Not many things can be as frustrating as sitting down to movie night with the family or watching the big game with friends only to discover your system is not working. Over the years of helping clients with their systems, I see the same problems come up again and again. Here are the top five most common problems encountered and some tips to fix them.

1. Problem: “I can see a picture but do not hear anything” or “I can hear the game but can’t see it.”

Solution: Your TV or Surround Receiver is on the wrong input. Check the source input on your TV and your surround receiver. The inputs need to be on the same source. If you have sound and no picture then slowly cycle through the inputs on your TV until the picture appears. If you have a picture but no audio, do the same with your surround receiver.

2. Problem: “My satellite receiver is stuck on one channel.”

Solution: Your satellite receiver is frozen and needs to be reset.
Some Sat boxes have a reset button on the front. If yours does not, unplug it from the wall outlet for about a minute then plug it back in. This can be applied to any device even your DVD player or surround receiver. If a source is not working properly, always unplug it first and reset it.

3. Problem: “My surround speakers are not working.”

Solution: You are watching a program that does not have surround sound or your receiver is not in the proper surround format. Not everything you watch will have a surround sound mix. DVDs heavy on dialogue and low on action will not have a lot of sound coming out of the rear speakers. The same is true of analog TV channels. HDTV broadcasts will usually tell you if the audio is in Dolby Digital 5.1.

If you still think there is a problem, listen to an action DVD that you know has a lot of surround effects or play a CD in 5 channel stereo. The best way to check all your speakers is to use the Test Tone feature built into your receiver, but only do this if you are comfortable with using the receiver’s menu system. Also listen for crackling, a hum, or any kind of distortion as this could indicate interference or a damaged speaker.

4. Problem: “My universal remote won’t work my system.”

Solution: The batteries are dead or the IR emitters have fallen off the front of the components. Always check the batteries first. If you have a rechargeable remote, check the charge. Remember even rechargeable batteries can go bad. If you have an IR or RF system, check the IR emitters attached to the front of your components. If they have fallen off, your remote cannot talk to the component.

5. Problem: “I think the projection lamp in my TV is out.”

Solution: Check the indicator light on the front of the TV or the top of the projector. Most rear projection TVs like Mitsubishi and front projectors have a lamp indicator LED that will flash when the lamp is burned out. Even if your TV or projector is working you should check the hours on the lamp. If the lamp is at or over 1000 hours then it is time to get a new one. Most projection lamps are estimated to last 1000 – 2000 hours, but only have a warranty of 6 months. The actual life of a lamp can vary depending on its environment, how often it is used, the pictures it displays, and the brightness settings of the projector. I strongly recommend that if your lamp is at 1000 hours or over 6 months old, you should get a new lamp and use the old one as an emergency back up.

One of the coolest new technologies going today is Netflix movie streaming service. There are many devices one can use to stream Netflix movies, but the simplest device to use has to be a Samsung Blu-Ray player. Simply hook it up to your home internet network, connect it to your new flat panel with an HDMI cable and WHAM…100′s of movies at your finger tips. Our clients have really loved it when we have set this up in thier homes. Thier reaction is priceless…they forget that we are even working in thier house becasue they are just mezmorized by the selection of movie title. It’s really fun!

You can buy just about anything on the internet these days; books, music, DVDs, brides, clothes and even cars are a few things you find while shopping on the web.  But does it make sense to buy electronics online?  Not always.  Here are a few things you need to know when shopping for Audio Video equipment on the internet.   

First, many manufacturers do not have authorized internet retailers.  If you search for an item online you can usually find a dozen websites purportedly selling that product. But that does not mean they can legally sell it or that they even have that particular product.  Always go to the manufacturer’s website and check.  They will have a list of their authorized retailers both local and online. 

Second, the biggest problem with buying something from an un-authorized dealer is that you do not get a warranty.  The one from the manufacturer is not valid because the item was not purchased from a legitimate dealer and extended warranty companies won’t warranty a product that does not have one from the manufacturer.

Third, if you do order a product from one of these non-authorized sites, there is no telling what you will get.  The product could be refurbished, “B” stock or even gray market product.  A lot of these companies “sell” new products but send you a re-boxed or slightly damaged product.  They may not even have the product in stock, and then try to sell you something else.

Fourth, shopping online does not always save you money.  An authorized online dealer sells electronic equipment at the same price that your local dealer does.  More often than not your local retailer can offer discounts that the online seller cannot.  What about sales tax, you might ask.  By the time you figure in shipping and set up costs, you end up spending more than you saved on the sales tax.

Finally, an online retailer simply cannot give you the support that a local retailer can.  Local retailers have well-trained sales people that know the product and know how it will work in your particular environment.  We can also provide certified installation and authorized service for all our customers.

Sure, you can always find a lower price on the internet, but is it worth the risk just to save a few extra bucks?  What is more important to you, no warranty, no guarantee of new stock, no installation or service support, and maybe a few extra dollars in your pocket or establishing a relationship with a local dealer who will provide you with a warranted product, installation and service to back it up, and the time of a knowledgeable and caring salesperson?