DirecTV HR10-250 User Manual

Download

Page 1

DIRECTV

HD DVR User's Guide

DIRECTV HD DVR

User's Guide

The On-Screen Menus and the Remote Control

Arrow Buttons

To navigate the DIRECTV® HD DVR’s on-screen menus, use

Select

the remote control onto the option you want, then press SELECT.

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

’s arrow buttons to move the highlight bar

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

Arrows Near Highlight Bar

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.

Page Down Arrow

CHAN UP/DOWN

Chan

Button

Page 2

Remote Control Tips

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 (FORWARD) and (BACK) 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 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.

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.

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.

RATIO lets you change how the HD DVR displays a picture when the

broadcast aspect ratio (screen width and height) does not match your TV’s screen size.

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.

Use ADVANCE to enter a dash (-) for channel numbers that include a dash (for example, off-air high-definition channels).

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 HD 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

Ratio

Exit

List

Select

Thumbs Down

Mute

Volume

Play

Pause

Back (rewind)

Slow

Instant Replay

TV Power TV Input

Number Buttons

Clear

Remote Active Light

Live TV

Info

Guide

Thumbs Up

Chan Up/Down

Record

Fast Forward

Advance

SAT/TV Switch

Enter/Last

Page 3

Welcome to DIRECTV

Page 4

1034748-0001

DIRECTV, the Cyclone Design logo, and

Advanced Program Guide are trademarks of DIRECTV, Inc.,

a unit of Hughes Electronics Corp., and are used with permission.

2230 East Imperial Hwy., El Segundo, CA 90245.

TiVo, the TiVo logo, TiVolution, the Instant Replay logo,

the Advance logo, and the TiVo and Smile design are registered trademarks of TiVo Inc.

Season Pass, WishList, Overtime Scheduler,

the Thumbs Down logo and text, and the Thumbs Up logo and text

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

Manufactured under license from Dolby Laboratories.

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

HDMI, the HDMI logo and High-Definition Multimedia Interface are trademarks

or registered trademarks of HDMI Licensing LLC.

All other trademarks are the properties of their respective owners.

written permission is prohibited.

Page 5

Thank you for choosing the DIRECTV® HD DVR!

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 HD DVR. Now you can enjoy the best and widest variety in high-definition and digital entertainment with the added convenience of digital video recording, all in one receiver.

DIRECTV Delivers HD content. DIRECTV offers access to major HD networks such as HBO HDTV, Showtime HD, ESPN HD, Discovery HD Theater, HDNet, HDNet Movies and more. With your HD DVR and an off-air antenna, you can even enjoy your favorite prime time shows in high definition.* For more information on HD programming available through DIRECTV, visit DIRECTV.com.

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

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 each day including select titles in HD on channel 85. Just use your remote control to order front-row seats for your friends and family! (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 and college sports subscriptions. DIRECTV will take you to the arena for the best sports has to offer.

With DIRECTV

latest in television technology, including the DIRECTV Advanced Program Guide 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 service, you'll never miss your favorite shows again.

Pay Per View movies and events. With DIRECTV service, the main event is in

DVR with TiVo®, you're in control. The DIRECTV HD DVR brings you the

DVR with TiVo®

™

, with up

*In cities where local off-air, high-

definition programs are available;

reception may vary based on geographic

location.

iii

Page 6

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

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

Introduction to Digital Television . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Before You Begin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Useful Terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Cables and Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Setup Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Chapter 2: Guided Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

Welcome! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Satellite Dish Guided Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Activate Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Off-Air Channels and Video Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Phone Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

DIRECTV Central . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Chapter 3: The Basics in 5 Short Tours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37

Tour 1: Play with Live TV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

Tour 2: DIRECTV Advanced Program Guide™ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

Tour 3: Find and Record Your Favorite Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Tour 4: Find New Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

Tour 5: Now Playing List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

Cool Things You Can Do . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

Page 7

Chapter 4: Pick Programs to Record . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49

Season Pass, Recording Options, To Do List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

Using the Guide to Find Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

Find Your Favorite Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

Find Programs That Match Your Interests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

Chapter 5: Watching Live TV and Recorded Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69

Using the Control Buttons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70

Status Bar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

Channel Banner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

Watching Live TV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73

Watching Programs from Now Playing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76

Watching High-Definition Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78

Save to VCR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81

Music Channels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82

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

Messages from DIRECTV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84

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

Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89

System Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104

System Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105

Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106

Restart or Reset System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107

Standby . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108

Page 8

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

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

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

Resetting the Programmable Buttons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114

Setting a Remote Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115

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

Chapter 9: Warranty and Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147

Appendix A: Front and Back Panel Reference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159

Appendix B: GNU General Public License . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165

Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171

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

Page 9

Using this Guide

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

Useful Terms. Many technical terms in this guide are explained in the Useful Terms section beginning on page 6.

Menu Paths. Notes at the bottom of some pages show you how to find the screen being discussed on that page. For example, page 59 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

provided through the DIRECTV HD DVR.

DIRECTV HD DVR. Refers collectively to the high-definition satellite and off-air receiver and the digital video recorder (DVR) hardware. Your HD DVR combines a DIRECTV HD Receiver, an off-air digital receiver, and a DVR.

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

Throughout this guide, you will

see important and helpful notes

and tips in this format.

vii

Page 10

Before you install the HD DVR,

mount the satellite dish antenna.

Professional installation is highly

recommended. Your dish must be

mounted—with cables running to the

room where your HD DVR will be

installed—before you can begin the HD

DVR installation as described in this

guide.

The TiVo Logo. As you use your DIRECTV HD DVR, you’ll see the TiVo

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

and Thumbs Down

™

, TiVo Suggestions, and TiVolution® Magazine, all in one seamlessly

™

searches, Season Pass™ recordings, Thumbs Up™

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 HD DVR 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 your DIRECTV

DVR service following the instructions in chapter 2, “Guided Setup.”

For access to high-definition

programming, a triple LNB multi-

satellite dish antenna, along with a high-

definition capable DIRECTV

high-definition television is required.

Satellite dish antenna sold separately.

Due to copyright restrictions, you may not

be able to view some high-definition

programs in high-definition format using

the HD DVR.

viii

Receiver and

Start using your DIRECTV HD DVR. It’s easy! Learn the basics by browsing the Start Here guide. Take the five tours in chapter 3 of this User’s Guide for an interactive way to

learn about the HD 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 a comprehensive troubleshooting guide in case you have questions.

Page 11

CHAPTER

Connecting

Introduction to Digital Television 2

Before You Begin 3

Useful Terms 6

Cables and Accessories 9

Setup Options 12

Page 12

Chapter 1

Connecting

Introduction to Digital Television

TV used to be simple: a handful of channels, no color, no stereo sound, no choices. All you needed was an antenna and a TV. The antenna captured pictures and sounds and sent them to your TV over a wire.

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. Fortunately, one thing has remained the same: what you need to do is get the pictures and sounds from their source (satellite, DVD, game console, etc.) to your TV.

For the past 50 years, the television broadcast system used in the United States has been analog. Many things can interfere with an analog broadcast signal, even other home appliances, and the signal can degrade as it travels to your home, causing snow, ghosts, and other artifacts to appear on the screen.

High-definition television (HDTV) combines high-resolution digital television with digital surround sound. It is bigger, sharper, and better than anything you have previously experienced in home entertainment. Your DIRECTV including HDTV, from DIRECTV satellites and from off-air antenna broadcasts, and passes the pictures and sound to your TV set.

With the DIRECTV best of both worlds: state of the art digital television that’s simple and easy to enjoy.

HD DVR and the DIRECTV

HD DVR receives digital signals,

DVR with TiVo® service, you have the

Page 13

Before You Begin

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

Connecting Your HD DVR to a Phone Line

Your DIRECTV HD DVR needs to be connected to a standard analog phone jack for DVR service and pay per view functionality. The HD DVR periodically makes a brief phone call to update your service information. You do not need to install a new telephone jack or phone number for the HD DVR to work; it can detect when your phone line is in use and will only make brief calls (about once every other day) when the phone line is free. If you don’t have a phone jack nearby, use the 25 foot phone cord that ships with the HD DVR. If your phone jack is being used for a phone, use the provided splitter to connect both the phone and the HD DVR to the same phone jack.

Connecting Your DVR to a Satellite Dish Antenna

Your DIRECTV HD DVR will work with any type of DIRECTV satellite dish antenna, but for full functionality—including receiving DIRECTV programming—a triple LNB multi-satellite dish is required.

Your HD DVR comes equipped with two jacks for satellite input. The HD DVR will work if connected to only one satellite input, but connecting both allows you to record from two channels at the same time (see Dual Tuner on page 6). The setup options in this chapter show the HD DVR with connections to both satellite input jacks. To do this, you must have two Coaxial RF cables coming from your satellite dish antenna to the room where the HD DVR will be installed.

Round Dual LNB dish antennas and Oval two-satellite dish antennas connect to at least two Coaxial RF cables. However, these types of dishes are not recommended, since they cannot receive all high-definition programming from DIRECTV.

High-Definition

Do not connect your HD DVR to a

digital PBX phone system. Doing

so may permanently damage your HD

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

HD DVR in your home, it is very unlikely

that you are using a digital PBX phone

system.

For access to high-definition

programming, a triple LNB multi-

satellite dish antenna, along with a high-

definition capable DIRECTV

high-definition television is required.

Satellite dish antenna sold separately.

Due to copyright restrictions, you may not

be able to view some high-definition

programs in high-definition format using

the HD DVR.

Receiver and

Page 14

Chapter 1

Round

Single LNB

Single satellite

Round

Dual LNB

Single satellite

Oval

Dual LNB

Two satellite

Connecting

Satellite Dish Antennas and LNBs

Satellite dish antennas come in two shapes, Round and Oval. A Round dish receives signals from one satellite (Sat A), while an Oval dish can receive signals from two or three satellites (Sat A, Sat B, and Sat C). Every satellite dish antenna includes at least one Low Noise Blocker (LNB). The LNB is the device at the focal point of the satellite dish that gathers the signal reflected by the dish and sends it to your HD DVR. (It’s the mushroom shaped “finger” pointed back at the dish from the extended “arm.”)

There are three types of LNBs, single, dual, and triple. 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. A triple LNB dish adds an extra LNB for the third satellite (Sat C). The LNBs determine the number of independent signals your dish can send to your HD DVR.

If you have a two satellite dish, or a multi-satellite dish, your HD DVR will not work properly unless you have connected a multiswitch as well. Some satellite dish antennas have a multiswitch built-in. For more information about multiswitches, see page 6.

Required for all HD programming:

Oval

Triple LNB

Multi-satellite

high-definition programming from DIRECTV, and to take advantage of the HD DVR’s dual tuner functionality (described on page 6). If you can’t tell by looking at it, 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. If you currently own a different type of satellite dish, contact the installer or retailer for information about upgrading your dish.

Remember, you need a triple LNB multi-satellite dish for full functionality: to receive all

Page 15

Before You Begin

Caring for your DIRECTV HD DVR

Moving your HD DVR. To prevent damage to sensitive components such as the hard disk

drive, ALWAYS unplug your HD DVR, then WAIT a moment for the hard disk to stop spinning before moving it.

If you take your HD 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. You can also connect an off-air antenna and watch live TV from off-air digital channels.

After completing Guided Setup one time, whenever you unplug the HD DVR and plug it back in, it will search for a satellite signal. When you see the message “Acquiring Satellite Information,” you can press the DIRECTV button on the remote control to go directly to DIRECTV Central, then to your Now Playing List.

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

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

Flat, hard surface. The HD DVR 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 HD DVR to overheat.

The HD DVR does not have an

on/off switch. To turn the HD DVR

on, plug it in. The HD DVR, 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 HD DVR does have

an optional standby mode, explained on

page 108.)

Be sure to read the safety

instructions on page 155.

Use a surge protector. Like all electronics equipment, your HD DVR can be damaged by

fluctuations in your power supply. Purchasing a surge protector is highly recommended. A surge protector that allows you to plug in both power and phone cords may help prevent damage to the parts of your HD DVR that are connected to the phone line as well!

Page 16

Chapter 1

Connecting

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 TV Terms

Satellite Receiver. A satellite receiver does what its name suggests and more. It “receives”

the signal from your satellite dish antenna, translates it into a signal your TV can

understand, then sends it to the TV. Your HD DVR has a built-in satellite receiver.

Dual Tuner. A tuner picks one channel out of all of your available channels to display on

your TV. Dual tuner means your HD DVR can pick two channels at once, so it can record

two channels at the same time, provided you connect two cables from your satellite dish to

the “Satellite In” jacks, and activate the DVR service. If you set up the HD DVR for “Off-

Air antenna only,” you can watch, but not record, two antenna channels. See page 48.

Multiswitch. A multiswitch lets you send the signal from one satellite dish antenna to two

or more satellite receivers. Adding a multiswitch allows you to send a satellite signal to

each of your HD DVR’s two tuners, as well as to another satellite receiver for your second

television. If you own a two satellite or multi-satellite dish antenna, you must use a

multiswitch to send signals to your HD DVR or other satellite receiver(s).

DIRECTV

ACCE SS CARD

Access Card. Your access card contains information about your DIRECTV programming

subscription. It must be properly inserted and activated for your HD DVR to work.

Transponder. A transponder is a piece of equipment on a satellite. The transponders

receive information from DIRECTV and rebroadcast it to your satellite dish antenna. Each

transponder rebroadcasts a different set of channels. If the HD 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.

Page 17

Useful Terms

Video, Audio, and Electronics Equipment Terms

HDTV Receiver. A high-definition television receiver decodes high-definition, enhanced-

definition, and standard-definition video signals for display on your TV. Your HD DVR combines an HDTV receiver with a satellite receiver and a digital video recorder.

Off-Air Antenna. Any antenna used to receive standard or digital TV signals broadcast locally is referred to in this guide as an off-air antenna.

SDTV, EDTV, and HDTV. These acronyms define three types of digital television formats: Standard Definition, Enhanced Definition, and High Definition. SDTV is the basic digital TV format and provides better quality than traditional, analog television. EDTV uses the same number of lines of resolution as SDTV, but the scanning format is progressive rather than interlaced, providing a sharper image. HDTV is the highest quality digital TV format, offering the greatest number of scanning lines for each frame of video, which results in the most detailed picture possible today. HDTV video can be progressive or interlaced. See page 31 for more information about video output formats.

Digital Visual Interface (DVI). DVI describes a type of 15-pin connection found on many high-definition TVs. DVI allows a true digital connection for video signals and other digital information. You can connect your HD DVR to your TV’s DVI jack using the HDMI-to-DVI cable supplied with your HD DVR. Since a DVI jack accepts only video, you will need to connect a separate cable for audio if you use this connection.

High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI). HDMI is an uncompressed, all-digital audio/video interface for electronic devices such as DVD players, A/V receivers, and high-definition TVs. HDMI improves on DVI in that it sends both high-definition video and digital audio signals through a single cable. Like DVI, it also sends and receives digital content protection information. (See page 79 for details.) HDMI is backwardcompatible with DVI using the supplied HDMI-to-DVI adapter cable.

Page 18

Chapter 1

Connecting

A/V Receiver. An A/V 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 also be used to drive two or more loud speakers for a theater-like audio experience. It may offer features such as remote control or Dolby

Dolby

soundtrack is recorded on six separate channels, each of which can be heard on one of six

Digital Audio. Some programs are broadcast with Dolby Digital audio: the

separate speakers. To hear Dolby Digital audio, you must use an optical digital audio cable (not supplied) to connect your HD 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 HD DVR to record using Dolby Digital audio. For more information, see page 89.

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 HD DVR to an A/V receiver that supports Dolby Pro Logic or Dolby Pro Logic II. You can use either L/R audio cables or an optical digital audio cable.

Digital audio.

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

Page 19

Cables and Accessories

In addition to your TV and the equipment that shipped with your DIRECTV HD DVR (shown below), you’ll need a satellite dish

antenna, an off-air antenna—both of which should be properly mounted before you connect the HD DVR—and a standard phone line

(see page 3 for details) for full functionality.

1. These are the basics: 2. The carton contains one of each of the following:

HD DVR

Power Cord

25' Phone Cord

DIRECTV Access Card

Phone Line Splitter

DIREC

Chan

Vol

Remote Control

( )

TVSAT

102

and 2 AA

465

798

Batteries

DIREC

Component Video Cable (red, blue, green)

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

Optical Digital Audio Cable (Setup B on page 16.)

Extra Composite A/V Cable (Adding a VCR or DVD recorder on page 18.)

S-Video Cable

Composite A/V Cable (red, white, yellow)

Page 20

Chapter 1

Due to copyright restrictions, you

may not be able to view some

high-definition programs in high-

definition format using the HD DVR.

Wherever possible, you should connect

both high-definition and standard video

cables to permit standard viewing of

programs if HD viewing is restricted. For

more information, see page 79.

(green)

(blue)

(red)

Connecting

Choosing Audio and Video Cables

Your DIRECTV HD DVR can output either standard, enhanced, or high-definition video signals, and either analog or digital audio signals. If you have a TV, A/V receiver, or home theatre system that accepts high-definition video and digital audio signals, using these connections will provide the best possible audio and video quality.

The HD DVR offers several video output formats for standard and high-definition TV signals. In order to see a high-definition picture, you must connect a high-definition video cable from your HD DVR to your TV, and choose the appropriate video output setting. See “Video Setup” on page 29 for more information about video output format settings.

High-Definition Video and Digital Audio

The HD DVR provides two output jacks for sending HD video: HDMI and Component Video. While a cable is connected to the HDMI Output jack, the Component Video Output is disabled. You can’t view video from both the HDMI Output and the Component Video Output at the same time. See page 31.

If your TV has an HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) input jack, you can use the HDMI cable (, supplied) to send both HD video and digital audio signals from your HD DVR in a single cable. Although HDMI sends both audio and video, make a separate audio connection to your A/V receiver if you want to use a multi-speaker sound system.

If your TV has a DVI input jack, you can use the HDMI-to-DVI cable (, supplied) to connect your HD DVR (see Option A on page 14). Since a DVI jack accepts only video, you will need to connect a separate cable for audio if you use this cable for video.

The HDMI and HDMI-to-DVI cables also allow other information to pass between your HD DVR and your TV, such as High-definition Digital Content Protection (HDCP) used with some HD broadcasts. We recommend you connect your HD DVR to a TV that is compatible with HDCP. For more about copyright restrictions, see page 78.

Page 21

Cables and Accessories

The Component Video cable (, supplied) provides excellent video quality by separating the video signal into three components, luminance (Y) and two color difference signals (Pb, Pr). You will need to connect a separate cable for audio. (See Option B on page 16.)

The HD DVR also has a Digital Audio Out jack to connect an Optical Digital Audio cable (, not supplied). If you want Dolby Digital audio, purchase an Optical Digital Audio cable and use this connection. Ordinarily, your HD DVR produces tones to indicate when certain buttons on the remote are pressed. If you use Digital Audio Out or HDMI for audio, you will not hear these tones when watching programs with Dolby Digital audio.

Standard Audio and Video

To take full advantage of the HD DVR’s high-definition audio and video capabilities, you should connect it to your system using high-definition video and digital audio cables. However, the HD DVR also has standard audio and video connections that are useful depending on the equipment you have.

An S-Video cable (, supplied) provides excellent video quality. You can use this cable to connect your HD DVR to standard video devices, such as a VCR, or a standard definition TV. If you use this cable for video, connect a separate cable for audio.

The HD DVR also comes with a Composite A/V cable (, supplied). Composite A/V cables have three ends, two (white and red) for stereo audio, and one (yellow) for video. These three ends can be used together or separately. For example, you can use only the red and white ends for analog stereo audio, along with an S-Video cable instead of the yellow end for video. You can use this cable to connect your HD DVR to devices such as a DVD recorder, a standard definition TV, or an A/V receiver.

A Coaxial RF cable (, not supplied) carries both audio and video signals (analog or digital) TD0.0c0 Tw.

Page 22

Chapter 1

Connecting

Setup Options

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

If you have trouble, or if your

configuration isn’t covered by

one of these examples, see “Adding

Other Components” on page 13, or the

“Back Panel Reference” on page 162.

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 cables connected to IN jacks and leave through cables connected to OUT jacks.

When you connect your DIRECTV

HD DVR to your television and/or A/V receiver, you are simply creating a path that starts at the satellite dish and goes in (through IN jacks) and out (through OUT jacks) of your equipment until it reaches your TV.

This section provides detailed examples showing how to connect the HD DVR to your existing audio/video system. These setup options show a complete high-definition system, including a triple LNB multi-satellite dish, a standard antenna for off-air digital broadcasts, and a high-definition TV. If you have a different type of satellite dish or TV, you may not be able to view high-definition programs in high-definition format.

From the table below, choose the option that most closely matches the equipment you have and follow the steps in that section.

You have a high-definition TV and a home theater system or

Option A: Connect audio to your A/V receiver, video to your HDTV

page 14

A/V receiver.

You have a high-definition TV, but no home theater system or

Option B: Connect audio and video to your HDTV (no A/V receiver)

page 16

A/V receiver.

Page 23

Setup Options

Adding Other Components

You probably have other audio/video components in addition to your HD DVR and TV. These might include a VCR, DVD recorder, DVD player, game console, and/or a cable box. Some of these devices connect to your HD DVR, while others work independently, with no connection to the HD DVR.

For example, you can connect a VCR or a DVD recorder to your HD DVR to archive your favorite recordings. For information on connecting an archiving device, see “Adding a VCR or DVD Recorder” on page 18.

Components that don’t connect to your HD DVR (such as a DVD player, cable box, or game console) should be connected to additional inputs on your TV. If your TV doesn’t have additional inputs, you can use an A/V receiver or a switch box. Refer to the documentation that came with these devices for help connecting them.

Page 24

Chapter 1

Connecting

The audio and video cables

shown are examples only. Use

the best connections available on your

equipment. This setup includes a

high-definition digital video

connection to a DVI-compatible TV, an d

a digital audio connection to an A/V

receiver. The Optical Digital Audio

cable shown must be purchased

separately. For more information, see

“Choosing Audio and Video Cables” on

page 10.

Option A: Connect audio to your A/V receiver, video to your HDTV

Page 25

Setup Options

 (Optional) Connect the Coaxial RF cable from your off-air antenna to the HD DVR’s

Antenna RF In jack. (If you don’t have an off-air antenna, you can skip this step.)

 Connect the Coaxial RF cables from your satellite dish antenna to the jacks labeled

Satellite In 1 and Satellite In 2 on the back of the HD DVR. You can connect either cable to either jack.

 Connect the HDMI-to-DVI cable from the HD DVR’s HDMI Output jack to the DVI Input jack on your HDTV. If your HDTV has an HDMI Input jack, you can use the HDMI

cable instead. If your HDTV does not have either of these jacks, use the Component Video cable to connect the HD DVR as shown in step  of Option B, on page 16.

 Connect an Optical Digital Audio cable (not supplied) from the HD DVR’s Digital Audio Out jack to your A/V receiver’s Digital Audio In jack. Alternately, you can use just

the red and white ends of a Composite A/V cable for analog stereo audio.

 Insert the access card that came with your HD DVR into the Access Card slot on the 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 receive DIRECTV service, you must insert the card correctly and activate it. Activation is covered in the next chapter.

 Connect the phone cord. (For more about the phone connection, see page 3.)

 Plug in the power cord. After you see the Welcome screen, you can begin Guided

Setup, starting on page 22. If you do not see the Welcome screen, make sure the correct input is selected on your HDTV, corresponding to the video input jack you used in step  above. Refer to your HDTV’s owner’s manual for help selecting inputs. You can find additional tips in the “Troubleshooting” chapter of this guide.

Your HD DVR will work if you

connect only one cable to the

“Satellite In 1” jack, but it will not have

dual tuner functionality. See page 6 for

more information about dual tuner.



The Access Card slot is behind a small door.

Page 26

Chapter 1

Connecting

The audio and video cables

shown are examples only. Use

the best connections available on your

equipment. This setup includes an

analog high-definition video

connection and an analog stereo audio

connection to a high-definition TV. For

more information, see “Choosing Audio

and Video Cables” on page 10.

Option B: Connect audio and video to your HDTV (no A/V receiver)

DIRECTV® HD DVR









Television

Audio

Antenna

Video



Page 27

Setup Options

 (Optional) Connect the Coaxial RF cable from your off-air antenna to the HD DVR’s

Antenna RF In jack. (If you don’t have an off-air antenna, you can skip this step.)

 Connect the Coaxial RF cables from your satellite dish antenna to the jacks labeled

Satellite In 1 and Satellite In 2 on the back of the HD DVR. You can connect either cable to either jack.

 Connect the Component Video cable from the HD DVR’s Component Output jacks to the Component Input jacks on your HDTV. Make note of the input you use for video on your HDTV, and use the same input for audio. Alternately, if your HDTV has a DVI Input jack, you can use the HDMI-to-DVI cable for video. Or, if your HDTV has an HDMI Input jack, you can use just the HDMI cable for video and audio, and you don’t need to connect a separate audio cable (i.e., skip step ).

 Connect just the red and white ends of the Composite A/V cable from the HD DVR’s L/R Audio Out jacks to your HDTV’s L/R Audio In jacks for stereo audio. Do not connect the yellow end of the Composite A/V cable. Use the same input on your HDTV for audio that you used for video in step .

Your HD DVR will work if you

connect only one cable to the

“Satellite In 1” jack, but it will not have

dual tuner functionality. See page 6 for

more information about dual tuner.



 Connect the phone cord. (For more about the phone connection, see page 3.)

 Plug in the power cord. After you see the Welcome screen, you can begin Guided

Setup, starting on page 22. If you do not see the Welcome screen, make sure the correct input is selected on your HDTV your HDTV’s owner’s manual for help selecting inputs. You can find additional tips in the “Troubleshooting” chapter of this guide.

—the input you used in steps  and  above. Refer to

The Access Card slot is behind a small door.

Page 28

Chapter 1

INPU

INPUT 2

Video

Audio

INPUT 1

Connecting

Before You Begin:

Before adding other devices to

your setup, you must first make

connections from your satellite dish

antenna, to your HD DVR, and to your

HDTV using the setup option shown on

page 14. This diagram only shows how

to connect a VCR or DVD recorder to

your HD DVR.

The audio and video cables

shown are examples only. Use

the best connections available on your

equipment.

Adding a VCR or DVD Recorder

Television

INPUT 2

ntenn

T 1

Audi

OUTPUT INPUT

Audi

A/V Receiver

NPUT

Page 29

If your VCR or DVD recorder is already connected to your TV or A/V receiver for watching video tapes or DVDs, do not disconnect it. All you need to do to save recordings from your HD DVR is to connect standard audio and video from the HD DVR’s outputs to the inputs on your VCR or DVD recorder.

In the diagram to the left, Composite A/V cables send audio and video from the HD DVR to the VCR/DVD recorder, then from the VCR/DVD recorder to the TV. Your setup may look different, but the basic idea should be the same: high-definition video to your TV, digital audio to your A/V receiver, and standard audio/video to your VCR/DVD recorder.

You may need to purchase additional cables for these connections, or you may be able to use cables that were included with your VCR or DVD recorder. This setup uses Composite A/V cables. One Composite A/V cable is included with your HD DVR.

 First make connections from your satellite dish antenna, to your HD DVR, and to your HDTV and A/V receiver using the setup option shown on page 14.

 Connect a Composite A/V cable from the HD DVR’s Composite A/V Output jacks to the Composite A/V Input jacks on your VCR or DVD recorder. The HD DVR’s video output format must be set to “480i” to send a signal from the Composite A/V jacks.

 Your VCR or DVD recorder may already be connected to your TV (or A/V receiver). If so, you’re done. If not, connect a Composite A/V cable from the VCR or DVD recorder’s Composite A/V Output jacks to the Composite A/V Input jacks on your TV.

Setup Options

This setup shows you how to

connect a device such as a VCR

or DVD recorder to your HD DVR.

To watch a video tape or DVD, change the input source on your TV to the input corresponding to the jacks you used in step . Refer to your TV’s documentation for help selecting the correct input.

For information about saving programs to a VCR or DVD recorder, see page 81.

Page 30

Chapter 1

Connecting

Page 31

CHAPTER

Guided Setup

Welcome! 22

Satellite Dish Guided Setup 23

Activate Services 27

Off-Air Channels and Video Setup 28

Phone Setup 33

DIRECTV Central 35

Page 32

Chapter 2

For information about the remote

control, see “Introducing the

Remote Control” on the inside front cover

of this guide.

Guided Setup

Welcome!

Now that you have finished connecting your DIRECTV® HD DVR, you are ready to begin Guided Setup. When you first plug in the HD DVR, you will see gray screens which display its progress as it starts up. After a few minutes, you will see the Welcome screen, which marks the start of Guided Setup. If you do not see the Welcome screen, refer to the troubleshooting tips on page 119.

Remember, while a cable is connected to the HDMI Output jack, the standard video output jacks (S-Video and Composite A/V) will only display video at “480i,” and the Component Video output is disabled. (You can’t view video from both the HDMI Output and the Component Video Output at the same time.) If you used the HDMI or HDMI-toDVI cable to connect your HD DVR to your TV, make sure your TV is set to display video from the input jack you used.

During Guided Setup, follow the on-screen instructions to point your satellite dish antenna (if you haven’t already), activate your DIRECTV with TiVo

service, select your default video output format, and set up your HD DVR’s phone connection. Use the remote control to select menu items and move through setup screens. If you need additional assistance, this chapter contains detailed instructions.

Guided Setup includes four basic steps, described in this chapter:

programming and DIRECTV® DVR

Your HD DVR must be connect to a

standard phone line to complete

Guided Setup.

• Satellite Dish Guided Setup

• Activate Services

• Off-Air Channels and Video Setup

•Phone Setup

When you see the Welcome screen, press SELECT to start Guided Setup.

Page 33

Satellite Dish Guided Setup

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

Connect Cables. After you press SELECT on the Welcome screen, you’ll see a reminder to make sure all cables (satellite, phone line, and antenna, if applicable) are properly connected to the HD DVR. (The Guided Setup screens refer to your HD DVR with the generic term “Recorder.”) Press SELECT when you are ready to continue.

Program Source. Choose how you will receive programming on your HD DVR: from your satellite dish antenna, from a standard off-air antenna, or both. If you do not intend to activate DIRECTV services, but you do have a satellite dish antenna connected, choose “Satellite and off-air antenna.” This will ensure that you receive program information for your off-air antenna channels.

If you do not have a satellite dish connected, choose “Off-Air antenna only” and read the “Next Steps” screen that appears. Then skip to “Off-Air Channels and Video Setup” on page 28.

Satellite Dish Type. Choose the type of satellite dish antenna you have installed. For full functionality, a triple LNB multi-satellite dish antenna is required. See page 4 for details.

Satellite Connections. If you connected a Coaxial RF cable to each of the HD DVR’s “Satellite In” jacks, select “Two cables.” If you connected only one cable (to the “Satellite In 1” jack), select “One cable.” To be able to record two satellite channels at the same time (dual tuner), you must connect two cables from your satellite dish antenna (or multiswitch) to both of the “Satellite In” jacks and then choose “Two cables” on this screen. See page 6 for more information about the dual tuner feature.

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.

Your HD DVR has very limited

functionality without the

DIRECTV

Air antenna only” as your program source,

the HD DVR won’t have any recording

capability. You will only be able to watch

off-air channels and control live TV.

DVR service. If you choose “Off-

Page 34

Chapter 2

Guided Setup

ZIP Code. Use the number keys on your remote control to enter your ZIP code. The HD

DVR uses your ZIP code to determine the direction your satellite dish antenna should point. It also sets your primary network area for off-air channel reception. If you make a mistake, press LEFT arrow to correct it.

Satellite Dish Direction. Based on your ZIP code and dish type, this screen shows roughly how to pos(sh sed 33-6(control)-4.4(0)-4.2-5.8( )e)-1.6(ll(sh see dish an.8( )e)-1.6(nna. You3-6(control)w)-6.4(ill fine tu3-6(cone the po)-5.7(s(sh sed 3-6(con later on )]TJT*0.0001 Tc-0.0031 Tw[(during)-5.9( Satel)-5.2(lite )-6(Di)-5.2(sh)-5.9( G)-6.6(u)0.1(id)-5.9(ed)-5.9( Setu3-6(9(p )-6(at t)-5.2(h)0.1(e )-6(Test)]TJ18.4819 0 TD0.0005 Tc0.0025 Tw[( )6(Sig33-6(5(al St)-4.8(reng)-5. seh screen. Before )6(p)-5. so)0.5(s(ti)-4.8(oni)-4.8(ng )]TJ-18.4819 -1.4096 TD0.0003 Tc-0.0154 Tw[(the d3-6(coi)1(sh, be sure th3-6(coe mast )-6.1((th3-6(coe)-1.6( pol)-5(e on )-6.1(which3-6(co the )-6.1(dish (sh ss)-2.1( mo)-5.7(un.8( )ed3-6(co) (sh ss)-2.1( s.8( )ra(sh sght )-6.1(up a33-6(cod do)-5.7(wn. )]TJ0 -1.4036 TD0.0027 Tw[(Fo)-5.7(r two)-5.7(-)2( or )6(th3-6(coree--5.8( )e)-1.6(ll(sh see dish an.e33-6(con)0.3(as, th3-6(coe )]TJ17.9458 0 TD0.0005 Tc0.0025 Tw[(screen)-5. s )6(p)-5. sr)2.2(ov)-5. sides a )6(requi)-4.8(red ti)-4.8(lt in add)-5. siti)-4.8(on to )]TJ-17.9458 -1.4096 TD0.0002 Tc0.0028 Tw[(side-to-s(sh .1(de (azim)-5.1(u)0.2(t)-5.1(h)0.2() and)-5.8( )6(up)-5.8(-d)-5.8(own (el)-5.1(e)-1(covati)]TJ17.6145 0 TD0.0006 Tc0.0024 Tw[(on) )6(i)-4.con)0.6(fo)-5.4(rm)-4.7(atio)-5.4(n availab)-5.4(l)1.3(e for )6(roun)-5.4(d dishes. )]TJ-17.6145 -1.4036 TD0.0015 Tc-0.0045 Tw[(Profes)5.1(sd 3al )-6(s)5.1(a)-0.4seellite installers are )-6(available in)]TJ18.5783 0 TD0.001 Tc-0.004 Tw[( most areas to )-6(ensure )-6(correct installation. )-6(If )]TJ-18.5783 -1.4036 TD0.0008 Tc0.0022 Tw[(you3-6(2(r satelli)-4. see sy)-5.2(stem was instal)-4. sled by a professd 33-6(2(al, )6(t)-4.5(h)0.8(e )6(-5.8(4. )e)-1.1(ll(.8(4. )e )6(d)-5.2(i)1.5(sh an.e33-6(2on)0.8(a )6(d)-5.2(i)1.5(rect8(4. )d 33-6(2( )]TJ0 -1.4096 TD0.0016 Tc0.0014 Tw[(should be correct. )6(To see )6(the next screen, pres)5.2(s SELECT.)]TJ/F2 1 Tf0 -1.9036 TD0.0012 Tc0.0027 Tw[(Sat)16.9(e)1.2(l)11.1(l)-0.9(it)22.9(e Chec)22.5(k)12.2(l)5.1(i)10.1(s)0.3(t.)]TJ/TT2 1 Tf8.0361 0 TD0.0016 Tc0.0014 Tw[( The items )6(on )6(this list )6(help ensure )]TJ13.7711 0 TD0.0014 Tc0.0016 Tw[(you receive )6(a clear satelliee sig3al. )]TJ-21.8072 -1.4096 TD0.0019 Tc0.0011 Tw[(To )6(-ee the next s)5.5(c)0(reen, )6(press )6(SELECT when )6(y)]TJ18.5904 0 TD0.0011 Tc0.0019 Tw[(ou are satisfied that )6(each3]TJ9.9157 0 TD0.0015 Tc0.0015 Tw( item is complete.)Tj/F2 1 Tf-28.506 -1.9036 TD0.0064 Tc-0.0085 Tw[(T)87.8(e)6.4(s)11.5(t)4( Sa)6.4(t)28.1(e)0.4(l)16.3(l)4.3(i)9.3(t)22.1(e)6.4( Si)9.3(g)6(2on)14.3(a)12.4(l)-1.8(.)]TJ/TT2 1 Tf8.7952 0 TD0.0013 Tc0.0017 Tw[( )6(You use this screen to )6(check )6(the )]TJ13.4337 0 TD0.0001 Tc0.0029 Tw[(st)-5.2(reng)-5.9seh of )6(t)-5.2(h)0.1(e si)-5.2(g3al recei)-5.2(v)0.1(ed by)-5.9( )]TJ-22.2289 -1.4096 TD0.0006 Tc0.0024 Tw[(you3-6(4(r satelli)-4.7see dish an.8(4(coe)4.con)-5.4(n)0.6(a. )6(If you3-6(4( )6(h3-6(4(a)-1.3(ve cable)]TJ17.9458 0 TD0.0014 Tc0.0016 Tw[(s c)5. so)(4(6(nnected )6(to boeh “Satelliee )6(In” jacks, )6(this )]TJ-17.9458 -1.4036 TD0.001 Tc0.002 Tw[(screen shows th3-6(e )6(-ig)-5on)1(al stre33-6(g)1seh for each )]TJ16.6928 0 TD0.0013 Tc0.0017 Tw[(conn8(4(coectio)-4.con. It a)5.4(l)-4(so lets you see )6(the sig3al )]TJ-16.6928 -1.4036 TD0.0016 Tw(stre3geh from individual transponders one at)Tj17.8072 0 TD0.0017 Tw[( a )6(time. To be s)4.9(u)-4.core you )6(receive all your )]TJ-17.8072 -1.4096 TD0.0004 Tc-0.0155 Tw[(chann)-5.6)e)-1. sls, )-6.1(you )-6.1(sh)-5.6(oul)-4.9(d check)-5.6( sig3)-5.6(al stre3gt)-4.9(h o3)-5.6( all)-4.9( transpon)-5.6(ders. Ad)-5.6(just )-6.1(your di)-4.9(sh un)-5.6(til)-4.9( you3-6(6( )]TJ0 -1.4036 TD0.0014 Tc0.0016 Tw[(see)5. s strong )6(-ig3al—at l)]TJ8.9458 0 TD0.0009 Tc0.0021 Tw(east 60 on each transponder.)Tj-8.9458 -1.9096 TD0.0011 Tc0.0019 Tw[(The )6(-i)-4.2(g3al stre3geh)-4.9( )6(m)-4.2(e)-0.8(ter )6(o)-4.9(n)1.1( thi)-4.2(s)4.co screen provi)-4.2(des )6(au)-4.9(dio)-4.9( )6(feedback—)-4.9(a)-0.8( tone th3-4.9(at becom)-4.2(e)-0.8(s )]TJ0 -1.4036 TD0.0004 Tc-0.0215 Tw[(hig)-5.6(h)0.4(er p)-5.6(itch)-5.6)e)-1. sd as the sig)-5.6)n)0.4(al get)-4.9(s)-2( s.8(4.9(ron)-5.6(g)0.4(er. Yo)-5.6(u m)-4.9(a)-1. sy be abl)-4.9(e)-1. s to .8(4.9(u)0.4(r3)-5.6( the vo)-5.6(lum)-4.9(e)-1. s o3)-5.6( your TV )]TJT*0.0005 Tc0.0025 Tw[(up so you3-6( s )6(can hear )6(t)-4.8(h)0.6(e ton)-5. se)4.6( wh)-5. sile yo)-5. su )6(ad)-5. sjust yo)-5. sur satell)-4.8(iee di)-4.8(sh3-6( s )6(an)-5. s.e3na. Alt)-4.8(e)4.6(rnat)-4.8(el)-4.8(y, )6(y)-5. sou )]TJ0 -1.4096 TD[(mi)-4.8(ght)-4.8( )6(hav)-5. se)-1.4( )6(som)-4.8se)-1.4(on)-5. se wat)-4.8(c)-1.4(h the sig3al)-4.8( )6(stre3gt)-4.8(h met)-4.8(e)4.6(r and then)-5. s )6(report throug)-5. sh )6(a cell)-4.8( )6(p)-5. shone )]TJ0 -1.4036 TD0.0009 Tc0.0021 Tw[(or )6(wal)-4.4(k)0.9(ie-talk)-5.1(i)1.6(e to the person who)-5.1( )6(i)-4.4(s)4. s adj)-4.4(u)0.9(stin)-5.1(g )6(t)-4.4(h)0.9(e -5.8(4.4se)-1(lli)-4.4see dish an.en)-5.1(n)0.9(a. )]TJ/F2 1 Tf7.98 0 0 7.98 75.42 344.34 Tm-0.0005 Tc0.0011 Tw[(A3-6( tr)-6.9(ansp)-4.9(on)-5.4(der is a p)-4.9(i)2.8se)-5.8(c)3.4se)-5.8( of )]TJ0 -2.0075 TD0.0042 Tc-0.0036 Tw[(eq)6.3(ui)7. spm)7.coen)6.8(t o3)6.8( a s)4(a)4.9(t)6.9(e)-1.1(l)7(l)-0. si)7. st)-0.7(e)6.4(.)2( T)6.5(h)-2.2(e)6.4( )]TJ-3.1805 -2.0075 TD-0.0005 Tc-0.0741 Tw[(DIRECT)-5.7(V t3-6(4(r)0.6(an)-5.4(spon)-5.4(de)-5.8(rs r)-6.9(e)1.7(cei)-4.cov)4.9(e)-5.8( i)-4.con)2.1(f)-4.8(o)-1.3(rm8(4. )ati)-4.coo)-1.3(n )]TJ0 -2 TD-0.0009 Tc0.0015 Tw[(fr)-7.3(om D)-7(I)-0.6(REC)-8.3(T)1.4(V a)-7.con)1.7(d re)-6.2(br)-7.3(oadcast)-5.8( it t)-5.8(o)-1.7( you3-6.3(r)0.2( )]TJ0 -2.0075 TD-0.0003 Tc0.0009 Tw[(satelliee dish a)-7.1on)2.3(te)-5.6)nn)]TJ8.8496 0 TD[(a. Each tr3-6.7(ans)-8(p)2.8son)-5.2(der )]TJ-8.8496 -2.0075 TD0.0055 Tc-0.05 Tw[(r)6.6)e)7.cobrdcasts differt e chnnels. f

the H DVR does not receive a -igal for

an indvidualsp dr, it will not be

able ow th3-7.2(at )-7.5otransponder’s channel.

Page 35

Satellite Dish Guided Setup

• 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 multi-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 Satellite Setup. At each of the next two screens there is a short wait while the HD DVR confirms your setup then gathers a list of channels from the satellite.

Program Guide Data. Over the first day or two after setup, the DIRECTV HD DVR will gather and process up to two weeks of program information from the DIRECTV satellites, including program titles and descriptions, broadcast times, channels, and more.

Many of the HD DVR’s features use this program information. 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 looking for do not appear in the program information, check again later.

Steps to Activate. This screen explains the next step of Guided Setup, activation of DIRECTV services. When you call DIRECTV Customer Support to activate, you will be instructed to tune to channel 100. From this screen, press the LIVE TV button on your

If the HD DVR is low on program information, this message at the bottom of the screen alerts you.

Page 36

Chapter 2

Guided Setup

remote control to go to live TV. This screen also reminds you that you still have some setup steps to complete. Continue with “Activate Services” on page 27.

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 HD DVR, 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.

If you are trying to bypass Satellite Dish Guided Setup—for example, if you are setting up the HD DVR 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.

Page 37

Activate Services

Now it’s time to activate services fo

Activate Services

Page 38

Chapter 2

Guided Setup

Off-Air Channels and Video Setup

If you did not connect an off-air

antenna to your HD DVR, you can

skip “Off-Air Channels Setup” and go to

“Video Setup” on page 29.

An off-air channel’s frequency may

not correspond to its channel

number in the guide. For example, a scan

for off-air channels may detect a signal

on frequency 25, but the corresponding

channel may be 9-1.

To begin Off-Air Channels and Video Setup, press the DIRECTV button on your remote control to go to DIRECTV Central. Select Messages & Setup, then Settings.

Off-Air Channels Settings

If you connected an off-air antenna to your HD DVR, select Channels from the Settings screen, then select Off-Air Channels to confirm or modify these settings.

• If you selected “Satellite and off-air antenna” as your program source during Guided

Setup, your HD DVR is already set up to receive digital broadcasts from an off-air antenna. You can use these settings to scan for additional digital off-air channels your antenna may receive, and specify a secondary network area to gather program information for digital off-air channels from a nearby city. You can complete these steps at any time.

• If you selected “Off-Air antenna only” as your program source during Guided Setup,

you must complete these settings to see digital off-air antenna channels in your channel lists. Keep in mind that if you do not have a satellite dish antenna connected as well, your HD DVR will not receive any program guide information.

Scan For Off-Air Channels. On the Off-Air Channel Settings screen, highlight Scan For Off-Air Channels and press SELECT. To proceed with the off-air channel scan, press THUMBS DOWN three times, then ENTER. The HD DVR begins its scan for digital channels in your area. This can take several minutes. If additional digital channels are found, a list is displayed and those channels are added to the Channels You Receive list.

Program information for channels found with this scan may not be available. Additionally, the HD DVR may detect frequencies for which no channel number information is available. In this case, the channel will appear in the guide with its frequency number, not its actual channel number.

Page 39

Page 40

Chapter 2

4:3

Standard Screen Wide Screen

16:9

Guided Setup

or use the UP arrow button on the remote to cycle through formats you select on the “Output Format - UP Arrow Setup” screen (see below). For more about watching highdefinition programs, see page 78.

Output Format - UP Arrow Setup. Use this screen to select all of the video formats that your TV can display. (Check your TV’s owner’s manual to be sure.) Press SELECT to check each format your TV supports. Press the LEFT arrow to leave the screen when you’re done. You can then use the UP arrow to cycle through the formats you selected while watching live TV or recorded programs. Press UP arrow once to display the current output format, and again to change it. This allows you to easily change the output format to suit the program you’re watching.

TV Aspect Ratio. Aspect ratio is the relationship between screen height and width. Choose your TV screen size: Standard (4:3) or Wide Screen (16:9). Traditional TV programs are broadcast in Standard format (4:3). High-definition programs are broadcast in Wide Screen format (16:9). The setting you choose here should match your TV.

TV Aspect Correction. Programs may be broadcast in Standard (4:3) or Wide Screen (16:9) format. If the broadcast format does not match your TV’s size, the HD DVR can display panels at the sides, or at the top and bottom of the picture, to fill the screen. Use this screen to choose whether or not you want your HD DVR to add letterbox and sidebar panels to the picture.

While watching live or recorded programs, you can use the RATIO button on your remote to switch between TV Aspect Correction settings. Press RATIO once to display the current setting, and again to change it.

If your TV supports a “zoom” mode, which automatically stretches a picture to fill the entire screen, you can choose “Full,” and no panels will be added to the picture. Or choose “Panel” to add sidebars and letterboxing when appropriate.

Page 41

Off-Air Channels and Video Setup

What's the difference between 1080i, 720p, 480p, and 480i?

These are names for different video resolution formats. Each name includes a number and a letter. The number indicates how many horizontal lines of information make up a single video image. Generally, bigger numbers mean sharper, more detailed images. The letter indicates whether the output uses “interlaced” or “progressive” scanning.

With interlaced scanning, the horizontal lines in a video frame are divided into two groups. If you were to number the lines from the top to the bottom of the screen, one group would be the odd numbered lines, and the other would be the even numbered lines. Interlaced video refreshes half of the video frame 60 times per second—alternating between the odd and even lines. This means the whole video frame refreshes 30 times per second. This is fine for smaller screens but can result in flickering on larger screens.

Progressive scanning refreshes the whole video frame (all even and odd horizontal lines), 60 times per second. This eliminates flicker but requires the TV to process more information since twice as many frames are displayed each second.

For any given resolution (number of scan lines), progressive scanning looks better than interlaced. Standard TV has 480 lines, uses interlaced scanning, and is referred to as 480i. Many HDTVs offer a display format called 720p (720 lines with progressive scanning).

Video formats 720p and 1080i have similar picture quality, each having the edge over the other under particular circumstances. For example, 1080i shows detail better in still images or when there is little motion, whereas 720p excels when there is lots of action. The size and capabilities of your high-definition TV will also inform your choice of video output formats, so be sure to check its owner’s manual.

High-resolution video signals require special types of cables and connections. It’s important to remember that Composite A/V and S-Video cables do not support enhanced-

Page 42

Chapter 2

Guided Setup

or high-definition video signals. You must connect your HD DVR to your HDTV using the HDMI cable, the HDMI-to-DVI cable, or the Component Video cable to use the enhanced- or high-definition video output formats.

The table below shows which video output formats can be viewed with each of the HD DVR’s video output jacks.

While a cable is connected to the

HDMI Output jack, the Component

Video Output is disabled. You can’t view

video from both the HDMI Output and the

Component Video Output at the same

time.

Video Output Format Composite A/V S-Video Component HDMI

480i standard-definition

OK OK OK OK

interlaced

480p enhanced-definition

no picture no picture OK OK

progressive

720p high-definition

no picture no picture OK OK

progressive

1080i high-definition

no picture no picture OK OK

interlaced

Next Steps. Once you have chosen your default video settings, you are ready to begin the last part of Guided Setup. Go to “Phone Setup” on page 33.

Page 43

Phone Setup

To begin Phone Setup, press the DIRECTV button on your remote. Select Messages & Setup, then Settings, then Phone. The Final Setup Steps screen appears.

Final Setup Steps. Make sure the DIRECTV HD DVR is connected to a standard phone line. The HD DVR occasionally makes a brief phone call to get updates to the DVR service and for pay per view functionality. By default, the HD DVR will not pick up the phone if the line is busy. If you pick up the phone while the HD DVR is using the line, the HD DVR’s modem will disconnect. To use the phone line you should hang up, wait at least 45 seconds, then pick up the phone again to get a dial tone.

Review Service Terms. This screen advises you to read the DIRECTV Customer Agreement, available online at DIRECTV.com or printed on your first monthly statement from DIRECTV. If you agree to the terms, press SELECT to continue.

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 HD DVR uses to dial out. However, if your phone system uses special dialing options, select “Yes.” See “Phone Dialing Options” on page 96 for help with the various settings.

Phone Setup

Update Numbers. The HD DVR makes a toll-free call to get a list of local dial-in

numbers in the selected area code. 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 133.

Page 44

Page 45

DIRECTV Central

Almost everything you do with the DVR service starts from DIRECTV Central. You can set up recordings, watch live TV or recorded programs, read messages from DIRECTV, and access Showcases featuring entertaining and informative video clips. To get to DIRECTV Central, press the DIRECTV button on your remote control.

Occasionally, you will notice icons beside some of the options in DIRECTV Central. These icons will let you know that you have received something new from DIRECTV:

When you see this icon, you know you have Messages to read. See page 84 for more about DIRECTV Messages.

This icon appears next to selections that contains special video content. Highlight the selection and press PLAY (or SELECT) on your remote to play the video.

Choose the selection next to this icon to watch a special preview or visit a Showcase. See page 45 for more about Showcases.

You can find a complete glossary of icons in the inside back cover of this guide.

Take a Tour! Now that you’re all set up, we suggest you start with the tours provided in “The Basics in 5 Short Tours” on page 37. These will guide you through the basics and show you some fun features of the DIRECTV

HD DVR.

DIRECTV Central

Page 46

Chapter 2

Guided Setup

Page 47

CHAPTER

The Basics in 5 Short Tours

Tour 1: Play with Live TV 38

Tour 2: DIRECTV Advanced Program Guide™ 40

Tour 3: Find and Record Your Favorite Programs 42

Tour 4: Find New Programs 44

Tour 5: Now Playing List 46

Cool Things You Can Do 47

Page 48

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 and press the LIVE TV button to go to live TV!

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

( )

TVSAT

losing the saved portion of either one by pressing the DOWN ARROW.

But for now, press PLAY and the program resumes.

Next, press 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 press FORWARD to move the program a small step forward. Press BACK to move the picture a small step back. When your show is paused, pressing FORWARD and BACK moves the picture forward or back in small steps. 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 — you get your

own slow-motion replay!

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

Page 49

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 DIRECTV DVR. 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 HD DVR 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 HD DVR 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 INFO or the RIGHT arrow again. While 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.

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 feature, 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!

Status Bar

channel banner

This white line tells you where you are.

selectable icons

Page 50

Chapter 3

The Basics in 5 Short Tours

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).

Tour 2: DIRECTV Advanced Program Guide

™

In live TV, the Advanced Program Guide lets you see what’s on, change channels, schedule recordings, and more. Press the GUIDE button to see it.

Changing Channels

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

If you selected “Satellite and off-air antenna” during Guided Setup, local digital broadcast stations appear in the guide on local channels with a dash (-) in the channel number. For example, 7-1 might be the digital broadcast of your local channel 7.

Scheduling a Recording

It’s easy to record a program using the guide. Simply highlight the program you want and press the RECORD button. On the transparent screen that appears, select “Record this Showing.” If the program is playing, the HD DVR changes channels and begins recording; otherwise, the recording is scheduled for the future. When a program is recording, the red light on the front of the HD DVR comes on.

Guide Options

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

Channels. This option lets you select which channel list the guide uses to display programs. You can choose to display “All” channels (including channels you may not subscribe to), just the channels “You Receive,” or only your “Favorite” channels. Setting up your customized channel lists is easy. See page 90 for details.

Page 51

Page 52

Chapter 3

The Basics in 5 Short Tours

Tour 3: Find and Record Your Favorite Programs

If you do not find the program

you’re looking for, it may be

because the HD DVR is still gathering

program information. A message at the

bottom of the screen will alert you. The HD

DVR should be done collecting program

information within 24-48 hours of finishing

Guided Setup.

You can always record the program you’re watching by pressing the RECORD button on the remote. If you have not changed the channel for a while, your DIRECTV

HD DVR will add to your recording whatever part of the program it has already saved, up to 30 minutes. Your HD DVR also provides many ways to quickly search for programs and schedule recordings in advance. Even buying and recording pay per view events is quick and easy—and you don’t have to call to order! What’s more, if a program is part of a series, you can get a Season Pass

™

to the series. A Season Pass records every episode of a

selected program that airs on a given channel.

Search by Title

In this tour, we’ll show you how to find a series program and get a Season Pass. As an example, we’ll be searching for a fictitious show called The Downtown Lawyers, but you can use the same steps to search for your favorite TV series.

To get started, 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 (such as Audio & Video and HDTV), 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. To find The Downtown Lawyers, you would move the box to “D” 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 “O” and press SELECT again. The list changes. Your HD DVR searches through all available programs (usually, data for the next two weeks) to

Page 53

Page 54

Chapter 3

Your personal TV preferences are

just that: personal. DIRECTV

privacy policies are included in your first

monthly statement, and are available

online at DIRECTV.com.

The Basics in 5 Short Tours

Tour 4: Find New Programs

Your DIRECTV® HD DVR makes it easy for you to find what you want to watch—by responding to your interests and collecting the best the networks have to offer.

TiVo Suggestions

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 few programs and rate them by pressing the THUMBS UP or THUMBS DOWN button. Then go to DIRECTV Central, then Pick Programs to Record, 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.

™ ™

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

™ ™

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

™

. Highlight a

Only programs airing on channels

in the Channels You Receive list

can be recorded as TiVo Suggestions.

Auto-Recording TiVo Suggestions. As an added bonus, when the HD DVR has available

space, it may automatically record TiVo Suggestions. (You can turn this feature off if you prefer; see page 101 for details.) You will find recorded TiVo Suggestions at the bottom of the Now Playing List, below programs you requested, marked with a TiVo icon ( ).

Page 55

Tour 4: Find New Programs

It’s important to remember these characteristics of TiVo Suggestions recordings:

• TiVo Suggestions never replace shows you explicitly request, and they do not prevent your requested shows from being recorded.

• TiVo Suggestions are always the first programs deleted to make room for recordings you request.

Auto-recording TiVo Suggestions is an easy way to find programs that you never knew about, or old favorites you may have forgotten.

Showcases

Showcases is an interactive content area which often includes opportunities to schedule recordings of featured programs, or allows you to watch previews of upcoming movies or TV shows. The selections in Showcases are grouped in theme packages, giving you “onestop shopping” convenience when browsing for programs to record. Packages may include exclusive content, the inside scoop on hit movies, exciting miniseries, hot specials, popular series, and shows featuring the biggest stars of the screen and stage. Showcases is updated during your HD DVR’s regular connections to the DVR service, so you won’t see this selection on DIRECTV Central until after its first regular connection.

Page 56

Chapter 3

The Basics in 5 Short Tours

Tour 5: Now Playing List

Your DIRECTV® HD DVR 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, your HD DVR’s Now Playing List gives you instant access to all recorded programs—no need to spend time scanning for an episode somewhere on a tape.

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 at 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 next screen, use

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

Page 57

Cool Things You Can Do

Never be late for your favorite programs. Working late? Stuck in traffic? Don’t worry. 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

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 42).

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’s on—it will be recorded! (If you didn’t schedule a recording when you saw the icon, rewind until it’s visible again.)

Make a list of your 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. See page 90.

Use the Overtime Scheduler

before they’re supposed to and often end later than scheduled. With Recording Options, you can adjust your recordings to account for variations using the Overtime Scheduler. This is especially useful for sporting events. See page 52.

™

search will find them. See page 62.

™

(and don’t miss overtime!). Programs sometimes start

™

search. Have a favorite

icon like this

Page 58

Chapter 3

The Basics in 5 Short Tours

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! Dual tuner means your HD DVR can record programs on two channels at the same time—two satellite channels, two off-air channels, or one of each (depending on how you connected your HD DVR).

Dual tuner will not work if you only

connect one cable from your

satellite dish, even if you also connect an

off-air antenna.

To enable dual tuner, both Satellite In jacks on the back of the HD DVR must be connected to cables from your satellite dish antenna (or a multiswitch), and you must choose the “Two cables” option in Guided Setup (described on page 23).

If you set up the HD DVR to receive off-air antenna broadcasts only (that is, you connected an off-air antenna and you selected “Off-Air antenna only” during Guided Setup), you will be able to watch programs from two antenna channels at the same time. However, no recording is possible unless you activate the DVR service and connect a satellite dish antenna.

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—or just go to Showcases and look for the item you’re interested in.

The clapboard icon—on DIRECTV Central, or in Showcases—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.

Page 59

CHAPTER

Pick Programs to Record

Season Pass, Recording Options, To Do List 50

Using the Guide to Find Programs 56

Find Your Favorite Programs 58

Find Programs That Match Your Interests 62

Page 60

Chapter 4

If some Season Pass programs are

not recording, you may need to

change their priority with the Season

Pass Manager. See page 53.

Pick Programs to Record

Season Pass, Recording Options, To Do List

Your DIRECTV® HD DVR makes finding and recording programs easy—so easy that you may find more programs you enjoy than you ever expected! Your HD DVR can help with this too, by giving you simple ways to manage your recordings and make sure you watch what you want, when you want to watch it.

Season Pass and Other Repeating Recordings

There are three types of recordings that repeat automatically:

• 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 easy to set up. Just select a program (from the DIRECTV Advanced Program Guide choose “Get a Season Pass.” You can even set a Season Pass to record first-run programs only (no repeats!), and to keep as many, or as few, episodes as you want.

• Manual Repeating Recording. Records on a specific channel at a specific time, just as

you would with a VCR. See page 61 for more information.

• Auto-recording WishList

These three types of recordings also have the following in common:

, or from search results) and

. Records all programs a WishList search finds. See page 67.

• 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, go to Recording Options, Show Type, and select “All (with duplicates).” You can also schedule a single duplicate recording for a particular program.

There is one common exception to this “28 day rule:” if a program is deleted before you watch it, that program may be recorded again within 28 days.

Page 61

Season Pass, Recording Options, To Do List

• Parental Controls. If Parental Controls are on when you schedule a repeating recording, the HD DVR checks its current program information to see if any upcoming program violates a Parental Control. If it does, the HD DVR requires the current password to continue. See page 91 for more information.

• Keep at Most=5. By default, five episodes of a program are kept in the Now Playing List. You can change this setting. See page 52.

• Resolving conflicts. The DVR service resolves scheduling conflicts between repeating recordings by comparing recording priorities. You can change recording priorities using the Season Pass Manager. See page 53.

Recording Options

You can set Recording Options when you set up a recording. You can change them later by selecting the program in the To Do List or Season Pass Manager.

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

To set your Recording Options:

1. Use the UP/DOWN arrows to highlight an option on the Recording Options screen.

2. Use 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 new options.

To cancel your changes, press the LEFT arrow, or highlight “Don’t change recording options” and press SELECT.

Page 62

Chapter 4

Pick Programs to Record

Recording Options include:

• Keep At Most. This option sets the maximum number of episodes to be saved—useful

for keeping only the most recent nightly news or only a few of your kids’ daily programs. The default setting is 5. (Only appears for a repeating recording.)

• Show Type. You can select “Repeats & first run,” “First run only,” which records only

new episodes, and “All (with duplicates).” (Only appears for a repeating recording.)

• Keep Until. You can change this setting from “Space needed” (the default setting) to

“Until I delete.” (Only appears for a repeating recording.)

• Keep At Least. You can set the minimum amount of time the HD DVR keeps a

recording. The default setting is “Until space needed” (about two days), except for pay per view events, which default to “Save until I delete.” (Only appears for an individual recording.)

The Overtime Scheduler

• Start Recording. You can choose to start recording up to ten minutes before a

program begins. The default setting is “On-time.” (This option is not available once recording starts.)

consists of these two options:

• Stop Recording. You can set a recording to continue—for a few minutes or up to three

hours—after it’s scheduled to end. For example, you can extend the recording of a sports event and be sure to catch the whole game—even if it goes into overtime. The default setting is “On-time.”

Page 63

Season Pass, Recording Options, To Do List

Season Pass Manager

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.

Changing the priority order. If you don’t change priorities in the Season Pass Manager, repeating recordings are prioritized be the order they were set up: the first has highest priority, and so on. To change the priority order:

1. Use the UP/DOWN arrows 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.

Priorities and resolving conflicts. If a conflict occurs 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 only those programs that do not conflict with others previously scheduled to record. This gives the new repeating recording the lowest priority.

• Record all programs requested. This gives the repeating recording the highest priority.

Canceling a Season Pass. To cancel a Season Pass, just highlight the program’s title in the Season Pass Manager and press CLEAR. Or, from a Program Information screen, select “Cancel/edit the Season Pass,” then “Cancel this Season Pass.”

DIRECTV Central Pick Programs to Record Season Pass Manager

Page 64

Chapter 4

Pick Programs to Record

To Do L ist

The To Do List shows all your scheduled recordings and lets you cancel or edit them. To view it, go to DIRECTV Central, then Pick Programs to Record, then To Do List. Individual recordings are marked with a single checkmark ( ) to the left of the program title. Season Pass and manual repeating recordings have a double checkmark ( ), and WishList recordings (see page 62) have a star ( ). Season Pass recordings with no upcoming episodes scheduled to record appear at the bottom of the 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.

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

• Change recording options. Highlight “Record as planned,” then press the RIGHT

arrow and select “Options” to change the recording options for a single episode.

• View upcoming episodes/showings. This 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. You can also cancel a recording from the To Do List by pressing CLEAR on your remote.

• 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

Page 65

Season Pass, Recording Options, To Do List

View Recording History

This is an advanced feature in the To Do List for those who really want all the details. Selecting this option takes you to a list of three types of programs:

Deleted. To find programs that were deleted, press the UP arrow or CHAN UP. (You will find these programs listed above the point where the highlight bar starts off.) Selecting a title will take you to a screen that tells you how and when the program was deleted.

Were not recorded. To find programs that were not recorded, press the UP arrow or CHAN UP. (You will find these programs listed above the point where the highlight bar starts off.) Selecting a title will take you to a screen that tells why it was not recorded.

Will not be recorded. To find programs that will not be recorded, press DOWN arrow or CHAN DOWN. (You will find these programs listed below the point where the highlight bar starts off.) Selecting a title will take you to a screen that tells you why the program will not be recorded. You can then select “More recording options” on this screen, which will display the Program Information screen. You could choose “View upcoming episodes” to find an episode that doesn’t conflict with anything else, or change Recording Options, which may allow the program to be recorded.

DIRECTV Central Pick Programs to Record To Do List View Recording History

Page 66

Chapter 4

Pick Programs to Record

Using the Guide to Find Programs

The DIRECTV Advanced Program Guide™ displays up to two weeks of TV programming at the touch of a button. You can use the guide to quickly find programs and set up recordings by customizing the channels and filtering the types of programs shown in the guide. To view the guide, press the GUIDE button on your remote.

Customizing the Guide

The guide has options that let you quickly change what programs and channels it shows. To see Guide Options, press INFO while the guide is displayed. Available options are:

Channels. Choosing a list here selects the channels displayed in the guide. The three channel lists are:

• All. This is the default list. It displays all DIRECTV

• [Channels] You Receive. This list displays only channels you have selected in

Channels You Receive. See page 90 for details.

channels.

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.

• Favorites. This list shows only the favorite channels you have selected. See page 90.

Day and Time. Sets the guide to show what’s on at a particular day and time.

Style. Change the style of the guide to Grid Guide or List Guide. See page 74 for details.

Filtering. Turn guide filtering on or off. When you want to see all programs in a selected

channel list, turn filtering 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

Page 67

Using the Guide to Find Programs

highlight them. In addition, if a channel has no programs in the selected category within six hours of the time on the guide, the guide will not show that channel.

Recording a Program from the Guide

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 pay per view screen appears.

Recording the Program You Are Watching

You can always record the program you are watching: just press RECORD. From the options that display, choose “Record this showing.” Or you can choose “Season Pass and other options” to see the Upcoming Program screen and other actions you can take:

• 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 get a Season Pass for the program.

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

Stopping a recording. The recording will stop automatically when the program ends. You can stop it before that by pressing the RECORD button while in live TV. A transparent screen will appear with a selection to “Stop the current recording.” You can also select the program in the Now Playing List, and then choose “Stop recording.”

. (Only available if the program is part of a series.) Select this to

Up to 30 minutes of the current

channel’s broadcast is always

being saved, even when you are not

recording a program. With dual tuner

enabled, the HD DVR saves up to 30

minutes on each tuner. If the HD DVR has

saved a portion of a program, the saved

portion is added to the beginning if you

choose to record that program.

Page 68

Chapter 4

If you only know one word in the

title, use a Title WishList

the program. See page 65 for details.

Replace hyphens ( - ), slashes ( / )

and periods ( . ) with spaces. For

example, use CATS DOGS to search for the

title “Cats/Dogs.” Any other marks, such

as apostrophes ( ’ ), asterisks ( * ),

ampersands ( & ) and dollar signs ( $ ) are

ignored. For example, you would use

6 OCLOCK NEWS to search for the title

“6 O’Clock News.”

to find

Pick Programs to Record

Find Your Favorite Programs

Search by Title

If you know the name of the program you’re looking for, or even the first part of the name, choose Search by Title from Pick Programs to Record. Then follow these steps:

1. If you wish, you can first narrow the search with a category and sub-category.

2. The next screen has a grid with numbers and letters. Spell out the title by using the arrow buttons to move, then pressing SELECT on each letter you want. As you select letters, an alphabetical list of programs appears on the right. Keep selecting letters until you see your program in the list.

You can use other buttons on your remote control to help: CLEAR erases all the letters you’ve selected; BACK erases one letter at a time; FWD inserts a blank space.

3. When you see your program, press RIGHT arrow to move the highlight to the program list. Use UP and DOWN arrows to move the highlight within the list. You can also press CHAN UP/DOWN to move quickly up or down the list one screen at a time.

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

Browsing a category. You can browse through all of the programs in any category and sub-category. Numbers come before letters, so to start from the top of the list, enter a zero.

DIRECTV Central Pick Programs to Record Search by Title

Page 69

Find Your Favorite Programs

Record by Time or Channel

Record by Time or Channel offers you three options: Browse by Time, Browse by Channel, and Manually Record Time/Channel.

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 set up your list of Favorite Channels, see page 90. To find a program:

1. Use the arrow buttons to highlight a category (for example, “Movies”) to narrow the 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 or Channel

Page 70

Chapter 4

Pick Programs to Record

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 show the list of programs without leaving the channel selector. Press the RIGHT arrow to show 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 or Channel

Page 71

Find Your Favorite Programs

Manually Record Time/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 repeating recording for every week, every day, or every weekday. To create a manual recording:

1. To choose the Recording Type, use the UP and DOWN 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.

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.

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.

DIRECTV Central Pick Programs to Record Record by Time or Channel Manually Record Time/Channel

Page 72

Chapter 4

Pick Programs to Record

Find Programs That Match Your Interests

Try a WishList Search!

If you know what you like, WishList searches are great! A WishList search automatically finds programs that match your interests, tastes, passions, and whims on any channel you receive. And it keeps on searching for as long as you keep the 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 WishList for Elizabeth Myer, and then include the category “Movies,” and subcategory “Romance.” This WishList would only find romance movies with Elizabeth Myer.

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

Here’s another example: You could create a Keyword WishList to find a 1986 remake of a movie called The Fright, starring Chris Fields. The keyword entry would look like this: “CHRIS FIELDS” FRIGHT. Not only does this WishList search find a specific program—it finds the specific version! (You could also find this movie by making a Keyword WishList for the movie’s title and year. In that case, the keyword entry might look like this: “THE FRIGHT” 1986.)

DIRECTV Central Pick Programs to Record Search Using a WishList

Page 73

Find Programs That Match Your Interests

After you create a WishList search, 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 recordings for the programs or episodes you want. (See page 67 for more details.)

Can a WishList Do More Than Search?

Yes it can! You can set a WishList to auto-record, and it will record every program the WishList finds, on any channel you receive. For example, if you set the Elizabeth Myer Actor WishList (discussed earlier) to auto-record, you would automatically collect Elizabeth Myer romance 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 might not want to record every documentary, but you could occasionally browse the WishList and choose the ones you do want to record.

The more specific a WishList search is, the better suited it is to auto-recording. For example, an auto-recording Keyword WishList with the keywords SNICKS and RABBITS, 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 autorecording a WishList, see page 67.)

If you set up an auto-recording

WishList search for sports

broadcasts, consider using the Overtime

Scheduler

make sure you don’t miss the most

exciting part of the game!

(described on see page 52) to

DIRECTV Central Pick Programs to Record Search Using a WishList

Page 74

Page 75

Find Programs That Match Your Interests

Keyword or Title WishList. 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 similar words in Keyword and Title WishList searches, use the asterisk (*) as a special symbol that replaces the endings of words. For example, the keyword HELI* would find shows containing “helicopter,” “heliport,” “helium,” as well as the movie “Helicopter Cops.” 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, 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! Remember, when using the asterisk:

• It can only be used at a word’s end; it cannot be used to omit letters at the beginning or in the middle of a word. (For example, HELI*ER or *COPTER 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 a WishList

Page 76

Chapter 4

Pick Programs to Record

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 Shadow Country”

the next time it airs, create a Title

WishList for the phrase “Shadow

Country.” 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. (See page

50.) The next time “The Shadow Country”

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.

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 BILL SIMON might also turn up a documentary about Simon Branden with a director whose name is Bill. Use “BILL SIMON” to be certain you find programs that only feature Bill Simon.

• If you enter more than one keyword in Keyword or Title WishList searches, only programs that match all of your keywords (for example, “CHRIS FIELDS” FRIGHT) 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 10 10 to search for the title “10/10.” For an Actor WishList for Sarah Mills-Jones, use MILLS JONES, SARAH. 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 6 OCLOCK NEWS to search for the title “6 O’Clock News.” (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 “$50,000 Chance,” use S50000. (In Search by Title, skip the dollar signs to find these titles.)

DIRECTV Central Pick Programs to Record Search Using a WishList

Page 77

Find Programs That Match Your Interests

Browsing, Recording, and Editing a WishList Search

Browsing all WishList searches. Select “View all upcoming WishList programs.” This

displays a list of up to 10 upcoming programs from each of your WishList searches—and up to 200 programs total (so it may take a long time to display). To record a program, select its title, then choose “Record this episode” on the Program Information screen.

Browsing 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.

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.

Each auto-recording WishList search and its upcoming recordings are marked with a star ( ). To be sure that all the matches your WishList finds are recorded, give the WishList a high priority in the Season Pass Manager. See page 50 for details.

Editing a WishList. You can change a WishList—for example, to correct a misspelling or to add a category or subcategory. Just select the WishList, then select “Edit WishList.”

If you create an auto-recording

WishList search 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.

DIRECTV Central Pick Programs to Record Search Using a WishList

Page 78

Chapter 4

Pick Programs to Record

Page 79

CHAPTER

Watching Live TV and Recorded Programs

Using the Control Buttons 70

Status Bar 71

Channel Banner 72

Watching Live TV 73

Watching Programs from Now Playing 76

Watching High-Definition Programs 78

Save to VCR 81

Music Channels 82

Page 80

Chapter 5

When you fast forward too far,

press INSTANT REPLAY to rewind

eight seconds. Press it again if you really

missed the mark.

WARNING TO REAR PROJECTION

AND PLASMA TV OWNERS! Be

careful about using the pause feature for

long periods of time if you have a

projection or plasma TV. Most projection

and plasma TVs are sensitive and “burn

in” still images very quickly. If you pause

your program for too long, you may

permanently damage your screen. See

your TV’s owner’s manual for more

information.

Watching Live TV and Recorded Programs

Using the Control Buttons

Part of the fun of watching programs with your DIRECTV® HD DVR is using the pause, instant replay, and slow motion features. Here’s an overview of the control buttons:

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. You can pause live TV for 30 minutes. You can pause a recorded program indefinitely.

To move small steps forward or backward: first press the PAUSE button. Then press either the FORWARD or BACK button. For very slow motion back or forward, hold down the BACK or FORWARD button while paused.

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. Plays the program in slow motion.

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. (d) Use ADVANCE to enter a dash (-) for channel numbers that include a dash.

Page 81

Status Bar

When you press PLAY, PAUSE, FORWARD or BACK, the status bar appears on the lower part of your screen. In live TV, the status bar 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 HD DVR. The HD DVR automatically saves up to 30 minutes of live TV. You can rewind and fast forward through the saved portions of a program.

In live TV, the right edge of the green segment represents the current time. A white vertical line 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

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 catch up with live TV 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.

Page 82

Chapter 5

Watching Live TV and Recorded Programs

Channel Banner

Pressing the RIGHT arrow cycles throug

channel banner styles, from

small . . .

to medium . . .

to large . . .

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 how long the banner stays on the screen when you change channels. (See page 90.) 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 HD DVR is recording a program, dim when it is not recording.

Highlight to display what’s on the other tuner (for dual tuner). Select to switch to that 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.

Select to view audio options, including alternate audio tracks or closed caption options. If alternate audio is available, this icon will be bright, otherwise it will be dim. Highlight the icon and press SELECT to choose an alternate audio track.

If Dolby

Select to display Parental Controls (see page 91). 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.

Digital audio is available, the Dolby Digital icon will appear bright.

Page 83

Watching Live TV

When you’re watching a program as it’s broadcast, you’re watching live TV. To go to live TV at any time, press the LIVE TV button on your remote. You can also select Watch Live TV from DIRECTV Central. If you’ve used the pause, rewind, slow, or instant replay features and are “behind” live TV, press ADVANCE to catch up.

Changing Channels

There are several ways to change channels:

• Use the Guide. Tired of channel surfing? Press GUIDE to bring up the Advanced

Program Guide press SELECT. The channel changes to that program.

• Use the Number Pad.

™

. Use the arrow buttons to highlight a program that’s on now and

Watching Live TV

Page 84

Chapter 5

Watching Live TV and Recorded Programs

channel is cleared, and the HD DVR starts saving live TV on the new channel (in addition to the other most recent channel you were watching). You can use the pause, fast forward, instant replay, and slow motion features on either of the two current channels. For more on dual tuner, see page 48.

The DIRECTV Advanced Program Guide

While you are watching live TV, the Advanced Program GuideTM 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, set 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 it, press GUIDE again (or EXIT).

Choosing a Guide Style. You can choose between two styles of the Advanced Program

™

Guide different formats. To change the guide style, press the GUIDE button to display the guide, then press INFO to see the Guide Options. Highlight “Style” and select either the DIRECTV Grid or the List Guide. The DIRECTV Grid is the default style.

Moving Through the Guide. Use the UP, DOWN, RIGHT and LEFT arrows to move around in the guide. Use CHAN UP/DOWN to page up or down. In the Grid Guide, use the FORWARD and BACK buttons to jump through programming information 90 minutes at a time. In the List Guide, the FORWARD and BACK buttons jump through 30 minutes of programming information at a time.

: the DIRECTV Grid and the List Guide. They provide similar information, but in

Upcoming Programs. Press SELECT on a program that is not currently airing. This

displays some information about the program. You can choose to “Record this showing,” or select “Season Pass & other options” to see the Upcoming Program screen and other actions you can take. See “Recording a Program from the Guide” on page 57.

Page 85

Watching Live TV

DIRECTV Grid

Program listings

Page 86

Chapter 5

Watching Live TV and Recorded Programs

Watching Programs from Now Playing

All programs recorded on your DIRECTV® HD DVR are listed 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 recording. Just highlight it and press PLAY. If you have watched part of the program already, it resumes from the point you stopped watching. When a program ends, you have the option to delete it. If you don’t delete it, the program is available to watch again from the beginning. To delete a program from the list, highlight it and press CLEAR.

Program Information Screen

Selecting a program in the Now Playing List displays the Program Information screen. Recorded programs offer these actions on the Program Information screen:

• Play (or Resume playing). Plays the program from the beginning, or from the last

paused point.

• 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.

• Delete Now or Stop Recording (if recording is in progress).

• Save to VCR. See page 81 for information on this feature.

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 screen. The Program Details screen appears.

Page 87

Watching Programs from Now Playing

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 91. 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 (closed captioning is available), letterbox (which means the program is broadcast in letterbox, a wide-screen format), HDTV, and Dolby Digital.

Page 88

Chapter 5

While a cable is connected to the

HDMI Output jack, the Component

Video Output is disabled. You can’t view

video from both the HDMI Output and the

Component Video Output at the same

time.

Watching Live TV and Recorded Programs

Watching High-Definition Programs

High-definition television is different, and not just because it delivers the highest quality all-digital pictures and sound available today. High-definition pictures can come to your home in several different video resolution formats (see page 31 for a full description).

HDTV signals are broadcast in wide-screen (16:9) aspect ratio (the relationship between screen width and height). They can also carry advanced closed-captioning options, multiple audio tracks, and digital content protection information. Since the producers and broadcasters of HDTV content have many options available to them, your HD DVR gives you choices for viewing HDTV programming.

Set your HD DVR to match your HDTV

Your HD television also has options for how to display a picture on the screen. In most cases, you should set your HD DVR to match your TV’s capabilities. For example, if you have a wide screen TV, set the HD DVR’s TV Aspect Ratio to “Wide Screen - 16:9.” If your TV can display a number of different video resolution formats, use the “Output Format - UP Arrow Setup” screen to select the formats available on your TV.

You probably made these settings when you first set up your HD DVR. See page 29 for Video Setup information.

Feel free to change your video settings. You will probably want to change your video

settings depending on the program you are watching. Feel free to experiment with different settings and choose what looks best to you. Keep in mind that the Video Settings you make only affect what you see on the screen; they will not affect your recordings.

You can use the remote to quickly change video settings while watching live TV or recorded programs.

Page 89

Watching High-Definition Programs

• Use the RATIO button to change your “TV Aspect Correction” setting. Press RATIO once to display the current setting, and again to change it. This setting either stretches the picture, or adds panels to the picture, to fill the entire screen. This is useful if the broadcast aspect ratio does not match your TV’s screen size. See page 30 for more about “TV Aspect Correction.”

• Use the UP arrow button to cycle through the video output formats you selected on the “Output Format - UP Arrow Setup” screen. Press UP arrow once to display the current output format, and again to change it. This allows you to easily change the output format if you go from watching a standard-definition program to watching a highdefinition program. See page 30 for more about setting the UP arrow.

RATIO button

UP arrow button

DIREC

High-definition Digital Content Protection (HDCP)

High-definition programs are broadcast in a pure digital signal, received by your satellite dish or off-air antenna. This allows for other information to be sent along with the video signal, such as digital content protections sometimes used with HD broadcasts. One type of protection is High-definition Digital Content Protection (HDCP). If you connected your HD DVR to your TV using a digital video cable (HDMI or HDMI-to-DVI), all of the digital information for a program, including the video signal and any content protections, is passed to the TV.

Programs broadcast with HDCP can be viewed in HD format only on a compatible TV. Check your TV’s owner’s manual to see if it supports HDCP. If it doesn’t, you may not be able to view some high-definition programs in high-definition format.

The Component Video cable carries a high-definition video signal, but without other digital information. If your TV does not support HDCP, consider using the Component Video cable instead of the HDMI or HDMI-to-DVI cable to connect your HD DVR to your TV.

Due to copyright restrictions, you

may not be able to view some

high-definition programs in high-

definition format using the HD DVR. If you

see a message that says “Viewing is not

permitted using the HDMI output” while

watching a program, refer to the

troubleshooting on page 137.

Page 90

Chapter 5

Watching Live TV and Recorded Programs

Finding High-Definition Programs

There are many ways to find high-definition programs to watch and record.

• Filter the program guide. See page 41 for more about filtering the guide.

• Check out HD programming from DIRECTV. The DIRECTV several HD channels. When you subscribe to the DIRECTV receive a list of the HD channels currently available.

• The “HD” icon in the DIRECTV Advanced Program Guide are in HD format. If you see this icon in the program grid, you know it’s broadcast in high-definition format.

• Limit the results of any program search (such as Search by Title) using the category Audio & Video, and the sub-category HDTV.

If you connected an off-air antenna, digital off-air broadcast stations are generally on local channels with a dash (-) in the channel number. For example, 7-1 might be the local digital broadcast of your local channel 7. Use ADVANCE to enter a dash (-) for channel numbers that include a dash.

HD Package includes

HD Package, you will

shows which programs

Page 91

Save to VCR

If you have a VCR, you can save a program from the Now Playing List to a videotape. Save to VCR happens in real time, so if a program is two hours long, it will take two hours to save it. You will not be able to watch live TV or recordings while saving. Programs recorded in high-definition format will be saved to a videotape in standard format.

Preparing for Save to VCR

1. Use the FORMAT button on the HD DVR’s front panel to set the video output mode to 480i. This enables the HD DVR’s standard video jacks (S-Video, Composite A/V).

2. Make sure your VCR is connected to your HD DVR. See page 18 for details.

3. Set your VCR’s input to record from your HD DVR. See your VCR’s instructions.

Using Save to VCR

1. Insert a videotape into your VCR.

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

3. Highlight “Save to VCR,” then press SELECT.

4. Select “Start saving from the beginning.”

5. A title screen appears for ten seconds. When you see it, press your VCR’s record button. When the program is over, press stop on your VCR.

You can cancel saving to VCR by pressing the LIVE TV or DIRECTV button on your remote. A videotape icon appears as a warning. Press the same button

again and a confirmation screen appears giving you the option to resume saving at a later time, or cancel saving to VCR. If you choose to cancel saving, be sure to press stop on your VCR as well.

You can use the “Save to VCR”

feature with a DVD recorder; just

connect a DVD recorder to your HD DVR

instead of a VCR. The steps to follow are

the same. (See your DVD recorder’s

instructions for details on how to record a

DVD.)

Most of the buttons on your

remote that control playback work

as usual during Save to VCR—you can fast

forward through the boring parts! The VCR

Page 92

Chapter 5

Watching Live TV and Recorded Programs

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 Channels 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.

Page 93

CHAPTER

Messages and Setup

Messages from DIRECTV 84

Purchases 85

Settings 89

System Information 104

System Test 105

Troubleshooting 106

Restart or Reset System 107

Standby 108

Page 94

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 find—we made them that way because we really want you to read them. When your DIRECTV receives 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 & 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 also take you to your list of messages. The message list will display “No Messages” if there are no messages to read.

HD DVR

DIRECTV Central Messages & Setup Messages

Page 95

Purchases

The Purchases screen displays a list of all pay per view programs you have purchased, along with their date and time. To see the Purchases screen, press the DIRECTV button to go to DIRECTV Central. Select Messages & Setup, then Purchases. Each program in the list is 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.

Canceling a Purchase. To cancel an upcoming purchase, highlight an upcoming purchase and press SELECT. The Purchase Info screen appears. Select “Cancel this purchase.” Press SELECT on the confirmation screen that appears, and the purchase is canceled. If you cancel a purchase that is scheduled to record, the recording is also canceled.

DIRECTV Central Messages & Setup Purchases

Page 96

Chapter 6

Messages and Setup

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® HD DVR makes buying and recording pay per view 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.

Ordering from Live TV. If you tune to a pay per view channel that has an upcoming pay per view event, you will see a message bar at the bottom of the screen which says “Press SELECT for ordering information.” If you press SELECT, you will see the pay per view Program Information screen.

While watching promotions for other pay per view events on a pay per view channel (for example, between showings of a pay per view event), you may see a small message that alternately says “Press Select” and “Next Showing.” If you press SELECT, you will see the pay per view Program Information screen for the next showing of the pay per view event airing on the current channel.

Pay Per View Program Information. 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 pay per view Program Information screen. Options on this screen vary, depending on whether the selected event is currently showing, is already scheduled to record, or is currently available for purchase. Though some events have dedicated channels that allow ordering more than 24 hours in advance, you usually cannot use the HD DVR to purchase a pay per view event more than 24 hours before the event airs.

Page 97

The pay per view Program Information screen gives you the following options:

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

the price of the pay per view event) immediately available, it can do a quick check to retrieve it. When the HD DVR gets purchase information, the event becomes available to purchase and record. To check for purchase information the HD DVR 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 HD DVR provides a confirmation screen so you can avoid such a skip by choosing not to check for purchase information.

If the HD DVR finds purchase information by tuning away, the pay per view screen will be refreshed with the new information and you will have the option to purchase and record the program. If the HD DVR cannot find purchase information, you will be informed that purchase information is not available.

• 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.

Purchases

Recorded pay per view programs are marked “Save Until I Delete” (the green circle icon) by default. That way your recorded movies are saved until you manually delete them from the Now Playing screen

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

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

Page 98

Chapter 6

Messages and Setup

• 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 HD DVR began recording the program, you will still be charged for the purchase.)

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

option leaves the pay per view screen without making any changes.

Page 99

Settings

With the selections in Settings, you can customize the HD DVR to work more to your liking. To view the available options, go to DIRECTV Central and select Messages & Setup, then Settings.

Audio

Alternate Audio. Some programs have alternate audio tracks available, including other

language tracks. Use this setting to choose your default language track. Some of the languages listed will not be available for some programs. If the default language you choose here is not available, the program’s original language is used. When programs include multiple language tracks, you can select the Alternate Audio icon ( ) in the channel banner to view available options.

Dolby

Digital audio. If you connected your HD DVR to an A/V receiver that supports Dolby Digital audio (using an Optical Digital Audio cable), you can set your HD DVR to record and output Dolby Digital audio by default when it is available. You can also switch to Dolby Digital audio for individual programs that include it by selecting the Dolby Digital icon ( ) in the channel banner. If you are watching a program with Dolby Digital audio, you will not hear the HD DVR’s sound effects.

Digital. Some programs, including high-definition programs, include Dolby

Settings

Sound Effects Volume. Allows you to change the volume or turn off your HD DVR’s

sound effects (the tones played when you press buttons on the remote control). The default setting is Medium. If you are watching a program with Dolby Digital audio, you will not hear the HD DVR’s sound effects.

DIRECTV Central Messages & Setup Settings Audio

Page 100

Chapter 6

Messages and Setup

Channels

Channel Banner. When you change channels or press the RIGHT arrow while watching

live TV, the channel banner displays, then disappears after a few seconds. If you want the channel banner to disappear quickly, select “Clear banner quickly.”

Channel Lists. With DIRECTV channels available through DIRECTV. You may not subscribe to all of these channels, so to make it easier for you to find and record programs on channels you do receive, you can set up custom channel lists.

• Channels You Receive. Use the Channels You Receive list to select channels you

actually subscribe to, and that reflect your viewing preferences. For example, if you never watch a channel and don’t want to record from it, uncheck it on Channels You Receive. Features such as Search by Title and Search Using a WishList look for programs only on channels you have selected in the Channels You Receive list.

• Favorite Channels. Use the Favorite Channels list for channels you watch frequently.

Include only a few channels in this list, so that you can quickly look at what’s coming up on them using the program guide. See page 56 for information on customizing the guide to show your Favorite Channels.

service, your HD DVR receives information for all

Use SELECT to check and uncheck channels in your lists. You can scroll through the list using CHAN UP/DOWN. To go directly to a specific channel, press the number buttons, then press ENTER/LAST. Your changes are saved automatically.

Channels marked with an asterisk (*) are off-air channels for which no guide information is available. If these channels are added to the DIRECTV Advanced Program Guide

(creating duplicates in your lists), you can identify channels to uncheck by the asterisk.

DIRECTV Central Messages & Setup Settings Channels

DirecTV HR10-250 User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual

Welcome to DIRECTV

Thank you for choosing the DIRECTV® HD DVR!

Table of Contents

Using this Guide

Connecting

Introduction to Digital Television

Before You Begin

Useful Terms

Cables and Accessories

Setup Options

Guided Setup

Welcome!

Satellite Dish Guided Setup

Activate Services

Off-Air Channels and Video Setup

Phone Setup

DIRECTV Central

The Basics in 5 Short Tours

Tour 1: Play with Live TV

Tour 3: Find and Record Your Favorite Programs

Tour 4: Find New Programs

Tour 5: Now Playing List

Cool Things You Can Do

Pick Programs to Record

Season Pass, Recording Options, To Do List

Using the Guide to Find Programs

Find Your Favorite Programs

Find Programs That Match Your Interests

Watching Live TV and Recorded Programs

Using the Control Buttons

Status Bar

Channel Banner

Watching Live TV

Watching Programs from Now Playing

Watching High-Definition Programs

Save to VCR

Music Channels

Messages and Setup

Messages from DIRECTV

Purchases

Settings