Support - Frequently Asked Questions
General Questions
How long has Coby been in business?

Coby Electronics Corporation was established in 1990. Our headquarters are based in the New York City Metro area.

Can I purchase directly from Coby Electronics?

Coby Electronics does not sell directly to the general public at this time. We sell to retailers, wholesalers, and distributors. We also have a Premium Incentives division, for your Corporate Marketing needs.

Where can I purchase Coby products?

Coby products are available in all major electronics and retail markets throughout the USA. Our products are also distributed internationally as well. For more exact locations, please see our where-to-buy page.

Can I register my product online?

You can register your product on this website. Please use the Product Registration page on the Support section. We would appreciate you filling out the optional information, so we may better serve you.

Where can I find warranty information on my product?

Our warranties are listed under the Warranties page on the Support Section. If you need further information regarding this process, please contact Consumer Care

Can I get a part replaced on my Coby product?

Coby has replacement parts for certain products available. Please contact us to find out about availability and cost.

How do I get technical assistance with my product?

Technical assistance is available via online helpdesk, email or telephone. Also, you can find the email addresses and phone numbers here.

I lost my manual, where can I get a new copy?

You can download the manuals from 'Product Doceumentation' page. If your manual is not listed, please contact our Consumer Care Department for further information.

I lost my remote! How can I purchase accessories or parts for my Coby unit?

Parts or accessories can be purchased through Fox International, please call 800-321-6993 or visit Fox International website.

The rechargeable battery is not holding a full charge.

Try charging the battery overnight (minimum 12 hours). If you are charging the battery over USB, please note that some laptops may stop powering the USB port when it enters Standby or Hibernation mode.

DVD Players
Why is my picture colorless and rolling? What is NTSC/PAL?

There are two different TV and video standards, NTSC and PAL. The United States is NTSC, while many European countries are PAL. Our players are compatible will both systems. If you get a rolling, colorless screen, than most likely you have chosen the wrong TV system. Hit the N/P or NTSC/PAL button on the remote control to adjust.

Why does my picture fade from dark to light?

All DVDs contain Macrovision technology that prevents the taping of DVD discs. By connecting the DVD player through your TV/VCR combo or VCR, the technology is activated and your picture will fade light to dark to distort the picture. If you cannot connect your DVD directly to your TV, please purchase a RF modulator from a local electronics store.

Why am I still getting my TV picture, instead of the DVD movie?

A DVD is not like a VCR, you do not change your TV to channel 3 or 4(unless you are using the RF modulator listed above). You need to change your TV over to Video Input/Auxiliary/Game or AV. To do this you must use your TV remote or be able to access your TV menu. If you are having difficulty changing your TV over to Video mode, then please contact your TV manufacturer for further assistance.

Why can I hear the DVD but my screen is blank or black?

Your DVD player may be set to Progressive Scan mode. To change the unit back to the appropriate mode there are two options according to the buttons on your remote control. If these solutions do not work immediately, turn off both the DVD and the TV for 10 seconds, and then turn back on. Please repeat process if it does not work the first time.

Option A

  1. Turn on your TV.
  2. Make sure your TV is turned to Video mode (AV, Input).
  3. Power on the DVD (DO NOT insert a disc).
  4. Press the PSCAN button on the remote.
  5. Coby loading screen should appear.

Option B

  1. Turn on your TV.
  2. Make sure your TV is turned to Video mode (AV, Input).
  3. Power on the DVD (DO NOT insert a disc).
  4. Press the RETURN button once.
  5. Press the MODE button three times slowly.
  6. Coby loading screen should appear.

Why do I get background noise but not the dialogue?

Your DVD player may be set for 5.1 Channel Audio Output. If you are only connected to a TV, then you will need to change the output to 2 Channel audio. Press the Set Up key on the remote and go to Audio Set Up to make the changes.

How do I connect my DVD player to my TV? VCR? Cable Box or Satellite Dish?

To operate properly your DVD player needs to be connected directly to the TV (usually with the Yellow(video) Red and White(audio) cords). If you cannot connect the DVD player to your TV, please purchase a RF modulator at an electronics store to solve your problem.

What discs can my unit play?

Our outer packaging and instruction manuals list the appropriate discs that your unit can play. If your disc type (DVD-/+R/RW, VCD. SVCD, CD+G etc.)is not listed, then it is not compatible with the player. Repetitive use of an incompatible disc can corrupt the firmware, making the entire unit inoperable.

What does bad disc, error, wrong discs or wrong region mean?

If you get the message "no disc", check to make sure the disc is inserted properly and any markings are face up. "Error" usually means that the player cannot recognize the format of the disc. Check the manual to make sure that the disc is compatible for playing. "Wrong region" means that the disc is a different region code than the player.

  • Region 1 -USA, US territories and Canada
  • Region 2 -Europe, Japan, Middle East, Egypt, South Africa & Greenland
  • Region 3 -Taiwan, S. Korea, Philippines, Indonesia, Hong Kong
  • Region 4 -Mexico, South America, Central America, Australia, New Zealand, Pacific Islands, Caribbean
  • Region 5 -Russia, Eastern Europe, India, most of Africa, N. Korea, Mongolia
  • Region 6 -China

Why am I only getting partial sound from my 5.1 Channel speakers?

During Surround Sound broadcast of a 5.1-formatted disc all the speakers will not play at the same time and the Subwoofer will only transmit during "large" or "big" sounds. If you are listening to a CD or a radio station that is broadcasted in Stereo sound only 2 or 3 speakers may play. To adjust the sound system so all speakers play, change the audio output format to 2 Channel/Stereo or Downmix.

Can I transmit the sound from my TV/VCR/Camcorder/Video Game through the DVD 5.1 Channel Speakers?

If you have a DVD player that came with a Surround Sound System and the player has either Audio Inputs or an auxiliary connection you can connect another piece of AV equipment to the player and the sound will be broadcast through the 5.1 channel speaker system. **Please note that the other item needs to have an Audio OUT connection, so the sound will be redirected out from the (TV), in to the Sound System.

Why will my remote not turn the DVD ON/OFF?

The remote will not turn the unit on or off, that must be done manually but once the unit is on, the remote should work fine, if not then please contact Consumer Care for assistance.

What is the code to program my Universal remote with my Coby DVD player?

There is no code to program our DVD players with your Universal remote, you need to use the remote that came with the player.

CD Players
Why does my player display "no disc" or "error"?

If you get the message "no disc", check to make sure the disc is inserted properly. Any markings should be face up and disc needs to be firmly pressed down on the inner ring. "Error" usually means that the player cannot recognize the format of the disc. Check the manual to make sure that the disc is compatible for playing.

Why does my player display "open" or "hold"?

"Open" display means that the player's door is not closed properly. Check to see if there are any gaps between the door and the unit, check to see if the door is warped. "Hold" displays means that the HOLD function has been turned on and this disc will not play under this function. Check the user's manual to locate the HOLD switch and turn the function to OFF.

What is the rechargeable battery function?

Most Coby CD players and some B/W TVs have a battery rechargeable function. This function allows you to charge NiMh and Ni-Cad batteries. DO NOT try to charge alkaline batteries as they will explode and cause permanent damage to the unit. Insert batteries, plug in AC adapter and turn the switch to charge. Please note to protect your Coby product, if you have the item plugged in with an AC adapter and are not using the charge function, please remove the batteries to prevent overcharging and overheating.

Can I play MP3 discs in my player?

Any Coby player that has a model number that begins MPCD will play MP3 discs. Please note that if your MP3 disc will not play, there could be an error with the format. Make sure all the files have a MP3 extension and are not audio, wma or zip files. Make sure to burn the files at a constant bitrate, 128 is recommended. Separate folders may be used and if given the option to burn "track" or "disc at once" choose disc.

MP3 Players
What is an MP3?

MP3 (short for MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3) is a compressed digital audio file. MP3 files can deliver audio at a quality that nearly matches compact discs (CDs), but are about one-tenth the size of CD-audio.

How can I play an MP3?

MP3s may be played on a wide variety of devices. Devices that may play MP3s are: MP3 Players, Portable Media Players (PMPs), Personal Computers, and DVD Players.

What is an MP3 Player?

MP3 Players are devices (usually portable) that can play back MP3 audio files. Although they are called "MP3 Players", most can play other types of digital audio files (e.g., WMA, OGG, WAV, or AAC). Since modern players can play more than just MP3s, they may also be referred to as Digital Audio Players.
Many MP3 players include other functions such as an FM Radio, Voice Recorder, Photo Viewer, or Video Playback.

Where Can I Get MP3/WMA files?

You may either download MP3 or WMA files from a music download or subscription service, or you may create ("rip") your own MP3/WMA files.

Downloading MP3/WMA Files

There are many online stores or subscription services you may choose to purchase and download music from. Most of these stores employ Windows Media Digital Rights Management (WMDRM) and offer encrypted WMA files for download. Due to the encryption, these files cannot be played on all MP3 Players.

Most COBY MP3 Players can play encrypted WMA files-these players will state so on their packaging. If you are unsure of whether or not your player can play encrypted WMA files, you may visit our website at http://www.cobyusa.com for more information about your player.

Please note that music purchased from Apple's iTunes music store employs their proprietary Fairplay-encrypted AAC; purchased iTunes music cannot be played on any MP3 player other than Apple's.

What is Encryption?

Encryption is a way of protecting media with a unique Content ID for the purpose of data security. In order to access the encrypted media, End Users must acquire a license key and that allows for decryption and playback. Without this license key, encrypted media will not play

Creating MP3/WMA Files

You can create your own digital audio files for personal use by "ripping" your music CDs and converting them to an MP3, WMA, or OGG. To create your own MP3 files, you will need a computer with an application installed that can rip and encode MP3s or WMAs. Windows Media Player 10 is one software application made available by Microsoft that will rip and convert CDs to an MP3 or WMA file.

  • Ripping a CD copies and converts (encodes) the music from the CD to a compressed digital audio file.
  • Converting to MP3 and/or deselecting the "Copy Protect Music" option will ensure the widest playback compatibility of your music files.
  • Please visit www.microsoft.com for more Windows Media Player information and support.
Some COBY MP3 Players have the ability to create MP3 files without a computer; please see your player's documentation or visit www.cobyusa.com for information about our lineup of MP3 players.

How Do I Rip My Music CDs Using Windows Media Player 10?

  1. Start the Windows Media Player 10 (WMP10) application. (If it is not installed on your computer, you will have to download and install the program from www.microsoft.com).
  2. Insert your music CD into your computer's CD-ROM drive.
  3. Click the "Rip" tab.
  4. Set the appropriate options, and then click "Rip Music" to begin the ripping process.
  5. The converted file will be saved to your "My Music" folder unless you have specified otherwise.
Please visit www.microsoft.com for more Windows Media Player information and support.

How Do I Transfer MP3/WMA Music Files to my MP3 Player?

When your MP3 Player is connected to a computer, you may transfer music files to your MP3 player using your operating system's basic file management commands (i.e., copy-and-paste or drag-and-drop). Please refer to your computer's documentation for more information and support. If you have Windows Media Player installed on your computer (or another, similar program), you may choose to use its media management functions to transfer your files.

  • COBY MP3 Players with USB-MTP support will enable the advanced media management functions of Windows Media Player.
  • Please visit www.microsoft.com for more Windows Media Player information and support.

How Do I Play Music Purchased Online on my MP3 Player?

Music files you have downloaded from online stores (e.g., Napster, MusicNow, URGE, Walmart.com, and Y! Music) are encrypted with WMDRM and will play only on MP3 players with WMDRM support. In addition to an MP3 player with WMDRM support:

  • To transfer and play purchased music, you will need Windows Media Player 9 or newer.
  • To transfer and play subscription music, you will need Windows XP and Windows Media Player 10 or newer.

Common Errors Associated with DRM-Encrypted Music Files

Please refer to following questions.

Why is my MP3 player not recognizing the files I have transferred to it?

If your MP3 Player does not display or recognize the files you have transferred to it, the files may not be of a type supported by the player. Make sure your music files are in MP3 or WMA format.

Why is my MP3 player skipping a file?

The file may be corrupt. Download or transfer the file to your player again. The file that is being skipped may be DRM-encrypted. If your license has expired, you will not be able to play this file.

If you believe your license has expired prematurely, please contact the store or service from which you have downloaded this file for support.

Why is my MP3 player displaying the error message "NO AUTHORITY"?

The player may be trying to read a file that is DRM-encrypted. If your license has expired, you will not be able to play this file.

If you believe you are receiving this message in error, please contact the store or service from which you have downloaded this file for support.

How do I transfer and play iTunes files on my MP3 Player?

Music purchased from Apple's iTunes music store employs their proprietary Fairplay-encrypted AAC format. Purchased iTunes music cannot be played on any MP3 player other than Apple's. However, MP3 files may be transferred from iTunes to your MP3 player. Please see the iTunes documentation for more information and support.

How do I remove music files or videos from my MP3 player?

Connect the USB cable to your MP3 player, then hook the other end to a free USB port on your computer. Double-click on the MP3 player’s icon to view the music files stored to memory. Scroll through the list of files until you find the ones that you wish to delete. Click on single items you wish to delete. Right-click on the highlighted files to pull down an action list and from there select -Delete. The computer will ask if you really want to throw the file away. Select OK. Exit from the window, then disconnect the USB cable from the MP3 player. The player will automatically turn off. The memory will update the first time you turn the player on after deleting songs.

Telephones
Why is the Caller ID not functioning?

Make sure you have signed up for Caller ID service through your local phone company. If you are receiving "data error" make sure you have gone through the set up process of language, time, date, and area code.

Why do I get an "out-of-range" message?

If an "out-of range" message appears it is because you have left the frequency area allowed from the base to the phone. This message will sometimes appear if the battery is low. If this message appears under a different circumstance then please contact Consumer Care.

What do I use the data-port for?

The data port on the phone is an additional connection provide for dial up computer access.

Televisions
Why didn't the TV come an AC adapter?

Please check the battery compartment of the TV for the adapter.

How do I get better reception on my 5" TV?

For better TV reception, please purchase an external antenna or connect the TV to an existing external antenna.

Why does the Television shut off?

The reason the Television shuts off is because it is not receiving any incoming signal. Please perform the initial auto-scan setup.

What is the universal code for my Television?

If you are a DirecTV or Cox subscriber, you may sync a universal remote to your television using code 1548 or 11548.

These codes are for use with the following Coby television models:
TFTV1022, TFTV1212, TFTV1513, TFTV1514, TFTV1524, TFTV1913, TFTV1923, TFTV2214, TFTV2224, TFTV2617, TFTV3217, TFTV3717, TFTV4717

If the codes do not work, or if you are not a DirecTV or Cox customer, the universal remote control manufacturer is responsible for creating and embedding a Coby-compatible code in the remote control. Please contact your cable carrier or the universal remote control manufacturer for assistance.

Why do I get only static on my Television?

The static means that you need to perform the initial auto channel scan on your Television or the reception signal is very weak in your area. If you are using an over the air rabbit ears antenna, move the antenna and the Television to a different area in the room.

Why does my Television show "No Data"?

Make sure your Television is set to the correct broadcast signal (Air or Cable). Also, check the cable to make sure it is connected properly.

Why can't I change the "Time Zone" on my Television?

This feature is only available for over-the-air signal. If you're Television "Antenna" setting is cable, then you wont be about to change the time zone unless the setting is set to AIR for over-the-air signal.

Why does the Television show the wrong channel identification?

The reason for this is because the incoming cable line has a weak signal or a faulty splitter.

Why does the remote works intermittent?

The reason for this could be that the battery needs to be replaced and the remote control needs to be pointed directly where the power indicator light is located.

What can I do to improve the picture quality on the Television?

The picture quality on analog channels will not have a huge improvement regardless of which cables you are using. The best solution would to tune to the high definition channels. Please keep in mind analog channels will be terminated in the near future.

Digital Photo Frames
Problems running VividShare software

Models affected:  DP500, DP710/712/714, DP850/852/854, DP1042  

If you are having problems running Vividshare in Windows XP, please make sure that you have an account with administrator privileges. To confirm that you have an administrator account, click on Start -> Settings -> Control Panel, then open "User Accounts."   

If you are having problems running Vividshare in Windows Vista, please take the following steps:  
 
You must have an account with administrator privileges. If you are not sure whether you have an administrator account, open the Control Panel and click on "User Accounts and Family Safety." Select 'User Accounts ' to view your account name. Your privilege level is listed below your user account name.   If you are not an administrator, click on "Change your account type" to set your account to administrator level.  You may need to supply the username and password of the account in order to change the level of the account. If you do not have this information, please contact your system administrator. 
 
  After you set the administrator level for your user account, an "Autoplay" window may appear. If it does, click on "Run Vividshare.exe" to start the software. 
 
  In some cases, another window may appear which says, "An unidentified program wants access to your computer". The name of the program will be listed as  "Vividshare.exe". If this window appears, click on "Allow" to complete the software launch. 
 
  If you have successfully launched Vividshare, but are having problems creating a slideshow file, please take the following steps:   

  • Close the Vividshare software.
  • From the Windows/Start menu, click on Computer.
  • On the right side of the window, under "Devices with Removable Storage", right-click on "Vividshare" and select "Explore."
  • Find the file called "Vividshare" and right-click on it.  Select "Properties" from the menu.
  • Click on the Compatibility tab.
  • At the bottom, under "Privilege Level", check the box next to "Run this program as an administrator."
  • Restart the Vividshare software and retry.
  •  
If none of the above steps work, create a new user account with administrator privileges and retry.