How to Check & See If Your Cable Service Is Active in Your Home?

Check to see if your cable service is active.

The cable always seems to go out right when you want to watch a show. Before you call the cable company, you may want to check to see if the cable service is active in your house. Many times, the problem is related to the home rather than the cable service. After you've checked several points, you will know for sure that the cable is really out and you can call the company to find out why.

Instructions

1. Check your TV channel. There is a certain channel the television must be on to play cable. If it's on the wrong channel, you may see static or a blue screen.

2. Turn on another TV in the house. If you have multiple TVs in your home that use the cable service, you can check another TV. If that TV works, you know that the problem is with the original TV, not the cable service.

3. Reconnect your cables. Sometimes, a cable becomes loose, preventing you from seeing a picture on your screen.

4. Reboot your cable box. Unplug the box, wait 30 seconds and then plug it back in. Wait for the box to show the correct display and then try turning your TV on.

5. Call your cable company's customer service. The representative can tell you if there is a reason why you cannot watch cable TV, such as technical difficulties or late payment.

Tips & Warnings

• If you're trying to connect to an old cable, it may be inactive.

References

• Time Warner Cable: Helpful Tips