Direc TV R10 Satellite Receiver User’s Manual DIRECTV

User Manual: DirecTV R10 Satellite Receiver User’s Manual Troubleshoot DirecTV R10 Satellite Receiver |

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The On-Screen Menus and the Remote Control

For questions regarding your DIRECTV DVR, DIRECTV programming, or your DIRECTV DVR with TiVo service, after
checking the Troubleshooting chapter of this guide, please contact DIRECTV at 1-800-531-5000.
When you call DIRECTV, you will need to provide the 12 digit number on your DVR’s access card, and the make, model
number, serial number and 12 digit Receiver ID number of your DVR, located on a label on the back of the
DVR and on the System Information screen under Messages & Setup.

DI REC TV ® DV R Us er’s G uide

DIRECTV is dedicated to providing you with quality support and customer service. If you have questions or difficulties,
we would like to hear from you.

Arrow Buttons

DIRECTV DVR

User’s Guide

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

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

Select
Highlight Bar

Two Types of On-Screen Arrows
The arrows that appear beside or near the highlight
bar show possible directions. For example: on this
screen, you could press the RIGHT arrow to highlight
Options or the DOWN arrow to highlight Edit
Keyword WishList.
Page Up Arrow

When you see page up or page
down arrows at the top or
bottom of the screen (or a list),
press the CHAN UP/DOWN
button to jump to more items
an entire page at a time.
Chan

WEB SITE
Page Down Arrow

You will find all of the most up-to-date information about DIRECTV products and services at the
DIRECTV web site, DIRECTV.com.

Page

TOCOM 16390140

Chan Up/Down
Button

Arrows Near
Highlight Bar

Hints & Shortcuts

Remote Active Light

DIRECTV Button
Arrow Buttons

Now Playing

DIRECTV

Press
(fast forward) and
(back or rewind) up to 3 times for 3
speeds. Press a fourth time, or press PLAY, to resume normal play.
INSTANT REPLAY replays the last 8 seconds of a program.
Press CLEAR to delete a title in a list (like the Now Playing list) or to
clear things that aren’t part of the program you’re watching (like
the channel banner and status bar).
INFO brings up the channel banner. Press RIGHT arrow while the
banner is visible to switch among three versions of the banner,
each with a different amount of information.
CHAN UP/DOWN does more than change the channel—it also pages
up or down through lists of programs or menu items.

Inserting Batteries in the Remote Control

Insert two AA batteries (supplied). Be sure to match the + and marks on the batteries to the + and - marks in the compartment.

List
Select

S ele c t

Thumbs Down

Press ENTER/LAST while watching live TV to jump to the last
channel you were watching.
ADVANCE moves you quickly through saved programming. Press it
while you are fast forwarding or rewinding to jump to the next
tick mark on the status bar.
When you’re watching “behind” live TV (for example, if you
paused live TV and later resumed watching from the paused
spot), ADVANCE catches you up to the live broadcast. In a
recorded program, press it once to jump to the end of the
program, then again to jump to the beginning.
If you program your remote control (as explained in chapter 6), the
TV POWER, VOLUME, MUTE, and TV INPUT buttons can control
your TV and A/V equipment.
The SAT/TV switch sets the remote control to send channel
changing signals to either the DVR (SAT) or the television (TV).
Many of the remote control’s buttons are disabled when this
switch is set to TV (for example, SLOW, FAST FORWARD and
PAUSE), so if your remote control doesn’t seem to be working,
check to make sure this switch is set to SAT.

Select to start or stop a recording.

(Yellow) In less than one day, this program may be deleted to
make room for other recordings you have requested, but only if
space is needed.

Highlight this icon to see what's on the other tuner. This icon is
bright when the other tuner is recording a program. Select it to
switch to the other tuner.

Thumbs Up

(Yellow with exclamation mark) At any time, this program may be
deleted to make room for other programs you have requested,
but only if space is needed.

If an alternate audio track is available, this icon will be bright.
Select it to view audio options.

Chan Up/Down

(Red with black border) This program is currently being recorded.

Mute
Mute

Volume

Vol

Chan

Record

Play

Page

Pause

Record

Pla y

Back (rewind)

Fast Forward

Slow
(-)

Slo w

Instant Replay

SAT

o
V P we

Input
TV

TV Power
Number Buttons

Clear

Advance

8
0

“Plain” folder – contains more than one episode of the same
series.
Folder with red dot – for any group that includes a program that
is currently recording or transferring.
Blue folder with star – contains one or more programs recorded
by a WishList search.
Folder with Thumbs UpTM – contains all programs recorded as
Suggestions.

Clear

This program is a Suggestion. Suggestions are recorded only if
space is available, and are the first to be deleted when space is
needed.

SAT/TV Switch
TV Input

DIRECTV

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.

(Green) This program will be saved until you delete it.
Info

G uid e

List

r/L
nte as

Channel Banner

Live TV

Guide

Hold the remote with the battery door facing you. Place your thumb
in the depression of the door and slide the door towards you.

Info

Exit

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

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

Exit

Live TV

LIST brings you directly to the Now Playing List.

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.

do
Win w

Press the DIRECTV button once to go to DIRECTV Central, or twice to
go to the Now Playing List.

Window

Enter/Last

Green folder with star – contains one or more programs recorded
by a paid auto-recording package.

If the program is broadcast with Dolby Digital audio, this icon will
appear. Select it to turn Dolby Digital auido on or off.
Select to display or turn on Parental Controls.
Select to view Messages from DIRECTV.

Welcome to DIRECTV

TOCOM 16390140
©2004 DIRECTV, Inc. DIRECTV, the Cyclone Design logo and Advanced Program
Guide are trademarks of DIRECTV, Inc. All rights reserved. DIRECTV, 2230 East
Imperial Hwy., El Segundo, CA 90245.
TiVo, the TiVo logo, TiVolution, Overtime Scheduler, Ipreview, the Instant Replay logo,
the Advance logo, and the TiVo and Smile design are registered trademarks of TiVo Inc.
Season Pass, WishList, the Thumbs Down logo and text, and the Thumbs Up logo and text
are trademarks of TiVo Inc. 1999, 2004. All rights reserved.
TiVo Inc., 2160 Gold Street, P.O. Box 2160, Alviso, CA 95002-2160.
Product and service are covered by U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,241,428; 6,233,389; 6,327,418;
6,385,739; 6,490,722; 6,642,939; 6,643,798; D435,561; and D445,801. Other patents
pending.
Manufactured under license from Dolby Laboratories. “Dolby” and the double-D symbol
are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories.
All other trademarks are the properties of their respective owners.
© 1999, 2004 by TiVo Inc. Reproduction in whole or in part without
written permission is prohibited.

Welcome to the DIRECTV family!
Whether you've been enjoying DIRECTV® service for years or this is your first experience
with us, we are excited to introduce to you the DIRECTV DVR. Now you can enjoy the best
and widest variety in digital entertainment with the added convenience of digital video
recording, all in one receiver.
All digital, all the time. DIRECTV offers access to over 225 channels of Hollywood hits,
classic movies, family programming, news, and exciting sports action. Plus access to up to
36 commercial-free music channels—all in digital-quality picture and sound.
DIRECTV® Pay Per View movies and events. With DIRECTV service, the main event is in
your home! You’ll have access to great movies, exclusive special live sports, concerts and
special events. DIRECTV offers up to 55 different pay per view choices a day. Just use your
remote control to give all your friends and family a front-row seat! (Connection to a
standard phone line required.)
DIRECTV knows sports. DIRECTV offers access to more sports than you ever thought
possible. So you can follow your favorite team across the country with our pro & college
sports subscriptions. DIRECTV will take you to the arena for the best sports has to offer.
With DIRECTV® DVR with TiVo®, you're in control. The DIRECTV DVR brings you the
latest in television technology, including the DIRECTV Advanced Program Guide™, with
up to 14 days of program listings, and the ability to pause and replay live TV. Plus, with
Pick Programs to Record and the other easy-to-use features of your DIRECTV® DVR with
TiVo® service, you'll never miss your favorite shows again.

iii

Table of Contents
Using this Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vii

Chapter 1: Connecting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Useful Terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Cables and Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Setup Examples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Chapter 2: Guided Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Satellite Dish Guided Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Activate Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Phone Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
DIRECTV Central . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Chapter 3: The Basics in 5 Short Tours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
Tour 1: Play with Live TV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Tour 2: DIRECTV Advanced Program Guide™ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Tour 3: Find and Record Your Favorite Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Tour 4: Find New Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Tour 5: Now Playing List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Cool Things You Can Do . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Chapter 4: Pick Programs to Record . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41
Season Pass, Recording Options, To Do List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Using the Guide to Find Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Find Your Favorite Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
iv

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

Chapter 5: Watching Live TV and Recorded Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65
Using the Control Buttons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Status Bar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Channel Banner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Watching Live TV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Watching Programs from Now Playing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Save to VCR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Music Channels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76

Chapter 6: Messages and Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77
Messages from DIRECTV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Purchases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Phone Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Remote Control Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
System Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
System Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Restart or Reset System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Standby . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104

Chapter 7: Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Contacting Customer Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Questions About Getting Started . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Questions About Live TV (Including Satellite Signal) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Questions About Pick Programs to Record . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
v

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

Chapter 8: Warranty and Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Limited 90 Day Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
DIRECTV PROTECTION PLAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
FCC Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Safety Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134

Appendix A: Back Panel Reference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Appendix B: GNU General Public License . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Glossary of Icons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inside Back Cover

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

Throughout this guide, you will
see important and helpful notes
and tips in this format.

Remote Control Tips & Glossary of Icons. The inside front cover of this guide provides
an introduction to the remote control. The inside back cover has a Glossary of Icons that
explains many of the graphic symbols you will see when using your DVR.
Useful Terms. Many technical terms in this guide are explained in the Useful Terms
section beginning on page 4.
Menu Paths. Notes at the bottom of some pages show you how to find the screen being
discussed on that page. For example, page 51 describes the “Record by Time or Channel”
feature. At the bottom of the page is the note “DIRECTV Central Pick Programs to
Record Record by Time/Channel.” This note means you can find Record by Time/
Channel, the screen being discussed, by going to DIRECTV Central (press the DIRECTV
button on your remote control) and selecting Pick Programs to Record, then Record by
Time/Channel.
DIRECTV® DVR with TiVo® Service. This is the program searching and recording service
provided through the DIRECTV® DVR.
DIRECTV DVR. Refers to the digital video recorder (DVR) hardware.

vii

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

Getting Started

the satellite dish antenna.

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

Professional installation is highly
recommended. Your dish must be
mounted, with cables running to the room

1. Connect the DVR to your satellite dish and your TV. (See Chapter 1, “Connecting.”)
2. Complete Guided Setup to point your satellite dish antenna and activate the DIRECTV
DVR service following the instructions in Chapter 2, “Guided Setup.”

where your DVR will be installed, before
you can begin the DVR installation as
described in this guide. A Dual LNB dish
antenna connection is required for full
functionality.

viii

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

CHAPTER 1

Connecting
Overview

Useful Terms

Cables and Accessories

Setup Examples

C h a pt e r

C o n n e c t i n g

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

so may permanently damage your DVR’s

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

modem and will void your warranty.

Connecting to a Phone Line

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

Digital PBX phone systems allow many
phones to share a single telephone
number and are usually used in hotels and
office buildings. If you are installing the
DVR in your home, it is very unlikely that
you are using a digital PBX phone system.

You do not need to install a new telephone jack or phone number for the DVR to work; it
can detect when your phone line is in use and will only make calls when the phone line is
available. If you don’t have a phone jack nearby, you can use the 25 foot phone cord that
ships with the DVR. If your phone jack is being used for a phone, you can use a phone
splitter (not provided) to connect both the phone and the DVR to the same phone jack.

If you have a Single LNB satellite

Connecting a Dual LNB or a Multi-Satellite Dish Antenna

dish antenna, you will need to

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

upgrade to a Dual LNB for full
functionality. Contact your satellite dish
antenna manufacturer for more
information about upgrading.

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

Both a Round Dual LNB dish antenna and an Oval 2 or 3 satellite dish antenna connect to
at least two Coaxial RF cables. To connect both of your DVR’s satellite input jacks, you

O ver view
must have two Coaxial RF cables coming from your satellite dish antenna to the room
where the DVR will be installed.
If you currently own a Dual LNB satellite dish antenna that is already connected to two
TVs, you can purchase a multiswitch (described on page 5) that will allow you to connect
two cables to your new DVR as well as one to an existing receiver for your second TV.

Using an Antenna or Cable Connection in Addition to DIRECTV® Programming
If you have an antenna or cable connection in addition to your satellite dish antenna, you
can watch antenna or cable channels while recording DIRECTV® channels. However,
recording and other features (such as parental controls, purchasing pay per view programs,
viewing on-screen menus, or pausing live TV), do not work on cable or antenna channels.

1
For information on how to switch
between watching antenna or
cable channels and watching DIRECTV
channels, see the connection example in
this chapter that is most appropriate to
your configuration.

Caring for your DIRECTV® DVR
Moving Your DVR. To prevent damage to sensitive components such as the hard disk
drive, ALWAYS unplug your DVR and then WAIT a moment for the hard disk to stop
spinning before moving it. If you take your DVR with you to a location without satellite
access—for example, on a weekend get-away to a mountain cabin—you will still be able
to connect it to a television and watch programs saved in the Now Playing List.
Do not drop. Your new DVR contains a hard disk drive that is constantly in motion; it
may be damaged if the DVR falls or is dropped. Place the DVR in a stable location.
Do not stack. Your DVR is NOT designed to carry the weight of other consumer
components such as VCRs, DVD players, or A/V receivers.
Flat, hard surface. Rest your DVR on a flat, hard surface. Do not operate it on a carpet or
other padded surface. This can inhibit proper ventilation and cause the DVR to overheat.
Use a surge protector. Like all electronics equipment, your DVR can be damaged by
fluctuations in your power supply. Purchasing a surge protector is highly recommended.

The DVR does not have an on/off
switch. To turn the DVR on, plug it
in. The DVR, like a clock or a refrigerator,
is designed to be “always on,” and does
not need to be turned off. This lets it
record programs and connect to the DVR
service to keep its data up-to-date.
If you must turn the DVR off—for example,
to move it—simply unplug it. (The DVR
does have an optional standby mode,
explained on page 104.)

C h a pt e r

C o n n e c t i n g

Your DIRECTV DVR is multisatellite capable if used with a
DIRECTV Multi-Satellite Dish Antenna.

Useful Terms
If you’re not an audio/video wizard, you may find yourself stumbling over some of the
names, features and functions of various pieces of equipment. Here’s a quick reference to
help you understand some of the terms you may encounter during installation.

Satellite Terms

Round Single

Oval 2

Oval 3

satellite dish

antenna

Single LNB

Dual LNB

(Single Satellite)

Satellite Receiver

Round Single Satellite Dish Antenna, Oval 2 Satellite Dish Antenna, and Oval 3
Satellite Dish Antenna. The names Round single, Oval 2, and Oval 3 satellite dish
antennas refer to both the most common shape of the dish and the number of satellites
from which a dish can receive information. To determine what type of dish you have, look
at the arm extending out from the dish. At the end of this arm are one or more “fingers”
ending in mushroom shaped parts pointing back at the dish. A single satellite dish antenna
has one of these “fingers” pointing back at the dish, a 2 satellite dish antenna has two, and
a 3 satellite dish antenna has three. If you own a 2 or 3 satellite dish antenna, your DVR
will not work properly unless you have connected a multiswitch with at least four inputs
and two outputs. For a definition of a multiswitch, see page 5.
Single LNB and Dual LNB Satellite Dish Antennas. Single LNB and Dual LNB refer to
the number of independent signals a dish can send to your audio/video equipment. A
Single LNB sends one signal and has one jack, or connector, inside the arm extending
from the dish. A Dual LNB sends two signals and has two jacks. The easiest way to
determine what type of dish you have is to consult the documentation that came with the
dish. Disassembling the dish to determine its type is not recommended.
Satellite Receiver. A satellite receiver does what its name suggests and more. It
“receives” the signal from your satellite dish antenna, then translates it into a signal your
TV can understand, then sends pictures and sound to your TV. Your DIRECTV® DVR has
a built-in satellite receiver.

U s e f u l

T e r m s

Dual Tuner. A tuner picks one channel out of all of your available channels. This allows
you to view a single channel and to change channels. “Dual Tuner” means your
DIRECTV® DVR has two tuners. It can pick out two channels at once, allowing you to
watch or record programs on two channels at the same time. See page 69 for more.

Multiswitch. A multiswitch lets you use the signal from one satellite dish antenna for
more than two TVs. If you currently own a Dual LNB dish that is connected to two
televisions, a multiswitch will allow you to connect two cables to your new DVR as well
as one to a satellite receiver on your second television. If you own a 2 or 3 satellite dish
antenna, your DVR will not work unless you have connected a multiswitch with at least
four inputs and two outputs.
Access Card. Your access card contains information about your DIRECTV programming
subscription. It must be properly inserted and activated for your DVR to work.

DIRECTV
ACCE SS CARD

Transponder. A transponder is a piece of equipment on a satellite that broadcasts a set of
channels to your satellite dish. If the DVR does not receive a signal for an individual
transponder, it will not be able to show that transponder’s channels. Each satellite may
have a different number of transponders on it.

Video, Audio, and Electronics Equipment and Terms
Switch Box. A switch box allows you to connect multiple devices to your TV, even if
your TV doesn’t have enough inputs to connect them all directly. It allows you to switch
easily between devices, such as your DVR, a DVD player, and a game console. Switch
boxes are inexpensive and can be purchased at electronics stores.
A/V Receiver. An Audio/Video receiver is the hub of a home theater system. It allows you
to connect multiple audio and video devices and manage the signal from each device.
With it you can switch easily between watching TV, viewing video from your DVD
player, or running your game system, by changing the input source. An A/V receiver may
5

C h a pt e r

C o n n e c t i n g
also be used to drive two or more loud speakers for a theater-like audio experience. It may
also offer features such as Dolby Digital audio.
Dolby Digital Audio. Some programs are broadcast with Dolby Digital audio: the
soundtrack is recorded on six separate channels, each of which can be heard on one of six
separate speakers. To hear Dolby Digital audio, you must use an Optical Digital Audio
cable (not supplied) to connect your DVR to an A/V receiver capable of supporting Dolby
Digital audio. Not all A/V receivers with optical audio inputs are capable of receiving
Dolby Digital audio. You must also set your DVR to record using Dolby Digital audio. For
more information, see page 80.
Dolby Surround Sound. Dolby Surround Sound audio is a technique for encoding
surround sound audio on two channels. When decoded by a compatible A/V receiver, audio
on these two channels is separated into as many as five signals which play through your
home theater speakers. To hear Dolby Surround Sound audio, you must connect your DVR
to an A/V receiver that supports Dolby Pro Logic or Dolby Pro Logic II. You can use either
L/R (red and white) audio cables or an Optical Digital Audio cable.
Digital PBX Phone System. Digital PBX phone systems allow many phones to share a
single telephone number and are usually used in hotels and office buildings. If you are
installing the DVR in your home, it is very unlikely that you are using a digital PBX phone
system. Do not connect your DVR to a digital PBX phone system. Doing so may
permanently damage your DVR’s modem and will void your warranty.

Be sure to read the safety
instructions on page 131.

Surge Protector. Like all electronics equipment, your DVR can be damaged by
fluctuations in your power supply. Purchasing a surge protector is highly recommended. If
you purchase a surge protector that allows you to plug in both your DVR’s power and your
telephone cord, you may prevent damage to the parts of your DVR that are connected to
your phone line as well!

C a b l e s

a n d

A c c e s s o r i e s

Cables and Accessories

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

2. See page 8 to choose audio/ 3. You may need to purchase

1. These are the basics:

video cables. The carton
contains one of each of the
following:

these additional cables for
some setups:

DIRECTV
ACCE SS CARD

DVR

Optical Digital Audio cable

DIRECTV Access Card

DIRECTV

do
Win w

Live TV

Composite A/V cable

Info

Exit

Guid e

List

Select

Mute

Vol

Chan

Record

Page

Play

(-)

Slo w
TV

ow
VP e

SAT

and 2 AA

2
5

DIRECTV

r/L
nte as

Extra Composite A/V cable

Clear

Remote Control

V Input

1
4

Batteries

S-Video cable

25' Phone Cord

Power Cord

Coaxial RF cable

C h a pt e r

C o n n e c t i n g

Choosing Audio and Video Cables

��� Composite A/V cable and jacks
(red)
(white)
(yellow)

���

Composite L/R Audio with S-Video cable

(red)
(white)
(yellow)
(S-Video)

��� Coaxial RF cable (not supplied) & jack
(Coaxial RF)

��� Optical Digital Audio cable (not supplied)
& jack

(Digital Audio)

Sounds and pictures travel through cables. The choice of cables may seem overwhelming,
but they all perform the same function: they transfer sounds and pictures to your TV at
varying levels of quality.
Most TVs and other audio/video devices have connectors (jacks) for Composite A/V
cables (���). Composite A/V cables have three ends, two (white and red) for stereo audio
(left and right), and one (yellow) for video, providing excellent audio and video quality. If
your equipment has composite A/V jacks, use this cable. If your TV has only one audio
connector, connect just the white end, instead of both the red and the white ends.
The DVR’s back panel also includes connectors for S-Video (���). S-Video provides a
higher quality video signal than composite. You may want to use the S-Video cable
instead of the yellow video end of the Composite A/V cable, if your equipment supports it.
(You can still use the red and white ends of the Composite A/V cable for stereo audio.)
Some TVs only have Coaxial RF (���) jacks. If your TV only has an RF In connector, use a
Coaxial RF cable (not supplied) to connect your DVR to your TV.
The DVR includes a Digital Audio (���) jack for Dolby Digital audio output. To use this
feature, you will need an Optical Digital Audio cable (not supplied), and a device (such as
an A/V receiver) that accepts Dolby Digital input. If you use an Optical Digital Audio
cable for sound, you'll also need a connection for the video signal. You can use an
S-Video cable, or the yellow end of a Composite A/V cable. If you use a Composite A/V
cable for video only, you don’t need to connect the red and white ends.
Ordinarily, your DVR produces tones to indicate when certain buttons on the remote
control are pressed or to indicate signal strength when you are positioning your dish. If
you are watching a program with digital audio, you will not hear these tones.

S e t u p

E x a m p l e s

Setup Examples

To meet FCC requirements,

Before you begin, make sure that all of your equipment is turned off and your
DIRECTV® DVR is unplugged.
Your equipment has connectors, or jacks, where cables can be connected. Some jacks are
labeled “In” and some are labeled “Out.” Pictures and sounds enter audio/video (A/V)
equipment through IN jacks and leave through OUT jacks.

shielded cables are required to
connect the DVR to your other equipment.
See the FCC Information on page 129.

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

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

Setup Variations (optional)
•

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

•

Variation 2: Adding a VCR. See page 14.

•

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

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

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

Be sure to read the safety
instructions on page 131.

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

C h a pt e r

C o n n e c t i n g
Basic Setup: Connecting your DVR to your satellite dish and your TV

���

The audio/video cables shown
here are for example only. Use the
best connections available on your

DIRECTV® DVR

equipment. For help choosing cables, see
page 8.

���

��� ���
Television

Video

Audio

A/V INPUT

Antenna
In

S e t u p

E x a m p l e s

��� Connect the Coaxial RF cables from your satellite dish to the Satellite In jacks on the

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

��� Connect the S-Video cable from the DVR’s S-Video Output jack to the

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

S-Video Input jack on your TV.

must also set the Channel 3/4 switch on

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

the back panel. Tune your TV to the same
channel (3 or 4) in order to view the signal
coming from the RF Out jack.

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

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

���

��� Connect the phone cord. (For more about the phone connection, see page 2.)
��� Plug in your DVR and turn on your TV. Once you see the Welcome screen, you can
continue with “Guided Setup” on page 19.
If you don’t see the Welcome screen, make sure the correct input is selected on your
TV. You may need to use the “INPUT,” “SOURCE,” or “TV/VIDEO” button on your
TV’s remote to change the input. If you need help, see page 107.

C h a pt e r

C o n n e c t i n g

Variation 1: Adding an A/V receiver with Dolby Digital audio
The audio/video cables shown
here are for example only. Use the
best connections available on your

���

equipment. For help choosing cables, see
page 8.

DIRECTV® DVR

���

���
A/V Receiver

Television

VIDEO INPUTS
AUDIO INPUTS

Video

Audio

A/V INPUT

Antenna
In

VIDEO OUTPUTS

S e t u p

E x a m p l e s

��� Connect the Coaxial RF cables from your satellite dish to the Satellite In jacks on the

��� Connect the S-Video cable from the DVR’s S-Video Output jack to the S-Video Input
jack on your TV. If your TV doesn't have an S-Video Input jack, use the yellow end of
the Composite A/V cable to connect video. If your TV only has an RF In connector,
connect a Coaxial RF cable (not supplied) from the DVR’s RF Out jack to your TV.
Alternately, you can connect video from the DVR to your A/V receiver, then from the
A/V receiver to your TV, using S-Video or Composite A/V cables. Consult your A/V
receiver’s owner’s manual for its capabilities.

If you use the DVR’s RF Out jack to
connect video to your TV, you
must also set the Channel 3/4 switch on
the back panel. Tune your TV to the same
channel (3 or 4) in order to view the signal
coming from the RF Out jack.

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

���

��� Connect the phone cord. (For more about the phone connection, see page 2.)
��� Plug in your DVR and turn on your TV. Once you see the Welcome screen, you can
continue with “Guided Setup” on page 19.
If you don’t see the Welcome screen, make sure the correct input is selected on your
TV. You may need to use the INPUT, SOURCE, or TV/VIDEO button on your TV’s
remote to change the input. If you need help, see page 107.

C h a pt e r

C o n n e c t i n g

Variation 2: Adding a VCR
Before you begin:

DIRECTV® DVR

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

���

The audio/video cables shown
here are for example only. Use the
best connections available on your

VCR

equipment. For help choosing cables, see
page 8.

Please see the DIRECTV Customer

OUT

Television

Agreement for information about

���

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

Audio R
IN

2
1
Video

Audio

A/V INPUTS

Antenna
In

L Video

Ch
3/4 RF
Out
RF
In

S e t u p

E x a m p l e s

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

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

��� Connect a Composite A/V cable from the DVR’s A/V Output 2 jacks to the A/V Input
jacks on your VCR.
If your VCR only has RF jacks, connect a Coaxial RF cable (not supplied) from the
DVR’s RF Out jack to the RF In jack on the VCR.

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

If you use Coaxial RF cables in
steps ��� and ���, you must set the
Channel 3/4 switch on the back of the
DVR to match the switch on the back of
your VCR. Then tune your TV to the same
channel (3 or 4) to view the signal.

If your TV only has an RF In connector, connect a Coaxial RF cable (not supplied)
from the VCR’s RF Out jack to the RF In jack on your TV.
To watch a video tape, change your TV’s input setting by pressing the INPUT, SOURCE,
or TV/VIDEO button on your TV’s remote control until the correct input is displayed. If
you have trouble changing your TV’s input setting, consult your TV’s owner’s manual. If
you need help, see page 107.
To save recordings from your DVR to a video tape, use the “Save to VCR” feature. See
page 75 for more information.

C h a pt e r

C o n n e c t i n g

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

���

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

DIRECTV® DVR

Television

���
Video

Audio

A/V INPUT

Antenna
In

S e t u p

E x a m p l e s

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

You may have a rooftop antenna or cable service subscription in addition to your
DIRECTV® programming subscription. The DIRECTV® DVR has RF In and RF Out jacks
that can be used to pass an antenna or cable signal through the DVR and to your TV.
You can connect your antenna or cable signal to the DVR, or directly to the
Antenna/RF In jack on your TV. Whichever method you choose, it’s important to
remember that you will not have any DVR service functionality (pausing and rewinding
live TV, setting up recordings, etc.) on cable or antenna channels.

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

��� Connect a Coaxial RF cable (not supplied) from the DVR’s RF Out jack to the RF In

If you connect your DVR to your TV
with a Coaxial RF cable in step ���,
you must set the Channel 3/4 switch on

jack on your TV.

the back of the DVR. Tune your TV to the

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

same channel (3 or 4) to view the signal.

To watch antenna or cable channels, change your TV’s input setting by pressing the
INPUT, SOURCE, or TV/VIDEO button on your TV’s remote control until the correct
input is displayed. (If you have trouble changing your TV’s input setting, consult your
TV’s owner’s manual.) Use your TV’s remote control to change channels.
While you are watching antenna or cable channels, the DVR will record any programs you
have scheduled on DIRECTV® channels. When you want to watch video from your DVR
again, press the DIRECTV button on the DVR remote. Then change your TV’s input
setting until you see DIRECTV Central.

C h a pt e r

C o n n e c t i n g

CHAPTER 2

Guided Setup
Overview

Satellite Dish Guided Setup

Activate Services

Phone Setup

C h a pt e r

Satellite Dish Guided Setup is
used to test signal strength,
position the satellite dish antenna and
configure the DVR for use with a
multiswitch or new multi-satellite dish
antenna.

G u i d e d

S e t u p

Overview
Now that you have finished connecting your DIRECTV® DVR, you are ready to begin
Guided Setup. When you first plug in the DVR, screens appear which display its progress
as it starts up. After a few minutes, you will see the Welcome screen, indicating that you
are ready to begin Guided Setup.
During Guided Setup, you will point your satellite dish antenna (if you haven’t already),
activate your DIRECTV® programming and DVR service, and set up your DVR to access
service updates by phone. Guided Setup includes on-screen instructions. If you need
additional assistance, this chapter contains detailed directions.
Guided Setup includes three steps:
1. Satellite Dish Guided Setup (see page 21)
2. Activating services (see page 25)
3. Phone Setup (see page 26)

Using the Remote Control
To complete Guided Setup, use the DVR’s remote to move through screens and select
items displayed on your TV. For an introduction to the remote control, see “Introducing
the Remote Control” on the inside front cover of this guide.
Welcome. When you first turn on your DIRECTV DVR, you will see a screen that says
“Welcome. Powering up...” followed by the Welcome screen. Read the screen, then press
SELECT to start Guided Setup.
If you do not see the Welcome screen, see the troubleshooting steps on page 107.

Sa t e l l i t e

D is h

G u i d e d

S e t u p

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

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.

Connect Cables. After you press SELECT on the Welcome screen, you’ll see a reminder
to make sure all cables are properly connected to the DVR and to your TV. Press SELECT
when you are ready to continue.
Satellite Dish Type. Choose the type of satellite dish antenna you have installed. If you
have the manual for your satellite dish antenna, you can find its type there. Most people
should select “Round dish (Single or Dual LNB).” This type of dish receives a signal from
one satellite in the sky. Some manufacturers produce a dish that receives a signal from one
satellite but is slightly oval in shape. If you have such a dish, choose “Round dish (Single
or Dual LNB).”
An oval 2 satellite dish antenna can receive signals from two satellites. An oval 3 satellite
dish antenna receives its signal from three satellites. 2 and 3 satellite dish antennas are
always Dual LNB. To see the next screen, highlight the type of satellite dish antenna you
are using, then press SELECT.
Most new satellite dish antennas
are Dual LNB. One cable extends
from a Single LNB dish to a home; two
cables extend from a Dual LNB dish to a
home (or to a multiswitch).
Round dish antenna

Oval 2 satellite dish antenna

Oval 3 satellite dish antenna

(Single or Dual LNB)

C h a pt e r

G u i d e d

S e t u p

Satellite Connections. If you connected a Coaxial RF cable to each of the DIRECTV
DVR “Satellite In” jacks, select “Two cables.” If you connected only one Coaxial RF
cable (to the “Satellite In 1” jack), select “One cable.” To be able to record two programs
at the same time (dual tuner), you must connect a Coaxial RF cable from the satellite dish
antenna (or a multiswitch) to both of the “Satellite In” jacks and then choose “Two cables”
on this screen.
ZIP Code. Use the number keys on your remote control to enter your ZIP code. The DVR
uses your ZIP code to determine the direction your satellite dish antenna should point. If
you make a mistake, press LEFT arrow to correct it.

A transponder is a piece of radio
equipment on a satellite. The
DIRECTV transponders receive information
from DIRECTV and rebroadcast it to your
satellite dish antenna. Each transponder
rebroadcasts a different set of channels. If
the DVR does not receive a signal for an
individual transponder, it will not be able
to show that transponder’s channels.
Satellites may have different numbers of
transponders.

Satellite Dish Direction. Based on your ZIP code and dish type, this screen shows
roughly how to position your satellite dish antenna. You will fine tune the position later on
during Satellite Dish Guided Setup at the Test Signal Strength screen. Before positioning
the dish, be sure the mast (the pole on which the dish is mounted) is straight up and down.
For 2 or 3 satellite dish antennas, the screen provides a required tilt in addition to side-toside (azimuth) and up-down (elevation) information available for round dishes.
Professional satellite installers are available in most areas to ensure correct installation. If
your satellite system was installed by a professional, the satellite dish antenna direction
should be correct. To see the next screen, press SELECT.
Satellite Checklist. The items on this list help ensure you receive a clear satellite signal.
To see the next screen, press SELECT when you are satisfied that each item is complete.
Test Signal Strength. You use this screen to check the strength of the signal received by
your satellite dish antenna. If you have two cables connected to the Satellite In jacks, it
shows you the signal strength for each connection. It lets you see the signal strength from
individual transponders one at a time. To be sure you receive all your channels, you
should check signal strength on all transponders.

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You can check signal strength while you adjust the position of your satellite dish antenna.
The signal strength meter on this screen provides audio feedback—a tone that becomes
higher pitched as the signal gets stronger. You may be able to turn the volume on your TV
up so you can hear the tone while you adjust your satellite dish antenna. Alternatively, you
might have someone watching the signal strength meter and then reporting through a cell
phone or walkie-talkie to the person who is adjusting the satellite dish antenna.
•

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 2 or 3 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 Setup, Satellite Info. At each of the next two screens there is a short wait
while the DVR confirms your setup, then gathers a list of channels from the satellite.

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Program Guide Data. Over the first 1 to 2 days, the DIRECTV DVR will gather and
process up to two weeks of program information from the DIRECTV satellites. Program
information includes program titles, times, channels, program descriptions, and more.
Many of the DVR’s features use 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 on them again after the DVR has been set up for a while.

If the DVR is low on Program Guide Data, a
message at the bottom of the screen tells
you how much Program Guide Data it has.

Steps to Activate. This screen explains the next steps of Guided Setup, activation of
DIRECTV services. When it appears, press the LIVE TV button on your remote control
and go to the next page of this manual.
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 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 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.

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Activate Services
Now it’s time to activate services for your DIRECTV® DVR. Before you call DIRECTV:
•

Tune to Channel 201. The DVR should be on, tuned to channel 201, and receiving a
signal from your satellite dish antenna.

•

You will need: A valid service address, social security number, and a major credit card
(deposit or prepayment may be required). You will also need the 12 digit number on
your DIRECTV access card and the make, model, serial number, and 12 digit Receiver
ID number of your DVR, found on a label on the back of the DVR and on the System
Information screen. (Press the DIRECTV button, then select Messages & Setup then
System Information.)

•

Important! The access card that came with your DIRECTV DVR must be inserted in
the appropriate slot in front of the DVR before you call. Also, be sure to tell your
customer care agent that you have a “DIRECTV DVR” and that you also want to
activate the DIRECTV® DVR with TiVo® service. Without the DVR service, your
DVR will not be able to record programs.

Remember to place the access
card in the appropriate slot in
front of the DVR. See the setup examples
in Chapter 1 for details.

When you are ready, call 1-800-DIRECTV. After you have activated, you can begin
Phone Setup, the last step of Guided Setup, by pressing the DIRECTV button.

What does the DIRECTV DVR with TiVo service provide?
The DVR service provides you with the ability to record programs, create Season PassTM
recordings and WishListTM searches. It also gives you access to Showcases, Suggestions,
and several convenient ways to find programs to you want to record. Without the DVR
service, the unit functions only as a DIRECTV Receiver, without recording capability.

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Phone Setup
Press the DIRECTV button on your remote control to start Phone Setup.
Final Steps. The last step of Guided Setup—Phone Setup—begins automatically the first
time you press the DIRECTV button on your remote control. The DIRECTV® DVR
should be connected to a telephone line. The DVR occasionally makes a brief phone call
to get updates to the DVR service, and for pay per view functionality.
By default, the DVR will not pick up the phone if the line is busy. If you pick up the phone
while the DVR is using the line, the 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.
DVR Service Terms. This screen appears after the Final Steps screen. The DIRECTV
Service Agreement is printed on your first monthly statement from DIRECTV. We
encourage you to read it.
Area Code. The DVR service uses your area code to determine which local dial-in
numbers are available. Use the numbers on your remote control to enter your area code. If
you make a mistake, press LEFT arrow to correct it.
Phone Dialing Options. Most people will not need to change the settings the DVR uses to
dial out. However, if your phone system uses special dialing options, select “Yes.” See
“Phone Dialing Options” on page 91 for help with the various settings.
Update Dial-In Numbers. The DVR makes a toll-free call to get a list of local dial-in
numbers. The call usually takes less than five minutes, and its status displays on the
screen. If the call fails, check the troubleshooting steps on page 117.
Dial-In Numbers. The DVR uses the dial-in number you select from the list on this screen
to make its calls to the DVR service. The list may be too long to fit on one screen. To see
more numbers, press CHAN DOWN.
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No Local Numbers. If you selected “None of the Above” on the Dial-In Numbers screen,
you will see a reminder to go back and choose a local dial-in number. If you are concerned
about toll charges associated with any of the available dial-in numbers, keep in mind that
the DVR’s calls are very brief. You are responsible for any such phone charges.

Dialing Format. Choose the dialing format you need. For example, should the dial-in
number be preceded by your area code, and should a “1” precede the area code? In some
areas, even local numbers must be dialed using the area code.
Test Phone Connection Call. This screen appears while the DVR tests the phone dialing
options and local dial-in number you have chosen. You should see a message that says
“Test Successful!” Press SELECT or the RIGHT arrow to continue. If the test does not
succeed, you may need to pick a different dial-in number, or change the dialing format.
Use the LEFT arrow to go back to previous screens and make changes to dialing options.
Congratulations! You’ve completed Guided Setup. You can now press the DIRECTV
Button on your remote control to go to DIRECTV Central.
After completing Guided Setup one time, whenever you unplug the 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. From DIRECTV Central, programs in your DVR’s Now Playing List
are always available.
If you start your DVR without properly connecting it to a DIRECTV satellite television
signal, the DVR will not show live TV or provide any live TV functions.

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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.
Icons. 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 78 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 37 for more about Showcases.
You can find a complete glossary of icons in the inside back cover of this guide.
Next Up, the 5 Tours. Now that you are finished with Guided Setup, you’re ready to have
fun with your DVR! We suggest you start with the five short tours starting on page 29.
These will guide you through the basics and show you some fun features of the
DIRECTV® DVR.

CHAPTER 3

The Basics in 5 Short Tours
Tour 1: Play with Live TV

Tour 2: DIRECTV Advanced Program Guide™

Tour 3: Find and Record Your Favorite Programs

Tour 4: Find New Programs

Tour 5: Now Playing List

Cool Things You Can Do

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Tour 1: Play with Live TV
In this tour, you’ll take a look at how you can control live TV. So grab your remote!
Vol

Record

Chan

Page

Play

(-)

Slo w
TV

ow
VP e

SAT

V Input

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
losing the saved portion of either one.
But for now, press PLAY

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 immediately press FORWARD and you get frame-byframe forward! Press BACK and you get frame-by-frame backward! When your show is
paused, FORWARD and BACK let you go frame by frame. 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
own slow-motion replay!
Finally, try the ADVANCE

Slo w

— you get your

button. Presto! You’re caught up to live TV.

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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 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 DVR starts saving live TV on the new channel.

Channel Banner

3
Status Bar

This white line
tells you where
you are.

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 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.)

selectable
icons

Now go have fun playing with live TV, then come back for the next tour!
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Tour 2: DIRECTV Advanced Program Guide™
While you’re watching live TV, the Advanced Program Guide lets you see what’s on,
change channels, schedule recordings, and more. To see it, press the GUIDE button on
your remote control.

Changing Channels

If you find that the Program Guide
or the CHAN UP/DOWN buttons

The guide shows a list of channels on the left and different 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 different channel, then press
SELECT. Pressing SELECT on a program that is currently showing changes the channel
to display that program and hides the guide.

are not showing channels you want to

Scheduling a Recording

see, filtering or a custom channel list is

Press the GUIDE button to bring back the Program Guide. It’s easy to record a program
using the guide. Simply highlight the program you want and press the RECORD button. A
transparent screen appears, from which you select “Record this Showing.” If the program
is currently playing, the DVR changes channels and begins recording; otherwise, the
recording is scheduled for the future. When you’re recording, the red light on the front of
the DVR illuminates.

probably turned on. Check the Guide
Options (from the Program Guide, press
INFO).

Making a List of 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.

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First, create a list of favorite channels. Press the DIRECTV button to see DIRECTV
Central. Highlight Messages & Setup, then Settings, then Channels, then Favorite
Channels. A list of all DIRECTV channels appears. (DIRECTV provides many, many
more channels than will fit on one screen!) Press CHAN DOWN a few times. Each time
you press it, you see the next screen of channels. Press CHAN UP to see a previous screen.
You can also jump to a specific channel by entering the channel number on the remote.

Highlight a channel you want to include in your list of favorites and press SELECT. A
checkmark appears beside the channel. To remove a channel, highlight one that has a
checkmark and press SELECT—the checkmark disappears. Now find a few more
channels for your list and select them to give them checkmarks.

Using Your Channel List
When you want to change the way the guide appears and what it displays, you can use
Guide Options. Press the GUIDE button to see the guide. While it is visible, press the
ENTER button to see Guide Options.
On the Guide Options screen, press the DOWN arrow once so “All” (to the right of
“Channels”) is highlighted. “All” is the current channel list and includes all available
DIRECTV channels. Press the RIGHT arrow twice to change the list to “Favorites,” then
press SELECT. “Done changing options” becomes highlighted. Press SELECT again and
voilà, the guide appears using your new custom channel list!
Now the guide only shows channels in your list. Use the UP and DOWN arrows to move
around a bit on your new customized guide, then press the EXIT button to hide the guide.
Press CHAN UP a few times—notice it skips some channels now. CHAN UP/DOWN is
also affected by the channel list; it only tunes to channels that are on the list. You can still
tune to other channels by entering numbers.

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Tour 3: Find and Record Your Favorite
Programs
You can always record a program you’re watching by pressing the RECORD button on
your remote control. What’s more, if you have not changed the channel for a while, your
DIRECTV DVR will add to your recording whatever part of the program it has already
saved, up to 30 minutes. Your DVR also provides many ways to quickly search large
numbers of programs, find your favorites, and schedule recordings in advance. Even
buying and recording pay per view events is quick and easy, without any need to use a
phone. 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 on a given channel.

Search by Title
In this tour, we’ll show you how to 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 program.

If you do not see the program you
wish to find in the list of programs,
it may be because the DVR is still gathering
Program Guide data. A message at the
bottom of the screen will tell you how much
data the DVR has. The DVR should be done
collecting Program Guide data within 48
hours of finishing Guided Setup.

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, 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
DVR searches through all available programs (usually, data for the next two weeks) to

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find those that begin with “DO,” then lists those programs. This can be a great way to find
a show if you are not sure of its full name.
If you make a mistake entering text, select “DEL” on the screen (or press BACK on the
remote control). To clear all text, use CLR on the screen (or press the CLEAR button on
the remote control). Next, enter a “W.” If The Downtown Lawyers existed, you would see
it in the title list at the right. Press the RIGHT arrow until you move off the alphanumeric
keypad and onto the list of programs. Press the UP or DOWN arrow to highlight the show
of your choice, then press SELECT. The Program Information screen appears. This screen
tells you about the program and lets you set up a recording.
Highlight Get a Season Pass, and press SELECT. A screen appears to confirm your
choice. Confirmation screens help you make sure the DIRECTV DVR is doing what you
want. Press SELECT again. You now have a Season Pass.
To see all your scheduled recordings, go to DIRECTV Central, then Pick Programs to
Record, then To Do List. To cancel a recording, highlight it and press SELECT. The
Program Information screen appears. Select “Cancel only this episode.” On the next
screen confirms that the recording has been deleted from the To Do List. Press select to
return to the To Do List. To cancel an entire Season Pass, go to DIRECTV Central, then
“Pick Programs to Record,” then “To Do List.” Select a program, then select “Cancel/edit
the Season Pass.” Select “Cancel this Season Pass.”

3
There may be more than one
listing for the show you are
searching for. Select the one that airs new
episodes of the show on a channel you
receive.

Pay Per View
You can order pay per view events using your remote control. Some events have dedicated
channels that allow ordering more than 24 hours in advance, but for most events, pricing
information becomes available within 24 hours of the event’s air-time. Once that
information is available, you can select and record the event as you would any other
program. When you select an event, a special pay per view Program Information screen
will appear with options to purchase it. For a complete description, see page 60.
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Tour 4: Find New Programs
Your DIRECTV® 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.

Suggestions

Thumbs ratings

Your personal TV preferences are
just that: personal. (DIRECTV
privacy policies are included in your first
monthly statement.)

Only programs airing on channels
in the Channels You Receive list
can be recorded as Suggestions.

Suggestions is a personalized list of shows selected to match your preferences. How is this
magic possible? Any time you watch programs, live or recorded, or browse programs with
the Program Guide or in Showcases, you can rate them using the THUMBS UP™ ™ and
THUMBS DOWN™ ™ buttons. You can give a program up to three thumbs up or down.
Over time, the more shows you rate, the better Suggestions will be at finding programs
you like. The suggested programs are listed under Suggestions in order of how closely
they match your preferences.
It’s important to remember these characteristics of Suggestions recordings:
•

Suggestions never replace shows you request, or prevent your requested shows from
being recorded

•

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

Try it! Press GUIDE to bring up the DIRECTV Advanced Program Guide™. Highlight a
few programs and rate them by pressing the THUMBS UP™ ™ or THUMBS DOWN™
™ button. Then go to DIRECTV Central and select Pick Programs to Record, then
Suggestions. Suggested programs based on your THUMBS ratings are listed here. (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 program, then set up a recording.

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Auto-Recording Suggestions. As an added bonus, when the DVR has empty space, it
automatically records Suggestions. Auto-recording Suggestions is an easy way to find
programs that you never knew about, or old favorites you may have forgotten. (You can
turn this feature off if you prefer; see page 89.) You will find them at the bottom of the
Now Playing List, below programs you requested. Or, if you have the Groups option
turned on (see page 73), recorded Suggestions appear in their own group. Suggestions are
marked with a TiVo icon (
).

Showcases
Showcases is an interactive content area which often includes opportunities to schedule
recordings of featured programs, or lets you watch previews of upcoming movies or TV
shows. The selections in Showcases are grouped in theme packages, giving you “one-stop
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 DVR’s regular connections to the DVR service, so you won’t see this
selection on DIRECTV Central until after its first regular connection.
TiVolution® Magazine. TiVolution Magazine is one part of Showcases where you’ll
always find something fun and different. It’s a guide to the best upcoming shows on
television. You’ll find premieres, specials, and offbeat gems, making it easy for you to
schedule recordings. New content is delivered fresh to your DVR during regular
connections to the TiVo service.
Use the arrow buttons and SELECT to explore selections in TiVolution Magazine. Once
you get to a list of programs, select a title to see the Program Information screen. If you
get the channel the program airs on, you can set up a recording here—it’s that easy!

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Tour 5: Now Playing List
Your DIRECTV® 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 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 the 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 from the point you left it!
Keep until . . . Programs you choose to record are saved about 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 “Keep 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.
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Record two programs at the same time with Dual Tuner! Your DIRECTV® DVR has
two tuners—which means it can record programs on two channels at the same time. To
activate both tuners, both Satellite In jacks on the back of the DVR must be connected to
cables from your satellite dish antenna (or a multiswitch), and you must choose the “Two
cables” option in Satellite Dish Guided Setup (see page 22). With Dual Tuner you can
watch more of your favorite programs, even when they’re on at the same time.

Never be late for your favorite programs. Working late? Stuck in traffic? Don’t worry. If
you scheduled a recording, 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™ search. Have a favorite
actor? A favorite hobby or interest? How about a favorite sports team? If they’re on TV,
chances are a WishList™ will find them. See page 54.
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 34.
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® icon like this
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.)
Filter the Program Guide. Want to try something new for dinner tonight? It’s easy to
make the Program Guide show only a certain kind of program—for example, cooking
shows. You’ll use the Guide Options screen to choose the desired filter (in this example,
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it’s “Lifestyles,” then “Cooking”) and turn on filtering. (See page 48.) Once you’ve turned
on the filter, programs that do not fit the selected category appear in gray on the guide
until you highlight them. In addition, if a given channel doesn’t have any shows that fit the
category within the next six hours, that channel doesn’t show up in the guide. You can
always turn filtering off to show all channels in the guide.
Use the Overtime Scheduler® (and don’t miss overtime!). Programs sometimes start
before they’re supposed to and often end later than scheduled. With Recording Options,
you can “pad” your recordings to account for variations by using the Overtime
Scheduler®. See page 44.
Use the EXIT button. The EXIT button hides the status bar, guide, channel banner, and
anything else that is not part of the program.
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.
The clapboard icon—on DIRECTV Central, or in a Showcase—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.

CHAPTER 4

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

Pay Per View and DIRECTV® On Request

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Season Pass, Recording Options, To Do List
Your DIRECTV® DVR makes finding and recording programs easy—so easy that you
may find more programs to enjoy than you ever expected! Your DVR can help with this by
giving you simple ways to manage your recordings and make sure you watch what you
want, when you want to watch it.
If some Season Pass programs are

Season Pass and Other Repeating Recordings

not recording, you may need to

There are three types of recordings that repeat automatically:

change their priority with the Season

•

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 GuideTM, or from search results) and
choose “Get a Season Pass.”

•

Manual Repeating Recording. Records on a specific channel at a specific time, just as
you would with a VCR. See page 53 for more information.

•

Auto-recording WishList. Records all programs a WishList search finds. See page 59.

Pass Manager. See page 45.

An exception to the 28-day,
no-duplicates feature may occur if
the program wasn’t watched but was

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

deleted from the Now Playing List to make

•

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.

•

Parental Controls. If Parental Controls are on when you schedule a repeating
recording, the DVR checks its current program information to see if any upcoming

room for another recording you
requested. Another reason a duplicate
recording might be made is if the program
information describes the program
incorrectly.

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program violates a Parental Control. If it does, the DVR requires the current password
to continue. See page 82 for more information.
•

Keep at Most. By default, five episodes of a program are kept in the Now Playing List.
You can change this setting. See page 44.

•

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 45.

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.

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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 available 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 available for a repeating recording.)

•

Keep Until. You can change this setting from “Space needed” (the default setting) to
“Until I delete.” (Only available for a repeating recording.)

•

Keep At Least. You can set the minimum amount of time the DVR keeps a recording.
The default setting is “Until space needed” (about two days), except for pay per view
events, which default to “Keep until I delete.” (Only available for an individual
recording.)

The Overtime Scheduler® consists of these two options:

•

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.)

•

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.”

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Season Pass Manager
The Season Pass Manager shows a list of your Season Pass programs in order of priority.
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 by 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 “Modify the Season Pass,” then “Cancel this Season Pass.”
DIRECTV Central

Pick Programs to Record

Season Pass Manager

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To Do List
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 54) 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

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

per view event does not

•

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.

automatically cancel the purchase. You
must cancel the purchase on the
Purchases screen, described on page 79.

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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.
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.

Won’t record. 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.

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To Do List

View Recording History

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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 ENTER 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.

•

Channels You Receive. This list displays only channels you have selected in Channels
You Receive. See page 81 for details.

By customizing the guide, you can

•

Favorites. This list shows only the favorite channels you have selected. See page 80.

use it to display only program

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

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.

Style. Change the style of the guide to Grid Guide or List Guide. See page 70 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

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

•

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

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 DVR saves up to 30 minutes
on each tuner. If the DVR has saved a
portion of a program, the saved portion is
added to the beginning if you choose to

record that program.

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.”

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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.

If you only know one word in the
title, use a Title WishList to find
the program. See page 57 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.”

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.

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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 81. 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

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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

Browse by Channel

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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 repeat 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.

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

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.

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.

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Record by Time or Channel

Manually Record Time/Channel

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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.)

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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 59 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 59.)

If you set up an auto-recording
WishList search for sports
broadcasts, consider using the Overtime
Scheduler (described on see page 44) to
make sure you don’t miss the most
exciting part of the game!

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Pick Programs to Record

Search Using a WishList

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Creating a WishList Search
From Search Using a WishList, select “Create new WishList.” Next, select the type of
WishList: Actor, Director, Category Only, Keyword, or Title. For most WishList
searches, you use the keypad on the next screen to spell out what you’re looking for.
As the last step, you’ll then be able to select a category and subcategory to narrow your
search. For example, if you want movies with Elizabeth Myer, but not documentaries or
talk shows, select “Movies.” To search every category, select “Don’t specify a category.”
Category Only WishList. Use the UP and DOWN buttons to highlight a category, then
press SELECT. A subcategories list appears. Highlight a subcategory, then press
SELECT. To search all subcategories, you can also select “Don’t specify a subcategory.”
Actor or Director WishList. Spell the person’s last name first by using the arrow keys to
move the selection box around the keypad and pressing SELECT to enter the highlighted
letter. As you select letters, a list of names appears to the right of the keypad.
If you see the person’s name, press the arrow
buttons to highlight the name you want and press
SELECT. To search for a name that is not on the
list, enter the name in the format: LAST NAME,
FIRST NAME. You must match the spelling of the
name exactly, and you must use a comma (in the
keypad under the letter W). If an actor or director is
not listed, and none of their programs are in the
Program Guide, try a Keyword WishList.

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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.

Slo w

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.

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Title WishList searches are an

Tips for entering keywords:

excellent way to search for a

•

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.)

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
42.) 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.

P r o g r a m s

DIRECTV Central

Pick Programs to Record

Search Using a WishList

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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.

If you create an auto-recording
WishList search with the category

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 42 for details.

“Sports,” previews of pay per view

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.”

marked as partial recordings on the

programs may be recorded and appear on
your Now Playing List. These will be

Program Information screen. You will not
be charged for such recordings.

DIRECTV Central

Pick Programs to Record

Search Using a WishList

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Pay Per View and DIRECTV® On Request
DIRECTV offers up to 55 different pay per view choices each day, plus unique recording
opportunities through DIRECTV® On Request.

Pay Per View
Your DIRECTV® 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, to watch
or to be recorded to watch later. And the whole transaction can be handled using your
remote control. (A connection to a standard phone line is required for pay per view
functionality.)

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.

Ordering from live TV. While watching live TV, you may see a promotion for a pay per
view event with an Ipreview® icon like this one:
Press THUMBS UP™ or
SELECT while you see the icon to view the Program Information screen for pay per view.
From here, you can purchase the event and schedule a recording.
You may see similar messages reading “Press Select” and “Next Showing” while
watching previews on pay per view channels. Press SELECT to see the Program
Information screen for pay per view, which includes purchase and recording options.
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 DVR to purchase a
pay per view event more than 24 hours before the event airs.

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

Purchase & record info. If the DVR does not have purchase information (such as the
price of the pay per view event) immediately available, it can do a short check for it. If
the DVR gets purchase information, the event will become available to purchase and
record. To check for purchase information the 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 DVR provides a confirmation screen so you can
avoid such a skip by choosing not to check for purchase information.
If the 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 the
program. If the 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.
Recorded pay per view programs are marked “Keep Until I Delete” (the green icon) by
default. That way your recorded selections 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.

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•

View upcoming showings. Press SELECT to display a list of upcoming showings of
the program. Highlight a showing and press SELECT to display options on the
Program Information screen. 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. You’ll see this option if you have already purchased a
program. Select “Review/cancel purchases” to display 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 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.

Purchases Screen. You can review your pay per view activity using the Purchases screen.
You can also use this screen to cancel purchases of pay per view events that have not yet
aired. From DIRECTV Central, select Messages & Setup, then Purchases. See page 79.

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DIRECTV On Request
The DIRECTV On Request service makes it easy for you to find and record new and
exciting shows. You can find programs through the DIRECTV On Request service either
by browsing the On Request screen, or by using Search by Title. With the On Request
service, you’ll be able to watch previews of selected programs and set up recordings of
entire packages in just one step.
When programs are offered through On Request, you will see an On Request selection on
DIRECTV Central. To view details and to browse all current On Request offerings,
highlight On Request and press SELECT. Use the ARROW buttons to navigate through
the On Request screen, and press SELECT to get more information about the program.
You may have the option to watch previews, see a list of upcoming showings, or purchase
a package of recordings.

Auto-Recording Package. On Request may offer you opportunities to record a series of
programs collected and recommended by DIRECTV. Auto-recording an On Request
package works just like an auto-recording WishListTM search:
•

Each recording or upcoming showing scheduled to record is marked with a star (
blue for a free package, and green for a purchased package.

•

You can change the priority of the recordings using the Season Pass Manager. See
page 42 for details.

Purchases Screen. You can review your On Request purchases using the Purchases
screen. You can also cancel an On Request purchase using this screen, anytime before the
first recording of a package begins. From DIRECTV Central, select Messages & Setup,
then Purchases. See page 79.
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CHAPTER 5

Watching Live TV and
Recorded Programs
Using the Control Buttons

Status Bar

Channel Banner

Watching Live TV

Watching Programs from Now Playing

Save to VCR

Music Channels

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Using the Control Buttons
When you fast forward too far,
press INSTANT REPLAY to rewind
eight seconds. Press it again if you really

Part of the fun of watching programs with your DIRECTV® 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.

missed the mark.

Play

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.

WARNING TO PROJECTION AND

Frame-by-Frame. To move frame-by-frame: first press the PAUSE button. Then
press either the BACK or FORWARD button. For continuous frame-by-frame back
or forward, hold down the BACK or FORWARD button.

PLASMA TV OWNERS! Be careful
about using the pause feature for long
periods of time if you have a projection or

BACK. Plays the program in reverse. Press BACK once, twice, or three times to go
backward fast, faster, or fastest.

plasma TV. Most projection and plasma
TVs are sensitive and “burn in” still

FORWARD. Plays the program in fast forward. As with reverse, pressing the
FORWARD button repeatedly cycles through three speeds of fast forward.

images very quickly. If you pause your
program for too long, you may
permanently damage your screen. See
your TV’s owners manual for more
information.

PLAY. Shows programs at normal speed. The status bar appears for five seconds.

Slo w

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.

S t a tu s

Ba r

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 DVR. The
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 for live TV.

This is where you are
now.

This shows which
special feature you are
using. (This is the
symbol for pause.)

This is where you
catch up with live TV
and the current time.

tick marks (15 min. apart)
The EXIT button hides the status
bar, guide, channel banner, and
Status bar for a twohour recorded
program.

The BACK button has
been pressed twice.

This recorded program
is two hours long.

anything else that is not part of the
program.

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Channel Banner
Pressing the RIGHT arrow cycles through
channel banner styles, from
small . . .

to medium . . .

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 81. 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.

to large . . .

Select to start a recording. This icon is bright when the DVR is recording a
program, dim when it is not recording.
Select to display what’s on the other tuner (for Dual 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 Digital audio is available, the Dolby Digital icon will appear bright.
Select to display Parental Controls (see page 82). 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.

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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™. Use the arrow buttons to highlight a program and press SELECT.

•

Use the Number Pad. To go to a specific channel, use the numbers on your remote
control, then press ENTER/LAST. (If you don’t press ENTER/LAST, the channel
changes automatically after a few seconds.) To clear the number before the channel
changes, press CLEAR. Use the ADVANCE button (
) for channel numbers that
include a dash.

•

Use CHAN UP/DOWN. Use the CHAN UP/DOWN button on your remote control to
tune to channels on the current channel list.

•

Use ENTER/LAST. To jump back to the previous channel you were on (without
entering any numbers), press ENTER/LAST.

Changing Channels with Dual Tuner
With Dual Tuner, you can switch between two channels using the DOWN arrow or the
LIVE TV button. The DVR saves up to 30 minutes of live TV on both channels. If you
move to a new channel (that is, a third channel), the saved portion on the original channel
is cleared, and the DVR starts saving live TV on the new channel (in addition to the other
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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.

The DIRECTV Advanced Program GuideTM
While you are watching live TV, the Advanced Program Guide™ 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™: the Grid Guide and the List Guide. They provide similar information, but in
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 Grid
Guide or the List Guide. The Grid Guide 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.
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 49.

W a t c h i n g

Title, date, time the program airs, and
other applicable information (rating,
alternate audio, CC, Dolby Digital)

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The following icons may appear

Grid Guide

beside programs in the guide:
Program description
and Thumb rating
Time slots

This appears beside pay per view
events that are All Day Ticket
replays.

Channel number and channel
call letters

Program listings
Channel list and
category filter
currently in use

Guide options (Push INFO button
to set)

This appears beside programs
that have an alternate

audio track.
This appears beside programs
that have a Dolby Digital

List Guide

sound track.
This appears beside programs

Current time

Selected channel

that are broadcast in letterbox
format, which displays the full
width of the program and leaves
a black margin at the top and
bottom of the screen.

Programs during this
time slot

Upcoming programs
on the selected
channel

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Watching Programs from Now Playing
All programs recorded on your DIRECTV® 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, the program’s title appears in the Now Playing List. You
can watch any program 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
Highlight a program in the Now Playing List and press SELECT to see the Program
Information screen, and these options:

•

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

•

Keep 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 75 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.

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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 also 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 82. 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

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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), and
Dolby Digital.

Sorting and Grouping Programs
When you are in the Now Playing List, press ENTER to see Now Playing Options. You
can also press 1 on your remote control to change the sort order of programs on the Now
Playing List, or press 2 to turn Groups on or off.
Sorting Programs. Choose how you want the programs in Now Playing to be listed:
•

Alphabetically. Programs are listed alphabetically by title (from A to Z).

•

By date recorded. Programs are listed by the date they were recorded, with the most
recent at the top and the oldest at the bottom.

Grouping Programs. The Groups option lets you group like programs together to “tidy
up” the screen. A number in parentheses to the right of each folder shows how many
programs it contains. When you turn on Groups, a folder appears in Now Playing for:
•
•

Each television series with more than one recorded episode;
Each package recording from

DIRECTV®

On Request;

A note at the bottom of Now Playing tells
you which sorting option you are using
and whether groups are on.

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Each auto-recording WishListTM search with a recorded program;

•

Suggestions (if you have auto-recording of Suggestions turned on)

A recorded program may fit in any or all of these categories, so it may appear in more than
one group, even though only one copy of the program is actually recorded. For example,
say you have an auto-recording WishListTM search for an actor who also appears in a
series, and you have a Season PassTM for that series. Each episode of the series that records
will appear in two folders—one for the WishList search and one for the Season Pass
recordings. If you delete the program from one folder, it also disappears from the other.
The Glossary of Icons on the inside back cover of this guide shows the folders used to
represent each group.

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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.

You can use the “Save to VCR”
feature with a DVD recorder; just
connect a DVD recorder to your DVR

Most of the buttons on your remote that control live TV work as usual during Save to
VCR—you can fast forward through the boring parts! The VCR will record the video
exactly as it appears, including the status bar, channel banner, and any icons on the screen.

instead of a VCR. The steps to follow are

Preparing for Save to VCR

DVD.)

the same. (See your DVD recorder’s
instructions for details on how to record a

1. Make sure your VCR is connected to your DVR. See page 14 for details.
2. Set your VCR’s input to record from your 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 TiVo 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.
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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.

CHAPTER 6

Messages and Setup
Messages from DIRECTV

Purchases

Settings

Phone Setup

Remote Control Settings

System Test

101

Troubleshooting

102

Restart or Reset System

103

Standby

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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. When
your DIRECTV® DVR 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 take you to your list of messages.
The message list will display “No Messages” if there are no messages to read.

DIRECTV Central

Messages & Setup

Messages

P u r c h a s e s

Purchases
The Purchases screen displays a list of all pay per view and DIRECTV® On Request
programs you have purchased. To see the Purchases screen, press the DIRECTV button,
then select Messages & Setup, then Purchases. Each program is marked with its date and
time, and is designated “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.

•

Unviewed. These programs were scheduled to be purchased but were not viewed and
not recorded. You were not charged for them.

For more information about pay
per view and DIRECTV® On
Request programs, see page 63.

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

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

Audio
Audio Language. This sets your DVR’s default to automatically play the sound track in
the language chosen, if that language is available. If the language you choose here is not
available, the program’s default language is used. When programs include alternate audio
tracks (alternate audio usually provides the sound track in a different language), you can
change the audio track for individual programs by selecting the Alternate Audio icon
(
) in the channel banner.
You can set Audio options when
scheduling a recording. See
Recording Options on page 43.

Dolby Digital. Some programs include Dolby Digital audio. If you connected your DVR
to an A/V receiver that supports Dolby Digital audio (using an Optical Digital Audio
cable), you can set your 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 (
) when it appears in the channel
banner. If you are watching a program with Dolby Digital audio, you will not hear the
DVR’s sound effects.
RF Audio Output. You can use this setting if you used a Coaxial RF cable for an audio
connection from your DVR to your A/V equipment.
Sound Effects Volume. Allows you to change the volume or turn off your 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 DVR’s sound effects.

DIRECTV Central

Messages & Setup

Settings

Audio

S e t t i n g s

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® service, your DVR receives information for all 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 81 for information on customizing the
guide to show your Favorite Channels.

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. Your changes are saved automatically.

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The large version of the channel

Parental Controls

banner has a shortcut to Parental

Parental Controls allow you to set limits on movie and television ratings and to lock
specific channels so that a password is required to view them. Programs in the Now
Playing List that violate Parental Controls also require password before viewing.

Controls. Press INFO, then press the
DOWN arrow to highlight the lock icon,
then press SELECT.

The padlock icon shows the current state of Parental Controls:
Off. No password or controls set. Padlock appears unlocked and dark.
On. Password and controls set. Padlock appears locked and bright.
Temporarily off. Parental controls are set, but a password has been entered to
temporarily turn them off. The padlock appears unlocked and bright.
While Parental Controls are on, you can watch a locked program or channel by pressing
SELECT, then entering the password. This temporarily turns off Parental Controls.
To turn on Parental Controls and define a password (
): Select “Turn on Parental
Controls.” Use the number buttons on the remote control to enter a four-digit password,
then enter the same password again for confirmation.
To temporarily turn off Parental Controls (
): Enter the password to watch a program
or channel, or select “Temporarily turn off Parental Controls” on the Parental Controls
screen, then enter your password. When Parental Controls are temporarily turned off, any
program or channel can be viewed, but the correct password is still required to change
Parental Controls settings.
To re-enable Parental Controls (
): On the Parental Controls screen, select “Re-enable
Parental Controls.” Or, you can put the DVR into Standby, then exit Standby mode. To do
this, press the DIRECTV button and select Standby, or press the Standby button on the
DVR’s front panel. To exit Standby, press the DIRECTV or LIVE TV button.

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Messages & Setup

Settings

Parental Controls

S e t t i n g s
Auto Re-lock Option. When Parental Controls are temporarily turned off, they re-lock
automatically after four hours if you don’t use your remote. Parental Controls won’t relock in the middle of a show. By default, the Auto Re-lock option is on. To turn off Auto
Re-lock, go to Messages & Setup, then Settings, then Parental Controls. Press the DOWN
arrow to highlight “Auto Re-lock,” then press SELECT. Enter your password, then
highlight and select “Auto Re-lock off.”
Rating Settings for TV and Movies (
). Movies that are originally meant for release to
theaters have a different rating system from programs that are made for TV. You can use
Parental Controls to set limits for both rating systems (see page 86). You can also set
limits for specific types of content—such as sexual content or violence.
To set Rating Limits for TV and Movies: From Parental Controls, select Rating Settings.
Enter the password and select the kind of limit you want to change.
The next screen contains a box listing all potential
ratings. Ratings shaded in green are not locked;
those in red are locked. Use the UP and DOWN
arrows to move the red shading and adjust which
ratings are locked. Your changes are saved
automatically. When you’re done, press the RIGHT
or LEFT arrow to return to Parental Controls.

To set Rating Limits for Specific TV Content:
From Parental Controls, select Rating Settings,
then enter the password and press SELECT. Select Block by TV Content. A list of
categories appears on the next screen. Select a category (for example, V-Violence).

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A box containing all the possible ratings appears. Ratings in green are not locked; ratings
in red are locked. (Ratings in gray do not apply to the category. For example, a TV-Y
program would not have V-Violence content so there is nothing to block.)
Use the UP and DOWN arrows to adjust which ratings are locked or unlocked. The
display to the right of the box will change to tell you exactly what ratings level you are
allowing. Your changes are saved automatically. To return to the Parental Controls screen,
press SELECT or the RIGHT arrow.

gray = does not apply
to the category
green = not locked
red = locked

Broadcasters are not required to provide ratings for specific types of content. If you want
to be sure to block programs that do not include ratings for specific types of content, you
will have to use age-based ratings to block content. See “Rating Limits for TV and
Movies,” on page 83.
Movies and TV Programs with No Rating Information. Some movies and TV programs
are broadcast with no rating information. From Rating Settings, select Block Unrated to
choose how the DVR’s Parental Controls will treat unrated movies and TV programs.
Channel Lock for Live TV (
). You can lock individual channels so that a password is
required to view any program on those channels. To lock or unlock channels:
1. From the Parental Controls screen, select Channel Lock, and enter the password.
2. A channel list appears with a padlock icon to the left of any locked channels. Highlight
a channel and press SELECT to add or remove a padlock icon. Use CHAN UP/DOWN
to move through the list quickly. You can highlight a specific channel by entering its
channel number with the number buttons on the remote.
3. When you’re done, press the RIGHT or LEFT arrow to return to Parental Controls.
Your changes are saved automatically.

DIRECTV Central

Messages & Setup

Settings

Parental Controls

S e t t i n g s
Spending limit. You can limit the amount that may be spent on a single pay per view
event. When Parental Controls are on, a password is required to purchase any event that
exceeds the limit. To set the spending limit:
1. Select “Spending Limit.” A password screen appears.
2. Enter the password and press SELECT. If Parental Controls are off, you are asked to
create a new password and they are turned on.
3. The Spending Limit screen appears. Use the number buttons on the remote control to
enter a spending limit. If you set the spending limit to zero (“0”), pay per view
programs cannot be purchased without entering the correct password.
4. Press SELECT to save your changes and return to Parental Controls, or press LEFT
arrow to discard your changes and return to Parental Controls.
Changing the Password (
). To change the password for Parental Controls, Parental
Controls must be on. Select “Change Password” on the Parental Controls screen. Enter a
new password, then re-enter the new password to confirm.
Turning off Parental Controls ( ). Select “Turn off Parental Controls,” enter the
password and press SELECT. When Parental Controls are turned off, the password is
deleted and anyone can view any programs or watch any channels.

When you turn Parental Controls

off, you don’t need to know a
password to turn them back on. You may
prefer to temporarily turn off Parental
Controls, so that another person in your
household does not choose a new
password.

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Motion Picture Association of America ratings for movies
G: General Audiences. Most parents would find this material suitable
for all ages.

R: Restricted. This material is specifically designed to be viewed by
adults and therefore may be unsuitable for children under 17.

PG: Parental Guidance Suggested. Parents may find portions of this
material unsuitable for younger children.

NC-17: Adult Content. This material contains intense, disturbing, or
graphically portrayed themes or content that are not suitable for
viewing by children under 17.

PG-13: Parents Strongly Cautioned. This material contains portions
many parents would find unsuitable for children under 13 years of age.

X: Explicit Sexual Content. This material contains explicit sexual
content and is intended to be viewed by adults ONLY.
NR: (Not Rated). This program has not been rated.

Ratings for television movies and programs (including content ratings):

TV-Y. All children. This program is designed to be appropriate for all
children. Whether animated or live action, the themes and elements in
this program are specifically designed for a very young audience,
including children from ages 2-6. This program is not expected to
frighten younger children.

TV-PG. Parental guidance suggested. This program contains
material that parents may find unsuitable for younger children. Many
parents may want to watch it with their younger children. The theme
itself may call for parental guidance and/or the program contains one
or more of the following: moderate violence (V), some sexual
situations (S), infrequent coarse language (L), or some suggestive
dialogue (D).

TV-Y7. Directed to older children. This program is designed for
children age 7 and above. Themes and elements in this program may
include mild fantasy or comedic violence, or may frighten children
under the age of 7. Programs where fantasy violence that may be more
intense or more combative than other programs in the TV-Y7 category
are designated TV-Y7-FV.

TV-14. Parents strongly cautioned. This program contains some
material that parents would find unsuitable for children under 14 years
of age. Parents are strongly urged to exercise greater care in
monitoring this program and are cautioned against letting children
under the age of 14 watch unattended. This program contains one or
more of the following: intense violence (V), intense sexual situations
(S), strong coarse language (L), or intensely suggestive dialogue (D).

TV-G. General audience. Most parents would find this program
appropriate for all ages. Although this rating does not signify a
program designed specifically for children, most parents may let
younger children watch this program unattended. It contains little or
no violence, sexual dialogue, or situations; and no strong language.

TV-MA. Mature audiences only. This program is specifically
designed to be viewed by adults and therefore may be unsuitable for
children under 17. This program contains one or more of the
following: graphic violence (V), explicit sexual activity (S), or crude,
indecent language (L).

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Messages & Setup

Settings

Parental Controls

S e t t i n g s

Satellite Settings
Options under Satellite Settings affect the basic functioning of the DVR. Most of these
settings were established before or during Guided Setup, and you may not ever need to
change them.
Repeat Guided Setup. After selecting this, you need to enter a safety code (press
THUMBS DOWN three times, then press ENTER). This option lets you repeat Satellite
Dish Guided Setup. For more information, see page 21.
Test Satellite Signal Strength. This screen shows approximate pointing information for
your satellite dish antenna. You can also use this screen to check the strength of the signal
received from each transponder on a selected satellite dish antenna. It shows you the
signal strength from individual transponders one at a time. To be sure you receive all of
your channels, you should check signal strength on all transponders.

A transponder is a piece of radio equipment on a satellite. The DIRECTV transponders
receive information from DIRECTV and rebroadcast it to your satellite dish antenna.
Different channels are rebroadcast by different transponders, and different satellites have
different numbers of transponders.
You can check signal strength while you adjust the pointing of your satellite dish antenna.
The signal strength meter on this screen provides audio feedback—a tone that becomes
higher pitched as the signal gets stronger. You may be able to turn the volume on your TV
up so you can hear the tone while you adjust the position of your satellite dish antenna.
Alternatively, you might have someone watching the signal strength meter and then
reporting through a cell phone or walkie-talkie to the person who is adjusting the satellite
dish antenna.

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When you first come to this screen, it shows signal strength for the transponder that carries
the current channel. If you are having trouble with a specific channel, tune to that channel,
then come to this screen to check the signal for that transponder.
•

To change the transponder, use the UP arrow to highlight the transponder number.
Press the RIGHT or LEFT arrow to change the transponder number. It is best if each
transponder has a signal strength above 70.

If you have an Oval, 2 or 3 satellite dish antenna, you can 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.

•

Press the DOWN arrow to highlight the transponder number, then press the LEFT or
the RIGHT arrow to check the signal on different transponders.

If your signal strength is low, see “Satellite Signal Troubleshooting,” on see page 24.
Time Zone / Daylight Savings. DIRECTV sets the time on your DVR to be accurate at
your billing address. If you temporarily move the DVR to a new location, you can change
the time zone here. After changing the time zone, you can change the Daylight Savings
setting.
Auto-Detect Satellite Information. Only use this feature if directed to do so by a
professional installer or a DIRECTV customer care representative. In most cases, you can
use Repeat Guided Setup, rather than this option.
Replace Access Card. If you need to replace your DIRECTV access card, follow the onscreen instructions.

DIRECTV Central

Messages & Setup

Settings

Satellite

S e t t i n g s

Suggestions
This screen lets you turn automatic recording of Suggestions on or off. When automatic
recording is on, Suggestions may be recorded onto free disk space. Programs you have
recorded or scheduled to record will never be deleted to make room for Suggestions. If
space is needed to save programs you have scheduled to record, Suggestions are the first
things to be deleted. Automatic recording of Suggestions is on by default.

Video
TV Aspect Ratio. Aspect Ratio refers to your TV screen’s size, specifically the
relationship between screen width and height. If you have a wide screen TV, select “Wide
Screen - 16:9.” Doing this allows programs transmitted in a wide screen format to fill the
wider screen. The default setting is “Standard Screen - 4:3.”

4:3

16:9

Standard Screen

Wide Screen

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Phone Setup
The DVR makes brief, periodic connections to DIRECTV and to the DVR service to
ensure that your DVR receives updates to the DVR service. A connection to a standard
phone line is also required for pay per view functionality.
On the Phone Setup screen, you can see details, including the time of the last successful
connection to the DVR service and last connection attempt, as well as the status of the last
connection.

•

Edit phone settings. This selection takes you to the Phone Dialing Options screen.
Selections on this screen are explained in detail on page 91.

•

Test phone connection. When you select this, a test connection to the DVR service
will start automatically. You may wish to use this option for troubleshooting or other
unusual circumstances. Test connections usually only take a couple of minutes. When
the connection has finished, press SELECT to continue.

•

Connect to the DVR Service now. Under normal use, you do not need to connect to the
DVR service manually. However, for troubleshooting or other unusual circumstances,
you may wish to use this option. After you start the connection, the status indicator
reads “Starting Up” and will change as it goes through several stages. You can watch
live TV, set up recordings, and search for programs while a connection is in progress.

•

Troubleshooting. This selection takes you to the Troubleshooting screen, where you
will find Phone Troubleshooting steps among other selections.

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Phone Setup

P h o n e

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Phone Dialing Options
Set Dial-In Number. Use this to change the number the DVR uses to connect to the DVR
service. To change it:
1. Select “Set Dial-In Number.” The Area Code screen appears.
2. Use the number keypad on the remote to set the area code, then press SELECT. If you
change the area code, or if the DVR has not made a call in the last twenty-four hours,
the Update Numbers screen appears and the DVR calls the DVR service to retrieve a
list of local dial-in numbers. After the call, press SELECT.
3. The Dial-In Number screen appears. Use the UP/DOWN arrow to choose one of the
listed phone numbers. The DVR will use this number to connect to the DVR service.
Then press SELECT.
If your area code has no access numbers, you can press LEFT arrow to return to the
Area Code screen and try a nearby area code. Toll charges may apply and are your
responsibility.

4. The Dialing Format screen appears after you have chosen a dial-in number. You
should use this screen to tell the DVR which dialing format to use. For example,
should the dial-in number be preceded by your area code and should a “1” precede the
area code? In some areas, even local numbers must be dialed using the area code. Press
SELECT to return to the Phone Dialing Options screen.
To test your new dial-in number, select “Test Phone Connection Now.” The Test
Phone Connection screen appears and a test phone call begins. When the call
completes, you should see the message “Test Succeeded!” Press SELECT to return to
Phone Dialing Options.
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Phone Setup

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If you make a mistake while
changing a setting, use the BACK
button to backspace.

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Set Dial Prefix. Use this option if you normally dial a prefix before making a phone call
(for example, if you need to dial “9” to get an outside line). Use the number keys on the
remote to enter the prefix. Press the PAUSE button after you have entered the prefix. This
will insert a comma, which will create a two second pause after the prefix is dialed.
Set Call Waiting Prefix. If you have call waiting, you may choose to disable it while the
DVR is making a call, so that the DVR’s phone call is not interrupted. If you do not
disable it, the DVR may drop the call and allow the second call to ring through, depending
on your phone system. The DVR will then try its call again later. The most common code
that phone companies use to disable call waiting is *70 (check with your phone company
to find out how to disable call waiting in your area). Press CLEAR to enter a star (*). Press
the PAUSE button after you have entered the prefix to insert a comma, which creates a
two second pause after the prefix is dialed.
Set Tone/Pulse. If your phone system uses pulse dialing, rather than tone dialing, you can
change the setting to pulse here. (Today, most phone systems are tone.)
Set ‘Phone Avail.’ Detection. When Set ‘Phone Avail.’ Detection is on, the DVR can
determine whether the phone line is in use by detecting voltage on the line. This allows it
to avoid disrupting a call in progress (such as another modem call).
This setting is off by default. With ‘Phone Avail.’ Detection turned off, if you are on the
phone when the DVR tries to call, you may hear a click on the line. If you have another
modem call in progress (on your computer or other device), that call may be disrupted if
the DVR attempts to call the DVR service. If you have a standard dial tone, and ‘Phone
Avail.’ Detection is off, turn on Dial Tone Detection (below).

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Phone Setup

P h o n e
If you are experiencing “Failed, Line unavailable” errors, or if the DVR is not connecting
to the DVR service, you may have a low-voltage phone system that the DVR cannot
detect. In this case, it’s best to have ‘Phone Avail.’ Detection off.
Set Dial Tone Detection. This setting is on by default. If you leave it on, the DVR will
check for a dial tone before it starts dialing. However, if you have a non-standard dial
tone, or a stuttering dial tone (as some voice messaging systems have), the DVR will be
unable to detect the dial tone and will not make its call.

S e t u p

With Dial Tone Detection and
‘Phone Avail.’ Detection both
turned off, if you happen to be talking on
the phone when the DVR tries to call you
will hear the modem dial and try to
communicate with the DVR service.

Restore previous options. The DVR must make a successful test phone call before it will
accept changes to Phone Dialing Options. If you want to restore your previous dialing
options and continue past this screen without making a test phone call, select “Restore
previous options.”

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Remote Control Settings
DIRECTV

do
Win w

Live TV

Info

Exit

Guid e

List

For information about the individual buttons on the remote control, please refer to the
Remote Control Tips on the inside front cover of this guide. Before programming the
remote control, you must first insert the batteries and complete Guided Setup.

Select

The DIRECTV remote will already work with your DVR. You can also program some
buttons on the remote to control your TV and/or A/V receiver (your stereo system).

Mute

Vol

Chan

Record

Page

•

Control TV power, volume, mute, and input settings. Complete the instructions on
page 95 using the first column in each of the tables (TV power, volume, and mute).
Then repeat the instructions using the second column (TV input).

•

Control TV and A/V receiver power; A/V receiver volume and mute. Complete the
instructions on page 95 using the first column in each of the tables. Then repeat the
instructions using the third column (A/V receiver power, volume, and mute). In this
case, the TV POWER button turns on/off both the TV and the A/V receiver. The VOL
and MUTE buttons control only the A/V receiver.

•

Control TV power and A/V receiver volume and mute. Complete the instructions on
page 95 using the first column in each of the tables. Then repeat the instructions using
the fourth column (A/V receiver volume and mute). The VOL and MUTE buttons
control only the A/V receiver.

Play

(-)

Slo w
TV

ow
VP e

SAT

V Input

r/L
nte as

Clear

DIRECTV

The TV INPUT button can control
which video signal—or “input”—
your TV displays. TV inputs can include
the signal from a VCR, DVD player, or a

The SAT/TV switch sets the remote control to send channel changing signals to either the
DVR (SAT) or the television (TV). If you program the remote to control the volume on
the A/V receiver, it continues to control the A/V receiver’s volume when you change the
SAT/TV switch to TV.

camcorder.

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Remote Control

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S e t t i n g s

Programming the TV POWER, VOLUME, MUTE, and TV INPUT Buttons
1. Go to the Remote Control Setup screen. Press the DIRECTV button. Select
Messages & Setup, then Settings, then Remote Control. Choose which device or
functions you want to control:
To Control:

TV power, volume,

TV input

and mute
Choose:

A/V receiver power,

A/V receiver volume

volume, and mute

and mute only

Remote Control–TV

Remote Control–

(power, volume, mute)

TV (TV Input)

A/V Stereo System

2. Select the brand of your device. Using the UP/DOWN arrows, highlight the brand of
the device you wish to control, then press SELECT. (If you have been using a
universal TV remote control, select your TV or A/V receiver’s brand, not the brand of
the universal remote.) Next you’ll see a screen with four-digit codes.

3. Prepare the remote control. Point the remote away from your DVR. Refer to the
table below and determine which two buttons to press to prepare the remote. Press and
hold the buttons simultaneously for about 5 seconds (until the red light at the end of
the remote control lights up and stays on when you release the buttons).
To Control:

TV power, volume,

TV input

and mute
Press the:

DIRECTV Central

A/V receiver power,

A/V receiver volume

volume, and mute

and mute only

TV PWR and

TV Input and

TV PWR and

MUTE and

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4. Enter a code. Use the number buttons on the remote control to enter a four-digit code
(starting with the first code in the list on the screen). After you press the fourth digit of
the code, the red light on the end of the remote control should flash. If it doesn’t, try
the next code in the list.
5. Test the code. Point the remote toward the TV and test the button (refer to the table):
To Test the:

TV power, volume,

TV input

and mute
Press the:

TV PWR button

TV Input button

A/V receiver power,

A/V receiver volume

volume, and mute

and mute

TV PWR buttons

MUTE button

If pressing the button works (e.g., turns the TV or A/V receiver off, or changes the TV
input), the code is correct. If it does not work, repeat steps 3 and 4 using the next code
on the list. If none of the codes works, perform a code search (see below).

Performing a Code Search
If none of the codes listed allows you to control your device, a code search may detect the
correct code. Performing a code search can take up to 20 minutes.
1. Prepare the remote control. Point the remote away from your DVR.
Refer to the table below and determine which two buttons to press to prepare the
remote. Press and hold the buttons simultaneously for about 5 seconds (until the red
light at the end of the remote lights up and stays on when you release the buttons).
To Control:

TV power, volume,

TV input

and mute
Press the:

A/V receiver power,

A/V receiver volume

volume, and mute

and mute only

TV PWR and

TV Input and

TV PWR and

MUTE and

DIRECTV buttons

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S e t t i n g s

2. Enter the search code. Refer to the table below and use the number keys on your
remote control to enter the appropriate code.
To Test:

TV power, volume,

TV input

and muting
Enter:

0999

A/V receiver power,

A/V receiver volume

volume, and mute

and mute only

1999

After you press the fourth digit of the code, the red light on the end of the remote
control will flash twice, then remain on.
3. Test the remote control. Point the remote control at the TV or A/V receiver. Press
CHAN UP. The test is successful if the TV or A/V receiver responds (by powering off,
changing input, or muting, depending on the function you are trying to program). If
there is no response, wait two or three seconds, then press CHAN UP again. Continue
doing this until the TV or A/V receiver responds.

When the TV or A/V receiver does respond, press ENTER to select the current code.
The red light at the end of the remote control will flash three times to indicate that the
remote control is properly programmed to control your device.
When the red light on the end of the remote control turns off, you have reached the end
of the available codes.
Unfortunately, due to the great variety of TVs and A/V receivers, some makes and
models are not compatible with your DVR’s remote control. If you reach the end of the
available codes without finding a code that works with your device, you will need to
use your TV or A/V receiver’s remote to turn those devices on and off, and to control
the volume.

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Resetting the Programmable Buttons
If you make a mistake, or are having difficulty, you can reset the programmable buttons
(TV POWER, VOLUME, MUTE, and TV INPUT). Once you do so, these buttons will
return to the unprogrammed state of a new remote.
1. Prepare the remote control. Point the remote away from your DVR. Press and hold
the TV POWER button and DIRECTV button simultaneously until the red light at the
end of the remote control comes on, remains steady, then stays on when you release
the buttons.
2. Press THUMBS DOWN three times, then press ENTER. (To cancel, press CLEAR
before you press ENTER.)

Setting a Remote Address
If you have two DVRs in the same house, you may want to assign a remote address to each
remote control. This will prevent the crossing of signals between one DVR’s remote and
the other’s.
1. If the DVRs are both in the same room, cover the area around the shiny, dark plastic
window on the front of one DVR. You can use a dark piece of cloth, a magazine, or
anything thick and opaque. This prevents the DVR from receiving signals.
2. Point the remote control at the DVR for which you want to set the remote address.
Press the DIRECTV button, and select “Messages & Setup.” Select “System
Information,” and press the DOWN arrow until you see “Remote Address.”

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Messages & Setup

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Remote Control

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3. Point the remote control away from the DVRs, and cover the front end of the remote
with your hand. Press and hold the PAUSE and DIRECTV buttons until the red light at
the end of the remote control comes on and stays on when you release them.
4. Point the remote control at the DVR for which you want to set the remote address, and
press the number “1.” Press the RIGHT arrow. On the screen, the “Remote Address”
changes to 1. Exit System Information by pressing the DIRECTV button.
5. Repeat steps 1-4 on the second DVR and its remote control, pressing the number 2 for
the second remote address.

If you do not exit System
Information before you go to
step 5, you may transmit information to
the original DVR and overwrite the first
address you entered.

The remote controls are now set to send signals exclusively to the DVR for which they are
addressed. You may want to label the remote controls so that you remember which DVR
each one controls. Addresses 1 to 9 are unique. Zero (“0”) is a universal remote address,
meaning a remote set to address “0” will try to control any DVR that receives its signal.

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System Information
The System Information screen is where you can find the DVR’s serial number, receiver
ID number, the manufacturer and model number, the software version, information about
recent connections to the DVR service, and the DVR’s storage capacity. You’ll need some
of this information if you call Customer Care for support. You can use CHAN UP/DOWN
to move through the information on this screen.

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System Test
System Test runs tests on the DVR’s signal, tuning, access card and phone connection,
then shows whether the test succeeded. You can also see the ID Number for your
DIRECTV access card on this screen. The tests begin as soon as the screen appears.
If the tests succeed, press SELECT to return to Recorder & Phone Setup. If the tests fail,
press SELECT to retry them or LEFT arrow to return to Recorder & Phone Setup.
•

If the Signal or Tuning test failed, you need to troubleshoot the signal from your
satellite dish antenna. For hints, see “Satellite Signal Troubleshooting” on page 24.

•

If the Access Card test failed, check your Access Card. The proper side of the Access
Card should be inserted firmly into the slot on the front of the DVR. If you have
inserted the correct card firmly, and the Access Card test is still failing, see the
Customer Care information on the back of this manual.

If the phone connection test fails, see the troubleshooting on page 117.

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Messages & Setup

System Test

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Troubleshooting
Parental Controls Troubleshooting
This screen provides a brief description of how to use Parental Controls. Use CHAN UP/
DOWN to see all of the text on the screen.

Phone Troubleshooting
This screen provides tips to help you troubleshoot problems with your phone connection.
Use CHAN UP/DOWN to see all of the text on the screen.

Satellite Troubleshooting
This screen provides basic information about connections to your satellite dish antenna
and dual tuner, and has some troubleshooting steps. Use CHAN UP/DOWN to see all of
the text on the screen.

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Restart or Reset System
You may need to restart the DVR as a routine troubleshooting step. Other options on this
screen erase information or restore original factory settings. Selecting any of these options
displays a warning. To continue press THUMBS DOWN three times, then press ENTER.
Restart the Recorder. Shuts down the DVR and starts it up again. It will not affect
recordings in Now Playing, upcoming Season PassTM recordings, WishListTM searches, or
TiVo Suggestions. Any recording in progress will be interrupted.

If you do not have the remote
control, you can also press
buttons on the front of the DVR to enter
the safety code. Press the INFO button
three times and then press DOWN.

Clear Thumb Ratings and Suggestions. Removes all Thumb ratings and deletes the list
of Suggestions under Pick Programs to Record. It does not delete Suggestions that have
been recorded and are in the Now Playing List.
Clear program information and To Do List. Clears all program information, cancels all
Season Pass recordings and everything in the To Do List, and removes all Thumb ratings.
It does not delete programs in the Now Playing List. The DVR acquires new program
information from the Satellite, over the next one to two days. Completing this process may
take over an hour.

Clear and delete everything. Clears all Season Pass recordings, WishList searches,
Thumb ratings, Suggestions and Now Playing List recordings, program information, and
the To Do List and setup information, including the Channels You Receive and Favorite
Channels lists. It also clears the current password and resets Parental Controls to the
factory specified default. Completing this process may take over an hour.

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Messages & Setup

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Standby
You can put your DIRECTV® DVR in standby mode by selecting Standby from
DIRECTV Central, or by pressing the STANDBY button on the front of your DVR.
If you have an A/V receiver or

•

The PWR light on the front of the DVR turns off, and it stops sending a picture to your
TV. If a recording is in progress, the red REC light remains lit.

•

If you temporarily turned off Parental Controls, standby mode enables them again.

allowing the switch box to detect a new

•

The DVR responds to only a few buttons on the remote control.

video signal, such as a DVD player, and

•

The DVR will not tune to previously ordered pay per view programs unless you have
them scheduled to be recorded.

•

Programs that are recording or scheduled to record will record in standby mode.

switch box that automatically
detects video signals, you can use
standby mode to “turn off” your DVR,

send that picture to your TV.

To turn off standby mode, press the DIRECTV button or the LIVE TV button on your
remote control, or on the DVR’s front panel.

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Standby

CHAPTER 7

Troubleshooting
Contacting Customer Care

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Contacting Customer Care
DIRECTV is dedicated to providing you with quality support and customer service. When you have a question:
1. Use this chapter. It contains troubleshooting for questions about:
Getting Started . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Live TV (including satellite signal). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Pick Programs to Record . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
Parental Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
The DVR’s Phone Connection. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Audio. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
Pay Per View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
The Remote Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
The DIRECTV® DVR with TiVo® service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
2. Use online support. You will find all of the most up to date information about DIRECTV products and services at the DIRECTV
website, DIRECTV.com.
3. Use the troubleshooting screens on your DVR. Go to DIRECTV Central and select Messages & Setup, then Troubleshooting. You
will find troubleshooting screens for Parental Controls, your phone connection, and your channels.
4. Call Customer Care. After checking Troubleshooting and online Customer Care for assistance, call DIRECTV Customer Care
at 1-800-DIRECTV (1-800-347-3288).

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Questions About Getting Started
I do not see the Welcome screen.
If you do not see the Welcome screen, you may need to change channels or change the video source your TV uses:
•

If you used a Coaxial RF cable to connect your DVR to the TV, make sure you’re viewing the same channel (3 or 4) that you selected
using the switch on the back of your DVR.

•

If you used Composite A/V cables to connect your DVR, make sure your TV is displaying the appropriate video source. You may
need to use the INPUT, SOURCE, or TV/VIDEO button on your TV or TV’s remote control to change video sources. If you are
having trouble changing the video source, refer to the instructions that came with your TV.

•

If you did not connect the DVR directly to the TV but are instead passing the signal through your VCR, make sure your VCR is
displaying the appropriate video source. You may need to use the INPUT, or SOURCE button on your VCR or VCR’s remote
control. Also, some VCRs only pass the signal through when they are turned either on or off. If you are having trouble displaying the
correct video source, refer to the instructions that came with your VCR.

•

If you are still having trouble, double-check your connections.

During Satellite Guided Setup, the screen got stuck on the Satellite Info screen.
•

Press the DIRECTV button, then select Messages & Setup, then Settings, then Satellite, then Auto-Detect Satellite Information. The
screen will warn you not to proceed unless you have been instructed to do so by a customer care representative. In this instance, it is
safe to proceed past this screen without consulting Customer Care.

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Questions About Live TV (Including Satellite Signal)
How do I see what’s on TV on every channel?
•

From live TV, press the GUIDE button on the remote to display the program guide. You can use the CHAN UP/DOWN button to
scroll the list a page at a time and use the FORWARD and BACK buttons to go forward and back in time.

How long can I pause live TV?
•

You can pause live TV up to 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, the video will start playing again, 30 minutes behind “real time.” With
Dual Tuner enabled, you can pause for up to 30 minutes on each tuner.

How far back can I rewind live TV?
•

The length of time you can rewind depends on how long you have been watching the same channel. The recording starts over each
time you change the channel, so if you have just changed the channel, you won't be able to rewind very far (the green area on the
Status Bar will be very small). You can store up to 30 minutes of the current channel. If you have been watching the same channel for
more than 30 minutes, you can rewind for up to 30 minutes. The same is true for two channels with dual tuner.

Can I watch TV while a program is recording?
•

Yes, you can watch what is recording as it is being recorded. You can also watch any program stored in the Now Playing List while
another program is being recorded. If you have Dual Tuner enabled, you can record one program while watching another. See page 5
for information about Dual Tuner.

•

If you have an antenna or cable signal in addition to DIRECTV® service, you can watch programs carried by that signal—without the
DVR service—while your DVR is in standby mode. For more information, see page 3.

After changing the channel, how do I rewind to what I was watching before?
•

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You can only rewind Live TV to the point where you last changed the channel. When you change the channel, you skip ahead to the
current time on the new channel, and start recording fresh, on that channel. If you are behind live TV and watching something you

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still want to see, you shouldn’t change the channel. If you have Dual Tuner, however, you can “surf ” two channels and the DVR
saves up to 30 minutes of each channel’s programming.

How do I know if I’m watching live or delayed TV?
•

Press PLAY to bring up the Status Bar. If the white line is at the right edge of the green area, you are caught up to live TV. If the
white line has green to the right of it, you are watching delayed TV. To catch up to live TV, press the ADVANCE ( ) button.

When does the DVR get program information?
•

Your DVR downloads program information throughout the day from your satellite connection. It takes a day or two for the DVR to
get all of its guide data (up to 14 days) after you have completed Guided Setup.

How do I get back to the last channel I was watching?
•

When watching live TV, typing a channel number jumps the DVR to that channel. Press ENTER/LAST if you want to go back to the
prior channel.

I can’t tune to one of my channels.
•

You may be using a channel list that does not include the channel you want. Use the number buttons on the remote control to enter
the channel number, then press the ENTER button. For more information on using a channel list, see page 81.

•

The channel you want may be showing a program that exceeds a limit set with Parental Controls. In this case, you will be able to tune
to the channel, but will see only a black screen with a notice that a limit has been exceeded. For more information, see page 82.

•

Check to make sure you subscribe to the channel you are trying to tune to. Tune to the channel and read the message at the bottom of
the screen.

I can’t use the Favorite Channels channel list.
•

The Favorite Channels list is empty until you put channels in it. For more information, see page 81.

•

If category filtering of the guide is turned on, channels on your list of favorites may be being filtered out. You can use the guide’s
options to turn off filtering. See page 48.
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When I power on my TV, I see the message “Searching for satellite signal...”
Your DVR is having trouble tuning to the channel you are on. Follow these steps to restore the video:
•

Try changing channels. If you see the same message on every channel, your video cable may have come loose. Check to make sure
all the cable connections on the back of your DVR are secure.

•

If multiple channel changes do not work, try restarting your DVR. From DIRECTV Central, choose “Messages & Setup,” then
“Restart or Reset System,” then “Restart the Recorder.” Follow the instructions on the screen to restart the DVR.

•

In unusual circumstances, stormy weather may interfere with your satellite signal. If this is the case, the signal should return when
the weather changes.

•

Try replacing your video cables to determine if one of your cables is bad.

•

The position of your satellite dish antenna may have changed and you may have to re-position it. Professional installers are available
in most areas to position satellite dishes. You can also find positioning information by repeating Satellite Dish Guided Setup,
available by pressing the DIRECTV button, then selecting “Messages & Setup” and then “Recorder & Phone Setup.”

•

There may be an obstruction (for example, trees) between the satellite dish antenna and the sky. If this is the case, you may have to
change the position of your satellite dish antenna.

The channel I want to watch has the message “This program is not available in your area,” and the screen is black.
•

Some sports events may be blacked out in areas that are considered local areas for the events.

The audio and video are out of sync.

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•

Try changing channels.

•

Press the PAUSE button on the remote, then press BACK to move back a frame or two, then press PAUSE again to resume play.

•

Press the DIRECTV button; then press the LIVE TV button to return to live television.

•

Restart your DVR. From Messages & Setup, select Restart or Reset System, then Restart the Recorder. You will see the Welcome
screen and the system will restart within about 45 seconds.

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My DVR was working, but now the picture does not move.
•

First, press PLAY to be sure the video is not paused.

•

Try to restart your DVR. From Messages & Setup select Restart or Reset System, then Restart the Recorder. You will see the
Welcome screen and the system will restart within about 45 seconds.

I don’t get a picture now, even though I have been able to get one in the past.
•

Any time you have a problem with your system, you can run a system test. To run the test, from Messages & Setup, select System
Test. The system test checks the DVR’s signal, tuning, access card and phone connection.

•

You may be able to fix the problem yourself. Try restarting the DVR: From Messages & Setup select Restart or Reset System, then
Restart the Recorder. If you cannot fix the problem, call DIRECTV Customer Care at 1-800-DIRECTV (1-800-347-3288).

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Questions About Pick Programs to Record
There are very few or no shows listed when I press GUIDE or look for programs to record. I can’t find my program in
the listings, although I know it's on.
•

Your DVR may not have all its program guide data yet. When you first begin to use your DVR, it begins to download guide
information from the DIRECTV satellites. It takes a day or two before complete information (up to 14 days) is available for you to
use. If you cannot find a specific show that you know is on, information for that show may not have been downloaded yet. Wait a
few hours and then try to find your program again.

•

The guide may be using a channel list that does not include the channel you are looking for. You can change the channels in a
channel list, and change the channel list that the guide uses. See page 48.

What do the different icons on the Now Playing List screen mean?
•

For a description of each icon’s meaning, see the Glossary of Icons on the inside back cover of this guide.

Can I record multiple programs simultaneously?
•

It depends on how many satellite inputs you connected to your DVR. With one input, you can only record one program at a time.
With two inputs, you have Dual Tuner and can record 2 programs at the same time, or record one program while watching another.

Can I recover a recorded program that was deleted? How can I save a program longer?

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•

Unfortunately, there is no way to bring back a program that has been deleted from the Now Playing List. You can, however, choose
to save programs longer. From the Now Playing List, highlight the program you wish to save longer and press SELECT to display
the Program Information screen. Here you can choose “Keep until I delete,” or choose “Keep Until...” to set the number of days
before a program may be deleted.

•

Be sure also that you pay attention to conflicts. You may choose not to approve any conflict that says it will delete a program sooner
than you want.

•

If the program was a Season Pass, you may have too many Season Pass items. In order to accommodate all of your Season Pass
requests, programs may occasionally be saved for as little as one day. Try deleting some Season Pass requests.

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You can archive special recordings to a videotape to preserve them longer. From the Program Information screen, choose Save to
VCR. See page 75.

How do I check the upcoming programs that I’ve scheduled to record?
•

From DIRECTV Central, select Pick Programs to Record, then To Do List.

How do I cancel a recording?
•

If you change the channel while a program is recording, you will be given the option to cancel the recording.

•

To cancel a scheduled recording: In the To Do List, highlight the program and press the “Clear” button.

What happens if a sports event I have scheduled to record goes into overtime?
•

The DVR service cannot predict whether a sporting event might go into overtime, but it does provide a feature that lets you add from
one extra minute to three hours at the end of a recording. The Overtime Scheduler® has two options: Start Recording and Stop
Recording. Both are available on the Recording Options screen. You can even use the Overtime Scheduler to change the scheduled
end of a recording while the program is still being recorded. You can use the Overtime Scheduler with any kind of program, not just
sports. For more information, see page 44.

Can I schedule to record a program that will not be aired for months?
•

You can create a WishListTM search to set up recordings for programs that are not yet listed in the guide. For example, create a
keyword WishList search that uses the program’s title as the keyword. See page 54.

Can I save a program from the Now Playing List to my VCR?
•

Yes. You can use the “Save to VCR” function. See page 75 for more information.

Can I copy or archive programs to a ZIP drive or any other computer storage media?
•

No, the DVR does not copy or archive recordings to any device other than a VCR.

How do I go back to the beginning of a recording I’m watching?
•

Press the ADVANCE button (
beginning.

) on the remote to go to the end of a recording you’re watching. Press it again to go to the
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How do I clear all the letters I’ve entered on the alphanumeric keypad and start over?
•

Use the CLEAR button on the remote, or select “CLR” in the on-screen keypad. To remove one letter, select “DEL” in the keypad or
press the BACK button on the remote.

How can I fit more programs on Now Playing List, and why does it tell me I don't have enough space?
•

Your DVR can save a limited number of programs, and then it runs out of space. Usually, it then begins to delete old programs to
make room for new recordings. However, if you have marked too many programs in Now Playing List “Keep until I delete,”
(programs marked “Keep until I delete” have a green circle beside them) your DVR may tell you that you do not have enough space.
To make space, delete some of the programs listed in the Now Playing List. You can delete a program by highlighting it in Now
Playing List, then pressing CLEAR. On the confirmation screen that appears, press SELECT.

How do I set the clock so that my shows are recorded on time?
•

Your DVR’s internal clock is updated by the DIRECTV satellites. If you find that the DVR’s time is consistently wrong, you can
change the Time Zone and Daylight Savings Time settings manually, as described on page 88. If the clock still shows the wrong
time, you can call DIRECTV Customer Care at the number on the back of this guide.

My program didn’t get recorded. I set the DVR up to record something, and it’s not in Now Playing List.
If this happens, you can check Recording History for an explanation why the program did not record. Recording History is the first
selection available in the To Do List. From DIRECTV Central, select Pick programs to record, then To Do List. Here are some reasons
why a program may not be available in the Now Playing List:

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•

The program may have been canceled by the network.

•

You may have two Season PassTM requests that were on at the same time this week. Only one can be recorded, unless you have dual
tuner, in which case only two can be recorded at once. The DVR records the Season Pass with the highest priority. To change priority
settings on Season Pass recordings, go to Pick Programs to Record and select Season Pass Manager.

•

The program may have been deleted from the Now Playing List by someone else in your household.

•

When scheduling another recording, a conflict solution set the program to delete earlier than planned.

•

The DVR may have lost power during the time the program was broadcast.

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I haven’t recorded enough programs to fill my DVR, but when I try to record more programs, there isn’t room.
•

With satellite broadcasts, the amount of recording space the DVR needs varies from channel to channel and from show to show. In
general, the more action you see on your screen, such as in fast-moving sports or action movies, the more recording space is required.
The space required for each show you record affects the total hours of recording capacity in your DVR.

What does it mean when my DVR says programs will be deleted earlier than planned?
•

By default, all programs except pay per view events are kept for at least two days. After that, programs may be deleted to make room
for other recordings you request. Recordings of pay per view events are kept until you delete them. The DVR service uses this
information to figure out not only what space will be available but when it will become available. If enough space will not be
available at the time of recording, the DVR service tells you which programs would be deleted to make more room. However, you
always have the final say on how long the DVR keeps recorded programs. You can delete programs at any time and can always
change how long a program is saved by changing the “Keep Until…” option described on page 72.

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Questions About Parental Controls
My Parental Controls are not working.
•

For Parental Controls to work, they must be on (and not temporarily turned off). Whenever you enter a password to bypass Parental
Controls, Parental Controls become temporarily turned off. If they are turned off, you can turn them back on at the Parental Controls
screen (see page 82), or by putting your DVR in standby mode and then taking it out of standby.

Do I have to change Parental Controls settings before I can watch a program that exceeds the current limits?
•

No, you don’t. You can enter the current password to temporarily turn off Parental Controls. If they are temporarily turned off, you
can turn them back on at the Parental Controls screen (see page 82), or by putting your DVR in standby mode and then taking it out
of standby.

I’ve lost my password for Parental Controls. What should I do?
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If you have lost your password, you can call DIRECTV Customer Care at the phone number provided on the back of this guide.

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Questions About the DVR’s Phone Connection
How long does a phone connection to the DVR service take?
•

It is typically a short call, less than three minutes. When receiving a service update it may take longer, but this happens rarely (a few
times a year).

My DVR is not connecting to the DVR service.
•

Verify that your phone line is working by connecting a phone to the phone cord and checking for a dial tone. Make sure the phone
cord is connected to the DVR and the wall jack.

•

Try another local dial-in number from the Phone Dialing Options screen. To get to Phone Dialing Options: from DIRECTV Central,
select Messages & Setup, then Settings, then Phone Setup, then “Edit phone settings.”

•

You may need to change your Phone Dialing Options from the default. After making changes, make a test call. (Choose “Test phone
connection” from the Phone Setup screen.) If the test call succeeds, choose “Connect to the DVR service now.”

•

If you have voice mail or use another non-standard dial tone, go to Messages & Setup, then Settings, then Phone Setup, then “Edit
phone settings.” Turn off “Dial Tone Detection.”

•

If you have call waiting, go to Messages & Setup, then Settings, then Phone Setup, then “Edit phone settings.” Disable call waiting
by entering the correct prefix in Call Waiting Prefix (usually *70,).

•

If you dial a prefix for outside lines, go to Messages & Setup, then Settings, then Phone Setup, then “Edit phone settings.” Set a Dial
Prefix—for example, “9,” (nine, followed by a comma for a pause).

•

Your phone line may have low voltage. Try setting Phone avail. detection to Off under Dialing Options, described on page 91.

•

If you have a caller ID box, try removing it from the line since some models interfere with the DVR modem’s ability to make a call.

•

If you have a cordless telephone, fax machine, or computer modem connected to the same line, go to Messages & Setup, then
Settings, then Phone Setup, then “Edit phone settings.” Turn off “Phone avail. detection.”

•

Your phone line might have too much line noise for a good connection. Try a shorter phone cord, or buy a line noise filter at a local
electronics store.

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Why does the DVR have to be connected to a phone line? Do I need to keep the phone connected all the time?
•

The DVR should be plugged in to a land-based phone line at all times to receive the DVR service and DIRECTV® sports packages,
and to send information about pay per view event purchases to DIRECTV.

Does the DVR service connection each day cost me any money?
•

Calling the DVR service via your local dial-in number is the same as making a local telephone call.

Does the occasional phone call to DIRECTV cost me any money?
•

No, because your DVR only calls DIRECTV periodically and a toll free number is used to make the call.

What if I need to make a call while the DVR is using the phone?
•

When you pick up the phone, the DVR will hang up and free the phone line for your call. Hang up, wait at least 45 seconds, then pick
up the line again to make a call. The DVR will attempt its call again later.

What if my phone line is not operating when the DVR tries to make a service connection?
•

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The DVR will continue to attempt to call several times a day until it is successful. You can check the status of the phone calls by
going to Messages & Setup, then Settings, then Phone Setup.

Q u e s t i o n s

A b o u t

A u d i o

Questions About Audio
I can’t select an alternate audio track.
•

Alternate audio tracks are not available for all programs. If a program has an alternate audio track, you can select it through the
channel banner.

•

Programs are recorded with only one audio track, either the primary or an alternate audio track, so you cannot select an alternate
audio track on a recorded program. When you schedule a recording, you can choose whether or not to record any available alternate
audio track. See Recording Options on page 43

•

If you are watching a live program, but are not caught up to live TV (i.e., you could use the FORWARD button to move forward
through the program), alternate audio will not be available until you catch up with live TV.

Programs are playing in the wrong language.
•

There may be an alternate language selected in Audio Settings. To check, press the DIRECTV button; then select Messages & Setup,
then Settings, then Audio, then Audio Language. Make sure the language selected is the one you want to hear.

•

An alternate audio track may be selected. See page 80.

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Questions About Pay Per View
How do I record a pay per view event?
•

If it is on now, tune to the channel carrying the program and press RECORD.

•

If it is on later, go to live TV, press the GUIDE button to see the guide. Highlight the program and press SELECT.

How do I cancel a pay per view purchase?
•

You can cancel pay per view purchases before the program airs on the Purchases screen. For more information, see page 79.

•

Pay per view purchases made by phone must be canceled by phone as well. (There is an additional $1.50 charge when ordering pay
per view events by phone utilizing the automated ordering system, or an additional $5.00 charge for an operator-assisted order.)

I can’t order a pay per view program.
•

It may be too late to purchase the program you want. To quickly see other times the program will be on, do this: In Live TV, tune to
the station carrying the pay per view program you want. There should be a notice saying “This showing is no longer available.” Press
GUIDE to see the guide. Press the RECORD button to see Program Information for the program. Select “View upcoming showings.”
To see live TV again, press GUIDE.

•

In general, pay per view events can be ordered through the DVR within 24 hours of their air time. If you see a message that says cost
information is not available, you can wait until less than 24 hours before the program airs and try again.

•

If the program exceeds a limit set with Parental Controls, and Parental Controls are on, you will need a password to view it.

•

If you are attempting to order a pay per view selection with your remote control and cannot, call DIRECTV Customer Care at the
number provided on the back of this guide.

I can’t find the station of a pay per view program I ordered.
•

Information about purchased pay per view events is available on the Purchases screen (select Messages & Setup, then Purchases).

I can’t cancel a pay per view purchase on the Purchases screen.
•
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You cannot cancel pay per view orders that you have watched, recorded, or tuned to.

Q u e s t i o n s

A b o u t

t h e

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Questions About the Remote Control
My remote control doesn’t work with my television.
•

You need to program the DVR’s remote control to control some functions of your television or A/V receiver. See page 94.

My remote control doesn’t work with my DVR.
•

Your remote control’s batteries may be weak. If its batteries are weak, the red light on the end of the remote control will not flash
when you press buttons.

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Questions About the DIRECTV® DVR with TiVo® Service
How do I prevent TiVo Suggestions from being automatically recorded and listed on Now Playing List?
•

Press the DIRECTV Button, then select Messages & Setup, then Settings, then Suggestions, then No.

Will my DVR still work without the DVR service?
•

Without the DVR service, your DIRECTV® DVR will have no recording functionality. The DVR uses the DVR service to record
shows you request, provide Season PassTM recordings, allow you to search for programs by name, and so on. The DVR service also
provides you with new Showcases. Lastly, the service keeps your DVR updated to make sure you have the most current functionality
available for your DVR.

Will the DVR service collect information about my viewing habits?
•

At DIRECTV, we absolutely respect and guard your right to privacy. We have a privacy policy that maintains complete viewer
confidentiality. DIRECTV has created a very sophisticated system with both protection and customization for our viewers in mind. It
is DIRECTV’s promise to you that you will always maintain control over your personal information. For more information, see the
DIRECTV Privacy Promise, included in your first monthly statement.

How does my TiVo Suggestions list get generated? How does it know what I like?
•

Your personal TV preferences are based on programs you have rated with THUMBS UP and THUMBS DOWN. Also, any program
you record that does not already have a Thumb rating is automatically given one THUMB UP.

TiVo Suggestions isn’t making accurate suggestions for me.
•

If you haven’t had your DVR for very long, give it time. It may take a week or two of use before your personal preference profile has
enough data to make interesting suggestions. The more you press THUMBS UP and THUMBS DOWN and the more programs you
record, the better TiVo Suggestions will be.
If other members of your household are pressing THUMBS UP on shows you don’t care for, and vice versa, you may find TiVo
Suggestions is making some suggestions that you like, and some that are more appropriate for other members of your household.

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Will I lose my personal preferences and my programs if I lose power temporarily?
•

No, everything is saved—your personal preferences, your To Do List, and your Now Playing List programs—regardless of the
length of time you have lost power. The only thing you might miss is a recording that was scheduled to occur during the time the
power was out.

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CHAPTER 8

Warranty and
Specifications
Limited 90 Day Warranty

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DIRECTV PROTECTION PLAN

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FCC Information

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Safety Instructions

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Specifications

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Limited 90 Day Warranty
DIRECTV warrants your DIRECTV® DVR (Model Number: R10 ) and
any included accessories against defects in material or workmanship for
a period of ninety (90) days after the date of purchase.

WHO IS COVERED?
You must have proof of purchase to receive warranty service. A sales
receipt or other document showing that you purchased the product is
considered proof of purchase. THIS LIMITED WARRANTY
EXTENDS ONLY TO THE ORIGINAL CONSUMER PURCHASER
OR ANY PERSON RECEIVING THE DIRECTV® DVR AS A GIFT
FROM THE ORIGINAL CONSUMER PURCHASER AND TO NO
OTHER PURCHASER OR TRANSFEREE. THIS WARRANTY
DOES NOT EXTEND TO COMMERCIAL USERS. THIS PRODUCT
IS NOT AUTHORIZED FOR USE OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES
AND ANY SUCH USE VOIDS THIS WARRANTY.

ninety (90) days from the date of purchase, you pay for the replacement
of all parts, and for all labor charges.
SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW LIMITATIONS ON HOW LONG
AN IMPLIED WARRANTY LASTS, SO THE ABOVE LIMITATION
MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.

WHAT IS EXCLUDED?
Your warranty does NOT cover:
•
•
•

•

WHAT IS COVERED?
Warranty coverage begins the day you purchase the product. For ninety
(90) days from the purchase date, at the option of DIRECTV, the
DIRECTV® DVR will be repaired or replaced with a new, repaired,
refurbished or comparable product (whichever is deemed necessary) if it
becomes defective or inoperative. This exchange is done without charge
to you for parts and labor. You will be responsible for the cost of
shipping to and from the location designated by DIRECTV. If DIRECTV
cannot reasonably repair or replace the DVR then DIRECTV may, at its
sole discretion, refund the price you paid for the product or the current
retail price of the product.

126

All products, including replacement products, are covered only for the
original warranty period. When the warranty on the original product
expires, the warranty on the replacement product also expires. After

•

•
•

Labor charges for installation or setup of the product.
Installation, performance of, or repair of: audio/video cabling,
telephone line, or accessory attachments used with the product.
Product replacement because of misuse, accident, lightning damage,
unauthorized repair, or other cause not within the control of
DIRECTV.
Incidental or consequential damages resulting from the product.
SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OF
INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, SO THE
ABOVE EXCLUSION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.
Any modifications or other changes to the product, including but not
limited to software or hardware modification in any way other than
as expressly authorized by DIRECTV will void this limited warranty.
Except in the case of hardware or software provided by DIRECTV,
adding drive capacity, installing software modifications, "hacks" or
utilizing service access or "back doors" will void this limited
warranty.
Reception transmission problems caused by signal conditions,
telephone line, or cable or antenna systems outside the unit.
A product that has been modified or adapted to enable it to operate in
any country other than the country for which it was designed,

L i m i t e d

•
•
•

•

manufactured, approved and/or authorized, or repair of products
damaged by these modifications.
A product used for commercial or institutional purposes.
DIRECTV makes no warranty that the access connection will be a
local (not long distance) phone call.
The continued provisioning of any of the programming and other
services delivered through the DVR including but not limited to
television programming, show information, program guide data, and
scheduling information.
The content or other recorded programming stored on the DVR.

MAKE SURE YOU KEEP...
Please keep your sales receipt or other document showing proof of
purchase. Attach it to this User Guide and keep both nearby. Also keep
the original box and packing material in case you need to return your
product.

BEFORE REQUESTING REPAIR SERVICE...
Please check the troubleshooting section of this guide. This may save you
a call to DIRECTV Customer Care.

TO GET WARRANTY SERVICE...
Warranty service will be provided by DIRECTV. If you believe you need
service for your DVR, contact DIRECTV at 1-800-DIRECTV (1-800347-3288). A representative will go through a diagnostic checklist with
you. If it is determined that the product needs to be returned for service or
exchanged, you will receive a return authorization number. The
representative will give you complete shipping details.

TO GET OUT-OF-WARRANTY SERVICE...
To obtain out-of-warranty service contact DIRECTV at 1-800DIRECTV (1-800-347-3288) for information on the possibility of and
any costs for repair or replacement of out-of-warranty products.

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REMEMBER...
Record the model and serial numbers found on the product below.
MODEL # _____________________________________
SERIAL # _______________________________________
ALL WARRANTIES IMPLIED BY LAW, INCLUDING ANY
IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS
FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE EXPRESSLY LIMITED TO
THE DURATION OF THIS EXPRESS LIMITED WARRANTY.
WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ANY WARRANTIES IMPLIED BY
THE LAW OF ANY STATE OF THE U.S.A., THIS EXPRESS
LIMITED WARRANTY IS EXCLUSIVE AND IN LIEU OF ALL
OTHER WARRANTIES, GUARANTEES, AGREEMENTS AND
SIMILAR OBLIGATIONS OF DIRECTV. REPAIR OR
REPLACEMENT AS PROVIDED IN THIS LIMITED WARRANTY IS
THE EXCLUSIVE REMEDY UNDER THIS LIMITED WARRANTY.
IN NO EVENT WILL DIRECTV BE LIABLE FOR ANY AMOUNT
GREATER THAN THE RETAIL PRICE OF THE DIRECTV® DVR.
DIRECTV SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INCIDENTAL OR
CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES FOR BREACH OF ANY EXPRESS
OR IMPLIED WARRANTY ON THE DIRECTV® DVR.

SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW LIMITATIONS ON
WARRANTIES, SO THE ABOVE LIMITATIONS MAY NOT APPLY
TO YOU. THIS WARRANTY GIVES YOU SPECIFIC LEGAL
RIGHTS. YOU MAY HAVE OTHER RIGHTS WHICH VARY FROM
STATE TO STATE.
DIRECTV, Inc.
2230 E. Imperial Hwy
El Segundo, CA 90245
1-800-DIRECTV (1-800-347-3288)

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DIRECTV PROTECTION PLAN
Protect your DIRECTV® System with the DIRECTV PROTECTION
PLAN. For a low monthly fee, the DIRECTV PROTECTION PLAN
covers the components of your DIRECTV System, giving you peace of
mind and comprehensive support to ensure that you and your family
enjoy nonstop DIRECTV® entertainment.

DIRECTV PROTECTION PLAN BENEFITS
Your DIRECTV Limited Warranty provides certain remedies for this
receiver during the stated coverage term. The DIRECTV PROTECTION
PLAN provides comprehensive coverage for your DIRECTV System,
including:
• In home service calls when needed
• Power surge related repairs
• Cables, switches, and associated wiring throughout home
• Dish antenna realignments
• Replacement of defective equipment (if problem can not be resolved
over the phone) *
• Defective remote control replacements
• 24-hour Technical Support
• All parts and labor for repair
Get ALL THAT FOR JUST $5.99 a month for accounts with standard
DIRECTV Receivers and only $7.99 a month for accounts with
DIRECTV® DVR, DIRECTV HD Receivers, or DIRECTV Receivers
with UltimateTV Service. This one low monthly fee covers every
DIRECTV component and receiver on your account.

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*A fee of $49 for standard IRD equipment, $249 for DIRECTV DVR or Ultimate
TV equipment, or $400 for HD equipment will be charged to your DIRECTV bill
if the defective equipment that we are replacing for you is not returned within 30
calendar days. The plan will provide a return box for the defective equipment and
even pick up the shipping costs. You'll receive replacement equipment in about 72
hours.

SIGN UP FOR THE DIRECTV PROTECTION PLAN TODAY
If you have standard DIRECTV Receiver(s), visit DIRECTV.com and
SIGN IN using the simple steps below or call 1-800-DIRECTV.
1. SIGN IN with your user name and password, or click on the "Register
now" link and go through the easy steps, then continue with Step 2.
2. SELECT Option B, and then click the "Next" button at the bottom of
the page.
3. SCROLL down to Step 3 (Add Additional Services) and SELECT
"DIRECTV PROTECTION PLAN," then CLICK on the "Next" button.
4. REVIEW your change and CLICK on the "Accept These Changes"
button.
If you have a DIRECTV® DVR, DIRECTV HD Receiver, or DIRECTV
Receiver with UltimateTV Service, please call 1-800-DIRECTV to sign
up.The DIRECTV PROTECTION PLAN is offered by AIG Warranty
Guard and underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company on
behalf of DIRECTV where authorized by law. Certain limitations apply.
Pricing, terms and conditions of the DIRECTV PROTECTION PLAN
are subject to change. The DIRECTV PROTECTION PLAN may not be
available to customers located in the territories served by the National
Rural Telecommunications Cooperative and its affiliates and members.
Full terms and conditions will be mailed to you prior to service billing
and are available at DIRECTV.com. (Note: Annual payment option no
longer available.)

F C C

I n f o r ma tio n

FCC Information
Declaration of Conformity—Standards to which Conformity is declared:
FCC Part 15
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject
to the following two conditions: (1) this device may not cause harmful
interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired operation.
Responsible Party:
DIRECTV, Inc.
2230 E. Imperial Hwy
El Segundo, CA 90245
1-800-DIRECTV (1-800-347-3288)
•
•
•

Trade Name: DIRECTV
Type of Equipment: DIRECTV® DVR
Model Number: R10

Your DIRECTV® DVR complies with the limits for a Class B digital
device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC rules. These limits are designed to
provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a
residential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate
radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with
the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio
communications. However there is no guarantee that interference will not
occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful
interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by
removing and applying power to the equipment, the user is encouraged to
try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:
• Reorient or relocate the receiving satellite dish antenna.

•
•
•

Increase the separation between the equipment and the
DIRECTV® DVR.
Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that
to which the DIRECTV® DVR is connected.
Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

The user may find the following booklet, prepared by the Federal
Communications Commission, helpful: "How to Identify and Resolve
Radio and TV Interference Problems." This booklet is available from the
U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC. To meet FCC
requirement, only peripherals (computer input/output devices, terminals,
printers, etc.) certified to comply with Class B limits may be attached to
this device. Operation with non-certified peripherals is likely to result in
interference to radio and TV reception. To meet FCC requirements,
shielded cables are required to connect the device to a personal computer,
peripheral, or other Class B certified device.
This equipment complies with Part 68 of the FCC Rules and the
requirements adopted by ACTA. On the back of this equipment is a label
that contains a product identifier in the format US:AAAEQ##TXXXX. If
requested, this information must be provided to your telephone company.
A plug and jack used to connect this equipment to the premises wiring
and telephone network must comply with the applicable FCC Part 68
rules and requirements adopted by ACTA. A compliant telephone cord
and modular plug is provided with this product. It is designed to be
connected to a compatible modular jack that is also compliant. See
installation instructions for details.

The REN is used to determine the number of devices that may connect to
a telephone line. Excessive RENs on a telephone line may result in the
devices not ringing in response to an incoming call. In most but not all

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areas, the sum of the RENs should not exceed five (5.0). To be certain of
the number of devices that may be connected to a line, as determined by
the total RENs, contact your local telephone company. The REN for this
product is part of the product identifier that has the format
US:AAAEQ##TXXXX. The digits represented by ## are the REN
without the decimal point (e.g., 03 is a REN of 0.3).
If this DIRECTV® DVR causes harm to the telephone network, the
telephone company will notify you in advance that temporary
discontinuance of service may be required. But if advance notice isn't
practical, the telephone company will notify the customer as soon as
possible. Also, you will be advised of your right to file a complaint with
the FCC if you believe it is necessary.
The telephone company may make changes in its facilities, equipment,
operations or procedures that could affect the proper functioning of your
equipment. If they do, you will be notified in advance in order for you to
make necessary modifications to maintain uninterrupted service.
If trouble is experienced with this unit, for repair or warranty
information, please contact DIRECTV Customer Care at the address and
phone number listed below. If the equipment is causing harm to the
network, the telephone company may request that you disconnect the
equipment until the problem is resolved.
DIRECTV, Inc.
2230 E. Imperial Hwy
El Segundo, CA 90245
1-800-DIRECTV (1-800-347-3288)
DO NOT DISASSEMBLE THIS EQUIPMENT. It does not contain any
user-serviceable components.
We recommend the installation of an AC surge arrester in the AC outlet
to which this equipment is connected. Telephone companies report that

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electrical surges, typically lightning transients, are very destructive to
customer terminal equipment connected to AC power sources.
If your home has specially wired alarm equipment connected to the
telephone line, ensure the installation of this DIRECTV® DVR does not
disable your alarm equipment. If you do have questions about what will
disable alarm equipment, consult your telephone company or a qualified
installer.
Connection to a party line service is subject to state tariffs. Contact the
state public utility commission, public service commission, or
corporation commission for information.

NOTE: The user is cautioned that changes or modifications not expressly
approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user’s
authority to operate the equipment.

S a f e t y

I n s t r u c t i o n s

Safety Instructions
This product was designed and manufactured to meet strict quality and safety standards. There are, however, some installation and operation
precautions of which you should be particularly aware. Please read these instructions before operating the equipment and save them for future
reference.
1. Read Instructions—All the safety and operating instructions should be read and understood before the appliance is operated.
2. Retain Instructions—The safety and operating instructions should be retained for future reference.
3. Heed Warnings—All warnings on the appliance and in the operating instructions should be followed.
4. Follow Instructions—All operating and use instructions should be followed.
5. Water and Moisture—The appliance should not be used near water—for example, near a bathtub, washbowl, kitchen sink, laundry tub, in a wet
basement or near a swimming pool, etc.
6. An appliance and cart combination should be moved with care. Quick stops, excessive force, and uneven surfaces may cause the appliance and cart
combination to overturn.
7. Tilt/Stability—All televisions must comply with recommended international global safety standards for tilt and stability properties of their cabinet
design. Do not compromise these design standards by applying excessive pull force to the front, or top, of the cabinet, which could ultimately overturn
the product. Also, do not endanger yourself, or children, by placing electronic equipment/toys on top of the cabinet. Such items could unexpectedly fall
from the top of the set and cause product damage and/or personal injury.
8. Ventilation—This appliance should be situated so that its location or position does not interfere with its proper ventilation. The openings should
never be blocked by placing the product on a bed, sofa, rug, or similar surface. This product should not be placed in a built-in installation such as a
bookcase or rack unless proper ventilation is provided.

9. Heat—The appliance should be situated away from heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other appliances (including amplifiers)
that produce heat.
10. Power Cord Protection—Power supply cords should be routed so that they are not likely to be walked on or pinched by items placed upon or against
them, paying particular attention to cords and plugs, convenience receptacles, and the point where they exit from the appliance.
11. Battery Caution—Danger of explosion if battery is incorrectly replaced. Replace only with the same or equivalent type recommended by the
manufacturer. Dispose of used batteries according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

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12. Object and Liquid Entry—Never push objects of any kind into this product through cabinet slots, as they may touch dangerous voltage points or
short the parts, resulting in the risk of fire or electric shock. Never spill liquid of any kind on this product.
13. Damage Requiring Service—The appliance should be serviced by qualified service personnel when:
• The power supply cord or plug is damaged or frayed;
• Liquid has spilled into the product;
• The product has been exposed to rain or water;
• The product does not operate normally when you follow the operating instructions (adjust only those controls that are discussed in the User’s Guide,
as improper adjustment of other controls may result in damage, often requiring extensive work by a qualified technician to restore the product to
normal performance);
• The product has been dropped or the cabinet damaged;
• The product exhibits a distinct change in performance.
14. Servicing—The user should not attempt service to the appliance beyond that described in the Troubleshooting section of this guide. All other
servicing should be referred to qualified service personnel.
15. Cleaning—Unplug this product from the wall outlet before cleaning. Do not use liquid cleaners or aerosol cleaners; use a damp cloth for cleaning.
If the product comes in contact with any liquid, unplug the phone line and the power adapter and let the unit dry thoroughly before plugging it back in.
16. Power Source—This product should be operated only from the type of power source indicated on the marking label or in the User’s Guide. If you
are not sure of the type of power supply to your home, consult your dealer or local power company.
17. Overloaded Power Outlets—do not overload wall outlets and extension cords, as this can result in the risk of fire or electric shock.
18. Electric Shock—To reduce the risk of electric shock, do not disassemble this product. Take it to a qualified serviceperson when service or repair
work is required. Opening or removing covers may expose you to dangerous voltage or other risks. Incorrect reassembly can cause electric shock when
this product is subsequently used.
19. Telephone Usage—When using your telephone equipment, basic safety precautions should be always followed to reduce the risk of fire, electric
shock and injury to persons. To reduce the risk of fire, use only No. 26 AWG or larger telecommunication line cord.
20. Movement—Avoid moving the unit while it is plugged in to avoid accumulative shock and vibration damage to the internal hard disk drive.
21. Polarization—The DIRECTV® DVR is equipped with a plug that will fit into the power outlet only one way. Do not modify the plug. If the plug
does not fit, contact your electrician to replace your outlet. To prevent electric shock, do not use this plug with an extension cord or outlet unless you
can fully insert the blades without blade exposure.

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22. Satellite Dish Antenna Grounding—The outdoor satellite dish antenna and the cable which connects the satellite dish antenna to the DVR must
comply with local installation codes and the appropriate sections of the National Electric Code (NEC). In particular they must comply with Article 81015, which covers proper installation and grounding of television receiving equipment. They must also comply with Article 820-33, which specifies that
the satellite dish antenna cable ground shall be connected to the grounding system of the building as close to the point of cable entry as is practical.
These codes require proper grounding of the metal structure of the outdoor satellite dish antenna and grounding of the connecting cable at a point where
it enters the house (or other building). If a professional installs the Satellite Dish Antenna, be sure that the installer observes installation codes. If
additional local installation codes apply, contact local inspection authorities. It is important to comply with these codes for proper operation of the
DVR.

EXAMPLE OF PROPER ANTENNA GROUNDING

Ground clamp
Electric service
equipment

Coaxial cable
Grounding block
Coaxial cable
Grounding conductors

Ground clamps

Power service grounding electrode
(NEC Art. 250 Part H)

Note: If the Satellite/Antenna cable is grounded correctly (as specified above), connecting it to the DIRECTV® DVR will properly ground the DVR.
The DVR must be properly grounded before you connect it to a telephone line, and it must remain grounded thereafter.

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Specifications
CAUTION: To prevent electrical

Satellite In:

F-Type Connector Female (2)

Video Out:

S-Video 4-Pin Mini DIN
Composite Video RCA (2)

Audio Out:

Stereo L/R RCA (2 pairs)
Optical SPDIF Digital

RF In:

F-Type Connector Female

RF Out:

F-Type Connector Female
Channel 3 or 4 switchable

Telephone:

RJ-11 Female, 2-Wire

Control Out:

3.5mm Mini Jack Sockets (2)

Card Slot:

Access Card Connector

Expansion Port

USB (2)

Power:

120VAC, 60Hz, 40W

Ambient (external)
Operating Temperature:

15 ° C to 35 ° C

Operating Humidity:

5% to 80%

Dimensions:

15" w X 12" d X 3" h

Remote Control:

36 Button with AA Batteries (2)

Modem

v.34 capable

shock, match wide blade of plug
to wide slot, and fully insert.

Recording capacity depends on
signal quality and type of
programming being recorded.

134

S p e c i f i c a t i o n s
MACROVISION COPYRIGHT PROTECTION
The DVR incorporates copyright protection technology that is protected
by U.S. patents and other intellectual property rights. Use of this
copyright protection technology must be authorized by Macrovision, and
is intended for home and other limited pay per view uses only unless
otherwise authorized by Macrovision. Reverse engineering or
disassembly is prohibited. U.S. patent Nos. 4,631,603, 4,577,216,
4,819,098 and 4,907,093 licensed for limited pay per view uses only.

LINUX SOURCE NOTICE
The DIRECTV® DVR is powered by the Linux operating system. The
machine-readable copy of the corresponding source code is available for
the cost of distribution. Please visit www.tivo.com/linux for more
information. To read the Linux software license, see Appendix B, “GNU
General Public License” on page 141.

TELEPHONE LINE INTERRUPTION
Periodically, the DIRECTV® DVR dials in to the DVR service via your
telephone line. If you pick up your telephone during the time information
is being transferred, you will hear static noise. If you would like to use
your telephone while the information is being transferred, you can hang
up, wait at least 45 seconds, and pick up your telephone again. The DVR
will disconnect and allow you to place your call. You can also interrupt
the transfer at any time by temporarily unplugging the phone line from
the DVR. If the transfer is interrupted, it will resume at a later time.

to normal after the modification is complete. Your DVR must be plugged
in to receive the upgrade. Do not unplug your receiver while an upgrade
is in progress.

LOCAL CHANNELS FROM DIRECTV
With this DVR and the proper satellite dish antenna, you may be able to
subscribe to local channels from DIRECTV in certain areas. Additional
equipment may be required in some markets. Check with your retailer or
visit DIRECTV.com for information on availability of local channels
from DIRECTV in your area.

DIRECTV DISCLAIMERS
DIRECTV programming and DIRECTV® DVR service subscriptions
required and sold separately.
Activation of programming may be subject to credit approval and
requires valid service address, social security number and/or major credit
card. Deposit or prepayment may be required. Programming subject to
change. You must be physically located in the U.S. to be an authorized
DIRECTV customer. DIRECTV services not provided outside the U.S.
DIRECTV programming is sold separately and independently of
DIRECTV System hardware. A valid programming subscription is
required to operate DIRECTV System hardware. Activate your
DIRECTV programming today at 1-800-DIRECTV (1-800-347-3288).

DIRECTV UPGRADES

Receipt of DIRECTV programming is subject to the terms of the
DIRECTV Customer Agreement; a copy is provided in your first billing
statement. Signal theft is subject to civil and criminal penalties.

Your DVR is able to receive upgrades or modifications to some of its
features and functions. These modifications will occur automatically,
usually at times when the DVR would not be in use. If your DVR is in
use when an upgrade or modification is sent, you may experience a
disruption in reception for a minute or two. Your reception should return

For full functionality, this recorder requires connection to a land-based
phone line and connection of two (2) satellite inputs from a dual-LNB
DIRECTV System dish antenna; the second satellite input must be
connected into the recoder’s Satellite 2 In jack. Professional installation
required.

135

C h a pt e r

136

W a r r a n t y

a n d

S p e c i f i c a t i o n s

APPENDIX A

Back Panel Reference

A p p e n d i x

B a c k

P a n e l

R e f e r e n c e

Back Panel Reference

4 5

67 8 9

11 12

This section describes the use of the connection jacks on the back panel of the
DIRECTV® DVR. If your setup doesn’t match any of the examples, you can use this
information for general reference as you set up your equipment.
1. Power Cord. When you’ve finished making all of the other connections, plug the
supplied power cord into this jack to turn on the DVR. The DVR does not use a
separate on/off switch; plugging it in turns it on.
2. Phone Line. Connect the DVR to your phone line using the supplied phone cord and
optional telephone line splitter (not supplied). Your DVR needs to be connected to a
phone line for pay per view functionality. Do not connect the DVR to digital PBX
systems. Doing so may permanently damage your DVR’s modem and will void your
warranty.
138

B a c k

P a ne l

R e f e r e n c e

3. Satellite In 2. If you have a Dual LNB satellite dish, you can connect the second
satellite cable from your wall to the Satellite In 2 jack. Connecting both Satellite In 1
and Satellite In 2, and completing the required steps in Satellite Dish Guided Setup,
allows you to record two programs at the same time (see Dual Tuner on page 5).
4. Satellite In 1. Connect the satellite cable from your wall to the Satellite In 1 jack. You
will not be able to watch DIRECTV® channels if you do not make this connection.
5. RF In. If you have an antenna or cable with no cable box, and your TV has only one
input, connect the existing Coaxial RF cable (the one coming out of the wall) to the
DVR using this jack. If your TV has multiple inputs, you can ignore this jack and
connect your antenna or cable directly to your TV instead.
This RF In jack is designated “Standby Pass-Thru Only,” meaning that you will NOT
be able to you to use DIRECTV and DVR functions while watching antenna or cable
channels, even if you connect your antenna or cable to this jack on the DVR.
6. RF Out. If your TV has only one input (RF In), connect a Coaxial RF cable (not
supplied) from this jack to your TV’s RF In. The RF In jack on your TV may not be
labeled “RF In;” it may be labeled “VHF/UHF In” or “Antenna/Cable In.”

7. Channel 3/4 switch. If you use the RF Out jack, set the output to channel 3 or 4 using
this switch. To get the best picture, select the channel that is not occupied by a local
broadcast channel. For example, if there is a local broadcast station on channel 4,
select channel 3 for the output on the DVR. You need to set your television to this
channel (3 or 4) in order to view the signal coming from the RF Out jack.
8. S-Video Output. S-Video provides a higher quality picture than Composite Video (see
number 10). If you use the S-Video Output, you must connect a separate cable for
audio (either the red and white ends of a Composite A/V cable, or an Optical Digital
139

A p p e n d i x

B a c k

P a n e l

R e f e r e n c e

Audio cable). When using the red and white ends of a Composite A/V cable for audio,
do not plug in the yellow (video) end.
9. Serial. For future use.
10. Composite Audio and Video Outputs (1 and 2). Use the yellow end of a Composite
A/V cable to connect video to your TV (or VCR, or A/V receiver) with one of these
jacks. You can send a video signal to two different devices at the same time using both
of the yellow jacks.
Use the red and white ends of a Composite A/V cable to connect stereo audio to your
TV (or VCR, or A/V receiver) with these jacks. You can send an audio signal to two
different devices at the same time using R/L Audio Output 1 and R/L Audio Output 2.
If your TV only has one (white) audio input jack, don’t connect the red end. If you use
an S-Video cable for video, use just the L/R Audio Output jacks for stereo audio. You
can ignore these jacks if you’re using RF Out or Digital Audio Out.
11. USB (Universal Serial Bus) (2 each). For future use.
12. Digital Audio. You can use the Digital Audio jack to connect your DVR to an A/V
receiver with a digital audio input jack. To do so, you will need an Optical Digital
Audio cable (not supplied). Ordinarily, your DVR produces tones to indicate when
certain buttons on the remote control are pressed or to indicate signal strength when
you are positioning your dish. You will not hear these tones while watching programs
with digital audio.

140

APPENDIX B

GNU General Public License

A p p e n d i x

G N U

G en e r a l

P u b li c

L i c e n s e

GNU General Public License
Version 2, June 1991
Copyright (C) 1989, 1991 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307 USA
Everyone is permitted to copy and distribute verbatim copies of this
license document, but changing it is not allowed.

Preamble
The licenses for most software are designed to take away your freedom to
share and change it. By contrast, the GNU General Public License is
intended to guarantee your freedom to share and change free software—
to make sure the software is free for all its users. This General Public
License applies to most of the Free Software Foundation’s software and
to any other program whose authors commit to using it. (Some other
Free Software Foundation software is covered by the GNU Library
General Public License instead.) You can apply it to your programs, too.
When we speak of free software, we are referring to freedom, not price.
Our General Public Licenses are designed to make sure that you have the
freedom to distribute copies of free software (and charge for this service
if you wish), that you receive source code or can get it if you want it, that
you can change the software or use pieces of it in new free programs; and
that you know you can do these things.
To protect your rights, we need to make restrictions that forbid anyone to
deny you these rights or to ask you to surrender the rights. These
restrictions translate to certain responsibilities for you if you distribute
copies of the software, or if you modify it.

142

For example, if you distribute copies of such a program, whether gratis or
for a fee, you must give the recipients all the rights that you have. You
must make sure that they, too, receive or can get the source code. And
you must show them these terms so they know their rights.
We protect your rights with two steps: (1) copyright the software, and (2)
offer you this license which gives you legal permission to copy, distribute
and/or modify the software.
Also, for each author’s protection and ours, we want to make certain that
everyone understands that there is no warranty for this free software. If
the software is modified by someone else and passed on, we want its
recipients to know that what they have is not the original, so that any
problems introduced by others will not reflect on the original authors’
reputations.
Finally, any free program is threatened constantly by software patents.
We wish to avoid the danger that redistributors of a free program will
individually obtain patent licenses, in effect making the program
proprietary. To prevent this, we have made it clear that any patent must
be licensed for everyone’s free use or not licensed at all.
The precise terms and conditions for copying, distribution and
modification follow.

GNU GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE
Terms and conditions for copying, distribution and modification.
0. This License applies to any program or other work which contains a
notice placed by the copyright holder saying it may be distributed under
the terms of this General Public License. The “Program,” below, refers
to any such program or work, and a “work based on the Program” means

G N U
either the Program or any derivative work under copyright law: that is to
say, a work containing the Program or a portion of it, either verbatim or
with modifications and/or translated into another language. (Hereinafter,
translation is included without limitation in the term “modification”.)
Each licensee is addressed as “you”.
Activities other than copying, distribution and modification are not
covered by this License; they are outside its scope. The act of running
the Program is not restricted, and the output from the Program is covered
only if its contents constitute a work based on the Program (independent
of having been made by running the Program). Whether that is true
depends on what the Program does.
1. You may copy and distribute verbatim copies of the Program's source
code as you receive it, in any medium, provided that you conspicuously
and appropriately publish on each copy an appropriate copyright notice
and disclaimer of warranty; keep intact all the notices that refer to this
License and to the absence of any warranty; and give any other recipients
of the Program a copy of this License along with the Program.
You may charge a fee for the physical act of transferring a copy, and you
may at your option offer warranty protection in exchange for a fee.
2. You may modify your copy or copies of the Program or any portion of
it, thus forming a work based on the Program, and copy and distribute
such modifications or work under the terms of Section 1 above, provided
that you also meet all of these conditions:
a) You must cause the modified files to carry prominent notices stating
that you changed the files and the date of any change.
b) You must cause any work that you distribute or publish, that in
whole or in part contains or is derived from the Program or any part
thereof, to be licensed as a whole at no charge to all third parties under
the terms of this License.

G e n e r a l

P u b l i c

L i c e n s e

c) If the modified program normally reads commands interactively
when run, you must cause it, when started running for such interactive
use in the most ordinary way, to print or display an announcement
including an appropriate copyright notice and a notice that there is no
warranty (or else, saying that you provide a warranty) and that users may
redistribute the program under these conditions, and telling the user how
to view a copy of this License. (Exception: if the Program itself is
interactive but does not normally print such an announcement, your work
based on the Program is not required to print an announcement.)
These requirements apply to the modified work as a whole. If
identifiable sections of that work are not derived from the Program, and
can be reasonably considered independent and separate works in
themselves, then this License, and its terms, do not apply to those
sections when you distribute them as separate works. But when you
distribute the same sections as part of a whole which is a work based on
the Program, the distribution of the whole must be on the terms of this
License, whose permissions for other licensees extend to the entire
whole, and thus to each and every part regardless of who wrote it.
Thus, it is not the intent of this section to claim rights or contest your
rights to work written entirely by you; rather, the intent is to exercise the
right to control the distribution of derivative or collective works based on
the Program.

In addition, mere aggregation of another work not based on the Program
with the Program (or with a work based on the Program) on a volume of
a storage or distribution medium does not bring the other work under the
scope of this License.
3. You may copy and distribute the Program (or a work based on it, under
Section 2) in object code or executable form under the terms of Sections
1 and 2 above provided that you also do one of the following:

143

A p p e n d i x

a) Accompany it with the complete corresponding machine-readable
source code, which must be distributed under the terms of Sections 1 and
2 above on a medium customarily used for software interchange; or,
b) Accompany it with a written offer, valid for at least three years, to
give any third party, for a charge no more than your cost of physically
performing source distribution, a complete machine-readable copy of the
corresponding source code, to be distributed under the terms of Sections
1 and 2 above on a medium customarily used for software interchange;
or,
c) Accompany it with the information you received as to the offer to
distribute corresponding source code. (This alternative is allowed only
for noncommercial distribution and only if you received the program in
object code or executable form with such an offer, in accord with
Subsection b above.)
The source code for a work means the preferred form of the work for
making modifications to it. For an executable work, complete source
code means all the source code for all modules it contains, plus any
associated interface definition files, plus the scripts used to control
compilation and installation of the executable. However, as a special
exception, the source code distributed need not include anything that is
normally distributed (in either source or binary form) with the major
components (compiler, kernel, and so on) of the operating system on
which the executable runs, unless that component itself accompanies the
executable.
If distribution of executable or object code is made by offering access to
copy from a designated place, then offering equivalent access to copy the
source code from the same place counts as distribution of the source
code, even though third parties are not compelled to copy the source
along with the object code.

144

G N U

G en e r a l

P u b li c

L i c e n s e

4. You may not copy, modify, sublicense, or distribute the Program
except as expressly provided under this License. Any attempt otherwise
to copy, modify, sublicense or distribute the Program is void, and will
automatically terminate your rights under this License.
However, parties who have received copies, or rights, from you under
this License will not have their licenses terminated so long as such parties
remain in full compliance.
5. You are not required to accept this License, since you have not signed
it. However, nothing else grants you permission to modify or distribute
the Program or its derivative works. These actions are prohibited by law
if you do not accept this License. Therefore, by modifying or distributing
the Program (or any work based on the Program), you indicate your
acceptance of this License to do so, and all its terms and conditions for
copying, distributing or modifying the Program or works based on it.
6. Each time you redistribute the Program (or any work based on the
Program), the recipient automatically receives a license from the original
licensor to copy, distribute or modify the Program subject to these terms
and conditions. You may not impose any further restrictions on the
recipients' exercise of the rights granted herein. You are not responsible
for enforcing compliance by third parties to this License.
7. If, as a consequence of a court judgment or allegation of patent
infringement or for any other reason (not limited to patent issues),
conditions are imposed on you (whether by court order, agreement or
otherwise) that contradict the conditions of this License, they do not
excuse you from the conditions of this License. If you cannot distribute
so as to satisfy simultaneously your obligations under this License and
any other pertinent obligations, then as a consequence you may not
distribute the Program at all. For example, if a patent license would not
permit royalty-free redistribution of the Program by all those who receive

G N U
copies directly or indirectly through you, then the only way you could
satisfy both it and this License would be to refrain entirely from
distribution of the Program.
If any portion of this section is held invalid or unenforceable under any
particular circumstance, the balance of the section is intended to apply
and the section as a whole is intended to apply in other circumstances.
It is not the purpose of this section to induce you to infringe any patents
or other property right claims or to contest validity of any such claims;
this section has the sole purpose of protecting the integrity of the free
software distribution system, which is implemented by public license
practices. Many people have made generous contributions to the wide
range of software distributed through that system in reliance on
consistent application of that system; it is up to the author/donor to
decide if he or she is willing to distribute software through any other
system and a licensee cannot impose that choice.
This section is intended to make thoroughly clear what is believed to be a
consequence of the rest of this License.
8. If the distribution and/or use of the Program is restricted in certain
countries either by patents or by copyrighted interfaces, the original
copyright holder who places the Program under this License may add an
explicit geographical distribution limitation excluding those countries, so
that distribution is permitted only in or among countries not thus
excluded. In such case, this License incorporates the limitation as if
written in the body of this License.
9. The Free Software Foundation may publish revised and/or new
versions of the General Public License from time to time. Such new
versions will be similar in spirit to the present version, but may differ in
detail to address new problems or concerns.

G e n e r a l

P u b l i c

L i c e n s e

Each version is given a distinguishing version number. If the Program
specifies a version number of this License which applies to it and “any
later version”, you have the option of following the terms and conditions
either of that version or of any later version published by the
FreeSoftware Foundation. If the Program does not specify a version
number of this License, you may choose any version ever published by
the Free Software Foundation.
10. If you wish to incorporate parts of the Program into other free
programs whose distribution conditions are different, write to the author
to ask for permission. For software which is copyrighted by the Free
Software Foundation, write to the Free Software Foundation; we
sometimes make exceptions for this. Our decision will be guided by the
two goals of preserving the free status of all derivatives of our free
software and of promoting the sharing and reuse of software generally.

No Warranty
11. Because the program is licensed free of charge, there is no warranty
for the program, to the extent permitted by applicable law. Except when
otherwise stated in writing the copyright holders and/or other parties
provide the program “as is” without warranty of any kind, either
expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties
of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. The entire risk as
to the quality and performance of the program is with you. Should the
program prove defective, you assume the cost of all necessary servicing,
repair or correction.

12. In no event unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing
will any copyright holder, or any other party who may modify and/or
redistribute the program as permitted above, be liable to you for
damages, including any general, special, incidental or consequential
damages arising out of the use or inability to use the program (including

145

A p p e n d i x

but not limited to loss of data or data being rendered inaccurate or losses
sustained by you or third parties or a failure of the program to operate
with any other programs), even if such holder or other party has been
advised of the possibility of such damages.
End of terms and conditions.

How to Apply These Terms to Your New Programs
If you develop a new program, and you want it to be of the greatest
possible use to the public, the best way to achieve this is to make it free
software which everyone can redistribute and change under these terms.
To do so, attach the following notices to the program. It is safest to
attach them to the start of each source file to most effectively convey the
exclusion of warranty; and each file should have at least the “copyright”
line and a pointer to where the full notice is found.

Copyright (C)
This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the
Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or (at your
option) any later version.
This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but
WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License for more details.
You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation,
Inc., 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307 USA
Also add information on how to contact you by electronic and paper mail.

146

G N U

G en e r a l

P u b li c

L i c e n s e

If the program is interactive, make it output a short notice like this when
it starts in an interactive mode:
Gnomovision version 69, Copyright (C) year name of author
Gnomovision comes with ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY; for details
type ‘show w’.
This is free software, and you are welcome to redistribute it under certain
conditions; type ‘show c’ for details.
The hypothetical commands ‘show w’ and ‘show c’ should show the
appropriate parts of the General Public License. Of course, the
commands you use may be called something other than ‘show w’ and
‘show c’; they could even be mouse-clicks or menu items—whatever
suits your program.
You should also get your employer (if you work as a programmer) or
your school, if any, to sign a “copyright disclaimer” for the program, if
necessary. Here is a sample; alter the names:
Yoyodyne, Inc., hereby disclaims all copyright interest in the program
‘Gnomovision’ (which makes passes at compilers) written by James
Hacker.
, 1 April 1989
Ty Coon, President of Vice
This General Public License does not permit incorporating your program
into proprietary programs. If your program is a subroutine library, you
may consider it more useful to permit linking proprietary applications
with the library. If this is what you want to do, use the GNU Library
General Public License instead of this License.

Index

I n de x

A/V receiver 5
programming remote to control 94
access card 5
accessories and cables 7
activate DIRECTV® and DVR services 25
ADVANCE button 66
advisories 73
antenna or cable connection 3
area code 26
see also dial-in number
aspect ratio 89
audio cables
choosing 8
audio connector, TV has only
one (white) 8
audio controls
choosing alternate audio on the
channel banner 68
audio language 80
Audio Settings screen 80
Auto re-lock option for
Parental Controls 83

BACK button 66
Back Panel Reference 138
Browse by Channel 52
Browse by Time 51

cable connection or antenna 3
148

cables and accessories 7
cables and connectors, the basics 8
call waiting prefix 92
capacity 115
Channel 3/4 switch 139
channel banner 68, 81
channel lists 81
channels
using channel lists in the guide 48
Channels settings 81
Channels You Receive 81
clock
how the DVR’s clock is set 114
closed captioning 68
coaxial RF cable, when to choose 8
code search
performing 96
composite A/V cables, when to choose 8
Composite Video Output jacks 140
connecting to the DVR service 117
content advisories 73
control buttons
using the 66
customer care 106

dial prefix
setting 92
dial tone detection
setting 93
dial-in number 26
changing 91

dialing options 91
Digital Audio jack 140
digital PBX phone system 6
DIRECTV Messages 78
DIRECTV® On Request 63
DIRECTV® Service iii
Dolby Digital Audio 80
Dolby Pro Logic 6
Dolby Surround Sound 6
dual LNB 2
Dual Tuner 5
DVR service
connecting to 117

Favorite Channels 32, 81
FCC Information 129
filter
filter the program guide 48
see also channels
FORWARD button 66

Glossary of Icons vii
GNU General Public License 142

INSTANT REPLAY button 66

letterbox 71
Linux software license 142
LINUX source, obtaining 135

Macrovision 135
manual Season Pass 53
Manually Record Time/Channel 53
messages 78
MPAA ratings 73
multiswitch 5

Overtime Scheduler 44

Parental Controls 82
lost password 116
spending limit 85
password
lost Parental Controls password 116
PAUSE button 66
pay per view 60
performing a code search 96
phone avail. detection
setting 92
phone dialing options 91
phone jack 2
phone line 2
phone line interruption 135
Phone Line jack 138
phone setup 26
Phone Setup screen 90
PLAY button 66
Power Cord jack 138

program guide
customizing 48
Program Guide Data screen 24
program guide options 33
program information 24
programmable buttons
resetting 98
Purchases screen 62, 63

rating settings
MMPA definitions 86
movies and 83
TV content and 83
TV movies and 83
TV ratings definitions 86
ratings 73
record
from live TV 49
from the guide 49
RECORD button 66
recording history 47
Recording Options
Keep At Least 44
Keep At Most 44
Keep Until 44
Show Type 44
Start Recording 44
Stop Recording 44
remote control
incompatibility with some makes
and models 97

performing a code search 96
tips vii
using 20
Remote Control Settings screen 94
Repeat Guided Setup 87
reset system 103
restarting the recorder 103
RF In jack 139
RF Out jack 139

Safety Instructions 131
satellite dish antenna types 4
satellite dish guided setup 21
Satellite In 1 jack 139
Satellite In 2 jack 139
satellite receiver 4
Satellite Settings screen 87
satellite signal strength 22
satellite signal troubleshooting 24
save longer, see Recording Options
Serial jack 140
Settings screen 80
setup
activate DIRECTV® and
DVR service 25
phone setup 26
satellite dish guided setup 21
Showcases 37
signal strength, satellite 22
SLOW button 66
sound effects volume 80
149

I n de x
Standby 104
status bar 67
Suggestions
auto-recording of 89
surge protector 3, 6
S-Video cable, when to choose 8
S-Video Output jack 139
switch box 5
System Information screen 100
system reset 103
System Test screen 101

terms, useful 4
test satellite signal strength 87
time
how the DVR’s clock is set 114
TiVo Logo viii
TiVolution® Magazine 37
tone/pulse setting 92
transponder 5
troubleshooting
satellite signal 24
TV aspect ratio 89

USB ports 140

video cables
choosing 8
Video Settings screen 89
150

View Recording History 47
view upcoming 49

watching recorded programs 72
WishListTM searches 54

151

I n de x

152

Glossary of Icons
TM
TM

These appear when you press THUMBS UP™ or
THUMBS DOWN™. You can give a program up to
three THUMBS UP or three THUMBS DOWN.
Ipreview™ icons appear when an option—such
as automatically scheduling an upcoming
program or watching an additional program
segment—is available. Press SELECT or
THUMBS UP to choose the option.

DIRECTV Central and Showcases
Indicates a selection that has some special video content.
Select to watch a special preview or visit a Showcase.

Save to VCR
Appears as a warning if a remote button is pressed
during “Save to VCR.”

To Do List and View Upcoming Episodes
(These icons appear beside programs scheduled to be recorded.)
Program is an individual recording (not part of a Season
Pass™ or WishList™). In other places, it means an item has
been selected.
Program will be recorded as part of a Season Pass.

Program will be recorded as part of a WishList search.

DIRECTV Advanced Program GuideTM
This icon indicates that a pay per view event is an All Day
Ticket.
This appears with programs broadcast with Dolby
Digital audio.
This icon appears with programs broadcast in Letterbox
format.

Hints & Shortcuts

Remote Active Light

DIRECTV Button
Arrow Buttons

Now Playing

DIRECTV

Inserting Batteries in the Remote Control

Insert two AA batteries (supplied). Be sure to match the + and marks on the batteries to the + and - marks in the compartment.

List
Select

S ele c t

Thumbs Down

Select to start or stop a recording.

(Yellow) In less than one day, this program may be deleted to
make room for other recordings you have requested, but only if
space is needed.

Highlight this icon to see what's on the other tuner. This icon is
bright when the other tuner is recording a program. Select it to
switch to the other tuner.

Thumbs Up

(Yellow with exclamation mark) At any time, this program may be
deleted to make room for other programs you have requested,
but only if space is needed.

If an alternate audio track is available, this icon will be bright.
Select it to view audio options.

Chan Up/Down

(Red with black border) This program is currently being recorded.

Mute
Mute

Volume

Vol

Chan

Record

Play

Page

Pause

Record

Pla y

Back (rewind)

Fast Forward

Slow
(-)

Slo w

Instant Replay

SAT

o
V P we

Input
TV

TV Power
Number Buttons

Clear

Advance

8
0

Clear

This program is a Suggestion. Suggestions are recorded only if
space is available, and are the first to be deleted when space is
needed.

SAT/TV Switch
TV Input

DIRECTV

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.

(Green) This program will be saved until you delete it.
Info

G uid e

List

r/L
nte as

Channel Banner

Live TV

Guide

Hold the remote with the battery door facing you. Place your thumb
in the depression of the door and slide the door towards you.

Info

Exit

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

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

Exit

Live TV

LIST brings you directly to the Now Playing List.

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.

do
Win w

Press the DIRECTV button once to go to DIRECTV Central, or twice to
go to the Now Playing List.

Window

Enter/Last

Green folder with star – contains one or more programs recorded
by a paid auto-recording package.

The On-Screen Menus and the Remote Control

DI REC TV ® DV R Us er’s G uide

DIRECTV is dedicated to providing you with quality support and customer service. If you have questions or difficulties,
we would like to hear from you.

Arrow Buttons

DIRECTV DVR

User’s Guide

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

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

Select
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.
Chan

WEB SITE
Page Down Arrow

You will find all of the most up-to-date information about DIRECTV products and services at the
DIRECTV web site, DIRECTV.com.

Page

TOCOM 16390140

Chan Up/Down
Button

Arrows Near
Highlight Bar

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Direc TV R10 Satellite Receiver User’s Manual DIRECTV

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