The CRTV is Silent Hill: Townfall‘s version of the series’ iconic radio. Konami’s Steam page says it outright: the radio “makes a comeback as the CRTV.” You tune it to unstable signals to detect threats, pick up story fragments, and find clues that feed into puzzles, and when it is tuned to a nearby enemy it can show you where that enemy is, even through walls.
If you searched for the Silent Hill Townfall radio, this is it: a handheld 1990s television set rather than a pocket radio, but doing the same job and more.
How Tuning Works
The core action is tuning. Turn the CRTV’s dial across frequencies and unstable signals come through. According to Konami’s PlayStation Blog breakdown, tuning into the right frequency shows nearby enemies, with the DualSense adding a haptic pulse as you lock on.
On PS5, you can also fine-tune the CRTV with the controller’s motion controls, which Konami confirmed alongside motion aiming for firearms; both are optional and customizable. The PC version lists DualSense support too. Our PS5 features breakdown has the full controller rundown.
The Three Jobs It Does
1. Enemy detection. Reviewers describe seeing enemy silhouettes through walls on the CRTV screen. Some describe the classic Silent Hill static burst still warning you that something is near, with the CRTV then letting you locate it. Either way, it is your main tool for deciding whether to fight, sneak or run; our combat guide covers those options.
2. Story fragments. Some signals carry pieces of St. Amelia’s story. These are easy to walk past if you only tune when you sense danger.
3. Clues and puzzles. Signals can point to puzzle solutions, and reviewers report that some CRTV-based puzzles use motion controls on PS5. Our puzzles guide covers the other puzzle types. If a puzzle has you stuck, the Hinted puzzle setting in our difficulty guide highlights relevant clues.
The Signals Trophy
The trophy list includes “Sweeping Signals,” for finding all CRTV signals. That makes tuning in every new area a habit worth building on your first playthrough, since story fragments are easy to miss when you are only using the device defensively. Our CRTV signal locations list every one, and our trophy guide folds it into a full platinum route.
Does It Stay Important All Game?
Not equally. One launch review observed that the CRTV plays a smaller role as the game goes on, so expect it to be most central in the early hours, when you are learning St. Amelia and its threats. It remains useful throughout for scouting, but the game does not keep inventing new tricks for it to the end.
CRTV Skins
The two pre-order bonuses, CRTV: Rusted and CRTV: Beach Edition, are cosmetic skins for the device. They change how it looks, not what it does. Our editions guide covers who gets them.
Tips for Using the CRTV
- Tune on entering any new area to check for threats and signals at the same time.
- Scout before committing to stealth. Knowing where an enemy is matters more than having ammunition.
- Revisit areas after story events; signals you have not collected are part of Sweeping Signals.
The CRTV can also be restyled with bonus skins, which our guide to the alternate outfit and CRTV skins covers, including what to do when a bonus item never appears.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a radio in Silent Hill Townfall? The series’ radio returns as the CRTV, a handheld TV you tune to signals that reveal threats, story fragments and clues.
Can the CRTV see enemies through walls? Yes. When tuned to a nearby enemy, it shows them on screen, including through walls.
Do you need motion controls for the CRTV? No. Motion fine-tuning is an optional, customizable feature on PS5.
Do the CRTV pre-order skins change anything? No. Rusted and Beach Edition are cosmetic only.