Samsung TV Hard to Watch Free to Air TV

rzkman on 10/07/2025 - 08:18

Recently bought a new TV, the Samsung S85F model. It comes with a very minimalist remote which works well if you watch streaming/apps most of the time. The problem is that I like to watch the evening news and getting to the right channel is a real PITA…My mother in law has no hope in being able to navigate the steps of doing in the Live TV app, clicking on the numbers icon and selecting the right channel. It is quite ridiculous.
Questions

  1. Is it possible to get a 'dumb' remote for this TV with more buttons. At a minimum where I can press the channel numbers. I saw some Samsung compatible ones but I suspect they might be for older IR models. I think this model works off BT??

  2. Is it possible to put some 'favourite' terrestrial channels on the homepage so we don't have to fiddle with the menus just to watch TV?

Good TV, but not being able to watch live tv easily is frustrating. I have sent Samsung support this question, but no answer yet.

Thanks.

Electrical & Electronics Samsung TV

Comments

  • sandman20104159 on 10/07/2025 - 08:34
    +1

    yeah many electronic stores will have a universal tv remote you can pair with the tv, if not check on amazon with the prime deals this week for a cheap remote https://www.amazon.com.au/s?k=universal+tv+remote&crid=14WZK…

    • rzkman on 10/07/2025 - 14:51

      yep got one. See if it works, luckily it is easy to return things on Amazon.

  • mskeggs on 10/07/2025 - 08:57

    I thought this might be about the Samsung Throwback TV channel. A lot of that is hard to watch! 🤢

  • brendanm on 10/07/2025 - 10:07
    +1

    Most free to air is hard to watch.

  • Woody339 on 10/07/2025 - 10:34

    You can set up your favourite channels. Then you can just cycle through the channels you have added as favourites. You can either go into tv settings and look at the tv manual or search online for how to do it (look up your specific model). You should be about to create seperate favourite profiles, so you can have channels that you just watch, and those that you mother in-law watches. You can also set up a schedule to get the tv to change to the news station you want (and turn on the tv if needed) at say 5.59pm and you can schedule this for example to occur only week days, not on the weekend. You could also set up schedules for other shows for your mother-in-law so she wouldn't even need to touch the remote. The tv will switch over for you even if your are watching another tv channel or Netflix for example. I wouldn't suggest getting another seperate remote personally.

  • techno2000 on 10/07/2025 - 11:05

    Get a standard remote from Ali Express.You can get it for less than $10 delivered.

  • Sheila Dealer on 10/07/2025 - 13:09
    +1

    We have a Samsung tv with that remote. I just ask my Google home mini to change the channel and turn the tv on and off. Also we had an old Samsung remote with numbers on it and that worked fine.
    Have you tried asking Bixby by pressing the speaker button on the remote?

    • rzkman on 10/07/2025 - 14:51

      Excellent! Thank you. Having owned Samsung phones for a few years I never used Bixby. Works well in this context, thank you! I will have to show my MIL how to use it.

  • JIMB0 on 10/07/2025 - 15:03

    I use the voice commands on the remote to change the channel or an old Samsung remote with the numbers on it works as well.

  • Randxyz123 on 10/07/2025 - 19:44

    I have a tv with that remote and it is horrible. I’d love to meet the person who came up with that. I second just getting a cheap universal one from amazon.

  • Spookware on 10/07/2025 - 22:44

    Yes, Samsung phones can be used to control Samsung TVs, including changing channels, using the SmartThings app. The SmartThings app allows you to turn your phone into a remote control for your TV. To use it, ensure your TV is added to SmartThings and then open the app, select your TV, and you'll find an on-screen remote with channel and volume controls.

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