Frequently Asked Questions
Top Questions
- Why can't I connect to an access point?
- Make sure your network's wireless access point, gateway, or router is powered on.
- If your wireless connection is encrypted you'll need to find out what the passphrase is.
- Make sure your router is broadcasting an SSID (wireless network name). If it isn't you'll need to manually enter an access point.
- If you're on the "Network connection failed" screen, tap BACK and try that step again. It won't always connect the first time, so repeat that step a few times if necessary.
- Try turning your chumby off and turning it back on again. Your chumby always tries to locate network connections during start-up.
- Move your chumby closer to the access point (or your access point closer to your chumby) to see if it improves the signal strength.
- If your access point has MAC address filtering enabled, you'll need to provide your chumby's MAC address to your access point. Learn about MAC address filtering.
- Why does my chumby keep losing its connection?
- Move your chumby closer to the access point (or your access point closer to your chumby) to see if it improves the signal strength.
- Other wireless devices (like cordless phones) can interfere with the signal; try moving them to a different location.
- Can I use my chumby at the office?
Many workplaces have network security systems that are complex and may prevent wireless devices like the chumby from connecting. If the wireless security is anything other than WEP, WPA personal or WPA2 personal the chumby won't work. Talk to your network administrator if you're thinking about getting a chumby to use at work.
- How do I control the widgets that I see?
- To change the widgets that appear, you first need to be a registered user and logged in to www.chumby.com.
- Select My Chumby from the top navigation bar and then select My Channels from the dropdown menu.
- If you've just logged in, the Default channel will be selected. You can either add widgets to this channel or click on the "add a channel" link to create a new channel.
- Click on a category under "categories" and you'll see a list of widgets in the box to the right.
- Click on a widget under "widgets" and you'll see a description and preview of that widget to the right.
- Click on the Add Widget button and that widget will be added to your channel.
- Drag and drop widgets to change their play order. Each widget also has an option to customize, remove or send.
- When you're done adding widgets, select My Chumby from the top navigation bar. On the My Chumby Dashboard page is the option to "Select a channel" — choose the channel you just created from the dropdown menu to play it on your chumby.
- How do I change how long a widget appears?
Each widget has a "customize" link. Click on it to edit the length of time a widget stays up. If the widget has other configurable aspects, they'll also be shown here.
One of the options for length of time is "forever." How "forever" works depends on the widget. Widgets that have the default value of "forever" are usually videos, animations or games. If you start the widget, it will play as long as it needs to until it's completed. If you don't engage the widget, then the next widget will play after 30 seconds has elapsed. In the case of videos, animations or games, "forever" really means "as long as needed to finish."
If a widget's default time is not "forever" but you set it to "forever," then it will actually play forever — it's the equivalent of using the Stay feature on the control panel.
- What are channels?
The channels on a chumby are like channels on a TV: they show a specific "line-up" of programs. The difference is that you choose the programs you want to see, in the order you want to see them, and for the length of time you decide. There is no limit to the number of channels you can create, or the number of widgets you put in a channel.
- I added a widget — why won't it show up?
The chumby checks every 5-10 minutes to see if you've made any changes to the loaded channel. If you've added a widget and it's not appearing, squeeze the top of the chumby to open the control panel and then tap CHANNEL. Highlight the channel you're currently playing and then tap RELOAD to reload the channel. If the widget still won't appear try turning off your chumby and turning it back on.
- How do I clean my chumby?
To clean the touchscreen:
- Dampen a clean, non-scratching cloth with water or with a mild glass cleaner that contains no alcohol or ammonia.
- Wipe the screen. Do not spray liquid directly on the screen.
To clean the housing: For chumbys with a leather housing, use a cleaner designed to be used on leather (there are a variety of commercially available leather cleaners). Avoid using colored cleaning clothes, as the dye in the fabric may transfer onto your chumby.
- Why are there widgets in my channels that I didn't add?
These are special Chumby Network widgets from Chumby Industries (like tips on how to use your chumby) and from partners with offers on music, games, movie previews, new products, and more. Sharing these promotional widgets with you is how the Chumby Network stays FREE.
If you delete a promotional widget, another one will be delivered in its place.
- Can the chumby run on a battery?
Because it's always on, the chumby must be plugged in to an AC outlet. Unlike phones or other portable devices, the chumby does not spend any time in "sleep" mode, so a battery would not be able to power the 3.5" color touchscreen for very long. The chumby takes less than 30 seconds to power up so you can still move it from room to room with little downtime.
- Why did the Special Options screen appear?
Sometimes the Special Options screen will appear if your chumby detects something unusual during the start-up process. If you didn't force this screen to appear and just want to continue, select RESTART TO NORMAL OPERATION to restart your chumby in normal mode.
