The Cable Box

The cable box

Regardless of where you been for your annual holiday, you definitely don't want to return to a home that has been struck with lightning! The last thing you want to see when you turn on your TV is a snowy screen with that loud, obnoxious static sound.  Fortunately you don’t need to be technician to fix the cable box, just follow these simple troubleshooting steps to get picture back in no time.

Firstly you need to make sure the cable box is plugged in, it might sound silly, but after troubleshooting these things, you can rest assure, that you can save yourself a lot of time and effort, before being told that you just need to plug it in! That goes for the rest of the essential equipment as well (i.e. TV, VCR or DVR), also make sure the TV is on the correct channel.

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 are damaged. Also check to see that the connections are all correct meaning, video and audio should be going out of the  cable 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 are able to receive 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 at least 10 seconds and plug it back in. Do not just turn the cable box off and back on again (you’ll need to actually pull the plug out of the wall socket and then put it back in again). 

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 seeing a picture but there is no sound or visa versa or even 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.

You can also go outside to make sure nothing is interfering with your signal, unless you have underground cables, which means that there is not much you can do about making sure they are clear of interference. If you have a satellite dish, be informed that excessive rain or snow buildup on the dish can cause signal interference.

It is of the utmost importance that the installer should have verified that no trees or other objects would interfere with your signal from the satellites. Take a look around to see if new foliage is blocking the signal. 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 mad. You can always consult the owner's manual to find out if there are other settings that need to me set.

As we all know by now, trying to find the fault, requires patience, so make some tea, roll up your sleeves and get started. If none of these tips work (and they usually do), contact your service provider. Hopefully they will have the expertise to fix your problem and get you back on the coach viewing your favorite show!

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