Cable TV FAQs

  • What are the codes to program my remote to work with a Vizio TV?
  • What can I do if my cable service is out on every TV in my house?
    • Check the other TVs in the house for quality issues like fuzziness or ghosting on lower channels. Typically service loss to one TV is caused by not enough signal reaching the TV through the splitter in the house. If you see any quality issues on other TVs you may wish to change the splitter in the house to correct the problem.
    • If you do not have quality issues with other TVs in the house, then check to see if there are any devices connected to this TV. (VCR, DVD player, etc) If so, are these devices on, causing possible problems with the cable signal reaching the TV? If so, check to make sure these devices are connected correctly. If they are and you are still not receiving a signal try to bypass the devices and connect the cable directly to the TV.
  • What can I do if my cable service is out on only one TV?
    • Check the other TVs in the house for quality issues like fuzziness or ghosting on lower channels. Typically service loss to one TV is caused by not enough signal reaching the TV through the splitter in the house. If you see any quality issues on other TVs you may wish to change the splitter in the house to correct the problem.
    • If you do not have quality issues with other TVs in the house, then check to see if there are any devices connected to this TV. (VCR, DVD player, etc) If so, are these devices on, causing possible problems with the cable signal reaching the TV? If so, check to make sure these devices are connected correctly. If they are and you are still not receiving a signal try to bypass the devices and connect the cable directly to the TV. If the picture improves, try replacing the cables between the VCR/DVD and the TV.
  • What should I do if my cable service is fuzzy on all of my TVs in the house?
    • Quality problems with cable service are normally caused by a general loss of cable signal. In order to avoid possible inside wiring charges try changing out the cable splitter on the inside of the house to see if this corrects the problem. The cable splitter in your house splits the cable to each outlet in the house. It is also possible to disconnect one outlet at a time from the splitter to see if quality improves.
    • The splitter is used to split the cable signal from the incoming cable from the BTES equipment so that more than one TV in the house can receive the cable TV signal. The splitter is normally mounted in a box outside the house, near the BTES equipment and your electric meter. Sometimes the splitter is in a different location, though. You may be able to follow the co-ax cable from the BTES fiber box to the box where the splitter is located. Also, some homes may have a splitter in a crawl space or attic.
  • What can I do if I am only receiving some of my channels?
    • If you do not have a cable box and are not receiving all of your channels 2 - 82, check your TVs menu and verify under the menu that your TV is set to CATV or CABLE and not set to ANT or Antenna. You may have to consult your TVs manual or manufacturer’s guide, since normally this setting should be under set up or input on your TVs menu. Once this setting has changed you may also wish to have your TV run an auto-program again to gain access to all of your channels.
    • Also verify similar settings if you are connecting through a VCR before connecting to the TV.
  • What should I do when my cable box says "No Data Available" on the program guide?

    If your cable box states "No Data Available" on your program guide, disconnect the power from the box for about 30 seconds. Plug the box back up and wait for the time to appear on the front of the box before turning the power to the box back on. This should refresh the program guide data to the box. It is possible it will take some time to update.

  • What can I do if the sound on my cable box keeps going out?

    If your cable box continually loses sound after a few seconds of watching a channel, attempt to power cycle the cable box. Disconnect the power from the cable box for about 30 seconds, reconnect the power to the box and wait for the time to appear on the front of the cable box before powering it back on.

  • What can I do if the volume on my cable box is extremely low?
    • If the sound coming from your cable box is extremely low try adjusting the volume button on the front of the cable box. This is a separate volume control than the one on your TV set.
    • If you are still experiencing low sounds from your cable box there is another setting that can be changed. Press the Settings button on your cable box remote twice, this will bring up the menu for the cable box. Under the menu press the Down arrow on your remote until Audio: Range is highlighted, then press the Right arrow on your remote. There will be three separate settings you can change the cable box to; Normal, Narrow, and Wide. Pick the one that sounds best to you and press the Select button on your cable box remote to accept these settings. Press the Exit button on your remote until you are back to the channel you were watching.
  • What can I do if the sound on my TV is coming out in Spanish or with music?
    • If the sound coming from your TV is coming out in Spanish or with music this could be due to a channel that has the option of SAP or Second Audio Programming. Channels such as ABC are simulcast in two languages or with a sister radio station. In order to receive this broadcast your TV set has an option for SAP within the menu of the TV, to change this setting check the menu on your TV or consult your manual or TV manufacturer.
    • If you are a cable box user, the cable box has the same SAP audio option. In order to change this option on your cable box, press the Settings button on your cable box remote once. Hit the Down key on your remote until Enable/Disable SAP is highlighted, and press Select on the remote to toggle this option.
  • What can I do if my cable box remote will not change channels on the box?
    • If your cable box remote will not change channels on the box, make sure that the remote is set to control the cable box. Press the cable button at the top of the remote normally labeled CBL and try changing channels again.
    • When you press the CBL button on the remote, notice if it lights up or flashes red. If it does not light up or flash, the batteries could be dead.
    • If you are still unable to get the remote to change channels on the remote it is possible the batteries in the remote are either dead or in the process of going dead. Attempt to change the batteries and try again.
  • How do I purchase a Pay-Per-View movie when my box keeps asking for my PIN?

    If you are trying to order a PPV movie and the box asks for a PIN number and you have not set one up, enter 0000 and press the Select button on your remote.

  • What do I do when I have HDTV service but cannot receive the HD channels?
    • If you have HDTV service but cannot receive HD channels make sure your cable box is connected to your TV with the Component cables or HDMI cable. Component cables should be color coded Red, Green, Blue for video and Red and White for audio. An HDMI cable is a single cable with a wide rectangular connector on each end. For correct connections to your TV set consult your manual or TV manufacturer. After you have the cables connected correctly verify that the TV set is on the correct input. Examples would be Line 1, Component 1, HDMI, etc. - this will depend on the physical location of connection on the back of your TV set. These connections should be labeled accordingly and should match what the TV shows on the screen for the input.
    • If you are still unable to receive HD service and your cables are connected correctly, run the cable box HD set up wizard. In order to run the wizard hit the power button on the front of the cable box to turn power off to the box. After the box is powered off, hold down both the Guide, and Info buttons on the front of the box. This should start the HD set up wizard. The wizard should ask you several questions about your TV. Follow the menu and power the box back on after completion.
  • How do I connect a VCR with my set top box?
    • Connect the co-ax cable from the wall to the CABLE IN connector on the set top box. Connect a piece of co-ax cable from the CABLE OUT connector on the set top to the CABLE IN connector on the VCR. From the VCR, connect a piece of co-ax cable from the CABLE OUT connector (may be called out to TV, output, RF out, depending on VCR) to the CABLE IN connector on the TV. For this to work, the VCR will always have to be on channel 3. To schedule recordings with the VCR, the set top box will need to be on. The TV will need to be on channel 3 or 4, depending on how your VCR is set up.
    • Optionally, the VCR can be connected to the TV using RCA cables (yellow, red, and white connectors). The TV would need to be set to the correct line-in for the input used. Refer to your TV manual for setting this.
  • What does the Residential Fiber Services Protection Plan include?
    • As a BTES fiber service customer, you are eligible for our Residential Fiber Services Protection Plan for the fiber services you are subscribed to. If you have more than one telephone line (calling number), you must purchase the plan for each line. If this plan is added prior to service activation or within 30 days of activation, coverage becomes effective immediately. If it is added 30 days after the initial activation or beyond, the plan will not begin coverage until 90 days after it was added. A BTES Help Desk representative will troubleshoot issues with you to determine if the issue can be resolved or if a premise technician will need to be sent to your home.
    • Includes:
    • Repair of wiring, splitters, and outlets on the customer’s side of the ONT (point of demarcation) due to normal degrading or caused by animals or unintentional damage by customer.
    • Only following the first exchange/pick up by customer at BTES and good faith attempt to set up equipment either with the support of BTES Help Desk or support at btes.net, in home exchange or installation of set-top box / VAP (including coax/HDMI and power cord) and BTES-rented routers.
    • Does NOT include:
    • Customer owned equipment including but not limited to: computers, laptops, tablets, phones, televisions, DVD players, Blu-ray players, surround sound, security systems, fax machines, non-BTES routers, non-BTES network equipment, etc.
    • Repair to customer-installed / modified wiring
    • Problems caused by customer negligence, damage caused by customer to BTES fiber or equipment, or damage caused by acts of God (fire, flood, etc.)
    • Installation of additional outlets
    • Remote failure or programming remote to customer equipment
  • What are sun outages?
     
    • Sun outages are a natural phenomenon which occurs twice a year – in the spring and fall.
    • A sun outage is an interruption in satellite signals caused by interference from solar radiation. The interference is caused when the sun is in direct line with a communication satellite and the sun’s radiation overwhelms the satellite signal.
    • During this time, customers may experience interference with picture quality (pixilation) and sound when watching television.

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