Scientific Atlanta VCR Commander User Manual

VCR Commander™ Service

User's Guide

IMPORTANT RULES FOR SAFE OPERATION

CAUTION

RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK

DO NOT OPEN

RISQUE DE CHOC ÉLECTRIQUE

NE PAS OUVRIR

CAUTION: To reduce the risk of electric shock, do not remove

AVIS

cover (or back).. No user-serviceable parts inside. Refer servicing to qualified service personnel.

WARNING

TO PREVENT FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT EXPOSE THIS

This symbol is intended to alert you that uninsulated voltage within this product may have sufficient magnitude to cause electric shock. Therefore, it is dangerous to make any kind of contact with any inside part of this product.

1. Carefully read all safety and operating instructions before operating this product, and retain them for future reference.

2. Follow all warnings and cautions in the operating instructions, as well as those that are affixed to this product.

3. Follow all operating instructions that accompany this product.

4. Do not use liquid or aerosol cleaners. Use a damp cloth for cleaning.

UNIT TO RAIN OR MOISTURE.

This symbol is intended to alert you of the presence of important operating and maintenance (servicing). instructions in the literature accompanying this product.

5. Do not expose this product to moisture. Do not place this product on a wet surface, or spill liquids on or near this product.

6. Route all cords so that objects cannot be placed on or against them. This can pinch or damage the cords. Pay particular attention to the points where the cords exit the product.

7. Do not open the cover of this product and attempt service. Refer all servicing to qualified personnel only.

Continued on next page

IMPORTANT RULES FOR SAFE OPERATION, Continued

8. For damage that requires service, unplug this product from the IR port. Refer service to qualified personnel under the following conditions:

a. When there is damage

to the cord or plug

b. If liquid enters, or an

object falls on this product

c. If you expose this

product to rain or water

d. If this product does not

operate normally by following the operating instructions

e. When this product exhibits

a distinct change in performance

9. Upon completion of any service or repairs to this product, ask the service technician to perform safety checks to determine that this product is in proper operating condition.

Introducing the VCR Commander Service

The VCR Commander

service allows you to easily record programs whether your television is on or off. You simply select programs to record from the Explorer® Digital Home Communications Terminal (DHCT) Interactive Program Guide (IPG) or use the VCR Timer feature. The VCR Commander service works with models of the Explorer DHCT that have the infrared (IR) port on the back of the unit to control VCR recording.

Before you can use the VCR Commander service, you must connect the IR Blaster and then set up the DHCT to recognize your brand of VCR.

Use this guide for the following tasks:

• Connecting the IR Blaster to the Explorer DHCT and to your

VCR

• Setting up the VCR Commander service to work with your

brand of VCR

• Scheduling a program to record on your VCR Notes:

• The IR Blaster is compatible with all Explorer DHCTs except the

Explorer 2000; for the Explorer 2000 refer to the VCR

Commander

Module User’s Guide.

• Refer to your DHCT user’s installation guide for information

about setting up your Explorer DHCT, and to your remote control user’s guide for information about setting up and using your remote control.

In This Guide

Installing the IR Blaster ........................................................................ 6

Attaching the IR Blaster Cable ........................................................ 6

Attaching the IR Blaster to Your VCR ............................................ 7

Setting Up VCR Commander Service ................................................ 8

Scheduling VCR Recording ............................................................... 14

One-Touch Recording ..................................................................... 14

Using the IPG ................................................................................... 15

Using the VCR Timer ...................................................................... 17

Clearing a VCR Timer..................................................................... 19

Manufacturer’s VCR Codes ............................................................... 20

Troubleshooting ................................................................................... 25

Installing the IR Blaster

This section explains how to

• Attach the IR Blaster cable to the Explorer DHCT

• Attach the IR Blaster to your VCR

Attaching the IR Blaster Cable Connector

WARNING:

Avoid electric shock. Disconnect the DHCT from the AC power outlet before attaching the connector.

To attach the IR Blaster cable to the Explorer DHCT, complete these steps.

1. Disconnect the Explorer DHCT from the AC power outlet.

2. Locate the port labeled IR on the back of the Explorer DHCT.

3. Plug the cable connector into the IR port.

4. Reconnect the Explorer DHCT to the AC power outlet.

DIGITAL AUDIO

OUT

CATV CONVERTER MADE IN MEXICO

ETHERNET 1394

S - VIDEO

OUT

VIDEO

OUT

AUDIO

OUT

CABLE

OUT

IR Blaster

Cable

Connector

T8941

Continued on next page

Installing the IR Blaster, Continued

Attaching the IR Blaster to Your VCR

1. Refer to your VCR user’s guide

to locate the IR sensor window. (The IR sensor is where the VCR receives the remote control signal.)

2. Remove the covering on the

adhesive strip from the loop tape, which is attached to the hook fastener on the IR Blaster.

Notes:

• Attaching the IR Blaster to the VCR may be easier if the loop tape remains attached to the hook fasteners.

• After attaching the IR Blaster to the VCR, the hook and loop fastener allows you to easily remove the IR Blaster for cleaning or to move the VCR.

3. Mount the IR Blaster within 3 inches of the IR sensor on your VCR by pressing the IR Blaster against your VCR to secure it.

Notes:

• A , B, C, and D are typical places where the IR Blaster can

be attached (within 3 inches of the IR sensor on your VCR).

• Do not block the tape insert door on your VCR.

Setting Up VCR Commander Service

Use your Explorer Remote Control to set up the VCR Commander service.

After you connect the IR Blaster, you must program the code for your brand of VCR into the memory of the VCR Commander.

Before you begin

• Be sure the VCR is off

• Be sure the TV is on and tuned to your cable channel (3 or 4)

Note: At any time during this procedure, you can press or to manually record a program on your VCR.

EXIT

1. Turn on the power to your Explorer DHCT.

2. Press twice to display

SETTINGS

the General Settings menu.

3. Press s or t to scroll to the

Set: VCR Commander

preference; then, press .

SELECT

Note: If the menu does not display the VCR Commander option, contact your cable service provider.

4. Press s or t to scroll to Setup; then, press .

SELECT

General Settings

Highlight a Preference, press SELECT to change its setting(s).

PREFERENCE

Timer: All Timer: Remind New Timer: Sleep

Set: Bypass

Set: Color Scheme Set: Output Chan Set: VCR Comnder

Highlight a Preference, press SELECT to change its setting(s).

PREFERENCE

Set: Bypass Set: Color Scheme Set: Output Chan

Set: VCR Comnder

Timer: All Timer: Remind New Timer: Sleep

Highlight desired VCR Commander setting, press SELECT to change.

PREFERENCE

CURRENT STATUS

Disabled

General Settings

CURRENT STATUS

Disabled

General Settings

STATUS

Disable

Set: VCR Comnder

Setup

Enable

Cancel Changes

Continued on next page

Setting Up VCR Commander Service, Continued

5. Scroll to VCR Input; then, press .

SELECT

6. Your VCR is connected to your DHCT by one of the following cable types. Locate your cable type in this step and follow the instructions:

• For RF/coaxial cable,

choose Channel 3/4; then, press .

SELECT

• For RCA jacks,

choose Audio-Video; then, press .

SELECT

General Settings

Highlight a SETUP, press SELECT to advance to next setting.

PREFERENCE

Set: VCR Comnder Setup

PREFERENCE

Set: VCR Comnder Setup VCR Input

PREFERENCE

Set: VCR Comnder Setup VCR Input

SETUP

VCR Code

VCR Input

VCR Code

General Settings

Highlight an INPUT, press SELECT to change.

Channel 3/4

Audio-Video

General Settings

Highlight an INPUT, press SELECT to change.

Channel 3/4

Audio-Video

INPUT

S-Video

INPUT

S-Video

Channel 3/4

Cancel Changes

• For S-Video (SVHS),

choose S-Video; then, press .

SELECT

General Settings

Highlight an INPUT, press SELECT to change.

PREFERENCE

Set: VCR Comnder Setup VCR Input

INPUT

Audio-Video

S-Video

Channel 3/4

Continued on next page

Cancel Changes

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