What you'll notice
The screen went black after a settings change or a software update and there is no way to see the menu to change it back.
Why it happens
The decoder is outputting a resolution the TV cannot display. The box is working perfectly — the TV simply cannot show anything, including the menu you would use to fix it.
This is a genuine catch-22 and it panics people: the decoder is fine, the TV is fine, and you cannot see anything to fix it with.
How people get here
- Setting output to 4K/2160p on a 1080p television.
- A software update resetting output to a mode the TV does not support.
- Moving the decoder to an older second TV that cannot handle the resolution the main lounge set was fine with.
The escape route
Every decoder has a front-panel button sequence that forces output back to a safe, universally supported resolution. It is deliberately obscure so it is not triggered accidentally, and it varies by model. Once triggered, the picture returns immediately and you can set a sensible resolution from the menu.
Ring us before doing anything drastic
People factory-reset boxes over this, losing recordings and settings, when a five-second button press would have done it. We will tell you the correct sequence for your model over the phone, free. It is not a callout.
Preventing it
Set output to match the TV, not to the highest number available. On a 1080p set, 1080p is not a compromise — it is the correct setting, and a 4K output that the panel downscales gains you nothing at all.
How we fix it
There is a front-panel reset sequence that returns the decoder to a safe resolution. It differs by model, and we will talk you through the right one for your box over the phone at no charge.
Still not working?
If the checks above haven't restored your hdmi & tv connection, this usually needs a technician. Our TV Wall Mounting service covers exactly this fault — from R520, quoted upfront.