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Overview
This Web Page describes the systems known as Personal Video Recorders (PVRs) and how to use them with
Qwest Choice TV.
Topics covered include:
- what are PVRs, TiVo, and ReplayTV
- how to connect your TV, PVR, and Qwest Choice TV Digital Gateway
- the issues you may encounter when first setting up TiVo, ReplayTV, or another PVR system
- Some typical questions our customers have had regarding setting up their PVRs with Choice TV.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(Click on any of the topics below to learn more.)
Description of the Technology
Setting Up a PVR with Qwest Choice TV
Frequently Asked Questions
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DESCRIPTION OF TECHNOLOGY
Terminology
DVR: Digital Video Recorder
HDR: Hard Disk Recorder
PTV: Personal TV
PVR: Personal Video Recorder
(The above 4 terms are used interchangeably to refer to the hard disk recorder that we will refer to in this
Bulletin as "PVR".)
ReplayTV: A brand of service for hard disk recorders that provides program information, special features,
and other interactive functions.
TiVo: A brand of service for hard disk recorders that provides program information, special features, and other interactive
functions.
All of these terms are used to refer to the video systems that allow for recording of TV programming on a hard drive instead of
onto tape (VCR). This technology also offers more control over the television viewing experience. There are several terms you
may hear used to refer to these devices: DVR (Digital Video Recorder), HDR (Hard Disk Recorder), PTV Box (Personal Television
Box), PVR (Personal Video Recorder), as well as brand names such as TiVo, ReplayTV, and ShowStopper. For purposes of
consistency, we will use the most common designation of "PVR" for the equipment (the hardware). When referring
to the accompanying service for the PVR (for program information, special features, and interactive functions), we will use "TiVo"
or "ReplayTV" depending on the specific brand of service being described. Popular usage often refers to both the service and the
equipment simply as "TiVo".
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Product Description
PVRs are manufactured by Hughes (DirecTV TiVo Receiver), Philips (PTV Recorder), Sony (Digital Video Recorder),
Panasonic (Hard Disk Recorder), and a few others. They typically record up to 30 hours (or more) of programming on a hard
disk. A PVR also allows the pausing of live TV, rewinding, instant replay, and fast-forwarding to catch up when viewing has been
paused. PVRs work with virtually all current VCRs, cable, and satellite systems, including Qwest Choice TV.
To take advantage of the fuller features of PVRs, you will need to subscribe to a service such as TiVo or ReplayTV. TiVo powers
the Philips, Sony, and Hughes systems and requires a monthly or product lifetime subscription fee. ReplayTV works with the
Panasonic HDR (and a few other brands) and is free. Please go to the TiVo website (http://www.tivo.com) or the Panasonic
website (http://www.panasonic.com) for details.
These services, accessed via the phone line, download program data to the PVR on a regular basis and provide program guides,
subscriber newsletters, the actual daily lineup of programs that are available for recording, and many other features. Their
interface replaces the default interface used by cable or Choice TV services. As you watch live TV, the PVR is recording it "behind
the scenes" so that you can use the pause, rewind, instant replay, and catch-up features. Thus, if you change channels, recording
on the previous channel stops and immediately begins on the new channel.
With a PVR, you can also record a program on one channel while watching a previously-recorded program, save a program
recorded on the hard disk onto tape on your VCR, change channels using the PVR's remote control and a supplied Infrared
Transmitter (aka "IR Blaster"), and perform many other functions described in the specific manufacturer's documentation. Please
see the documentation that came with your PVR or go to the manufacturer's website.
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SETTING UP A PVR WITH QWEST CHOICE TV
Setup Notes
- Telephone Line Required: All PVRs use a telephone line on a periodic (daily to weekly) basis for downloading programming
information to the PVR system. This does NOT supercede the requirement for a telephone line connected to the Qwest Choice TV
Digital Gateway box. Simply split the phone line coming out of the wall telephone jack with a standard RJ-11 phone jack splitter;
connect one line to the PVR, and the other to the Gateway. Important Note: Be sure to use the telephone jack, not the Gateway
network jack which looks similar.
- Cable Box Channel Type: For TiVo, when prompted during initial setup for the Cable Box Channel, choose "3 digit (most
digital cable boxes)". ReplayTV does not prompt for this option.
- Infrared Transmitter Positioning: The emitter on the IR transmitter must send its signal to the IR sensor on the front of the
Digital Gateway box. To locate the IR sensor on the Digital Gateway, shine a flashlight through the dark plastic panel on the front
of the Gateway and look for a small flat square. That is the IR sensor. On the RG2000 and older models, it is approximately 3/4
of an inch to the left of the SELECT button on the front of the Gateway. Position the IR transmitter in front of the sensor. On the
newer RG2100 and 2200 Gateways, the IR sensor is located just to the left of the SETUP button (the wrench icon). This step is
required for the PVR to be able to change channels on the Digital Gateway using the PVR's remote.
- Infrared Transmitter Code: For TiVo, use code "10005 - Fast" when presented with the list of IR codes in the on-screen setup
process. Some customers have found that "10005 Slow" works better. Try each of them and choose the one that works best for
you.
For ReplayTV, use code 0764 and select "OK to accept that code" when prompted during the on-screen setup. Don't bother to try
testing it if prompted. Because of the nature of the Choice TV Digital Gateway box's "always on" status, testing it by turning it on
or off will not work.
- Cable Box (equipment) Type and Input: When prompted for what type of equipment is connected to the LINE 1 input, accept
the prompted "Cable Box". For LINE 2 and ANT/CATV Configuration, accept the prompted "Nothing". (Line 1 and Line 2 may be switched; depending on the way you connected the PVR to the Gateway). These screens will be very similar in both the TiVo and ReplayTV setups. When prompted for the brand or type of cable system, choose "Next Level Comm" for TiVo and "Next Level" for ReplayTV.
- Cable Providers (obtaining the TV Programming Lineup): The Qwest Choice TV program lineup must be available to the PVR
for it to provide you with the correct channels and programs. When performing the initial setup, if there is no "Qwest Choice TV"
choice in the cable provider list after supplying your ZIP code, please contact Qwest Customer Service at 602-266-1700 (Phoenix) or 303-383-9400 (Denver) and report that Qwest Choice TV's channel lineup is not listed in your PVR setup. You'll need to supply Customer Service with the brand name of PVR, Model Number of PVR, your ZIP code, and the type of service you are using (TiVo or ReplayTV). The Customer Service Rep will relay this information to Qwest so that we can assure the Choice TV lineup is made available. Try the setup again every few days. It should appear in the list of providers within 7-10 working days. As an interim solution, you can try entering a neighboring ZIP code to see if it lists the Qwest Choice TV lineup. You may possibly be the first Qwest Choice TV subscriber in your ZIP code but another ZIP code for your area is likely to already is in the lineup.
- Program Guide/Menus: The PVR replaces the Qwest Choice TV interface with its own interface (TiVo or ReplayTV), so you
won't see the normal Qwest Choice TV Interactive Program Guide (the GUIDE Plus+ menu). If you wish to see the GUIDE, use
your Choice TV remote in the normal fashion, instead of the PVR's remote.
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Basic Wiring Configuration
Below is a basic wiring configuration for connecting a Choice TV Digital Gateway, a PVR, and a TV. This should provide you with
enough information to supplement the diagrams and explanations in your PVR Owner's Manual. In a step by step approach, you
will need to:
- Connect your phone line from the wall jack to the PVR and the Gateway box, making very sure they connect to the TEL LINE
port on the Gateway, not the Network IN port. This will require a standard RJ-11 phone jack splitter.
- Connect the Digital Gateway to the PVR by going OUT from the Gateway and IN to the PVR. Ports on both systems are clearly
marked for simple coaxial cable, for RCA/composite cables, and for S-Video. If the Gateway has a VDSL Interface Device (VID),
you will not see the 3 ports that go OUT from the Gateway to TV1, TV2, and TV3, since they are covered by the VID. Instead you
will simply connect a coaxial cable from the "Out to TV1" port on the silver VID to the "RF IN" port on the PVR. If no VID is
present, you should use the "OUT TO TV1" port from the back of the Gateway.
- The IR transmitter must be installed so that the PVR's remote control can control the Gateway. It should come OUT from the
PVR and be positioned on the front of the Gateway in a direct line to the IR sensor. On the RG2000 and older models, the sensor
is located approximately 3/4 of an inch to the left of the SELECT button on the front of the Gateway. On the newer RG2100 and
RG2200 Gateways, the IR sensor is located just to the left of the SETUP button (the wrench icon). (DO NOT USE THE IR
TRANSMITTER PORT ON THE GATEWAY.)
- The final connection in the simplified diagram shows the connection from the PVR to the "Antenna In" port on the TV by
coaxial cable.
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q I'd like to buy a TiVo system. Will it work with my Qwest Choice TV?
A Yes, TiVo, ReplayTV, and other PVR hardware and software are compatible with Qwest Choice TV.
Q Will Qwest send a technician to connect my Qwest Choice TV with my new PVR?
A No. We're sorry, but Qwest does not dispatch technicians to connect, configure, or repair customer-owned equipment
such as hard disk recorders, home theater systems, DVD players, etc. The information on this web page, your PVR owner's manual,
and the Choice TV User's Guide or Owner's Manual should provide enough basic knowledge for connecting to the Choice TV Digital
Gateway box. Think of the Digital Gateway like a satellite or cable box when using the PVR owner's manual. From the
perspective of the Choice TV documentation, the PVR should be connected to the Digital Gateway in the same manner as a VCR.
If connecting a PVR to an existing Gateway, VCR, and TV configuration, simply connects the PVR before the VCR -- i.e., between
the Gateway and the VCR. For more advanced or complicated setups, you might need to hire an audio-video service technician.
Q What cable box manufacturer do I choose during initial setup?
A Next Level Communications (NLC)
Q What is the best IR transmitter code to use?
A For TiVo, use "10005 Fast", although some customers have found that "10005 Slow" works better. Try each of them
and choose the one that works best for your own setup. For Replay, use "0764". Note: some customers have experienced
difficulties getting the IR transmitter that is supplied with your PVR to control the Choice TV Digital Gateway. This is usually a
matter of more carefully positioning the IR transmitter on the front of the Gateway box so that the IR sensor picks up its signal.
The best position (for the RG2000 and older versions of the Gateway) is approximately 3/4 of an inch to the left of the SELECT
button on the front of the Gateway. On the newer RG2100 and 2200 Gateways, the IR sensor is located just to the left of the
SETUP button (the wrench icon). In some rare instances, customers have had to purchase an IR transmitter from an electronics
store to replace the one supplied by the PVR manufacturer.
Q What do I do if Qwest Choice TV is not listed as a cable provider when I am doing my setup?
A Qwest Choice TV has arranged for their current lineups to be listed in all markets for both the TiVo and ReplayTV
services. However, if you do not see it listed, please contact Choice TV Customer Service at 602-266-1700 (Phoenix) or
303-383-9400 (Denver). Explain to the Customer Service Rep that Qwest Choice TV's channel lineup is not listed in your PVR
setup. You will need to provide us with the brand name of your PVR, its model number, your ZIP code, and the type of service
you are using (TiVo or ReplayTV). Qwest will contact the service to assure the correct Choice TV lineup for your area is made
available on your system. It may take 7-10 working days for the lineup to appear. In the meantime, you can try entering a
neighboring ZIP code to see if it lists the Qwest Choice TV lineup.
Q Can I watch one TV show while recording another on my PVR?
A Yes. However, this usually requires using a cable splitter and additional RF cables going from the splitter to the TV
and the Hard Disk Recorder. The connection will be OUT from the Choice TV Digital Gateway to the splitter. From that point,
follow the instructions included in your PVR owner's manual for the specific setup instructions. NOTE: Watching a previously
recorded show while recording another in real time is a basic feature of PVRs: no additional cables or splitters are required.
Check your PVR owner's manual for viewing instructions.
Q The system seems to take a long time when changing channels using my PVR's remote. Is there something I can do
to adjust this or speed up the time it takes to change channels?
A You may try running through the setup of the IR transmitter again and experimenting with the different codes
presented. However, using either the CHANNEL UP/DOWN arrows or entering the channel number using the number keys and
pressing ENTER is noticeably slower when using the PVR with the Digital Gateway (and in fact, with most traditional cable boxes).
This slight pause, although not ideal, is normal and, once you have selected the best IR code, there is no other way to speed up
the changing of channels.
Q The picture quality seems to be less sharp now that I have a PVR. Is there anything I can do to get the higher
quality picture that I am used to seeing with Choice TV?
A Users find that if they have the PVR set to record using the maximum storage time (also known as BASIC quality),
some degradation of the picture occurs. To remedy this, go into the PVR's setup program and reduce the default storage time
(or increase the level of picture quality). The smaller the storage amount, the better the picture quality. This, of course, means
that you will be able to store fewer hours of programs on the hard drive. In most PVRs, you can select the picture quality
individually for each program that you record. This is similar to the Standard Play (SP) and Extended Play (EP) speeds on your
VCR.
Q Is my Qwest Choice Video service compatible with the new TiVo® HD Digital Media Recorder?
A Unfortunately, no. This particular digital media recorder is not
compatible with your Qwest Choice Digital Video service. The TiVo® Series
3™ HD Digital Media Recorder requires CableCARD™ support along with
a digital QAM signal. Your QwestChoice Digital Video service operates on a
different type of platform and there is no input to this device for your VDSL
HD Residential Gateway that would allow you to record your HD programs.
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