1. Why am I having problems getting the BUZZER SETUP to work?
2. The DVD game froze and is not advancing. What should I do?
3. During a game I pushed a button on my JEOPARDY! buzzer, but it didn’t respond to a clue. Why?
4. Is my JEOPARDY! Game System compatible with all DVD players?
5. I buzzed in, but the TV screen did NOT display my multiple-choice answers. What should I do?
6. During gameplay, how close should I sit to the DVD game system?
7. Can room lights or sunlight interfere with the IR signals?
8.Why won’t my DVD game start from the beginning when I insert the disc into my DVD player?
9. Why did my DVD game lose my score?
10. If I leave the JEOPARDY! Game Base on, will it drain the batteries?
14. Where can I get additional help with my JEOPARDY! DVD Game System?
1. Why am I having problems getting the BUZZER SETUP to work?
Check for the following:
When you’re doing the BUZZER SETUP with your DVD remote, are you seeing the “Press Again” prompt on your TV screen?
NO -- I’m NOT seeing the Press Again prompt. Click here
(or scroll down to Steps A and B below for help.)
YES -- I’m seeing the Press Again prompt. Click here
(or scroll down to Steps C, D & E for help.)
(Note: Please be sure to also watch the Buzzer Setup video on the homepage)
Step A
If you’re NOT seeing the “Press Again” prompt, make sure your DVD player’s closed-captioning (CC) feature is enabled (i.e., it’s set to “ON”). To turn on, or enable, closed-captioning, use your DVD player’s remote control to go into your DVD player’s setup menu. The button on the remote is usually labeled as SETUP or MENU.
The location of the Closed Caption feature varies between DVD players. It might be in the General Setup menu, the DVD Options menu, or sometimes in Audio Options. It can be referred to as “Closed Captions”, “Captions” or simply “CC”. If you’re having trouble locating the closed-caption feature, you may need to consult your DVD player’s owner’s manual for more information.
Remember: Closed Captions are different than Subtitles, please don’t confuse the two. Also, if your TV has Closed Captions that doesn’t mean your DVD player has them as well.
Your DVD player must have closed-captioning capability in order to play the Jeopardy! DVD game system.
Step B
My DVD player’s closed-captioning feature is definitely on, but I’m still NOT seeing the “Press Again” prompt during the buzzer setup. Why not?
You may not be holding your DVD player’s remote control close enough to the window on the game base. You must hold it an inch or less from the window. In most cases, you can actually have the front of your DVD player’s remote touching the game base window.
Please Note: When prompted to press the “Chapter Skip” button (>>| sometimes called the “Next” button) on your DVD remote, be sure to point the remote at your DVD player. This is the only time during the buzzer setup process that you should point your remote away from the game base.
YES, I am seeing the “Press Again” prompt, but the buzzer setup keeps failing and displays the message: “Remote Setup Error Detected”.
Step C
Check to see if you’ve properly positioned the DVD control wire on the front of your DVD player and that you’ve plugged the wire into your game base. Make sure the wirehead (the mouse-like end of the control wire) is near your player’s infrared (IR) sensor but is NOT blocking the sensor. Also, make sure the wirehead is pointing in the proper direction. (See Quick Start Guide)
Step D
You may be pressing and holding your DVD remote’s buttons too long. With most DVD remotes, you’ll need to press and release the buttons quickly. Try to press the button ONCE and then wait for the prompt. Pressing the buttons more than once per prompt might cause errors.
Note: A few DVD remotes require pressing & holding the button slightly longer – up to a second. You may need to experiment a little, but when the “Press Again” prompt appears, you’ll know you’re pressing the buttons correctly.
Step E
When prompted, make sure to hold your DVD player’s remote control an inch or less from the window on the game base. In most cases, you can actually have the front of your DVD player’s remote touching the game base window.
Note: Once the JEOPARDY! DVD Game System is programmed, you no longer need to use your DVD player’s remote control during the game. The handheld buzzers control the gameplay!
If all the above steps (A through E) have been accounted for, and you’re still experiencing problems with the buzzer setup, check for the following:
F) Is the game base in the “ON” position? A glowing light on the game base indicates it is “ON”.
G) Are the room lights too bright? If the room lights are too bright or if a bright light source is near the DVD player, it may interfere with the game base’s infrared (IR) signals. Dim the lights to ensure optimal performance.
H) While performing the buzzer setup, on some DVD players you may need to hold the DVD remote control further away (2-3 inches) from the game base.
I) Is the DVD scratched or dirty? Clean the DVD with a soft cloth, gently moving from the inside of the DVD outward.
2. The DVD game froze and is not advancing. What should I do?
For a quick solution, point your DVD remote control at your DVD player and press the ENTER or PLAY button. If the problem persists, check the placement of your DVD control wire and redo the buzzer setup.
3. During a game I pushed a button on my Jeopardy! buzzer, but it didn’t respond to a clue. Why?
If the game system doesn’t respond to the buzzer(s), it may be the result of the following:
A) The JEOPARDY! Game Base is not properly programmed or you may not have fully completed the buzzer setup. (See #1 for troubleshooting the buzzer setup). To remedy this, you’ll need to reset the game system by unplugging the DVD control wire from the back of the game base, turning off your DVD player, and then restarting it. When the DVD player takes you to the setup menu, plug the DVD control wire back into the game base and proceed to the buzzer setup.
B) Your index finger is blocking the infrared (IR) transmitter on the buzzer – keep your index finger in the notch on the buzzer. Also, for optimal performance point the buzzer in the general direction of the JEOPARDY! Game Base.
C) Players are repeatedly pushing the ENTER (red) button on their buzzers before the “Buzz In Now” prompt appears. Buzzing in too often or too early may jam the IR signal. Players must wait until the prompt appears.
D) A person or object blocked the IR signal when it was sent from your buzzer. Keep a clear path from the buzzer to the game base.
E) The batteries in the buzzer and the game base are old or improperly installed. Replace old batteries and install them correctly.
4. Is my JEOPARDY! Game System compatible with all DVD players?
Our DVD game is compatible with most DVD players. Occasionally, due to variations in DVD player standards, they may NOT be compatible with portable DVD players, TV units containing a built-in DVD player, or personal computers. Also, some DVD players may display the Jeopardy! clues and answers faster than others. This may be due to variations in the disc seek times of DVD players.
5. I buzzed in, but the TV screen did NOT display my multiple-choice answers. What should I do?
Point your DVD remote control at your DVD player, press the remote’s DOWN ARROW, and the multiple-choice answers should display onscreen. Then answer as you normally would using your JEOPARDY! buzzer(s). (If this occurs repeatedly, please consult #3.)
6. During gameplay, how close should I sit to the DVD game system?
Although the DVD game system has a range of up to 25 feet, optimal infrared (IR) signal performance is 6 to 12 feet from the DVD player.
7. Can room lights or sunlight interfere with the IR signals?
Yes, it’s possible. If the room lights are too bright or if a bright light source is near the DVD player, it may interfere with the game base’s infrared (IR) signals. Dim the lights to ensure optimal performance.
8.Why won’t my DVD game start from the beginning when I insert the disc into my DVD player?
This may be the result of a memory function in some DVD players. To clear the memory, press STOP twice, EJECT the disc, and turn the player OFF before playing the disc again. You also may be able to turn off the memory function in your DVD player’s setup menu. (Please refer to your DVD player’s manual for more information.)
9. Why did my DVD game lose my score?
Pressing stop, ejecting a disc, or turning the DVD player or game base off will erase the saved status or current score of the game. Press stop or eject ONLY when you are finished playing with the DVD game.
10. If I leave the JEOPARDY! Game Base on, will it drain the batteries?
If the JEOPARDY! Game Base is left on, it will drain the batteries. To extend battery life, turn the game base to the OFF position when not in use. Press the ON/OFF button on the front panel until the light no longer glows. The batteries in the game base should last approximately 8-10 hours. (Note: When the sound or the onscreen image starts distorting (i.e., lines appear or the image goes dark), replace the game base’s 4 AA batteries with new ones.)
11. Do I need to reprogram the JEOPARDY! Game Base when I change batteries or when I change DVD players?
If the batteries are removed for longer than one minute, you may need to reprogram the game base. Simply follow the onscreen instructions to reprogram. If you change DVD players, you will need to reprogram the game base.
12. My DVD player is set up to output either COMPONENT VIDEO or HDMI. Is it compatible with the JEOPARDY! Game System?
If your current DVD player is set up to output either COMPONENT VIDEO or HDMI, please consult your owner's manual on how to reset your player to COMPOSITE VIDEO OUT.
13. Why is my DVD skipping?
Dirt, dust or other particles may be affecting your DVD player’s performance. Clean the DVD disc with a soft, non-abrasive cloth. Wipe in straight lines from the center of the disc, outward to the edge.
14. Where can I get additional help with my JEOPARDY! DVD Game System?
Please consult the Jeopardy! help website (www.mgae.com/jeopardyhelp/) for the latest troubleshooting tips, videos, and email help. Call 1-800-222-4685 for customer service.