Body
Overview/Introduction
This document provides a comprehensive guide on connecting your television to the Ursinus College Cable TV network.
Details
In Room Requirements:
- Cable TV Drop: Typically, each room is equipped with one cable outlet.
- Coaxial Cable: A personal coaxial cable is required to connect your television to the cable receiver. These cables can be purchased at the school bookstore.
- Channel Setup Assistance: If you encounter difficulties setting up channels, please locate the brand and model of your television and search for its setup manual online. Without this information, Tech Support may be unable to assist you effectively.
Steps To Connect:
- Connect the Coaxial Cable: Attach one end of the coaxial cable to the cable connector on your data wall plate. Secure the connection by turning the connector clockwise until it is hand-tight.
- Connect to the TV: Attach the other end of the coaxial cable to your television.
- Set TV Reception: Power on your television and ensure it is configured for Cable Television (CATV) reception, rather than Antenna (ANT or AIR) mode.
To receive HDTV:
- Channel Scanning: Your television needs to scan for HDTV channels. The specific instructions may vary depending on the make and model of your TV. Generally, the steps are as follows:
- Press the “Menu” button on your TV remote.
- Navigate to “Setup” or “Settings.”
- Select “Installation,” “System,” or “Channels.”
- Choose “Scan channels,” “Program channels,” “Autoscan,” “Autoprogram,” or “Autotuning.”
- Press “Select,” “Enter,” or “OK” to initiate the scan.
*If these general directions do not apply to your TV, please search online for specific instructions using your television’s make and model.
FAQs
Where can I buy a coax or HDMI cable?
The school bookstore sells HDMI and Coax cables. You can also buy online via Amazon or in-person via Best Buy.
Where can I find the channel line up?
UC Channel Line Up
What if I can’t connect a coax cable to the back of my TV?
Older Televisions: Some older televisions may have a different type of connector, featuring screws instead of the standard round connector on your wall plate. In such cases, an adapter will be required. If you are unsure about the specific adapter needed, please contact Tech Support.
What equipment is required?
Receiving HD Channels:
A QAM tuner is necessary to receive HD channels. To determine if your television includes a QAM tuner, please refer to the specifications provided by your TV manufacturer. Note that less expensive televisions may come with lower quality clear QAM tuners, which might not be able to receive all digital channels. Students with certain TV brands, such as Dynex and Insignia, may encounter these issues. The following list of manufacturer compatibility has been compiled from external sources:
- Dynex: Limited models have a QAM tuner.
- Insignia: Limited models have a QAM tuner.
- LG: Most models since 2007 have a QAM tuner.
- Samsung: All models since 2009 have a QAM tuner (the fifth digit of the model number must be B or a letter beyond B in the alphabet).
- Sony: Most models since 2007 have a QAM tuner.
- Sylvania: Generally do not have QAM tuners.
- Toshiba: Most models since 2007 have a QAM tuner.
- Vizio: Recent models have a QAM tuner.
(data in this list is accurate as of 2/4/2025)
What if my TV does not have a QAM tuner?
You must purchase a digital converter independently to enable your TV to receive all the channels.
I’m not getting all of the channels in the lineup?
Your television may not have a QAM tuner, which is necessary for receiving HD channels. If your TV does include a QAM tuner, please try re-running the channel scan or purchasing a digital converter independently. For additional assistance, contact Tech Support
Who do I contact if I have a problem?
For assistance with cable TV, contact Tech Support.
See Also