TV Troubleshooting Guide
Find your issue below and follow the steps to fix the problem. If you do not see your issue listed or the steps provided do not solve the problem, please contact technical support.
All channels out or Channel is blank
1. Verify Connections
- Are all your connections tight?
- Are you using proper connectors and color coding?
- Are you using a set top box? If so, is the cable coming from the wall connected to the “IN” jack on the cable box?
2. Check the TV
- Is the proper input selected? Look at your TV remote. Find the Input button. Scroll thorough (i.e., Input 1, Input 2, HDMI 1, HDMI 2, etc.) Try scrolling through your input options slowly to see if your issues resolves. Check to make sure you haven’t accidentally changed the TV channel. Using the remote that came with your TV is best for this.
3. Check the Set Top box
- Is the power on?
- Is the proper input selected? See #2
4. Check for outages system wide on our website or local Facebook page.
5. Reboot your Set top box. Scroll down for instructions.
6. Check the cable TV (CATV) setting.
- Does the TV have a Cable TV (CATV) function on the on-screen menu? If so, is it set to CATV?
7. Check the auto-program settings.
- Does the TV have an auto-program function? If so, is it activated?
8. If none of these work, call to report an outage and we will respond the next business day to assist you unless it is a total outage, in that case we will respond sooner but may not contact you directly while we are working the outage.
No HD channels
- Are you tuned to an HD channel? (700’s) In Estacada/Corbett click here. In Mesquite click here for a channel guide.
Picture does not fill screen
1. Check your TVs aspect ratio settings.
- Is the aspect ratio setting on your TV correct? Check your TVs user manual for instructions on how to set the picture size for your TV.
- Is your picture displaying in a windowpane screen? When you view 4:3 content on a 16:9 HDTV display, you may get an on-screen image with vertical black or gray bands on each side of the image. This is called a windowpane screen.
- Is your picture displaying in a letterbox screen? When 16:9 content is viewed on a 4:3 display, you may see a long and narrow image with black or gray bands above and below. This is called a letterbox screen. Some movies are shown in letterbox to replicate what was shown in theaters.
- Note: To eliminate the black or gray bands, use the stretch and zoom capability of your HD Set-Top Box. This enables you to fill your HD screen with a non-HD video image rather than having it squeezed into the letterbox format.
Sound Issues
1. Troubleshoot symptom
- Different language – Some TVs and cable boxes have features like an SAP, MAP or bilingual button. If you are hearing a different language other than what is expected, check to see if the TV or cable box has one of these features and make sure it is turned off. Use your remote to turn off this feature if there is no button.
- No sound – The MUTE button on remote control may have been pushed. Press the button on the remote to restore volume.
- Buzzing – Adjust the TV’s fine-tuning (see your TV user guide for instructions). Also check to see if the TV is too close to any appliances that are in use (microwaves, generators, vacuum cleaners, etc.), which could interfere with the signal.
- Noisy sounds on one channel – Your cable connection may be loose. Check the connection and tighten if necessary.
- Sound from only one stereo speaker – Your cable connection may be loose. Check the connection and tighten it if necessary. Check to make sure no wires are frayed and plugs aren’t bent or broken. Make sure the audio cables are connected to the correct Left/Right output jacks on your terminal. Check the “balance” setting if sound is being delivered through your stereo amplifier.
Poor Reception
Note: The most common problems with reception have to do with connection issues.
1. Verify Connections
- Are all your connections tight?
- Are you using good connectors and color coding?
- Are you using a set top box? If so, is the cable coming from the wall connected to the “IN” jack on the cable box.
2. Check the TV
- Is the proper input selected? Look at your remote. Find the Input button. Scroll thorough (i.e., Input 1, Input 2, HDMI 1, HDMI 2, etc) Try scrolling through your input options slowly to see if your issues resolves. Some older TVs need to be on channel 3 or 4. Check to make sure you haven’t accidentally changed the TV channel. Using the remote that came with your TV is best for this.
3. Check the Set Top box
- Is the power on?
- Is the proper input selected? See #2
4. Check your VCR, DVD and/or game consoles
- Are any of these devices connected to your TV? If so, make sure power to those devices is off.
5. Check the cable splitter
- Are you using a cable splitter? If so, check to make sure it is the correct type.
- To ensure the best performance with your digital cable signal, use a coaxial cable distributed by Reliance Connects.
Snowy Picture
Note: If one channel is snowy, it is usually caused by some sort of interference. If more than one channel is snowy, it is frequently the result of loose connections or cables.
1. Verify Connections
- Are all your connections tight
- Are you using proper connectors and color coding
- Are you using a set top box? If so, is the cable coming from the wall connected to the “IN” jack on the cable box.
2. Check the TV
- Is the proper input selected? Look at your remote. Find the Input button. Scroll thorough (i.e., Input 1, Input 2, HDMI 1, HDMI 2, etc) Try scrolling through your input options slowly to see if your issues resolves. Check to make sure you haven’t accidentally changed the TV channel. Using the remote that came with your TV is best for this.
3.Check the Set Top box
- Is the power on?
- Is the proper input selected? See #2
Reboot a Set-Top Box
- Turn off the Set-Top Box by either using your remote control or by pressing the POWER button on the box.
- Carefully unplug the Set-Top Box power cord from the electrical outlet or power strip if you’re using one.
- Wait 30 seconds while the Set-Top Box completely shuts off.
- Plug the power cord back in. The Set-Top Box will automatically reboot – this may take 3-5 minutes.
- Wait for the time or channel to appear on the front of the box.
- Turn on the TV and Set-Top Box.