Ok, so you’re all set for a great evening in front
of your nice big flat screen, with its 5.1 surround sound system and all-in-one
remote... You press the button... nothing happens... or even worse something
happens, but it’s not right...
There is only 10 minutes before the start of El
Clásico / The X Factor Final / the start of the movie...WHAT DO YOU DO???...
If you own an AV system or any form of technology, as
sure as eggs are eggs, it will go wrong at some stage. We´ve all had computers,
printers, phones and even cars that just stop working for no apparent reason.
Well today´s home entertainment systems are no
different to computers really, they both use complex techno wizardry to produce
an image and sound for your entertainment. Unlike the TVs of old, today´s
lounge set up is often made up of more than one component (Screen, Satellite
Receiver, Amplifier, Speakers and Control System) rather than just an aerial
cable that plugs into the wall.
These set ups allow us to have a great choice of
content, in both HD and 3D, with a surround sound system to really submerge us
into action on the screen. But like any piece of technology they can go wrong,
not to say they are designed to go wrong, they just can.
Don´t panic! Before you start to disassemble you
home entertainment system and long for a simpler time of just 5 TV channels to
choose from and a “clicker” to control it, we are here to help.
Let´s start by stripping it down to the bare basics.
You have a problem, they can normally be categorised into three errors: got no
picture, got no sound, or got no picture and no sound.
Despite that fact that I enjoy the ego stroke of
a client saying, “You’re a genius! I don’t know how you fixed it but you
did!” in truth troubleshooting is actually not that
difficult. Having come from an IT background I have served my time on a
helpdesk (trust me it is a sentence everyone in IT serves, whether they get
paid for it or it´s a free one to friends and family), I know that by working
methodically through a few simple steps you can in a majority of cases be up
and running in a matter of minutes.
Some of these steps may appear to be teaching you to suck eggs, but ask anyone involved in troubleshooting and
they will be able to go on for hours about being called out to a problem only
to find that “the cleaner must had unplugged something to do the hovering”.
First of all we´ll look at power, this sounds
like the most obvious thing, but that’s where you need to start with troubleshooting:
1). Is the Power On?
So you can confirm that the unit is plugged in,
but still don’t see a standby light. Check
next for a “hard” power button (it´s one that actually clicks in and out) that
can cut the main power to the unit, this is common on amplifiers and some media
players. If the hard power switch is flipped off, you won’t even get a standby
light.
In addition, if the components are plugged into a
surge protector ... it IS plugged in to one, right? ... then make sure that this
is also switched on. If you see that multiple components aren’t “ON”, then this
is very likely that the surge protector will be the cause.
Also, just CONFIRM that the component is on. Satellite
boxes and some DVD´s are notorious for only having toggle power commands and
can easily get out of sync with a control system so they are actually turning
OFF when they should be turning ON. If that is the case, then just switch it on
and it will be back in sync.
2). Check Power Cable
Check the power cord, both ends. Sometimes if
the cable has been accidently pulled it
may appear still connected but not connected enough to actually power the unit.
Most components have some kind of standby light — usually red — so start by
looking there first. No light probably means no power. And no power always
means no worky.
3). Circuit tripped?
This may depend on where in the world you are,
but here in Spain some of the electrics in older properties can be a bit hit and miss
(although they are getting better). If
your circuit has tripped it is normally for a reason. Hopefully your fuse board is labelled
correctly (don´t get me started on that one), in which case unplug everything
you believe is on that circuit and push the fuse up. If it trips again, call a
trained electrician. If however it stays
on, slowly plug everything back in, one thing at a time, switching the fuse off
and on every time. A faulty component, like a lamp or even a phone charger can
cause the circuit to trip. This process of elimination will help you identify
what is causing the issue.
What if the circuit hasn´t tripped but your audio
video system still remains lifeless?
Then checking the socket is the next task.
If you
don´t have a current tester, the next best thing in my book is a lamp. Check
that the lamp works first in another socket, then plug into the suspect socket
and switch on the lamp.
If the socket is ok then it could be your surge
protection power strip or worst case you might have a dead component.
4). The Phrase that Pays
While the satellite system will freeze a lot
more often than any other component it isn't the only device that can
experience a digital seizure. Sometimes what your system needs is just a good,
old-fashioned reboot.
We have all spoken to the computer help desk and
they have said those annoying words: “Have you tired turning it off and on
again?”. In my IT days I used to groan myself as I said them. But the sad truth
is sometimes that’s all you need. Turn the component off, give it a moment to
compose itself and restart it.
If this cures the problem temporarily but it then starts
to happen on a regular basis then it´s time to get it checked out by the pro.
5). Satellite Boxes
We´ve all seen the message from a English
speaking satellite provider saying: “Please unplug your set top box from the
wall for five minutes” or sometimes it will just say “no satellite signal being
received”. Another error could be that the EPG (Electronic Program Guide) won´t
load or only some of your channels have information on them in the EPG.
This is caused by a build up of static in the
box and it needs to be unplugged and plugged back in again, as switching it
just off and on will not cure the problem.
UK set top boxes aren´t the only ones to suffer from this problem, so whatever
your system you can try this method.
6). Cables and Connections
One disconnected cable can be the difference
between a system that works and one that doesn’t. HDMI cables (God bless them) are
notoriously inclined to coming unplugged. I believe you when you say no one has
touched the component, moved the cabinet housing the kit or been anywhere near
it.
But hey ho, let’s check it anyhow, shall we? Just for
the hell of it. Take a torch and look behind your components for any cable that
appears to be obviously loose.
Sound no picture: If you have a
surround system, check the cable from the back of your AV receiver going to
your TV, often labelled “Monitor Out.” If you´re sending the image over Cat5
make sure the cable hasn´t been kinked in any way, they don´t tend to like
that.
Picture but no or poor sound: If
a speaker cable has become dislodged, even one of the connections of a speaker
or amp will keep it from playing. If the music and effects are loud, but you
can´t hear them speak head to the centre speaker first.
7). Modes and Settings
So you´ve got this far down the list and you´re
still not where you should be, on the sofa enjoying your evening. Then it might
be a setting or configuration issue.
Make sure that your TV and the amp are on the
correct input, cycle through all the inputs to check. If it is a sound problem
then it might be that the “surround mode” has changed. There will be a button
on the front of the amp or on the manufacturer´s remote that will allow you to
try different settings.
Knowing how your system should be configured will
greatly assist you in troubleshooting, so ask your installer to run you through
your system when they are done or leave some sort of schematic for your reference.
8). Stating the Obvious
Don´t shoot the messenger, but like it or not batteries
in your remote WILL die. If it is a rechargeable kind there will be a time in
its life it will no longer charge. So if you are having some problem that
involves the remote, like, “I pressed the Watch TV button on my remote and
nothing happened” or “I’m pressing the volume up button and the volume isn’t
changing” or “Nothing is working! My system is broken,” start by looking at the
batteries.
Sometimes it feels like you may have just done this,
but it is often longer than you think. Plus buying those “bargain” batteries
from the local discount shop is a bit of a false economy to be true. Buy
branded long life batteries and also keep a few spares.
Also recycle your old ones. Loads of places will
now take your old batteries and do it for you.
9). Going back to the Original
When it comes to troubleshooting, an all-in-oneremote isn’t always the best thing. Ideal they have been set up to perform the
functions you want to do (“watch satellite”, “watch a DVD”) without all the
other confusing buttons.
But when it comes to a little bit of
troubleshooting dig them out, they might come in handy.
It also eliminates one more variable in
troubleshooting: the all-in-one remote. After all it could be the remote that
is broken!
This is why you should never throw those original
remotes away, you never know when you might need them to come to the rescue.
10). Check the Network
With the amount of home entertainment components
relying on the internet or even just the homes internal network sometimes we
have to look at that. We are now entering the world of IP Addresses, DHCP, Sub
Net Masks and Default Gateways!
Nnnnnnaa just kidding...
There are a few things you can check. On the component,
have a look around the back, (assuming you have already done number 6) look at
where the Cat5 cable goes in to the component. Underneath there are normally
two little light (Green and Orange), these should be flashing away happily. If
your component is wireless, then using the original remote press “Menu” or “Setup”
and find a tab that says “Network”. Make sure the wireless network is visible
and the component is connected to it.
Next go to the router / modem. On the front of 90%
of routers / modems you will see indicator lights. Make sure they are all on
and again in 90% of cases green is good, red is dead. If we´re all green, then
if possible check the internet with another device (a laptop or smartphone will
do).
If it all checks out then, (´big sigh´) try turning
it off and on again. Switch the component off first, by the ´hard´ button or
unplug it, then unplug the router / modem. Count to ten then plug the router /
modem back in, give it say a minute to come completely to life and then switch
on your component.
Hopefully you are all up & running again just in time to see the start of your evenings viewing.
Plus you are now the super hero that saved your family from an evening of board games and arguing about who cheated...
Bask in the glory... put your feet up and enjoy the limelight...you did well my friend, you did well...
If these few simple steps didn´t get you up and runnings,
then I suggest that you reach for the phone and give us a call. Having a vast experience
from simple lounge set up to total home control, the of Future Lifestyle team
will have you up and running again in no time.
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