Explorer Digital Video Recorder ® User's Guide Get More Out of Your TV... Watch Record · Your favorite shows anytime you want...on your schedule · Pause live TV for up to 1 hour without missing a minute · Two live programs at the same time · All future episodes of your favorite programs by performing a simple, one-time setup Watch & Record · Watch one program while recording another · Watch two programs at once (using the PIP feature) and record one of them · Watch a pre-recorded program while recording one or two other programs · Use the Multi-RoomTM DVR* (MR-DVR) system to play back recordings Play Back on up to 4 TVs at the same time Recordings on Other TVs · Use parental controls to block play back of recordings in any room *The MR-DVR feature is only available on the Explorer® 8300TM MR-DVR models. ALLTOUCH REMOTE CONTROL The AllTouch® Remote Control includes specific keys that enable you to control your Explorer® Digital Video Recorder (DVR). IMPORTANT! You must place the remote control in Cable Mode (press access the DVR features. ) to For descriptions of other remote control key functions, refer to the user's guide for your remote control model. The following illustration shows the AT8550TM All Touch Remote Control. Your remote control model may vary. Power on/off Select cable mode Display Program Guide Move through Program Guide by days Move through on-screen choices Display General/Quick Settings Make on-screen choices Display program information Move through settings and program guide Remove banners/graphics from TV screen Perform selected action Display list of recordings Instant Replay Rewind Stop Pause Display last channel viewed Return to live TV Fast-forward Record program Resume playing paused program Dedicated DVR Keys Swap PIP screen with Main screen Turn PIP on/off Move PIP screen Size HDTV picture Select PIP channels Dedicated PIP Keys T11808 NOTICE FOR CATV INSTALLERS If you are a CATV installer, read the information in the box below. SAFETY FIRST Before using the DVR, read the IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS section of your DVR connectivity guide. U.S. PATENTS LIST A patent notice is affixed to this product. In addition, the product may also be covered by one or more of the following patents: 4,498,169; 4,636,852; 4,641,181; 4,651,208; 4,691,353; 4,692,919; 4,698,598; 4,719,642; 4,748,667; 4,829,569; 4,866,770; 4,885,775; 4,888,799; 4,890,319; 4,922,456; 4,922,532; 4,924,498; 4,965,534; 4,991,011; 5,003,384; 5,012,510; 5,029,207; 5,045,816; 5,053,883; 5,054,071; 5,058,160; 5,142,575; 5,142,690; 5,146,526; 5,155,590; 5,214,390; 5,225,902; 5,225,925; 5,235,619; 5,237,610; 5,239,540; 5,241,610; 5,247,364; 5,255,086; 5,257,403; 5,267,071; 5,270,809; 5,271,041; 5,272,752; 5,282,028; 5,285,497; 5,287,351; 5,301,028; 5,309,514; 5,317,391; 5,319,709; 5,341,425; 5,347,388; 5,347,389; 5,357,276; 5,359,601; 5,361,156; 5,367,571; 5,379,141; 5,379,145; 5,381,481; 5,390,337; 5,400,401; 5,406,558; 5,418,782; 5,420,866; 5,420,923; 5,425,101; 5,428,404; 5,430,568; 5,434,610; 5,436,749; 5,438,370; 5,440,632; 5,442,472; 5,455,570; 5,457,701; 5,471,492; 5,477,199; 5,477,262; 5,477,370; 5,481,389; 5,481,542; 5,485,221; 5,493,339; 5,497,187; 5,500,758; 5,502,499; 5,506,904; 5,519,780; 5,539,822; 5,550,825; 5,579,055; 5,579,057; 5,583,562; 5,592,551; 5,596,606; 5,600,378; 5,602,933; 5,640,388; 5,657,414; 5,675,575; 5,684,876; 5,715,515; 5,724,525; 5,740,300; 5,742,677; 5,754,940; 5,757,416; 5,771,064; 5,774,859; 5,825,829; 5,826,167; 5,850,305; 5,854,703; 5,870,474; 5,892,607; 5,920,626; 5,923,755; 5,930,024; 5,930,515; 5,937,067; 5,963,352; 5,966,163; 5,982,424; 5,991,139; 5,999,207; 6,005,631; 6,005,938; 6,016,163; 6,028,941; 6,029,046; 6,052,384; 6,055,244; 6,072,532; 6,105,134; 6,148,039; 6,157,719; 6,188,729; 6,195,389; 6,212,278; 6,215,530; 6,219,358; 6,240,103; 6,243,145; 6,246,767; 6,252,964; 6,272,226; 6,292,081; 6,292,568; 6,320,131; 6,374,275; 6,405,239; 6,411,602; 6,417,949; 6,424,714; 6,424,717; 6,433,906; 6,438,139; 6,463,586; 6,467,091; 6,476,878; 6,493,876; 6,510,519; 6,516,002; 6,516,412; 6,526,508; 6,538,595; 6,546,013; 6,560,340; 6,567,118; 6,570,888; 6,622,308; 6,629,227; 6,664,984; 6,667,994; 6,671,879; 6,674,967; 6,678,891; 6,714,598; 6,721,352; 6,721,956; 6,725,459; 6,738,982; 6,744,892; 6,744,967; 6,751,271; 6,760,918; 6,795,972; 6,802,077; 6,804,708; 6,811,447; 6,817,028; 6,822,972; 6,823,385; 6,832,386; 6,845,106; 6,868,473; 6,874,075; 6,889,191; 6,909,471; 6,917,622; 6,917,628; 6,922,412; 6,927,806; 6,928,656; 6,931,058; 6,937,729; 6,969,279; 6,971,008; 6,971,121; 6,978,310; D348065; D354959; D359737; D363932; D390217; D434753; D507240; D507535; RE36368; RE36988 20051216SI iii CONTENTS AllTouch Remote Control ............................................................... inside of front cover Notice for CATV Installers .......................................................................... iii Safety First ................................................................................................ iii U.S. Patents List ....................................................................................... iii GET STARTED NEED TO INSTALL YOUR DVR? Get Started ................................................................................................ 1 Connect the Explorer DVR to Your TV ........................................................ 1 Important Note Regarding the HDMI Interface on the 8300HD ....................... 2 Connect External Devices to Your DVR ...................................................... 2 Prepare the Explorer HD DVR to Work With Your TV ................................. 3 Start the Setup Wizard ....................................................................................... 3 Adjust Your HDTV Picture .......................................................................... 5 Adjust Your Picture Format Using Quick Settings ............................................ 5 Adjust Your HD Picture Using General Settings .............................................. 5 KEEP OUT -- SET PARENTAL CONTROL AND BLOCKING Set Parental Control ................................................................................... 7 Program Rating Categories ........................................................................ 8 Block Recordings With Parental Control ..................................................... 9 Watch Blocked Recordings ........................................................................ 9 Set Favorite Channels ................................................................................ 9 CONTROL TV TRYING TO FIND A PROGRAM? USE THE PROGRAM GUIDE Search for Programs Using the Program Guide .......................................... 10 Display the Program Guide .............................................................................. 10 Search for a Program by Channel, Title, or Theme .......................................... 10 Search for a Program by Date .......................................................................... 11 Select a Program From the Program Guide ................................................ 12 CONTROLLING LIVE TV AND RECORDINGS Control Live TV and Recordings .................................................................. 13 Status Bar .......................................................................................................... 13 Pause a Live Program or a Recording ............................................................. 13 Rewind or Fast-Forward a Live or Recorded Program .................................... 13 Use Instant Replay ........................................................................................... 14 Use Slow Motion ............................................................................................... 14 Watch Action Frame by Frame .......................................................................... 14 Catch Up With a Live TV Program .................................................................... 14 iv WELCOME! CONTENTS, CONTINUED USING THE PIP FEATURE Use Picture-In-Picture ................................................................................ 15 Turn PIP On and Off .......................................................................................... 15 Change the Channel of the PIP Screen ........................................................... 15 Move the Location of the PIP Screen ................................................................ 15 Swap the Main Screen and the PIP Screen ...................................................... 15 RECORD Record Programs ....................................................................................... 16 Record a Program You Are Watching ............................................................... 16 Record a Program From the Program Guide ................................................... 16 Record Multiple Episodes of a Program .......................................................... 16 Record Two Live Programs at Once ................................................................. 17 Confirm Your Recordings ................................................................................. 17 Record a Pay-Per-View Event ........................................................................... 17 Schedule Future Pay-Per-View Recordings ..................................................... 17 WATCH RECORDINGS Watch Recordings ..................................................................................... 18 Display a List of Your Recorded Programs ...................................................... 18 Watch Your Recorded Programs ...................................................................... 18 Display a List of Programs Scheduled to Record in the Future ...................... 18 MANAGE Cancel Recordings ..................................................................................... 19 Cancel a Scheduled Recording ....................................................................... 19 Cancel a Recording That is in Progress .......................................................... 19 Schedule Manual Recordings ..................................................................... 19 Maximize Your DVR's Storage Space ......................................................... 20 Check Recording Space ............................................................................. 20 NO TIME TO WATCH A PROGRAM? SAVE IT Save Recordings ........................................................................................ 21 Change the Default Save Time Setting for All Future Recordings ................... 21 Change the Save Time of a Single Recording ................................................. 21 v CONTENTS, CONTINUED FINISHED WITH A RECORDING? ERASE IT Erase Recordings ....................................................................................... 22 Automatically Erase Oldest Recordings .......................................................... 22 Erase a Single Recording ................................................................................ 22 Copy Recordings From Your DVR to a VCR Tape ....................................... 23 Add Storage With a SATA Hard Disk Drive (Optional) .................................. 24 Connecting the SATA Device to the DVR ........................................................... 24 Troubleshooting the SATA Drive ........................................................................ 25 Maximize the Life of Your DVR ................................................................... 26 Turn Off Your DVR When Not In Use ................................................................ 26 Provide Adequate Ventilation ............................................................................ 26 USING YOUR DVR WITH AN MR-DVR SYSTEM? The DVR and Your MR-DVR System .......................................................... 27 Using Parental Controls on the Client Set-Tops .............................................. 27 GET MORE INFORMATION Frequently Asked Questions ...................................................................... 29 Questions About the DVR ................................................................................. 29 Questions About Controlling a Live Program or Recording ............................. 29 Questions About Watching Two Programs at Once ......................................... 30 Questions About Recording and Playing Back Programs ............................... 30 Questions About the MR-DVR Client Set-Top ................................................... 32 Questions About HDTV Programs .................................................................... 33 Get More Information or Assistance ........................................................... 34 Online Documentation or the Explorer eClub .......... ...