Facililties with Technology: Smart Classrooms Troubleshooting Tips

Topics/areas include:

• Accessibility: Closed Captioning
• Audio-related
• Computer-related
• Connectivity-related (to Internet and/or LAN drives)
• Document camera-related
• DVD-related
• Laptop-related
• Monitor-related
• Mouse-related (wireless and wired mice)
• Projector-related
• Remote-related
• VCR-related

Issue:
I need to turn on Closed Captioning (CC) -- how do I do that?

Try this:
For videotapes and VCR's:
First of all, your video tape must include closed captioning. If you know that it does, check to see if your VCR unit has a Closed Captioning Device/Switch attached to it and switch it to the "On" position. (Note: not all Smart Classrooms have a Closed Captioning device).

For Toshiba's D-VR650 Unit and DVD's:
First of all, your DVD must have closed captioning on it. If you know that is does, you can use the DVD's Menu feature to select Closed Captioning.

The Toshiba D-VR650 has the capability to decode and display the digital closed captioned programs:

• Press Setup
• Go under the General category
• Select CC(DTV) from General

• Select the desired closed caption mode; you can customize the closed caption display characteristics by changing the background color, text size, opacity, type, edge, and color.
  
  Notes:
  • This feature is available for digital channels only.
  • If the program is not closed captioned, no captions will display on the screen.
  • The closed captioning cannot be recorded
  • Do not se the "Text Color" and "Background Color" as the same color

Issue:
I need to request closed captioning to be set up -- what do I need to do?

Try this:
Contact Student Academic Services, who will then funnel the request to the A/V Department. A/V gets a list of classrooms each semester from SAS with the needs for closed captioning . They then re-install closed caption devices where needed.

Note: The new Epson 822p projector has closed caption built in. So if you are using that projector, you don't need to pursue the SAS route.

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Issue:
I can not get sound to play from the computer.

Try this:
If your Smart Classroom setup includes an amplifier, be sure it's on and its volume setting for Computer is up high enough -- and has the Master volume set high enough as well. Some amplifiers have mute buttons -- so be sure the amp you are using is not muted.

Then be sure that your system's audio setting is turned on and has a high enough volume setting assigned to it. See Start > Settings > Control Panel > Sounds and Audio Devices:

 

Issue:
Sound clip from a Web site is not playing properly. It worked fine in his office. It is a ".au" audio clip, and worked fine in QuickTime, but the computer in this smart CR wants to use Windows Media Player

Try this:
You can right click on the Web page item and choose save target as
Then open with QuickTime to play.

Issue:
Cannot get sound to play

Try this:
Be sure the amplifier is turned on.

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Note:

• Faculty, staff and students:
  • Should log in with their username and passphrase
    
    
• Guest lecturers can log in using:
  • Username: visitor
  • Passphrase: calvincollege[2 digit year]
    (for example calvincollege08, calvincollege09....)

(Note: The visitor login does not map any network drives and does not have printing rights. If you need to access network drives and/or print, you should login with your own username.)

Issue:
Cannot get computer source to project.

Try this:
Make sure the projector is set to display the computer source. Some projectors will have a "Source" button that you press until it displays the computer source. On others that have multiple choices, select Comp1 for the desktop computer (or Comp2 if you are using your own laptop).

If there is an A/B switchbox present, make sure the box is set to A for the desktop computer or B for your own lapptop.

Issue:
The PC is frozen/locked.

Try this:
Restart the computer by pressing the power button for at least 10 seconds (this is called a "forced reboot").

Issue:
Cannot login to the Mac.

Try this:
Enter the name of the room as the username (ex. DH112, DC120) and leave the password blank. If this does not work, force restart the computer and it will login automatically as it reboots.

Issue:
Your H: drive is not showing up on computer.

Try this:
Try rebooting the system -- either via a cold boot (where you turn everything completely off) and/or a warm boot (where you restart the workstation).

If you are seeing the H: for another user, log off and then back in using your own username.

If you have connected a USB or some other device to the computer, unplug it and then restart the computer with it unplugged.

Issue:
The Mac monitor is on the wrong resolution

Try this:
Go to Apple menu > System Prefs > Displays > and change the resolution. (1024 x 768 for example)

Issue:
The monitor is not on.

Try this:
Turn the switch box -- if present -- to Desktop.

Check the power plug to the monitor. Be sure the monitor's on/off button or switch is set to the "On" position. If this is a laptop, there may be a Function key combination (such as Fn + F4) that you need to press again.

Issue:
The display is not being detected for the projector on the Mac.

Try this: Try detecting the displays (System Preferences > Monitors/Displays)

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Issue:
Cannot connect to the network. Tree or Server not found.

Try this:
Check the network cable -- it is probably unplugged.

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Issue:
The document camera (i.e. the Elmo) is not working properly.

Try this:
Check the connections and recycle the power. Make sure the switch box is set to Document Camera.

Issue:
I cannot get the document camera to display.

Try this:
Be sure that the projector is turned on and then set the projector to display the correct source. Make sure the switch box is set to Document Camera.

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Issue:
How do I play a DVD?

Try this:
To control the DVD player, use the remote labeled DVD. Point the remote directly at the DVD player. To project on the screen, press the S-Video, Video2, or Source select button on the projector remote (this will depend on the model of the projector in the room, refer to the flip book on the desk if you are not sure).

To use the Toshiba DVR650 unit -- which has both a DVD and VCR built into it:

• Press OPEN/CLOSE to open the disc tray
• Place a disc onto the disc tray with the label side up
• Press OPEN/CLOSE to close the disc tray
• Press PLAY to start playback

Issue:
No signal from DVD

Try this:
Make sure the power is on for the DVD unit. Check that the correct source is selected. Finally, remember that you can play many DVD's on the computer as well. Try that route if all else fails w/ the DVD unit.

Issue:
Can not play DVD on the PC or Mac.

Try this:
Try playing the DVD in the DVD player. Be sure to change the Source that's being projected via pressing the appropriate button on the projector's remote.

If the DVD is not Region 1, make sure you are in a language/multi-region classroom.

Issue:
Can not play DVD on the DVD player.

Try this:
Try playing the DVD via the PC or Mac. Be sure to change the Source that's being projected via pressing the appropriate button on the projector's remote.

If the DVD is not Region 1, make sure you are in a language/multi-region classroom.

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Issue:
How do I hook my laptop up so that it displays via the projector?

Try this:
Before you turn on the laptop or projector, connect your laptop to the 3 cables that are each labeled, "laptop". One connects to the projector, one for the speakers and one to the network:

• Projector:
  Plug the VGA cable into the VGA port on your laptop (note: if you have a Mac you will need an adapter to use the VGA connection)
  
  
• Speakers/Audio:
  Plug the audio cable into the speaker on your laptop (in the diagram below, it's the cable w/ an 1/8" plug that has the words "Laptop sound" next to it)
  
  
• Network Connection:
  Plug the network cable into the network port on your laptop.

Next, turn on your laptop and then turn on the projector. Press the button on the projector remote that will project your laptop screen (depending on the projector and remote, it could be Comp2, Computer 2, the Source select button, or the Source Search button, refer to the flip book on the desk if you are not sure).

(Note: If you are connecting a Mac laptop, you may need the short VGA adaptor cable that came with your laptop.)

Issue:
I need assistance getting my presentation -- which is running on my laptop -- to project. Right now, the projector isn't displaying anything from my laptop.

Try this:
Set projector to the laptop source. Press the correct set of keys on your laptop to send the signal to the projector (be sure to wait at least 10 seconds for the signal to come through. If not, press that set of keys again):

Apple*: F7	Fujitsu: Fn+F10	NEC: Fn+F3
HP: Fn + F4	Toshiba: Fn + F5	Sony: Fn + F7
IBM: Fn + F7	Epson: Fn + F8	Dell: Fn+F8

* If you have a Mac laptop that will not project, try restarting the laptop to reconnect to the projector source.

Issue:
I need to hook up a laptop connection so that it projects via the ceiling-based projector.

Try this:
The solution for this varies depending upon the laptop...but try pressing the Fn key associated with projecting the image from your laptop to an external display or projector as well. For example, on the IBM ThinkPad, this is the Fn + F7 key.

Issue:
Could not get sound from the laptop connection

Try this:
Try testing the sound from the workstation first, to be sure sound is working. If so, the problem could be with your laptop - test the jack with a pair of headphones or in a different classroom. Make sure the amplifier is turned on and the laptop source is not muted or turned all the way down. Make sure the audio is not muted on the laptop.

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Issue:
Cannot get monitor to turn on. Computer seems to be on.

Try this:
Check the A/B switch box if present.

Check the monitor's on/off button or switch.

Finally, be sure the power strip has not been accidently turned off.

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Issue:
The Gyration Optical Air Mouse (also called a Gryo Mouse) is not working.

Try this:
Make sure the battery is charged and the charger was plugged in. The charger cradle should show a blue light when the mouse is resting on it and the power is plugged in. When the mouse is adequately charge, a green light will appear on the top above the scroll wheel when you press any button or move the mouse around if placed on the desk.

If the mouse is charged, "retrain" or synchronize the mouse and its radio-frequency (RF)-based receiver.

To re-synch the mouse and its RF receiver, follow these steps:

1. Ensure the mouse is fully charged.
2. Be sure the RF receiver has been plugged into an available USB port and power on your computer. Your operating system should detect the new hardware device and initiate the installation procedure. Continue to follow the standard USB device installation onscreen prompts until installation is complete.
3. Press and hold the Connect button on the receiver for two seconds, and then release it. The Connect light will blink rapidly, indicating the receiver is in “Connect Mode.”
4. Press and release the Connect button located on the bottom of the mouse handset. The Connect light on the receiver will stop blinking and remain lit.

Battery Tips

• For optimal battery life, avoid using the mouse on dark-colored surfaces.
  
• When the battery drops to approximately twenty percent (20%) of its full charge, the LED Indicator light on the mouse will blink intermittently when in use. To optimize the performance of your NiMH battery, it is best to always be sure to put the mouse back in its re-charging unit. (This also makes that mouse available for the next faculty member using that room.)
  
• If a full charge is not required, you can remove the mouse from the charging cradle at anytime. You do not need to wait for the LED Indicator light to stop flashing.
• To conserve power, the mouse enters a “Sleep Mode” when it is left on for more than 24 hours. To awake from Sleep Mode, click any button.

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Question:
Is it possible to freeze what is shown projected or show two different things on the monitor and projection screen?

Answer:
If the projector remote has a "mute" button, this will black out the projected image so you can do things on the computer screen without having to turn off the projector or have the students see what's being done on the computer.

The extended display option (which allows you to do two totally separate things) on each screen does not work on our classroom computers. This is because the projector is not connected to the computer as a display, rather there is a splitter that splits the image from the computer to the computer's monitor and to the projector. This is possible if the projector connects directly into the computer, but that is not how our Smart Classrooms are configured.

Issue:
Cannot get computer to project.

Try this:
Make sure the correct source has been selected using the projector remote. If there is an A/B switch box make sure it is set to "A" for the desktop or "B" for a personal laptop.

Issue:
The projector just blinks red lights but does not project.

Try this:
Your projector is probably stuck in a sleep mode. You will need to unplug the projector power cable and restart it for it to work. If you cannot reach or are uncomfortable doing this, please call the HelpDesk.

Issue:
The projector won't turn off.

Try this:
The projector may have froze; the projectors tend to do this because they have long startup and shutdown cycles. If someone tries to turn it off before the startup cycle is finished, or clicks "off" twice on accident, the projector can freeze. Unfortunately the only solution when this happens is to turn it off at the source (if possible, or if not possible, contact the HelpDesk at x68555).

and/or

Check the remote control -- is it turned off? If so, turn it on using the power switch and then try things again. If you continue to experience difficulties, or this did not fix the problem, please contact the HelpDesk.

Issue:
Projector won't power on.

Try this:
If the projector is an Epson, try unplugging the power then plugging it back in (if possible; or if not possible, contact the HelpDesk at x68555). Check to see if the projector remote has its own on/off switch and needs to be switched on to control the projector.

Try standing directly in front or behind the projector but not underneath it.

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Issue:
Projector does not respond to remote

Try this:
Be sure to aim the procter's remote directly at the projector. You may need to get directly in front of the projector (but not underneath it).

Some remotes have an "R/C" switch on the side of them. Make sure the switch is in the "on" position.

Also, the batteries on the remote could be dead. Contact the HelpDesk (x6-8555) for replacement batteries.

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Issue:
How do I use the VCR?

Try this:
To control the VCR, use the remote labeled VCR. (NOTE: If the room has a Mitsubishi Projector, the VCR controls are at the bottom of the projector remote.) Point the remote directly at the VCR. To project on the screen press the Video or Video 1 source button on the projector remote (or use the Source Search button on the new Epson PowerLite 822p remote.)

Issue:
VCR is not working/projecting.

Try this:
Check to be sure that you've selected the correct "source" for your projector (i.e. computer 1, computer 2, etc.).

Sometimes the VCR won't display/project onto the screen until you put a tape in and hit Play; then change the source on the projector to Video 1. It sees a signal then and will display properly.

Be sure the channel is on "AV" -- which is near channel "01".

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