DirecTV HD DVR Receivers User manual

USER GUIDE
DIRECTV®HD DVR RECEIVERS

When you see the ENERGY STAR label on your set-top box, it means that your set-top box is ENERGY STAR
qualified, giving you the benefit of saving energy and helping our environment.
However, ENERGY STAR labeled HD DVR set-top boxes qualify for ENERGY STAR only when configured
with the DIRECTV Whole-Home DVR service. All other ENERGY STAR labeled set-top boxes, when used in
conjunction with a DIRECTV subscription, meet ENERGY STAR criteria without requiring the consumer to take
any additional steps.

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Welcome! Now that you’re plugged in, it’s time to start enjoying access to over 285 channels of TV programming, satellite music
and a great selection of the biggest box office movies from DIRECTV CINEMA™. We’ll take you step by step through everything from
pushing the POWER button to searching for and finding your favorite programs. This user guide applies to the DIRECTV®HD DVR
and the Home Media Center HD DVR. Because this user guide was designed to accommodate several models, your receiver and its
user interface may vary slightly from what is shown here.
Getting Connected
If a professional installed your DIRECTV®Receiver, you are ready to start watching TV. If your receiver was not professionally
installed or you just added a surround sound system or other equipment, please see Appendix 1, “Setup and Activation”.
IMPORTANT:
• You must subscribe to HD Access to view the HD channels included in your programming package.
• DIRECTV hardware, programming and HD Access fee available separately. For information and pricing regarding
programming and HD Access, please visit directv.com.
WELCOMETOTHEDIRECTVFAMILY!

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DIRECTV®HD DVR RECEIVER USER GUIDE
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Welcome to the DIRECTV Family! ............................................ 3
Safety & Care ...........................................................................6
Product Information ................................................................ 8
CHAPTER 1: USING YOUR REMOTE CONTROL
Your Remote Control ............................................................. 10
The Progress Bar .................................................................. 13
Live Buffer .............................................................................14
CHAPTER 2 - CHANNELS & PROGRAM INFO
Program Guide ...................................................................... 16
Channel Banner & TV Options ............................................... 21
Menu ......................................................................................25
Smart Search ........................................................................ 27
CHAPTER 3: ALL MOVIES, ON DEMAND & PAY PER VIEW
All Movies, On Demand and Pay Per View ............................. 30
CHAPTER 4: RECORDINGS
Recording a Single Show ....................................................... 38
Recording a Series ................................................................ 40
Watching and Deleting Your Recorded Shows ....................... 41
Playlist ...................................................................................42
Manage Recordings ............................................................... 46
Recording from Your Computer or Phone ............................. 50
CHAPTER 5 - EXTRAS & SPECIAL FEATURES
Extras .................................................................................... 54
Special Features ....................................................................60
DIRECTV ®Whole-Home DVR Service .................................... 63
Home Media Center HD DVR ................................................. 68
DIRECTV ™iPad ®App ..............................................................69
CHAPTER 6 - SETTINGS & HELP
Settings ................................................................................. 72

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Parental Controls .................................................................. 80
Favorite Channels ................................................................. 85
Help ....................................................................................... 86
CHAPTER 7 - TROUBLESHOOTING & FAQS
Troubleshooting Tips .............................................................88
Frequently Asked Questions ..................................................91
CHAPTER 8: WARRANTY AND OTHER INFO
Limited 90-Day Warranty .................................................... 108
DIRECTV PROTECTION PLAN .............................................. 111
FCC Customer Information ................................................. 112
TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR USE OF SOFTWARE
(“TERMS”) ...........................................................................115
APPENDICES
Appendix 1: Setup and Activation ........................................ 126
Appendix 2: Connections to TV & Equipment ...................... 127
Appendix 3: Receiver Front and Back Panels ......................131
Appendix 4: How to Network Your HD Receiver .................. 135
Appendix 5: About High-Definition ...................................... 142
Index ....................................................................................148
Icon Reference .....................................................................154

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DIRECTV®HD DVR RECEIVER USER GUIDE
SAFETY&CARE
Your DIRECTV®Receiver has been designed and manufactured to stringent quality and safety standards. You should, however, be aware of the
following important precautions for safe and optimal use of the equipment. Meaning of symbols printed on the rear panel of the product:
This symbol indicates that dangerous voltage with a risk of electric shock is present within this unit.
This symbol indicates that there are important operating and maintenance instructions in the literature accompanying this unit.
Important Safety Instructions
1. Read these instructions.
2. Keep these instructions.
3. Heed all warnings.
4. Follow all instructions.
5. Do not use this apparatus near water.
6. Clean only with dry cloth.
7. Do not block any ventilation openings. Install in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
8. Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves or other apparatus (including amplifiers) that produce heat.
9. Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized or grounding-type plug. A polarized plug has two blades with one wider than the other. A
grounding type plug has two blades and a third grounding prong. The wide blade or the third prong are provided for your safety. If the provided
plug does not fit into your outlet, consult an electrician for replacement of the obsolete outlet.
10. Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched particularly at plugs, convenience receptacles and the point where they
exit the apparatus.
11. Use only attachments/accessories specified by the manufacturer.
12. Use only with the cart, stand, tripod, bracket or table specified by the manufacturer, or sold with the apparatus. When a cart
is used, use caution when moving the cart/apparatus combination to avoid injury from tip-over.
13. Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when unused for long periods of time.
14. Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. Servicing is required when the apparatus has been damaged in any
way, such as power-supply cord or plug is damaged, liquid has been spilled or objects have fallen into the apparatus, the
apparatus has been exposed to rain or moisture, does not operate normally, or has been dropped.

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SAFETY&CARE
CAUTION: Avoid moisture to reduce the risk of fire or
electric shock. The DIRECTV®Receiver should not be
used near water (for example, kitchen sink, bathtub,
pool, damp basement). Also, never spill liquid on
the receiver. Do not place vases or other vessels
containing liquid on top of it.
WARNING: To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock,
do not expose this product to rain or moisture.
The apparatus shall not be exposed to dripping or
splashing and no objects filled with liquids, such as
vases, shall be placed on the apparatus.
IMPORTANT: Be sure not to place your DIRECTV®
Receiver near anything WET or HOT!
If this product is rated at 240VAC, a suitable
attachment plug should be used.
TIP: We highly recommend plugging the DIRECTV®
Receiver into a surge protector to prevent damage
from fluctuations in your power supply.
CAUTION: To reduce the risk of electric shock, do not
remove cover (or back).
No user-serviceable parts inside.
Refer servicing to qualified service personnel.
CAUTION
RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK
DO NOT OPEN!
• Ensure proper ventilation — the vent slots on the DIRECTV®Receiver must be left uncovered to allow proper airflow to the
unit. Blocking the airflow to the unit could impair performance or damage your receiver and other components.
• Do not stack electronic components or other objects on top of the DIRECTV®Receiver. Also, do not stack the receiver on top of
a “hot component” such as an audio power amplifier.
• Protect your components from power surges by connecting all the components before plugging any power cords into the wall
outlet. Use of a surge protector is also recommended.
• Don’t overload power outlets or extension cords, which can result in the risk of re or shock. It’s also important to use only the
type of power source indicated on the marking label or in this manual.
• Avoid audio hum or interference by inserting all cable plugs rmly into their jacks. Also, place Audio/Video (A/V) cables to the
sides of the TV back panel rather than down the middle once connected. Try not to coil any twin-lead cables and keep them
away from A/V cables as much as possible.
• Never insert objects of any kind into any openings in the DIRECTV®Receiver (other than the DIRECTV®Access Card as
detailed in this manual).
• Place it on a at, hard surface — do not operate the DIRECTV®Receiver on a carpet or other padded surface.
• Always unplug your DIRECTV®Receiver before moving it.
• Always unplug the DIRECTV®Receiver, TV and other equipment before you connect or disconnect any cables.
• The only way to disconnect the DIRECTV®Receiver from the power supply is to remove the power cord. The DIRECTV®
Receiver unit must therefore be installed next to the power point which must be easily accessible.
• CAUTION: Electric Shock — never attempt to disassemble the DIRECTV®Receiver yourself; always take it to a qualified
service person when repair is required. Opening or removing covers may expose dangerous voltage or other risks. Incorrect
reassembly can cause shock when receiver is subsequently used. Attempted self-repair may also void your warranty. Changes
or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance (by the warranty or by the manufacturer) could
void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.
• Do not drop your DIRECTV®Receiver and always move it with care.
• Have your DIRECTV®Receiver professionally serviced (do not attempt to service it yourself).
• Any changes or modications in construction of this device which are not expressly approved by the party responsible for
compliance could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.
• If you move your DIRECTV®Receiver between locations at different temperatures, allow it to reach room temperature before
you apply power to it.
• Do not pick up or otherwise move your DIRECTV®Receiver while it is connected to the AC power supply. If you want to move
your set-top box, first disconnect it, then wait at least 30 seconds before continuing.
• CAUTION: To reduce the risk of re, use only No. 26 AWG or better telecommunications line cord.
• CAUTION: Replace remote control batteries with same or equivalent type. There is danger of explosion if batteries are
incorrectly replaced.
• For your information: The identication sticker can be located behind the small door on the front panel of your receiver.
• The telecommunication network voltage used is the category number 3.
Note to Satellite Dish Installer: This reminder is provided to call your attention to articles 810 and 820 of the 2005 National
Electrical Code. Refer to article 810, in particular 810-1 and 810-15, for required grounding of the metal structure of the dish
antenna. Refer also to the 810-2 which, by reference to article 820, requires that the satellite dish coaxial cable shield be
connected to the grounding system of the building as close to the point of cable entry as practical.

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DIRECTV®HD DVR RECEIVER USER GUIDE
Keep your receipt to obtain warranty parts and service and for proof of acquisition. Attach it here and record the serial and model
numbers in case you need them. *These numbers are typically located behind the card door on the front panel of your receiver.
Model No. *
Serial No.
Acquisition Date
Dealer/Address/Phone
Access Card *
Receiver ID *
PRODUCTINFORMATION

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CHAPTER 1 - USING YOUR REMOTE CONTROL
CHAPTER 1: USING YOUR REMOTE CONTROL
Your Remote Control ................................................... 10
Turning Your Equipment On and Off ......................................10
Navigation and Destination Buttons ..................................... 11
Shortcut Buttons ....................................................................11
DVR Control Buttons ..............................................................12
The Progress Bar ........................................................ 13
Live Buffer ................................................................... 14
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DIRECTV®HD DVR RECEIVER USER GUIDE
Mode Switch
YOURREMOTECONTROL
These two buttons turn your TV and DIRECTV®Receiver
on or off together. If your DIRECTV®System was installed
professionally, your remote has already been programmed
to operate your TV. If you need to reprogram the remote for a
new TV or other audio-visual equipment, press MENU, select
“Settings & Help”, “Settings”, then “Remote Control”. Follow
the step by step instructions.
Use the POWER (PWR) button and Mode Switch to turn a single
component on or off (for example a DVD player or surround
sound system). Simply slide the mode switch to the position
that matches the component you want to control and then use
the POWER button to turn it off or on. The mode switch must
always be in the left-most position to control your DIRECTV®
Receiver. If the mode switch is in a position that has not been
programmed, or if you press a button that is not supported by
that particular piece of equipment, an onscreen message will
pop up to alert you.
NOTE: Each time you press a button, a green light at the top
of the remote flashes. If the light flashes several times for just
one press, it means the batteries (size AA) are getting low and
need to be replaced.
TURNING YOUR EQUIPMENT ON AND OFF

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CHAPTER 1 - USING YOUR REMOTE CONTROL
NAVIGATION AND DESTINATION BUTTONS
The buttons in the middle of the remote are navigation and destination keys. Press the GUIDE
button to go to the program guide screen. Press the ACTIVE button to go to the DIRECTV Interactive™
channel. The LIST button takes you to the Playlist screen. Press EXIT to get out of any menu screen
and return to live TV. Use the ARROW buttons and SELECT button to navigate though the guide or any
menu screen. Press BACK to move back to the previous screen. The MENU button takes you to the
main menu where you go to access all of the features available in your system. Press INFO on any
show to see information about that show.
SHORTCUT BUTTONS
You can move through all of the DIRECTV user screens
using only the direction ARROW buttons and the SELECT
button as appropriate. However, the RED, GREEN,
YELLOW and BLUE buttons on the remote are special
shortcuts that change function depending on which
menu screen you are looking at. As you use the system,
look in the bottom-left of particular screens for hints
that tell you which color button to use for a particular
shortcut. You’ll see several examples in this chapter.
YOURREMOTECONTROL
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DIRECTV®HD DVR RECEIVER USER GUIDE
YOURREMOTECONTROL
DVR CONTROL BUTTONS
These are the DVR control buttons (Rewind, Fast Forward, etc.). They can also be used along with the
mode switch to control a DVD player or other auxiliary equipment.
PLAY / SLOW MOTION
R
RECORD
Starts the recorded video or paused live TV
currently on screen. Hold this button down
for slow motion.
One press allows you to record programs
in the Guide and live TV. Press twice to
record a series.
II
PAUSE / FRAME BY FRAME STOP
Freezes the action of any live or
prerecorded television program. While
paused, press FFWD or REW to move
forward or backward frame by frame.
While watching recorded TV, pressing
this stops playback, displays the recorded
program info screen, and inserts live TV in
the top right.
FFWD / JUMP TO TICKMARK REPLAY / JUMP TO BEGINNING OF PROGRAM
Fast-forwards recorded or live-stored
video. Press up to four times to fast-
forward at increasing speeds. Press
ADVANCE while fast-forwarding to go to
the next 15-minute tickmark. Pressing
PLAY returns to normal play.
Jumps the program you’re watching
backwards 6 seconds and starts playing
from that point. Holding down REPLAY
jumps to the beginning of the program.
REW / JUMP TO TICKMARK ADVANCE / JUMP TO END OF PROGRAM
Rewinds recorded or live-stored video.
Press up to four times to rewind at
increasing speeds. Press REPLAY while
rewinding to go to the previous 15-minute
tickmark. Pressing play returns to normal
play.
Jumps ahead in recorded or live-stored
video by 30 seconds. Press multiple times
to skip multiples of 30 seconds. Hold down
to continue to the end of the program.

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CHAPTER 1 - USING YOUR REMOTE CONTROL
THEPROGRESSBAR
When you use the DVR control buttons, this indicator bar
appears at the bottom of the screen to show where you are in
the program and how far you can go forward or back. For live
programs, the progress bar is green and the time shown is the
time of day.
The current time
shows where you
are in the program
you are viewing.
The left end of the
green bar shows
how far back in time
you can go.
The right end of the green
bar shows how far ahead
you can go.
If you press the RECORD button during a live show, the progress
bar turns orange and the orange record icon appears next to the
title of the show.
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DIRECTV®HD DVR RECEIVER USER GUIDE
LIVEBUFFER
Your DVR saves programs to the hard drive instantly and
continuously, while you watch. This “live buffer” lets you pause,
rewind, fast forward or instant replay (jump back 6 seconds). If
you start watching a program late, even if it is not set to record,
you can back up to the beginning (up to 90 minutes) using REW,
as long as you haven’t changed channels since the program
started. Simply press PLAY during a show to display the progress
bar and see how far back in time you can go.
NOTE: You cannot fast forward during live TV until you pause or
rewind a program.
Progress Bar

151515
CHAPTER 2 - CHANNELS & PROGRAM INFO
CHAPTER 2 - CHANNELS & PROGRAM INFO
Program Guide ............................................................ 16
Program Info .......................................................................... 16
Local Channels ...................................................................... 17
HD and SD Channels ............................................................. 17
Unsubscribed Channels ........................................................ 17
3D Channels ........................................................................... 18
Interactive Channels .............................................................. 18
Filtering the Guide ................................................................. 19
Guide Options ......................................................................... 19
Mini Guide .............................................................................. 20
Messages ............................................................................... 21
Info .......................................................................................... 21
Channel Banner & TV Options ..................................... 21
Last 4 ...................................................................................... 22
Favorite Channels .................................................................. 22
Closed Captioning .................................................................. 22
Audio/Video Options ............................................................... 23
Parental Controls ................................................................... 23
Picture in Picture ................................................................... 24
My DIRECTV ........................................................................... 25
Search & Browse ................................................................... 25
Recordings ............................................................................. 25
Menu ........................................................................... 25
Extras ..................................................................................... 26
Settings & Help ...................................................................... 26
Smart Search ............................................................ 27
YouTube Search ................................................................... 28

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DIRECTV®HD DVR RECEIVER USER GUIDE
PROGRAMGUIDE
Press the GUIDE button to display the onscreen program guide,
with up to 14 days of programming information. Navigate in the
guide as follows: Use the ARROW buttons to move one cell at
a time up/down/left/right; use the CHAN/PAGE button to scroll
up or down by page; type in a channel number to go directly
there. Look for color-button hints at the bottom of the screen
for shortcuts: Use the GREEN button to move ahead in time 12
hours; use the RED button to come back 12 hours.
PROGRAM INFO
Press INFO on any program to see its associated program info
screen. The Info screen displays the description for a program.
Additionally, it allows you to watch or record the program,
view a list of other showings or episodes, and more. Rotten
Tomatoes™ fresh tomato and rotten tomato icons represent
critics’ scores. Flixster uses upright popcorn and spilled
popcorn icons to represent audience scores. A rating of better
than 60% awards either the fresh tomato or upright popcorn.
“Cast & Crew” displays actors, directors, producers, etc. that
worked on the program. Select a person’s name for a list of
their other programs. “You Might Like” displays shows similar
to the current program. “Parental Info” shows info from
Common Sense Media, a non-profit, independent organization
that provides ratings and reviews for TV shows and movies,
so you can decide what is okay for your kids to watch, based
on program descriptions, details on a program’s language,
violence and sexual content, and age-appropriate indicator.

171717
CHAPTER 2 - CHANNELS & PROGRAM INFO
PROGRAMGUIDE
LOCAL CHANNELS
Your DIRECTV-provided local channels can be found in the guide
from channel numbers 2 through 69.
HD AND SD CHANNELS
DIRECTV has a tremendous offering of HD channels and they
are spread throughout the guide. To find them, look for HD
after the program title in the guide. If you want to see only
the HD version of a channel in the guide go to Chapter 6,
“Settings:Display:Preferences”, for instructions on how
to make that setting.
UNSUBSCRIBED CHANNELS
Channels in the guide that are not part of your subscription
package are shown grayed out. You can customize your guide to
hide these channels. See Chapter 6, “Settings & Help: Favorite
Channels” for details.
Unsubscribed
Channel
HD
Channel

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DIRECTV®HD DVR RECEIVER USER GUIDE
PROGRAMGUIDE
3D CHANNELS
3D channels are in the 100s series in the Guide, starting on
channel 103. For a list of 3D programs, press GUIDE, press the
YELLOW button and then select “Sort programs by category”.
Select “3D” and a list of 3D programs will display.
INTERACTIVE CHANNELS
Interactive allow you to interact with what you see on screen.
When accessing these channels, you will have to wait a few
seconds for the software to download.
Press the ACTIVE button on your remote to get weather,
horoscopes, lottery results, games and more. The channel
is ready to interact when the yellow highlight box appears.
To exit an interactive channel, press GUIDE and pick the
channel you want to move to, or, you can type in the new
channel number while in the interactive channel.
Other interactive channels, such as News Mix and Sports
Mix, let customers with a qualifying programming
package see up to eight of the hottest channels on one
screen. These channels are sprinkled among your regular
channels; see the program guide. Move the yellow
highlight box using the direction arrows on your remote to
hear the audio associated with each channel. If you want
to see one of the channels full-screen, move the yellow
highlight box over it and press SELECT.
NOTE: There is no separate 3D fee, but DIRECTV
3D programming is broadcast in HD and requires
HD Access, HD receiver (HR34, HR21, H21 or later),
compatible 3D HDTV and 3D glasses. CHOICE™
package or higher required for ESPN 3D. For more
information, visit directv.com/3D.

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CHAPTER 2 - CHANNELS & PROGRAM INFO
PROGRAMGUIDE
FILTERING THE GUIDE
There may be times when you want to temporarily trim down the
channels that are shown in the guide, filtering them according
to the type of program you are looking for. For example, you may
want to see just sports or movies or news. In that case, press
GUIDE twice to display the guide lter.
Simply use the arrow keys to highlight the category you want and
press SELECT. The guide will now show only the channels that
match that category. Look for the label in the bottom right of the
guide to see how it is being filtered.
NOTE: Since the filtering is temporary, it only lasts as long as
you keep the program guide up on the screen.
GUIDE OPTIONS
From the program guide, press the YELLOW button to display
“Guide Options”.
Sort Programs by Category:
Select “Sort programs by category”, then select a category to see
a list of shows in chronological order that match your
sort criterion.
Jump to a Date & Time:
Select “Jump to a date & time” to quickly go to a future date and
time in the guide.
Look to the
right to
see how the
guide is
being
filtered.

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DIRECTV®HD DVR RECEIVER USER GUIDE
PROGRAMGUIDE
Change Favorites List:
By default, your program guide displays all channels offered
by DIRECTV, some of which may not be in your programming
package. “Change favorites list” allows you to toggle the
channels displayed in your guide among the following: “All
Channels”, “Channels I Get” (channels you subscribe to) or a
custom list of channels you have defined. The “Edit Settings”
option allows you to modify the channels in your custom list. See
Chapter 6, “Settings & Help: Favorite Channels” for details.
Pay Per View:
Select “Pay Per View” then select a program type. The receiver
will search for featured movies, sports or events that are
available for “rent” on DIRECTV. Even more movies are available
using All Movies and On Demand. (See Chapter 3.)
MINI GUIDE
If you are watching a show and want a quick look at what’s on
next, press the BLUE button to display a one-line mini program
guide. You can use it for the current channel or you can type in a
new channel number to see what’s on there. Look for the channel
or time you want using the UP, DOWN, LEFT and RIGHT arrows.
Press SELECT on the new show if you want to go to that channel.
online
mini-
guide