Recognise the two meanings of channel
A viewer may call BBC One channel 1 because that is its familiar guide position. A manual-tuning menu can instead ask for the transmission channel or frequency carrying a group of services. Entering the guide number in that field confuses two different numbering systems. Read the receiver’s manual so you know what its particular input expects.
Use the current transmitter table
Freeview’s instructions direct viewers to the detailed transmitter information for the actual address, then the appropriate current row and transmission columns. Use those values rather than copying the example numbers in a help screenshot. A worked example from another area is an illustration of the process, not the correct setting for every aerial.
Tune the required groups deliberately
The published method works through the transmission numbers for the relevant groups and stores the services found. Keep the source table available and note which group was scanned. If a channel is still missing, that record makes it possible to ask whether its group was received, rather than repeating a whole scan without knowing what changed.
Check whether a retune is appropriate first
Manual tuning is not a substitute for checking temporary transmitter work, current availability or the device’s own instructions. Freeview also warns that favourites and scheduled recordings may need reviewing after tuning changes. Before starting, preserve the details you need and use the actual current local information. The goal is selecting the intended broadcast signal, not forcing a guide number into a frequency field.
Questions, answered
Should I enter a programme’s usual guide position as a transmission channel?
No. Use the appropriate transmission information for the receiver’s tuning field.
Are the example numbers in a help screenshot universal?
No. Retrieve the current table for the actual address and transmitter.