Choose, check or switch between Internet Mode and Aerial Modes

Your TV Box Pro lets you watch TV in two ways:

1. Internet Mode uses your broadband connection.
2. Aerial Mode uses a TV aerial.

This guide helps you:

• choose the mode that's right for you
• check which mode you're using
• switch between modes
• understand the differences between the two modes
• choose the right TV mode

Available on:

• TV Box Pro
• TV Box Edge

In Internet Mode, TV picture quality depends on your broadband speed. If you're connecting using Wi-Fi, your Smart Hub must be within 5 metres of the TV Box.

Benefits

• Record two programmes at the same time.
• Watch the most popular free-to-air channels.
• No aerial needed.

Find out more in our free-to-air channel guide.

We recommend Aerial Mode if your broadband speed is below 22 Mbps. You can check your broadband speed on our Broadband speed help pages.

In Aerial Mode, picture quality depends on the strength of your aerial signal. You'll need a working aerial.

If you need help ordering or installing an aerial, visit our TV aerial help pages.

Benefits

• record up to four programmes at the same time
• get the full range of Freeview channels available at your address

Compare Internet Mode and Aerial Mode

Check which TV mode you're using

There are two ways to check:

Option 1: Check the back of your TV Box

If an aerial cable is connected to your TV Box, you're using Aerial Mode. See our Getting Started Guide to find where the aerial connects.

Option 2: Check in Settings

1. Press Home on your remote.
2. Select Settings.
3. Select TV Channels.

If you see an option to Retune Channels, you're using Aerial Mode.

Switching modes requires a reset. Before you start, please note:

• your existing recordings will be deleted
• you'll be logged out of all apps

Prepare your TV Box

To switch to Aerial Mode, connect your aerial.

To switch to Internet Mode, disconnect your aerial.

Switch modes

1. Press Home on your remote.
2. Select Settings.
3. Select Information and Reset.
4. Select Factory Reset.
5. You'll see a warning that your recordings and information will be deleted.
6. If you want to continue, enter the numbers shown on screen using your remote.
7. Follow the setup process.
8. When asked to choose a TV Channels Mode, select either:
9. Stream TV Channels from the internet, or
10. Stream TV Channels from an Aerial.

You can carry out a different type of factory reset that keeps your recordings, series links and reminders.

1. Enter Maintenance Mode.
2. Press and hold the Down Arrow button on top of the TV Box.
3. After 5 seconds, the message "Enter Maintenance Mode Y/N" will appear on your TV screen.
4. Press the Power button.
5. After a few seconds, the Maintenance Mode menu will appear.
6. Reset the box.
7. Select Factory Reset.

Your recordings, series links and reminders will be kept.

When you record BBC programmes in Internet Mode, they play through the BBC iPlayer app automatically.

This means:

• you'll get the full recording, even if you started recording after the programme began
• recordings are available in the highest quality
• BBC iPlayer can help you find related programmes, plus previous and future episodes

Before you record

You'll need a BBC account to watch recorded BBC programmes.

Please be aware:

• not all programmes are available on BBC iPlayer, including some regional news programmes, films and sporting events
• if a recording is not available on BBC iPlayer, it will show as unavailable after the programme has aired
• it can take up to 15 minutes after a programme finishes before it becomes available
• availability depends on whether the programme was live or pre-recorded
• recordings expire, and availability varies by programme
• news bulletins may only be available for 24 hours
• dramas and documentaries may be available for up to 365 days

When watching live or recorded ITV programmes in Internet Mode, you cannot skip adverts. This works in the same way as the ITVX app.

You can still:

• pause programmes
• fast forward programmes
• rewind programmes

However, you cannot fast forward through adverts.

An ITVX Premium subscription removes adverts from on-demand content, but it does not allow you to skip adverts on live TV or recordings.

Most popular free-to-air channels are available in Internet Mode. However, the following are not included in our free-to-air channel guide:

• U (previously known as UKTV)
• +1 channels
• radio channels
• music channels

You can still watch these programmes through the channel provider's app. You can find available apps from the Main Menu.

If you're unable to switch modes, check your broadband connection, aerial connection and TV Box set-up.

You can also visit:

• our Broadband speed help pages
• our TV aerial help pages
• our Getting Started Guide
• our free-to-air channel guide

If you need additional support, visit our accessibility support information or contact us through your preferred support channel.