Philips DSR708 User manual

Welcome to DIRECTV

ii
SDOC-00072-501 Rev. A
3111 176 51241
Philips Consumer Electronics, a Division of Philips Electronics NorthAmerica Corp.
Philips is a registered trademark of Koninklijke Philips Electronics, NV.
DIRECTV and the Cyclone Design logo, DIRECTV SPORTS THIS WEEK, and
Advanced Program Guide are trademarks of DIRECTV, Inc., a unit of Hughes Electronics Corp.,
and are used with permission. All rights reserved. DIRECTV,
2230 East Imperial Hwy., El Segundo, CA 90245.
TiVo and the TiVo logo are a registered trademarks of TiVo Inc. The Instant Replay logo,
the Jump logo, TiVolution Magazine, Season Pass, WishList, Overtime Scheduler,
the Thumbs Down logo and text, the Thumbs Up logo and text, TiVo and Line Design (smile)
are trademarks of TiVo Inc. 1999, 2000. All rights reserved.
TiVo Inc., 2160 Gold Street, P.O. Box 2160, Alviso, CA 95002-2160.
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, 2002 by TiVo Inc. Reproduction in whole or in part without
written permission is prohibited.

iii
Welcome to the DIRECTV family!
DIRECTV offers you more Hollywood hits, classic movies, family programming, news, and
a wide range of exciting sports action. Plus access to 36 commercial-free audio channels.
And that’s only the beginning.
More Choices than ever before.
With access to over 225 channels, it’s easy to see why DIRECTV has become the
entertainment choice for millions of American families. And it’s all digitally delivered, so
you get digital-quality sound and razor-sharp picture every time you turn on your TV!
DIRECTV
®
Pay Per View movies and events.
With DIRECTV service, the main event is at your house!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. There’s no need to order by phone. Just use your remote control
to give all your friends and family a front-row seat! (Phone connection 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. Tune to Channel 212 for
DIRECTV SPORTS THIS WEEK
®
.
With DIRECTV you're in control.
Your new DIRECTV
®
DVR brings you the hottest new entertainment 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 incredibly powerful and easy to use features of your DIRECTV DVR service, you
will have a Season Pass
™
to all your favorite programming.

iv
Table of Contents
Using this Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .vii
Chapter 1: Connecting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Before You Begin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Useful Terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Cables and Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Setup Examples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Chapter 2: Guided Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
Satellite Dish Guided Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
Activate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
Phone Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
Chapter 3: The Basics in 5 Short Tours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Tour 1: Play with Live TV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
Tour 2: DIRECTV Advanced Program Guide
™
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36
Tour 3: Find and Record Your Favorite Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
Tour 4: Search for New Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40
Tour 5: Now Playing List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42
Cool Things You Can Do . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
Chapter 4: Watching Live TV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Let’s Go! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46
DIRECTV Advanced Program Guide
™
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48

v
Channel Banner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Play with Live TV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Status Bar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Music Channels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Standby . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Chapter 5: Finding and Recording Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Recording Programs: The Basics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Finding Programs to Record . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
I Already Know What I Want to Record . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
I Know What I Like . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Help Me Find New Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Chapter 6: Messages and Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Messages from DIRECTV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Purchases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
My Preferences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Recorder & Phone Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
System Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Restart or Reset System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Chapter 7: Programming the Remote Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..109
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Instructions: TV Power, Volume, and TV Input . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Resetting the Programmable Buttons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Setting a Remote Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115

vi
Chapter 8: Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..117
Contacting Customer Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .118
Questions About Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .119
Questions About Live TV (Including Satellite Signal) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .120
Questions About Pick Programs to Record . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .125
Questions About Parental Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .131
Questions About the DVR’s Phone Calls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .132
Questions About Audio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .135
Questions About Pay Per View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .136
Questions About the Remote Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .138
Questions About the DVR Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .139
Chapter 9: Warranty and Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..141
Limited Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .142
FCC Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .144
Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .146
Safety Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .148
Appendix A: Back Panel Reference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..151
Appendix B: GNU General Public License . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..155
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..161

vii
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.
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 of the technical terms you may encounter in this guide are explained
in the “Useful Terms” section beginning on page 5.
Screen Paths
. Notes at the bottom of some pages show you how to find the screen being
discussed on that page. For example, page 70 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
. The recording service provided through the
DIRECTV
®
DVR.
DIRECTV DVR
. Refers collectively to the satellite antenna receiver and the DVR hardware.
Throughout this guide, you will
see important and helpful notes
and tips in this format.

viii
The TiVo Logo
. As you use your DIRECTV DVR, you’ll see the TiVo logo in places like
the Now Playing List and TiVo Suggestions. Your new DVR incorporates the latest DVR
(Digital Video Recorder) technology from TiVo. This means you have access to exclusive
TiVo features such as WishList
™
searches, Season Pass
™
recordings, Thumbs Up
™
and
Thumbs Down
™
, TiVo Suggestions, and TiVolution Magazine
®
, all in one seamlessly
integrated product that will change the way
you
watch television.
Getting Started
After a satellite dish antenna has been installed, you’re ready to start using this guide:
1. Connect the DVR according to the proper setup for your Audio/Video equipment. (See
chapter 1, “Connecting.”)
2. Complete Guided Setup to point your satellite dish antenna and activate the
DIRECTV
®
DVR with TiVo
®
service following the instructions in chapter 2, “Guided
Setup.”
Start using your DIRECTV DVR. It’s easy! Learn the basics by browsing the back of the
Start Here
card. Take the five tours in chapter 3 of this
User’s Guide
for an interactive
way to learn about the DVR’s powerful features. Chapters 4, 5, 6, and 7 describe the DVR
service in detail. Read through them to become familiar with the service. Chapter 8
provides a comprehensive troubleshooting guide in case you have questions.
Before you install the DVR, mount
the satellite dish antenna.
Professional installation is highly
recommended. Your dish must be
mounted, with cables running to the
room where your DVR will be installed,
before you can begin the DVR installation
as described in this guide. Dual LNB dish
antenna connection required for full
functionality.

C
HAPTER
1
Connecting
Overview 2
Before You Begin 3
Useful Terms 5
Cables and Accessories 9
Setup Examples 10

2
Chapter 1 Connecting
Overview
TV used to be simple: no color, no digital video, no stereo sound, no digital audio, no
choices. All you needed was an antenna and a TV. The antenna captured pictures and
sounds. A wire connected the antenna to the TV to transfer pictures and sounds.
As televisions have acquired more features, and new devices have been created to work
with them, it may seem that everything has become more complex. Fortunately, the
fundamentals haven’t changed. You may have a VCR, a DVD player and a game system,
in addition to a satellite dish antenna. However, one thing has remained the same: what
you need to do is get the pictures and sounds from their source (the satellite dish antenna)
to your TV.
You use cables to make a path over which the pictures and sounds travel from your
satellite dish antenna to your TV.
On the back of your equipment you will find several jacks. Some are labeled IN and some
are labeled OUT. The pictures and sound enter a piece of equipment through a cable
connected to an IN jack and leave through a cable connected to an OUT jack.
When you connect your DIRECTV
®
DVR to your television and other audio/video
equipment, you are simply creating a path that starts at the satellite dish antenna and goes
in (through IN jacks) and out (through OUT jacks) of your equipment until it reaches
your TV.
Jacks are places where cables can
be connected.
OUT IN
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.

3
1
Before You Begin
Before You Begin
Make sure that all of your equipment is turned off and the DIRECTV DVR is unplugged.
Connecting to a Phone Line
You will need access to a standard analog phone jack. Your DVR needs to be connected to
a phone line to communicate with DIRECTV. The DVR occasionally makes a brief
phone call to get updates to the DVR service and Showcases, and for pay per view
functionality.
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 the
provided splitter to connect both the phone and the DVR to the same phone jack.
Connecting a Dual LNB or a Multi-Satellite Dish Antenna
Your DVR comes equipped with two jacks for satellite input. While the DVR will work if
connected to only one satellite input, connecting both allows you to record from two
channels at the same time. All of the connection examples in this chapter give instructions
for configuring the DVR with connections to both satellite input jacks.
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
must have two coaxial RF cables coming from your satellite dish antenna to the room
where the DVR will be installed.
Your DVR should not be used with
a digital PBX phone system. Doing
so may permanently damage your DVR’s
modem and will void your warranty.
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 phonesystem.
If you have a Single LNB satellite
dish antenna, you will need to
upgrade to a Dual LNB for full
functionality. Contact your satellite dish
antenna manufacturer for more
information about upgrading.
Your DIRECTV DVR is multi-satellite
capable if used with a DIRECTV
Multi-Satellite Dish Antenna,
not included..

4
Chapter 1 Connecting
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 6) 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.
Caring for your DIRECTV DVR
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.
Unplug before moving.
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.
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.
The DVR should rest on a flat, hard surface only. Do not operate it on
a carpet or other padded surface, as this can inhibit proper ventilation and cause the unit 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. 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!
For information on how to switch
between watching antenna or
cable channels and watching DIRECTV
channels, see the connection example in
Chapter 2 that is most appropriate to
your configuration.
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 for constant use and does
not need to be turned off. If you must
turn it off—for example, to move it—
simply unplug it. (The DVR does have an
optional standby mode, explained on
page 55.)
Be sure to read the safety
instructions on page 148.
¤

5
1
Useful Terms
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 Dish Antennas Types and Terms
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 6.
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 it to the TV. Your DIRECTV
®
DVR has a built-in satellite
receiver.
Round Single
satellite dish
antenna
Oval 2
satellite dish
antenna
Oval 3
satellite dish
antenna
Single LNB
(Single Satellite)
Dual LNB
(Single Satellite)

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Chapter 1 Connecting
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 record programs
on two channels at the same time.
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.
Transponder
: 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. Each satellite may have a different number of transponders on it.
Cables and Connections
Composite Video and Left/Right (L/R) Audio Cables:
Composite Video and Left/Right
(L/R) Audio cables may appear to be just one cable, but are actually three separate cables.
The yellow composite cable transfers video. The white and red L/R Audio cables, when
used together, transfer stereo sound. These three cables can be used together or separately.
For example, you could use an S-Video cable to transfer video and use white and red L/R
Audio cables to transfer audio. In this case, you would not need to use the yellow
Composite Video cable at all.

7
1
Useful Terms
Coaxial RF Cable:
A coaxial RF cable transfers both audio and video on a single cable.
Optical (or Digital) Audio Cable:
An optical (or digital) audio cable transfers audio only.
This cable transfers audio at the highest possible quality from your DIRECTV DVR to an
A/V receiver. If you have a home theater, own an A/V receiver capable of receiving
Dolby
®
Digital audio, and wish to use Dolby
®
Digital audio, then you must use this cable.
Not all A/V receivers with optical audio inputs are capable of receiving Dolby
®
Digital
audio. An optical audio cable is not included with the DVR.
BNC Cable:
A BNC Cable is similar to a coaxial RF cable and transfers both audio and
video. This type of cable is not included with your DVR. However, you may already be
using a BNC cable in an existing connection to your TV. If so, you can purchase an
adapter that will allow you to connect BNC cables to the RF In or RF Out jacks on your
DVR.
Telephone Line Splitter:
The included telephone line splitter allows you to plug both a
telephone and your DVR into a single telephone wall jack.
Video, Audio, and Electronics Equipment and Terms
Switch Box:
A switch box is a small box that allows you to connect multiple devices to
your TV, even if your TV does not have enough input jacks to connect them all directly. It
allows you to switch easily between viewing DIRECTV channels, viewing video from
your DVD player, or running your game system. Switch boxes are inexpensive and can be
purchased at electronics stores.
A/V Receiver:
An A/V receiver is similar to a switch box but is more sophisticated. It may
offer additional features such as remote control or Dolby Digital audio capabilities. An
A/V receiver allows you to connect multiple devices to your TV, even if your TV does not
have enough input jacks to connect them all directly. It allows you to switch easily

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Chapter 1 Connecting
between viewing DIRECTV channels, viewing video from your DVD player, or running
your game system by changing the input source.
Dolby
®
Digital Audio:
Dolby
®
Digital audio is recorded on six separate channels, each of
which can be heard on one of six separate speakers. To use Dolby
®
Digital audio, you
must use an optical audio cable to connect your DIRECTV 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 97.
Dolby
®
Surround Sound:
Dolby
®
Surround Sound audio is recorded on two channels,
which can be heard on two or more (usually five) speakers. To use Dolby
®
Surround
Sound audio, you must have an A/V receiver capable of supporting Dolby
®
Surround
Sound audio connected to your DVR using either L/R Audio cables or an optical 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.
Surge Protector:
Surge protectors are devices that protect electronic equipment from
power fluctuations. Like all electronics equipment, your DVR can be damaged by
fluctuations in your line voltage. 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! Surge protectors can be purchased at hardware, electronics, or
general merchandise stores.

9
1
Cables and Accessories
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 3 for details).
Composite A/V Cable
25' Phone Cord
Power Cord
RF Coaxial Cable
1.These are the basics: 2. See page 10 to choose
audio/video cables. The
carton contains one of each
of the following:
3.You may need to purchase
these additional items for
some setups:
Extra RF Coaxial Cable
DVR DIRECTV Access Card
Remote Control
and 2 AA
Batteries
Extra Composite A/V Cables
Phone Line Splitter
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10
Chapter 1 Connecting
Setup Examples
Audio and Video Cables
Composite
. Many TVs and VCRs have connectors for Composite A/V cables. If your
equipment has them, you can use the Composite A/V cables for both audio and video.
RF Coaxial
. Some TVs only have connectors for RF Coaxial cable. If your TV only has an
RF connector, use the RF Coaxial cable for both audio and video and see Example 4 on
page 18 (or see Example 1 on see page 12 if you also have a VCR):
S-Video
. If you have S-Video connectors on your equipment, and want the highest quality
video, use the included S-Video cable. The S-Video cable carries a video signal. You can
connect the red and white ends of a Composite A/V cable to carry the audio signal.
If your TV has only one audio
connector, connect just the white
and yellow ends of the Composite A/V
cable (don’t connect the red end).
Composite Video
and L/R
Audio Cables
Connect to
Composite Video
and L/R Audio Jacks
(yellow)
(white)
(red)
Coaxial RF
Cable Connect to RF or VHF/UHF jack
Connect to S Video
and L/R Audio jacks
S Video and Left/
Right Audio Cables
(S Video)
(red)
(white)
(yellow)

11
1
Setup Examples
Digital Audio.
The receiver includes a Digital Audio Out jack for compatibility with
Dolby Digital audio. To use this feature, you will need an optical audio cable
(not supplied), and a device that accepts Dolby Digital input. The optical audio cable will
carry the audio signal. To complete the setup, you'll also need a connection for the video
signal. You can use an S-Video cable to make the connection (for the best video signal), or
the yellow ends of a composite cable. If you use a composite cable, you do not need to
connect the red and white ends of the cable.
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 use Digital Audio Out, you will not hear these tones.
Setup Examples
This chapter provides detailed examples showing how to connect the DIRECTV DVR to
your existing audio/video system. Choose the example closest to your configuration and
follow the steps in that section.
• Example 1:
DVR with VCR, DVD and/or game system, and switch box or A/V
receiver (see page 12)
• Example 2:
DVR with VCR (see page 14)
• Example 3:
DVR only (see page 16)
• Example 4:
DVR with VCR, antenna or cable, multiple input TV (see page 18)
• Example 5:
DVR with VCR, antenna or cable, single input TV (see page 20)
If you have trouble or if your configuration isn’t covered by one of these examples, see the
“Back Panel Reference” on page 152.

12
Chapter 1 Connecting
INPUT
Audio
RL
Video Audio
RL
Video Audio
RL
Video
OUTPUT
RL
Video
Audio
RF
In
RF
Out
Ch
3/4
Audio RLVideo
OUT
IN
Audio R
Audio L
Video
RF
In
IN
AC~In
RF
Out
Ch
3/4
Audio RLVideo
OUT
DIRECTV DVR
Switch Box or
A/V Receiver
Television
DVD Player or
Game System
VCR
Example 1: VCR, DVD and/or Game System, and Switch Box or A/V Receiver
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
9
Note: Audio/Video cables shown are examples only. Use the best connections available on your equipment.