Things can go wrong anytime with your home theater system; even professionals have to face these problems. However, that does not mean that you have always to call for support or request for a repair man to be sent over. There are some things that you can try on your own before you reach for the phone.

What to Do if Nothing Turns On?

This is one of the most common problems faced by people setting up a home theater using a surge projector. You have connected all wires and are sure that you made all the connections as per instructions. But did you check whether you switched on the power. When you are at it, check all power connections.

What if there is no TV reception?

The problem is most probably with the cable connections. Make sure that the set top box is connected to the TV and the connections are not loose. Make sure that the set top box is connected to the antennae in case of satellite TV and the cable port in case of cable TV. If you have high definition TV, ensure that you are using HDMI, DVI, or Component Video Connections for connecting the box to the TV.

In case the cables to the TV are routed through the AV receiver, check whether the receiver is turned on and set to the appropriate input option.

Poor Picture Quality

If the picture is snowy or grainy, it is probably due to a faulty cable connection or a damaged cable. Try a different cable. You may also call the cable company to check the main cable. If you have satellite TV, try changing the direction of the dish antennae.

No or Improper Color

Check the television's color settings if the problem is across all input sources. If the color settings are correct and everything is fine except for the DVD player then check the component video connections, and see if the red, green and blue connections on the DVD match with those on the TV.

There is a Problem With Surround Sound

• Check whether all programming sources are set to surround sound mode.
• Check whether the DVD and the set top box are connected with appropriate cables. For Dolby Digital sound you need either digital optical or digital coaxial or 5.1 channel analog connection going through the input source to the receiver.
• If the connection s through RCA analog stereo cable, surround sound can be accessed only with Dolby Prologic II, IIx, or DTS Neo:6 settings, if available