DirecTV DVR Tips and Tricks
Many features are available to help you to get the most out of your viewing experience with DirecTV's DVRs. Accessing and using them is easy and straightforward after you have become familiar with the way they work.
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Live Broadcast Recording
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Whenever you schedule the recording of a live broadcast recording, a message will appear onscreen asking if you would like to extend the recording time. The default setting extends recordings by 30 minutes, but you can change the extension to anything from 1 minute up to 3 hours.
TVmail
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With the TVmail feature, you can get important announcements instantly. Press the "Menu" button on the remote and select "TVmail." When new messages are available, a mail icon appears in the channel banner when tuning to any channel.
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Active Channel
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Press the "Active" button on your remote to view useful, up-to-the-minute information, including a five-day weather forecast for your area, lottery drawing results and horoscopes.
Increased Recording Capacity
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The recording capacity of some DirecTV DVRs can be expanded through the use of external hard drives connected to the DVR's eSATA port. Seagate and Western Digital offer hard drives with 500GB and 1TB capacities and eSATA connectors that work with these DirecTV DVRs. To connect an external drive, turn the DVR off by unplugging the power cord. Locate the eSATA port on the back of the unit, and connect an eSATA cable. Connect the other end of the cable to the external hard drive and turn on the hard drive. Plug in the DVR's power cord and turn it on. The external drive will replace the internal hard drive for recording.
DoublePlay
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This feature allows you to watch two programs that are on at the same time; it is remarkably easy to use. While watching one program, press the down arrow on the remote. Press the down arrow again to select another program on a different channel. To switch between programs, use the down arrow. You can pause or rewind either program so you don't a miss a minute of the action.
DVR Scheduler
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You can set your DVR from anywhere with a cell phone or a computer. Register your DirecTV account online, log on to the TV listings page or go to m.directv.com on your cell phone. Search for the show you wish to record. After you have selected the show to be recorded, you are finished.
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