DIRECTV DVR Manual Recording

The DIRECTV DVR Manual Recording feature allows you to manually schedule recordings by specifying channel, date, time, and duration. This is useful for recording programs that may not be listed in the guide, special events, or when you want precise control over your recordings. Below are key sections for setup, scheduling options, management, and troubleshooting.

1. Manual Recording Overview 2. Accessing Manual Recording 3. Setting Up Manual Recording 4. Recording Options 5. Managing Manual Recordings 6. Storage and Space Management 7. Series Recording Setup 8. Recording Conflicts 9. Advanced Features 10. Troubleshooting

Manual Recording Overview

Manual recording gives you complete control over what you record, allowing you to specify exact recording parameters beyond the program guide.

Feature	Description
Channel Selection	Choose any available channel for recording
Date & Time	Set specific start date and time
Duration	Specify recording length in minutes
Recurring Recording	Set up daily or weekly repeats
Recording Quality	Choose recording resolution and quality
Keep Until	Set expiration for recordings
Series Options	Convert to series recording when available
Conflict Management	View and resolve recording conflicts
Storage Monitoring	Track available recording space
Manual Stop	Ability to stop recordings manually

Accessing Manual Recording

Navigate to manual recording through the main menu or quick access buttons.

Press MENU on your DIRECTV remote.
Select "Recordings & Series" from the menu.
Choose "Manual Recording" option.
Alternatively, press RECORD twice for quick access.

NOTE! Ensure your DVR has sufficient storage space before scheduling recordings.

Setting Up Manual Recording

Follow these steps to create a manual recording schedule.

Select "Create Manual Recording" from the menu.
Choose channel using up/down arrows or enter channel number.
Set start date using calendar interface.
Enter start time using 24-hour format.
Specify duration in 30-minute increments (30, 60, 90, 120 minutes).
Set recording quality (Good, Better, Best).
Choose "Keep Until" option (Until space needed, 1 week, 1 month).
Press RECORD to confirm and schedule.

CAUTION! Double-check channel and time settings to avoid missed recordings.

Recording Options

Single Recording: One-time recording at specified time.
Daily Recording: Records same program daily at same time.
Weekly Recording: Records same program weekly on same day.
Extended Time: Add buffer time before/after recording.
Quality Settings: Adjust recording quality to save space.
Priority Levels: Set recording priority for conflict resolution.
Season Pass: Convert to season recording when program appears in guide.
Recording Notifications: Receive alerts when recordings start/end.

Managing Manual Recordings

Access and manage your scheduled manual recordings through the recordings menu.

Viewing: Press LIST to see all scheduled recordings. Manual recordings marked with "M" icon.

Editing: Select recording, choose "Edit Recording" to modify time, duration, or channel.

Deleting: Select recording, press CLEAR to cancel. Confirm deletion when prompted.

Checking Status: Red recording indicator shows when manual recording is in progress.

Storage and Space Management

Monitor your DVR storage to ensure successful recordings.

Check available space: MENU > Settings > Info & Test > System Info.
Delete old recordings to free up space.
Adjust recording quality to use less space.
Set "Keep Until" to automatically manage storage.

Tip: High-definition recordings use approximately 2GB per hour at Best quality.

Series Recording Setup

Convert manual recordings to series recordings when programs appear in guide.

When program appears in guide, select "Convert to Series" from options.
Choose recording options: New episodes only, All episodes.
Set keep options: Keep all, Keep 5 most recent.
Select recording quality preference.
Confirm series recording settings.

WARNING! Series recordings may conflict with existing manual recordings.

Recording Conflicts

Manage conflicts when multiple recordings are scheduled simultaneously.

Conflict Resolution: DVR will show conflict warning when scheduling. Choose which recording to keep or reschedule.

Priority System: Higher priority recordings take precedence. Set priority in recording options.

Tuner Limitations: Most DVRs have 2-5 tuners. Manual recordings count against available tuners.

Advanced Features

Extended recording options for power users.

Manual Series Manager: Create custom series recordings not in guide. Manual Timer Groups: Set multiple related manual recordings. Recording Templates: Save manual recording settings for reuse. External Storage: Record to external hard drive if supported.

Troubleshooting

Symptom	Possible Cause	Corrective Action
Recording not starting	Incorrect time/date	Check system time settings; verify recording schedule
Partial recording	Insufficient duration	Increase recording duration; add buffer time
Wrong channel recorded	Channel input error	Verify channel number; check channel availability
Recording conflict	Multiple recordings scheduled	Check tuner availability; reschedule or set priorities
No storage space	DVR hard drive full	Delete old recordings; reduce recording quality
Manual recording missing	Power outage	Check power backup; reschedule recording

Reset: Menu > Settings > Reset > Restart Receiver if recording issues persist.

Support: 1-800-531-5000; www.directv.com/support