Quick Navigation

Northern Illinois University

Everything Technology Handbook

residence hall room

Cable System for the Residence Halls and NVC

All residence hall rooms and Northern View Community apartments are fitted with an outlet plate containing at least one cable “tap” or outlet connected to the campus cable system. There are 20 FM radio and a minimum of 41 television channels, including some digital channels. For exact number of channels and which channels are available, refer to the website: Housing and Dining - Channel 8 and 20 then

  • Select AV Equipment Support
  • Select Campus Cable System

Information is also available in the Housing and Dining “Guide Post” publication. The connection to each room is always “on” and need not be activated or connected.

Channel 8 (“The Ocho”) is the movie channel for the residence halls and NVC and is sponsored by the Residence Hall Association and Housing and Dining. Movie selections include recent releases and selected classics.

Channel 20 is the Housing and Dining Bulletin Board, which runs continuous announcements of interest to residents. For information about Channel 8, including the current schedule of movies, visit: Housing and Dining - Channel 8 and 20 then

  • Select Channel 8
  • Select Movie Schedule

Residents wishing to use the system need their own TV and a coaxial TV hook-up cable to connect the outlet plate connector to the TV, VCR, or receiver. Most TVs and VCRs provide a cable with the set.

Cable Your Stereo for Additional FM Stations

You will be able to receive more radio stations and stronger signals if you link your stereo to the campus cable system.

If your room has only one cable outlet, you will need a cable splitter that allows you to hook up cables to both your TV and your stereo.

To receive the additional radio stations, you will need to acquire a second coaxial cable (just like the one used to link your TV). You will also need a “Balun Transformer.” Despite the technical name, these are available at many places that sell audio and video equipment. This device has a jack that connects to the coaxial cable and two connectors that attach to your stereo. Link the coaxial cable to the wall outlet and hook the two wire connectors to your stereo’s “External Antenna” inputs.

Common Problems

Cannot receive channels above 13 - New sets or sets unplugged for a time will need to be reprogrammed.

  • Make sure your set is switched to cable tuning and not TV or off-air channel tuning.
  • Consult your operator manual under channel programming.
  • If using auto programming, set to cable or CATV before auto program is started.

Cannot receive channels 4, 5, or 6

  • Check your channel programming for HRC, IRC settings. NIU’s system is set for normal CATV channels.

No reception or very weak reception

  • Check for loose or damaged cables if you have several devices hooked up, such as a video game, etc.
  • Try one good cable hooked directly to the TV’s VHF input before calling for services on the cable outlet.

Nothing works - If, after trying all of the above, you still cannot get a signal from your cable outlet, call the ResTech Helpdesk at 753-6267.