DIRECTV Receiver Owner’s Manual For DIRECTV Receiver Models: SIR-S300W SIR-S310W
Warning! Important Safety Instructions CAUTION RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK DO NOT OPEN CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT REMOVE COVER (OR BACK). NO USER SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE. REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL. This symbol indicates high voltage is present inside. It is dangerous to make any kind of contact with any part inside of this product. This symbol alerts you that important literature concerning operation and maintenance has been included with this product.
Warning! Important Safety Instructions Always be careful when using this product. To reduce the risk of fire, electrical shock, and other injuries, keep these safety precautions in mind when installing, using, and maintaining your DIRECTV® Receiver. • Read all safety and operating instructions before operating this product. • Keep the safety and operating instructions for future reference. • Heed all warnings on the product and in the operating instructions. • Follow all operating and use instructions.
Warning! Important Safety Instructions • Avoid overhead power lines. An outside antenna system should not be placed in the vicinity of overhead power lines or other electric light or power circuits or where it can fall into such power lines or circuits. When installing an outside antenna system, be extremely careful to keep from touching the power lines or circuits. Contact with such lines can be fatal. • Do not overload the wall outlet or extension cords. Overloading can result in fire or electric shock.
Notice Attention Telephone Line Interruption A continuous land-based phone line connection is required for DIRECTV® Pay Per View functionality and sports subscriptions. Any calls generated by the DIRECTV Receiver are toll free. These calls are typically made in the middle of the night; your phone is in use for approximately 30 seconds. Trademark and copyright statements Samsung is a trademark of Samsung Electronics. ©2003 DIRECTV, Inc.
Warranty SAMSUNG DIGITAL SATELLITE RECEIVER LIMITED WARRANTY TO ORIGINAL PURCHASER This SAMSUNG manufactured product, as supplied and distributed by Samsung Electronics America, Inc.
Warranty adjustments and failure to follow operating instructions, cleaning, maintenance and environmental instructions that are covered and prescribed in the instruction book; product removal or reinstallation; reception problems and distortion related to noise, echo, interference or other signal transmission and delivery problems. SAMSUNG does not warrant uninterrupted or error-free operation of the product.
Table of Contents Chapter 1: Getting Started ......................................................................5 Box contents ...................................................................................5 Front panel controls and lights ........................................................7 Back of the DIRECTV Receiver ........................................................9 Installing the batteries in the remote control...................................11 Inserting the Access card .........
Chapter 3: Watching TV ........................................................................39 Remote control overview................................................................39 Changing channels .........................................................................41 Adjusting the volume .....................................................................41 Getting help ...................................................................................
Table of Contents Chapter 6: Settings, preferences, upgrades, and extras .........................85 Reading your mail ..........................................................................85 Setting system preferences .............................................................86 Reviewing and controlling caller ID ................................................92 Setting the Local Time options .......................................................94 Installing a new Access Card ...................
Chapter 8: Troubleshooting .................................................................109 Appendix: Specifications......................................................................111 Specifications for DIRECTV Receiver model SIR-S300W ...............111 Specifications for DIRECTV Receiver model SIR-S310W ...............112 Index....................................................................................................
Chapter 1: Getting started This chapter tells you everything you need to know before you start setting up and using your DIRECTV Receiver. It includes information on: • Box contents • Front panel controls and lights • Back of the DIRECTV Receiver • Installing the batteries in the remote control • Inserting the Access Card Box contents Welcome! The first step in setting up your DIRECTV Receiver is to unpack the box and familiarize yourself with its contents.
Box contents for the SIR-S310W If you are missing any items, contact your Samsung dealer.
Chapter 1: Getting started Front panel controls and lights Now that you’ve unpacked the box, take a moment to take a look at the buttons and lights on the front of your DIRECTV Receiver.
Chapter 1: Getting started POWER Button and light Push this button to turn your DIRECTV Receiver on or off. The light glows when power is on. Remote control sensor Point your remote control at this sensor when operating your receiver. Access Card door (Model SIR-S300W only) This door covers the Access Card slot. This slot holds the Access Card (which allows you to view DIRECTV® programming). The Access Card slot is on the rear panel on model SIR-S310W.
Chapter 1: Getting started Back of the DIRECTV Receiver The diagram below illustrates the location of the input and output jacks on the back of the receiver. These illustrations may help you as you set up your DIRECTV Receiver. Step-by-step setup instructions appear in Chapter 2.
Chapter 1: Getting started Satellite In The RG-6 cable from the satellite dish connects to this jack. Antenna In The cable from an off-air TV antenna (not from the satellite dish) connects to this jack. Video Out Using a standard video cable, this jack connects your DIRECTV Receiver to your TV or VCR. Audio Out Using standard stereo audio cables, these jacks connect the DIRECTV Receiver to your TV or VCR. S-Video Out This jack connects your DIRECTV Receiver to a TV or VCR that accepts S-Video input.
Chapter 1: Getting started Installing the batteries in the remote control You’ve unpacked the receiver and reviewed its front and back panels. Now it’s time to start setting up. The first step is to install the batteries in your remote control. 1 Unlatch the battery compartment cover on the back of remote control. 2 Insert 2 AAA batteries as shown, making sure the + and – ends of each battery line up with the corresponding marks in the battery compartment. 3 Snap the cover back onto the remote control.
Chapter 1: Getting started Inserting the Access Card The next step is to insert your Access Card into your receiver. (You will not be able to view DIRECTV® programming unless the Access Card is properly inserted into the DIRECTV Receiver.) For some receivers, the card may already be inserted when you unpack the box. 1 Locate the ACCESS CARD slot. On model SIR-S300W the slot is located on the front of the DIRECTV Receiver, behind the Access Card door.
Chapter 2: Setting up and connecting This chapter explains how to setup and start using your DIRECTV Receiver.
Telephone jack and cord The TEL LINE jack and the included telephone cord connect your DIRECTV Receiver to a phone line. If your home does not have RJ-11 type phone jacks, please contact your phone company to get one installed. A continuous land-based phone line connection is required for DIRECTV® Pay Per View functionality and Sports subscriptions. Any calls generated by the DIRECTV Receiver are toll-free.
Chapter 2: Setting up and connecting Before making connections The next steps are to determine which connection option you should use and then to make the necessary connections. Before you begin, please note the following important safety and setup tips. Protect your components from power surges • Always turn off and unplug your DIRECTV Receiver, TV, and any other components before connecting or disconnecting any of the cables.
Chapter 2: Setting up and connecting Choosing a connection Your DIRECTV Receiver supports a variety of connection possibilities to ensure that it is compatible with whatever type of TV, VCR, or A/V receiver you might have. This manual describes six different setup possibilities in detail. The one that is right for you depends on what type of A/V equipment you have in addition to your DIRECTV Receiver.
Chapter 2: Setting up and connecting Connection option A: DIRECTV Receiver to TV with RF cable only If connection option A best matches your needs, follow these steps: 1 Make sure your TV and DIRECTV Receiver are turned off and unplugged. 2 Connect the RG-6 coaxial cable running from your satellite dish to the SATELLITE IN jack on the back of your DIRECTV Receiver.
Chapter 2: Setting up and connecting Note: DIRECTV Receiver model SIR-S310W shown; connections are the same for model SIR-S300W.
Chapter 2: Setting up and connecting Connection option B: DIRECTV Receiver to TV with A/V cables If connection option B best matches your needs, follow these steps: 1 Make sure your TV and DIRECTV Receiver are turned off and unplugged. 2 Connect the RG-6 coaxial cable running from your satellite dish to the SATELLITE IN jack on the back of your DIRECTV Receiver.
Chapter 2: Setting up and connecting Note: DIRECTV Receiver model SIR-S310W shown; connections are the same for model SIR-S300W.
Chapter 2: Setting up and connecting Connection option C: DIRECTV Receiver to TV and VCR with RF cables only If connection option C best matches your needs, follow these steps: 1 Make sure your TV, VCR, and DIRECTV Receiver are turned off and unplugged. 2 Connect the RG-6 coaxial cable running from your satellite dish to the SATELLITE IN jack on the back of your DIRECTV Receiver.
Chapter 2: Setting up and connecting Note: DIRECTV Receiver model SIR-S310W shown; connections are the same for model SIR-S300W.
Chapter 2: Setting up and connecting Connection option D: DIRECTV Receiver to TV and VCR with A/V cables If connection option D best matches your needs, follow these steps: 1 Make sure your TV, VCR, and DIRECTV Receiver are turned off and unplugged. 2 Connect the RG-6 coaxial cable running from your satellite dish to the SATELLITE IN jack on the back of your DIRECTV Receiver.
Chapter 2: Setting up and connecting Note: DIRECTV Receiver model SIR-S310W shown; connections are the same for model SIR-S300W.
Chapter 2: Setting up and connecting Connection option E: DIRECTV Receiver to TV and A/V receiver If connection option E best matches your needs, follow these steps: 1 Make sure your TV, A/V receiver, and DIRECTV Receiver are turned off and unplugged. 2 Connect the RG-6 coaxial cable running from your satellite dish to the SATELLITE IN jack on the back of your DIRECTV Receiver.
Chapter 2: Setting up and connecting Note: DIRECTV Receiver model SIR-S310W shown; connections are the same for model SIR-S300W.
Chapter 2: Setting up and connecting Connection option F (SIR-S310W only): DIRECTV Receiver to TV with Component Video inputs and digital A/V receiver 1 Make sure your TV, A/V receiver, and DIRECTV Receiver are turned off and unplugged. 2 Connect the RG-6 coaxial cable running from your satellite dish to the SATELLITE IN jack on the back of your DIRECTV Receiver.
Chapter 2: Setting up and connecting 28
Chapter 2: Setting up and connecting Connecting the VCR control cable (model SIR-S310W only) The VCR control cable allows your model SIR-S310W DIRECTV Receiver to automatically program your VCR to record a TV program. By selecting a Record option from the on-screen Program Guide, you can direct the VCR control cable to flash signals to the VCR’s remote control sensor programming the VCR to tape a TV program for you.
Chapter 2: Setting up and connecting If you connected the DIRECTV Receiver to an RF-type input jack, you will need to tune your TV to channel 3 or 4 (depending on how the CH 3/4 switch on the back of the DIRECTV Receiver is set). If you have a VCR, the VCR must be in TV mode or turned off. If you connected the DIRECTV Receiver to A/V input jacks on your TV, you will need to set your TV to display the input from these jacks.
Chapter 2: Setting up and connecting Acquiring the correct dish pointing angles The Dish Pointing menu item in the Set Dish menu allows you to find out exactly how to point your satellite dish by entering your ZIP code. If you have not yet successfully aligned your satellite dish, or if you need to realign it, follow these instructions to find the exact angles you should use to point your dish: 1 Press the MENU button on your remote control. The Main menu appears.
Chapter 2: Setting up and connecting Azimuth refers to the left-to-right angle to which you should point your dish. Elevation refers to the up-and-down angle to which you should point your dish. Tilt (for oval dishes only) refers to the amount off-horizontal you should twist the dish on its axis. Write down these numbers and use them to accurately point your satellite dish. 8 To return to the Set Dish menu, press the BACK button on your remote control.
Chapter 2: Setting up and connecting 5 Use the arrow buttons on your remote control to highlight the Signal Meter menu item, then press the button on your remote control. The Signal Meter screen appears. The signal meter starts checking the satellite signal strength immediately. The signal strength (from 0-to100%) is indicated at the bottom of the screen. The Signal Meter screen allows you to check signal strengths from different Satellites, and different Transponders.
Chapter 2: Setting up and connecting button on your remote control. Then use the arrow buttons on your remote control to highlight the Setup menu, and press the button. Then highlight the Installation menu, and press the button. The Installation menu appears. 2 Use the arrow buttons on your remote control to highlight the Set Dish menu item, then press the button on your remote control. The Set Dish menu appears.
Chapter 2: Setting up and connecting 6 When you have displayed the correct dish type, use the right-arrow button on your remote control to highlight the on-screen OK button, then press the button on your remote control. A message appears warning you that your DIRECTV Receiver needs to reboot (turn itself off and on) for the Dish Type setting to take effect.
Chapter 2: Setting up and connecting 4 Use the arrow buttons on your remote control to highlight the Set Dish menu item, then press the button on your remote control. The Set Dish menu appears. 5 Use the arrow buttons on your remote control to highlight the Auto Detection menu item, then press the button on your remote control. The Auto Detection screen appears. The DIRECTV Receiver starts attempting to identify the dish type.
Chapter 2: Setting up and connecting 3 Use the arrow buttons on your remote control to highlight the System menu item, then press the button on your remote control. The System menu appears. 4 Use the arrow buttons on your remote control to highlight the System Test menu item, then press the button on your remote control. The System Test screen appears. The test will begin as soon as the screen appears. Results are displayed in a moment.
Chapter 2: Setting up and connecting Activating your DIRECTV account After you have installed and connected the the satellite dish and DIRECTV Receiver, you must contact your service provider to create an account. To order programming from DIRECTV, please call 1-800-DIRECTV (1-800-347-3288). With this Digital Satellite Receiver and the proper Satellite Dish Antenna, you may be able to receive local channels from DIRECTV in certain markets. Additional equipment may be required in some areas.
Chapter 3: Watching TV This chapter covers all of the things you can do with the Program Guides and other features that let you control the way you watch TV.
VOL+/- Up/Down/Left/Right arrows Press these buttons to adjust the volume level of your TV (once the remote control has been programmed — see Chapter 7). You can control the volume of your TV when in TV, DIRECTV, or VCR mode. Use these buttons to move the highlight to any on-screen Guide or Menu selection. MUTE Press this button to mute or unmute the TV audio (once the remote control has been programmed — see Chapter 7).
Chapter 3: Watching TV Changing channels There are several ways to change the channel you are watching: 1 Press the CH + button on the remote control to tune to a higher channel number. Press the CH - button to tune to a lower channel number. 2 Enter a channel number directly with the 0 - 9 number buttons. After entering a number, press the system to tune to the new channel. button or wait a few seconds for the 3 Use the Quick Guide or full-screen Program Guide to change channels.
Chapter 3: Watching TV The Full Channel Banner The Channel Banner provides quick information about TV programs as you switch channels on your DIRECTV Receiver. If you want to see information about the channel you are currently watching, simply press the INFO button on your DIRECTV Receiver’s remote control. Pressing the INFO button displays the Full Channel Banner.
Chapter 3: Watching TV Multi-language This icon appears when additional audio tracks are available. Press the yellow AUDIO button to choose an alternate audio track. Locked This icon appears when the system is locked. Unlocked This icon appears when the system is temporarily unlocked. Mail This icon appears when there are unread mail messages from DIRECTV in your system mailbox. Music channel This icon appears when the channel is a music-only channel.
Chapter 3: Watching TV 2 Press the INFO button again. The Program Detail Screen appears. Actions list Select this arrow and press the button to scroll down. Another way to view the Program Detail screen is to enter the program Guide, highlight the program listing you are interested in, then press the INFO button on your remote control.
Chapter 3: Watching TV Finding out what’s on: the Guides Your DIRECTV Receiver provides access to detailed information about TV schedules. If you want to know what’s on, just use the Guide. There are several types of Guides you can access, each suited to a particular set of needs and preferences. Types of Guides When you want to find out what’s on, you can use the simple, fast Quick Guide; the detailed, informative Grid Guide; or the graphics-rich Logo Guide.
Chapter 3: Watching TV Setting the default Guide style The Guide menu item allows you to set which style of Guide is displayed when you press the GUIDE button on your remote control. Here’s how: 1 Press the MENU button on your remote control. The Main menu appears on your screen. When you display the Main menu, the Guide item is highlighted. 2 Press the control. button on your remote The Guide menu appears.
Chapter 3: Watching TV Using the Quick Guide The Quick Guide is made up of a Channel Banner and a channel list. This Guide is small and transparent so that you can continue to watch a TV program while you are browsing the Guide. Follow these steps to use the Quick Guide. 1 To display the Quick Guide, press the QUICK button on your remote control. The Quick Guide appears, displaying a small Channel Banner and a channel list showing the current half-hour time block.
Chapter 3: Watching TV Using the Grid Guide The Grid Guide displays a Channel Banner and a channel list showing a 2-hour time block for five channels (starting with the channel you are watching). It provides access to the complete set of Guide features including the ability to search for programs, schedule reminders and (on model SIR-S310W) recordings, etc.
Chapter 3: Watching TV Getting around in the Grid Guide You can use the Grid Guide to get detailed information about the channels and programs it contains. Here’s how: 1 To highlight different program listings in the Grid Guide, use the arrow buttons on your remote control to move up or down in the channel list, or forward and backward in time. Use the right-arrow button to see future program listings for up to 3 days on model SIR-S300W, or up to 7 days on SIR-S310W.
Chapter 3: Watching TV Tuning to a channel with the Grid Guide To tune to a program or channel listed in the Grid Guide: 1 Use the arrow keys to highlight the program or channel you want to watch. 2 Press the button on your remote control. The Guide disappears, and the channel you selected fills the screen. Switching to another Guide style You can switch from the Grid Guide to the Grid Guide (Name) or Logo Guide while viewing the Grid Guide.
Chapter 3: Watching TV Here is an explanation of each time control. Exits the time control bar. Moves the Guide view back 6 hours (unavailable when viewing the current time). Moves the Guide view back 30 minutes (unavailable when viewing the current time). Moves the Guide view ahead 30 minutes. Moves the Guide view ahead 6 hours. Moves the Guide view to the current time. Moves the Guide view back 24 hours (unavailable when viewing the current time). Moves the Guide view ahead 24 hours.
Chapter 3: Watching TV Using the Logo Guide The Logo Guide displays 21 channel logos and a Channel Banner showing information about the program currently showing on the highlighted channel. Follow the steps in this section to use the Logo Guide. Displaying and clearing the Logo Guide To display or clear the Logo Guide: 1 Press the MENU button on your remote control. Then use the arrow buttons to highlight the Guide menu item, and press the button on your remote control.
Chapter 3: Watching TV Getting around in the Logo Guide You can use the Logo Guide to get information about the programs currently showing on your DIRECTV Receiver. Here’s how: 1 To highlight different program listings in the Logo Guide, use the arrow buttons on your remote control to move up, down, left, or right in the logo list. When you highlight a logo, it is replaced by the channel name and number in the Logo Guide.
Chapter 3: Watching TV Switching to another Guide style You can switch from the Logo Guide to the Grid Guide or Grid Guide (Name) while viewing the Guide. Here’s how: 1 With the Guide displayed on your screen, press the red R button on your remote control. A list of Guide Styles appears on your screen. 2 Use the arrow buttons on your remote control to select the Guide style you wish to view, then press the button. The Guide Style list disappears, and the Guide appears in the style you chose.
