Well, it’s not actually a “dial”, you push buttons to change the channel. But once you get past 12 it automatically goes back to 1.
So how do I get it to 36 
Each type of TV has its own idiosyncratic way of tuning in the TV stations, and in many cases the sequence of buttons you have to press to tune in and memorise a station is extremely non-intuitive. Very old TVs are easier (though often require tiny fingers) because you just twiddle a knob to tune in each signal. New TVs are also easier because they are menu-driven and allow you the option to scan and tune in all the available signals automatically.
Odds on the TV you’ve got falls in between those two.
I can tell you this though. If your TV signal is coming from a rooftop aerial or an antenna on top of the TV (not from NTL cable), you are probably getting RTE1 on channel 29, and Network 2 on channel 33 on UHF. So if you can figure out how to adjust the tuning, start from RTE1, and tune it up (clockwise, right) until you see the N2 signal, then keep going about the same distance further on until you see the output signal from your RF modulator. (Make sure while you’re doing this that the RF modulator is connected to your TV and outputting a signal, or you will have no indication of when you’ve hit the right frequency).
If you send me a mail with a description of what buttons are available for tuning the TV, I may be able to make a good guess at how to do it - alternatively I’d be happy to call over one evening and tune it in for you.
Thanks, hibernicus. I haven’t had the time to try this yet (bloody elections), but there doesn’t appear to be any place on the RF modulator where an output signal would show
The TV has twelve numbered dials, each with an A-B-C switch, if that helps.
Can we have a brand name and model number of the TV?
Does it use a relatively modern remote control?
If so, the tuning will be done from there, using onscreen menus. If not, then it’s an oooooooold TV and you may have further troubles, however there will be a flipdown door somewhere that is meant for tuning each of the 12 ‘channels’ to the right local frequency.
I’m at work at the moment and don’t know the model number off the top of my head, but it’s a Philips. It seems to have come with a remote at the time of purchase (or at least a remote can be used with it, according to the web searching I did a while back), but I don’t have it.
Yeah, that’s what I was taking about re: the dials and the A-B-C switch.
you’d nearly be easier buying a DVD/Cdrom for your computer 
But then I couldn’t surf the web while watching TV. And you know how much I would hate that
Okay, here’s my best guess: the “C” position corresponds to the UHF band (where you’ll find channel 36). You can check this because at least three out of four of the Irish channels will be on this band - if they’re on “C” then that’s the one you want.
With the DVD player and the RF modulator switched on and connected up,
- choose an unused programme number (say, number 5)
- set the switch for number 5 to position “C” (or at least, to the same position as TnaG)
- twiddle the dial for number 5 until you see Network 2. Use the visual indicator (if there is one) to match the position of the one that’s already tuned into N2.
- move to the right until you see the signal from the DVD player.
I don’t seem to be getting any signal from the DVD player.
Note to self: when in doubt, try a new battery :smack:
Thanks to everyone for your help!
I’ve read several times in this thread, and others, that most dvds from major companies will have macrovision. I’ve got about 30 or 40 dvds, mostly from major companies. I don’t think I’ve had the fading problem on any of them until today (running the dvd player through my vcr), when I bought the Simpsons Season 4. It fades very noticably. I tried a few other discs, and didn’t have the problem. Is it possible that my dvd player isn’t activating Macrovision on most of my dvds, but is with this one for some reason?
This may be peripheral to the OP but didn’t the original DuMont network use a pre-NTSC video standard that wouldn’t be compatible with any modern equipment and wasn’t compatible with any other TV signals of that era?.
There are several versions of Crap-o-vision. It could be that older forms don’t affect your particular set-up that much but the newest version does.
Not really. Every DVD player I’ve even seen had Macrovision built-in. A few have the ability to turn it off, but this requires pressing a bunch of strange keystrokes on your remote (like UP+UP+RIGHT+FF+DOWN) and accessing a special “hidden menu” to turn it off. You’d remember doing this if you did.
Like ftg said, it’s probably that older versions aren’t as sensitive as the new ones are to your setup.