A DISH timer is your instruction that tells the receiver what programs you want to watch in the future. For most ERDs (external recording devices) or VCRs, you select a specific show on a specific channel and tell the receiver how often you want to record that show. Be sure to set the receiver to control your VCR.

There are four types

• VCR records an event on a pre-inserted tape for later viewing. Make sure you have your VCR plugged in and turned on. Also, be sure to set the receiver to tell the VCR to start/stop recording.
• Auto Tune automatically changes the channel to view the event live.
• Reminder creates an on-screen reminder when the event is about to go live.
• Ext automatically changes the channel for live viewing of the event and sends commands to a compatible external device, such as Pocket DISH, that is connected to your receiver’s RCA or S-Video outputs. This option is not available unless you enable the feature. This allows you to record to the external device, instead of recording to the receiver’s hard drive.

Frequency

Deciding how often you want to watch a show will help you make the best choice:

• Once records a show once (good for movies, sporting events, or other one-time shows).
• Weekly records a show once a week, at that time, on that channel.
• Daily records a program once a day, at that time, on that channel
• Mon-Fri records a program once a day, from Monday to Friday, at the selected time, on that channel.

When a timer starts

For two minutes before a recording starts, the receiver can display a digital countdown (timer reminder) on the TV screen. This countdown appears when the program starts. While the countdown is displayed, you can do one of the following:

• Press CANCEL to remove the symbol from the TV screen. This does not stop the timer from starting.
• Press INFO or SELECT to see more information. If you do this, you have the following options:
• Select OK to continue the timer.
• Select Stop timer to stop the timer.

Note: Pressing INFO on the timer reminder only works once. Subsequently, pressing INFO displays the current program information.

Special Considerations

• For locked programs, you must enter the receiver’s password before you can create a self-timer. You can create a manual timer for a locked program without an automatic timer. You can create a manual timer for a locked program without entering the password. However, if you do this when the timer is running, the receiver may display only an error or password input menu.
• For Pay Per View programs, you must request a Pay Per View program when you create a timer for it.
• For blocked programs if you set a timer for a blocked program in your area, when the timer works, the receiver may only show an error.

Reasons why timers are skipped

If a timer is omitted, the reason is indicated in the Timer List.

• Priority This timer had a lower priority than other events that were being logged at the time.
• User a user thing to skip that timer.
• Duplicate Event Another timer is already set to record that program.
• The events exist on the DVR, the show has already been recorded and can be viewed in the Daily Schedule list.
• Not a new episode used for new episode timers. Currently, a new episode is one that has the current year listed in the program guide information.
• Incorrect event for weekly, daily, and Monday-Friday timers. If the guide has a different event listed, the timer will be skipped. For example, the timer was set on a Saturday for Daily, but the show airs only Monday through Friday, so the timer will be skipped on weekends.

Using the timer list

Use the list of timers to:

• See the general list of timers.
• Create a manual timer
• Edit a timer.

Setting an automatic timer

• You can create an automatic timer for a future event. The following instructions explain the easiest way to set up an automatic timer.
• Find the future program you want to record using the Program Guide or the Navigation Banner. The program may be a satellite or over-the-air program.
• Select the future event. The Create Timer screen will appear.
• Select the frequency of the timer
• Select a Timer Type.
• Select Create timer to finish creating the new timer.

Setting a manual timer

• Press Menu and select Timers.
• Select Create timer.
• Select the frequency of the timer
• Select timer type
• Select the channel (satellite or mobile), using the ARROWS on the remote or the NUMERIC KEYPAD to find the channel.
• Select Edit time
• Set the Start Time and End Time, making sure to specify AM or PM
• set the date
• Select Create Timer
• Select Done

Delete a timer

• Press MENU and then select Timers
• Select the timers to remove
• Select Delete. Timers are removed

overlap

If you try to create event timers in overlapping schedules, the receiver displays a screen with the dates and times of both schedules. The receiver also displays this screen if the time of a program has changed and one timer overlaps another. You must delete or edit one of the timers.

Enabling the registration link

Your receiver has a timer function called Record Link. This function sends data (audio, video, and other commands) to an external device that you can connect to the receiver’s RCA or S-video outputs, allowing you to store your program on an external device.

Advice

• It is very important to leave the receiver activated to receive updates. By doing this, the receiver can have the latest software and Program Guide information. Make sure the Updates feature is enabled.
• If your VCR doesn’t respond to commands from the receiver, see if you accidentally left the protective film on the receiver’s front panel.