Troubleshooting Your Cable Box
|
Unless you've recently moved from Alaska to Texas and you're feeling a little homesick, chances are that the last thing you want to see when you turn on your TV is snow. Combine a snowy screen with that loud, obnoxious static sound, and you've got a problem on your hands. Fortunately you don't have to be techie to fix your cable box ? just follow these simple troubleshooting steps to get picture back in no time.
Cable Box Basics
Make sure your cable box is plugged in. I know that sounds silly, but after troubleshooting these things over the phone professionally, you can trust me on this one. Save yourself the time and embarrassment of calling a professional just to have them tell you to plug it in. That goes for the rest of the essential equipment as well (i.e. TV, VCR or DVR if you're running the signal through one, etc.). It wouldn't hurt to make sure the TV is on the correct channel ? usually channel 3 or 4 or one of the input channels.
Make sure all the cables are connected. Even if you're TV and cable box are both turned on, you won't see a picture unless they are connected. Check each connection to ensure it is tight and that none of the wires or connecting pieces is damaged. Also check to see that the connections are all correct ? meaning, video and audio should be going out of your cable or satellite box to your TV "in" ports. The signal should follow a logical path. If the connections are correct but you're still not seeing any picture, replace the cables to see if that solves the problem. If you're running the signal through a DVR or VCR and having problems, skip the middle man and plug the cables straight from the box to the TV. If you get a picture you know you're problem is in the VCR.
After making sure everything is on and the cable connections are all correct, try rebooting your system. Each company's receivers have different methods of rebooting, but one fairly universal way is to unplug the box for 10 to 20 seconds and then plug it back in. Do not just turn the box off and back on again ? you'll need to actually pull the plug out of the wall and then put it back in again. Once the cable box is plugged back in, turn the power on and cross your fingers. If you're still not receiving any picture, unplug the receiver again for up to one minute and then plug it back in. This may be tedious and time-consuming, especially when you're missing the fight of the year or the Super Bowl, but give it the full minute ? you'll spend less time doing it yourself than you will waiting for a repairman to come out and fix it.
Fuzzy Picture or Sound
If you are getting a picture but no sound; or sound but no picture; or a fuzzy picture or sound, recheck the cable connections to make sure they are tightened and that the wires or connecting pieces are undamaged. Poor picture or sound is typically caused by one of three problems: poor wire connections, signal interference, or TV settings.
Going outside to make sure nothing is interfering with your signal will help with the second problem. Of course, if you have underground cables there is not much you can do about making sure they are clear of interference (that's read, "Your neighbor cut through it while gardening"). If you have a satellite dish, know that excessive rain or snow buildup on the dish can cause signal interference. Use caution when checking your dish, especially if it is on your roof or some other hard-to-reach place around your house. The installer should have verified that no trees or other objects would interfere with your signal from the satellites, but take a quick look around to see if new foliage is blocking the signal. If it is not on your property, do not cut or remove anything without prior permission from the property owner.
Finally, adjusting your TV settings can help when you are receiving a clear signal and all the connections are fine. Horizontal and vertical settings are the adjustments that most often need to be made, but consulting your owner's manual can give you a better indication of other settings that can be tweaked.
Troubleshooting requires patience, so make some lemonade, roll up your sleeves, and get started. If none of these suggestions work (9 times out of 10 they will), contact your service provider. They may have additional troubleshooting steps or resources they can make available to you to get your cable or satellite TV up and running.
Nick Smith is a client account specialist with 10x Marketing - More Visitors. More Buyers. More Revenue. To find out how to replace your cable box with a digital satellite receiver, check out I-Satellite.
|
|
|
Learning From Voom
Voom was thought to be the company that would be able to compete with DirecTV and Echostar in satellite service. However, after a $650 million loss it became clear that the company needed more than technology. By looking inside the Voom Company, you can learn from their business mistakes to avoid the same problems in your own business.You Need More Than a Good ProductThe Voom channels definitely had something to offer to their customers. Never before was such a wide se...(related: Satellite Tv)
Analog Tv Digital Transmission
Remember the old days of analog TV, radio, etc. Most of us do unless you're really young. And still today there are plenty of analog systems in use. Normal radio still uses analog transmission. But the digital age has begun and more and more we will use digital systems rather than analog systems. Digital transmission systems have many advantages over analog transmission systems, like higher quality of audio and video. How come digital systems can transmit higher quality signals than analog systems? The truth is that they don't. They just use some tricks to eliminate noise.Analog Transmission SystemsWhen something like video and audio, is recorded by an analog system, the recording has a certain quality. This recording (when done professionally) has a very high quality. When the recording is ...(related: Satellite Tv)
How To Shop For Satellite Tv Receivers And Dishes
It's undeniable - shopping for a new satellite tv system can be tough. Take a look, for example-if you dare-at Rapid Satellite, a one-stop Internet shopping point for satellite TV. A recent search turned up the following entries:DIRECTV DVR80 3-Room 70 Hour DIRECTV DVR Satellite TV System w/ TiVo (1) DVR80 (2) D10 with Standard Dish, Multi...(related: Satellite Tv)
Dish Network Vs Directv: Which Satellite Broadcast Provider Offers The Better Deal?
Whenever someone mentions about satellite TV in United States, Dish Network and DirecTV will be the first two names people mention. Yup, Dish Network and DirecTV are currently the two biggest (or the ONLY two shall i say?) company in the satellite TV world.The company of dish network tv and directv have been competing for the top spot for many years. As long as most can remember, it has always been dish network vs directv in the world of satellite te...(related: Satellite Tv)
Flat Panel Displays - Beyond Plasma
The term set-top box will become something of a misnomer in the near future, as most displays will become too thin to allow a box to placed on top of them. As the price of plasma & LCD displays has plummeted and their image quality has improved, they are popping up in homes everywhere.Although they are the darlings of the media and the generic for flat panel display in the minds of many, plasmas are about to be in a serious fight with other technologies for the flat panel crown.LCD displays, seen on the desktop for years as computer monitors, and commonpl...(related: Satellite Tv)
Directv And Dish Network ? How Do The Two Leading Satellite Tv Providers Stack Up?
DirecTVand DISH Network ? How Do The Two Leading Satellite TV Providers Stack Up?
If youlive in the U.S. and want satellite TV systems, you have basically twochoices. Yes, there are otherproviders out there, but for most viewers, DirecTV and DISH Network offer themost choices for the least money, although Pegasus and Voom are fast becomingmajor contenders in the satellite television industry. Competition being what it is, both DirecTV and DISH Network offersimilar services and constantly adjust to add features and outdo their r...(related: Satellite Tv)
Amazing Things You Might Not Know About Television
The world's first colour television transmission occurred in John Logie Bairds English studio back in 1928. This transmission showed some blue and red scarves and a UK policeman's headgear. Also viewed was a mixed bunch of flowers, a gent poking his tongue out and the glowing end of a cigarette.The 1st TV commercial in history lasted twenty seconds and was for a product mass produced by a cor...(related: Satellite Tv)
Why Satellite Tv Is Better Than Cable Tv
Satellite TV is Making the Cable Companies Run ScaredSatellite TV holds a great advantage over the cable TV companies. Not only is the picture and sound quality superior, but there's more choice in what to watch. If you said to yourself 'there's nothing on TV', switch to satellite. The differences couldn't be more obvious.Cable quality vs. Satellite qualityWith the limited bandwidth that cable offers, it's no wonder the quality is poor. First, the cable wire comes from a hub transmission system somewhere near your home. At source, the signal is passable, but b...(related: Satellite Tv)
How To Select A Video Display For Your Home Theater
First of all, don't assume you need a huge video screen in your media room. If your screen is too large, visual fatigue will detract from your theater experience. A good, but general rule for screen size is to select a screen width that is half to one third the distance from the screen to the primary viewing location. You ...(related: Satellite Tv)
A To Z In Dish Network Deals
First, what's Dish Network?Dish Network, owned by company Echostar, is the United States second biggest Satellite TV provider. Dish Network provides up to 256 TV channels of 100% digital picture.Satellite broadcast licensed in 1987, Dish Network currently dish up about 10 million satellite TV customers with their free Dish Network offer in United States....(related: Satellite Tv)
How To Shop For Satellite Tv Receivers And Dishes
It's undeniable - shopping for a new satellite tv system can be tough. Take a look, for example-if you dare-at Rapid Satellite, a one-stop Internet shopping point for satellite TV. A recent search turned up the following entries:DIRECTV DVR80 3-Room 70 Hour DIRECTV DVR Satellite TV System w/ TiVo (1) DVR80 (2) D10 with Standard Dish, Multi...(related: Satellite Tv)
site-map - Copyright © 2006 | You can post your articles and get a link with author infromation under them. Contact Webmaster | All Rights Reserved.
| Satellite Tv