The “blackout” of DTT as we know it is coming. It will be from February 14 when the channels stop broadcasting in SD and bet on HD (in the middle of 2024, we must not forget it). This can cause users to be left without watching their favorite channel because their television is not compatible.
But do not spread panic. There are solutions, of course, and almost all of them involve checking out either buying a new TV or getting a new DTT tuner that is compatible with HD broadcasts in what seems like a return to the past. But you can avoid all this if you already have a Chromecast or Fire TV at home.
What is needed to watch DTT in HD
Starting February 14 All channels that do not broadcast in HD will disappear from DTT. No SD resolution. All channels must broadcast in 720p or 1080p resolution if they want to continue on the air since the channels that broadcast in SD quality will stop working.
It's time to see what you must have at home to watch DTT (Digital Terrestrial Television) broadcasts in HD quality. You will need to meet some requirements and have certain elements.
The first thing is to have, of course, an HD or HD-compatible television. Make sure you have a TV that supports HD (high definition) resolution so you can enjoy HD quality. Most modern televisions are already HD, but it is important to check the specifications of your TV.
Furthermore the dBuilt-in ecocoder must support DTT in HD. This is another fundamental aspect. Make sure you have a DTT decoder that supports high definition streaming. This device is necessary to receive and decode digital signals and convert them into images on your television.
If we travel back in time, you may remember those TVs that were sold until 2006 or 2008 with the HD-Ready claim. If you have one of these TVs, even if they support HD images that way,” Most likely the tuner is not compatible.
It will be necessary that the television has a DVB-T and MPEG-4 tuner, unlike SD channels, for which a DVB-T and MPEG-2 tuner was sufficient, now a DVB-T and MPEG-4 tuner will be needed. And as of February 14, 2024, when the National TDT Technical Plan comes into force, this tuner will not work.
However, in this case we must call for calm, since The most modern televisions already have the DVB-T2 standard, an even better tuner that supports up to UHD resolution on DTT… but that's another story.
In addition to all this, you must have a good quality antenna to receive the DTT signal in optimal conditions and that is adapted to the DTT bands and with filters for 4G and 5G signals from mobile operators (they all have been for a while now). You can use an outdoor antenna, both private and community, but also an indoor one. The quality of reception, however, may vary depending on your location and the signal strength in your area.
In case your TV is not compatible and does not have a have a DVB-T and MPEG-4 tuner, You can get an external DTT decoder that is compatible with high definition transmission. This device is necessary to receive and decode digital signals and convert them into images on your television. In this case, your television must have an HDMI connection to connect the DTT HD decoder to the television. The HDMI cable socket allows you to transmit audio and video signals in high definition.
Another cheaper option
But if you don't have any of this, there is a third way that will mean you don't have to check out. And it is that if you have a Fire TV or a Chromecast with Google TV at home, you will be able to continue watching DTT in HD without any problem. The trick is to use an application like Tivify or TDT Channels, or pull IPTV lists as we have already seen.
One of the possibilities is to use a Chromecast with Google TV that you have at home. You can use an application like Kodi and follow the tutorial that we already saw to, through an IPTV list, access thousands of television channels. You can even set up your own television schedule by selecting the DTT channels you want to watch and thus not get lost among such a wide offer.
But if you don't like dealing with Kodi and IPTV lists, there are other easier options if you have any of these devices. And everything happens by entering the Amazon App Store or the Play Store and download an application like Tivify.
Tivify is a platform that offers access to television content and Among its offer are also DTT channels in Spain. It allows you to watch online television over the Internet on Internet-connected devices, such as Smart TVs, tablets, smartphones and computers.
With a very careful interface, the application weighs less than 40 MB and includes everything necessary to stream DTT broadcasts, both national and regional (including local channels). It also has a free version and paid channels with more options.
Another alternative goes through use an application as is DTT Channels. Instead of being a platform like the previous one, this is a channel aggregator to which you then have to add an IPTV list.
After its renewal, you can add all types of channels. This aggregator allows you to access all live content of the main television channels, as well as radio and thematic programs.
TDTChannels is an app that is available on multiple devices, including Android TV and Fire TV Stick on TVs, iOS and Android on mobile phones and its official website if we want to access the channels from the computer. Once downloaded, you will only have to add an IPTV list that includes all the television channels. You can find this list through its official website.
Another option similar to the one we have already seen with TDTChannels is Wiseplay. We have explained and as in the case of TDT Channels, makes use of M3U or M3U8 lists to add all the TV channels. The difference is that instead of downloading the app from the Amazon app store or Play Store, you must do it from this link in APK Mirror and add the list with this link https://www.tdtchannels.com/lists /radio.m3u8.
Using the browser, without apps
Another possibility is use the web browser that you can install on the Fire TV Stick or a Chromecas and access the website of each of the chains.
Spanish Radio Television has RTVE Play, Mediaset (Telecinco, Cuatro, etc.) has Mitele and Atresmedia (Antena 3, laSexta) with Atresplayer. They all have web pages that allow access to their live broadcasts and here we leave you the links for all the channels:
These methods are valid for both using a Chromecast with Google TV and for the Fire TV family from Amazon. You will only need an Internet connection and that your TV, in addition to supporting HD image quality, has an HDMI port.
Cover image | Cottonbro Studio
In Xataka SmartHome | How to continue watching all DTT channels when the television antenna signal fails