1
Getting Started with the Explorer
8000 and 8000HD DVR
User Guide
2
Welcome!
With the Explorer® 8000™
Digital Video Recorder (DVR),
you can easily record your
favorite programs and then
play them back anytime. The
built-in DVR and PictureIn-Picture (PIP) features
give you complete control,
convenience, and choice
when watching TV. Use your
DVR to control the following
features...
Control live TV
The telephone is ringing and you do not want to miss any scenes of your
favorite live TV program. DVR lets you PAUSE the live program, or REWIND
and PLAY a portion of it again, or FAST-FORWARD it to catch up to live TV.
Sports fans can enjoy complete control by using INSTANT REPLAY, SLOW
MOTION, and FRAME ADVANCE AND REWIND to watch their favorite play
again.
Record TV programs without a VCR
RECORD and save your favorite TV programs to the DVR to watch later.
When two of your favorite TV programs are scheduled at the same time,
RECORD one program to the built-in recorder while watching the other!
Never miss your favorite programs that are scheduled at the same time.
Simply RECORD both programs at the same time. While recording both
programs, you can play back a third program you have already recorded.
RECORD a single episode or all episodes of your favorite TV programs.
RECORD one of your favorite TV programs and at the same time, access any
advanced application, such as video-on-demand (VOD).
Not sure if you have room to RECORD new programs? Checking your
available recording space is easy with the recording space used feature.
Watch two TV programs at the same time
PIP is built into the Explorer 8000 DVR, so you can watch two live programs
at the same time on any make or model TV that is connected to your DVR.
When something exciting occurs in the PIP program, you can easily swap the
PIP into the Main screen. Once that program is in the Main screen, you can
pause or record it.
When the PIP screen is covering a “must see” moment on the Main screen,
simply MOVE the PIP screen to a di erent corner of your TV screen.
Let’s Get Started!
"Design On A Dime"
Save: Until erased
Title
Options/Play Scheduled Recordings Preferences
Date Time
Recorded List
Length
World Soccer
Extreme Homes
Design On A Dime
Home Matters
Thirteen Days
Wed 11/10
Wed 11/10
Mon 11/15
Sun 11/14
Mon 11/8
4:10am
8:10pm
12:00pm
12:30pm
8:00pm
30min
50min
30min
30min
1hr 30min
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Using Your Remote Control
Use the keys on the AllTouch Remote Control to access the DVR and PIP
features of your DVR.
This guide describes the keys used to access the DVR and PIP features.
For descriptions of the other key functions, refer to the user’s guide for your
remote control model:
• AT8400™ AllTouch Remote Control User’s Guide, part number 749219
• AT8550™ AllTouch Remote Control User’s Guide, part number 4006383
Important: Your remote control must be set to Cable Mode (CBL) to access
the DVR features.
AllTouch AT8400 Remote Control
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Swaps PIP screen with
Main screen
Turns PIP feature on or off
Moves PIP screen
Displays the Program Guide
Displays a menu of services
or options (if offered by your
cable service provider)
Displays a list of your
recorded programs
Makes on-screen choices
Stops recording a program
or stops playback
Pauses the program you
are watching
Rewinds in 3 speeds
(Must be in Play mode)
Replays the last 8 seconds of
a program (Instant Replay)
Moves through on-screen
choices
Selects cable mode
Performs the selected action
Exits to full-screen TV
Dedicated PIP Keys
Selects PIP channels up
or down
Power on or off
Dedicated DVR Keys
Returns to live programming
Fast-forwards in 3 speeds
(Must be in Play mode)
Records a program
Resumes playing a paused
program (Press twice for
slow motion)
4
Preparing the Explorer 8000HD DVR to Work
With Your High-De nition TV
If you have an Explorer 8000HD DVR and an HDTV, and you are not using a
Digital Visual Interface (DVI) connection, you may need to set up the DVR so
that it provides video to your HDTV in picture formats that your HDTV supports.
Otherwise, your picture quality may be less than optimal.
During installation, your cable service provider may have already selected an
appropriate picture format for you, or the factory setting of the DVR may be
compatible with your HDTV. In either of these instances, you should see a
picture when you turn on your HDTV and DVR.
If your HDTV The HDTV displays Follow these steps to
supports: this when ON: setup the DVR:
A 1080i There are no steps to follow.
picture (Your HDTV uses the picture
format format that the DVR is
set to when it leaves the
factory.)
Optional: Although the
or DVR uses a format that
your HDTV supports, you
may nd the picture quality
less than optimal when
viewing certain picture
formats. To enhance the
display of certain formats,
select additional picture
format settings. For details,
see “Selecting Picture
Formats With the Setup
Wizard” on page 5.
These picture A black screen Use the keys on the front of
formats: the DVR to select these
• 480i (standard formats. See the instructions
or wide) for “Selecting Compatible
• 480p (standard Picture Formats” on page 7.
or wide)
• 720p (wide only)
5
Selecting Picture Formats With the Setup Wizard
Setting up the DVR to support a variety of picture formats allows you to
toggle among the settings you have chosen while watching TV. You can
also select the setting that provides the best picture quality for the format
currently being broadcast.
Note: If your HDTV displays a black screen when you turn on the HDTV and
the DVR, you may need to select a compatible picture format for your HDTV.
Go to Selecting Compatible Picture Formats on page 7.
There are three ways you can select picture formats for your HDTV. The
8000HD Setup Wizard guides you through each one:
• The Quick Setup method, which automatically selects a setting according
to the screen type:
- For a standard-screen (4:3) HDTV, the Wizard selects 480i.
- For a wide-screen (16:9) HDTV, the Wizard selects 1080i.
• The Standard Setup method, which selects the settings 480i and 1080i.
You can then toggle between these two settings while watching TV.
• The Custom Setup method, which allows you to select any combination
of the following picture formats that the DVR supports:
- 480p (wide and standard)
- 480i (wide and standard)
- 720p (wide only)
- 1080i (wide only)
Setting Up Your Explorer 8000HD DVR With an HDTV
If you have an HDTV, use the component outputs to connect the DVR to
your HDTV. Refer to the Explorer 8000 Home Entertainment Server User’s
Installation Guide (part number 4002771) for connection information.
Follow these steps to start the Setup Wizard.
1. Make sure that the Explorer DVR is O
and the HDTV is On.
2. On the Explorer DVR, press Guide and
Info at the same time. The TV Connection
Set-up screen appears, and the front.
panel LED displays either HD-1 or SD-1
This LED changes between HD-1 and
SD-1 every few seconds.
3. When the front panel LED displays HD-1,
press A. The Output Selection screen appears.
Press the Guide and Info
keys at the same time
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