Closed Captioning Problems With Cox HDTV

To receive HD programming from Cox, you must subscribe to HD programming and have an HD receiver -- connected to your TV via an HDMI cable -- installed in your home. If you can't get this scrolling text to go away, turn off the closed captioning option on your HD receiver. First, press the "Settings" button on your remote and selection option "A." Use the up and down buttons on your remote to highlight the "Language" option, then select "Close Captioning" from the menu. Press the right arrow button on your remote to highlight "Off." Press the "Select" button on your remote to save your preferences.

If turning off closed captions on your HD receiver didn't remove the captions from your TV screen, adjust your television's settings. Since the early 1990s, the Federal Communications Commission, or FCC, has required that TV manufacturers make closed captioning a standard feature on all sets 13 inches or larger. The exact steps vary depending on the make and model of your TV. You should easily be able to change this setting by using your television's operator's manual and your remote.

To see the closed captions on your television, adjust your TV's menu settings, which vary based on its make and model. Next, turn on closed captions inside your Cox HD receiver. Press the "Settings" button on your remote, followed by the "A" button. Use the up and down arrows to scroll to the Language section and select "Closed Captioning" from the menu options. Press the right arrow to highlight "On" and press "A" to save. You also have the option of selecting different languages for your captions as well as choosing where on your screen you want the captions to appear.

Just like the audio and video elements on your television screen, the information for closed captioning travels over your home's coaxial and HDMI cables. If there is any interruption to this signal -- either through damage or disconnected cables -- the closed captions may not work properly. Additionally, your HD receiver must work properly to broadcast the captions. If your captions are malfunctioning, try resetting your receiver by disconnecting it from its power source for 20 seconds. This forces your HD receiver to automatically scan for the latest programming and software updates from Cox.

Even if your TV and Cox HD receiver are set to receive closed captions, they may still be absent from certain programs. Programs recorded before the FCC's current rules took effect are not always captioned; neither are shows that air between the hours of 2:00 and 6:00 in the morning. In some cases, such as an emergency news bulletin, the broadcaster may not have time to caption; instead, the broadcaster can meet FCC requirements by using other graphical information -- such as banners or subtitles -- as a substitute.