Rescan Day
The ThinkTV14 antenna work has been completed. You may need to rescan your channels to receive this station.
Important message for ThinkTV over-the-air viewers.
ThinkTV will switch to a new frequency at 10am on 10/18. You will need to rescan your TV after we change frequencies in order to continue watching your favorite programs on ThinkTV.
If you pay to subscribe to a television service – such as cable or satellite – you do not need to take action. Your service will take care of this for you.
Rescanning is a simple process and doesn’t require any new equipment, but it’s necessary.
If you have questions or need help call the FCC National Rescan Hotline at 1-888-CALLFCC. Hours are 8am to 1am.
ThinkTV will host a local telephone to answer your questions.
Plan to Rescan Call Center
1-800-808-0445
Friday, October 18: 8am – 8:30pm
Saturday, October 19: 8am – 8:30pm
Sunday, October 20: 8am – 8:30pm
Nearly 1,000 television stations across the country are required to move to new frequencies to make room for wireless services. Viewers who watch TV over-the-air with an antenna will need to “rescan” their TV sets to continue watching TV for free. Rescanning is when your TV finds all the available channels in your area.
Why is it happening?Wireless internet shares the same spectrum as over-the-air broadcast television. In 2012, Congress authorized the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to hold an auction and reallocate broadcast TV airwaves for use by wireless services.
At the conclusion of the auction, the FCC determined that nearly 1,000 TV stations, including ThinkTV, must now move to new frequencies to make room for wireless internet carriers.
How to Rescan
If you have rescanned and still cannot receive our signal, try changing the position of your antenna.
If you need additional information or help, call ThinkTV (937) 220-1600 or email gmacknight@thinktv.org. Regular business hours are Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm.
Rescanning only takes a few minutes. If you watch television using a cable or satellite service, you do not have to rescan.
Rescan in Five Steps
To begin rescanning, find the remote control that changes your channels.
- Press Menu
- Select Channel Setup or Broadcast Setup on the menu (if you can’t find these options, check your owner’s manual or search for your television’s specific instructions online)
- Choose Auto Programming or Auto Scan, then select Air, then Start.
- Your TV will automatically rescan available signals so all your channels tune in again.
- Once you start, don’t press any buttons until the screen indicates that the scan is complete. This could take a few minutes.
FAQ
You do not need to rescan prior to 10/18. You will need to rescan your TV on or after 10am on 10/18 for ThinkTV16 and 2:00pm for ThinkTV14, once we’ve changed frequencies, to watch ThinkTV channels again.
If you watch ThinkTV through a cable or satellite service, you don’t need to rescan your TV. Your service provider will do it for you.
No. This move is happening behind the scenes, so the channel numbers you know will not change.
The following stations in the Dayton market will move frequencies on October 18: WBDT-CW Network 26, WHIO – CBS 7, WKEF – ABC 22, ThinkTV – PBS 16 & 14, WRGT-Fox45.
If you have difficulty consult the owner’s manual for your television or converter box for more detailed instructions on how to rescan.
ThinkTV and other Greater Dayton area television stations will jointly host a local telephone hotline to answer your questions. The FCC National Rescan hotline is also available at 1-888-CALLFCC. Hours are 8am to 1am.
Plan to Rescan Call Center
1-800-808-0445
Friday, October 18: 8am – 8:30pm
Saturday, October 19: 8am – 8:30pm
Sunday, October 20: 8am – 8:30pm
Here’s a list of top TV and Antenna Manufacturers and links to their sites.
- Channel Master Antennas
- DISH Network DTVPAL
- Elemental (Includes Channel Scan Video Instructions)
- Funai (Includes support manuals for Sylvania, Emerson, Durabrand, Symphonic and Funai television sets)
- Haier
- Hisense
- Hitachi
- Insignia (Includes YouTube Video)
- Insignia NS-DXA1-APT
- JVC
- LG
- Magnavox (This will redirect you to the Funai website)
- Panasonic
- Philips
- Polaroid
- Proscan
- Samsung
- Sanyo
- Sceptre
- Sharp
- Sony
- Symphonic (This will redirect you to the Funai website)
- TCL
- Toshiba
- Vizio
- Westinghouse
- Zenith
More information is available at tv.manualsonline.com.
You may need to rescan your TV several times before ThinkTV channels become available. You will have to rescan each time a local station changes frequencies.
No, you may want to inspect the cable from the antenna to your TV and check your antenna or antennas to ensure they have not been damaged or that connections have come loose.
Visit TVanswers.org for more details on how to rescan your TV and to get more information about which stations in our area are moving and when.
