Insignia Fire TV Not Finding Cable Channels: How to Fix [2023]

written by

Doug Stevenson

updated July 12, 2023

It is not surprising to find modern Smart TVs, like Insignia Fire TVs, not working once in a while. But channel issues on TVs are always a cause for concern.

Just recently, my Insignia Fire TV had trouble finding cable channels and I had to find a solution for it. I read through several user forums and support pages and found a handful of solutions.

I compiled all the fixes into this troubleshooting guide so that you can fix your Insignia Fire TV if it cannot find cable channels.

If your Insignia Fire TV cannot find cable channels, check whether the cables and ports are working fine. Next, power cycle and update the TV to the latest firmware. You can also deregister and re-register the Fire TV on Amazon. If none of these work, factory reset the Fire TV.

Check the Cables and the Ports on Insignia Fire TV

It is necessary that you use the right cables with the right specifications for your Insignia Fire TV so as to get the best performance from it.

Using faulty cables will increase the chance of risk and damage to your Fire TV. It is necessary to ensure the cables and ports are in proper working condition.

Some of the problems associated with using a faulty cable are Toshiba Fire TV being stuck on loading screen or the Toshiba Fire TV screen flickering.

One of the most important cables for the Insignia Fire TV is the coaxial cable which enables cable transmission.

If you are experiencing fuzzy or pixelated images, then it's most likely time to change this cable.

Also, make sure that your Fire TV is properly powered. Ensure that the power cable is not bent or broken and is in proper working condition. Failing to do so may lead to issues like Insignia TV to not turn ON.

In addition to these cables, make sure that the TV HDMI cable, USB cable, and ethernet cable are not worn out or broken.

Damage to the HDMI cable, USB cable, or Ethernet cable can result in poor video/audio quality, intermittent connectivity issues, and a slow internet connection among various other problems.

If the connectors or port leads of any of these cables are broken, we suggest you replace them with new ones. Check if the Insignia Fire TV finds cable channels again.

It is also important to ensure that you use the right port for connecting devices to the Insignia Fire TV. Each port has its own set of features and capabilities.

Make sure you are plugging the right cable into the right port. Also, keep the port free from dust and debris.

A broken or damaged port will result in fuzzy or no picture, slow internet speed, and connectivity issues. Check for the cable signal after ensuring all the ports are working.

Recommended cable specifications:

CABLE	SPECIFICATION	USE
HDMI CABLE	At least HDMI 1.4 with a bandwidth of 10.2Gbps	To connect a gaming console, soundbar, or Blu-ray player
Coaxial cable	RG6 or RG11 cables with a minimum bandwidth of 3GHz	For cable/antenna reception
Ethernet cable	Category 5e with at least 100 Mbps bandwidth	To connect the TV to the internet
USB cable	At least USB 2.0	To connect external peripherals like a keyboard or mouse
Power cable	Select according to the manufacturer's specification based on the TV model	To power up the Fire TV

Cable Specifications

Note: Even though these are the recommended cable specifications, the individual cable requirement may vary based on specific TV models. Check your manufacturer guide to know the correct specifications.

Ensure you are using cables from trusted manufacturers that are specifically designed for the Insignia Fire TV. Using generic or third-party cables can potentially damage the TV.

Use Proper HDMI Cables

Using the right HDMI cable is necessary to ensure optimum performance and smooth picture quality.

It is important to make sure that the HDMI cable that you are using does not have any wear and tear. Also, check the cable for any broken leads.

We suggest you use at least an HDMI 1.4 supported cable with bandwidth transmission support of 10.2 Gbps for smooth operation.

HDMI 2.0 or higher is required if you intend to stream 4K ultra HD content.

Some modern cable boxes demand a higher standard HDMI cable, preferably HDMI 2.0 and later. Failing to satisfy this requirement will lead to issues such as Toshiba Fire TV not finding cable channels.

The Insignia Fire TV supports High-bandwidth Digital content protection (HDCP) which is used to prevent unauthorized copying of content.

Make sure that the HDMI cable you are choosing also supports HDCP.

A cable length of 6 to 10 feet is recommended for most setups. Having a longer cable will degrade signal strength and lower the picture quality.

Make sure to use high-quality cables made specifically for the Insignia Fire TV to ensure optimum performance and quality.

Power Cycle Insignia Fire TV

Power cycling is pretty much restarting your setup. In most cases, power cycling your device is an easy workaround for your problem.

Power cycling your Insignia Fire TV will help it refresh its firmware and connection. It will also help your TV get rid of any bugs or glitches and improve system performance.

Doing so may also come in handy for issues with the Fire TV peripherals like Fire TV remote keeps saying low battery or if the Fire TV remote app keeps disconnecting.

To power cycle your Insignia Fire TV:

Unplug the power cord from the back of the TV and the power outlet
Press and hold the power button in the remote to get rid of any residual charges
Wait for 60 seconds and plug the power cord back into the TV and power outlet

Wait for the TV to restart and check if the TV is able to find cable channels again.

Power cycling your Fire TV could alleviate hardware-related issues like when Toshiba Fire turns OFF by itself.

Check for Firmware Updates

It is important that you keep the Insignia Fire TV firmware up-to-date.

Newer firmware updates herald newer features and security patches. It will clear up any existing bugs or glitches in the system.

If your Insignia Fire TV runs on outdated firmware, chances are, it won't detect cable channels. To prevent this, always keep your device firmware up-to-date.

To update the firmware on your Insignia Fire TV:

Navigate to settings
Scroll down and click on My Fire TV
Click on About
Then click on check for software updates

If any pending updates pop up, download the update and install it. Once downloaded, restart the TV for the new update to take effect.

Check if your Insignia Fire TV is able to find cable channels again.

Routinely checking and updating your Fire TV is indeed crucial for its optimal working. In the absence of proper firmware updates, problems are bound to pop up, like the Toshiba Fire TV critically low on storage error or green screen issues on Toshiba Fire TV.

Deregister Insignia Fire TV on Amazon

If your Insignia Fire TV is still not able to find cable channels, you can try deregistering and re-registering your Fire TV on Amazon.

Refreshing the sync settings will always come in handy for issues such as the one at hand.

Doing so will clear up any occasional bugs in the system and improve the overall performance.

To de-register your Insignia Fire TV on Amazon:

On the home screen, Go to settings
Select My Account
Select Amazon Account and then click on De-register
Click on De-register when the prompt appears on the screen again

To re-register your Insignia Fire TV on Amazon:

On the home screen, Go to settings
Select My Account
Select Amazon Account and then click on Register
Enter your Amazon account email and password and click on Sign-in
Follow the on-screen prompts to register the device again

Once the Fire TV is registered, check if the issue is resolved.

How to Scan Cable Channels on Insignia Fire TV

The Insignia Fire TV provides a facility to run a cable scan, and thereby find the channels provided by the cable service provider.

Through this, you will be able to manually search for channels specifically or as a whole.

To scan cable channels on Fire TV:

Connect your set-top box or CableCard device to your Insignia Fire TV
Navigate to settings
Select Live TV
Select Channel Scan and click Next.
Wait for a few minutes for the scan to complete

Make sure to not interrupt the scanning process. In case the scanning is interrupted, you will have to start the scan from the beginning again.

Once the scan is complete, your cable TV channels will be available in the Live section of the home screen.

Note: if you encounter any issues during the scanning process, ensure that the set-top box is properly connected and activated. You can also try resetting the set-top box to refresh its connections and firmware.

Now, if you prefer to watch premium content or Live TV on your Fire TV apart from the cable or antenna ones, you could always pop into the Fire TV channel guide. Here, you're presented with hundreds of free and premium channels.

Factory Reset Insignia Fire TV

If none of the above steps work, we suggest you factory reset your Insignia Fire TV.

Known to be an effective fix for color issues on Toshiba Fire TV, factory resetting your Fire TV will help it reload its firmware and get rid of any major bugs or glitches.

Performing a factory reset will clear all onboard data on the device and reset it back to its factory settings.

We suggest you create a backup of your data and settings before you do the factory reset.

To factory reset your Insignia Fire TV:

From the home screen, navigate to Settings
Scroll down and select My Fire TV
From the options select Reset to factory defaults
Click on Reset
Wait for a few minutes for the reset process to be completed

Once the TV is reset, it will automatically reboot again. Now, set up the Fire TV as new and try scanning for the cable channels.

Your Insignia Fire TV should be able to find cable channels now.

If your TV doesn't restart after factory resetting, try unplugging the TV from the power socket. Wait for a minute or so and plug it back in

Final Thoughts

By performing these many troubleshooting steps, your Insignia Fire TV should be able to find cable channels now.

Make sure you keep the device ports and cables in proper working condition.

Using cables specifically made for the Insignia Fire TV will also help in improving device performance.

If your Fire TV still has problems connecting to cable channels, then we suggest you contact Amazon or Insignia customer support.

We are sure that the technicians at Amazon will be able to provide more insight into the problem and help you get your Insignia Fire TV back up and running in no time.

Happy Watching!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can I connect my Insignia Fire TV to the internet via wifi?

Yes, the Insignia Fire TV has an inbuilt wifi that lets you connect to your home network and access the internet through it

Can I use a smartphone as a remote control for my Insignia Fire TV?

Yes, you can download the Amazon Fire TV Remote app on your smartphone from the Play Store/App store to control your Insignia Fire TV

What types of ports does the Insignia Fire TV have?

The Insignia Fire TV has numerous HDMI ports, a USB port, an Ethernet port, and a Coaxial port for connecting cable or antenna

Can I connect my gaming console to the Insignia Fire TV?

Yes, you can connect your gaming console to the Insignia Fire TV via the HDMI port and play your favorite games

Does the Insignia Fire TV have parental controls?

Yes, the Insignia Fire TV does have parental control that lets you restrict access to apps and content based on age rating.

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Doug Stevenson

Hey! I'm Doug, My passion for tech started by fixing phones and computers for my friends and family.

I started Blinqblinq to give reliable tech advice to anyone who needs it, for free! If you have questions on anything tech-related, feel free to contact me.

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