DirecTV DVR R10 User Manual

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DIRECTVDVR

User’s Guide

The On-Screen Menus and the Remote Control

Arrow Buttons

To navigate the DIRECTV® DVR’s on-screen menus, use the remote control’s arrow buttons to move the highlight bar onto the option you want, then press SELECT.

Se l cet

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

Select

Highlight Bar

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		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.

Arrows Near

Highlight Bar

Chan	Chan Up/Down
Page Down Arrow	Button
Page Down Arrow

P age

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 (fast forward) and (back or rewind) up to 3 times for 3 speeds. Press a fourth time, or press PLAY, 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 RIGHT arrow while the banner is visible 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.

With dual tuner enabled, press LIVE TV or DOWN arrow while watching live TV to switch between the two tuners.

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.

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.

Press EXIT while watching a program to hide things that aren't part of the program (like the channel banner and status bar).

Press ENTER/LAST while watching live TV to jump to the last channel you were watching.

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 6), 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 DVR (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)

Slow

Instant Replay

TV Power

Number Buttons

Clear

Remote Active Light

indo		D I R E C T V		ive T
indo				ive T
W	w			L	V
Exit					Info
L ist				Gu die
		Se lect
		ut
		M	e
	Vol	ecor		Chan
		R	d
				P age
		Play

		Slow			(-)
		SAT TV
V	Pow		V	I np
V		er	V			ut
T			T
	1	2		3
	4	5		6
	7	8		9
	lea			r/
C		r	te		L
			n			as
			n			t
		0	E
		0

Live TV

Info

Guide

Thumbs Up

Chan Up/Down

Record

Fast Forward

Advance

SAT/TV Switch

TV Input

Enter/Last

D I R E C T V

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.

Welcome to DIRECTV

TOCOM 16390140

TiVo, the TiVo logo, TiVolution, Overtime Scheduler, Ipreview, the Instant Replay logo, the Advance logo, and the TiVo and Smile design are registered trademarks of TiVo Inc. Season Pass, WishList, the Thumbs Down logo and text, and the Thumbs Up logo and text are trademarks of TiVo Inc. 1999, 2004. All rights reserved.

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

Product and service are covered by U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,241,428; 6,233,389; 6,327,418; 6,385,739; 6,490,722; 6,642,939; 6,643,798; D435,561; and D445,801. Other patents pending.

Manufactured under license from Dolby Laboratories. “Dolby” and the double-D symbol are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories.

All other trademarks are the properties of their respective owners.

Welcome to the DIRECTV family!

Whether you've been enjoying DIRECTV® service for years or this is your first experience with us, we are excited to introduce to you the DIRECTV DVR. Now you can enjoy the best and widest variety in digital entertainment with the added convenience of digital video recording, all in one receiver.

All digital, all the time. DIRECTV offers access to over 225 channels of Hollywood hits, classic movies, family programming, news, and exciting sports action. Plus access to up to 36 commercial-free music channels—all in digital-quality picture and sound.

DIRECTV® Pay Per View movies and events. With DIRECTV service, the main event is in your home! 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. Just use your remote control to give all your friends and family a front-row seat! (Connection to a standard phone line 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. DIRECTV will take you to the arena for the best sports has to offer.

With DIRECTV® DVR with TiVo®, you're in control. The DIRECTV DVR brings you the latest in television technology, including the DIRECTV Advanced Program Guide™, with up to 14 days of program listings, and the ability to pause and replay live TV. Plus, with Pick Programs to Record and the other easy-to-use features of your DIRECTV® DVR with TiVo® service, you'll never miss your favorite shows again.

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Table of Contents

Using this Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vii

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

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

Useful Terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Cables and Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Setup Examples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Chapter 2: Guided Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Satellite Dish Guided Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Activate Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Phone Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

DIRECTV Central . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Chapter 3: The Basics in 5 Short Tours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

Tour 1: Play with Live TV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Tour 2: DIRECTV Advanced Program Guide™ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Tour 3: Find and Record Your Favorite Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Tour 4: Find New Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Tour 5: Now Playing List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Cool Things You Can Do . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Chapter 4: Pick Programs to Record . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41

Season Pass, Recording Options, To Do List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	42
Using the Guide to Find Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	48
Find Your Favorite Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	50

Find Programs That Match Your Interests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	54
Pay Per View and DIRECTV® On Request . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	60

Chapter 5: Watching Live TV and Recorded Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65

Using the Control Buttons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 Status Bar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 Channel Banner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 Watching Live TV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 Watching Programs from Now Playing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Save to VCR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 Music Channels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76

Chapter 6: Messages and Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77

Messages from DIRECTV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 Purchases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 Phone Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 Remote Control Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94 System Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 System Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101 Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102 Restart or Reset System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103 Standby . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104

Chapter 7: Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105

Contacting Customer Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106 Questions About Getting Started . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107 Questions About Live TV (Including Satellite Signal) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108 Questions About Pick Programs to Record . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112

Questions About Parental Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116 Questions About the DVR’s Phone Connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117 Questions About Audio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119 Questions About Pay Per View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120 Questions About the Remote Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121 Questions About the DIRECTV® DVR with TiVo® Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122

Chapter 8: Warranty and Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

125

Limited 90 Day Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126

DIRECTV PROTECTION PLAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128

FCC Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129

Safety Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131

Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134

Appendix A: Back Panel Reference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137

Appendix B: GNU General Public License . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141

Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147

Glossary of Icons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inside Back Cover

Using this Guide

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

Remote Control Tips & 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 DVR.

Useful Terms. Many technical terms in this guide are explained in the Useful Terms section beginning on page 4.

Menu Paths. Notes at the bottom of some pages show you how to find the screen being discussed on that page. For example, page 51 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.

DIRECTV® DVR with TiVo® Service. This is the program searching and recording service provided through the DIRECTV® DVR.

DIRECTV DVR. Refers to the digital video recorder (DVR) hardware.

Throughout this guide, you will

see important and helpful notes

and tips in this format.

vii

Before you install the DVR, mount the satellite dish antenna.

Professional installation is highly recommended. Your dish must be mounted, with cables running to the room where your DVR will be installed, before you can begin the DVR installation as described in this guide. A Dual LNB dish antenna connection is required for full functionality.

The TiVo Logo. As you use your DIRECTV DVR, you’ll see the TiVo logo in places like the Now Playing List and Suggestions. Your new DVR incorporates the latest DVR technology from TiVo. This means you have access to exclusive TiVo features such as WishList™ searches, Season Pass™ recordings, Thumbs Up™ and Thumbs Down™, Suggestions, and TiVolution® Magazine, all in one seamlessly integrated product that will change the way you watch television.

Getting Started

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

1.Connect the DVR to your satellite dish and your TV. (See Chapter 1, “Connecting.”)

2.Complete Guided Setup to point your satellite dish antenna and activate the DIRECTV DVR service following the instructions in Chapter 2, “Guided Setup.”

Start using your DIRECTV DVR. It’s easy! Take the five tours in Chapter 3 for an interactive way to learn about the DVR’s powerful features. Chapters 4, 5, 6, and 7 describe the DIRECTV® DVR with TiVo® service in detail. Read through them to become familiar with the service. Chapter 8 provides comprehensive troubleshooting in case you have questions.

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CHAPTER 1

Connecting

Overview	2
Useful Terms	4
Cables and Accessories	7
Setup Examples	9

c t i n g

Your DVR should not be used with a digital PBX phone system. Doing

so may permanently damage your DVR’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 DVR 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.

Overview

Television used to be so simple: all you needed was an antenna and a TV. The antenna captured audio and video signals and sent them to your TV over a wire.

As TVs have acquired more features, and new devices have been created to work with your TV, it may seem that everything has become more complex. You may have a VCR, a DVD player, and a game system connected to your TV, in addition to your DIRECTV® DVR. However, one thing has remained the same: you still need to get audio and video (sound and pictures) from their source (your satellite dish) to your TV.

Connecting to a Phone Line

Your DVR needs to be connected to a standard analog phone line to communicate with DIRECTV. The DVR occasionally makes a brief phone call to get updates to the DVR service and for pay per view functionality.

You do not need to install a new telephone jack or phone number for the DVR to work; it can detect when your phone line is in use 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 DVR. If your phone jack is being used for a phone, you can use a phone splitter (not provided) to connect both the phone and the DVR to the same phone jack.

Connecting a Dual LNB or a Multi-Satellite Dish Antenna

Your DVR comes equipped with two jacks for satellite input. Connecting both allows you to record from two channels at the same time (see Dual Tuner on page 5). All of the connection examples in this chapter give instructions for configuring the DVR 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 DVR’s satellite input jacks, you

must have two Coaxial RF cables coming from your satellite dish antenna to the room where the DVR will be installed.

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 5) that will allow you to connect two cables to your new DVR 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® DVR

Moving Your DVR. To prevent damage to sensitive components such as the hard disk drive, ALWAYS unplug your DVR and then WAIT a moment for the hard disk to stop spinning before moving it. If you take your DVR 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.

Do not drop. Your new DVR contains a hard disk drive that is constantly in motion; it may be damaged if the DVR falls or is dropped. Place the DVR in a stable location.

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

Flat, hard surface. Rest your DVR on a flat, hard surface. Do not operate it on a carpet or other padded surface. This can inhibit proper ventilation and cause the DVR to overheat.

Use a surge protector. Like all electronics equipment, your DVR can be damaged by fluctuations in your power supply. Purchasing a surge protector is highly recommended.

O v e r v i e w

For information on how to switch between watching antenna or

cable channels and watching DIRECTV channels, see the connection example in this chapter that is most appropriate to your configuration.

The DVR does not have an on/off switch. To turn the DVR on, plug it

in. The DVR, like a clock or a refrigerator, is designed to be “always on,” and does not need to be turned off. This lets it record programs and connect to the DVR service to keep its data up-to-date.

If you must turn the DVR off—for example, to move it—simply unplug it. (The DVR does have an optional standby mode, explained on page 104.)

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Your DIRECTV DVR is multi-

satellite capable if used with a

DIRECTV Multi-Satellite Dish Antenna.

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.

Round Single	Oval 2	Oval 3
satellite dish	satellite dish	satellite dish
antenna	antenna	antenna

	Single LNB			Dual LNB
	Single LNB			(Single Satellite)
	(Single Satellite)			(Single Satellite)
	(Single Satellite)

Satellite Receiver

Satellite 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 back 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 DVR 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 5.

Single LNB and Dual LNB Satellite Dish Antennas. Single LNB and Dual LNB refer to the number of independent signals a dish can send to your audio/video equipment. A Single LNB 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 dish you have is to consult the documentation that came with the dish. Disassembling the dish to determine its type is not recommended.

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 pictures and sound to your TV. Your DIRECTV® DVR has a built-in satellite receiver.

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 DIRECTV® DVR has two tuners. It can pick out two channels at once, allowing you to watch or record programs on two channels at the same time. See page 69 for more.

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 DVR as well as one to a satellite receiver on your second television. If you own a 2 or 3 satellite dish antenna, your DVR 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 programming subscription. It must be properly inserted and activated for your DVR to work.

Transponder. A transponder is a piece of equipment on a satellite that broadcasts a set of channels to your satellite dish. If the DVR 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.

Video, Audio, and Electronics Equipment and Terms

Switch Box. A switch box allows you to connect multiple devices to your TV, even if your TV doesn’t have enough inputs to connect them all directly. It allows you to switch easily between devices, such as your DVR, a DVD player, and a game console. Switch boxes are inexpensive and can be purchased at electronics stores.

A/V Receiver. An Audio/Video receiver is the hub of a home theater system. It allows you to connect multiple audio and video devices and manage the signal from each device. With it you can switch easily between watching TV, viewing video from your DVD player, or running your game system, by changing the input source. An A/V receiver may

U s e f u l T e r m s

D I R E C T V

A C C E S S C A R D

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also be used to drive two or more loud speakers for a theater-like audio experience. It may also offer features such as Dolby Digital audio.

Dolby Digital Audio. Some programs are broadcast with Dolby Digital audio: the soundtrack is recorded on six separate channels, each of which can be heard on one of six separate speakers. To hear Dolby Digital audio, you must use an Optical Digital Audio cable (not supplied) to connect your DVR 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 DVR to record using Dolby Digital audio. For more information, see page 80.

Dolby Surround Sound. Dolby Surround Sound audio is a technique for encoding surround sound audio on two channels. When decoded by a compatible A/V receiver, audio on these two channels is separated into as many as five signals which play through your home theater speakers. To hear Dolby Surround Sound audio, you must connect your DVR to an A/V receiver that supports Dolby Pro Logic or Dolby Pro Logic II. You can use either L/R (red and white) audio cables or an Optical Digital 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 DVR in your home, it is very unlikely that you are using a digital PBX phone system. Do not connect your DVR to a digital PBX phone system. Doing so may

permanently damage your DVR’s modem and will void your warranty.

Be sure to read the safety

Surge Protector. Like all electronics equipment, your DVR can be damaged by

instructions on page 131.

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 DVR’s power and your telephone cord, you may prevent damage to the parts of your DVR that are connected to your phone line as well!

C a b l e s a n d A c c e s s o r i e s

Cables and Accessories

In addition to your television and the equipment that shipped with this DIRECTV® DVR (shown below), you’ll need a satellite dish antenna—which should be properly mounted before you connect the DVR—and a standard, analog phone line (see page 2 for details).

1. These are the basics:					2. See page 8 to choose audio/
					video cables. The carton
					contains one of each of the
					following:
					D I R E C T V
					A C C E S S C A R D
DVR					DIRECTV Access Card
Win			Liv		Composite A/V cable
E				I	Composite A/V cable
					e
			t
		Mut
	Vol	Reco	Chan
		y
		w		-	Remote Control
VT	P		VT I		and 2 AA
	7	8	9		and 2 AA
	1	2	3
	4	5	6
Cl			tne
		0	E		Batteries
					Batteries

S-Video cable

25' Phone Cord

Power Cord

3. You may need to purchase these additional cables for some setups:

Optical Digital Audio cable

Extra Composite A/V cable

Coaxial RF cable

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Composite A/V cable and jacks

(red)

(white)

(yellow)

Composite L/R Audio with S-Video cable

(red)

(white)

(yellow)

(S-Video)

Coaxial RF cable (not supplied) & jack

(Coaxial RF)

Optical Digital Audio cable (not supplied) & jack

(Digital Audio)

Choosing Audio and Video Cables

Sounds and pictures travel through cables. The choice of cables may seem overwhelming, but they all perform the same function: they transfer sounds and pictures to your TV at varying levels of quality.

Most TVs and other audio/video devices have connectors (jacks) for Composite A/V cables ( ). Composite A/V cables have three ends, two (white and red) for stereo audio (left and right), and one (yellow) for video, providing excellent audio and video quality. If your equipment has composite A/V jacks, use this cable. If your TV has only one audio connector, connect just the white end, instead of both the red and the white ends.

The DVR’s back panel also includes connectors for S-Video ( ). S-Video provides a higher quality video signal than composite. You may want to use the S-Video cable instead of the yellow video end of the Composite A/V cable, if your equipment supports it. (You can still use the red and white ends of the Composite A/V cable for stereo audio.)

Some TVs only have Coaxial RF ( ) jacks. If your TV only has an RF In connector, use a Coaxial RF cable (not supplied) to connect your DVR to your TV.

The DVR includes a Digital Audio ( ) jack for Dolby Digital audio output. To use this feature, you will need an Optical Digital Audio cable (not supplied), and a device (such as an A/V receiver) that accepts Dolby Digital input. If you use an Optical Digital Audio cable for sound, you'll also need a connection for the video signal. You can use an S-Video cable, or the yellow end of a Composite A/V cable. If you use a Composite A/V cable for video only, you don’t need to connect the red and white ends.

Ordinarily, your DVR 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 are watching a program with digital audio, you will not hear these tones.

Setup Examples

Before you begin, make sure that all of your equipment is turned off and your DIRECTV® DVR is unplugged.

Your equipment has connectors, or jacks, where cables can be connected. Some jacks are labeled “In” and some are labeled “Out.” Pictures and sounds enter audio/video (A/V) equipment through IN jacks and leave through OUT jacks.

The remainder of this chapter provides detailed examples showing how to connect your DVR to your existing home entertainment system. First, follow the steps in the Basic Setup. Then, if you want to add additional devices, see the optional Setup Variations.

Basic Setup

•Connecting the DVR to your satellite dish and your TV. See page 10.

Setup Variations (optional)

•Variation 1: Adding an A/V receiver with Dolby Digital audio. See page 12.

•Variation 2: Adding a VCR. See page 14.

•Variation 3: Adding a second TV program source (antenna or cable). See page 16.

Connecting Other Devices. You may have other devices in your home entertainment system, such as a DVD player or game console, which don’t connect to your DVR. These devices should be connected to additional inputs on your TV, or to an A/V receiver. Be sure to consult your other devices’ owner’s manuals for setup information.

If you have trouble connecting equipment, or if your configuration isn’t covered by one of the setup examples in this chapter, see the “Back Panel Reference” on page 137.

S e t u p E x a m p l e s

To meet FCC requirements,	1
To meet FCC requirements,
shielded cables are required to
connect the DVR to your other equipment.
See the FCC Information on page 129.

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.

OUT IN

Be sure to read the safety instructions on page 131.

The audio/video cables shown here are for example only. Use the

best connections available on your equipment. For help choosing cables, see page 8.

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Basic Setup: Connecting your DVR to your satellite dish and your TV

DIRECTV® DVR


	Television

Video	Audio
A/V INPUT		Antenna
		In

Connect the Coaxial RF cables from your satellite dish to the Satellite In jacks on the DIRECTV® DVR. You can connect either cable to either jack.

If you only have one Coaxial RF cable coming from your satellite dish antenna, connect it to the Satellite In 1 jack. Keep in mind that your DVR won’t have Dual Tuner functionality with only one satellite cable connected. (See page 2 for details.)

Connect the S-Video cable from the DVR’s S-Video Output jack to the S-Video Input jack on your TV.

If your TV doesn't have an S-Video Input jack, use the yellow end of the Composite A/V cable to connect video. If your TV only has an RF In connector, connect a Coaxial RF cable from the DVR’s RF Out jack to your TV.

Connect the red and white ends of a Composite A/V cable from the DVR’s L/R Audio Output jacks to the L/R Audio Input jacks on your TV. If your TV has only one audio connector, connect just the white end.

Take the Access Card out of its envelope and insert it into the slot on the DVR’s front panel as shown in the diagram to the right (with the gold chip down). Stop when the card makes contact with the back of the slot. To watch DIRECTV® channels, you must insert the card correctly and activate it. The Access Card slot is behind a small door.

Connect the phone cord. (For more about the phone connection, see page 2.)

Plug in your DVR and turn on your TV. Once you see the Welcome screen, you can continue with “Guided Setup” on page 19.

If you don’t see the Welcome screen, make sure the correct input is selected on your TV. You may need to use the “INPUT,” “SOURCE,” or “TV/VIDEO” button on your TV’s remote to change the input. If you need help, see page 107.

S e t u p E x a m p l e s

If you use the DVR’s RF Out jack to connect video to your TV, you

must also set the Channel 3/4 switch on the back panel. Tune your TV to the same channel (3 or 4) in order to view the signal coming from the RF Out jack.

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Variation 1: Adding an A/V receiver with Dolby Digital audio

The audio/video cables shown here are for example only. Use the

best connections available on your equipment. For help choosing cables, see page 8.

DIRECTV® DVR


		Television

Video	Audio
A/V INPUT		Antenna
		In

	A/V Receiver
VIDEO INPUTS	VIDEO OUTPUTS
AUDIO INPUTS

Connect the Coaxial RF cables from your satellite dish to the Satellite In jacks on the DIRECTV® DVR. You can connect either cable to either jack.

Connect the S-Video cable from the DVR’s S-Video Output jack to the S-Video Input jack on your TV. If your TV doesn't have an S-Video Input jack, use the yellow end of the Composite A/V cable to connect video. If your TV only has an RF In connector, connect a Coaxial RF cable (not supplied) from the DVR’s RF Out jack to your TV.

Alternately, you can connect video from the DVR to your A/V receiver, then from the A/V receiver to your TV, using S-Video or Composite A/V cables. Consult your A/V receiver’s owner’s manual for its capabilities.

Connect an Optical Digital Audio cable (not supplied) from the DVR’s Digital Audio Output jack to the A/V receiver’s Digital Audio Input. Set your A/V receiver to play audio from that input. (Consult your A/V receiver’s owner’s manual if you need help.)

Connect the phone cord. (For more about the phone connection, see page 2.)

Plug in your DVR and turn on your TV. Once you see the Welcome screen, you can continue with “Guided Setup” on page 19.

If you don’t see the Welcome screen, make sure the correct input is selected on your TV. You may need to use the INPUT, SOURCE, or TV/VIDEO button on your TV’s remote to change the input. If you need help, see page 107.

S e t u p E x a m p l e s

If you use the DVR’s RF Out jack to connect video to your TV, you

must also set the Channel 3/4 switch on the back panel. Tune your TV to the same channel (3 or 4) in order to view the signal coming from the RF Out jack.

Before you begin:

Connect your DVR to your satellite dish and your TV before adding a VCR. See page 10 for Basic Setup instructions.

The audio/video cables shown here are for example only. Use the

best connections available on your equipment. For help choosing cables, see page 8.

Please see the DIRECTV Customer Agreement for information about

private viewing of DIRECTV® Service. Restrictions related to recording third party content can be found in the DIRECTV DVR Service Agreement. Both are available at DIRECTV.com and in your first bill.

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Variation 2: Adding a VCR

DIRECTV® DVR

VCR

Audio R	L Video	Ch
IN		3/4 RF
		Out
OUT		RF
		In

Television

Video	Audio	Antenna
A/V INPUTS		In
A/V INPUTS

Before adding a VCR, see page 10 for Basic Setup instructions.

The DIRECTV® DVR has two sets of A/V Output jacks. You may have used one set (labeled Output 1) when you completed the Basic Setup steps on page 10. You can connect a VCR using the other set (labeled Output 2).

Connect a Composite A/V cable from the DVR’s A/V Output 2 jacks to the A/V Input jacks on your VCR.

If your VCR only has RF jacks, connect a Coaxial RF cable (not supplied) from the DVR’s RF Out jack to the RF In jack on the VCR.

Connect a Composite A/V cable from the A/V Output jacks on your VCR or DVD recorder to another set of A/V Input jacks on your TV.

If your TV only has an RF In connector, connect a Coaxial RF cable (not supplied) from the VCR’s RF Out jack to the RF In jack on your TV.

To watch a video tape, change your TV’s input setting by pressing the INPUT, SOURCE, or TV/VIDEO button on your TV’s remote control until the correct input is displayed. If you have trouble changing your TV’s input setting, consult your TV’s owner’s manual. If you need help, see page 107.

To save recordings from your DVR to a video tape, use the “Save to VCR” feature. See page 75 for more information.

S e t u p E x a m p l e s

If you use Coaxial RF cables in

steps and , you must set the

Channel 3/4 switch on the back of the DVR to match the switch on the back of your VCR. Then tune your TV to the same channel (3 or 4) to view the signal.

Before you begin:

Connect your DVR to your satellite dish and your TV before adding a second TV program source. See page 10 for Basic Setup instructions.

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Variation 3: Adding a second TV program source (antenna or cable)

DIRECTV® DVR

Television

Video	Audio
A/V INPUT		Antenna
		In

Before adding a second program source, see page 10 for Basic Setup instructions.

You may have a rooftop antenna or cable service subscription in addition to your DIRECTV® programming subscription. The DIRECTV® DVR has RF In and RF Out jacks that can be used to pass an antenna or cable signal through the DVR and to your TV.

You can connect your antenna or cable signal to the DVR, or directly to the Antenna/RF In jack on your TV. Whichever method you choose, it’s important to remember that you will not have any DVR service functionality (pausing and rewinding live TV, setting up recordings, etc.) on cable or antenna channels.

Connect the Coaxial RF cable that carries your antenna or cable signal from the wall to the RF In jack on the DVR.

Connect a Coaxial RF cable (not supplied) from the DVR’s RF Out jack to the RF In jack on your TV.

Alternately, you can connect the Coaxial RF cable that carries your antenna or cable signal from the wall directly to your TV.

To watch antenna or cable channels, change your TV’s input setting by pressing the INPUT, SOURCE, or TV/VIDEO button on your TV’s remote control until the correct input is displayed. (If you have trouble changing your TV’s input setting, consult your TV’s owner’s manual.) Use your TV’s remote control to change channels.

While you are watching antenna or cable channels, the DVR will record any programs you have scheduled on DIRECTV® channels. When you want to watch video from your DVR again, press the DIRECTV button on the DVR remote. Then change your TV’s input setting until you see DIRECTV Central.

S e t u p E x a m p l e s

If you connect your DVR to your TV with a Coaxial RF cable in step ,

you must set the Channel 3/4 switch on the back of the DVR. Tune your TV to the same channel (3 or 4) to view the signal.

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CHAPTER 2

Guided Setup

Overview	20
Satellite Dish Guided Setup	21
Activate Services	25
Phone Setup	26

Satellite Dish Guided Setup is used to test signal strength,

position the satellite dish antenna and configure the DVR for use with a multiswitch or new multi-satellite dish antenna.

S e t u p

Overview

Now that you have finished connecting your DIRECTV® DVR, you are ready to begin Guided Setup. When you first plug in the DVR, 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® programming and DVR service, and set up your DVR to 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:

1.Satellite Dish Guided Setup (see page 21)

2.Activating services (see page 25)

3.Phone Setup (see page 26)

Using the Remote Control

To complete Guided Setup, use the DVR’s remote to move through screens and select items displayed on your TV. 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 DVR, you will see a screen that says “Welcome. Powering up...” followed by the Welcome screen. Read the screen, then press SELECT to start Guided Setup.

If you do not see the Welcome screen, see the troubleshooting steps on page 107.

+ 135 hidden pages