Presto! PVR Analog and Digital TV DVB-T, DMB-T, and ATSC User’s Guide 507100-02-01-W-E-092308-11
Copyright © 2005-2008, NewSoft Technology Corp. All Rights Reserved. No portion of this document may be copied or reproduced in any manner without prior written permission from NewSoft Technology Corp. (NewSoft) NewSoft has no warranties to this documentation and disclaims any implied warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. All information contained herein is subject to change without notice.
Contents Chapter 1 Introducing Presto! PVR 1 System Requirements .................................................................. 1 Features ......................................................................................... 2 Chapter 2 Using Your Presto! PVR 3 Installing Presto! PVR .................................................................. 3 Receiving a Channel..................................................................... 5 Receiving S-Video and Composite Signals ..............
Device ..................................................................................... 25 Device ................................................................................. 27 Audio ................................................................................... 27 Channel................................................................................... 27 Video ....................................................................................... 30 Record..................................
Chapter 1 Introducing Presto! PVR Presto! PVR is a video recorder for your computer. It takes television signals and records them onto your hard drive. You have all the convenience of a VCR (recording, playback, fast forwarding, rewinding, pausing) without having to rewind any tape. Here are the requirements and features of the program. • System Requirements • Features System Requirements • Presto! PVR will run on Microsoft Windows XP with Service Pack 2 and Windows Vista.
Chapter 1 Introducing Presto! PVR Features • Support HD(High Definition) video quality. • Support for Analog and Digital TV (DVB-T, DMB-T, and ATSC systems). • Record programs to a hard disk or DVD. (This feature is available only when your program supports Direct Disc Recording (DDR).) • Schedule your recordings for the future. • Use the EPG (Electronic Program Guide) function to get the program guide for current TV listings and add them to your recording schedule with the click of a button.
Chapter 2 Using Your Presto! PVR This program has everything a personal video recorder needs—preview, full screen view, snapshot, channel selection, channel surfing, recording, programmed recording, time shifting, settings, help, and a link to our website. Here are explanations of how to perform the most common tasks.
Chapter 2 Using Your Presto! PVR The image above is for reference only. This dialog box may vary depending on the version of your Presto! PVR program. After selecting the signal type, the Settings Wizard for the selected option will open. Analog TV Digital TV Click the desktop icon to start using your Presto! PVR program.
Chapter 2 Using Your Presto! PVR Receiving a Channel To receive a channel through your network, please connect the antenna to the Presto! PVR device and make the proper settings. 1. Click tab. to open the Settings dialog box, and then click the Device 2. Choose a device from the Device list. The options will be different depending on the type of TV signal selected. Analog TV Digital TV For Analog TV signals, you can choose an audio device and source. 3.
Chapter 2 Using Your Presto! PVR Digital TV - DVB-T and DMB-T Digital TV - ATSC 6
Chapter 2 Using Your Presto! PVR Analog TV 4. Click OK to close the Settings dialog box and watch some TV. Receiving S-Video and Composite Signals 1. Click and choose S-Video, Composite or Component Video from the source type. 2. PVR will pick up video and audio signals. These two features may not be available on all devices. Please refer to the user guide for your device. Receiving FM Radio To get the latest cool and hip music and news through your computer, you can set it up to receive FM Radio. 1.
Chapter 2 Using Your Presto! PVR When scanning is finished, you can choose a station and change its name. You can also select a frequency and click the Add Channel button to add the corresponding station directly to the list of stations, or remove selected channels by clicking the Delete button. Other options include importing and exporting lists of stations. to identify a station as your favorite. Clear it to Select the red heart remove the station from the favorites list.
Chapter 2 Using Your Presto! PVR • Channel List • Channel Surfing Window • Teletext (available for DVB-T and DMB-T Digital TV or PAL Analog TV) Channel List This is a quick way to select a channel. There are three buttons at the top of the window. Each shows different channels based on the settings you made on the Channel tab of the Settings dialog box. Here are some details for the channel list.
Chapter 2 Using Your Presto! PVR TV Radio : Click this button to listen to the TV radio. Please note that this button is not available when the input source is Analog TV. : Click this button to show your favorite channels. Favorite Channels Favorite channels are chosen on the Channel tab of the Settings dialog box. All Channels : Click this button to list all available channels. Channel Surfing Window You can browse all the TV channels from the Channel Surfing window.
Chapter 2 Using Your Presto! PVR This service varies for different areas. It may not be available in all the countries. Recording a Program When you find a good show, click change to to start recording. The button will . The recorded program will be saved in the working folder. You can click to pause recording. If you click while you are watching, recording will stop and the preview screen will return to the live program.
Chapter 2 Using Your Presto! PVR Scheduling Your Program Recording You can add, modify, or delete items for recording shows in the future. For and this, you will have to open the Settings dialog box by clicking selecting the Schedule tab. The message about encrypted programs will not appear when the input source is analog TV. • Click Add… to schedule additional recording, or click Modify to change the schedule for selected recordings.
Chapter 2 Using Your Presto! PVR • You can choose the action to be taken when a scheduled recording is finished from the After scheduled recordings from Hibernate or Standby mode are completed box. For more information see: • Adjusting the Schedule Settings • Using EPG (Electronic Program Guide) Adjusting the Schedule Settings If you click Add… or Modify from the Schedule tab, the Schedule Settings dialog box will open. There are three sections to pay attention to—Task, Time, and Quality.
Chapter 2 Using Your Presto! PVR Quality is only available when selecting the analog device. Task Task Name: Give a name to the recording session or use the default. Channel: Choose from the available channels for the one you want. Time Type: You can choose to record the selected channel One Time, Daily, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Monday to Friday, Monday to Saturday, or Saturday to Sunday. Choose Assign the Date to pick a more specific date.
Chapter 2 Using Your Presto! PVR Using EPG (Electronic Program Guide) Use the Channel box to choose an available channel. Select the program that you want to record, and then click Add to Schedule. The program will be added to the schedule. Click Refresh to make sure that the schedule is up-to-date. Time Shifting Time Shifting means that you can pause a program while watching the big game, click the pause button, and then go get another bag of chips without missing any of the action.
Chapter 2 Using Your Presto! PVR • Click to stop time shifting and return to the live program. When paused, you can change the screen size and adjust the volume, but you cannot change programs, take snapshots, change the configuration, or close the program. Adjusting the Volume Use the plus and minus buttons to increase and decrease the volume. The indicator will reflect the changes. Clicking on the speaker button will turn the sound on and off.
Chapter 3 Menus and Settings For all that it does, Presto! PVR is very easy to use. There are only a few menus and settings that you need to worry about. Here they are in their entirety. • Main Screen • Program Viewer • Screen Menu • Settings • Channel Surfing • History • Taskbar Commands • Shortcut Keys Main Screen The PVR screen is very compact and useful. Here is an overview of the various displays and buttons.
Chapter 3 Menus and Settings Digital TV – ATSC Across the top of the presentation area will be listed the program status (Time shifting, Recording, Playing, Forward, Backward, and the program name) as well as the signal quality. (1) The program status will only appear when playing, recording, or time shifting. (2) The signal quality will only be shown when the source is Digital TV. List the time along with the channel number and name.
Chapter 3 Menus and Settings These are special feature buttons. EPG (for Digital TV), Teletext (for DVB-T, DMB-T and PAL Analog TV), and Closed Captions (for ATSC and NTSC Analog TV) / Subtitles (for DVB-T and DMB-T). EPG is available for Digital TV only. The program control buttons are used for recording programs and watching the programs that have already been recorded.
Chapter 3 Menus and Settings There are four buttons in the upper-right corner of the program viewer. Here is a quick tour of how to use them. Exit : Clicking this button closes the program. Minimize Full Screen screen. : Clicking this button sends the program viewer to the taskbar. : Clicking this button maximizes the program viewer to full : Clicking this button keeps the program viewer on top Always on Top of all other windows.
Chapter 3 Menus and Settings Aspect Ratio - ATSC Size - DVB-T and DMB-T 21
Chapter 3 Menus and Settings Size - ATSC Sound - DVB-T and DMB-T 22
Chapter 3 Menus and Settings Sound - ATSC AC3 - ATSC Aspect Ratio: Click to select the width to height ratio for your Presto! PVR screen. You can choose Original Ratio (4:3), Free Ratio or 16:9. Choosing Free Ratio will allow you to distort your TV picture by dragging the lower-right corner of the screen. If you have chosen Original Ratio (4:3), the ratio will not change as you resize the picture.
Chapter 3 Menus and Settings Original Ratio varies depending on the program or channel you have switched to. Sometimes the submenu options may appear like Original Ratio (16:9), Free Ratio or 4:3. The image above is for reference only. Size: Click to change the size of the display window or restore it to the original size. If you are receiving a Digital TV signal, you have the additional option of choosing to watch in the Original Size – 720x540 (4:3).
Chapter 3 Menus and Settings About Presto! PVR…: Click to display the program version information. Settings Click to see the Settings dialog box to help you personalize you Presto! PVR program. • Device • Channel • Video • Record • Schedule • Advanced • Skin • Live Update Device On the Device tab, you can select how you control the Presto! PVR device.
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Chapter 3 Menus and Settings Device Available Presto! PVR devices are listed here. Other settings on this tab will be disabled unless you select a device. Audio For Analog TV only, you can choose an audio device and source. Channel On the Channel tab, you can set up the scan parameters to more efficiently scan for available television channels.
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Chapter 3 Menus and Settings Country: Select the country you are in to have the television reception properly formatted. Minimum Frequency/Minimum Channel, Maximum Frequency/Maximum Channel: For Digital TV only, these settings can be changed to restrict the range that Scan will use to search for available channels. Signal: For Analog TV only, choose the source of the television signals. Scan/Auto Scan: Click to look for all available channels and list them.
Chapter 3 Menus and Settings Video On the Video tab, you can adjust the brightness and the color in the picture. Enable Deinterlace to prevent lines from appearing in the video. Check Display HD in original resolution to see the HD video in original resolution. This feature is optional and may not be available on all versions. From the list, you can adjust the Video Frame Rate to as high as your computer capabilities will permit.
Chapter 3 Menus and Settings Record This tab will let you adjust your recording preferences. Record to the Hard Disk You are allowed to choose Saved type and Quality only when your input source is Analog. If your PVR doesn’t support DDR, the Destination option will not be available.
Chapter 3 Menus and Settings The Quality option for Time Shifting is available only when the input source is analog TV. It is not available for DVB-T, DMB-T, or ATSC. Record to DVD RW The Quality option is available when your PVR supports DDR and your input source type is Analog.
Chapter 3 Menus and Settings Recording You can choose a disc drive under Destination and a Folder for saving your recorded files and snapshots. Then use the slider to adjust the Auto cut file size. The video will be automatically cut into separate files when the limit is reached. If your disk file system is FAT32, the maximum size of each file will be 4 GB. If your disk file system is NTFS, it will be equal to the space available on the specified disk. You can burn programs onto DVD.
Chapter 3 Menus and Settings For computers with limited speed and power, lower the quality for time-shifting live TV programs to avoid CPU overload. Please note that while the Quality option is available when the input source is analog TV. It is not available when the source is digital TV. The estimated recording time will be displayed at the bottom of this dialog box as Maximum recording time. Schedule The schedule will display the programs that have been selected for recording at a later date.
Chapter 3 Menus and Settings Analog TV For Digital TV – ATSC, *If you have chosen an encrypted program, it will not be recorded will appear at the bottom. This message won’t appear when the input source is analog TV. Advanced Under Snapshot, select a file format for saving the images. In the Channel Surfing section, you can select the display mode for channel surfing.
Chapter 3 Menus and Settings Other options include: Always on Top During Recording/Time Shifting, if there is already a scheduled setting, the scheduled recording will take priority: When this option is selected, scheduled recording is given the highest priority, which means the system will begin scheduled recording regardless of whether other recording or time shifting is in process. Skin In this tab, you can change the skin.
Chapter 3 Menus and Settings Live Update In this tab, you can check for product updates and news under Live Update. If your Presto! PVR doesn’t support the AC3 audio format, an update message for AC3 support will appear under the Live Update box.
Chapter 3 Menus and Settings Channel Surfing Right-click the program viewer and select Channel Surfing from the screen menu to tile the channels in thumbnails. You can play a channel by double-clicking the thumbnail. To quit this function, press ESC and return to the live program.
Chapter 3 Menus and Settings History Click to see the programs you have recorded, with the most recent listed first. The first frame of the selected recording will be shown in the preview area.
Chapter 3 Menus and Settings • Click Browse… to look through the recorded programs. • Click Play to watch the selected program. • Click Delete to erase a selected program from the hard disk. • Click Close to close the History dialog box. Taskbar Commands After Presto! PVR is installed, the program icon on the system tray can be used to start and monitor Presto! PVR. There are three commands that you can choose from. Start Presto! PVR: This command quickly starts Presto! PVR.
Chapter 4 Appendix • Frequently Asked Questions • Troubleshooting • Glossary Frequently Asked Questions Sometimes we get questions about our product. Here are the questions that we get asked the most. Hopefully this information will be useful to you. How can I optimize the PVR performance? PVR performance depends on the computer system. The following steps can help to make things better. 1. Try to retain as much free hard disk space as possible. 2. Use a faster hard disk drive.
Chapter 4 Appendix c. PVR requires either Windows 2000 SP4 or Windows XP SP2. d. PVR requires DirectX 9.0c or later. Can I record subtitles from DTV channels? Dynamic subtitles are subtitles that can be disabled and enabled. The current version of Presto! PVR doesn't support recording dynamic subtitles. You can record programs with dynamic subtitles, but the subtitles will not record. Troubleshooting If you are having trouble with the product, please check here first. You may find the answer quickly.
Chapter 4 Appendix Presto! PVR does not respond after being started, or it displays stuttering or corrupted video. If you encounter one of these problems and are using Windows XP Service Pack 2, please visit the Microsoft website at this link, http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en& FamilyID=14caaf6d-198c-4197-82ad-28251f9c50a5, and download the latest patch. I can watch and record TV programs, but cannot play them back or preview the channels. Make sure that DirectX 9.
Chapter 4 Appendix 1. From the Start menu, open the Control Panel. 2. Open System, click the Hardware tab, and then open the Device Manager. 3. Under Video and Game Controllers, make sure there are no problems listed for the TV tuner device. 4. If there is a problem indicated, check the device manual and reinstall the hardware. If the digital TV signal is not strong enough, adjust the antenna to get the best reception. (You might consider buying an active antenna.
Chapter 4 Appendix i. Details of the problem (step by step): Glossary Here are terms used in the manual for Presto! PVR. AC'97 – (Short for Audio Codec '97) This is an audio encoding system for computer files. Analog TV – This is the traditional old-style television signal. Kind of like radio waves. Aspect Ratio – This is a measure of how wide your television picture is compared to how tall it is. Regular television is 4:3, and HDTV is 16:9.
Chapter 4 Appendix EPG – Electronic Program Guide SAP – Second Audio Program. Usually used to present the material in a different language. Smart Scanning – A more efficient way to scan for channels and frequencies. Teletext – A free program to give information about broadcasts and schedules. (Not available everywhere.
