Modern TVs from Xiaomi and Redmi based on Android TV or Google TV are powerful multimedia centers, but their basic functionality is often perceived by users as secondary. Many owners immediately start installing applications like Kinopoisk or YouTube, forgetting that the built-in tuner allows you to watch air TV for free and in high quality, this is especially true for country houses or situations where the Internet connection is unstable or limited by the tariff.
The process of connecting an antenna cable to a connector on the back of the device seems trivial, but the correct configuration of the software requires understanding several nuances of the Android TV operating system. Unlike older button TVs, it is important not just to “catch a wave”, but to choose the right region and signal type so that the system sorts hundreds of channels and assigns them the right numbers.
In this guide, we’ll take a full-service look at everything from choosing the right antenna equipment to fine-tuning your frequencies manually if the automatic search fails. You’ll learn how to get around the interface limitations, where to go for a frequency list, and how to store channels for the convenience of all family members. Competent setting will turn your Xiaomi TV into a versatile device that combines the capabilities of Smart TV and classic air.
Preparation of equipment and selection of antenna
The first step before you start software setup is to provide a high-quality physical signal. Xiaomi TVs are equipped with built-in tuners of the DVB-T2 standard, which means support for digital broadcasting. To work, you will need a decimeter-wave antenna (DMW) and a coaxial cable with a resistance of 75 Ohms. If you are in the city near the TV tower, you can have a suffice room antenna, but for country houses you need an external active model with an amplifier.
It is important to understand the difference between active and passive antennas. Active models require separate power, which is often fed directly through the antenna cable from the antenna. USB-A TV port or a separate outlet, when you connect an active antenna to Xiaomi TV Make sure the power supply is on, otherwise the amplifier will not work and the signal will be extremely low.
The cable must be in good working order, without any visible inflection or insulation damage. The connector that you insert into the TV is called an F connector, and it must sit tightly in the Antenna In or RF In socket on the back of the device, and if the cable is old or has twists, the picture quality can fall even with the perfect software settings.
Connecting the antenna cable to the TV
Physical connectivity is the foundation of stable television. The back or side panel of Xiaomi Mi TV and Redmi TVs usually has a round connector signed as Antenna, RF In or having a schematic image of the antenna. In some models, especially compact, this connector can be combined with a composite video input (AV), which requires the use of a special adapter-minion that comes with the kit.
If your TV has this combined input, you need to gently insert the adapter into the socket, and then connect the antenna cable to the adapter. Don't put too much effort, because the contacts in these connectors are quite fragile. Once you connect the cable, you need to switch the signal source on the remote control, and this is the button with the image of the square with the arrow or the Input button.
In the signal source menu that opens, select "TV," "TV," or "DTV." If you see a "No signal" message or a black screen with a logo, that's OK -- channels haven't been found yet. As long as the TV goes into tuner mode, Android TV is ready to scan the airwaves at this point.
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If the image “falls” on squares or freezes, try to slightly rotate the antenna or check the density of the F-connector in the TV socket.
Automatic Channel Configuration in Android TV Interface
Once you switch to TV mode, the system will suggest you do the initial setup. If that doesn't happen automatically, go to the main menu of the TV and find the TV or Live Channels app. In the Google TV interface (the updated Xiaomi shell), this process can be integrated into the general setup wizard when you first turn on the device.
You will be asked to choose your country of residence. This is a critical parameter, because it depends on the list of available frequencies for scanning. Choose the Russian Federation or the corresponding CIS country if you are there. Next, the system will ask the type of connection: choose "Antenna" (Air) or "Etheric TV", avoiding the options "Cable" or "Satellite" if you do not have the corresponding console.
Start an automatic search. The TV will start to search for all possible frequencies in the selected region, at which time the screen can display the progress bar and the number of channels found. It is not recommended to interrupt this process, as this can cause a failure in the database of channels and require a repetition of the procedure.
☑️ Auto-search algorithm
Manual setting and frequency input
Automatic search is not always effective, especially in boundary areas of reception or in the presence of interference. In such cases, manual adjustment comes to the rescue, for this purpose, you need to find the manual settings menu or frequency, and here you need to know the channel number or frequency in the MHz of the nearest repeater.
You can find out the current frequencies for your locality on the official website of the Russian Television and Radio Broadcasting Network (RTRS) or similar regulators in other countries. Once you enter the frequency, you will see an indicator of signal level and quality. The antenna's task is to achieve maximum values for both parameters. If the level is low, you need to adjust the position of the antenna.
Once you have set up one multiplex (a group of 10 channels), the process can be repeated for the next frequency, which allows you to dial a full packet of channels even in difficult reception conditions, when the automation misses weak signals.
⚠️ Warning: When manually configured, remember to save each channel or packet found separately.Resetting the TV settings will result in the loss of all manually entered frequencies.
Sorting, removing and editing the channel list
After a successful scan, the list often includes hundreds of channels, many of which may be empty, encoded or broadcast noise. Putting order on this list is the key to a comfortable viewing. To manage the list in the Xiaomi interface, you usually need to press the menu button on the remote or the three-dot button while watching TV.
Select the option "Edit channels" or "Channel list." Here you can:
- 📺 Skip unnecessary channels so they don’t show up when switching.
- 🔢 Change the numbering, putting your favorite channels (for example, First, Russia 1) in the first place.
- 🗑️ Remove completely empty or non-functioning positions from the TV memory.
Android TV allows users to create profiles, which means that each family member can customize their own list of favorite channels without interfering with the preferences of others.
For ease of navigation, it is also recommended to check the settings of Program Guides (EPG). If the transmission data is not loaded, try setting the time and date settings to automatically receive time through the network, as current time is often necessary for the correct operation of the guide.
| Parameter | Description | Impact on viewing |
|---|---|---|
| Signal level | The strength of the received radio signal (in %) | At a low value (< 40%), total image loss ("No signal") is possible. |
| Signal quality | The ratio of useful signal to noise (BER) | Critical parameter: When the quality is low, the picture breaks down into blocks even at a high level. |
| Frequency (MHz) | Channel number on the air grid | It determines which channel packet (multiplex) you are receiving. |
| Modulation. | Signal encoding method (usually QAM) | It must be in line with the broadcast parameters in the region (automatically). |
What if all channels are missing after the update?
Problem Solving: No Signal or Poor Quality
The most common situation is when the TV writes "No signal" or the image is constantly fading, first of all check the level and quality indicators in manual setting mode. If the signal level is zero, the problem is physical: a cable break, an antenna malfunction or a broadcast on the tower is turned off.
If the signal level is present but the quality is low (less than 30-40%), the image will be subject to digital compression artifacts (squaring, fading sound), in which case a more precise adjustment of the antenna direction is needed, and even a slight shift of the active antenna on the roof can make a difference.
Weather conditions should also be considered: thunderstorms, heavy snowfall or thick fog can temporarily impair the passage of the DMV signal in the range. If problems are observed only in bad weather and the antenna is installed long ago, contacts at the connection of the cable may have oxidized.
⚠️ Note: Use of cheap Chinese antennas with over-performance (e.g., high-performance, «1000 Often leads to unstable operation; the real radius of confident reception for indoor antennas rarely exceeds 10-15 mile.
In some cases, resetting the tuner to the factory settings and re-searching another region (neighborhood) if you are at the edge of coverage areas helps, which allows you to "hook" a more powerful transmitter.
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The stability of the digital signal is binary: either the picture is perfect or it is not at all. The intermediate states of snow or ripples are not typical for the DVB-T2 standard - this is a sign of a critical threshold for decoding failure.