If you have an independent tv not connected to the dish network, and it has an internal un-modded or modded cable card tuner, this trick will lock that tuners channel’s in so you don’t have to worry about them changing as they do when not locked.

Some of these new independents TVs have 2 or more cable cards modems set up at the factory, and if they are not locked they will change when the other one is activated or de-activated. This method works on all cable cards tuners (modded or un-modded)

If you have a LAN card in your independent tv, make sure it is disabled by checking the bios (press f2 on most systems to enter bios) and disable the LAN card in the bios, then set your tv to be DHCP (not static IP).

Then go into the services menu and check to see if a service called network protection exists. If it does not then you are good to go, if it does then stop here as this is another method some cable providers use that can be seen in the services menu.

If you have no network card, but a LAN cable hooked up with a router or you’re just attached to the router with an ethernet cord, set your tv to use DHCP (you may need to contact your cable provider for this info).

From here on out I will assume that you have no network card, or it is disabled for this trick to work.

Now I use an external DVR that has no network card and is attached with an ethernet cord to the router, so I can do all my channel changing remotely.

how to lock tuner in independent tv within 5 steps

1. Press MENU on your tv remote control (make sure the input you are in if not cable is selected)

2. From the drop-down menu select SERVICES (if you can’t find it, look in CableCARD)

3. Select NETWORK PROTECTION and go through the following menus as shown to disable network protection: OFF / OFF / OFF

4. Now your tv tuners are unlocked, so change over to one of the cable cards and a channel you want to lock in (you can only lock in one at a time).

5. Now restart the tv to make sure everything is working correctly if it is then you are done otherwise go back into the SERVICES menu and change NETWORK PROTECTION back on (ON / ON / ON). If that does not work then turn off your tv and wait about 30 sec to 1 min, then turn it back on. Now go through the following menus as shown: OFF / ON  / ON

If this is locked in your channel then you are done otherwise repeat step 5 above again until you get a solid lock-in.

This should work with most all cable cards tuners.