Troubleshooting Basic Audio/Visual (AV) Outages

This article is designed to assist with troubleshooting the initial basic steps of determining the cause of an Audio/Visual (AV) Outage.

Overview

The following is the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for checking in on the status of the Audio/Visual (AV) Hardware within a given space (Classroom, Auditorium, Event Hall, etc..)

In this article:

• Checking the status of an AV Rack.
• What to do if you notice an issue.

Resources

• When inspecting Audio/Visual Equipment on campus, it is important to take into consideration that all equipment requires Power to function via a Power Outlet or Power over Ethernet (PoE), and typically all the equipment is Networking based to either an Ethernet Port on a Cisco Networking Switch or direct connection to a Wall Port. If either of these two fundamentals are experiencing issues, then you will find an outage within the room.
• Search for Warning Lights or Errors on any displays, such as Amber Lights on any Extron branded equipment or triggered Alarm Codes on BiAmp devices. These devices are subject to change over time, though this condition will largely apply to all devices.

Procedure

1. Check the AV Rack for incoming Power.
   1. This includes confirming the Wall Outlet is providing power, as well as that all Power Switches and Conditioners for the Rack are set to the ON State.
2. Check that all Cables are terminated, with no loose connections or exposed wiring.
3. Ensure that all Status Lights are solid colored, with Green Lights being the standard for correct functional operation.
   1. Differing brands may use different methods for displaying functionality or error status. Consult the AV Engineer if you are uncertain of the current situation.
4. Should you find a device in an Error State, record what equipment and model are experiencing the issue first.
5. Power Cycle the AV Rack, then wait for all devices to turn back on.
6. Check the original device for the same Error State.
   1. If the Error State disappears, confirm functionality of the system.
   2. If the Error State persists, consider raising the issue to the AV Engineer via a ticket.
7. Once functionality has been confirmed, you are now ready to begin using the AV System as normal.

Next Steps

If you are still experiencing AV issues and need immediate support, please reach out for further support in the event of an outage.

• Please contact the IT Department and request assistance in the form of a dispatch to our AV Engineer. Dispatch events potentially can carry a charge for expedited support.
  • 907-786-4646: Option 1