Troubleshoot a Digital Sign

Issues

  • My digital sign is blank or shows a black screen.
  • My sign is frozen or is not updating with new content.
  • My sign is showing the wrong content or old content.
  • My display shows a "no signal" or setup screen.
  • My display is showing as offline in Carousel.

Environment

This article applies to Bowdoin faculty and staff who manage a Carousel digital display. Bowdoin displays run on either an Apple TV or a BrightSign media player connected to a screen. Try the steps below before contacting the Service Desk.

Resolution

The screen is blank or shows "no signal"

  1. Confirm the screen is powered on.
  2. Confirm the screen is set to the correct input or source for the media player (for example, the HDMI port the Apple TV or BrightSign is connected to).
  3. Confirm the media player itself has power and its status light is on.

Content is frozen or not updating

  1. Confirm your bulletin is active and scheduled to appear now, not set to a future date or already expired. See the Schedule and Expire Signage Content in Carousel article in the Related Articles section.
  2. Restart the media player:
    • Apple TV: Open Settings, select System, then Restart. If the screen is unresponsive, unplug the Apple TV's power for about 10 seconds, then plug it back in.
    • BrightSign: Unplug the player's power for about 10 seconds, then plug it back in to power-cycle it. Note that most have no independent power supplies. Unplug the network cable and plug it back in to power-cycle it.
Note: After restarting a player, allow a few minutes for it to reconnect to the network and sync the latest content from Carousel before checking again.

The wrong or old content is showing

  1. Confirm you are looking at the correct channel and zone for that display.
  2. Confirm the intended bulletin is active and any outdated bulletins have expired or been removed.
  3. Allow a few minutes for the player to sync the latest content.

The display is offline in Carousel

  1. Confirm the media player has power and a working network connection.
  2. Power-cycle the player using the steps above.
  3. If the display remains offline after a few minutes, contact the Service Desk with the display's location and name.

Additional Help

If you need further assistance, you have several options:

  • Bowdoin Bot: Chat with Bowdoin Bot directly from any KB page for instant answers.
  • Phone: Call the Bowdoin College Service Desk at (207) 725-3030.
  • In person: Visit the Tech Hub in Smith Union during business hours.
  • Submit a ticket: Request assistance through the Service Catalog.

 

 

AI-assisted content: This article was drafted with the assistance of an AI writing tool and reviewed by Bowdoin IT staff for accuracy.
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Related Articles (3)

About Digital Signage (Carousel) at Bowdoin
An overview of digital signage at Bowdoin, powered by the Carousel Cloud platform. Explains what Carousel is, the channels/zones/bulletins model, where campus displays are located, who can publish, and how to get started.
Create and Publish a Bulletin in Carousel
Step-by-step instructions for creating a bulletin in Carousel Cloud from a template, adding content, choosing the zone it appears in, and publishing it to a Bowdoin digital display. Explains that content follows each department's own publishing and approval rules.
Schedule and Expire Signage Content in Carousel
Explains how to schedule when a bulletin appears on a Bowdoin digital display using Carousel's Schedule tab, including running content indefinitely, setting start and end dates, and limiting content to specific days and times. Covers the Upcoming and Expired bulletin statuses.

Related Services / Offerings (2)

Digital Signage
Digital Signage is Bowdoin's service for publishing announcements and content to campus displays through the Carousel platform. Request help with a sign, manage who can publish, or request a new display.
Report a Digital Sign or Carousel Problem
Report a digital sign that is blank, frozen, offline, or showing the wrong content, or get help signing in to or using the Carousel software.