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.