Directv How to change Recording Options while watching or still using the device The process of how to change Directv recording options when you are using it to watch a program is straightforward.
This feature enables you to watch live TV on your DIRECTV box and gives instant access to some of the recording options while you are still watching the show without having to switch out of the channel. This allows you to schedule recordings for shows that you may decide to record at the spur of the moment as you are watching them. It is convenient when you get lost in a program and decide that you want to capture it.
Access The Mini Guide
When watching live TV, pick up your DIRECTV remote and press the down arrow. This will bring up the Mini Guide – a toolbar window that shows the channel and program details without obscuring the full screen.
The Mini Guide spans the bottom third of the TV screen. On the top left is the channel you are currently watching. On the right, you can see the name of the program that you are watching and the time left to the end of the program. After that, there will be a list of the three upcoming programs on the channel as well as the time they will air.
Open The Program Info Banner
Using the Mini Guide on the screen, turn to the program that you are currently watching by pressing the RIGHT arrow button on your remote. Next, press the INFO button to display the Program Info banner at the bottom of the screen.
A black bar will be visible at the top of the screen, which is semi-transparent and occupies about 15% of the picture. The Program Info banner replaces the Mini Guide’s top section with its title and information. It displays additional details on the show that’s currently airing, including It displays additional details on the show that’s currently airing, including:
- Episode title
- Rating
- Start/end times
- Brief episode synopsis
The Program Info banner also shows recording options for setting up:
- One-touch Series Recording
- Single Episode Recording
Set Up Series Recording
If you believe the program you are watching is one you wish to record every time it is on, then setting up a Series Recording using the on-screen options is very easy.
For Series Recording, select the “Record Series” button using the arrow keys from the Program Info banner. Press SELECT and a small window will appear on the screen to confirm that you are setting up the series recording. Select Yes and from that moment, the DIRECTV will be programmed to record every new episode in the future.
With one-touch recording, you have just set up a season of episodes for recording without even having to stop what you are watching. The Series Recording will only stop when you decide to cancel it.
Choose Single Episode Recording
Even if you are not considering an entire series recording, but just the current episode, that is just as simple.
Press the arrow keys to move the cursor over the “Record Once” button and then press SELECT. One final chance is offered by a confirmation pop-up for the one-time recording option. Choose Yes to specify the single episode for the show to record.
The Program Info banner will now show the new recording options since you have set the one-time recording. It also points out any recording conflict if another program is using your available tuners at the same time.
Confirm Scheduled Recordings
If you set recordings from the Program Info banner while watching live TV, always check to ensure that they are scheduled properly in the Playlist.
On the remote, press the LIST button. The Playlist lists all the programs you have set your schedule to record, Series Recording, and any program you have marked. Some of the recordings may still be absent from the list even if they were recently scheduled for recording.
Navigate through the past and upcoming recordings by the program title using the arrow buttons. Use the Mini Guide to set your recordings and before you proceed with other tasks ensure that the dates, times, and frequencies are correct.
You can always check the Playlist menu to see what programs you have set to record, add or delete, and so on. Thus, whether something does not work or you simply decide otherwise, corrections are easily made from the Playlist.
Edit Recording Options
Even after a program has been selected to begin recording, be it a single or ongoing recording, some options can be adjusted concerning how it records.
Go to the Playlist and use the arrow buttons to move the highlight across any title that you wish to edit. On the remote, press the dash INFO button. An Edit Screen will open allowing you to change:
- Which DIRECTV receiver is capable of recording the program
- The path via which the stream can be recorded from
- Recording the start and end of the recording session
- Times that recordings are made for the Series Recordings
This enables you to have full control of any program you have scheduled to be recorded. You can also delete the recording from this Edit menu in case you need to do so.
Recording Space Factor
However, one drawback of recording what is being aired in the media is that there is limited space in the DVR’s hard drive hence, you may find yourself with no space to record a show without prior warning.
For information on how much free space is available in the DVR playlist, go to the Playlist menu on your interface. When it is full, you may be forced to erase some of the programs you have already recorded to create room for the new recordings.
The available tuners in your DIRECTV system also play a role in recording capabilities. Many of them have only two tuners, which means that the number of shows or movies that one can record on different channels simultaneously is also limited. Disputes occur whenever there are two recordings at that particular time.
When that occurs, go to Recording History under Menu to identify which program DIRECTV missed scheduling because of tuner clashes. You can then reposition recordings to help segregate the problem. However, the integration of additional tuners with Genie HD DVR upgrades can also grow the number of programs that can be recorded at the same time.
That is why you should not be discouraged from recording shows while watching live television by issues like recording space or tuner conflicts. Just keep an eye on how much space is left in your DVR and its programming schedule so you can not miss any of your desired shows.
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