DirecTV Digital Satellite Recorder User manual

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DIRECTVDigital Satellite Recorder
Troubleshooting Guide
Remote Control Issues..................................................................................................................2
Remote Control Issue Flowchart .................................................................................................2
Controlling more than one recorder in the same room................................................................3
Check batteries............................................................................................................................4
Check for obstructions and powercycle recorder ........................................................................4
Remote appears to be functioning correctly................................................................................4
Check wiring and input settings...................................................................................................4
Programming your recorder remote to control TV or A/V System...............................................5
Using Code Search to find a code for your remote .....................................................................6
Programming a Hughes remote...................................................................................................7
Audio and Video Issues.................................................................................................................8
Audio and video are out of sync ..................................................................................................8
I don't hear any audio (sound).....................................................................................................8
Choppy video, blocks of color, garbled audio..............................................................................8
I don't see the "Welcome" screen...............................................................................................9
My DIRECTVRecorder is unresponsive or frozen...................................................................9
Installation Issues........................................................................................................................10
How do I use the dual tuner feature?.........................................................................................10
How do I connect more than one satellite receiver?..................................................................11
What type of satellite dish do I have?........................................................................................13
What if I don't have enough inputs on my TV?..........................................................................13
How can I purchase professional installation? ..........................................................................13
Equipment Issues ........................................................................................................................14
My DIRECTVDigital Satellite Recorder is unresponsive or frozen........................................14
My DIRECTV Recorder does not power on...............................................................................14
DIRECTVDigital Video Recording Features...........................................................................15
The beginning or end of my program was cut off......................................................................15
Can I keep a recording longer? .................................................................................................15
Can I record two programs at the same time? ..........................................................................15
How can I save a recording to my VCR?...................................................................................16
Now Playing List is filled with TiVoSuggestions.....................................................................16
Can I skip over channels I don't watch?....................................................................................16
Why can I only watch part of my recording?..............................................................................17
Can I jump back and forth between two channels?...................................................................17
Phone Call Issues ........................................................................................................................18
How long does the regular call to DIRECTV take?....................................................................18
My recorder is not making the regular call to DIRECTV............................................................18
Do I need to keep the phone connected all the time?...............................................................18
Does the regular DIRECTVDigital Video Recording service phone call cost me any money?
...................................................................................................................................................19
Does the occasional phone call to DIRECTV cost me any money?..........................................19
What if I need to make a call while the recorder is using the phone?.......................................19
What if my phone line is not operating when the recorder tries to make a service call?...........19

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Remote Control Issues
Remote Control Issue Flowchart
Recorder Not Responding
to Remote Control
Check Remote: Does the red
light at the top of your remote
control flash when you press
a button on the remote?
Check DVR: Does the light on
the front panel of your DVR
flash when you press a key on
your remote?
Yes
Display Case:
Check Batteries
No
Check Recorder: Does the
light on the front panel of your
DVR flash when you press a
key on your remote?
Powercycle the Recorder. Do
you see the
DIRECTV Central screens?
Yes
Display Case:
Check for obstructions and
powercycle Recorder
No
Display Case:
Remote appears to be
functioning correctly
Yes
Display Case:
Check wiring
and input settings
No

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Controlling more than one recorder in the same room
Does the remote control for your DIRECTVDigital Satellite Recorder have a "DVR" switch
right above the number keys?
No, I don't have a DVR switch on my remote:
If you have multiple recorders in the same room, you can program each recorder to accept
commands from only one remote control. This will allow you to use one remote control for
each recorder without affecting the other recorders in the room.
1. Cover the IR window on the front of all recorders other than the one that you want to
program.
2. Use one of your DIRECTV Recorder remotes to navigate to the System Information
screen (DIRECTV Central > Messages and Setup > System Information) of the recorder
that you want to program and press the DOWN arrow until you see "Remote Address."
3. Hold down the PAUSE and DIRECTV buttons on your remote simultaneously for 5
seconds, until the red LED on the remote lights up.
4. Use the number keys to enter any digit from 1-9. The remote LED will flash, but the
screen will not update.
5. Press the RIGHT arrow to send the code to the recorder. The number you entered
should appear on the screen beside "Remote Address" (this may take a few seconds).
You have now programmed this remote control and this recorder to only work with each
other.
6. Press the DIRECTV button to return to DIRECTV Central.
Repeat this process with any other recorders in the room. Remember to cover the
IR windows of any recorders that you are not programming. Use a different number
for each recorder so that none of the remote addresses are the same.
How do I reset a remote (remove any programming)?
1. Hold down on the DIRECTV and PAUSE buttons on your remote simultaneously for 5
seconds (until the red LED on the remote lights up).
2. Using the number keys on the remote, enter 0. The remote LED will flash.
3. Your remote can now control any recorder.
Yes, my remote control has a DVR switch:
Skip to "Programming the DVR switch on your remote control"

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Check batteries
If the light on your remote doesn't flash, try the following:
ØRemove the batteries and make sure that they are inserted as shown on the
illustration inside the remote (under the batteries)
ØReplace the batteries with new ones
If the red light at the top of the remote control still does not turn red after you replace the batteries,
call the phone number listed on your manual for further troubleshooting.
Check for obstructions and powercycle recorder
If the light on the front panel of your DIRECTVDigital Satellite Recorder doesn't flash when you
press a key on your remote, try the following:
ØRemove the batteries and make sure that they are inserted as shown on the illustration
inside the remote (under the batteries).
ØReplace the batteries with new ones.
ØCheck for obstructions between you and the DIRECTV Recorder.
ØPowercycle the recorder by pressing the Power button on the front panel of your recorder.
If the light on the front of the DIRECTV Recorder still does not flash after you try all of the steps
above, call the phone number listed on your manual for further troubleshooting.
Remote appears to be functioning correctly
Based on the responses that you have given, it appears that your remote is functioning correctly. If
you are still having a problem with your remote, please call the phone number listed in your
manual for further troubleshooting.
Check wiring and input settings
If you don't see the DIRECTV Central screen after you powercycle your DIRECTV Recorder, there
is likely a problem with your cable wiring or input setting on your TV, VCR, or A/V Receiver rather
than a problem with your remote control.
Check your wiring to make sure that all of your cables are securely connected.
Check the input settings on your TV, VCR, and A/V Receiver. This may involve pressing the
"Input" or "TV/VCR" button on the remote control for your TV, VCR, and A/V Receiver.
If you are still not able to see DIRECTV Central once your check all of your settings, please call
the number listed in your manual for additional troubleshooting.

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Programming your recorder remote to control TV or A/V System
T/V Power, Volume, and Mute
1. First, you'll need the four-digit code for your television brand. You'll find a list of these codes in
the DIRECTV menus. To see them, press the DIRECTV button to go to DIRECTV Central, then
select Messages & Setup, then Recorder & Phone Setup, then Remote Control Setup, then
Remote Control - TV
2. Next, you will need to prepare the remote control. Point the remote away from your DIRECTV
Digital Satellite Recorder and cover the front end with your hand. Press and hold the TV PWR
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.
3. Enter a code. Use the number buttons on the remote to enter a four-digit code. After you press
the fourth digit of the code, the red light on the end of the remote control will flash three times.
Note: If the light goes out but does not flash, try the same code again. If it doesn't flash a second
time, just go on to the next code in the list.
4. Test the code. Point the remote towards the TV and press the TV PWR button. If pressing the
button turns your TV off, you're finished. If it does not work, repeat steps 2 and 3 using the next
code on the list. If none of the codes work, you can try a code search to find an appropriate code.
(Click the 'Back' button in your browser to see a selection that will provide instructions for
completing a code search.)
A/V Receiver Power, Volume, and Mute
You can also control the power, volume, and mute of an A/V receiver (or just the volume and
mute, if you prefer to control your A/V receiver's power independently). To control an A/V receiver,
repeat steps 1-4 again, but on the DIRECTV screen that lists brand names, choose the brand of
your A/V receiver. In step 2, hold down different buttons on the remote control:
• To control just volume and mute, hold down the MUTE and DIRECTV buttons. (And in step 4,
test the MUTE button.)
• To control power, volume, and mute, hold down the TV PWR and DIRECTV buttons

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Using Code Search to find a code for your remote
If you have been trying to program your DIRECTVDigital Satellite Recorder remote to control a
TV or A/V system, and have not been able to find a code that works with your device's
manufacturer or model, you may be able to program the remote with a code search. Performing a
code search can take up to 20 minutes.
1. Prepare the remote control. Point the remote away from your DIRECTV Recorder and cover the
front end with your hand. Determine which two buttons to press:
To Control: Press and Hold:
TV Power, Volume and Mute TV PWR and
DIRECTV buttons
TV Input (on remotes where this button is available) TV INPUT and
DIRECTV button
A/V Receiver Power, Volume and Mute TV PWR and
DIRECTV buttons
A/V Receiver volume and mute only MUTE and
DIRECTV buttons
Press and hold the buttons 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. 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: Enter:
TV Power, Volume and Mute 0999
TV Input (on remotes where this button is available) 0999
A/V Receiver Power, Volume and Mute 1999
A/V Receiver volume and mute only 1999
After you press the fourth digit of the code, the red light on the end of the remote will flash
twice, then remain on.
Test the remote control. Point the remote control at the TV or A/V receiver. Press CHAN UP. Did
the TV or A/V receiver respond? If not, continue to press CHAN UP to test codes (there are
hundreds). Wait two or three seconds each time after pressing CHAN UP to give your device time.
When the TV or A/V receiver responds, press ENTER to select the current code. The red light at
the end of the remote will flash three times to indicate that the remote can now 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 recorder's remote. If you reach the end of the available
codes without finding a code that works, you'll need to continue to use your TV or A/V receiver's
remote to control your TV or A/V receiver.

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Programming a Hughes remote
For information about programming a Hughes remote control, please refer to your Installation
Guide or call Hughes Customer Support at the number shown below.
800-274-8995
Listen for the prompts, and press 4 and then 2 at the first two prompts.
Hours: 9 AM - 11 PM Eastern Time

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Audio and Video Issues
Audio and video are out of sync
If your audio and video become out of sync, try the following:
1. Change the channel to a different station and back.
2. Press the PAUSE button on the remote control, press REWIND to move back a frame or two,
then Press PLAY again to resume play.
3. Press the DIRECTV button to go to DIRECTV Central. Press the LIVE TV button to return to live
television.
Note: If you have your DIRECTVDigital Satellite Recorder connected to an A/V receiver, both
the audio and video must be connected to the A/V receiver to prevent the audio from being
delayed.
I don't hear any audio (sound)
If you are not able to hear audio on your television, check the following:
ØCheck to make sure all your cable connections are secure between your recorder and
your television.
ØVerify that your TV is not on mute and the volume is set at a level you can hear.
ØIf you are using a satellite receiver, check to make sure the volume on your satellite
receiver is on and set at a level you can hear (not all satellite receivers have a volume
control).
ØIf you are using S-video cable to connect your recorder to your television, make sure you
are using the audio (red and white) composite cables as well.
Choppy video, blocks of color, garbled audio
Audio and video glitches are usually caused by a disruption of your satellite source. If they happen
often, check your cabling to make sure all of the cables are connected securely. If you have
satellite service, your picture can also be affected by weather. If you experience frequent issues
with video or audio, contact Customer Support for further troubleshooting (refer to your manual for
the appropriate phone number).

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I don't see the "Welcome" screen
If you are not able to see the "Welcome" screen during Guided Setup, try the following tips:
ØMake sure cables are connected from the OUT jack of one device to the IN jack of
another. Cables should never be connected from OUT to OUT or IN to IN.
ØIf you used an RF Coaxial cable to connect your recorder, make sure your TV (and VCR, if
the recorder’s signal passes through the VCR) is tuned to the same channel (3 or 4) that
you selected on the back of your recorder. You may also need to press the Input, Source,
or TV/Video button on your TV’s remote to change the input (i.e., the video signal your TV
is displaying).
ØIf you’re using Composite Video and L/R Audio cables or S-Video cables , make sure your
TV is displaying the appropriate video source. You may need to use the “Input,” “Source,”
“Select,” or “TV/Video” button on your TV’s remote to change video sources. If you are
having trouble changing the video source, refer to the instructions that came with your TV.
ØIf you are passing the signal through your VCR, tune your TV the way you would to watch
your VCR. Also, try turning your VCR on or off. If your VCR has multiple inputs, you may
need to select the correct input on the VCR as well by pressing a “Input,” “Source,”
“Select,” or “TV/Video” button on your VCR remote control.
ØTry connecting the recorder directly to the TV. If doing this allows you to see the
"Welcome" screen, the problem is not with your DIRECTVDigital Satellite Recorder but
with your connections between your recorder and your TV. Try adding the other
components one at a time to isolate which connection is causing the problem.
ØThe cables you are using to connect your recorder to your TV or other equipment may be
damaged or defective. Try exchanging the cables connected to the recorder with other
cables that you know are working properly.
My DIRECTVRecorder is unresponsive or frozen
Press the Power button on the front panel of your recorder. You should then see the "Welcome"
screen and your system will be restarted within about 60 seconds. If this happens on a regular
basis, contact Customer Support for further troubleshooting (see your manual for the phone
number).

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Installation Issues
How do I use the dual tuner feature?
To use the dual tuner feature on your DIRECTVDigital Satellite Recorder, you will need to do
the following:
1. Make sure that you have TiVo software version 3.1 or later. To find your current software
version, go to DIRECTV Central > Messages and Setup > System Information. If your receiver has
an older version of software, it will update automatically within a few days after you set it up.
2. To utilize dual tuners, you must have a round Dual LNB satellite dish or an oval satellite dish.
You will need to run 2 separate satellite cables from your satellite dish to your DIRECTV Recorder.
These cables should be connected to the inputs labeled "Satellite 1" and "Satellite 2" on the back
of your receiver. (diagram). See the Installation Guide for setup examples, detailed explanations,
and diagrams of different setups. If you are not sure what type of satellite dish you have, check the
manual that came with the dish or try the link below.
3. Once you have connected the two cables from your satellite dish to your receiver, you will need
to repeat Satellite Guided Setup. Go to DIRECTV Central > Messages & Setup > Receiver &
Phone Setup > Satellite Dish Setup > Repeat Satellite Dish Guided Setup.
4. Enjoy being able to record two programs at once while you watch another previously recorded
program!