How Does a Motorola DVR Remote PIP Work?

Two people can watch their favorite shows simultaneously using a PIP-enabled receiver box.

The picture-in-picture, or PIP, feature offered by your cable or satellite provider allows you to watch your favorite show while your spouse, child or friend can watches her favorite show at the same time, without having to change the channel. In order to use this feature, you must use a TV, DVR and service provider that support it -- and in the case of a Motorola, the company's DVRs do not.

Motorola's DVRs

Motorola's 3400 and 6400 lines of DVRs include dual-tuner technology. A DVR -- or any receiver box -- with two tuners is capable of broadcasting or recording TV from two channels simultaneously, because each tuner is capable of receiving and airing a separate signal. This dual-tuner feature is intrinsic to how PIP works, because a receiver with just a single tuner would be unable to air the picture within the picture.

Motorola's Remote

All Motorola DVRs come with either a DRC400 or DRC425 universal remote control. This remote control can be programmed to work along with your television, cable or satellite receiver box, auxiliary gaming or sound system and DVD or VCR player. The remote includes buttons to change the channel, access the programming guide, change the volume or access the settings menu; it does not, however, include any buttons to control a PIP feature, because Motorola's DVRs do not support this function as of December 2011.

Comcast's Universal Remote

Comcast, one of the nation's largest cable service providers, leases Motorola DVRs -- including the DCT3400 -- to its subscribers. Because cable companies supply their own universal remotes, designed to work with any TV or receiver box, you won't get a Motorola remote to work with your Motorola DVR. Instead, your Comcast remote will be programmed to send signals to your Motorola DVR as well as your television.

Remote Confusion

While Motorola's standard remote control for its DVRs does not have buttons for operating PIP, Comcast's universal remote does. This creates a lot of confusion, because customers who receive a Motorola DVR to use as their set-top receiver from Comcast will notice the PIP buttons located at the bottom of their remote, but will be unable to use them, since the DVR itself does not support this function.

References

• Motorola: FAQs - PIP
• Comcast: Using Your Built-In Digital Video Recorder
• Motorola: DRC400-425 Universal Remote Control User's Guide