DirecTV Digital Satellite Recorder User Manual

DIRECTV and Hughes Network Systems are dedicated to providing you with quality support and customer service. If you have questions or difficulties, we would like to hear from you.

DIRECTV

 FOR QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR HUGHES NETWORK SYSTEMS MANUFACTURED DIRECTV After checking the Troubleshooting chapter of this guide, you can call the Hughes Customer Care Center at  1-800-274-8995 if you need help with:

Connecting your recorder to your TV and other A/V equipment. Guided Setup or daily phone calls that are failing. A recorder that does not function properly even after restarting it. Other questions regarding the recorder or remote control.

 FOR QUESTIONS ABOUT DIRECTV After checking troubleshooting, call DIRECTV Customer Support at 1-800-531-5000 if you need help:

Activating or using a feature of DIRECTV® programming or the DIRECTV® Digital Video Recording service Understanding an on-screen message regarding your service.

 When you call either Hughes Network Systems or DIRECTV, you will need to provide your recorder's access card number, model number, and DVR service number, located on a label on the back of the recorder and on the System Information screen under Messages & Setup.

PROGRAMMING OR DIRECTV® DIGITAL VIDEO RECORDING (DVR) SERVICE

DIGITAL SATELLITE RECORDER

Digital Satellite Recorder User's Guide

Digital Satellite Recorder

User's Guide

WEB SITES

You will find all of the most up-to-date information about DIRECTV products and services at the DIRECTV  web site, DIRECTV.com. The Hughes Network Systems web site at www.hns.com has links to a wide  variety of products and information.

SDOC-00072-000 Rev. A 1032577-0001

Hints & Shortcuts

Press the DIRECTV button once to go to DIRECTV Central, or twice to

go to the Now Playing List.

LIST brings you directly to the Now Playing List.

Press FWD (fast forward) and BACK (rewind) up to 3 times for 3

speeds. Press them a fourth time to resume normal play.

INSTANT REPLAY replays the last 8 seconds of a program.

Press CLEAR to delete a title in a list (like the Now Playing list) or to

clear things that aren’t part of the program you’re watching (like the channel banner and status bar).

INFO brings up the channel banner. Press the RIGHT arrow 

to switch among three versions of the banner, each with a different amount of information.

CHAN UP/DOWN does more than change the channel—it also pages

up or down through lists of programs or menu items.

Inserting Batteries in the Remote Control

Hold the remote with the battery door facing you. Place your thumb

in the depression of the door and slide the door towards you.

Insert two AA batteries (supplied). Be sure to match the + and -

marks on the batteries to the + and - marks in the compartment.

Replace the battery door by sliding it back into the case with the

tabs towards the rear of the compartment. You’ll hear a click when it’s securely back in place.

Press GUIDE to see the DIRECTV ADVANCED PROGRAM GUIDE™,

then press INFO (while the guide is visible) to see Guide Options and change the day or time, or show only a category of programs.

EXIT clears all menus and goes to the last channel or recorded

program you were watching. If you press it while you are watching a program, it clears things that aren't part of the program (like the channel banner and status bar).

ADVANCE moves you quickly through saved programming. Press it

while you are fast forwarding or rewinding to jump to the next tick mark on the status bar.

When you’re watching “behind” live TV (for example, if you paused live TV and later resumed watching from the paused spot), ADVANCE catches you up to the live broadcast. In a recorded program, press it once to jump to the end of the program, then again to jump to the beginning.

If you program your remote control (as explained in chapter seven),

the TV POWER, VOLUME, MUTE, and TV INPUT buttons can control your TV and A/V equipment.

The SAT/TV Switch sets the remote control to send channel

changing signals to either the recorder (SAT) or the television (TV). Many of the remote control’s buttons are disabled when this switch is set to TV (for example, SLOW, FAST FORWARD and PAUSE), so if your remote control doesn’t seem to be working, check to make sure this switch is set to SAT.

DIRECTV Button

Arrow Buttons

Window

Exit

List

Select Thumbs Down

Mute

Volume

Play

Pause

Back (rewind)

DIREC

Vol

Chan

Remote Active Light

Live TV

Info

Guide

Thumbs Up

Chan Up/Down

Record

Fast Forward

Slow

( )

Instant Replay

TVSAT

Advance

SAT/TV Switch

TV Power TV Input

Enter/Last

Number Buttons

Clear

102

465

798

DIREC

The On-Screen Menus and the Remote Control

Arrow Buttons

To use the DIRECTV Digital Satellite Recorder's on-screen menus: Use the remote control’s arrow buttons to move the highlight bar onto the option you want, then press SELECT.

Select

The LEFT arrow button often takes you to a previous screen.

Two Types of On-Screen Arrows

The arrows that appear beside or near the highlight bar show possible directions. For example: on this screen, you could press the RIGHT arrow to highlight Options or the DOWN arrow to highlight Edit Keyword WishList.

Page Up Arrow

Page Down Arrow

When you see page up or page down arrows at the top or bottom of the screen (or a list), press the CHAN UP/DOWN button to jump to more items an entire page at a time.

Chan

Chan Up/Down Button

Highlight Bar

Arrows Near Highlight Bar

Welcome to DIRECTV

SDOC-00072-000 Rev. A

1032577-0001

Hughes Network Systems is aunit of Hughes Electronics Corp. Hughes Network Systems is a

trademark of Hughes Electronics Corp. Hughes Network Systems, 11717 Exploration Lane,

Germantown, MD 20876.

DIRECTV and the Cyclone Design logo, DIRECTV SPORTS THIS WEEK, and DIRECTV

ADVANCED PROGRAM GUIDE are trademarks of DIRECTV, Inc., a unit of Hughes Electronics

Segundo, CA 90245.

TiVo and the TiVo logo are a registered trademarks of TiVo Inc. The Instant Replay logo, the Jump

logo, TiVolution Magazine, Season Pass, WishList, Overtime Scheduler, the Thumbs Down logo

and text, the Thumbs Up logo and text, TiVo and Line Design (smile)

TiVo Inc., 2160 Gold Street, P.O. Box 2160, Alviso, CA 95002-2160.

Manufactured under license from Dolby Laboratories.

“Dolby,”“Pro Logic,” and the double-D symbol are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories.

All other trademarks are the properties of their respective owners.

prohibited.

Welcome to the DIRECTV family!

DIRECTV offers you more Hollywood hits, classic movies, family programming, news, and a wide range of exciting sports action. Plus 31 commercial-free audio channels. And that's only the beginning.

More Choices than ever before.

With access to over 225 channels, it's easy to see why DIRECTV has become the entertainment choice for millions of American families. And it’s all digitally delivered, so you get digital-quality sound and razor-sharp picture every time you turn on your TV!

DIRECTV

With DIRECTV, the main event is at your house! You'll have access to great movies, exclusive special live sports, concerts and special events. DIRECTV offers up to 55 different pay per view choices a day. There's no need to order by phone. Just use your remote control to give all your friends and family a front-row seat! (Phone connection required.)

DIRECTV Knows Sports.

DIRECTV offers access to more sports than you ever thought possible. So you can follow your favorite team across the country with our pro & college sports subscriptions. We'll take you to the arena for the best sports has to offer. Tune to Channel 212 for DIRECTV SPORTSTHISWEEK

With DIRECTV you're in co ntrol.

Pay Per View Movies and Events.

Your new Digital Satellite Recorder brings you the hottest new entertainment technology, including the DIRECTV ADVANCED PROGRAM GUIDE program listings, and the ability to pause and replay live TV. Plus, with P ick Programs to Record and the other incredibly powerful and easy to use features of your DVR service, you haveaSeasonPass

™

to all your favorite programming.

™

, with up to 14 days of

iii

UsingthisGuide.............................................................................vii

Chapter 1: Connecting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

Overview ...................................................................................2

BeforeYouBegin ............................................................................3

UsefulTerms ................................................................................5

CablesandAccessories ........................................................................9

SetupExamples .............................................................................10

Chapter 2: Guided Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

Overview ..................................................................................24

SatelliteDishGuidedSetup....................................................................25

Activate ...................................................................................29

PhoneSetup ................................................................................30

Chapter 3: The Basics in 5 Short Tours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33

Tour1:PlayWithLiveTV ....................................................................34

Tour 2: DIRECTV ADVANCED PROGRAM GUIDE™ ............................................36

Tour3:FindandRecordYourFavoritePrograms ..................................................38

Tour4:SearchforNewPrograms ...............................................................40

Tour5:NowPlayingList......................................................................42

CoolThingsYouCanDo......................................................................43

Chapter 4: Watching Live TV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45

Let’sGo! ..................................................................................46

DIRECTV ADVANCED PROGRAM GUIDE™ ...................................................48

ChannelBanner .............................................................................51

PlaywithLiveTV ...........................................................................52

StatusBar..................................................................................53

MusicChannels .............................................................................54

Standby ...................................................................................55

Chapter 5: Finding and Recording Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57

RecordingPrograms:TheBasics................................................................58

FindingProgramstoRecord ...................................................................68

IAlreadyKnowWhatIWanttoRecord..........................................................69

IKnowWhatILike... ......................................................................73

HelpMeFindNewPrograms... ...............................................................79

Chapter 6: Messages and Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .83

MessagesfromDIRECTV.....................................................................84

Purchases ..................................................................................85

MyPreferences .............................................................................89

Recorder & Phone Setup . . . ...................................................................99

SystemInformation .........................................................................106

Troubleshooting . ...........................................................................107

RestartorResetSystem ......................................................................108

Chapter 7: Programming the Remote Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109

Introduction ...............................................................................110

Instructions: TV Power, Volume, and TV Input . . . ................................................111

ResettingtheProgrammableButtons............................................................114

SettingaRemoteAddress ....................................................................115

Chapter 8: Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117

ContactingCustomerCare....................................................................118

QuestionsAboutInstallation ..................................................................119

QuestionsAboutLiveTV(IncludingSatelliteSignal) ..............................................120

QuestionsAboutPickProgramstoRecord .......................................................125

QuestionsAboutParentalControls .............................................................131

Questions About the Recorder’sPhoneCalls .....................................................132

QuestionsAboutAudio ......................................................................135

QuestionsAboutPayPerView ................................................................136

QuestionsAbouttheRemoteControl ...........................................................138

QuestionsAbouttheDVRService .............................................................139

Chapter 9: Warranty and Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141

LimitedWarranty...........................................................................142

FCCInformation ...........................................................................144

Specifications ..............................................................................146

SafetyInstructions ..........................................................................148

Appendix A: Back Panel Reference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151

Appendix B: Gnu General Public License . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155

Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161

Using this Guide

This User’s Guide describes how to connect your new DIRECTV®Digital Satellite Recorder to your television and other audio/video equipment. It also provides valuable information about the features and use of the recorder.

Glossary of Icons. The inside front cover of this guide provides an introduction to the remote control. The inside back cover has a “Glossary of Icons” that explains many of the graphic symbols you will see when using your recorder.

Useful Terms. Many of the technical terms you may encounter in this guide are explained in the “Useful Terms” section beginning on page 5.

Screen Paths. Notes at the bottom of some pages show you how to find the screen being discussed o n that page. For example, page 70 describes the “Record by Time or Channel” feature. At the bottom of the page is the note “DIRECTV Central Pick Programs to

Record Record by Time/Channel” This note means you can find Record by Time/

Channel, the screen being discussed, by going to DIRECTV Central (press the DIRECTV button on your remote control) and selecting Pick Programs to Record, then Record by Time/Channel.

Digital Video Recording Service (DVR Service). The recording service provided through the DIRECTV

Digital Satellite Recorder. Refers collectively to the satellite antenna receiver and the recorder hardware.

Digital Satellite Recorder.

Throughout this guide, you will see

important and helpful notes and

tips in this format.

vii

Before you install the recorder,

mount the satellite dish antenna.

Professional installation is highly

recommended. Your dish must be

mounted, with cables running to the room

where your recorder will be installed,

before you can begin the recorder

installation as described in this guide.

Dual LNB dish antenna connection

required for full functionality.

The TiVo Logo. As you use your DIRECTV®Digital Satellite Recorder, you’ll see the

TiVo logo in places like the Now Playing List and TiVo Suggestions. Your new recorder incorporates the latest DVR (Digital Video Recorder) technology from TiVo means you have access to exclusive TiVo features such as WishList

™

Pass

recordings, Thumbs Up™and Thumbs Down™, TiVo Suggestions, and TiVolution

Magazine

. All in one seamlessly integrated product that will change the way you watch

™

.This

searches, Season

television.

Getting Started

After a satellite dish antenna has been installed, you’re ready to start using this guide:

1. Connect the recorder according to the proper setup for your Audio/Video equipment. (See chapter 1, “Connecting.”)

2. Complete Guided Setup to point your satellite dish antenna and activate the DIRECTV chapter 2, “Guided Setup.”

Start using your DIRECTV browsing the back of the Start Here card. Take the five tours in chapter 3 of this User’s Guide for an interactive way to learn about the recorder’s powerful features. Chapters 4, 5, 6, and 7 describe the DVR service in detail. Read through them to become familiar with the service. Chapter 8 provides a comprehensive troubleshooting guide in case you have questions.

Digital Video Recording (DVR) service following the instructions in

Digital Satellite Recorder. It’s easy! Learn the basics by

viii

CHAPTER

Connecting

Overview 2

Before You Begin 3

Useful Terms 5

Cables and Accessories 9

Setup Examples 10

Chapter 1

Connecting

Jacks are places where cables can

be connected.

OUT IN

Always connect cables from the

OUT jack of one device to the IN

jack of the next. Never connect an IN to an

IN or an OUT to an OUT.

Overview

TVs used to be simple: no color, no digital video, no stereo sound, no digital audio, no choices. All you needed was an antenna and a TV. The antenna captured pictures and sounds. A wire connected the antenna to the TV to transfer pictures and sounds.

As televisions have acquired more features, and new devices have been created to work with them, it may seem that everything has become more complex. F ortunately, the fundamentals h aven’t changed. You may have a VCR, a DVD player and a game system, in addition to a satellite dish antenna. However, one thing has remained the same: what you need to do is get the pictures and sounds from their source (the satellite dish antenna) to your TV.

You use cables to make a path over which the pictures and sounds travel from your satellite dish antenna to your TV.

On the back of your equipment you will find several jacks. Some are labeled IN and some are labeled OUT. The pictures and sound enter a piece of equipment through a cable connected to an IN jack and leave through a cable connected to an OUT jack.

When you connect your DIRECTV other audio/video equipment, you are simply creating a path that starts at the satellite dish antenna and goes in (through IN jacks) and out (through OUT jacks) of your equipment until it reaches your TV.

Digital Satellite Recorder to your television and

Before You Begin

Make sure that all of your equipment is turned off and the recorder is unplugged.

Before You Begin

Connecting to a Phone Line

You will need access to a standard analog phone jack. Your recorder needs to be connected to a phone line to communicate with DIRECTV. The recorder occasionally makes a brief phone call to get updates to the DVR service and Showcases, and for pay per view functionality. You do not need to install a new telephone jack or phone number for the recorder to work; it can detect when your phone line is in u se and will only make calls when the phone line is available. If you don’t have a phone jack nearby, you can use the 25 foot phone cord that ships with the recorder. If your phone jack is being used for a phone, you can use the provided splitter to connect both the phone and t he recorder to the same phone jack.

Connecting a Dual LNB or a Multi-Satellite Dish Antenna

Your recorder comes equipped with two jacks for satellit e input. While the recorder will work if connected to only one satellite input, connecting both allows you to record from two channels at the same time. All of the connection examples in this chapter give instructions for configuring the recorder with connections to both satellite input jacks.

Both a Round Dual LNB dish antenna and an Oval 2 or 3 satellite dish antenna connect to at least two coaxial RF cables. To connect both of your recorder’s satellite input jacks, you must have two coaxial RF cables coming from your satellite dish antenna to the room where the recorder will be installed.

Your recorder should not be used

with a digital PBX phone system.

Doing so may permanently damage your

recorder’s modem and will void your

warranty. Digital PBX phone systems

allow many phones to share a single

telephone number and are usually used in

hotels and office buildings. If you are

installing the recorder in your home, it is

very unlikely that you are using a digital

PBX phone system.

If you have a Single LNB satellite

dish antenna, you will need to

upgrade to a Dual LNB for full

functionality. Contact your satellite dish

antenna manufacturer for more

information about upgrading.

Chapter 1

For information on how to switch

between watching antenna or

cable channels and watching DIRECTV®

channels, see the connection example in

Chapter 2 that is most appropriate to your

configuration.

The recorder does not have an on/

off switch. To turn the recorder on,

plug it in. The recorder, like a clock or a

refrigerator, is designed for constant use

and does not need to be turned off. If you

must turn it off—for example, to move it—

simply unplug it. (The recorder does have

an optional standby mode, explained on

page 55.)

Be sure to read the safety

instructions on page 148.

Connecting

If you currently own a Dual LNB satellite dish antenna that is already connected to two TVs, you can purchase a multiswitch (described on page 6) that will allow you to connect two cables to your new recorder as well as one to an existing receiver for your second TV.

Using an Antenna or Cable Connection, in Addition to DIRECTV Programming

If you have an antenna or cable connection in addition to your satellite dish antenna, you can watch antenna or cable channels while recording DIRECTV

channels. However, recording and other features (such as parental controls, purchasing pay per view programs, viewing on-screen menus, or pausing live TV), do not work on cable or antenna channels.

Caring for your DIRECTV Digital Satellite Recorder

Do not drop. Your new recorder contains a hard disk drive that is constantly in motion; it

may be damaged if the recorder falls or is dropped. Place the recorder in a stable location. Unplug before moving. To prevent damage to sensitive components such as the hard disk

drive, always unplug your recorder and then w ait a moment for the hard disk to stop spinning before moving it.

Do not stack. Your recorder is NOT designed to carry the weight of other consumer components such as VCRs, DVD players, or A/V receivers.

Flat, hard surface. The recorder should rest on a flat, hard surface only. Do not operate it on a carpet or other padded surface, as this can inhibit proper ventilation and cause the unit to overheat.

Use a surge protector. Like all electronics equipment, your recorder can be damaged by fluctuations in your power supply. Purchasing a surge protector is highly recommended. If you purchase a surge protector that allows you to plug in both your recorder’s power and your telephone cord, you may prevent damage to the parts of your recorder that are connected to your phone line as well!

Useful Terms

If you’re not an audio/video wizard, you may find yourself stumbling over some of the names, features and functions of various pieces of equipment. Here’s a quick reference to help you understand some of the terms you may encounter during installation.

Satellite Dish Antennas—Types and Terms

Round Single Satellite Dish Antenna, Oval 2 Satellite Dish Antenna, and Oval 3 Satellite Dish Antenna: The names Round single, Oval 2, and Oval 3 satellite dish

antennas refer to both the most common shape of the dish and the number of satellites from which a dish can receive information. To determine what type of dish you have, look at the arm extending out from the dish. At the end of this arm are one or more “fingers” ending in mushroom shaped parts pointing b ack at the dish. A single satellite dish antenna has one of these “fingers” pointing back at the dish, a 2 satellite dish antenna has two, and a 3 satellite dish antenna has three. If you own a 2 or 3 satellite dish antenna, your recorder will not work properly unless you have connected a multiswitch with at least four inputs and two outputs. For a definition of a multiswitch, see page 6.

Single LNB and Dual LNB Satellite Dish Antennas:SingleLNBandDualLNBreferto the number of independent signals a dish can send to your audio/video equipment. A Single LN B sends one signal and has one jack, or connector, inside the arm extending from the dish. A Dual LNB sends two signals and has two jacks. The easiest way to determine what type of d ish you have is to consult the documentation that came with the dish. Disassembling the dish to determine its type is not recommended.

Round Single satellite dish antenna

Single LNB (Single Satellite)

Useful Terms

Oval 2 satellite dish antenna

Oval 3 satellite dish antenna

Dual LNB (Single Satellite)

Satellite Receiver: A satellite receiver does what its name suggests and more. It

“receives” the signal from your satellite dish antenna, then translates it into a signal your TV can understand, then sends it to the TV. Your DIRECTV

Digital Satellite Recorder

has a built-in satellite receiver.

Chapter 1

Connecting

Dual Tuner: A tuner picks one channel out of all of your available channels. This allows

you to view a single channel and to change channels. “Dual tuner” means your recorder has two tuners. It can pick out two channels at once, allowing you to record programs on two channels at the same time.

Multiswitch: A multiswitch lets you use the signal from one satellite dish antenna for more than two TVs. If you currently own a Dual LNB dish that is connected to two televisions, a multiswitch will allow you to connect two cables to your new recorder as well as one to a satellite receiver on your second television. If you own a 2 or 3 satellite dish antenna, your recorder will not work unless you have connected a multiswitch with at least four inputs and two outputs.

Access Card: Your access card contains information about your DIRECTV subscription. It must be properly inserted and activated for your recorder to work.

Transponder: A transponder is a piece of radio equipment on a satellite.The DIRECTV transponders receive information from DIRECTV and rebroadcast it to your satellite dish antenna. Each transponder rebroadcasts a different set of channels. If the recorder does not receive a signal for an individual transponder, it will not be able to show that transponder’s channels. Each satellite may have a different number of transponders on it.

programming

Cables and Connections

Composite Video and Left/Right (L/R) Audio Cables: Composite Video and Left/Right

(L/R) Audio cables may appear to be just one cable, but are actually three separate cables. The yellow composite cable transfers video. The white and red L/R Audio cables, when used together, transfer stereo sound. These three cables can be used together or separately. For example, you could use an S-Video cable to transfer video and use white and red L/ R Audio cables to transfer audio. In this case, you would not need to use the yellow Composite Video cable at all.

Coaxial RF Cable: A coaxial RF cable transfers both audio and video on a single cable.

Useful Terms

Optical (or Digital) Audio Cable: An optical (or digital) audio cable transfers audio only. This cable transfers audio at the highest possible quality from your recorder to an A/V receiver. If you have a home theater, own an A/V receiver capable of receiving Dolby Digital audio, and wish to use Dolby Digital audio, then you must use this cable. Not all A/V receivers with optical audio inputs are capable of receiving Dolby Digital audio. An optical audio cable is not included with the recorder.

BNC Cable: A BNC Cable is similar to a coaxial R F cable and transfers both audio and video. This type of cable is not included with your recorder. However, you may already be using a BNC cable in an existing connection to your TV. If so, you can purchase an adapter that will allow you to connect BNC cables to the RF In or RF Out jacks on your recorder.

Telephone Line Splitter: The included telephone line splitter allows you to plug both a telephone and your recorder into a single telephone wall jack.



Video, Audio, and Electronics Equipment and Terms

Switch Box: A switch box is a small box that allows you to connect multiple devices to

your TV, even if your TV does not have enough input jacks to connect them all directly. It allows you to switch easily between viewing DIRECTV your DVD player, or running your game system. Switch boxes are inexpensive and can be purchased at electronics stores.

A/V Receiver: An A/V receiver is similar to a switch box but is more sophisticated. It may offer additional features such as remote control or Dolby Digital audio capabili ties. An A/V receiver allows you to connect multiple devices to your TV, even if your TV does not have enough input jacks to connect them all directly. It allows you to switch easily

channels, viewing video from

Chapter 1

Connecting

between viewing DIRECTV®channels, viewing video from your DVD player, or running your game system by changing the input source.



Dolby

each of which can be heard on one of six separate speakers. To use Dolby Digital audio, you must use an optical audio cable to connect your recorder to an A/V receiver capable of supporting Dolby Digital audio. Not all A/V receivers with optical audio inputs are capable of receiving Dolby Digital audio. You must also set your recorder to record using Dolby Digital audio. For more information, see page 96.

Dolby

Dolby Pro Logic) audio is recorded on two channels, which can be heard on two or more (usually five) speakers. To use Dolby Surround Sound audio, you must have an A/V receiver capable of supporting Dolby Surround Sound audio connected to your recorder using either L/R Audio cables or an optical audio cable.

Digital PBX Phone System: Digital PBX phone systems allow many phones to share a single telephone number and are usually used in hotels and office buildings. If you are installing the recorder in your home, it is very unlikely that you are using a digital PBX phone system. Do not connect your recorder to a digital PBX phone system. Doing so may permanently damage your recorder’s modem and will void your warranty.

Digital (AC-3) Audio: Dolby Digital audio is recorded on six separate channels,



Surround Sound (also called Dolby Pro Logic): Dolby Surround Sound (or

Surge Protector: Surge protectors are devices that protect electronic equipment from

power fluctuations. Like all electronics equipment, your recorder can be damaged by fluctuations in your line voltage. Purchasing a surge protector is highly recommended. If you purchase a surge protector that all ows you to plug in both your recorder’s power and your telephone cord, you may prevent damage to the parts of your recorder that are connected to your phone line as well! Surge protectors can be purchased at hardware, electronics, or general merchandise stores.

Cables and Accessories

In addition to your television and the equipment that shipped with this recorder (shown below), you’ll need a satellite dish antenna you connect the recorder

—and a standard, analog phone line (see page 3 for details).

—which should be properly mounted before

1. These are the basics: 2. See page 10 to choose

audio/video cables. The carton contains one of each of the following:

Recorder

Power Cord

25’ Phone Cord

DIRECTV Access Card

Phone Line Splitter

DIREC

Chan

Vol

( )

Remote Control

TVSAT

102

465

and 2 AA

798

DIREC

Batteries

RF Coaxial Cable

Composite A/V Cable

S-Video Cable

3. You may need to purchase

these additional items for some setups:

Extra RF Coaxial Cable

Extra Composite A/V Cables

Chapter 1

If your TV has only one audio

connector, connect just the white

and yellow ends of the Composite A/V

cable (don’t connect the red end).

Connecting

Setup Examples

Audio and Video Cables

Composite. Many TVs and VCRs have connectors for Composite A/V cables. If your

equipment has them, you can use the Composite A/V cables for both audio and video..

Composite Video and L/R Audio Cables

RF Coaxial. Some TVs only have connectors for RF Coaxial cable. If your TV only has an RF connector, use the RF Coaxial cable for both audio and video and see Example 4 on page 18 (or see Example 1 on see page 12 if you also have a VCR):

Connect to Composite Video and L/R Audio Jacks

(red)

(white)

(yellow)

Coaxial RF Cable

Connect to RF or VHF/UHF jack

S-Video. If you have S-Video connectors on your equipment, and want the highest quality video, use the included S-Video cable. The S-Video cable carries a video signal. You can connect the red and white ends of a Composite A/V cable to carry the audio signal.

S-Video and Left/ Right Audio Cables

Connect to S-Video and L/R Audio jacks

(S-Video)

(red)

(white)

(yellow)

Digital Audio. The receiver includes a Digital Audio Out jack for compatibility with Dolby Digital (AC-3) audio. To use this feature, you will need an optical audio cable

(not supplied), and a device that accepts Dolby Digital input. The optical audio cable will carry the audio signal. To complete the setup, you'll also need a connection for the v ideo signal. You can use an S-Video cable to make the connection (for the best video signal), or the yellow ends of a composite cable. If you use a composite cable, you do not need to connect the red and white ends of the cable.

Ordinarily, your recorder produces tones to indicate when certain buttons on the remote control are pressed or to indicate signal strength when you are positioning your dish. If you use Digital Audio Out, you will not hear these tones.

Setup Examples

This chapter provides detailed examples showing how to connect the DIRECTV Recorder to your existing audio/video system. Choose the example closest to your configuration and follow the steps in that section.

• Example 1: Recorder with VCR, DVD and/or game system, and switch box or A/V

receiver (see page 12)

• Example 2: Recorder with VCR (see page 14)

Setup Examples

• Example 3: Recorder only (see page 16)

• Example 4: Recorder with VCR, antenna or cable, multiple input TV (see page 18)

• Example 5: Recorder with VCR, antenna or cable, single input TV (see page 20) If you have trouble or if your configurationisn’t covered by one of these examples, see the

“Back Panel Reference” on page 152.

Chapter 1

Connecting

Example 1: VCR, DVD and/or Game System, and Switch Box or A/V Receiver

Television

Audio R

Audio L

Video





OUT

Audio

Video

Ch 3/4

RF Out

RF In





OUTPUT

Audio

DVD Player or

Game System



Video

Switch Box or

A/V Receiver

Audio

Video



Audio

OUT

Audio

Video

INPUT

Video Audio

Ch 3/4

Out

Video

DIRECTV Recorder

AC~In



VCR



Note: Audio/Video cables shown are examples only. Use the best connections available on your equipment.

Example 1: VCR, DVD and/or Game System, and Switch Box or A/V Receiver

 Connect the coaxial RF cables from your satellite dish antenna to the recorder. Connect one coaxial RF cable t hat comes from your satellite dish antenna to the jack labeled “Satellite In 1” on the recorder. If you have a second coaxial RF cable from your satellite dish antenna, connect it to the jack labeled “Satellite In 2.”

Setup Examples

To switch between watching

DIRECTV® programming and

watching video from your VCR, DVD or

game system:

 Connect the recorder’s output to the switch box or A/V receiver’s input.  Connect your switch box or A/V receiver’s output to your TV’s input.  Connectthe recorder’s output to your VCR’s input. This will allow you to save programs

recorded on your DIRECTV Recorder to videotape.

 Connect your VCR’s output to your switch box or A/V receiver’s input.  Connect your DVD player and/or game system’s output to your switch box or A/V

receiver’s input.

 Connect the phone line. (For more about the phone connection, see page 3.)  Insert the Access Card that came with your recorder. Open the card door on the

channels, you must insert the card correctly and activate it

(activation is covered in the next chapter).  Plug in all power cords. After you see the Welcome screen, skip to “Guided Setup” on

page 23. If you do not see the Welcome screen, see page 119.

• With a switch box, press the buttons

on your switch box

• With an A/V receiver, use the “Input,”

or “Source” button on the receiver or

its remote control.

If you are having trouble changing the

video source, refer to the instructions that

came with the A/V receiver or switch box.



Chapter 1

To switch between watching your

VCR and watching video from your

recorder, you will need to use the “Input,”

“Source,” or “TV/Video” button on your

TV or TV’s remote control to change the

video source. Some TVs also have a

“Menu” button that allows you to change

the video source using an on-screen

menu.

If you have trouble changing the video

source refer to the instructions that came

with your TV.

Example 2: Recorder with VCR

Television

VCR

INPUT

Connecting

Antenna In

VIDEO

S-VIDEO



Audio

OUT

Video

Ch 3/4

Out

RF In



DIRECTV Recorder

AC~In







Note: Audio/Video cables shown are examples only. Use the best connections available on your equipment.



Example 2: Recorder with VCR

Setup Examples

 Connect the coaxial RF cables from your satellite dish antenna to the recorder. Connect one coaxial RF cable that comes from your satellite dis h antenna to the jack labeled “Satellite In 1” on the recorder. If you have a second coaxial RF cable from your satellite dish antenna, connect it to the jack labeled “Satellite In 2.”

 Connect the recorder to your TV. Look at the back of your TV and see what types of jacks are available. Connect the recorder’s output to the TV’s input using the best connection available. The example in the diagram shows a composite cable connected for audio and an S-Video cable connected for video. The connection can also be made using only a RF coaxial cable, or using only a composite cable.

 Connect the recorder to your VCR. C onnecting the recorder to your VCR will allow you to save programs recorded on your DIRECTV Recorder to videotape. The example in the diagram shows an RF cable running from the recorder’s output to the VCR’s input.

 Connect your VCR’s output to your TV’s input. This will allow you to watch videotapes. The example in the diagram shows an RF cable running from the VCR’s output to the TV’s input.

 Connect the phone line. (For more about the phone connection, see page 3.)  Insert the Access Card that came with your recorder. Open the card door on the

recorder’s front panel. Insert the card into the slot in the direction indicated on the card. Stop when the card makes contact with the back of the slot, then you can completely close the card door. To watch DIRECTV activate it (activation is covered in the next chapter).

channels, you must insert the card correctly and



 Plug in all p ower cords. After you see the Welcome screen, skip to “Guided Setup” on

page 23. If you do not see the Welcome screen, see page 119.

Chapter 1

Example 3: Recorder Only

Television

INPUT

Antenna In

Connecting

VIDEO

S-VIDEO



DIRECTV Recorder

AC~In





Note: Audio/Video cables shown are examples only. Use the best connections available on your equipment.



Example 3: Recorder Only

Setup Examples

 Connect the phone line. (For more about the phone connection, see page 3.)  Insert the Access Card that came with your recorder. Open the card door on the

recorder’s front panel. Insert the card into the slot in the direction indicated on the card. Stop when the card makes contact with the back of the slot, then you can completely close the card door. To watch DIRECTV® channels, you must insert the card correctly and activate it (activation is covered in the next chapter).

 Plug in all power cords. After you see the Welcome screen, skip to “Guided Setup” on page 23. If you do not see the Welcome screen, see page 119.



Chapter 1

To switch between watching

DIRECTV® channels and antenna/

cable channels, or tapes on your VCR, use

the “Input,” “Source,” or “TV/Video”

button on your TV’s remote to change the

video source. Some TVs have a “Menu”

button and an on-screen menu that lets

you change the video source.

You can watch an antenna or cable

channel while recording a DIRECTV

channel. You will NOT be able use

recorder functions on antenna or cable

channels. You will also need to use your

TV’s remote control to change antenna/

cable channels.

Connecting

Example 4: Recorder, VCR, Antenna or Cable, and Multiple Input TV

Television

Antenna

INPUT



VCR

Audio

R L VIDEO



Video

OUT

Ch 3/4

S-VIDEO



RF Out

RF In

If you are having trouble changing the

video source, refer to the instructions that

came with your TV.



DIRECTV Recorder

AC~In





Note: Audio/Video cables shown are examples only. Use the best connections available on your equipment.



Setup Examples

Example 4: Recorder, VCR, Antenna or Cable, and Multiple Input TV

If your TV has both coaxial RF and composite video i nputs, follow this connection example to connect your antenna or cable t o your TV. You will NOT be able to use DIRECTV Recorder functions while watching antenna or cable channels, even if you connect your antenna or cable directly to your recorder.

 Connect the coaxial RF cables from your satellite dish antenna to the recorder. Connect one coaxial RF cable that comes from your satellite dis h antenna to the jack labeled “Satellite In 1” on the recorder. If you have a second coaxial RF cable from your satellite dish antenna, connect it to the jack labeled “Satellite In 2.”

 Connect the recorder to your TV.  Connect the recorder to your VCR. Connecting the recorder to your VCR will allow

you to save programs recorded on your DIRECTV Recorder to videotape.

 Connect your VCR’s output to your TV’s input. This allows you to watch videotapes.  Connect your antenna or cable to the CABLE/ANTENNA RF In jack on your TV.  Connect the phone line. (For more about the phone connection, see page 3.)  Insert the Access Card that came with your recorder. Open the card door on the

channels, you must insert the card correctly and

“Multiple input” means the TV has

multiple input plugs for A/V

connectors.

Steps , , and  are shown

using composite and s-video

cables. You can make these connections

with other cables, as explained on page

10. Your digital satellite recorder comes

with one composite and one s-video

cable. To complete the setup example as

shown, you will need to use cables that

came with your VCR, or purchase

additional cables.



 Plug in all p ower cords. After you see the Welcome screen, skip to “Guided Setup” on page 23. If you do not see the Welcome screen, see page 119.

Chapter 1

o switch between watching

DIRECTV® channels and watching

antenna/cable channels, or watching

tapes on your VCR, use the “Input,”

“Source,” or “TV/Video” button on your

TV’s remote control to change the video

source. Some TVs have a “Menu” button

that allows you to change the video

source with an on-screen menu.

Connecting

Example 5: Recorder with VCR, Antenna or Cable, and Single Input TV

Television

RF In

You can watch an antenna or cable

channel while recording a DIRECTV

channel. You will NOT be able use

recorder functions on antenna or cable

channels. You will also need to use your

TV’s remote control to change antenna/

cable channels.

If you are having trouble changing the

video source, refer to the instructions that

came with your TV.



VCR

DIRECTV Recorder

AC~In

Audio

OUT

Video

Ch 3/4

RF Out

RF In









Note: Audio/Video cables shown are examples only. Use the best connections available on your equipment.



Setup Examples

Example 5: Recorder with VCR, Antenna or Cable, and Single Input TV

If your TV has composite video inputs, use the example on page 18. You will NOT be able to use DIRECTV Receiver functions while watching antenna or cable channels.

 Connect the coaxial RF cables from your satellite dish antenna to the recorder. Connect one coaxial RF cable that comes from your satellite dis h antenna to the jack labeled “Satellite In 1” on the recorder. If you have a second coaxial RF cable from your satellite dish antenna, connect it to the jack labeled “Satellite In 2.”

 Use coaxial RF cable to connect the recorder’s output to your V CR’s input. Be sure to select an output of channel 3 or 4 using the small switch on the back of the recorder. You will then need to set your VCR’s output to the same channel (3 or 4), and tune your TV to that same channel (3 or 4), to receive a signal

 Use coaxial RF cable to connect your VCR’s output to your TV’s input. If your VCR is already connected to your TV, continue to Step D. Be sure to set your VCR’s output to the same channel (3 or 4) that you set on your recorder.

 Connect your antenna or cable to the RF In jack on the back of the recorder.  Connect the phone line. (For more about the phone connection, see page 3.)  Insert the Access Card that came with your recorder. Open the card door on the

channels, you must insert the card correctly and

activate it (activation is covered in the next chapter).

If you have a DVD player or game

system in addition to your TV, VCR

and DIRECTV Recorder, you may need to

use a switch box or an A/V receiver. A

switch box or A/V receiver will allow you

to connect all of your devices to your TV,

even if your TV does not have enough

input jacks to connect them all directly.

For more information about these devices,

see “Useful Terms,” on page 5.



 Plug in all p ower cords. After you see the Welcome screen, skip to “Guided Setup” on page 23. If you do not see the Welcome screen, see page 119.

Chapter 1

Connecting

CHAPTER

Guided Setup

Overview 24

Satellite Dish Guided Setup 25

Activate 29

Phone Setup 30

Chapter 2

Guided Setup

Satellite Dish Guided Setup is used

to test signal strength, position

the satellite dish antenna and configure

the recorder for use with a multiswitch or

new multi-satellite dish antenna.

If you have connected your

television or audio/visual

equipment only to the recorder’s digital

audio output, you will not hear any audio

during Setup, or at any time while you are

navigating through on-screen menus.

Overview

Now that you have finished connecting your DIRECTVDigital Satellite Recorder, you are ready to begin Guided Setup. When you first plug in the recorder, screens appear which display its progress as it starts up. After a few minutes, you will see the Welcome screen, indicating that you are ready to begin Guided Setup.

During Guided Setup, you will point your satellite dish antenna (if you haven’t already), activate your DIRECTV access service updates by phone. Guided Setup includes on-screen instructions. If you need additional assistance, this chapter contains detailed directions.

Guided Setup includes three steps. They are described on pages 25-32.

1. Satellite Dish Guided Setup

2. Activating services

3. Phone Setup

Using the Remote Control

To complete Guided Setup, you use the remote control to move through screens and select menu items that are on your television’s display. For an introduction to the remote control, see “Introducing the Remote Control” on the inside front cover of this guide.

Welcome. When you first turn on your DIRECTV see a gray screen that says “Welcome. Powering up,” followed by the Welcome screen (shown to the side). Read the screen then press SELECT to move to the next screen.



programming and DVR service, and set up your recorder to



Digital Satellite Recorder, you will

If you do not see the Welcome screen, see page 119.

Satellite Dish Guided Setup

Satellite Dish Guided Setup tells the recorder what type of satellite dish antenna you are using, so you must go through it at least once, even if you are only replacing a recorder that was already working. Satellite Dish Guided Setup usually takes about five minutes, plus whatever time you may need to position your dish.

Connect Cables. After you press SELECT on the Welcome screen, you’llseeareminder to make sure all cables are properly connected to the recorder and to your TV. Press SELECT when you are ready to continue.

Satellite Dish Type. Choose the type of satellite dish antenna you have installed. If the manual for your satellite dish antenna is available, you can find its type there. Most people should select “Round dish (Single or Dual LNB).” The most important feature of this t ype of dish is that it receives a signal from one satellite in the sky. Some manufacturers produce a dish that receives a signal from one satellite but is slightly oval in shape. If you have such a dish, choose “Round dish (Single or Dual LNB).”

An oval 2 satellite dish antenna can receive signals from two satellites. An oval 3 satellite dish antenna receives its signal from three satellites. 2 and 3 satellite dish antennas are always Dual LNB. To see the next screen, highlight the type of satellite dish antenna you are using, then press SELECT.

Round dish antenna (Single or Dual LNB)

Oval 2 satellite dish antenna Oval 3 satellite dish antenna

Notice the progress bar at the

bottom of the screen. It can help

you keep track of how far along you are in

Guided Setup.

Most new satellite dish antennas

are Dual LNB. One cable extends

from a single LNB dish to a home; two

cables extend from a Dual LNB dish to a

home (or to a multiswitch).

Chapter 2

A transponder is a piece of radio

equipment on a satellite. The

DIRECTV transponders rec eive information

from DIRECTV and rebroadcast it to your

satellite dish antenna. Each transponder

rebroadcasts a different set of channels. If

the recorder does not receive a signal for

an individual transponder, it will not be

able to show that transponder’s channels.

Satellites may have different numbers of

transponders.

Guided Setup

Satellite Connections. If you connected an RF coaxial cable to each of the recorder’s

“Satellite In” jacks, select “Two cables.” If you connected only one RF coaxial cable (to the “Satellite In 1” jack), select “One cable.” To be able to record two programs at the same time, you must connect an RF coaxial cable from the satellite dish antenna (or a multiswitch) to both of the “Satellite In” jacks and then choose “Two cables” on this screen.

ZIP Code. Use the number keys on your remote control to enter your ZIP code. The recorder uses your ZIP code to determine the direction your satellite dish antenna should point. If you make a mistake, press LEFT arrow to correct it.

Satellite Dish Direction. Based on your ZIP code and dish type, t his screen shows roughly how to position your satellite dish antenna. You will fine tune the position later on during Satellite Dish Guided Setup at the Test Signal Strength screen. Before positioning the dish, be sure the mast (the pole on which the dish is mounted) is straight up and down. For 2 or 3 satellite dish antennas, the screen provides a required tilt in addition to side-toside (azimuth) and up-down (elevation) information available for round dishes. Professional satellite installers are available in most areas to ensure correct installation. If your satellite system was installed by a professional, the satellite dish antenna direction should be correct. To see the next screen, press SELECT.

Satellite Checklist. The items on this list help ensure you receive a clear satellite signal. To see the next screen, press SELECT when you are satisfied that each item is complete.

Test Signal Strength. You use this screen to check the strength of the signal received by your satellite dish antenna. If you have two cables connected to the Satellite In jacks, it shows you the signal strength for each connection. It lets you see the signal strength from individual transponders one at a time. To be sure you receive all your channels, you should check signal strength on all transponders.

Satellite Dish Guided Setup

Note: You can check signal strength while you adjust the position of your satellite dish antenna. The signal strength meter on this screen provides audio feedback—a tone that becomes higher pitched as the signal gets stronger. You may be able to turn the volume on your TV up so you can hear the tone while you adjust your satellite dish antenna. Alternatively, you might have someone watching the signal strength meter and then reporting through a cell phone or walkie-talkie to the person who is adjusting the satellite dish antenna.

• To change the currently selected transponder, use the UP arrow to highlight the

transponder number. Press the RIGHT or LEFT arrow to change the transponder. It is best if each transponder has a signal strength above 60.

• If you have connected both Satellite In jacks, the signal strength for each connection is

shown. You should have a good signal on all transponders for both connections.

If you have a 2 or 3 satellite dish antenna, you should check the signal strength from transponders on each satellite.

• To change the selected satellite, press the UP arrow until the satellite number is

highlighted. Press the RIGHT or LEFT arrow to change the satellite.

When you have finished, select “Done Testing Signal Strength.” If you cannot acquire a good satellite signal, see Satellite Signal Troubleshooting on the next page.

Confirming Setup, Satellite Info. At each of the next two screens there is a short wait

while the recorder confirms your set-up then gathers a list of channels from the satellite.

Chapter 2

If the recorder is low on Program Guide Data, this message at the bottom of the screen tells you how much Program Guide Data it has.

Guided Setup

Program Guide Data. Over the first 1 to 2 days, the recorder will gather and process u p to

two weeks of program data from the DIRECTV satellites. Program data includes program titles, times, channels, program descriptions, and more.

Many of the recorder’s features use program data. Although you may be able to use such features immediately, you may not be able to find all the programs you are looking for right away. If programs you are l ooking for do not appear in the program information, check on them again after the recorder has been set up for a while.

Steps to Activate. This screen explains the next steps of Guided Setup, activation of DIRECTV and go to the next page of this manual.

Satellite Signal Troubleshooting. If you encounter problems during Satellite Dish Guided Setup, you will see an error screen with some suggestions. For example, you may have made a mistake entering your ZIP code or your type of satellite dish antenna.

If you are trying to set up the recorder, choose one of the options that return to part of Satellite Dish Guided Setup. For example, if you received the “Satellite Info Error,” choose “Try Again to Acquire Information.” You can also repeat Satellite Dish Guided Setup. This allows you to check that your ZIP code and satellite dish antenna type are correct. If you repeat Guided Setup and still receive error notifications, it is possible that your satellite dish antenna is not pointed correctly or the dish or multiswitch is miswired. Check the cabling, or consult a professional satellite system installer.

services. When i t appears, press the LIVE TV button on your remote control

If you are trying to bypass Satellite Dish Guided Setup—for example, if you are setting up the recorder in a place without a satellite signal—the bottom choice on the error screens allows you to continue without resolving potential problems. While you may receive fewer or no TV channels, you can still watch previously recorded programs.

Activate

Now it’s time to activate services for your DIRECTVDigital Satellite Recorder. Before you make the phone call:

• The recorder should be on, tuned to channel 100, and receiving a signal from the

satellite dish antenna. (Channel 100 shows preview programming from DIRECTV.)

• You will need: a valid service address, social security number, and a major credit card

(deposit prepayment may be required). You will also need the number on your DIRECTV access card and the make, model and serial number of your recorder, found on a label on the back of the recorder and on the System Information screen. (Press the DIRECTV button, then se lect “Messages & Setup” then “System Information.”)

• Important! The access card that came with your DIRECTV

inserted in the appropriate slot in front of the recorder before you call. Also, be sure to tell your customer care agent that you have a “DIRECTV and that you also want to activate the DIRECTV Without the DV R service, your recorder will not be able to record programs.

When you are ready, call 1-800-531-5000.



Digital Video Recording service.



Recorder must be



Digital Satellite Recorder”

Activate

Remember to place the access card

in the appropriate slot in front of

the recorder. See the setup examples in

chapter two for details.

After you have activated, you can begin Phone Setup, the last step of Guided Setup, by pressing the DIRECTV button.

What does DIRECTV Digital Video Recording service provide?

The DVR service provides you with the ability to record programs, create Season Pass recordings and WishList Suggestions, and several convenient ways to find programs to you want to record. Without the DVR service, the unit functions only as a DIR E CTV Receiver, without recording capability.

™

searches. It also gives you access to Showcases, TiVo

Chapter 2

Guided Setup

Phone Setup

Press the DIRECTV button on your remote control to start Phone Setup. Final Steps. The last step of Guided Setup, Phone Setup, begins automatically the first

time you press the DIRECTV button on your remote control. The recorder should be connected to a telephone line. The recorder occasionally makes a brief phone call to get updates to the DVR service and Showcases, and for pay per view functionality.

By default, the recorder will not pick up the phone if the line is busy. If you pick up the phone while the recorder is using the line, the recorder’s modem will disconnect. To use the phone line you should hang up, then pick up the phone again to get a dial tone.

DVR Service Terms. This screen appears after the Final Steps screen. The DIRECTV Service Agreement is printed on your first monthly statement from DIRECTV. We encourage you to read it.

Area Code. The DVR service uses your area code to determine which local dial-in numbers are available. If you make a mistake, press LEFT arrow to correct it.

Phone Dialing Options. Most people will not need to change the settings the recorder uses to dial out. However, if your phone system uses special dialing options, select “Yes.” See “Phone Dialing Options” on page 102 for help with the various settings.

Update Dial-In Numbers. The recorder makes a t oll-free cal l to get a list of local dial-in

numbers. The call usually takes less than five minutes, and its status displays on the screen. If the call fails, check the Troubleshooting chapter of this guide, on page 132.

Dial-In Numbers. The recorder uses the dial-in number you select from the list on this screen to make its daily calls to the DVR service. The list may be too long to fit on one screen. To see more numbers, press CHAN DOWN.

No Local Numbers. If you chose a local dial-in number, you will not see this screen. If you selected None of the above on the Dial-In Numbers screen, select “Request 800 number authorization” here. Selecting this option temporarily selects the toll-free number and submits a request to use the toll-free number. It is the current policy of DIRECTV to allow you to use the toll-free number if there are no local numbers available.

Dialing Format. Choose the dialing format you need. For example, should the dial-in number be preceded by your area code, and should a “1” precede the area code? In some areas, even local numbers must be dialed using the area code.

Test Phone Connecti on Call . This screen appears while the recorder tests the phone dialing options and local dial-in number you have chosen. You should see a message that says “Test Successful!” Press SELECT or the RIGHT arrow to continue. If the phone test does not succeed, you may need to pick a different dial-in number, or change the dialing format. Use the LEFT arrow to go back to previous screens and make changes to d ialing options.

Congratulations! You’ve completed Guided Setup. You can now press the DIRECTV Button on your remote control to go to DIRECTV Central.

Care of Your DIRECTV Recorder. Your recorder should remain connected to your satellite dish antenna and plugged in to a live power source and a phone line at all times. This lets it record programs and make phone calls to keep its data up-to-date.

Phone Setup

Moving Your Recorder. If you take your recorder with you to a location without satellite

access—for example, on a weekend get-away to a mountain cabin—you will still be able to connect it to a television and watch programs saved in the Now Playing List.

After completing Guided Setup one time, whenever you unplug the recorder and plug it back in, it will search for a satellite signal. When you see the message “Acquiring Satellite

Chapter 2

Guided Setup

Information,” you can press the DIRECTV button on the remote control to go directly to DIRECTV Central. From DIRECTV Central, programs in your recorder’sNowPlaying List are always available. If you start your recorder without properly connecting it to a DIRECTV satellite television signal, the recorder will not show live TV or provide any live TV functions.

Your recorder should NOT be used with any digital PBX phone system. Doing so may permanently damage your recorder's modem and will void your warranty. Digital PBX phone systems allow many phones to share a single telephone number and are usually used in hotels and offices. If you are installing the recorder in your home, it is unlikely you are using a digital PBX phone system.

Next Up, the 5 Tours. Now that you are finished with Guided Setup, you’re ready to have fun with your recorder! W e suggest you start with the five short tours provided in “The Basics in 5 Short Tours” on page 33. These will guide you through the basics and show you some fun features of the DIRECTV



Recorder.

CHAPTER

The Basics in 5 Short Tours

Tour 1: Play With Live TV 34

Tour 2: DIRECTV ADVANCED PROGRAM GUIDE™ 36

Tour 3: Find and Record Your Favorite Programs 38

Tour 4: Search for New Programs 40

Tour 5: Now Playing List 42

Cool Things You Can Do 43

Chapter 3

The Basics in 5 Short Tours

Tour 1: Play With Live TV

Vol

Chan

In this tour, you’ll take a look at how you can control live TV. So grab your remote! First, press the PAUSE button—the program you’re watching pauses. Now you can

stand up and stretch, or go to the kitchen and get a snack. You can pause live TV for up to 30 minutes! With Dual Tuner, you can switch between two channels in live TV without losing the saved portion of either one.

( )

TVSAT

But for now, press PLAY and the program resumes. Next, p ress BACK and the program rewinds. Press BACK a second time—it goes

faster! A third time—faster still! Both the FORWARD and BACK buttons have three speeds. Press BACK a fourth time to return to normal speed.

Press PAUSE once more, then immediately press FORWARD and you get frame-byframe forward! Press BACK and y ou get frame-by-frame backward! When your show is paused, FORWARD and BACK let you go frame by frame. Press PLAY to resume watching at normal speed.

Try out the INSTANT REPLAY button. INSTANT REPLAY jumps you back 8 seconds—useful for when you miss a great sports play or a bit of dialog, or for when you fast forward too far.

Press INSTANT REPLAY again, then immediately press SLOW —youget your own slow-motion replay!

Finally, try the ADVANCE button. Presto! You’re caught up to live TV.

Tour 1: Play With Live TV

Status Bar

Press PAUSE or PLAY to see the status bar. It shows a one-hour period. The green segment is the portion of the current hour that has been saved by your recorder. The right edge of the green part is always the current time.

The white line marks the part of the program you are currently watching. If it is anywhere back in the green segment you are “behind” real time.

Press CHAN UP. When you change channels, the recorder starts to save what is showing on the new channel. With Dual Tuner, 30 minutes of live TV is saved on both tuners. That means you can use the instant replay, slow motion and pause features on either channel. If you leave one of these two channels, however, the saved information on the original channel is cleared, and the recorder starts saving live TV on the new channel.

Channel Banner

The channel banner describes the program you’re currently watching. Press INFO or the RIGHT arrow to see the channel banner. The channel banner is only there for a few seconds, but you can bring it back by pressing INF O or the RIGHT arrow again. W hile the banner is visible, press the RIGHT arrow to switch from a small, to medium, to large banner. Each version has a different amount of information.

Status Bar

channel banner

This white line tells you where you are.

Keep pressing the RIGHT arrow until you see the largest version of the channel banner. Notice the small icons on the right side. Each symbol represents a useful f eature, like swapping tuners or setting Parental Controls. Press the UP and DOWN arrows to highlight different icons. Pressing SELECT while an icon is highlighted will take you to that feature. Finally, press the EXIT button—the channel banner disappears. (EXIT gets rid of graphics that aren’t part of the program you’re watching.)

Now go have fun playing with live TV, then come back for the next tour!

selectable icons

Chapter 3

If you find that the Program Guide

or the CHAN UP/DOWN buttons

are not showing channels you want to

see, filtering or a custom channel list is

probably turned on. Check the Guide

Options (from the Program Guide, press

INFO).

The Basics in 5 Short Tours

Tour 2: DIRECTV ADVANCED PROGRAM GUIDE

While you’re watching live TV, the DIRECTV ADVANCED PROGRAM GUIDE™lets you see what’s on, change channels, schedule recordings, and more. To see it, press the GUIDE button on your remote control.

Changing Channels

The guide shows a list of channels on the left and different times across the top. One program is highlighted—it’s a different color than the others. Its d escription appears at the top of the grid. Press the UP or DOWN arrows to move to a different channel, then press SELECT. Pressing SELECT on a program that is currently showing changes the channel to display that program and hides the guide.

Scheduling a Recording

Press the GUIDE button to bring back the Program Guide. It’s easy to record a program using the guide. Simply highlight the program you want and press the RECORD button. A transparent screen appears, from which you select “Record this Showing.” If the program is currently playing, the recorder changes channels and begins recording; otherwise, the recording is scheduled for the future. When you’re recording, the red light on the front of the recorder illuminates.

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Making a List of Favorite Channels

You can create a list of your favorite channels and then set the guide to show only channels that are on the list. This is a quick way to see programs coming up on the channels that are most important to you.

Tour 2: DIRECTV ADVANCED PROGRAM GUIDE™

First, create a list of favorite channels. Press the DIRECTV button to see DIRECTV Central. Highlight “Messages & Setup,” then press SELECT. Next, select ‘My Preferences,” then”Customize Channels,” then “Favorite Channels.” Alistofall DIRECTV fit on one screen!) Press CHAN DOWN a few times. Each time you press it, you see the next screen of channels. Press CHAN UP to see a previous screen. You can also jump to a specific channel by entering t he channel number on the remote.

Highlight a channel you want to include in your list of favorites and press SELECT. A checkmark appears beside the channel. To remove a channel, highlight one that has a checkmark and press SELECT—the checkmark disappears. Now find a few more channels for your list and select them to give them checkmarks.



channels appears. (DIRECTV provides many, many more channels than w ill

Using Your Channel List

When you want to change the way the guide appears and what it displays, you can use its Guide Options. Press the GUIDE button to see the guide. While it is visible, press the INFO button to see Guide Options.

On the Guide Options screen, press the DOWN arrow once so “All” (to the right of “Channels”) is highlighted. “All” is the current channel list and includes all available DIRECTV press SELECT. “Done changing options” becomes highlighted. Press SELECT again and voilá, the guide appears using your new custom channel list!

channels. Press the RIGHT arrow twice to change the list to “Favorites,” then

Now the guide only shows channels in your list. Use the UP and DOWN arrows to move around a bit on your new customized guide, then press the EXIT button to hide the guide. Press CHAN UP a few times—notice it skips some channels now. CHAN UP/DOWN is also affected by the channel list; it only tunes to channels that are on the list. You can still tune to other channels by entering numbers.

Chapter 3

If you do not see Law & Order in the

list of programs, it may be because

the recorder is still gathering Program

Guide data. A message at the bottom of the

screen will tell you how much data the

recorder has. The recorder should be done

collecting Program Guide data within 48

hours of finishing Guided Setup.

The Basics in 5 Short Tours

Tour 3: Find and Record Your Favorite Programs

You can always record a program you’re watching by pressing the RECORD button on your remote control. What’s more, if you have not changed the channel for a while, your recorder will add to your recording whatever part of the program it has already saved, up to 30 minutes. Your recorder also provides many ways to quickly search large numbers of programs, find your favorites, and schedule recordings in advance. Even buying and recording pay per view events is quick and easy, without any need to use a phone. What’s more, if a program is part of a series, you can get a Season Pass Pass records every episode of a selected program that airs on a given channel.

Search by Title

In this tour, we’ll get a Season Pass for Law & Order. Press the DIRECTV button to see DIRECTV Central. Press the DOWN arrow to highlight Pick Programs to Record. Press SELECT. The Pick Programs to Record screen appears. As you can see, there are many ways to search for a program. Since you know the program’s title, highlight Search by Title and press SELECT. The next screen lets you limit your search to any of several categories, but for now, choose “All Programs” and press SELECT.

The next screen has a picture of an alphanumeric keypad. Notice the white box around the “A”. Use the RIGHT, LEFT, UP, and DOWN arrows to move the box. Move it to “L” and press SELECT. A list of programs appears on the right side of the screen. (Notice, the list alphabetizes without “A” or “The.”) Move the white box to “A” and press SELECT again. The list changes. Your recorder searches through all available programs ( usually, data for the next two weeks) to find those that begin with “LA,” then lists those programs. This can be a great way to find a show if you are not sure of its full name.

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to the series. A Season

Tour 3: Find and Record Your Favorite Programs

If you make a mistake entering text, select “DEL” on the screen (or press BACK on the remote control). To clear all text, use CLR on the s creen (or press the CLEAR button on the remote control). Next, enter a “W.” Now you’ll see Law & Order in the title list at the right. Press the RIGHT arrow until you move off the alphanumeric keypad and onto the list of programs. Press the UP or DOWN arrow to highlight Law & Order,thenpress SELECT. The Program Information screen appears. This screen tells you about the program and lets you set up a recording.

Highlight Get a Season Pass, and press SELECT. A screen appears to confirm your choice. Confirmation screens help you make sure the recorder is doing what you want. Press SELECT again. You now have a Season Pass to Law & Order.

To see all your scheduled recordings, go to DIRECTV Central, then Pick Programs to Record, then To Do List. To cancel a recording, highlight it and press SELECT. The Program Information screen appears. Select “Cancel only this episode.” On the next screen confirms that the recording has been deleted from the To Do List. Press select to return to the To Do List. To cancel an entire Season Pass, go to DIRECTV Central, then “Pick Programs to Record,” then “To Do List.” Select a program, then select “Cancel/edit the Season Pass.” Select “Cancel this Season Pass.”

Pay Per View

There will probably be more than

one listing for Law & Order. Select

the one that airs first runs of the show on

a channel you receive.

You can order pay per v iew events u sing your remote control. Some events have dedicated channels that allow ordering more than 24 hours in advance, but for most events, pricing information becomes available within 24 hours of the event’s air-time. Once that information is available, you can select and record the event as you would any other program. When you select an event, a special pay per view Program Information screen will appear with options to purchase it. For a complete description, see page 85.

Chapter 3

The Basics in 5 Short Tours

Tour 4: Search for New Programs

Your DIRECTVDigital Satellite Recorder helps you f ind what you want to watch—both exciting new shows and old favorites you might have forgotten.

Showcases

Showcases list the best programs offered by television’s biggest networks. These Showcases group programs in theme packages, giving you one-stop-shopping convenience when browsing for programs to record. Packages include the biggest blockbuster movies, mini-series, hottest s pecials, hit series and shows from the greatest stars on TV, as well as special Showcases featuring entertaining and informative video. Showcases are updated during your recorder’s daily phone call.

Once you’re inside a Showcase, use the arrow buttons and SELECT to explore the selections. When you get to a list of programs, select a title to see the Program Information screen. If the program airs on a channel you receive, you can set up a recording here—it’s that easy!

TiVolution Magazine

Magazine, an interactive guide to the best upcoming shows on television. You’ll find premieres, specials, and offbeat gems, making it easy for you to schedule recordings. New content is delivered fresh to your recorder during the daily phone call. TiVolution Magazine is always available under Showcases. To f ind it, press the DIRECTV button, select “Showcases,” then “TiVolution Magazine.”

. You’ll always find something fun and unusual in TiVolution

Tour 4: Search for New Programs

TiVo Suggestions (Thumbs Up and Thumbs Down)

TiVo Suggestions is a personalized list of shows selected to match your preferences. How is this magic possible? Any time you watch programs, live or pre-recorded, or browse programs with the Program Guide, you can rate them. If you like a program, press the green THUMBS UP THUMBS DOWN

Over time, the more shows you rate with your Thumb buttons, the better TiVo Suggestions will be at finding programs you like. The suggestions are listed under TiVo Suggestions in order of how closely they match your preferences.

Try it! Press GUIDE to bring up the DIRECTV ADVANCED PROGRAM GUIDE Highlight a few programs and rate them by pressing the THUMBS UP DOWN

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then “TiVo Suggestions.” Suggested programs based on your Thumb ratings appear in TiVo Suggestions. (If you don’t see programs yet, come back later—it may take a few hours the first time.) You can press SELECT on a suggestion, then set up a recording.

As an added bonus, when the recorder has empty space, it may automatically record some of TiVo Suggestions. You will find them at the bottom of the Now Playing List, below programs you requested. TiVo Suggestions never replace shows you explicitly request and they do not prevent those shows from being recorded. Recorded suggestions are always the first programs deleted to make room for recordings you request.

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button on your remote control. If you dislike it, press the red

™

. You can give a program up to three Thumbs, up or down.

™

or THUMBS

™

button. Then go to “DIRECTV Central,” then “Pick Programs to Record,”

Your personal TV preferences are

just that: personal. (DIRECTV

privacy policies are included in your first

monthly statement.)

Chapter 3

The Basics in 5 Short Tours

Tour 5: Now Playing List

Your recorder can record many hours of programming. (Enough to fill a slew of video tapes!) Fortunately, it also labels and organizes all those saved programs. Unlike a VCR, the Now Playing List on your recorder gives you instant access to al l recorded programs— no need to spend time searching for an episode on that tape you thought you used.

To go to the Now Playing List, press the LIST button. Programs you recorded are at the top of the list, in the order they were recorded. An icon (like this one: ) to the left of a program’s title tells you the recording’s current status. (For a summary of what these icons mean, see the inside back cover of this guide.)

Programs you request will appear in the Now Playing List the moment recording begins. You can watch any title in the list—even one that is still being recorded—by highlighting it, then pressing the PLAY button.

Try it! Highlight a program in the Now Playing List and press PLAY. OK, now for the cool part: Watch the program for at least five minutes, then press the LEFT arrow to go back to Now Playing List. Select the same program again—the Program Information screen says “Resume Playing” instead of “Play.” Select “Resume Playing” and return to the program from the point you left it!

Save until . . . Programs you choose to record are saved at least two days by default. To

see options for saving a program longer, highlight the program in the Now Playing List, then press SELECT.

The Program Information screen appears. Select “Save until....” On the n ext screen, use

the UP/DOWN arrows t o highlight the date, then use the RIGHT/LEFT arrows to change it. When you are done, press SELECT.

Cool Things You Can Do

Never be late for your favorite programs: Working late? Stuck in traffic? Don’tworry.If

you set up a recording or a Season Pass, the program will be waiting for you in the Now Playing List. You can even start watching from the beginning while it finishes recording.

Make your television wishes come true with a WishList™: Have a favorite actor? A favorite hobby or interest? How about a favorite sports team? If they’re on TV, chances are a WishList

Looking for good movies? Kids’ shows? Science fiction? With Search by Title, you can browse all the upcoming programs in a particular category and find shows you didn’t know were on (see page 38).

See a good preview, record the show: If you’re watching live TV and a promotion comes on for an upcoming program, you may see an iPreview one: Press THUMBS UP while you see the icon to automatically set up a recording for the program. You don’t have to remember when it’son—it will be recorded! (If you didn’t schedule a recording when you saw the icon, rewind until it’s visible again.)

Filter the Program Guide: Want to try something new for dinner tonight? It’s easy to make the Program Guide show only a certain kind of program—for example, cooking shows. You’ll use the Guide Options screen to choose the desired filter (in this example, it’s “Lifestyles,” then “Cooking”) and turn on filtering. See page 50). Once you’ve turned on the filter, programs t hat do not fit the selected category appear in gray on the guide until you highlight them. In addition, if a given channel doesn’t have any shows that fit the category within the next six hours, that channel doesn’t show up in the guide. You can always turn filtering off to show all channels in the guide.

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will find them. See page 73.

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icon like this

Chapter 3

The Basics in 5 Short Tours

Use the Overtime Scheduler™ (and don’t miss overtime!): Programs sometimes start

before they’re supposed to and often end later than scheduled. With Recording Options, you can “pad” your recordings to account for variations by using the Overtime Scheduler.

Use the EXIT button: The EXIT button hides the status bar, guide, channel banner, and anything else that is not part of the program.

Record two programs at the same time with Dual Tuner! Your DIRECTV Recorder has two tuners—which means it can record programs on two channels at the same time. To activate both tuners, both Satellite In jacks on the back of the recorder must be connected to cables from your satellite dish antenna (or a multiswitch), and you must choose the “Two cables” option in of Satellite Dish Setup (described on page 25). With dual tuner you can watch more of your favorite programs, even when they’re on at the same time.

The Star and the Clapboard: You will occasionally see a yellow star ( ) on DIRECTV Central. The star signals a new selection that may change the next time you visit. Depending on the selection, it may allow you to record a program, watch a preview, or go to a special Showcase. Don’t worry if you pass up a particular new selection; keep going back to DIRECTV Central until it appears again.

The clapboard icon—on DIRECTV Central, or in a Showcase—indicates that a selection includes a video preview. If the clapboard has a green triangle in it ( ), you can press PLAY to play the video. If there is no green triangle, the current selection takes you to another screen where you’ll find the actual video clip.

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Seepage62.

CHAPTER

Watching Live TV

Let’s Go! 46

DIRECTV ADVANCED PROGRAM GUIDE™ 48

Channel Banner 51

Play with Live TV 52

Status Bar 53

Music Channels 54

Standby 55

Chapter 4

Your recorder automatically saves

up to 30 minutes of live TV on the

channel you’re watching. With Dual Tuner,

you can switch between two channels,

and 30 minutes of live TV will be saved on

each channel. If you leave one of these

two channels, the saved information on

the original channel is cleared, and the

recorder starts saving live TV on the new

channel.

Live TVWatching Live TV

Let’s Go!

Here are two ways to watch live TV:

• Press the LIVE TV button on your remote control.

• From DIRECTV Central, highlight Watch Live TV and press SELECT.

Changing Channels

There are a number of ways to change channels—choose what’s easiest for you:

• Tired of channel surfing? Press GUIDE to bring up the DIRECTV ADV ANCED

PROGRAM GUIDE

• You can also change channels by pressing the numbers on your remote control. The channel automatically changes after a few seconds, or you can press ENTER/LAST to make the change right away. If you make a mistake, press CLEAR to clear numbers you have entered. Use the ADVANCE button ( ) for long channel numbers that include a dash, to separate the primary digits from the other digits.

• Use the CHAN UP/DOWN button on your remote control to tune to channels on the current channel list.

• To jump back to the previous channel you were on (without entering any numbers), press ENTER/LAST.

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. Then highlight a program in progress and press SELECT.

Recording a Live Program

To start recording a program while you’re watching it, press RECORD. From the options that display, choose “Record this showing.” Or you can choose “Season Pass and other options” to see the Program Information screen and either get a Season Pass (page 59) or change Recording Options (page 60). The recording will stop automatically when the program ends. You can stop it before that by pressing the RECORD button. A transparent screen will appear with a selection to “Stop the current recording.” You can also select a program in the Now Playing List, and then choose “Stop recording.”

Even when you are not recording a program, the recorder saves up to 30 minutes of live TV from the current channel. If you change channels and you have Dual Tuner enabled, the recorder starts saving on the new channel as well. When you start to record a live program, if the recorder has saved a portion of that program, it adds what has been saved to the beginning of your recording.

With Dual Tuner, if you’re switching between two channels by using the DOWN arrow, the recorder saves up to 30 minutes of live TV on both channels. If you move to a new channel (that is, a third channel), the saved portion on the first channel is cleared, and the recorder starts to save live TV on the new channel (in addition to the other most recent channel you were watching). You can use the fast forward, instant replay, and slow motion features on either of the two current channels.

Let’s Go!

As soon as the recorder starts

recording a program, you can find

that recording on the Now Playing list by

pressing the DIRECTV button twice.

Chapter 4

Live TVWatching Live TV

DIRECTV ADVANCED PROGRAM GUIDE

While you are watching live TV, the DIRECTV ADVANCED PROGRAM GUIDE shows you current and upcoming programs. You can use it to see what’s on, change the channel, schedule a recording, purchase and/or record pay per view events when pricing information is available, alter Thumb ratings, or select a channel filter. The guide has program information for up to the next two weeks.

To display the guide, press the GUIDE button. To hide the guide, press GUIDE again (or press EXIT).

There are two styles of t he DIRECTV ADVANCED PROGRAM GUIDE Guide and the List Guide. They provide similar information. The Grid Guide is the default style. You can choose the one you prefer when you customize the guide (see page 50).

Use the UP, DOWN, R IGHT and LEFT arrows to move throug h the guide. Use CHAN UP/DOWN to page up or down. On the Grid G uide, use the FORWARD and BACK buttons t o jump through programming information 90 minutes at a time. (On the List Guide, the FORWARD and BACK buttons jump through 30 minutes of programming information at a time.)

Changing channels. To change the channel you are watching while in the guide, highlight a program in p rogress and press SELECT.

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:theGrid

™

Recording a program. If the program is in progress, highlight it in the guide and press

RECORD. If the program is on later, highlight it and press RECORD or SELECT. If the program you have chosen is not a pay per view event, a transparent screen displays. Select “Record this showing.” If you have chosen a pay per view program, the p ay per view screen displays.

DIRECTV ADVANCED PROGRAM GUIDE™

Title,date, time the program airs, and other applicable information (rating, alternate audio, CC, Dolby Digital)

Channel number and channel call letters

Guide options (Push INFO button to set)

Current time

Grid Guide

List Guide

Program description

andThumbrating

Time slots

Program listings

Channel list and

category filter

currently in use

Selected channel

The following icons may appear

beside programs in the guide:

This appears beside pay per view

events that are All Day Tickets.

This appears beside programs

that have an alternate audio

track.

This appears beside programs

that have a Dolby Digital sound

track.

This appears beside programs

that are broadcast in letterbox

format, which displays the full

width of the program and leaves

a black margin at the top and

bottom of the screen.

Programsduring this time slot

Upcoming programs on the selected channel

Chapter 4

Live TVWatching Live TV

Customizing the Guide

Guide Options. By customizing the guide, you can choose to use either the Grid Guide or

the List Guide. You can also change the day and time displayed, select a channel list, and set the guide to filter program information by category. To customize the guide, press GUIDE to make it visible, then press INFO to see Guide Options. Highlight an option and then change it with the LEFT and RIGHT arrows. Save your changes by pressing INFO again or GUIDE. To discard your changes, press EXIT.

By customizing the guide, you can

use it to display only program

information you want to see. For example,

you can use the movie filter to quickly

check what movies are on, or use the

“Favorite Channels” list to see

information for your previously selected

channels.

• Channels. Select a channel list to use in the guide (“All,”“Channels You Receive,” or “Favorite Channels”). The default, “All,” displays all of the DIRECTV



channels. If you have customized the Channels You Receive list in My Preferences to include only channels you receive, you can select “You Receive” on this screen to show only channels you receive in the guide. Similarly, if you have customized the “Favorite Channels” list, the guide will only show channels in that list.

• Day and Time. Use the LEFT and RIGHT arrows to change the d ay or time displayed in the guide.

• Style. Change the style of the guide to Grid Guide or List Guide.

• Filtering. Turn guide filtering on or off.

• Choose filter. Choose a category with which to filter the guide. When filtering is on,

programs that do not fit the selected category appear grayed on the guide until you highlight them. In addition, if a channel has no programs in the selected category within six hours of the time on the guide, the Grid Guide will not show that channel.

Channel Banner

The channel banner appears at the top of the screen when you change channels or press INFO, THUMBS UP or THUMBS DOWN, or the RIGHT arrow during a program. It disappears after a few seconds. You can set a preference (see page 96), to decide how long the banner stays on the screen when you change channels. Press EXIT (or INFO) to hide the channel banner.

Use the RIGHT arrow to cycle through three versions of the channel banner: small (with only the current time and channel), medium (adds the title, running time, and ratings), and large (with a program description and icons for useful shortcuts). The size of the banner you last viewed becomes the default size when you change channels.

Channel Banner Shortcuts. The large channel banner has a number of selectable icons. To select an icon, use the UP and DOWN arrows to highlight it, then press SELECT.

Select to start a recording. This icon is bright when the recorder is recording a program, dim when it is not recording.

Select to display what’s on the other tuner (for Dual Tuner). This icon is bright if the program on the other tuner is being recorded. It is dim if the program on the other tuner is not being recorded.

Alternate audio usually changes the language of the program. Sometimes there are other types of alternate audio. If an alternate audio track is available, this icon will be bright, otherwise it will be dim. Highlight this icon and press SELECT to choose an alternate audio track.

Select to display Parental Controls (see page 90). If Parental Controls are off, the padlock appears unlocked and dim. If they are on, it appears locked and bright. If they are temporarily turned off, it appears unlocked and bright.

If this icon is bright, you have new messages. Select to display Messages & Setup.

Pressing the RIGHT arrow cycles through

channel banner styles, from

small . . .

to medium . . .

to large . . .

Chapter 4

Live TVWatching Live TV

Play with Live TV

The INSTANT REPLAY button has

many uses but one of the most

helpful is to compensate when you fast

forward too far. Press INSTANT REPLAY to

rewind eight seconds. Press it again if you

really missed the mark. (You could rewind

through a whole program using only

INSTANT REPLAY!)

WARNING TO PROJECTION TV

OWNERS! Be careful about using

the pause feature for long periods of time

if you have a projection TV. Most

projection TVs are sensitive and “burn in”

still images very quickly. If you pause

your program for too long, you may

permanently damage your screen.

Part of the fun of watching live TV and recorded programs with your DIRECTVDigital Satellite Recorder is using the pause, instant replay, and slow motion features. Here’s a list of the things you can do with the special buttons on your remote control:

Record: Records a program. You can press RECORD when you are watching a program in live TV, or when a program title is highlighted on the guide.

Play: Shows programs at normal speed. The status bar appears for five seconds. Pause: Freezes the picture. To resume, press PLAY, or press PAUSE again. Frame-by-Frame: To move frame-by-frame: first press the PAUSE button. Then

press either the BACK or FORWARD button. For continuous frame-by-frame back or forward, hold down the BACK or FORWARD button.

Back: Plays the program in reverse. Press BACK once, twice, or three times to go

backward fast, faster, or fastest. Forward: Plays the program in fast forward. As with reverse, pressing the

FORWARD button repeatedly cycles through three speeds of fast forward.

Slow: Slows down the speed of the program. Instant Replay: Instantly plays the last eight seconds of the program again. Advance: (a) If you are watching live TV, catches up to the current time. (b) When

you are fast forwarding in a recorded program, instantly jumps ahead to the next tick mark (short white line on the status bar). When you are rewinding, jumps back to the previous tick mark. (c) If you are watching a recorded program, jumps to the end of the recording. Press again to jump to the beginning of the recording.

Status Bar

When you press PLAY, PAUSE, FORWARD or BACK, a status bar appears on the lower part of your screen. In live TV, the status b ar represents one hour (notice the white tick marks every 15 minutes). In recorded programs, the bar shows the program’s length. The green portion of the bar represents the part of the program saved by the recorder. The recorder automatically saves up to 30 minutes of live TV. You can rewind and fast forward through the saved portions of a program.

Status Bar

In live TV, the right edge of the green segment represents the current time. A white vertical l ine shows where you are in the saved portion of the program. If the white line is anywhere back in the green segment, you are behind live TV. When you’re behind live TV, you can press the ADVANCE button ( ) to catch up.

Status Bar for live TV.

Status Bar for a twohour recorded program.

This is where you are now.

The BACK button has been pressed twice.

This shows which special feature you are using. (This is the symbol for Pause.)

tick marks (15 min. apart)

This is where you catchupwithliveTV and the current time.

This recorded program is two hours long.

The EXIT button hides the status

bar, guide, channel banner, and

anything else that is not part of the

program.

Chapter 4

Live TVWatching Live TV

Music Channels

Some DIRECTVchannels feature continuous music. You can tune to a music channel just as you would any other channel. You cannot record music channels or use special features—such as pause or rewind—on a music channel.

Music C hannels have a special music banner that displays for five minutes when you first tune to them. You can bring the music banner back to the screen by pressing the RIGHT arrow, or INFO. The music banner is updated continuously as information comes in from the satellite. It may not always have complete information.

Standby

You can put your recorder in standby mode by selecting “Standby” from DIRECTV Central, or by pressing the STANDBY button on the front of your recorder.

• If you temporarily turned off Parental Controls, standby mode enables them again.

• The lights on the front of the recorder go out and it shows a black screen on your TV.

It responds to only a few buttons on the remote control.

• The recorder will not tune to previously ordered pay per view programs unless you have them scheduled to be recorded.

• Programs that are recording or scheduled to record will record in standby mode.

To turn off standby mode, press the DIRECTV button on your remote control. Standby mode and local channels. If you have an antenna or receive cable service in

addition to DIRECTV input. In this case, standby mode lets you watch channels received by your antenna or cable. However, you won’t be able to use the DVR service or other features with those channels. (For example, you cannot make Season Pass recordings for those programs.)

programming, you may have it connected to your recorder’sRF

Standby

Chapter 4

Live TVWatching Live TV

CHAPTER

Finding and Recording Programs

Recording Programs: The Basics 58

Finding Programs to Record 68

I Already Know What I Want to Record . . . 69

I Know What I Like . . . 73

Help Me Find New Programs . . . 79

Chapter 5

Finding and Recording Programs

Recording Programs: The Basics

All programs saved on your recorder are l isted in the Now Playing List (no more searching through unlabeled videotapes!). To go to the Now Playing List, press the DIRECTV button on your remote control twice, or press the LIST button. As soon as a recording begins, it appears at the top of the list. You can watch any title in the Now Playing List, even one that is still being recorded.

Now Playing List

To watch a program in the Now Playing List, highlight it and press PLAY. If you have watched part of the program already, it resumes from the point you stopped watching. To delete a program in the list, highlight it and press CLEAR. Press SELECT to confirm.

Selecting a program in the Now Playing List displays a Program Information screen where you can:

• Play (or Resume playing).

• Save until... To change the date when the program may be deleted, press the DOWN

arrow until the date is highlighted, then press the RIGHT or LEFT arrows until the date you want appears. Press SELECT to return to the Program Information screen.

• Stop Recording.

• Delete Now.

• Save to VCR. Saves a program from the Now Playing List to a videotape (see page 66).

DIRECTV Central Now Playing List

I Know What I Like . . .

Getting a Season Pass

A Season Pass records every episode of a series that airs on a certain channel—even if the day or time slot changes! It is totally automatic and really easy to set up. Just select a program (from the DIRECTV ADVANCED PROGRAM GUIDE choose “Get a Season Pass.” Season Pass recordings have the f ollow ing characteristics:

• No duplicates within 28 days. If you watch or delete a particular episode or showing, it will not be recorded automatically again for 28 days. This prevents the Now Playing List from filling up with shows you probably don’t want. If you want to record duplicates, select the program on the Season Pass screen, then choose “Change recording options,” highlight“Show Type options,” and select “All (with duplicates).”

• Parental Controls. If Parental Controls are on when you schedule a Season Pass, the recorder checks its current program information to see if any upcoming program violates a Parental Control. If a program does, the recorder requires the current password to continue. See page 90.

• Keep at Most=5. Bydefault, five episodes of the program are kept in the Now Playing List. You can change this setting. See page 60.

• Resolving conflicts. The DVR service resolves scheduling conflicts by comparing recording priorities. You can change priorities using the Season Pass Manager. See page 60.

™

, for example) and

If some Season Pass programs are

not recording, you may need to

change their priority with the Season

Pass Manager. See page 60.

An exception to the 28-day, no-

duplicates feature may occur if the

program wasn’t watched but was deleted

from the Now Playing List to make room

for another recording you requested.

Another reason a duplicate recording

might be made is if the program

information describes the program

incorrectly.

Repeating Recordings. In addition to being characteristics of the Season Pass, the above

also apply to two other types of recordings that repeat automatically:

• A manual repeat recording records on a specific channel at a specific time (much like the recordings you would set up with a VCR). See page 72.

• An auto-recording WishList records all the programs a WishList finds. See page 78.

Chapter 5

Finding and Recording Programs

Managing Your Season Pass recordings. With Dual Tuner, you can record two programs

at the same time. Conflicts will occur only if you try to schedule a third recording that overlaps the other two. By default, the oldest Season Pass has the greatest priority. If some Season Pass programs are not recording, you may need to change their priority with the Season Pass Manager. To do this, go to DIRECTV Central, then select “Pick Programs to Record,” then “Season Pass Manager.”

To change the priority order:

1. Use the UP/DOWN arrow buttons to highlight one of your repeating recordings.

2. Press the RIGHT arrow to highlight the arrows to the right of the title.

3. Use the UP/DOWN arrows to move the selected title up or down in the list. Resolving Conflicts. If a conflict o ccurs when you’re setting up a new repeating

recording, you’ll be shown which programs are involved. You’ll also be given options to resolve the conflict:

• Record the program you just requested and cancel one of the already scheduled programs. This gives the new repeating recording the highest priority.

• Record only those programs that do not conflict with others previously scheduled to record. This gives the new repeating recording the lowest priority.

Setting Recording Options

When you set up a recording, you can set various recording options. You can change them later by selecting the program in the To Do List or Season Pass Manager.

The Program Information screen that appears when you select a program includes choices to “Record this episode” and “Get a Season Pass.” When one of these recording actions is

DIRECTV Central Season Pass Manager Get a Season Pass Options

I Know What I Like . . .

highlighted, “Options” appears to its right. To see the current Recording Options, use the arrow buttons to highlight “Options,” then press SELECT.

To set Recording Options:

1. On the Recording Options screen, use the UP/DOWN arrows to highlight an option.

2. Press the RIGHT and LEFT arrows to change the setting.

3. When you are done, press SELECT or highlight “Record with these options.”

4. Press SELECT again to schedule the recording with the n ew options. To cancel your changes, press the LEFT arrow. Recording Options include:

• Keep At Most. (Only available for a repeating recording.) This option sets the maximum number of programs to save as part of the series. The default is five. This is useful for news programs for which you only want the most recent episode, or children’s programs for which you may want to keep several episodes but do not want to fill up the Now Playing List.

• Show Type. (Only available for a repeating recording.) You can select “Repeats & first run,”“First run only,” which records only new episodes, and “All (with duplicates).”

• Keep Until. (Only available for a repeating recording.) If you change this setting from “Space needed” (the default) to “Until I delete,” programs are saved until you delete

them. If your recorder fills up with programs marked “Until I delete,” it will stop making new recordings until you delete some old programs.

DIRECTV Central Season Pass Manager or To Do List

Chapter 5

Finding and Recording Programs

• Keep At Least. (Only available for an individual recording.) This option sets the minimum amount of time for the recorder to keep a recording. The default setting is two days, except for pay per view events, which default to “Save until I delete.”

The next two items on the list are collectively known as the Overtime Scheduler

• Start Recording. Use this setting to start recording a program before its scheduled beginning. For example, to catch the first joke of a comedy series, you can set the Season Pass to start recording one minute early. The default is “On-time,” but you can choose to start recording 1 , 2 , 3, 4, 5 or 10 minutes before the program is scheduled to begin.

• Stop Recording. Use this setting to stop recording a program after its scheduled end time. For example, you may want to continue recording for a w hile after the scheduled end of a sports event, should it go into overtime. The default setting is “On-time,” but you can stop recording 1, 2, 5, 15, or 30 minutes, or 1, 1.5 or 3 hours after a program is scheduled to end.

Tip. You can sometimes resolve recording conflicts by changing the Stop Recording or Start Recording options. For example, if you set a program to start recording one minute early, it may conflict with a recording of the program before it. To resolve the conflict, simply change the Start Recording option back to “On-time.”

™

DIRECTV Central Pick Programs to Record Season Pass Manager or To Do List

I Know What I Like . . .

Program Information Screen

In the Program Guide, highlighting a program title (that is not currently playing) and pressing SELECT displays some information about the program. You can also choose “Season Pass & other options” to get to the Program Information screen. The Program Information screen includes a brief description of the selected program. It also shows the program’s start time, channel, duration, ratings, advisories, and other attributes. For more details on a given program, press INFO at a Program Information s creen. The Program Details screen appears.

If you have given a program a Thumb rating, Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down icons appear at the top of the Program Information screen. You can change the rating here by pressing THUMBS UP or THUMBS DOWN.

Ratings and Advisories. The Program Information screen shows ratings and advisories for the selected program. For a description of movie and television ratings, and of television advisories, see “Parental Controls” on page 90. A movie may also have advisories, regardless of whether it has a rating. The following movie advisory codes may appear in parentheses after the description:

AC: Adult Content SC: Sexual Content N: Nudity AL: Adult Language MV: Mild Violence BN: Brief Nudity GL: Graphic Language GV: Graphic Violence RP: Rape

Other attributes. Other attributes may appear in parentheses after the description of a

program. These may include genre information or technical notes such as CC (for closed captioning), letterbox (which means the program is broadcast in letterbox, a wide-screen format) and Dolby Digital.

Chapter 5

Finding and Recording Programs

Actions you can take. The lower part of the Program Information screen shows actions

you can take. Available actions vary depending on what kind of program is selected and whether the program is already recorded or is scheduled to record.

• For actions you can take on programs that are scheduled to record (programs in the To Do List), see page 65.

• For actions you can take on pay per view programs, see page 39.

• For actions you can take on recorded programs (programs in the Now Playing List),

seepage58.

If the program is not yet scheduled to record, you can take these actions:

• Record this program/episode. Schedules a recording of the current program. You can also use the RIGHT arrow to highlight “Options,” then press SELECT to change Recording Options.

• Get a Season Pass. (Only available if the program is part of a series.) Select this to get a Season Pass for the program.

• View upcoming episodes/showings. Displays a list of upcoming episodes/showings of the program on all channels.

• Don’t do anything. R eturns to the previous screen without making changes. LEFT arrow also selects “Don’t do anything.”

I Know What I Like . . .

Reviewing the To Do List

The To Do List shows all scheduled recordings. To view it, go to DIRECTV Central, then Pick Programs to Record, then To Do List. After setting up a recording, you can confirm that it is scheduled on the To Do List. Individual recordings have a single checkmark ( ) to the left of the program title. Season Pass and manual repeat recordings have a double checkmark ( ), and WishList searches (see page 73) have a star ( ). Season Pass recordings with no upcoming episodes to record appear at t he bottom of the list.

Select a recording from the To Do Lis t. Then you can:

• Change recording options. Highlight Record as planned, then press the right arrow and select “Options” to see Recording Options. If the program is part of a Season Pass, changing Recording Options from the To Do List only makes changes for a single episode, not for the Season Pass. Choose Cancel/edit the Season Pass to make changes for all episodes.

• View upcoming episodes/showings. Displays a list of upcoming episodes/showings of the selected program. Programs scheduled to record have a checkmark, double checkmark, or a star. Select a program to see the Program Information screen.

• Cancel this recording or Cancel only this episode/showing. Cancel a single recording or a single episode from a Season Pass.

• Cancel/edit the Season Pass. From this screen you can cancel the Season Pass, view upcoming programs, or change recording options for the whole Season Pass.

• Cancel/edit manual repeat recording. Lets you cancel or change recording options for a manual repeat recording.

DIRECTV Central Pick Programs to Record To Do List

Canceling the recording of a pay

per view event does not

automatically cancel the purchase. You

must cancel the purchase on the

Purchases screen, described on page 85.

Chapter 5

Finding and Recording Programs

View Recording History

This is an advanced feature for those who really want all the details. It is available as a selection in the To Do List, and displays a history of programs that have been deleted or have not recorded. The history also lists recordings that were requested but will not be recorded, as well as the reason for not making the recording.

Selecting a program displays a screen that explains how and when the program was removed from the Now Playing List or To Do List. If the program is scheduled for the future, you can select “More recording options” on this screen to reschedule it.

Saving Programs to a VCR

If you have a VCR, you can save a program from the Now Playing List to a videotape. You will not be able to watch live TV or recordings while saving.

Most of the buttons on your remote that control live TV work as usual during Save to VCR. Keep in mind that the VCR will record the video exactly as it plays. This means you can fast forward through the boring parts! (It also means the VCR will record the channel banner, status bar, and any icons that appear if you press buttons on the remote.)

Preparing for Save to VCR:

1. Set up your VCR. Be sure you have connected your recorder’s video and audio to the VCR’s video and audio. See the Start Here poster that came with your recorder.

2. Be sure your VCR is set to record input from your DIRECTV



Digital Satellite Recorder, not some other video source. (See your VCR’s instructions for how to set the input.)

3. Make sure you have a videotape in the VCR.

DIRECTV Central Now Playing List Program Info Save to VCR

I Know What I Like . . .

Using Save to VCR:

1. Go to the Now Playing List, highlight the show you want to save, then press SELECT.

2. Using the arrow buttons, highlight “Save to VCR,” then press SELECT.

3. Select “Start saving from the beginning.”

4. A title screen appears for ten seconds. When you see it, press your VCR’s record button.

5. When the program is over, press stop on your VCR.

Stopping Save to VCR:

Going to live TV interrupts (or stops) the transfer. You can resume saving later.

1. Press a button (for example, the DIRECTV button) that would interrupt Save to VCR. The videotape icon appears.

2. While the icon is visible, press the same button again.

3. A confirmation screen appears. On the confirmation screen, choose either “Stop saving for now. Resume later” or “Cancel saving to VCR.”

4. PressstoponyourVCR.

To resume saving the program:

1. Go to the Now Playing List, select the program, and then choose “Save to VCR.”

2. Choose “Save from the paused location.” A countdown screen appears.

To ensure that your VCR has time to begin recording, press record on your VCR before the countdown gets to “1.”

DIRECTV Central Now Playing List Program Info Save to VCR

Chapter 5

Finding and Recording Programs

Finding Programs to Record

Find shows to record. The DVR service allows you to quickly set up recordings for the

shows you already know you love. It also helps you search for fun, exciting new programs that match your interests, hobbies, favorite stars and genres. Which of the following statements fits your mood today?

I already know what I want to record ... (page 69)

I know what I like ... (page 73)

Help me find new programs ... (page 79)

Set up recordings. After finding a program, it’s easy to schedule a recording. You can schedule one recording or choose one of these options to set up a repeating recording:

• Season Pass recordings record every episode of a program on a specified channel (see page 59).

• An auto-recording WishList records every program a WishList finds (see page 78).

• A manual recording records a chosen time and channel and can be set to repeat once

each week, every day, or just on weekdays or weekends (see page 72).

Programs you have scheduled to be recorded appear in the To Do List (see page 65). To watch recorded programs, select them in the Now Playing List (see page 58).

Describes Search by Title and Record by Time or Channel.

Describes Wishlist searches.

Describes TiVo Suggestions and Showcases

I Know What I Like . . .

I Already Know What I Want to Record . . .

The following options are useful if you already know the title of the program you want to record:

• Search by Title

• Record by Time or Channel

• Manually Record by Time or Channel

Search by Title

Use Search by Title if you are looking for a specific program and you know its name.

1. After selecting Search by Title, you have the option of limiting your search to a category of programs (such as movies or sports). This is useful if you just want to browse through a list of upcoming programs in a given category and/or subcategory. If you do not want to choose a category, select “All P rograms.”

2. The next screen lets you type the title of the program you are looking for. Use the arrow buttons on the remote to move around the keypad. Press SELECT on each letter of your program title. As you select letters, a list of programs appears to the right of the keypad. Continue entering letters until you see your program in the list. (For a quick review of how to enter titles using the onscreen keypad, see “Tour 3: Find and Record Your Favorite Programs” on page 38.)

3. Use the RIGHT arrow to move the highlight to the program list.

4. When you find a program you want to record, highlight it and press SELECT to bring up the Program Information screen.

DIRECTV Central Pick Programs to Record Search by Title

Chapter 5

Finding and Recording Programs

Record by Time/Channel

Record by Time/Channel offers you three choices: Browse by Time, Browse by Channel, and Manually Record Time/Channel. These options are described separately in the next few pages.

Browse by Time

Browse by Time lets you browse all programs on a particular day and time. For example, you can browse all the movies on Saturday night. With Browse by Time, you can filter the list to see only programs on your Favorite Channels or only programs in a particular category. To learn how to program your list of Favorite Channels, see page 50. To find a program:

1. Use the arrow buttons to highlight a category (for example, “Movies”)tonarrowthe list of programs. Then press SELECT.

2. Select a subcategory (for example, “Comedy”), then press SELECT.

3. Use the UP and DOWN arrows to select the day of programming that you want to see. Press the RIGHT arrow to move the highlight to the time column.

4. Use the UP and DOWN arrows to select a time. The time will advance in half-hour increments.

5. Press SELECT to bring up the list of programs without leaving the time selector (or press the RIGHT arrow to bring up the list of programs and move to the list at the same time). When you find a program you want to record, highlight it and press SELECT to bring up the Program Information screen.

DIRECTV Central Pick Programs to Record Record by Time/Channel

I Know What I Like . . .

Browse by Channel

Browse by Channel lets you browse through programs on a particular channel. You can start with all channels or just your favorites. To browse by channel:

1. Highlight and select either “All Channels”, which includes all the channels you receive, or “Favorite Channels,” which includes just the channels you have selected as your favorites.

2. Use the UP and DOWN arrows to select the date you want to browse. Press the RIGHT arrow to move the highlight to the channel column.

3. Use the UP and DOWN arrows to select a channel. (You can also use the numbers on the remote to type in a channel, then press ENTER/LAST.)

4. Press SELECT to bring up the list of programs without leaving the channel selector (or press the RIGHT arrow to bring up the list of programs and move to the list at the same time).

5. When you find a program you want to record, highlight it and press SELECT to bring up the Program Information screen. Then you can view upcoming episodes, set up a Season Pass, or record an individual showing.

DIRECTV Central Pick Programs to Record Record by Time/Channel Browse by Channel

Chapter 5

Record by Time or Channel is

useful for times when you want to

record only a portion of a program, for

example, the opening monologue of a talk

show.

Finding and Recording Programs

Manually Record by Time or Channel

Manually Record Time/Channel lets you schedule a recording on a specific channel at a specific time, just as you would with a VCR. You can also create a manual repeat recording for every week, every day, or every weekday. To create a manual recording:

1. To choose the Recording Type, use the UP and DO WN arrows to select “One Time,” or “Repeating.” Then press the RIGHT arrow.

2. To choose the day(s) for the recording, use the UP and DOWN arrows to change the current selection. If you chose “Repeating,” you can also choose to repeat the recording on a specified day of the week, on every weekday (select “Every M-F”)or every day (select “Every Day”).

3. To choose a channel, use the UP and DOWN arrows or enter a number from the number keypad. Press the RIGHT arrow.

4. To set the hour, minute, and am/pm for the start and stop time, use UP/DOWN arrows to change the current selection. Press the RIGHT arrow to move to the next step, LEFT arrow to move back.

5. To schedule the recording, press SELECT. A confirmation screen appears. The recording will be named with a “best guess” based on program guide listings for that time and channel. This will help you find your program later in the To Do List or Now Playing List.

Pick Programs to Record Record by Time/Channel Manually Record by Time/Channel

I Know What I Like . . .

If you know what you like, WishList searches are great! They allow you to find and automatically record shows that match your interests, tastes, passions, and whims. You can search for future programs with your favorite actor or director by creating an Actor or Director WishList. You can also create a Category O nly WishList to find programs tailored to particular categories. The Keyword WishList and the Title WishList allow you to search for specific words or phrases in program descriptions and titles.

Try a WishList!

For example, you could create a Category Only WishList for the category “Movies” and subcategory “Action/Adventure.” You could then use it occasionally to look at a list of all action/adventure movies airing in the next two weeks. The list would be constantly updated by program guide data.

You could search for something more specific by creating an Actor W ishList for Sean Connery, and then include the category “Movies,” and s ubcategory “Action.” This WishList would only find action movies with Sean Connery.

Using a Keyword WishList, you can look for something very specific. For example, the Keyword WishList “LIGHTNING” with category “Football” wouldfindLightning football (but not baseball) games for you.

Here’s another example: You could make a Keyword WishList to find the 1986 remake of the science fiction classic The Fly, starring Geena Davis. The keyword entry would look like this: “GEENA DAVIS” FLY. Not only does this WishList find a specific program—it finds the specific version! (You could also find this movie by making a Keyword

DIRECTV Central Pick Programs To Record Search Using WishLists

Chapter 5

If you set up an auto-recording

WishList for sports, consider using

™

the Overtime Scheduler

option described on see page 62) to make

sure you don’t miss the most exciting part

of the game!

(a recording

Finding and Recording Programs

WishList for the movie’s title and year. In that case, the keyword entry might look like this: “THE FLY” 1986.)

After you make a WishList, you can periodically view what it finds by selecting “View all upcoming WishList programs,” or selecting an individual WishList, then selecting “View upcoming programs.” Then you can schedule recordingsfor the programs or episodes you want. (See page 78 for more details.)

Can a WishList Do More Than Search?

You can set a WishList to auto-record, and it will record every program the WishList finds. For example, with the Sean Connery Actor WishList, you would automatically collect Sean Connery action movies in the Now Playing List.

Some WishList searches are better suited to browsing than to auto-recording. For example, you could create a Category Only WishList for the category “Documentary.” This WishList would find every upcoming documentary. You could then occasionally browse the WishList and choose the upcoming documentaries you want to record.

The more specific a WishList is, the better suited it is to auto-recording. For example, an auto-recording Keyword WishList with the keywords KNICKS and BULLS, and category “Sports/Basketball” would only record basketball games with both of these teams—a great way to ensure that you enjoy this season’s rivalry. (For more on auto-recording a WishList, see page 78.)

DIRECTV Central Pick Programs To Record Search Using WishLists

I Know What I Like . . .

Creating a WishList

From Search Using WishLists, select “Create new WishList.” Next, select the type of WishList: Actor, Director, Category Only, Keyword, or Title. For most WishList searches, you use the keypad on the next screen to spell out what you’re looking for.

As the last step, you’ll then be able to select a category and subcategory to narrow your search. For example, if you want movies with Harrison Ford, but not documentaries or talk shows, select “Movies.” To search every category, select “Don’t specify a category.”

Category Only WishList: Use the UP and DOWN buttons to highlight a category, then press SELECT. A subcategories list appears. Highlight a subcategory, then press SELECT. To search all subcategories, you can also select “Don’t specify a subcategory.”

Actor or Director WishList Searches: Spell the person’s last name first by using the arrow keys to move the selection box around the keypad and pressing SELECT to enter the highlighted letter. As you select letters, a list of names appears to the right of the keypad.

If you see the person’s name, press the arrow buttons to highlight the name you want and press SELECT. To search for a name that is not on the list, enter the name in the format: LAST NAME, FIRST NAME. You must match the spelling of the name exactly, and you must use a comma (in the keypad under the letter W). If an actor or director is not listed, and none of their programs are in the Program Guide, try a Keyword WishList.

DIRECTV Central Pick Programs To Record Search Using WishLists

Chapter 5

Finding and Recording Programs

Keyword or Title WishList Searches: You can create a Keyword WishList with one

keyword or with several. If you enter more than one keyword, the WishList only finds programs that match all of your keywords. With Keyword WishList searches, the DVR service checks for your keywords in the program or episode title, description, actor, director, year, and category information. Title WishList searches work very similarly, but the DVR service searches only program and episode titles.

Spell your keyword(s) by using the arrow buttons to move around, then pressing SELECT to enter highlighted letters on the keypad. You can enter as many characters as will fit on the screen. When you have finished, use the RIGHT arrow to highlight “Done creating keywords,” then press SELECT.

Using * in WishList Searches. To search for simil ar words in Keyword and Title WishList searches, use the asterisk (*) as a special symbol that replaces the endings of words. For example, the keyword AIRP* would find shows containing “airport,” “airplane,”“airplanes,” as well as the movie “Airplane!” To enter an asterisk, press the SLOW ( ) button as you are spelling out your keyword or title.

The asterisk can be helpful when you’re looking for a range of similar words, as in the example above, or if you’re just not sure how something is spelled. Pop quiz: is it “irresistible” or “irresistable?” Use the keyword IRRESIST* and don’t worry about it! Two things to note about using the asterisk:

• It can only be used at a word’send;itcannotbeusedtoomitlettersatthebeginningor in the middle of a word. (For example, AIR*NE or *PLANE would not work.)

• Be as specific as possible. For example, do not use keywords like TH*. There will not be enough room to show all the results of a keyword that is too general.

DIRECTV Central Pick Programs To Record Search Using WishLists

I Know What I Like . . .

Tips for entering keywords

• To specify an exact phrase in a Keyword or Title WishList, surround a set of words with quotation marks (to enter quotation marks, press PAUSE ( ). For example, the keyword PAUL SIMON might also turn up a documentary about Simon Bolivar with a director whose name is Paul. Use “PAUL SIMON” to be certain you find programs that only feature Paul Simon.

• If you enter more than one keyword in Keyword or Title WishList searches, only programs that match all of your keywords (for example, “GEENA DAVIS” FLY) are found.

• If you want to include an exact phrase and additional keywords, there should be a space between the final quotation mark and the beginning of the next word. You can place a space character by selecting SP on the grid of letters or by pressing FORWARD ( ).

• Replace hyphens ( - ), slashes ( / ) and periods ( . ) with spaces. For example, you would use the keyword phrase 20 20 to search for the title “20/20.” For an Actor WishList for Catherine Zeta-Jones, use ZETA JONES, CATHERINE. You can place a space character by selecting SP on the grid of letters or by pressing FORWARD ( ).

• Any other marks, such as apostrophes ( ’ ) and ampersands ( & ), are ignored. For example, you would use the keyword phrase 6OCLOCKNEWSto search for the title “6O’ClockNews.” (Note that commas ( , ) are also ignored, except in actor and director WishList searches, where they are essential.)

• For dollar signs ( $ ) substitute the letter S. For example, to find “$100,000 Pyramid,” use S100000. (In Search by Title, skip the dollar signs to find these titles.)

Title WishList searches are an

excellent way to search for a

program that is not on in the next couple

of weeks, but that you would want to

record if it ever came on. For example, if

you want to record “The Maltese Falcon”

the next time it airs, create a Title

WishList for the phrase “Maltese Falcon.”

Set the WishList to auto-record. If you

want to make sure the program will

record, give the WishList a high priority

with the Season Pass Manager. (Se e page

59.) The next time “The Maltese Falcon”

comes on, your WishList will record it.

If you see too many programs

when you select “View upcoming

programs,” the WishList you are using is

probably better suited for searching and

browsing than for auto-recording.

DIRECTV Central Pick Programs to Record Search Using WishLists

Chapter 5

Finding and Recording Programs

Browsing, Recording, and Editing WishList Searches

To browse all WishList items: Select “View all upcoming WishList programs.” This

displays a list of up to 10 programs from each of your WishList searches—andupto200 programs total. The list is divided to display programs found by each WishList. To record a program, select its title, then choose “Record this episode” on the Program Information screen.

To browse an individual WishList: Highlight the WishList and press SELECT. Select “View upcoming programs,” which searches through current program information and creates a list of up to 200 unique upcoming programs that match this WishList. This list displays the first airing of an episode or program.

To see all the showings of upcoming episodes (up to two weeks into the future), select the title of the program in the “Upcoming programs” list generated by your WishList. Then select “View upcoming episodes.” A comprehensive list appears, including several episodes with showings on different channels and different time slots. The Program Information screen also includes an option for recording a particular program.

If you create an auto-recording

WishList with the category

“Sports,” previews of pay per view

programs may be recorded and appear on

your Now Playing List. These will be

marked as partial recordings on the

Program Information screen. You will not

be charged for such recordings.

Auto-recording WishList searches. When you create a WishList or select it, you can

choose to “Auto-record WishList programs.” This means every program the WishList finds will be automatically recorded.

Auto-recording WishList searches themselves and their upcoming recordings are marked with a star ( ). To be sure that all your WishList programs are recorded, give the WishList a high priority in the Season Pass Manager. See page 59 for details.

To edit a WishList . Select the WishList, then select “Edit WishList.” Youcan change your WishList—for example, to correct a misspelling or to add a category.

DIRECTV Central Pick Programs to Record Search Using WishLists

I Know What I Like . . .

Help Me Find New Programs . . .

The DVR service provides special features that help you sift through upcoming programs to find shows you’d like:

TiVo Suggestions these show up in the Now Playing List if they’re recorded. Showcases go to DIRECTV Central, then select this option.

TiVo Suggestions

Your recorder tries to make sure there is always something interesting on for you to watch. How does it know what you will like? It tries to predict your preferences based on Thumb ratings you have given other programs, and on the single THUMBS UP given to programs you choose to record. You can check TiVo Suggestions occasionally to see what’snew. The list of programs is ranked, so shows you are more likely to enjoy are near the top. To view the list, go to DIRECTV Central, then select “Pick Programs to Record,” then “TiVo Suggestions.”

TiVo Suggestions improve over time as you record and rate programs. The more you use the Thumb buttons, the better TiVo Suggestions become. You can use the Thumb buttons while you are browsing TiVo Suggestions or whenever you are:

• Watching live TV or browsing the guide.

• Viewing a Program Information screen (for example, to schedule a recording).

• Looking through a Showcase such as TiVolution Magazine.

Only programs airing on channels

in the Channels You Receive list

can be recorded as TiVo Suggestions.

Your personal TV preferences are

just that: personal. DIRECTV

privacy policies are available on the web

at www.DIRECTV.com.

DIRECTV Central Pick Programs to Record TiVo Suggestions

Chapter 5

Finding and Recording Programs

When there is empty space in the Now Playing List, the DVR service may record TiVo Suggestions for you. Suggestions are marked in the Now Playing List with a TiVo icon ( ).The recorder never d eletes a program you requested to make room for a suggestion. Instead, suggestions are deleted to make room for recordings you schedule. A preference that prevents TiVo Suggestions from recording automatically is described on page 97. TiVo Suggestions that have been recorded once will not record again for at least 28 days.

Showcases

Looking for the biggest shows on TV? Showcases are your shortcut to the most exciting events and the best movies. Whether you're looking for a hit comedy or want to g et the most from your subscription to the premium channels, Showcases offer you a quick, interactive way to get what you want. You'll always find something fun and unusual in the TiVolution Magazine Showcase. Showcases are updated several times weekly during the recorder’s daily phone call.

To explore Showcases and schedule recordings:

1. Press the DIRECTV button to see DIRECTV Central.

2. Select Showcases. A collection of Showcases appears.

3. All of the showcases may not fit on the screen. You can use the CHAN DOWN button to see showcases that are not visible at first. Each showcase is represented by a graphic. A white box appears around the highlighted showcase and a graphic displays at the top of the screen. Use the navigation buttons, RIGHT, LEFT, UP and DOWN, to highlight the showcase you want and then press SELECT. A list of themes in that Showcase appears.

DIRECTV Central Showcases

I Know What I Like . . .

4. Use the CHAN DOWN button to see themes that are not visible at first. When you highlight a theme, a short description of it appears at the top of the screen. Select a theme. A list of programs appears.

5. You can use the CHAN DOWN button to see programs that are not visible at first. When you highlight a program, a short description of it appears at the top of the screen. Select a program to see its Program Information screen. If the channel that carries the program is included in your “Channels you Receive” list, you can schedule a recording from the Program Information screen.

DIRECTV Central Showcases

Chapter 5

Finding and Recording Programs

CHAPTER

Messages and Setup

Messages from DIRECTV 84

Purchases 85

My Preferences 89

Recorder & Phone Setup 99

System Information 106

Troubleshooting 107

Restart or Reset System 108

Chapter 6

Messages and Setup

Messages from DIRECTV

From time to time DIRECTV may send you messages about updates to your service and other important notices. These messages are important, useful and easy to get to—we made them that way because we really want you to read them. When you receive a new message, a message icon ( ) appears on the channel banner and in DIRECTV Central.

To read a message:

1. From DIRECTV Central, select “Messages and Setup.”

2. Select “Messages.”

3. Select the message you want to read. Use the CHAN DOWN button to see text that does not fit on the screen. When you are

finished reading a message, select “Done,” or “Delete Message.” Selecting the message icon in the channel banner will take you to your list of messages.

The message list will display No Messages if there are no messages to read.

DIRECTV Central Messages and Setup

Purchases

To see the Purchases screen, first press the DIRECTV Button, then Messages and Setup, then select “Purchases.” The Purchases screen displays a list of all pay per view programs you have purchased, along with their date and time. Each program in the list is also marked either “Upcoming,”“Purchased,”“Canceled,” or “Unviewed.”

• Upcoming. These programs are scheduled to be purchased but have not aired yet. You have not yet been charged for them. You can cancel upcoming purchases by selecting them. The Purchase Info screen, described below, will appear.

• Purchased. These programs have been viewed. You were charged for them.

• Canceled. Purchase of these programs was canceled before the programs aired. You

were not charged for them.

Purchases

• Unviewed. These programs were scheduled to be purchased but were not viewed and not recorded. You were not charged for them.

Purchase Info. The Purchase Info screen shows a selected pay per view event’s date, time, channel and purchase price. You can cancel upcoming purchases on this screen. Canceling a scheduled pay per view recording in another place—for example, the To Do List—does not cancel the purchase. You must cancel the purchase from the Purchases screen. To see Purchase Info, highlight a program and press SELECT.

To cancel an upcoming purchase:

• On the Purchases screen, highlight an upcoming purchase and press SELECT. The Purchase Info screen appears.

• Select “Cancel this purchase.” A confirmation screen appears.

DIRECTV Central Messages and Setup Purchases

Chapter 6

Messages and Setup

• Press SELECT. The purchase is canceled. You return to the Purchases screen. If you cancel a purchase that is scheduled to record, the recording is also canceled.

Pay Per View

If a pay per view program exceeds

spending or rating limits you have

set with Parental Controls, a password

will be required to purchase it.

Your DIRECTV®Digital Satellite Recorder makes buying and recording pay per v iew events a snap. You can order them when they are promoted on live TV, or during a search for programs. You can order them to watch, or to be recorded. And the whole transaction can be handled using your remote control.

If you purchase a pay per view event but do not request a recording of it, you are not charged for it unless you tune your recorder to the event’s channel during the event. This means that if you buy an event but are not home while it is on—and your recorder is not tuned to the channel carrying the event—you will not be charged for the purchase. You are always charged for a purchase that is recorded.

The Purchases screen keeps a record of all your pay per view purchases. You can also go to the Purchases screen to cancel purchases of pay per view events that have not yet aired.

Ordering from live TV.While watching live TV, you may see a promotion for a pay per view event, including instructions to press SELECT for ordering information. If you press SELECT, you will see the Program Information screen for pay per view.

If the promotion happens when you are not caught up to live TV, a small message that says “Press Select” and “Next Showing” will appear. If you press S ELECT, you will see the Program Information screen for pay per view. If you don’t want the program, you can press EXIT to remove the message.

Program Information for Pay Per View. When you order a pay per view event from live TV, or select a pay per view event in Pick Programs to Record or the Program Guide, you

see the Program Information screen for pay per view. Options on the ProgramInformation screen vary, depending on whether the event selected is currently showing, is already scheduled to record, or is currently available to be purchased through the recorder. Though some events have dedicated channels that allow ordering more than 24 hours in advance, you usually cannot use the recorder to purchase a pay per view event more than 24 hours before the event airs. Recorded pay per view programs are m arked "Save Until I Delete" (the green icon) by default. That way your recorded movies are saved until you manually delete them from the Now Playing screen.

• Purchase & record info. If the recorder does not have purchase information (such as

the price of the pay per view event) immediately available, it can do a short check for it. If the recorder gets purchase information, the event will become available to purchase and record. To check for purchase information the recorder must briefly tune to a special channel. If you are recording a program, checking for pricing information this way may create a short skip in the recording. The skip is usually less than two seconds but may be up to ten seconds long. The recorder provides a confirmation screen so you can avoid such a skip by choosing not to check for purchase information.

If the recorder finds purchase informationby tuning away, the pay per view screenwill be refreshed with the new information and you will have the option to purchase the program. If the recorder cannot find purchase information, you will be informed that purchase information is not available.

Purchases

• Buy and record. When you select this option, the pay per view event is purchased and

a recording of it is scheduled on the To Do List. A verification screen appears describing any scheduling conflicts. If you verify that you want to buy and record the event, a second screen confirms the purchase. You can select “Options,” to the right of “Buy and record,” to change Recording Options for the pay per view event.

Chapter 6

Messages and Setup

• Buy; don’t record. W hen you select this option, you purchase the pay per view event.

A verification screen appears with a description of any scheduling conflicts.

• View upcoming showings. Press SELECT to display a list of upcoming showings for

the program. Highlighting one of these showings and pressing SELECT displays the Program Information screen for that showing. LEFT arrow from the list returns to the previous screen.

• Watch Now. Available if the program has been purchased and is currently playing.

• Review/cancel purchases. The pay per view screen includes this option if you have

already purchased a program. Selecting “Review/cancel purchases” displays the

Purchases screen, where you can cancel any purchases you have not yet watched or recorded.

• Record as planned. Available if you already scheduled the program to record.

Selecting this leaves the pay per view screen without making any changes.

• Cancel this recording. Available if the program has been purchased and is being

recorded. Selecting this option cancels the recording. (Because the recorder began recording the program, you will still be charged for th e purchase.)

• Continue recording. Available if the program is already recording. Selecting this

option leaves the pay per view s creen without making any changes.

My Preferences

To see My Preferences, press the DIRECTV button, and then select “Messages & Setup” and then “My Preferences.” My Preferences are your personal preferences—you change them to make the recorder work more to your liking.

Customize Channels

What are channel lists for? Features such as Search by Title and Search Using WishLists

only look at programs available on channels selected in the Channels You Receive list. Your recorder also uses lists of channels to decide which channels the List Guide displays and which channels to search in Br owse by Channel.

There are two selections available in Customize Channels:

Channels You Receive. The Channels You Receive list starts with all DIRECTV channels. It can be customized to include only channels you actually subscribe to and to reflect your viewing preferences (for example: if you never watch a channel and don’t plan to set up any recordings on it, or let the DVR service search for programs on it, you can de-select it here).

Favorites. The Favorites list is for channels you watch frequently. Include only a few channels in this list, so that you can quickly look at what’scominguponthem.

My Preferences

To set up a custom channel list:

1. Select the Channels You Receive or Favorite Channels list. A check mark appears to the left of channels that are part of the s elected list.

2. To remove or add a channel, highlight it and press SELECT. (You can speed through the list with the CHAN UP/DOWN. To go directly to a specific channel, press the number buttons, then press ENTER/LAST.)

DIRECTV Central Messages and Setup My Preferences Customize Channels

DirecTV Digital Satellite Recorder User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual

Welcome to DIRECTV

Table of Contents

Using this Guide

Getting Started

Connecting

Overview

Before You Begin

Connecting to a Phone Line

Connecting a Dual LNB or a Multi-Satellite Dish Antenna

Using an Antenna or Cable Connection, in Addition to DIRECTV Programming

Caring for your DIRECTV Digital Satellite Recorder

Useful Terms

Satellite Dish Antennas—Types and Terms

Cables and Connections

Video, Audio, and Electronics Equipment and Terms

Cables and Accessories

Setup Examples

Audio and Video Cables

Setup Examples

Example 1: VCR, DVD and/or Game System, and Switch Box or A/V Receiver

Example 1: VCR, DVD and/or Game System, and Switch Box or A/V Receiver

Example 2: Recorder with VCR

Example 2: Recorder with VCR

Example 3: Recorder Only

Example 3: Recorder Only

Example 4: Recorder, VCR, Antenna or Cable, and Multiple Input TV

Example 4: Recorder, VCR, Antenna or Cable, and Multiple Input TV

Example 5: Recorder with VCR, Antenna or Cable, and Single Input TV

Example 5: Recorder with VCR, Antenna or Cable, and Single Input TV

Guided Setup

Overview

Using the Remote Control

Satellite Dish Guided Setup

Activate

Phone Setup

The Basics in 5 Short Tours

Tour 1: Play With Live TV

Channel Banner

Status Bar

Changing Channels

Scheduling a Recording

Making a List of Favorite Channels

Using Your Channel List

Tour 3: Find and Record Your Favorite Programs

Search by Title

Pay Per View

Tour 4: Search for New Programs

Showcases

TiVo Suggestions (Thumbs Up and Thumbs Down)

Tour 5: Now Playing List

Cool Things You Can Do

Watching Live TV

Let’s Go!

Changing Channels

Recording a Live Program

Customizing the Guide

Channel Banner

Play with Live TV

Status Bar

Music Channels

Standby

Finding and Recording Programs

Recording Programs: The Basics

Now Playing List

Getting a Season Pass

Setting Recording Options

Program Information Screen

Reviewing the To Do List

View Recording History

Saving Programs to a VCR

Finding Programs to Record

I Already Know What I Want to Record . . .

Search by Title

Record by Time/Channel

Browse by Time

Browse by Channel