DirecTV DRD303RA User Manual

DRD303RA

OWNER’S MANUAL

SATELLITE RECEIVE

Safety Information

WARNING

To reduce risk of fire or shock hazard, do not expose this receiver to rain or moisture.

Cautions

WARNING

RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK

DO NOT OPEN

This symbol indicates “dangerous voltage” inside the product that presents a risk of electric shock or personal injury.

Do not stack electronic components or other objects on top of the DSS Receiver. The slots on top of the receiver must be left

uncovered to allow proper airflow to the unit. Blocking the airflow to the unit could impair performance or damage your receiver and other components.

Do not stack the DSS receiver on top of a “hot component” such as an audio power amplifier.

FCC Regulations state that unauthorized changes or modifications to this equipment may void the user’s authority to operate it.

TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT REMOVE COVER (OR BACK). NO USER SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE. REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL.

This symbol indicates important instructions accompanying the product.

Note to Cable TV Installer: This reminder is provided to call your attention to Article 820-40 of the

National Electrical Code (Section 54 of the Canadian Electrical Code, Part 1) which provides guidelines for proper grounding and, in particular, specifies that the cable ground shall be connected to the grounding system of the building as close to the point of cable entry as practical.

Note to Satellite Dish Installer: This reminder is provided to call your attention to Article 810 and in

particular article 810-15 of the National Electrical Code which covers proper installation and grounding of television receiving equipment as well as to article 820-40 of the National Electrical Code which specifies that the satellite dish cable ground shall be connected to the grounding system of the building as close to the point of cable entry as practical.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: This device incorporates an anticopy process technology that is

protected by U.S. patents and other intellectual property rights. The anticopy process is licensed for non-commerical, home use only. Reverse engineering or disassembly is prohibited.

First Things First ............................................................3

What’s in the Box............................................................................. 5

Using This Manual ...........................................................................6

The Only Rule: Point and select................................... 7

Program Guides .............................................................9

Bringing Up the Program Guides................................................. 10

Using the GUIDE Button................................................................10

Scrolling Channel By Channel .......................................................10

Scrolling Page By Page ..................................................................11

Tuning to a Program .....................................................................11

Selecting A Program Guide from the Main Menu ...................... 11

Types of Program Guides............................................................... 12

Sorting the Grid and Info Guides................................................. 14

Exiting A Program Guide ..............................................................15

The Menu System ........................................................17

Using the Menu System................................................................. 18

Exiting a Screen ............................................................................. 18

Using Help...................................................................................... 18

Menu Descriptions ......................................................................... 19

Lists and Limits

An Overview .................................................................................. 22

Setting the Ratings Limit............................................................... 22

Setting Up Spending Limits........................................................... 23

Creating Favorite Channel Lists ................................................... 23

Parent Approved Channel List ......................................................25

Selecting a Channel List to Use .................................................... 25

Locking the System ........................................................................ 25

Unlocking the System .................................................................... 26

Session Unlock ............................................................................... 26

More Features

Pay-Per-View Programs .................................................................28

Using the Attractions Guide .........................................................29

Using the Purchases Menu ............................................................30

Timer Feature................................................................................. 31

Editing or Canceling a Timer.........................................................31

Table of Contents

Using Fetch ....................................................................................32

The Mailbox ...................................................................................32

Alternate Audio Programs ............................................................34

Picture Size ..................................................................................... 34

System Test ..................................................................................... 35

New Access Card Setup .................................................................35

Using On-Line Help........................................................................ 35

Connections

Connecting Your DSS® Receiver to Your TV................................. 38

Choosing a Connection .................................................................39

Interactive Setup............................................................................ 44

Disabling Interactive Setup ...........................................................44

Reference

Parts of the DSS® System ...............................................................46

Front Panel Controls ...................................................................... 48

Back Panel ...................................................................................... 49

Remote Control Buttons ...............................................................50

Programming the Remote to Control Your TV ........................... 51

Programming the Remote to Control Your VCR ......................... 52

Programming the remote to control other devices .................... 52

Glossary ..........................................................................................56

Troubleshooting ............................................................................58

Appendix A: Warranty Information .......................... 59

Appendix B: FCC Regulations .................................... 62

Appendix C: Accessories ............................................ 63

Index ............................................................................65

DSS® is a registered trademark of DIRECTV, Inc., a unit of GM Hughes Electronics

StarSight-Licensed: The manufacture and sale of the television schedule feature of this product was licensed under one or more of the following patents of StarSight Telecast, Inc.; U.S. Patent Nos. 4,706,121; 4977,455; 5,151,789; and 5,353,121.

First Things First

Hi, my name is jay...

and I wrote this User Manual. You can believe me when I tell you that you should read this page first because it gives you a game plan for attacking this rather large manual.

Read the First Four sections

The first four sections of the manual introduce you to your DSS® system, and show you how to use the on-screen guides and menus. Reading these sections gives you the basic information you need to navigate the DSS® system.

Putting You in Control

The fifth section of the book introduces you to the Lists & Limits feature, which lets you control the way you watch DSS® programming by creating favorite channel lists, and by setting ratings limits and spending limits.

First Things First

➣

The Only Rule:

Point and select

➣

Program Guides

➣

The Menu System

➣

Lists & Limits

What’s Left?

The rest of the book highlights the remaining features, and includes reference information such as a connections guide, a glossary, and an index.

Take some time right now to read at least the first five sections. Then, as you have time, you can check out the rest of the book.

First Things First

What is the DSS® System?

You’ve purchased the DSS® Digital Satellite System, so you already know a lot of the great things it offers. You know that the DSS® system uses the latest satellite technology to deliver television programming to your home. And you know that the transmissions are digital, so the quality of the picture and audio rivals that of laser discs and CDs. You know the dish is small—18 inches wide—and that it often can be installed in a matter of hours. (See the DSS® System Installer Guide for specific information.)

Those are the some of the things you probably know about the DSS® system. But what about the things you don’t know? For instance...

• The DSS® system works like your TV. Pick up the DSS® remote

and push the DSS® button. Press the Channel Up/Down buttons to scan through the channels. Press the number keys to go directly to a channel.

• There is an on-screen Program Guide. The Program Guide is

like a TV listing in the newspaper. It is designed to help you select regular programs and pay-per-view events. You can also sort the Guide to list only specific types of programs. You can select Sports, for example, and your guide will show current and upcoming sports programs only. Or Movies. Or News.

• There is the on-screen Menu System that allows you to

customize your system. You can set up your system, build channel lists, preview coming attractions, set spending limits, and receive mail from your program providers.

• There are three types of On-line Help to assist you in learning

how to use the DSS® system: Auto Help, Help buttons, and the About DSS menu.

Ordering DSS® Programming

After you have installed your system, you should contact the service providers, DIRECTV and USSB to receive DSS programming.

Programming with DIRECTV: Call 1-800-347-3288

Programming with USSB: Call 1-800-204-USSB

When you order programming, you need to know your Access Card number. To get the number, select Options from the Main menu, and then select System T est. Wait for the system to run all of it’s tests. The Access Card number is displayed at the end of the system test.

Write the Access Card number in the space below for easy reference:

_________________________________

First Things First

What’s in the Box

The following items come with your RCA DSS® receiver:

• Receiver (with access card inserted)

• Remote Control

OFF

ON/OFF

DISPLAY

MENU

SELECT

ANTENNA

Receiver

CLEAR

ANT MUTEALT AUD

REW

VCR DSSTV

•

ALT

SELECT

•

213

546

879

FAV

INPUT

•

STOP PLAY

REC

PAUSE FETCH

DISPLAYGUIDE

PREV CH

CHAN

VOL

Remote Control

Installing Batteries In the Remote Control

Follow these steps whenever you need to install or change the batteries in your DSS® remote.

1. Pull off the cover of the battery compartment.

2. Place four AAA batteries as shown, matching the + and - end of each battery in each compartment.

3. Replace the cover.

First Things First

Using This Manual

There are a couple of conventions used in this manual that might help you read it.

• Words that appear in ALL CAPS indicate the name of a button.

• The names of on-screen menu option are shown in italics.

Important Note about This User’s Manual

This manual assumes that your DSS® system has been installed, meaning:

1. The DSS® satellite dish has been installed, correctly pointed at the satellite, and connected to your DSS® receiver.

2. The DSS® receiver is connected to your television and to a telephone line.

3. The access card is installed in your DSS® receiver.

Your access card has been matched to your receiver, and should already be installed when you take the receiver out of the packing box. The access card should only be taken out of the DSS® receiver when you are issued a new card by your programming providers.

4. The DSS® remote control has batteries and can be programmed to control both your DSS® receiver and your TV (if your TV is remote-controllable).

If your system has not been installed, refer to the satellite dish Installer's Guide for information regarding proper installation. Then, refer to the section, “Connections,” in this manual. See your dealer for specific information regarding professional installation or the purchase of a Self-Installer’s Kit.

The Only Rule: Point and Select

What? There’s a Rule?

Well, it’s not exactly a rule, but more of a guideline for using the on-screen displays. If you understand this one thing, you have enough knowledge to get around the menuing system and program guides.

First Things First

➣

The Only Rule:

Point and select

➣

Program Guides

➣

The Menu System

➣

Lists & Limits

Once you understand Point and Select, you can do just about anything you want with the menuing system.

The Only Rule: Point and Select

What is Point and Select?

Point and Select is the two-step method you use to control the DSS® system.

1. Point

You point by pressing the arrow keys on the remote or front panel. Pressing the arrow keys moves the on-screen highlight to different items in the Program Guide and the menu screens. Pressing an arrow once moves the highlight one space in the direction of the arrow.

For example, to point down (that is, to move the highlight toward the bottom of the screen), press the down arrow. To point right, press the right arrow.

2. Select

Once you have pointed to an item on the screen, select it by pressing the MENU•SELECT button on the remote or front panel. Selecting an item tells the menu system to go ahead and make the change you have indicated.

For example, the instructions in the User’s Manual might tell you to Point to the Help button and press MENU•SELECT.

Once you’ve got the hang of the Point and Select rule, you can use any part of the DSS® system, beginning with the Program Guide.

MENU•SELECT

CLEAR

ARROW KEYS

Don’t worry about getting stuck inside a menu. Pressing the CLEAR button on the remote takes you out of the menu system and back to the program you were watching.

Program Guides

What is a Program Guide?

A program guide is an on-screen programming schedule. There are several types of guides, each presenting the schedule in a different format.

Using the Program Guide is easy as long as you remember the Point and Select rule. Point to items on the screen by pressing the arrow keys on the remote or front panel. Then, press MENU•SELECT to tune to that program.

First Things First

➣

The Only Rule:

Point and select

➣

Program Guides

➣

The Menu System

➣

Lists & limits

Take some time to explore the different types of Program Guides and use the one that best suits your viewing habits.

Program Guides

REC

STOP PLAY

FAV

•

INPUT

PREV CH

DISPLAYGUIDE

•

SELECT

CLEAR

879

546

CHAN

213

ANT MUTEALT AUD

ALT

VCR DSSTV

OFF

•

REW

PAUSE FETCH

VOL

Bringing Up the Program Guides

You can access the program guides by using the GUIDE button on the remote, or by selecting Program Guide from the Main menu.

Using the GUIDE Button

Each press of the GUIDE button takes you to an alternate type of program guide:

• Press GUIDE once to see the seven-channel Grid Guide.

• Press GUIDE again to see the five-channel Info Guide which contains program information.

You can switch the order in which the Grid Guide and the Info Guide appear by selecting Preferences from the Assistance menu, and then using the arrow keys to set the Guide Format option.

Getting Around in the Program Guide

This section describes how to change channels and move around the Program Guide.

Changing Channels with the number keys (0-9)

You can point quickly to any channel in the Program Guide by entering the channel number with the number keys (0-9). For example, to point to the first listing for Channel 128, press the numbers 1-2-8 on the remote. To point to Channel 102, press 1-0-2.

Scrolling Channel By Channel

The programs that you see on the TV screen make up one section—or page—of the total Program Guide. You can scroll to other sections using the arrows: point to other times with the left and right arrows; point to other channels with the up and down arrows.

Program Guides

Scrolling Page By Page

If you want to scroll up or down through the Program Guide faster, press the Channel Up/Down buttons on the remote control. The highlight scrolls a page at a time. This is called “paging.”

Tuning to a Program

• To tune directly to a program listed in the guide, point to the program and press MENU•SELECT.

• To see information about a program in the guide, press DISPLAY. Then, you can select V iew Channel to tune to that channel.

If you select a future program, you are given program details. If you choose a pay-per-view event, a second screen allows you to buy the program, find out more information, or return to the Guide.

Selecting A Program Guide from the Main Menu

When you access the program guides through the Main menu, you have more available options:

1. Press MENU•SELECT to bring up the Main menu.

2. Point to Program Guide and press MENU•SELECT.

The Program Guide menu screen appears.

This is the Program Guide menu. Use the arrow to scroll down to see the Attractions Guide option.

If you select a future program, you are given program details. If you choose a pay-per-view event, a second screen allows you to purchase the program, find out more information, or return to the Guide.

Program Guides

Types of Program Guides

There are five types of program guides: the Grid Guide, the Info Guide, the Topic Guide, the Channel Guide, and the Attractions Guide.

The Grid Guide

Shows the schedule in a time-and-channel format, similar to a TV schedule listed in a newspaper.

The seven-channel Grid Guide.

The Info Guide

Shows you five channels and includes a brief description of the selected program.

The five-channel Info Guide gives you a brief program description.

By default, the Grid Guide appears when you press the GUIDE button on the remote. Go to the Preferences menu (located within the Assistance Menu) to change the default guide from the Grid Guide to the Info Guide.

Program Guides

The Topic Guide

Lets you sort the programming schedule to show certain topics, such as “movies” or “sports.”

The Topic guide.

The Channel Guide

Displays the programming schedule in a channel-by-channel format.

The Channel guide.

The Attractions Guide

Displays coming attractions and special events information.

The Attractions guide.

See the section on purchasing pay-per-view programs for more information on the Attractions guide.

Program Guides

Sorting the Grid and Info Guides

There are six on-screen choices—called “buttons”— at the bottom of the Grid Guide and the Info Guide: down arrow, Movies, Sports, Other, All, and Sort.

The Sorting buttons are at the bottom of the screen.

The arrow button allows you to scroll down through other channels in the guide. Point to the down arrow, and then press MENU•SELECT to scroll down through the program guide.

Using the Sorting Buttons

The remaining buttons at the bottom of the guide are called “sorting buttons.” These buttons allow you to simplify the guide to show specific types of information such as movies, or sports.

The Movies button lists movies only. After selecting Movies, point to the Theme button that appears and press MENU•SELECT to sort the guide to list specific types of movies, such as comedies or thrillers.

The Sports button lists sporting events only. After selecting Sports, point to the Theme button that appears and press MENU•SELECT to sort the guide to highlight specific types of sports, such as basketball or soccer.

Program Guides

Allows you choose from a list of sorting topics. Once you have selected a sorting topic from the list, your guide will be simplified to show only that type of program.

After selecting a topic, a Themes button may appear in the place of the Other button.

Resets the guide to show all available channels and listings.

The Sort button takes you to the Guide Filter menu screen

Using the Themes Button

After you select one of the sorting buttons, the name of that button changes into the Themes button. Use the Themes button to further sort the Grid or Info Guide to show subtopics (“themes”). For example, you could simplify the guide to show “baseball” under the Sports sorting button, or “comedies” under Movies.

Exiting A Program Guide

There are two ways to exit a Program Guide:

• Point to a channel and press MENU•SELECT.

• Press CLEAR on the remote.

The Program Guide disappears and you are returned to regular program viewing. If you have selected a pay-per-view program, a display screen allows you to purchase the selected program.

The Menu System

What’s a Menu?

The DSS® menu is a list of choices, just like a menu in a restaurant. And, just as a restaurant menu is divided into sections such as appetizers, entrees, and desserts, the on-screen menus are also separated into sections to help you find the information you need.

Don’t Forget Point and Select

As with all of the on-screen displays, you use Point and Select to navigate.

First Things First

➣

The Only Rule:

Point and select

➣

Program Guides

➣

The Menu System

➣

Lists & Limits

Use the MENU•SELECT button to bring up the Main Menu, and then use Point and Select to choose a menu option.

The Menu System

Using the Menu System

To bring up the Main Menu, press MENU•SELECT on the remote.

The Main Menu.

To use the menu system, you need to know the Point and Select rule. Use the arrows on the remote to point to an item on the screen, and then press MENU•SELECT to select it.

Exit and Help

There are Exit and Help buttons at the top of most screens. Point to Exit and press MENU•SELECT to leave that screen. Point to Help and press MENU•SELECT to see more information about that screen.

Exiting a Screen

There are two ways to exit a menu:

• Point to Exit and press MENU•SELECT.

• Press the CLEAR button on the remote control. The on-screen displays clear from the screen and you return to TV viewing.

Using Help

All menus have a Help button. For example, selecting the Help button from the Main Menu shows you information about using the Main Menu screen.

The rest of the Help buttons in the menu system bring up helpful information explaining one aspect of that menu.

If the Main Menu doesn’t appear when you press MENU•SELECT, the remote might not be in DSS® mode. Try pressing the DSS button on the remote, and then MENU•SELECT.

Context-Sensitive Help

Most of the screens contain information to help you decide what to do next. If you get stuck, look for the help text.

The Menu System

Menu Descriptions

This section briefly describes each of the available Main Menu options. Detailed information about each menu is included in the sections of the manual which describe each menu.

Program Guide

Shows the on-screen programming schedules.

Mailbox

Use to read your mail messages.

Purchases

Use to review or cancel upcoming purchases, and to review past purchases.

Timers

Allows you to schedule the DSS® system to tune to a specific channel at a specific time, and to record that channel.

Lists and Limits

Allows you to set ratings and spending limits, and to create favorite channel lists.

Options

Allows you to run the system test and install a new access card.

Dish Pointing

Use to find your dish pointing coordinates, and to access the on-screen signal strength meter.

Assistance

Shows you information about using the system and setting the system to your personal preferences.

Explore, Explore, Explore!

Once you’ve learned the basics, feel free to poke around the menu system because exploring is the best way to learn. The context-sensitive help at the bottom of the screen provides instructions for getting through any particular menu or control panel. Remember, press CLEAR at any time to leave the menu system and return to regular DSS® viewing.

Don’t Forget about the CLEAR button

Press the CLEAR button on the remote to remove the on-screen menus and return to normal viewing.

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