You turn on the DIRECTV system and you get the image at the top of this article. The screen may be black, the wording might be a little different but the idea’s the same. Nothing’s happening. The key is to find out what part of the system is disconnected and reconnect it. We call this “signal flow” and it’s pretty simple.
You don’t have to live without satellite TV. You can take simple steps that usually solve the problem. Here’s a quick guide to start you off.
No matter what DIRECTV box you have, there is going to be a blue light, generally on the front left. If you don’t see the blue light, check to see that it’s plugged in. If it doesn’t respond with the remote, try pressing the power button on the front.
Can you turn it on with the power button on the front but not with the remote? If so change the batteries in the remote.
If you can’t turn it on, make sure it’s plugged into the wall properly. There may be a power supply box like this:
This box needs to be connected to the wall AND to the DIRECTV box.
If you have one of the small client boxes, generally about 6″ wide or smaller, it may have a light marked NETWORK. This light should be yellowish-green. If it’s red like what you see above, this means it’s not getting any information from the main Genie box.
If this is a wired client box, trace the wire to make sure it’s fully connected. Wireless setups are very common now, so if you have one, go back to the main Genie box to see what’s going on.
If you have this sort of box, both lights should be green. If you have the other sort, there will be a separate device that looks like this:
The light on this box should be solid blue. If it’s solid green, this just means that none of the client boxes are powered on. Power on one of the client boxes and it should turn blue.
There should be a cable connecting the DIRECTV box to the TV. The ends are shaped like what you see above. This is an HDMI cable and it carries video and audio. If you disconnect it, you’ll lose picture.
If you see a blue screen, it’s usually the TV not the DIRECTV box. DIRECTV boxes won’t put out a solid blue screen like that. Check to make sure the TV’s input is set right.
Look at the back of the TV and see what port you’ve connected cable from the DIRECTV box. It will probably say HDMI1, HDMI2, something like that.
Using your remote, press the INPUT, TV INPUT, or SOURCE button. If your remote looks like this:
…you’ll see the INPUT button to the right of the zero. Press and hold this button to change inputs.
As you change inputs, you’ll see the input name on the screen. It should match the name of the port where you’ve connected the DIRECTV box.
Most of the time, those steps will get you up and running fast. If you still see that blue screen, here are some things to try:
If you still have that blue screen, call the experts! The tech team at Solid Signal is here to help. We have DIRECTV specialists on staff. Our Novi, Michigan office is full of qualified techs and engineers. We’re here for you during East Coast business hours. Simply call us at 888-233-7563. If it’s after hours, no problem! Fill out the form below. We’ll get back to you quickly!
The post No picture on your DIRECTV box? Here are some things to try appeared first on The Solid Signal Blog.
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You don’t have to live without satellite TV. You can take simple steps that usually solve the problem. Here’s a quick guide to start you off.
Step 1: Is the DIRECTV box powered on?
No matter what DIRECTV box you have, there is going to be a blue light, generally on the front left. If you don’t see the blue light, check to see that it’s plugged in. If it doesn’t respond with the remote, try pressing the power button on the front.
Can you turn it on with the power button on the front but not with the remote? If so change the batteries in the remote.
If you can’t turn it on, make sure it’s plugged into the wall properly. There may be a power supply box like this:
This box needs to be connected to the wall AND to the DIRECTV box.
Step 2: (Genie clients and Gemini) is the other light green?
If you have one of the small client boxes, generally about 6″ wide or smaller, it may have a light marked NETWORK. This light should be yellowish-green. If it’s red like what you see above, this means it’s not getting any information from the main Genie box.
If this is a wired client box, trace the wire to make sure it’s fully connected. Wireless setups are very common now, so if you have one, go back to the main Genie box to see what’s going on.
If you have this sort of box, both lights should be green. If you have the other sort, there will be a separate device that looks like this:
The light on this box should be solid blue. If it’s solid green, this just means that none of the client boxes are powered on. Power on one of the client boxes and it should turn blue.
Step 3: Is the DIRECTV box connected to the TV?
There should be a cable connecting the DIRECTV box to the TV. The ends are shaped like what you see above. This is an HDMI cable and it carries video and audio. If you disconnect it, you’ll lose picture.
Step 4: Did the TV’s input setting change?
If you see a blue screen, it’s usually the TV not the DIRECTV box. DIRECTV boxes won’t put out a solid blue screen like that. Check to make sure the TV’s input is set right.
Look at the back of the TV and see what port you’ve connected cable from the DIRECTV box. It will probably say HDMI1, HDMI2, something like that.
Using your remote, press the INPUT, TV INPUT, or SOURCE button. If your remote looks like this:
…you’ll see the INPUT button to the right of the zero. Press and hold this button to change inputs.
As you change inputs, you’ll see the input name on the screen. It should match the name of the port where you’ve connected the DIRECTV box.
Still not working?
Most of the time, those steps will get you up and running fast. If you still see that blue screen, here are some things to try:
- Can you try another device connected to the TV and see if it works? This could be a streaming box, DVD player, whatever.
- Another HDMI cable might solve the problem.
- Putting the HDMI cable into another input and changing the input using the remote might solve the problem.
- In rare cases, unplugging everything, waiting 30 seconds, and plugging it all back in can solve the problem. Just make sure to turn on everything after that.
- Make sure all cables are tight. Sometimes a cable looks connected and it isn’t.
- Sometimes a second pair of eyes helps. Ask a friend or family member to try the same steps you tried.
If you still have that blue screen, call the experts! The tech team at Solid Signal is here to help. We have DIRECTV specialists on staff. Our Novi, Michigan office is full of qualified techs and engineers. We’re here for you during East Coast business hours. Simply call us at 888-233-7563. If it’s after hours, no problem! Fill out the form below. We’ll get back to you quickly!
The post No picture on your DIRECTV box? Here are some things to try appeared first on The Solid Signal Blog.
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