Shaw Direct Satellite TV - User Guide Essential HD Receiver (HDDSR 600) Advanced HD Receiver (HDDSR 605) Advanced HDPVR (HDPVR 630)
Preface © 2014 Shaw Satellite G.P. All trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. Version 4.
Table of Contents 1. THE BASICS ............................................................................................ 1 1A. CONNECTIONS AND VIDEO SETTINGS ............................................................... 1 1B. CURRENT VERSION ......................................................................................... 3 1C. ACTIVATING YOUR RECEIVER ........................................................................... 3 1D. USING YOUR REMOTE CONTROL ..................................
How to Read This Manual iv
1. The Basics 1A. Connections and Video Settings When installing your HDDSR, 1 direct coax line is required to connect to your satellite dish or multiswitch. If you have an HDPVR, 2 direct coax lines are required. The HDPVR will not function if only 1 line is connected. If you would like us to take care of the installation, call Customer Service or visit shawdirect.ca/contactus – we’re here 24/7 to discuss available options and help you book an appointment.
Video Settings After connecting your satellite receiver, taking a moment to optimize your video settings will ensure the best viewing experience. You are also able to set a screensaver in this menu. Press OPTIONS on your remote control, then enter the numbers 4, 5. The following Video Settings options will be available: • • • • Output Resolution [1080p, 1080i, 720p, 480p, 480i]: This determines the primary resolution that is used to send video to your TV. On most HDTVs, 1080i is optimal.
You can use the ASPECT or B button while watching any program or recording to stretch or zoom the picture. The current aspect mode is shown on screen each time you press the button, and will be reset to the default specified by the “SD Aspect Ratio” setting each time you turn on your satellite receiver. Additional Connections The following connections may also be required for access to certain features or services.
Navigating the Onscreen Menus 1 The following keys will allow you to navigate through the menus on your Shaw Direct HD receiver: The directional arrow keys allow you to move up, down, left, and right through the onscreen menus. Your current selection is shown in white or blue. 2 The ENTER or OK button will “select” the item highlighted and display available options or confirm the current selection. For example: 1. Pressing ENTER will display the Program Options menu for Live Free or Die Hard. 2.
1E. Menu Bar The Menu Bar is your portal to all the great features available on your Shaw Direct HD receiver. Many tools and menus found here can also be accessed directly by using the appropriate key on your remote control. The Menu Bar can be accessed by pressing MENU or INTERACTIVE on your remote control. From live TV, pressing A will also bring up the Menu Bar. The Menu Bar will always appear at the bottom of your screen and will exit you from any active menus.
PVR Options PVR PVR Upcoming PVR List Manual Timer Browse On Demand VOD Title Search Video On Demand VOD Wishlist My VOD Orders VOD Adult Search Help Pay Per View (PPV) PPV Search PPV Adult Search My PPV Orders Customize your recording preferences for each series or show you have scheduled to record. View a list of all programs that are currently set to be recorded in the next 14 days. Accesses your previously recorded programs (also accessible by pressing PVR on your remote).
Caller ID Messages Mail Messages Check out your Caller ID log. View your receiver mail messages sent from Shaw Direct – an envelope will be displayed on the info banner and front panel of your HDPVR if a new message is pending. Switch User Login to a different user profile. This will be unavailable if you’re using Single User Mode.
HDDSR Menu Audio Search Keyword Search Interests Search Search Category Search VOD PPV Guide Reminder Options Reminders Upcoming Reminders Manual Timer Browse On Demand Video On Demand VOD Title Search VOD Wishlist Allows you to search for commercial-free digital music stations by genre, or radio stations by city. Search for programs using a keyword. Results will be returned when the keyword is found in the Program Title, Episode Title, Program or Episode Description or Cast.
My VOD Orders VOD Adult Search Help Pay Per View (PPV) PPV Search PPV Adult Search My PPV Orders Caller ID Messages Mail Messages View active titles that have been ordered to your account, or resume an order you had previously stopped right from where you left off. Browse the Adult Shaw Direct On Demand library, for 18+ viewers only – if adult content has been locked, this will not be accessible. Provides an overview of how to access Shaw Direct On Demand.
2. Finding What you Want, When you Want Menu Bar 2A. The Guide One of the greatest features of your Shaw Direct digital satellite TV is the interactive on-screen Guide. With the Guide, you can instantly see what’s airing right now and into the future, on every channel you subscribe to! When accessed, the Guide will appear with the channel you’re watching highlighted. You can browse the on-screen Guide while watching your favourite show in the corner of the screen.
Customizing your Guide There are 6 different guide views you can choose depending on your needs. Change the amount of channels you see on one page, the font size (which will apply to all on-screen text) and how you see program genre colouring. Change your preference by pressing OPTIONS, scroll over to “Settings,” and select “Preferences.
Understanding the Guide 12
All listings in the Guide and Search Results are colour-coded to help you find what you’re looking for faster. When you select a program, broadcasting symbols help you understand more about it, such as the parental rating, whether it is presented in high definition, or if it is a new episode.
2B. Search Tools With over 600 channels and up to two weeks of programming information, sometimes it can be difficult to find what you’re looking for using the Guide. By using the search tools built into your receiver, you can easily find programs airing on live TV by keyword, interests, or category. Menu Bar Keyword Search 5XX Remote 6XX Remote N/A N/A 5XX Remote 6XX Remote Keyword Search allows you to search for programs or movies based on the title, information description or cast member.
use the RIGHT ARROW to select the list, and the UP or DOWN keys to browse through the available programs. Pressing ENTER will give you the Program Options menu on the HDPVR, and the Upcoming Air Dates screen on the HDDSR. You can also can choose to press C on your remote to bring up the Upcoming Air Dates screen quickly for the currently highlighted program. To modify your search, press A on your remote or arrow LEFT or RIGHT to be brought back to the Interests Search screen.
2C. Info Pages Expanded Information for most programs is available by pressing the INFO button on the remote control to page through the description. The number of pages of information is indicated on the bottom right side of the info window. While watching full-screen video (such as live TV, a previously recorded program, or an on-demand selection), you can press ENTER for condensed program information, or INFO for full information.
2D. Program Options Menu The Program Options menu is your gateway to many of the great program-related features contained in your Shaw Direct receiver, including setting recordings or reminders and viewing upcoming air dates. While in the Guide, Upcoming Air Dates screen, or Search results, press the ENTER key on the desired program to view the Program Options menu. If the program is currently airing, pressing ENTER will tune to it. In this case, press OPTIONS to access the menu.
Pay Per View (PPV) Movies and Events For PPV programs, the following Program Options may be available: • • • • • Tune to this channel: Change to this channel, regardless of what is currently airing. If you haven’t purchased the title, you will be presented with ordering instructions including the program’s unique Order ID. Pay Per View (PPV) Help: Displays helpful information on ordering PPV in general.
2F. Audio Search Shaw Direct carries 40 commercial-free Galaxie digital music stations and over 50 radio stations from all over North America. The Music Search tool allows you to easily find whatever you’re in the mood for. After selecting “Search” from the main Menu Bar, select “Audio search” and use the UP or DOWN arrow keys to choose between commercial free “Music” stations, or regular “Radio” stations.
3. Customize Your Viewing Experience Menu Bar 3A. User Modes The Shaw Direct HD Guide offers two different options for how customizations (such as Guide views and channel lists) and Parental Controls (such as Rating Locks and restrictions) are handled – Single User Mode or Multi-User Mode. Single User mode is designed for households who may not require different settings to be applied for different members of their household.
3B. Single User Mode & Parental Controls Single User mode permissions allow you to keep locked content from being accessed or viewed without the 4-digit parental password being entered. When activated within Single User mode, Parental Controls apply uniformly across the entire system, preventing access to locked programs via the Guide, Search results, direct channel entry, LOD playback, the PVR List, and on VOD.
Locked content is indicated throughout the system with the closed “lock” icon. If you’ve entered your PIN to unlock content, icons will change to the “unlocked” icon. Using Parental Controls You will be prompted to enter your PIN each time a locked program is encountered, you attempt to access a locked or protected menu, or change the permissions on the receiver.
3C. Multi-User Mode & Parental Controls As explained in section 3A, Multi-User mode allows you to create up to eight customized “profiles”, each with their own preferences, permissions, and restrictions. While in Multi-User mode, the first profile on the system is known as the “Primary Owner”. Full access to the entire system is granted while this profile is active, so it’s a good idea to set a PIN if you plan to enforce any type of restrictions for other profiles.
After selecting a profile type, choose whether you’d like to set a PIN for this profile. If set, the PIN will be required once, each time the profile is activated. Once your PIN has been confirmed, you will be asked to edit the user name. Use the ARROW keys and ENTER on your remote to navigate through the keyboard, and select “Accept” once you’re done entering your text. Now it’s time to customize the exact permissions for this specific user, which should now be shown at the top of the screen.
• • • Free VOD Orders [Enabled, disabled]: When you connect your receiver to your high-speed internet connection, you get instant access to over 10,000 on demand choices. Allow no cost on-demand orders to be purchased or not. See section 9 for more details. Daily VOD Purchase Limit [No purchases allowed, $5, $15, $30, $50, Unlimited]: Set a daily purchase limit for this user’s paid on-demand orders. See section 9 for more details. Change PIN: Change your current PIN.
The “Select a User” screen includes icons to show the below settings on a per profile basis, as well as a quick “Permissions Summary” overview. Profile Attributes Profile has Owner-level permissions Profile will be activated when receiver is initially powered on Indicates the profile has a PIN Currently active (logged in) profile. You’re able to backup and restore your Single User and Multi-User settings to a USB key to transfer to other receivers. See section 11B. Backup and Restore for full details. 4.
From within the Program Options menu, the following selections can be used to set a Recording Event: • • • • Smart Record new episodes: Each time a first-run episode of the selected program airs, it will be automatically recorded. This creates a Smart recurring Recording Event. Smart Record all episodes: Each time any episode of the selected program airs, it will be automatically recorded. This creates a Smart recurring Recording Event.
Smart recurring Recording Events are distinguished from one-time Recording Events with multiple recording icons layered together. Smart one-time Recording Events are distinguished with a single, gear shaped recording icon. From the list of Recording Events, you are able to adjust a program’s priority by pressing A to “Raise Priority” or B to “Lower Priority.” The HDPVR relies on priorities to determine which programs get recorded in the event of a conflict.
• • Start Early [off, 1-90 minute]: Turning this option on will force the PVR to begin recording the program the specified number of minutes before it is scheduled to begin. End Late [off, 1-90 minute]: Turning this option on will force the PVR to end recording the program the specified number of minutes after it is scheduled to end. This can be useful for live sporting events or to ensure you always see next week’s preview at the end of an episode.
• • • • • Tune to this channel: Directly tune to the channel the program will recorded on. Do not record this program or Stop This Recording: Selecting this option will cancel the recording of this particular episode, or stop an in-progress recording. The partial recording will still be available in the PVR List. Do not record this series: Applicable to recurring recording events.
4F. Dual Recordings With two tuners, your HDPVR can record up to two programs at once. If you are watching TV and dual scheduled recordings are about to begin, you will see the Notification Bar appear at the top of the screen. When the Notification Bar appears on-screen, you have three options: A will dismiss the alert, which will cause you to be tuned away from the current channel at the start of the programs to allow for both upcoming recordings to begin.
If you would like to record a program which may run long, such a live sporting event, it is recommended to use the “End Late” setting in PVR Options for the desired program. Once set, manual timers can be managed like any other type of Recording Event in the PVR Options menu. Menu Bar 5. The PVR List 5A. Playing Back Your Recorded Programs Once recorded, your programs are all available in one convenient location – the PVR List.
Sorting the PVR List You can use the LEFT or RIGHT arrow keys as well as the A button to sort recordings in your PVR List. The current sort criteria is highlighted in blue, or stated at the top of the screen. • • • • Date and Time: All recordings are sorted chronologically by the date it was recorded on. The newest recordings appear at the top of the list. Program Name (Alphabetical): All recordings are sorted alphabetically, with “A” at the top. Grouped by Program: Episodes are grouped by program name.
5B. Playback Controls After selecting “Watch this recording”, you can control playback just like a DVD by using the playback keys on the remote control: 2 Pressing PAUSE will pause playback at the current position. Press PAUSE or PLAY to resume playback. 5 6 Use REWIND and FAST FORWARD to move backwards or forward through the recording. There are three fast forward and rewind speeds available, press the button again to move to the next speed.
Understanding the Playback Bar The Playback Bar is like a map of your recording, telling you exactly where you are and where you can go at any given time. The following diagram explains what each part of the playback bar means: BLUE shows parts of a program which were recorded and have already been watched. GREEN shows parts of a program which were recorded but have not been watched yet. Your current position GREY shows parts of a program which were not recorded.
6. Controlling Live TV with Live-off-Disk (LOD) Almost immediately after you tune to a channel, your HDPVR automatically begins recording it in the background to a special part of the hard drive called the LOD buffer. In the same way that you can control a recorded program, you can control live TV! Simply press one of the playback control buttons described on page 34 to get started. Note: You cannot fast forward past the current “live” position of a program.
7. Expanding your Recording Capacity Your HDPVR 630 allows you to record over 220 SD, or 60 HD hours on the internal hard drive. If you need more space, you can expand your recording capacity by adding an external hard drive. 7A. External Hard Drive Requirements Review the following information to ensure the drive you purchase will work with your HDPVR 630 receiver. Supported external hard drives must: • Be connected via eSATA: eSATA is up to six times faster than USB 2.0, making it great for HD video.
7B. Setting Up Your External Hard Drive 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Connect the eSATA cable (it should be provided with the drive you purchased) from the external hard drive to the port labeled "eSATA" on the back of your HDPVR 630. Connect the power cable from your external hard drive to a power bar or wall outlet. If your external hard drive has a power switch, turn it on now. Ensure the power or status light illuminates. Restart your HDPVR 630 by holding down the power button on the front panel for 10 seconds.
8. HDDSR: Smart Reminder Technology Menu Bar The same technology used on the Shaw Direct HDPVR to automatically record and manage all your favourite programs is also available on the HDDSR to “remind” you whenever certain programs are airing. When a program you’ve set a reminder for is about to start, you’ll see the Notification Bar at the top of the screen. Just press B on your remote and you’ll see a list of all upcoming “reminded” programs, all in one convenient menu! 8A.
Menu Bar Upcoming Reminders 5XX Remote 6XX Remote N/A N/A 5XX Remote 6XX Remote N/A N/A If you missed the Notification Bar, or just want to know about your upcoming reminders, press DOWN on your remote (up to the program start) or select “Upcoming” from the “Reminders” section on the Menu Bar. If you would like to delete or change an upcoming reminder, use the Reminders Options menu. Menu Bar 8C.
Program-Based (One Time) Auto-Tunes Program-based Auto-tunes are set from the Program Options menu by selecting "Automatically tune to this program". These will activate one time only and will show a clock symbol in the Guide. Recurring Auto-Tunes Recurring Auto-tunes are set from the "Manual Timers" section of the "Reminders" menu bar. From this menu, you must set the channel, start date, start and end time, and frequency for the Auto-tune. Available frequencies are Once, Daily, Weekly, and Weekdays.
9A. Watch what you want, when you want As of July 2014, Shaw Direct’s On Demand library contains over 10,000 titles, with more being added every day. With primetime TV shows, new-release movies, family favourites, documentaries, music videos, cult classics, daytime TV, and more, there’s something for everyone on Shaw Direct On Demand. New release movies are generally available for $4.99 in SD, and $6.99 in HD.
internet. If you’ve got a wireless network, or more than two computers which connect to the internet in your house, chances are you have a home router. Your router may be a separate device which plugs into your internet modem, or it may be integrated into your modem. Either way, you must have at least one free Ethernet port to connect to your satellite receiver.
If your home has an Ethernet wall jack near your TV, simply plug the cable in step 2 into the wall jack. The other end of this cable must still be connected to your router or a network switch. Method 2 – Powerline Bridge Connection If you are unable to run a direct line from your home router to your satellite receiver, two (2) HomePlug powerline bridge units can be used to “bridge” the connection and turn any electrical outlet in your home into a wired network jack.
Bridges, you can add additional single units to connect additional satellite receivers or other devices like game consoles, PCs, etc. Alternate Connectivity Methods It is not possible to use a USB wireless adapter, 4G Wireless stick, or other USB-based devices to connect your Shaw Direct satellite receiver to the internet. Products which enable connectivity via the regular Ethernet port like a wireless media bridge are technically capable of getting your satellite receiver online.
Connection speed test When all four status fields in Network Status read “Online”, you can run the connection speed test. Press A on your remote while in the Network Status Menu. The receiver will connect to our servers and test the speed of your connection. When the speed test is complete, the results will be displayed. Pay special attention to the “Sufficient for SD” and “Sufficient for HD” information.
1. Order When you find a show you may want to order, press ENTER. The available options will be presented, including the SD and HD prices, if available. Select the version you’d like to order, confirm the purchase, and then get ready to sit back and enjoy! If you are operating in Single User mode and selected a title which exceeds your current Parental Controls ratings locks, the PIN will be required to access the options menu.
Modifying VOD Settings As outlined in the Parental Control section, VOD settings can also be set on a per user basis (if using Multi-User mode), or set across the board (if using Single User Mode). If you’re comfortable with the ratings locks you’ve previously set, you can also set limitations to the following from within the Parental Controls menu: • Free Content [Enabled, Disabled]: Enabling free content will allow users to order any no-cost programs.
How much bandwidth will I use watching Shaw Direct On Demand? The following chart indicates the maximum amount of bandwidth you could consume at each setting, assuming your internet connection is fast enough to support that level of streaming. Maximum download rate Good enough for… 8 Mbps 7 Mbps 6 Mbps 5 Mbps HD/SD HD/SD HD/SD HD/SD Maximum Usage (GB per hour of On Demand video watched) 3.52 GB/h 3.08 GB/h 2.64 GB/h 2.20 GB/h 4 Mbps 3 Mbps 2 Mbps SD SD SD 1.76 GB/h 1.32 GB/h 0.88 GB/h 9G.
10. Other Menus Menu Bar 5XX Remote 6XX Remote N/A N/A 5XX Remote 6XX Remote N/A N/A 10A. Pay-Per-View Select the “Pay Per View (PPV)” icon to bring up the PPV menu bar. Select “PPV Search” to easily browse the currently airing and upcoming PPV Movies. This will display all PPV Movies with the movie’s poster for a more visual experience than browsing through the Guide.
10C. Caller ID Log Menu Bar If you have connected your HDDSR 605 or HDPVR 630 receiver to your residential telephone line and subscribe to Caller ID through your local phone company, incoming calls will appear onscreen in real time. You can access a log of your recent incoming calls by selecting “Call Log” from the Messages section of the Menu Bar.
o o o Font Size [Auto, Small, Standard, Large]: Select the font size used for on-screen closed captions Font Style [Auto, Monospace, Proportional, Capitals]: Changes the font style for captions. Digital Service [Auto, Primary Language, Secondary Language]: Select the language used for captions, auto is recommended. You can quickly enable and disable Closed Captions at any time by pressing HELP, C.
• • Program Colouring [Full-Colour, Subtle]: Adjusts the colour style for program genres within your guide. “Full-Colour” features a bright colour gradient whereas “Subtle” features a horizontal colour bar on each program. Unsubscribed Channels [Show, Hide]: Choose to hide channels which are not included in your current programming package. If set to “Show,” these channels will be greyed out within your guide.
• Optical Digital Audio [Dolby Digital, PCM]: These settings control the audio signal sent through the digital Optical cable. “Dolby Digital” will not perform any conversion and will provide Dolby Digital 5.1 sound on indicated programs when connected to a compatible home theatre system. “PCM” will convert the audio the PCM format. If you are connected via HDMI directly to your TV, you may have to select “PCM” in order to get sound.
• • Skip Forward/Skip Backward Duration [10-300 seconds]: Sets the duration of time that is automatically skipped through when using 0 SKIP FORWARD or 9 SKIP BACKWARD. Live Record to Disk (LOD) [Enabled, Disabled]: Enable or disable the ability to use LOD, as referred to on page 36. Network Settings • • • DCHP Refresh: Press ENTER to refresh DHCP for Shaw Direct On Demand troubleshooting. This may be necessary if your network configuration or connection has been recently changed.
11C. Status System Status The System Status menu displays a variety of diagnostic information about your receiver, including signal strength on each tuner, authorization status, current software version, and more. In this menu, you can access the “Tune in satellite” screen by pressing A on your remote. You can also press OPTIONS, 4, 3, 1 to access this menu. Audio may be temporarily lost while in this menu, and will return when you change channels.
Q. Can I record 2 programs and watch a 3rd channel live? A. Because the HDPVR only has 2 tuners and both are in use when you are recording 2 different programs, you can only watch a 3rd program off of the DVR list. You can utilize the Search tool or “View upcoming air dates” option to search for an alternate airing of the program you are trying to watch. You can also watch a program on VOD while recording two other programs. Refer to the Shaw Direct On Demand section more information. Q.
Jumping to a particular point is easy with Absolute Jump. Use the number keys to enter the time you want to jump to, followed by the PLAY (1) key. For example, pressing 2, 0, PLAY will jump to 20:00 (minute 20) in the program. You can also move around using Absolute Skip. Use the number keys to enter the number of minutes you want to skip, followed by SKIP FORWARD (0) to move forward, or SKIP BACK (9) to move backwards. For example, pressing 1, 5, SKIP BACK will move 15 minutes back in the program.
Q. I have a wireless (WiFi) home network. Can I connect my satellite receiver wirelessly? A. It is not possible to use a USB wireless adapter, 4G Wireless stick, or other USB-based devices to connect your Shaw Direct satellite receiver to the internet. Products which enable connectivity via the regular Ethernet port like a wireless media bridge are technically capable of getting your satellite receiver online.
There are a variety of factors related to how far the data needs to travel between the Shaw Direct On Demand network and your satellite receiver which can affect how fast you’re able to connect. Using a wireless connection will also reduce the speed test results. If results still seem low, make sure no one else in the house is using a lot of bandwidth while you’re running the speed test. File sharing, online gaming, video streaming, VOIP services, and more all use a fair amount of bandwidth.
