.

Once all components are checked, you can start a physical connection. Put the antenna cable plug in the appropriate socket on the back or side of a Xiaomi TV. It is usually signed Antenna In, RF In or DTV. If the connector has threads, gently twist the plug clockwise to the point, but without undue effort to avoid breaking the thread.

Navigating the interface and finding settings

Xiaomi TVs are based on Android TV, but manufacturers often add their own shell, PatchWall, which can hide some of the standard settings in the depth of the menu, which sometimes confuses users. To start setting up channels, we need to get into the main settings menu of the system, and this can be done in several ways, depending on the version of the firmware.

The fastest way is to press the gear button on the remote control, and if you don't have one, look up the icon on the home screen, which is called Settings or Settings. In some versions of the interface, this icon is located in the upper right corner of the screen. Move around the screen with the arrows on the remote to highlight the desired item.

Once you're in the settings menu, you'll see a list of categories. You'll need to find the channel or input section. It can be called Channels, Broadcast, DTV, or it can be inside the Devices and Preferences tab. Xiaomi's interface is logically structured, but the translation of some items can vary depending on the region and the localization version.

If you can’t find the right item right away, search by settings if it’s available in your version of the software. Type the word “channel” or “antenna” and the system will prompt you to go to the desired menu. This is especially true for new models, where the settings menu can be overloaded with smart home options and accounts.

Step-by-step instructions for automatic channel search

Automatic search is the easiest and most efficient way to set up a TV, which will scan the entire spectrum, find the available multiplexes and store them in the device's memory, and is suitable for 95% of users living in a confident signal reception zone.

To start the process, select Channels from the settings menu, then click AutoSearch or AutoSetting. The TV may suggest selecting the signal source. Make sure you choose the Antenna or Etheric TV option, not Cable or Satellite, even if you use a cable from your home antenna. Choosing the wrong source will result in the search not producing results.

Once the selection is confirmed, the scanning process will begin, and the screen will display the progress bar showing the percentage of execution, as well as the current frequency that the tuner is checking at the moment, at which time the TV can briefly show the channels found to check the signal quality.

It is important to keep the search process open and the TV on until it is finished. Usually, the scan takes 2 to 5 minutes, depending on the number of frequencies available in your area, and if the search is successful, the system will report the number of channels found and suggest that you go to the viewing.

⚠️ Note: If the TV found less than 10 channels in the automatic search process or the search ended with zero result, do not rush to reset the settings.

Once the procedure is complete, you can switch between channels using volume buttons or special channel switching buttons on the remote, and all channels found will be sorted by numbers corresponding to their frequency on the air.

Manual frequency setting and list editing

In some situations, automatic search may not work, for example, if you're on the edge of two different transmission towers, the TV can jump between them, losing some of the channels, and in these cases, manual adjustments come to the rescue to specify the exact frequency of the desired multiplex.

To start manually, select Manual Scan or Manual Scan from the channel search menu, and you will see a list of frequency channels, and you will need to know what frequency (channel number) the nearest tower is broadcasting on, which can be found on official relay center websites or special digital TV coverage maps.

Once you enter a channel number, you run a search. The TV will only check that particular frequency. If there's a signal and it's high enough, the system will suggest that you save the channels you find, and this method allows you to ignore the weak signals from the far towers and only receive the powerful signal from the nearest repeater.

Once the channels are found, you can edit the list of channels, and the menu often includes a feature to sort, rename, or hide unnecessary channels (such as radios or bad-quality takes) that makes navigating the airway more convenient for all family members.

Diagnostics of signal and image quality problems

Even after you've been successfully set up, you can have image quality issues, and the digital signal is different from analog signal in that it's either in excellent quality or it's not at all, but there are situations where the image is broken into squares, the sound stutters, or the image is completely dead, which indicates the signal's boundary level.

To diagnose signal level in Xiaomi TVs, a built-in feature is often provided. When you watch the channel, press the Info or i button on the remote (sometimes you need to click the menu button and select Signal Information).

If the signal level is below 50-60%, stable operation is impossible, in which case you need to check the integrity of the cable, the density of connections and, most importantly, the direction of the antenna. Even a slight shift in the room antenna can dramatically improve reception. Try to turn the antenna slowly, observe the signal level on the screen.

• 📉 Low level: Indicate problems with antenna, cable, or distance from tower.
• 📶 Low quality: Often indicates interference or a reflected signal.
• ❄️ Image freezing: Critical lack of data to decode the frame.
• 🔊 Loss of sound: May be due to overload of the TV processor when the signal is poor.

⚠️ Attention: Using cheap antenna amplifiers with high noise coefficients may not improve, but make the situation worse. The amplifier amplifies not only the useful signal, but all noise, which leads to a drop in the signal-to-noise ratio and the inability to decode the digital stream.

Weather conditions are also worth considering: heavy rain, thunderstorms or thick fog can temporarily impair the passage of radio waves, especially in the decimeter range. If problems only occur in bad weather, you may need to install a more powerful external antenna.

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Try to disconnect from the TV all the extra USB-devices (flash drives, hard drives) during antenna tuning, sometimes they can interfere or consume too much power, which affects the operation of the internal modules of the TV.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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The main secret of successful configuration is not so much in the menu of the TV, as in the correct installation and direction of the antenna. 90% of problems are solved by adjusting the position of the receiving device.