It can be infuriating to have technical problems that not only make no sense but also seem to come up at the worst times. A sign that says No Signal on TV screen can seem very daunting, as you may not know where the actual issue lies. If you are not technologically adept, you may not even know where to start!
Luckily, this isn’t as big an issue as it might seem. If your TV says No Signal but the cable box is on, or if there’s a message that says No Source or No Input, it could be one of a few technical issues. You can get to the bottom of this by testing each component one by one.
Let us walk you through the troubleshooting process. Remember that the problem is almost certainly not with the TV unit itself. You may wonder if, in the process of figuring out how to save money when buying a new TV, you might have been at the end of a raw deal. Thankfully, that is almost certainly not the case.
TV Not Properly Connected to The TV Box: No Signal Problem #1
It’s entirely possible that everything seems right. You might find yourself saying “my TV says No Signal, but everything is plugged in!”. This is a tricky problem and a surprisingly easy one to fix.
Even if everything is plugged in, sometimes a No Signal on TV means that the cable box is either powered off or not plugged in properly. Even the best android TV box can’t do much for you if you forget to plug it in properly or turn it on!
Pressing the power button on the remote control can help. There might even be a different button, such as a CBL button, that you have to press first to power it on.
Sometimes a “natural” occurrence can also cause a similar problem. A Direct TV no signal on one TV in your house, place of work, or dormitory might mean that it’s a problem specific to that TV, but if it’s on more than one, then you might have what is known as rain fade.
TV Being Set to The Wrong Input: No Signal Problem #2
Your TV has unique and multiple input ports for each device that can be connected to it. These devices can be a TV box or a DVD/Blu-Ray player. Even the best outdoor TV antenna isn’t of much use when it isn’t set to the right input port, or if your TV isn’t set to the input that the cable box is connected to.
To ensure this, make sure both the TV and the cable box are powered on, and then look for an INPUT button, or similar, on your remote control. Pressing the button for INPUT will bring up options on your screen. Even if they’re confusing, you can try them to see where the right input that you want is. Cycle through each of them and see if any of them is a signal to your TV.
HDMI Not Working on TV: No Signal Problem #3
The HDMI input having issues can also contribute to a No Signal on TV. Comcast can frequently have this issue. To get around this, power your device off, and take out the plug. Disconnect your HDMI cable from its input port on the TV and change it to another port. Plug it back in, turn it back on, and then change your TV’s input to where you plugged in the new HDMI input and see if the issue is resolved.
It’s also best to keep the cables unplugged for a few minutes in the process, as well as waiting a few minutes after plugging them back in to give some time to allow the signal to stabilize.
There can be some other problems, too. One of these is inherent in a TV remote, and it has to with the base channel. This has everything to do with the remote and the default setting it’s on, which is often 1 or 2 but might sometimes need to be moved to 3, or 4.
There is also something known as HDCP error, which stands for High-Bandwidth Digital Content Protection. Non-licensed devices can sometimes be rejected by your TV set, as most of them are built-in with HDCP-compliant features. Removing the offending device (such as a Kodi box) will restore signals.
What if None of These Solutions Work?
If you have tried everything and you still can’t get a signal, you should call a professional. The problem could be with your cable box or your antenna (if you are using satellite TV). A professional would be able to identify the exact problem and make sure that it is solved.