Troubleshooting Cable Issues:
Picture Problems
Sound Problems
- Are your TV, VCR and terminal/converter all connected properly, plugged in and turned on?
- Does a wall switch control power to the outlet your TV, VCR or terminal/converter is plugged in to? Is the wall switch turned on?
- Are other electrical items in the room working properly?
- Are all cable connections tight?
- Is your TV and/or VCR tuned to correct channel? (It's usually channel 3 or 4.)
- Is your TV or VCR in the proper operating mode?
- Could a power failure or neighborhood construction have caused the problem?
- Is the reception problem on one or several channels?
- Are other TV connections to cable working properly?
Here are some common TV picture problems and solutions:
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No Picture? |
| Check that the channel setting on your converter/terminal AND TV are both set on 3. Adjust the "brightness" control on your TV. Check program listings to make sure the channel is broadcasting during this time slot. Wait for possible TV station announcement of difficulty. | |
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Normal picture, but no color, wavy lines or buzzing sound? |
| Adjust the fine tuning setting on your TV. | |
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Dark picture? |
| Slowly adjust your TV's brightness and/or contrast control. | |
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Rolling picture? |
| Slowly adjust your TV's vertical hold. | |
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Picture leans to side? |
| Try adjusting the "horizontal hold" on your TV. | |
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Picture shrinks? |
| There may be an overloaded circuit in your TV set. Or, the electric company may have temporarily cut back the power. | |
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Stations appear on the wrong channel? |
| If you have a home terminal/converter, make sure your TV (and VCR) is tuned to channel 3. | |
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A vertical bar moves through the picture? |
| Contact our service experts. | |
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Dark horizontal bars move through the picture? |
| Contact our service experts. | |
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Snowy picture and/or hissing sound? |
| Contact our service experts. | |
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Digital lines in picture can't be fixed by fine tuning? |
| Contact our service experts. | |
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Can't tune in desired channel? |
| Determine if you are able to tune the channel using the tuning buttons on the home terminal. If so, the problem is likely your remote control. (See below.) Also, make sure the channel is not restricted by the parental control feature. | |
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Remote doesn't work? |
| The batteries may be dead. Also, check that there are no obstructions between the sensor on the home terminal and the transmitter on the remote control. To correct this, make sure there is nothing on the terminal or blocking a clear line-of-sight between the terminal and the remote. |
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Sound Problems
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No sound? |
| The MUTE button on remote control may have been pushed. Press MUTE on the remote to restore volume. | |
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Buzzing sound? |
| Adjust the TV's fine tuning. Also, is the TV close to any appliances that could interfere with the signal while being used (microwaves, generators, vacuum cleaners, etc.)? | |
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Sound noisy on one channel? |
| Your cable connection may be loose. Check the connection and tighten if necessary. | |
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Sound from only one stereo speaker? |
| Your cable connection may be loose. Check the connection and tighten if necessary. Check to make sure that no wires are frayed and no plugs are bent or broken. Make sure the audio cables are connected to the correct L/R output jacks on your terminal. Also, check the 'balance' setting if sound is being delivered through your stereo amplifier. |
