Satellite Receiver User’s Guide Changing Entertainment. Again.
Important Information Cautions Do not stack electronic components or other objects on top of the Digital Satellite Receiver. The slots on top of the 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. 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.
Table of Contents Chapter 1: Connections & Setup Chapter 4: Using On-Screen Menus Things To Consider Before You Connect Components ................ 2 Choose Your Connection................................................................ 2 Insert Your Access Card ................................................................. 2 Excellent Connection ..................................................................... 3 Very Good Connection .................................................................
Chapter 1: Connections & Setup Things To Consider Before You Connect Components Protect Your Components from Power Surges • Connect all components before plugging any power cords into the wall outlet. • Always turn off the digital satellite receiver, TV and other components before you connect or disconnect any cables. Position Cables Correctly to Avoid Audio Hum or Interference • Insert all cable plugs firmly into their jacks.
Connections & Setup Excellent Connection RJ11 modular phone jack Digital Satellite Receiver Satellite Dish Antenna Using S-Video and A/V jacks and cables to connect to the TV, RF coaxial cables to connect the VCR This connection provides the best picture quality, surpassing that of A/V cables. The S-Video cable, which carries video information only, requires that audio cables also be used for sound.
Connections & Setup Very Good Connection RJ11 modular phone jack Digital Satellite Receiver Satellite Dish Antenna 5 Using A/V jacks and cables to connect to the TV, RF coaxial cables to connect the VCR This connection provides better picture quality than RF coaxial cables and is recommended for use with TVs that do not have S-Video input jacks.
Connections & Setup Basic Connection RJ11 modular phone jack Digital Satellite Receiver Satellite Dish Antenna 5 Using RF Coaxial cables for all connections This connection provides standard picture quality. This connection is only recommended for use with TVs that do not have S-Video or A/V input jacks.
Connections & Setup Advanced Audio (Digital Audio Output Connection) Receiver or Decoder with Optical Input Cables: Optical (SPDIF) DIGITAL AUDIO INPUT Use this connection to take advantage of Dolby Digital* quality sound, when available. Note: Your digital receiver back panel may not look exactly like the one pictured.
Connections & Setup VCR Satellite Receiver Rear Panel GROUND –R– PHONE OUT TO TV VIDEO S-VIDEO IN FROM ANT SATELLITE IN –L– AUDIO DIGITAL LOW SPEED DATA AUDIO Back Panel Jacks (in alphabetical order) This diagram illustrates each of the back panel jacks found on your digital satellite receiver. When working with cables, be sure to connect corresponding outputs and inputs (Video out to Video in, Right Audio out to Right Audio in, etc.).
Connections & Setup Place Batteries in the Remote Control Follow these steps whenever you need to install or change the batteries in your digital satellite receiver’s remote control. Note: When replacing old batteries, you may need to reprogram the remote control to operate other devices. Avoid pressing any of the remote control buttons while you’re replacing old batteries.
Connections & Setup Locating the VCR’s Infrared Remote Control Sensor The VCR Controller must be affixed directly over the infrared remote control sensor on your VCR. Some VCRs have a label that identifies the remote control sensor, but others do not. If the IR sensor is labeled on your VCR, affix the VCR Controller directly over the sensor. For VCRs that do not label the sensor, you can use the VCR’s remote control to locate the VCR’s sensor before affixing the VCR Controller cable.
Connections & Setup Selecting a VCR Type In order to use the One-Touch Record and Record Timer features, you need to tell the satellite receiver which VCR brand you are using. 1. Tune the TV to its satellite receiver viewing channel (either 03, 04, or the TV’s appropriate input channel depending on your connections). 2. Press MENU on the remote control to display the satellite receiver’s Main menu. 3. Highlight and select number 7, System Setup. 4. Highlight and select number 3, Receiver Options. 5.
Chapter 2: Using the Remote Control Remote Control Buttons VCR When programmed, tells the remote to control the VCR. This button lights up when you press a valid button in VCR mode (see Modes of Operation on page 13 for more details). ON•OFF Turns the component you are controlling on or off. When pressed twice within two seconds, all components that are on are turned off (this feature only works with most RCA, GE, and Proscan products).
Using the Remote Control Top of the Digital Satellite Receiver M POWER EN CT This diagram illustrates the buttons on the top (also referred to as the front panel) of the digital satellite receiver. For more information on the function of the front panel buttons and many other features of your digital satellite receiver, press the MENU button and select System Setup from the Main menu, then select Receiver Index.
Using the Remote Control Using Direct Entry Important: This remote may not be compatible with all models of all brands of components. It also may not operate all functions of the remote that came with your component. 1. Turn on the component to be programmed. 2. Look up the brand and code number(s) for the component on the code list at the end of this section. 3. On your remote control, press and hold the component button you want to program. Note: The DIRECTV button cannot be programmed. 4.
Code List TV (programmable to the TV, AUX1 and AUX2 buttons) Abex ................................................................................... 1172 Admiral ......................................................... 1001, 1173, 1211 Adventura .......................................................................... 1174 Aiko .................................................................................... 1016 Akai ...................................................................................
Code List NEC ....... 2009, 2010, 2011, 2016, 2018, 2064, 2076, 2078, 2079, 2111, 2123 Nikko ........................................................................... 2014 Noblex ......................................................................... 2013 Olympus ...................................................................... 2021 Optimus ............................................................. 2014, 2132 Optonica ......................................................................
Chapter 3: Satellite Receiver Features Active profile Current time and date The Program Guide The diagram on the left shows you the kind of information you see in the program guides. You can access a toolbar at the bottom of the program guide by pressing the FETCH button while in the guide (see the Toolbar section at the bottom of this page). Selectable Advertisements, available when ads are turned on in the guides (highlight and select for more information).
Satellite Receiver Features Active Profile Dolby Digital and Alternate Audio indicators Program titles and information Main menu AlphaSort™ System lock/unlock Interactive content indicator Mailbox Scout™ Alternate audio Viewing suggestions Category Guide Caller ID Buttons of the Channel Banner Main Menu icon Takes you to the Main menu. Locked icon The system is locked. Spending, viewing and other limits cannot be accessed or changed. Selecting this icon displays a password menu.
Satellite Receiver Features Displaying On-screen Guides Each time you press the remote control’s GUIDE button, a different type of program guide appears: The Detail Guide The Detail Guide shows six channels (four with the toolbar) in a time-and-channel format, with program information for the highlighted program.
Satellite Receiver Features Tuning to a Program To tune directly to a current program listed in the guide, point to the program and press SELECT. To see information about a program in the guide, point to the program and press INFO. Then, you can select: • Tune Program to tune to that channel • Record Program to record the program. • Remind Me to set up a Watch Timer, which will display a prompt when the program is about to begin.
Satellite Receiver Features Additional Program Guides The Program Guides menu gives you more guides to choose from besides the Detail and Grid Guides: the Channel Guide, the Logo Guide, the Category Guide, the Viewing Suggestions Guide, AlphaSort and Scout. You can also change the current profile from the Profile Guide in the Program Guides menu. You can access these guides from the Main menu by selecting Program Guides. The Channel Guide Displays the programming schedule for the selected channel.
Satellite Receiver Features The Category Guide Lets you search the guide for programs matching a particular category or subsequent subcategory. To search by category or subcategory: 1. Press the remote control’s MENU button to display the Main menu. 2. Press 1 to select Program Guides. 3. Press the 5 button to choose Category Guide. 4. Use the up and down arrows to highlight the category you’d like to search. Press SELECT to select that category (the Category Search menu appears). 5.
Satellite Receiver Features The Guide Toolbar The Detail and Grid Guides have a special toolbar you can access by pressing FETCH in those guides. This toolbar offers several ways of organizing and searching through program guide information so that you can find the programs you want more quickly and easily, even if you don’t know their names.
Chapter 4: Using On-Screen Menus Using the Menu System To display the Main menu, press MENU on the remote control. To use the menu system, you need to use the remote control’s arrow buttons to highlight your on-screen choice, then use the SELECT button to select it. In menus that use numbered choices, you can use the remote control’s number buttons to select an item quickly.
Using On-Screen Menus Main Menu Items This section briefly describes each of the options available from the Main menu. More information about each menu and its features is included later in this chapter, and you can always get more information when an item is highlighted by pressing the remote control’s INFO button. Program Guides Selecting this button will display a menu with a variety of different ways to view program guide information.
Using On-Screen Menus Messages The Messages menu lets you access messages or phone calls. If you select Mail, it shows you messages that are sent from DIRECTV. For example, you may receive a message calling your attention to a new service. If you select Caller ID, this menu shows you Caller ID information from your telephone provider (if you subscribe to Caller ID service from your telephone company).
Using On-Screen Menus Receiving Calls When your phone rings twice and Caller ID Message is set to On, a banner appears at the bottom of the screen temporarily. To clear the caller ID banner from the screen, press the CLEAR button on the remote control. The banner may include the phone number, date, and time; or the name, phone number, date, and time. The banner information depends on the type of service your telephone company provides.
Using On-Screen Menus Using the Purchases Menu The Purchases menu allows you to review upcoming and past purchases and set spending limits. The list of purchases may be longer than one screen; use the up and down arrow buttons to see more items. The display also shows the title, channel, date, time, and cost of each program. Note: The Past Purchases list is updated as soon as a purchased program is viewed.
Using On-Screen Menus To purchase a movie or event, you can take one of two actions: • Tune to a PPV channel using the remote control’s CH buttons. When you find one, press the SELECT button to find more information and details about how to purchase the program. • Highlight a PPV program in a program guide and press INFO. The Program Details screen will appear and give you more information about the program. From this screen you can also purchase the program.
Using On-Screen Menus User Profiles Profiles allows you to set up different channel lists and limits for the different members of your family. A main profile (the Family Profile) and up to four separate profiles can be created. Individual settings that can be changed in the Profile Menu include the profile name, viewable channel lists, ratings limits for TV and movies, viewing hours, spending limits, and profile locking.
Using On-Screen Menus Setting the Rating Limit The Rating Limit menu enables you to set a maximum rating viewing limit for rated movies (based on the MPAA rating system) and TV programs. Unrated movies and TV programs can also be restricted from individual profiles. 1. In the Edit Profile menu, select Rating Limits. 2. Highlight the desired rating feature to set (Movie Ratings, TV ratings, or Not Rated Events). 3. Press the remote control’s SELECT button. 4.
Using On-Screen Menus Locking the System Locking the system puts the ratings, spending, viewing, and channel limits you have set up for each profile into effect. When you lock the system, no one can modify any of these settings without first entering the four-digit system password. 1. In the Profiles menu, select Lock System. 2. Use the arrows or the digit buttons to enter a four-digit system password. 3. Enter the password a second time to confirm it.
Using On-Screen Menus Personal Settings The Personal Settings menu lets you customize the look and feel of the active profile. Each of the satellite system’s profiles can have individualized personal settings. Note: If a personal profile is password protected, then that password must be entered before changing any of the profile’s settings. Once you have accessed the personal settings menu, select the desired profile. You will use the remote control’s arrow and SELECT buttons to make your selections.
Using On-Screen Menus To assign one function to the FETCH button: 1. Press MENU to bring up the Main menu. 2. Select Personal Settings, 3. Select the desired profile (each profile can have a different Fetch Menu). 4. Select Edit Fetch. 5. Select Fetch Control. 6. Select Assign One Function. 7. Select Fetch List from the Edit Fetch menu. 8. Choose which menu item you would like to assign to the FETCH button by pointing and selecting. 9.
Using On-Screen Menus Receiver Options The Receiver Options feature allows you to set a default on-screen display language, identify the type of VCR you want the receiver to control, choose a receiver output channel (the channel that the TV views satellite broadcasting), set up the remote control, select a default picture size, select a Dolby Digital option, and set the time zone.
Using On-Screen Menus Dolby Digital This menu feature allows the system’s audio output to use Dolby-Digital quality sound. You must have the digital satellite system attached to a Dolby Digital-enabled receiver or decoder via the DIGITAL AUDIO output jacks on back of the satellite receiver in order for this feature to work. You have three choices for the digital output signal: Auto Select (the default setting if you’re using the Dolby Digital signal), Dolby Digital and PCM.
Using On-Screen Menus Dish Pointing The Dish Pointing menu helps you set up your digital satellite receiver and optimize your reception of the satellite signal. Selecting Your Dish Antenna It is important to complete each of the following steps required for your satellite dish antenna. If you do not, you will not receive proper dish pointing coordinates and will not be able to take full advantage of your digital satellite receiver. Specify the type of dish you are using: 1.
Using On-Screen Menus Tip If your system fails a test, run the system test several times before concluding that there is a problem. Occasional fluctuations in the phone line or satellite signal can give temporary false readings. System Test This function allows you to perform a system-level diagnostic test on the satellite receiver. There are four sub-tests within this system test. Each one will display results after the testing for that area is complete.
Chapter 5: Other Information Troubleshooting Many problems can be corrected by performing a simple reset of the digital satellite receiver. If you experience the following: • Image freezes • Blank screen • Audio freezes • Won’t respond to front panel or remote try this: press and hold the POWER button on the front of the receiver for at least five seconds. If the problems persist, try unplugging the digital satellite receiver for 15 seconds to 2 minutes and then plug it in again.
Other Information Temporary loss of the satellite signal • Your satellite system may be experiencing rain fade, a temporary loss of the satellite signal due to the signal’s inability to penetrate unusually heavy rain clouds or rainfall. Rain fade is usually brief, lasting only as long as the heavy rain cloud condition persists. See the Satellite Systems and Rain Fade throw-in sheet that came with your satellite receiver for more information.
Other Information Running the System Test The System Test allows you to run a basic diagnostics check on your digital satellite receiver. If you are experiencing any trouble with your receiver, run the system test. It will also allow you to get your access card and receiver ID numbers or to initiate diagnostic procedures on your digital satellite receiver. First make sure that: • all connections—jacks, cables, etc.—are correctly in place.
Other Information RCA® – DIRECTV® SYSTEM LIMITED WARRANTY What your warranty covers: • Defects in materials or workmanship. For how long after your purchase: • 90 days from date of purchase - Unit exchange, which includes parts and labor. • 91 days to 1 year from date of purchase - Unit exchange, which includes parts only; you pay the labor. • The warranty for rental units begins with the first rental or 45 days from date of shipment to the rental firm, whichever comes first.
Other Information To receive a replacement receiver after we have received your unit: • Write the SR number on the outside of the carton used to return the unit. Make sure you insure your shipment in case of damage or loss. • Carefully pack the unit using the original box and packing material if possible. Please retain all accessories that were included with your unit such as the remote control hand unit and access card. • Include with the shipment: 1. Evidence of purchase date such as a bill of sale. 2.
Other Information FCC Customer Information This equipment complies with Part 68 of the FCC rules and the requirements adopted by the ACTA. On the back or bottom side of this equipment is a label that contains, among other information, a product identifier in the format US:G95XXXXXXXXX. If requested, this number must be provided to the telephone company.
Other Information Accessory Information There are various accessories available to complement your TV. Prices are subject to change without notice. All accessories are subject to availability. A shipping and handling fee will be charged upon ordering, and we are required by law to collect the appropriate sales tax for each individual state, country, and locality to which the merchandise is being sent.
Index A F P S A/V jacks/cables 6 Access card 10, 37 AlphaSort™ 17, 21, 22 Alternate data 37 Animation 32 Arrows on remote 11 Assisted setup 10, 40 Audio hum 2 Fetch 32 Front panel light 26 Pay Per View programs 27 Personal settings 24, 32 animation 32 color scheme 32 default guide 32 edit Fetch 32 name 32 translucency 32 Picture size 34 Power surges 2 Problems, solving 38 Profiles 24 channel lists 29 menu 24, 29 rating limit 30 spending limits 30 viewing hours 30 Program guides 24 anatomy 24 channel g
If your digital satellite receiver needs service, please contact your dealer or the nearest Service Center from the Yellow Pages. Please do not send any products to the Indianapolis address listed in this manual or on the carton. This will only add delays in service for your product. The software used to display images in this product is based in part on the work of the Independent JPEG Group. Thomson multimedia Inc. 10330 North Meridian Street Indianapolis, IN 46290 ©2002 Thomson multimedia Inc.
