BASIC TROUBLESHOOTING

Transcription

1 Troubleshooting Guide Page 1 BASIC TROUBLESHOOTING BASIC TROUBLESHOOTING Initial TV set up When you connect your TV to the cable outlet in your room you will need to run the channel set up process in order to view the BoilerTV channels. (If you used your TV at another location your television is used to receiving a different channel line up) To scan for our channels, enter your television's menu and re-rerun the channel Set up or Auto search process. Please ensure that the standard Cable setting or QAM setting is selected (not Air, Antenna, HRC or IRC). We have found that the auto-programming process can be as swift as 5 minutes or up to 45 minutes depending upon the television being programmed. Popular name brand televisions like LG, Samsung and Sony are your best choices. Some less expensive televisions (listed below) do not have tuners that can handle all types of TV distribution formats. TV more than 5 years old and not receiving all channels If your TV is more than 5 years old, you may or may not receive any channels. If you only receive 20 or 30 channels on a five year-old television, we will not be able to enable your television to receive all of the channels. TVs are limited by the capacity of their tuners. You can contact the manufacturer and ask them whether your TV's year, make and model accepts "Clear QAM" signals. New TV but not receiving any channels If you have a new television that is not on the list of TVs without a Clear QAM Tuner, you just need to run the channel search process or auto search process. Review your TV's manual for details. Enter your TV's menu and select the channel search or auto scan process. 1-5 year old TVs not receiving all channels If you are receiving some but not all of the BoilerTV channels, you probably need to visit the manufacturer's website and update your television's firmware. (Updating a television's firmware is very similar to updating the software in a smart phone) Updating your TV's firmware may involve downloading a file from the manufacturer's website to a flash drive and then connecting the flash drive to your TV so it can process the update. In some cases, a firmware update can be completed by connecting the TV to the Internet and downloading the update. The manufacturer's website and customer support phone numbers are the best source for this process but YouTube is another great resource. As an example, here is a link to Bravia's video about how to update their firmware year old Element Brand TVs not receiving all channels Element brand TVs are problematic. Some Element TVs work fine but others do not. To work properly, your Element Brand TV must have a QAM capable tuner. How do you know if your Element brand television has a QAM capable tuner? 1. If your TV has a QAM capable tuner it will be an option in the channel menu. You may know that when setting up a television, you usually select which type of signal you re going to receive. Air means you re receiving channels via antennae. Cable means BoilerTV Basic Troubleshooting

2 Troubleshooting Guide Page 2 you re connected to a traditional cable network. While the Cable option here usually works for most televisions connected to BoilerTV, if your TV has an option to select QAM, that is the best option for BoilerTV users. 2. In the Channel Menu of Element brand televisions you should see AIR/CABLE/QAM if AIR/CABLE are the only options that means the TV has no QAM and you need an external tuner. 3. If QAM is an option in the channel menu, once selected, it s my understanding that the Element code can be entered there. This should enable the QAM tuner and you should be able to receive BoilerTV channels after you have completed the rest of the general TV setup options. 4. If your TV doesn t have a QAM option you will need an external tuner to view channels on our network Unfortunately, most televisions manufactured prior to 2009 cannot be updated and do not have a tuner that will allow them to receive all channel frequencies or signal types. You can however, purchase an external tuner that is up to date. Here is a link to the best choice for an external tuner - The cost is approximately $130 *When shopping for an external tuner, please make sure it can accept Clear QAM or Open QAM formats. Formatting a drive for firmware update If you have a mac, you might find formatting a drive to fat32 is a challenge. Here are some basic instructions to formatting a drive on a mac. External tuner If no firmware update is available or if your TV still isn t receiving all of the channels you can purchase an external tuner. Here is a link to the best choice for an external tuner - Master-CM-7001-Antenna-Clear/dp/B0066O1DI2 The cost is approximately $100 Here is a second choice for a tuner. This tuner is more affordable but may work well but may require a firmware update. Converter-Recording-Playback/dp/B00GOILYB6 This converter may require a firmware update to work properly on our network. Here s a link to the update *Do NOT download this firmware if your 3500STBII Converter Box has a CH 3/4 switch behind it. You own a converter box that was released in a new batch that has a different chip piece that is not compatible with the box. If you do install this firmware your box will automatically shut completely off and it will not be able to turn on. Please be patient, a new firmware is being currently tested that will be compatible with your box soon. *When shopping for an external tuner, please make sure it can accept Clear QAM or Open QAM formats.

3 Troubleshooting Guide Page 3 You can also look at our Frequently Asked Questions page. Here's a link to the BoilerTV FAQ page. TVs and TV brands that may not work on the BoilerTV network TVs manufactured prior to 2009 Regardless of the brand, TVs manufactured prior to 2009 will not work on our network because they lack the updated hardware and software required to receive the Open QAM / Clear QAM signal Newer model TVs with inadequate hardware Even a new television may not contain a tuner or software that allows it to receive all types of common TV signals. Manufacturers save money by installing inexpensive tuners in their cheaper televisions. These models do not generally work on our network. Other brands that may have difficulty connecting to our network Note * The following TV brands are causing viewers some problems this year because of the tuners installed in the TV. Dynex Make Element Memorex Sansui Emerson/Funai Insignia Models Not Equipped With QAM Tuner DX-32L151A11 MT1134 All Models do not appear to have QAM tuners LC320EM2F LC401EM2F EWL20S5B LG Models made prior to 2007 Magnavox RCA P2MF23ID/37 LED24G45RQ LD32G30 Samsung Models made prior to 2009 Seiki Sharp SE24FT01 SE47FY19 32 Aquos LC-13B6U-S Sony Models made prior to 2007 Sylvania Toshiba Models made prior to 2007 Westinghouse All models do not appear to have QAM tuners Olevia All models do not appear to have QAM tuners

4 Troubleshooting Guide Page 4 iview 3500STB II Tuners / CONVERTER BOXES Technicolor DCI 401 epvision PHD-208 Students have recommended the above converter boxes. We cannot guarantee that a converter box will work with your TV or that the box will deliver a clear signal on the same channel lineup. Tuner for your computer or laptop Here is an example of the type of tuner you might purchase to watch TV on your Mac, PC or laptop Due to the wide varieties of computer models, we cannot guarantee which tuner will work on our network. You should make sure the device can accept Clear (or open) QAM signals and is mac or pc compatible.

5 Troubleshooting Guide Page 5 Here are some websites you should know about and follow... BoilerTV website BoilerTV on demand Purdue s version of Netflix (only available on campus) Roundhouse Radio website Facebook Instagram PeteTV Watch PETE TV on channel 4.2 for original Purdue Programming. BoilerTV Basic Troubleshooting