Cable TV
Cable TV Setup and Troubleshooting
Connecting Your TV
-
Locate the cable TV faceplate in your room. If the faceplate is missing or damaged, contact LTS.
-
Using a standard TV patch cable, connect your TV to the cable TV faceplate in your room.
-
Set up or program your TV to work properly with the Brandeis cable TV system. The TV needs to be set up as IRC.
Use the following as a guide in hooking up a VCR:
Troubleshooting
Many connections problems can be solved by reprogramming your TV. Try one of the following:
-
Make sure your TV is set to receive a signal from "Cable TV" or "CATV" (not "antenna" or "air"). This can be done by a physical switch, or on newer sets via a selection from an on-screen menu.
-
If there are multiple settings for the type of cable TV system, set your TV for an "IRC" cable system.
-
Once the settings are correct, you should have your TV "auto-scan" channels. This will allow you to use the TV's "channel up/down" feature to skip over channels that are not in use on the Brandeis system. (Certain channels on the Brandeis cable TV system are reserved but not yet in use; when those channels are activated, you will need to add them manually or repeat this process.)
-
Different TV manufacturers (or TV models) have different ways to perform these tasks; check your TV manual for specific instructions.
-
If your TV is not cable-ready, converter boxes are available for your use. Contact LTS for more information. In this setup, leave your TV set on channel 3, and use the converter box to select the desired cable channel.
If you have tried the above and still have a connection problem, read the following:
There is a physical problem with my cable that keeps me from using it (for example, the connector is missing or painted over, there's no cable in the room, etc.).
-
If the cable is there but is damaged in some way so that you cannot use it, report the problem to LTS so that it can be repaired. You will need to be present for the technician to enter your room.
I cannot get any channels, or I can only receive two or three low-numbered channels (e.g., 4, 5, and 7).
-
Make sure all the connections are connected properly, including those to the electrical outlet. For your TV to work correctly, it must be connected--using a standard, high-quality cable TV patch cable--to the cable TV faceplate (outlet) in your room. If your TV connections are fine and you still are not receiving any channels, report this problem to LTS. (This is most likely a problem with the cable running from the distribution system to your faceplate, so you're actually picking up these channels off the air, using your TV cable as a low-quality antenna.)
I can only receive channels 2-13.
-
Most likely, your TV is either not "cable-ready" or is not set up correctly to work with our system. Try reprogramming your TV.
I can get most of the channels, but some aren't there.
-
It's possible that this is caused by a programmable feature of your TV. Try typing in the channel number directly, rather than using the "channel up/down" arrows. If you are able to receive the channel by choosing it in this manner, then you need to reprogram your TV.
I'd like to order a pay-per-view event or add a premium channel (like HBO) to my service.
-
The Brandeis cable TV system is designed to provide a fixed channel lineup across campus. It is not capable of supporting pay-per-view or premium channels. This design decision helps keep costs down by reducing administrative overhead, and prevents the theft of cable TV signals and vandalism of the cable TV system that Brandeis had experienced with a "tiered" subscription cable TV offering.
There is physical damage to my cable TV faceplate, but I can get all the channels clearly.
