Buffistechnology 3: "Press Some Buttons, See What Happens."
Got a question about technology? Ask it here. Discussion of hardware, software, TiVos, multi-region DVDs, Windows, Macs, LINUX, hand-helds, iPods, anything tech related. Better than any helpdesk!
Nope. The TV recognizes that the Chromecast and Firestick are there, because when I removed them, they didn't show up on the "input" screen. It recognizes that the firestick is there enough that I can use the firestick remote to turn the tv on and off/volume, but isn't getting a signal for some reason.
Also, cable/internet is out/having issues (posting with phone). Maybe that's the problem? But it wasn't out last night, so I don't know! guess I'll watch something on TiVo. Feh.
Cable is back, still can't figure out the issue with the HDMI. It knows that they are there, because they don't show up on the inputs if I don't have them plugged in, and it can recognize what they are in addition to the slot that they are in, but just no signal. I would think that something is wrong with the firestick or chromecast devices, but it's clearly the TV since neither of them work.
The TV still works (Tivo is connected through AV instead of HDMI)
I'm annoyed because I wanted to watch She Hulk. Yes, I know I can watch it on the computer (or in the bedroom), but I want to be comfy in the living room!
Oh, I feel like I remember something about HDMI connections that might be helpful but it was probably a decade ago and I don’t actually remember it. Was it a setting in the TV? That doesn’t seem likely. I just remember having a similar-ish problem and eventually discovering a very non intuitive solution but what it was is not coming to me at all. Sorry, I was hoping if I started typing all stream of conscious it might jog something useful loose but that does not seem to be happening.
Puzzling. More so, because I have no experience with either Chromecast or Firestick, so I am just spit-balling, sorry. But I thought both devices connect to the internet by wifi to your router. Do I have that wrong?
So if the TV is recognizing both devices okay, maybe the break in the communications chain is between the router and the devices. Is there a way to test that?
Vortex if your laptop is working, can you plug the HDMI from laptop directly into the HDMI input on TV and see if the TV will show what’s on your laptop? That will help you check a few things and narrow down the issue.
But I thought both devices connect to the internet by wifi to your router. Do I have that wrong?
No that is correct. They also connect to the television via HDMI. It's possible that the devices are transmitting to the TV, but since the HDMI isn't working, I can't see it.
Vortex if your laptop is working, can you plug the HDMI from laptop directly into the HDMI input on TV and see if the TV will show what’s on your laptop? That will help you check a few things and narrow down the issue.
I don't have a spare HDMI cable. Ironically thought I wouldn't need it since I have the Chromecast.
However, I did plug the chromecast into the bedroom tv, and the bedroom tv recognizes the chromecast and broadcasts to the bedroom tv. The bedroom tv is newer, so has netflix and such already installed so I don't need the chromecast/firestick for what I wanted to watch.
Admittedly, the living room TV is probably about 15 years old (I think I bought it when I moved into my condo in DC and I've been in CT for 10 years), so maybe it's just time for a new TV.
Probably so! They’ve come way down in price and I think you’ll be nicely surprised by how much you can get for a decent price.
Well, pfui. WiFi from my router failed last night. Cable TV is still working. Internet by wired connection to the router is still working. It is just the WiFi that is down.
Hard re-start didn't help.
Support at Spectrum agreed to replace the router (it is more than five years old now). They asked if I wanted to pick one up "at my local Spectrum store" or have it delivered by mail. I chose to have it mailed to me. It is -3F outside this morning, and the roads are icy. I am not going out there if I can help it, at all.
So I am on my first backup -- using my phone as a WiFi hotspot. So far, so good. I am going to try streaming a show later this morning, I'm curious to see if the hotspot is up to it.
2nd backup would be using my old Win7 laptop -- it is the only machine I have which has an ethernet port I can connect to the router. I knew I kept that doorstop around for a reason. I really hope I don't have to use it for real, rather than as part of trouble-shooting.
Just got a confirmation email from Spectrum. It says "expect delivery on Dec. 24th." I'll believe it when I see it.
Well, now I am annoyed.
I just received
two
FedEx packages, both marked "Saturday Priority Overnight." So they are four days late.
They each contain the identical model cable modem.
Neither contains a router.
I do not need a new modem. I certainly don't need
two
new modems. I need a new router.
I just spoke to Spectrum support. They confirmed they
do
have routers available -- for an additional $5 per month.
If they had delivered the router I expected, I would have accepted the fee.
However, I am now annoyed enough that I think I am going to terminate the account entirely.
Grrrrr.
Oh, ugh, dcp, how aggravating! I hope you have a good alternative you can switch to.