TDS CatchTV Quick Reference Manual

| Quick Reference Guide

CatchTV is the first triple-play Gateway providing cable TV, high-speed Internet and optional home phone capabilities in one
single, simple and elegant solution. The CatchTV quick reference guide will get you up and running. If at any time you need more
in-depth help, the full user guide is available at HelloTDS.com/support.

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1. TIME – With the current time, you’ll know when your show begins.

2. CURRENT CHANNEL – Displays the channel that is playing in Mini TV.
If the program is recorded, an icon will display the current status - i.e.,
play or pause.

3. MINI TV – Lets you keep watching your program while you browse.

4. FOCUS – The current selection is in the focus area of the menu.
When cards are in focus, they appear raised and highlighted.

5. VERTICAL LIST – Contains all of the items in the current horizontal
category.

6. INFO PANEL – Depending on the item in focus, this area either provides
more information about that item or a selection of choices for that item.

7. CARD – Items in vertical lists are called cards.

When you press INFO on an
item in focus, you’ll get a list of
options for that item in an action
menu. Use the up and down
arrow buttons to scroll through
your action menu options. Action
menus have a focus, just like the
main menu. To select an option,
bring it into focus, and press OK.

The CatchTV Player offers an
optional Grid Guide view for
people who prefer to find
programming in that layout.
Launch the Grid Guide with the
shortcut button at the top of the
remote.

Favorites – A filter that lets you add your
favorite TV, video, photo and music content
to one convenient place.

Channels – A vertical menu that lists all
available channels.

Recorded TV – A list of all of the programs
you’ve recorded.

Settings – A category that allows you to
customize your Alpha Player.

Messages – A place to receive messages
about CatchTV services and updates.

Phone – A list of recent phone calls from your
incoming lines.

Search – Options to search for programs by
title, key-word, or by category.

News – A filter that displays all of the 24
hour news channels and current news
programming.

Kids – Access all children’s programming in
one consolidated list.

TV Music – A collection of TV music channels
to match your taste and mood.

Photos – A category to browse photos from
your computer in full HD on your TV.

SuperTicker – The SuperTicker lets you stay
on top of the latest news, sports, scores and
stocks without missing your show.

Games – A variety of classic games like
Blackjack and Slotmachine.

Sports – A filter that displays all available
sports content.

Movies – A filter that displays all available
movies, including live and recorded TV as
well as VOD.

HDTV – A filter that displays all of the high
definition content.

Home Network – An easy way to enjoy
media stored on your computer from the
comfort of your TV. Home Network allows you
to stream media from your computer to your
Media Player. For more information, refer to
the CatchTV user guide located online at
HelloTDS.com/support.

Online Scheduling – MyDVR provides the same feature set as on the set-top:
Device management including parental controls and feature activation. For
example, you can schedule a program to record; manage your device, your
account and your features – all from any computer with Internet access. Go
to tds.net and login to your account to get started.

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| Quick Reference Guide

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1. DVR – Goes to the Recorded TV category.

2. VOD – Goes to the CatchTV Video On Demand category.

3. GRID – Activates the traditional Grid Guide view of
TV programming.

4. LIVE TV – Goes to full-screen, live TV, regardless of
what’s currently in focus.

1. ARROWS – Moves the horizontal or vertical bands one card backward or
forward one item. Holding them down activates Turbo Mode and increases your
browsing speed.

2. OK – Begins playing the item in focus or executes an option in an action menu.

3. BACK – Takes a vertical list displaying TV
programming back to the previous half hour.
Also pages back through an info note.

4. NEXT – Takes a vertical list displaying TV
programming forward to the next half hour.
Also pages forward through an info note.

5. INFO – Brings up an action menu of options
related to the item in focus.

6. ZOOM – Alternates between full screen and the main menu. Also turns the
SuperTicker on and off .

7. NUMBER KEYS – Entering numbers will take you directly to the corresponding
channel. The CLEAR will back you out of any menu you are in.

1. MENU – From wherever you are, MENU returns you one step at a time toward the
top level of the main menu.

2. PLAY – Begins playing the TV show or media file in focus. Also allows
you to view the show at the point of fast-forwarding or rewinding.

3. SKIP – Skips forward in your program the number of seconds
that you predefine in settings.

4. REPLAY – Rewinds the program seven seconds, so you can
check out what you missed.

5. REWIND – Press up to three times (for three speeds) to rewind
the show.

6. FAST-FORWARD – Press up to three times (for three speeds)
to fast-forward.

7. RECORD – Press RECORD while watching a show or with a show in focus to record.

8. STOP – Exits out of a recorded show or stops a recording in progress if you’re
watching that show full screen.

9. PAUSE – Pauses the show you are watching

CATCHTV PARENTAL CONTROL

Settings provides robust Parental Controls, including the ability to
lock shows by channel or by the same rating systems used by
the V-Chip: MPAA ratings and TV Parental Guideline ratings.

Creating a PIN

1. The first time you use Parental Controls (or purchase a PPV

2. In the Settings category, scroll to the Parental Controls card,

3. Press the numbers on the remote to enter a four digit PIN

4. Choose close.

program), the system asks you to create a PIN.

and press OK.

and then enter the PIN again to confirm it.

Changing a PIN

1. In the Settings category, scroll to the Parental Controls card,
and press OK.

2. Choose settings, use the left arrow to scroll left to the Change
PIN card, and then press OK.

3. Enter the old PIN, enter the new PIN, and then enter the new
PIN again to confirm it.

If You Forget Your PIN

1. Call CatchTV support: 844-677-7473.

| Quick Reference Guide

Controlling Live TV

• Press PAUSE to alternate between pausing and resuming the
show you’re watching.

• Press REWIND up to three times (for three speeds) to rewind
the show.

• Press FORWARD up to three times (for three speeds) to
fastforward the show up to the point of broadcast.

• Press PLAY to stop fast-forwarding or rewinding or resume from
a pause.

• Press LIVE TV to view the point of broadcast for the last
channel you watched.

• Press REPLAY to view the previous 7

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seconds of the show.

• Press SKIP to skip forward in the show up
to the moment of broadcast. You can
decide how many seconds to skip with

skipreplay

play

this button in the Settings menu.

pause

• Press PAUSE and then FORWARD once to

rew fwd

activate slow motion.

rec

• Pressing RECORD to record the entire

stop

contents of the temporary memory or
buffer for the show you are watching.

• Press PAUSE and then SKIP to advance forward one frame.

THE BUFFER

When you start watching a show, your CatchTV will start
storing it in temporary memory, called a buffer. The amount of
temporary memory varies, but it is never less than 30 minutes for
standard definition or 10 minutes for HDTV.

Player Bar

Whenever you press one of the player control buttons, you’ll
see the Player Bar, which gives you status information about
the program you’re currently watching. You’ll see a version of
the player bar no matter what type of media you’re enjoying,
whether it’s recorded or live TV, photos, or music.

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1. CURRENT TIME – The current time or point in the current program.

2. PROGRAM – The current live or recorded program being played

back.

3. SHOW START TIME – The start time of the recorded or Live TV

program.

4. STORED IN MEMORY – while watching live TV, this area (the

buffer) displays the part of the show recorded in temporary
memory. While watching recorded TV, it shows the entire
contents of the show available for viewing.

5. PLAYER BAR STATE – The current state of the program
controls, such as play, pause, rewind, and fast-forward.

6. SHOW END TIME – Displays the end time of the Live TV
program or the duration of a recorded TV program.

TV Channels - Layout

1. TIME – With the current time, you’ll know when your show begins.

2. CURRENT CHANNEL – Displays the channel that is playing in Mini
TV. If the program is recorded, an icon will display the current
status - i.e., play or pause.

3. MINI TV – Even when channel surfing, Mini TV always keeps you
in the action.

4. FOCUS PROGRAM – Pressing INFO on this item brings up an
action menu.

5. AVAILABLE TV PROGRAMS – Displays all of the programs
available in your TV lineup that are currently airing.

6. RECORDING ICON – Displays an icon if the show is recording
or scheduled to record.

7. INFORMATION PANEL – Displays program information about the
show in focus.

8. PROGRAM INFORMATION – Displays the next three upcoming
shows that will air on the channel in focus.

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Recording Icons

Your CatchTV includes

The show is recording right now.

the following recording
icons for DVR status

The show is scheduled to be recorded.

at a glance. The
following icons
appear on focus
cards and vertical
cards throughout

The show is recorded and may be
deleted when space is needed for
newer shows.

The show will not delete and can only
be deleted manually.

the main menu.

Recording Options

If you have record once or record series selected, you’ll see an
arrow to the right that allows you to access recording options.
You can also access recording options from the action menu
of a show that’s currently recording or scheduled to record.

Scheduled to Record

Recording options for a single episode scheduled to record:

• Keep - lets you decide when the show will be deleted.

• Get series - sets the entire series to record.

• Stop - allows you to set the recording to stop early or late.

• Start - allows you to set the recording to start early or late.

| Quick Reference Guide

Series Options

• Keep

• Episode limit - Determines how many episodes will be stored
automatically.

• Accept - Determines whether you’ll accept first-run only or
repeat episodes.

• Timeslots - Lets you record only episodes airing at a certain
timeslot.

• Priority - Sets the priority order of your series recordings.

• Cancel series - Cancels the scheduled recordings.

• Start & • Stop

Space Management

Shows are automatically kept until more room is needed. You can
protect shows from deletion from the Recorded TV category; see
the following chapter for details.
When you schedule a new show to record, your CatchTV Player
will check to make sure that your CatchTV Media Gateway hard
drive has enough room.
If your hard drive does not have enough room for the new
recording, you’ll receive a message informing you that, when the
new show airs, some recordings may need to be deleted in order
to make room for the new show.
If all of your current recordings are protected against deletion,
you’ll get a message that your show may not be recorded.

Intro to Recorded TV

In the horizontal menu, you’ll find the Recorded TV category. All
of the recorded shows and shows that are currently recording are
listed in the vertical band in alphabetical order. Episodes of a series
are grouped into folders; you’ll see the individual episodes in the
preview panel to the right. To watch a show, select it, and press OK.
And if you’ve already watched half of the show, you can choose
whether to resume where you left off or start over from the beginning.

Recorded TV - Layout

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6. INFORMATION – With a folder containing episodes in a series
in focus, this area shows the current recording options for the
series. With a single recorded program in focus, this area shows
a summary of the show information.

7. SERIES – Individual episodes in a series are shown in the
preview panel. Press the right arrow button and select an
episode to see that episode’s action menu.

Recorded TV - Management

When you press INFO with a recorded program in focus, you’ll
get the following list of options in the action menu:

• Play/Start Over – Launches the program full screen from the

beginning.

• Resume – This option only appears if you’ve watched a portion

of the program. Launches the program full screen from the
point you left off .

• See all times – Displays all of the times that particular show airs.

• Delete – Removes the program from Recorded TV.

• Recording options – Lets you access the recording options

menu.

• Keep Until – Your CatchTV Player will automatically delete the

oldest shows in your Recorded TV folder as you need the room
for new recordings. Keep Until lets you set the program to be
deleted at the point of your choosing.

• Lock – Prevents someone from watching the recorded program

without a PIN.

• Record Series – you’ll get this option if you only have a single

episode recorded.

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1. CHANNEL LOGO – Displays the channel of the recorded show.

2. RECORDED SHOW ICONS – Let you know if the show is in
danger of deletion or protected against deletion.

3. FOCUS – Displays the channel number, logo and an indication
of whether a show is part of a series. Folders that contain multiple
episodes in a series also display the number of episodes.

4. SERIES FOLDER – Episodes of a series are held within a folder
listing the number of recorded episodes.

5. EPISODES OR DURATION – If the item in focus is a folder
containing episodes in a series, focus lists the number of
episodes. If it’s an individual show, it lists the show’s duration.

Recorded TV - Options

The Options card appears in the Recorded TV category and lets
you set your personal recording preferences. Select the Options
card, and you’ll get access to:

• Canceled and Deleted – Your CatchTV Player keeps a list of
shows that you have scheduled that will not record as well as
shows that did not record. The shows above focus have not
aired yet, while the shows below focus have already aired.

• Scheduled to Record – You can confirm that a show is set to
record using the Scheduled to Record category. In Scheduled
to Record, you can also cancel a recording and access your
recording options for each show. Just pick the show you want
to manage and press INFO.

External Hard Drive

To expand the space you have for recorded programs, you can
connect one external hard drive at a time to the rear eSATA port
on the CatchTV Media Gateway. Please keep in mind that your
CatchTV Media Gateway only supports eSATA storage devices
marketed or certified for DVR use.

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