Monthly Archives: January 2013

Programming

Understanding Your Interactive Programming Guide

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The interactive on-screen guides available with our 600-series receivers – the HDDSR 600, HDDSR 605, and HDPVR 630 – offer colour coding and a variety of different symbols to help you figure out what is being displayed. This is a brief explanation to understanding your on-screen guide.

The on-screen guide for the 600-series will look much like this:

20_guide

At the top of the screen, on the left, you’ll be able to see what is playing on the current channel so that you don’t miss anything while you’re browsing. It will also display the current channel number.

To the right of this, you’ll see information about the program that you’re looking up in the guide, including the show and episode titles, what channel it’s on, the time you can watch it at, the rating, and any relevant program attributes (see the table under “Guide Symbols” later in this post for details).

Down below this, you’ll see the programming grid, complete with timeslots, channel numbers and names, and the programs that will be airing over the next 90 minutes. You can scroll through this with arrows on your remote control, and press INFO to display more detailed information about the program.

All programming information is provided to us by each individual broadcaster; if you notice any discrepancies, please let us know what channel, time, and show the issue occurred with so we can escalate the concern accordingly. We are however, unable to make any changes to what is displayed in the guide.

Colour Coding:

Blue is general programming, which includes network series, news, general specials, and most other regularly airing programs.

Green means sports and most sports-related programs, like sports talk shows, live sporting events or replays, and sports-related series.

Purple is for regular movies, including most documentaries.

Orange is any programming geared towards kids, or the whole family.

Aqua means that the programming is Pay Per View content, including movies, concerts, or sporting events.

Red denotes a Shaw Direct channel, so any of the information channels, or the Shaw Direct TV Network.

Anything highlighted in grey is something that is not included in your current programming package.

If you see something in yellow, it’s the item in the guide that is currently selected. As you navigate through the guide, you’ll see this move around.

Guide Symbols:

20_symbols

Any questions or suggestions about our interactive on-screen guide? Let us know in the comments!

*rg

How-To

Programming Your Remote

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No one likes having to juggle multiple remotes to control all of their entertainment devices. Luckily, you can program your Shaw Direct satellite remote to work with most devices, which will allow you to consolidate up to three remotes!

There are two main types of remote controls that we currently carry: the IRC 600, and the URC 600. They’re nearly identical to each other, except for a couple of small differences.

19_remotes
The remote on the left is the IRC 600, and the remote on the right is the URC 600.

Take a close look at the SOURCE and ASPECT buttons near the top of the remote. If the two buttons are black, you have the IRC 600; if the buttons are white, then you have the URC 600.

The first step to programming your remote control to work with other electronics is to find the code(s) associated with the particular brand and device. Some brands can have dozens of potential codes, so the simplest way to go about this is to scan for the code.

Here’s how you can scan for a code with the IRC 600:

  1. Scanning Method to Program TV
  2. Press and hold SAT until the mode buttons flash at least three times.
  3. Enter 9-9-1. SAT should blink twice.
  4. Press CH+ once per second until the receiver turns off. (If you pass the correct code, press CH- to scan backwards).
  5. Press SAT to lock in the code. The SAT key should blink twice.

Here’s how to scan for a code if you have the URC 600:

  1. Verify that the device is on.
  2. Press and hold ENTER and MUTE until the mode buttons flash in rotation.
  3. While aiming the remote at the device, press and hold the up arrow button until the TV turns off.
  4. Press MUTE, once.
  5. Device should power back on. If not, repeat steps 3 and 4.
  6. Press ENTER to lock in the code if the device turned on.

Once you’ve successfully locked in the codes for your devices, you can control power, volume, and other functions with the Shaw Direct remote by pressing the corresponding mode button (TV or AUX). If you want to simplify things even more, you can program your remote for master volume and master power.

Programming Master Volume for the IRC 600:

  1. Press and hold SAT until the mode buttons flash at least three times.
  2. Press 9-9-3. The SAT key should blink twice.
  3. Press the device key (TV or AUX) to lock volume to. The device key will blink twice.

Programming Master Volume for the URC 600:

  1. Hold both ENTER and SAT until the SAT button illuminates.
  2. Press VOLUME UP, then TV. The SAT button will blink 3 times and go out.

Programming Master Power for the IRC 600:

  1. Press and hold SAT until the mode buttons flash at least three times.
  2. Press 9-9-5. The SAT key should blink twice.
  3. Press and release each device key once, in the order you want them activated in the Master Power sequence.
  4. Press POWER to save the sequence. The SAT key should blink twice.

Programming Master Power for the URC 600:

  1. Hold both ENTER and POWER until the SAT button illuminates solid red.
  2. Press 1. SAT will blink 3 times and go out.
  3. Press SAT once to return remote to SAT mode.

That’s all there is to it! If you encounter any issues while trying to program your IRC or URC 600 remote control, let us know so we can lend a hand.

*rg

Programming

Commercial Services

For more than 14 years, Shaw Direct has been offering industry leading television solutions to businesses, offices, restaurants, apartment buildings, hotels and work camps. Propel your business by providing breathtaking high definition picture, crystal-clear sound, and state-of-the-art technology; your guests and employees will thank you.

14_600By choosing Shaw Direct, you’re choosing the best in entertainment. All Shaw Direct receivers are 100% HD ready, MPEG-4 compatible and ready for whatever the future of technology throws our way. Shaw Direct Commercial Services will take care of your needs by designing a plan that suits your requirements. Thanks to the diversity of satellite technology, virtually every area in Canada is serviceable including remote and rural locations.

Based on your building requirements, you can choose from a direct-to-unit (“DTU”) distribution or a head-end distribution. By choosing DTU, your guests, employees or tenants can enjoy the perks of having access to our interactive programming guide with information for 14 days in advance, hundreds of channels including many in HD, digital music channels, and much more! The head-end option works similarly to a miniature cable plant in your building and is an excellent solution for hotels and work camps. Based on the amount of channels you require, our technicians would build a head-end to suit your needs. This function would allow your employees and guests to change the channels and operate their televisions like they’re hooked up with traditional cable, all while enjoying stunning picture and sound.

Be the competitive edge by providing the best of the best not only when it comes to technology and reliability, but also programming! Shaw Direct offers a great selection of channels to choose from including top tier sports, news, networks, movies and more.

So, why not bring the great experience you already enjoy at home to work with you? Get more information on our website, and you can request a quote for your business; one of our dedicated Commercial Sales team members will contact you to discuss your needs.

*ng

Equipment

Fixing the “Subscription is Required” Message

Have you ever had a message appear on your screen that says “a subscription is required to view this program,” but you know it’s a channel you should receive? If you have, it probably looked something like this:

 

17_subreq

Sometimes this happens because it’s a channel you’ve just had added to your services, or because there’s been a power outage, or perhaps your receiver has been off for awhile and has lost authorisation. If this is something you’re experiencing, as long as the light on the front of your receiver is not red, there are two easy steps you can take to try and restore the channel without having to call in!

 

1)      In a lot of cases, your receiver just needs to be reminded of what channels it should be providing you with. To do this, you can send a “refresh” to your receiver either by logging in to your Self Serve account, or by calling our automated phone line (1.888.554.7827).

17_selfserveIf you use Self Serve, after you have logged in, look along the left-hand side of the page for “Receiver Refresh.” This will be near the bottom of the list. Click this, and you will be taken to a page explaining the process. Click “submit” to send the refresh to all of your receivers. It may take up to 15 minutes to process.

If you use our automated phone line, after selecting your preferred language, press 1 to select that you have a current Shaw Direct account, 3 to activate a new receiver or refresh existing services, and then 2 to refresh your services. Now press either 1 if you are calling from the main phone number registered to your account, or 2 if you’re calling from any other number (you’ll then be prompted to enter your main phone number). Once you’ve completed this, a refresh will be sent to all receivers on your account. Again, this may take up to 15 minutes to process.

2)      If you’re still missing your channel, try an AC reset on your receiver. To perform an AC reset, unplug the receiver from its power source, and then unscrew the satellite connection. Let it sit for about a minute, screw the satellite connection back in, and then plug it back into the power. It should manually turn back on after this, but if it doesn’t after about a minute, you may need to manually turn it back on. You will probably be missing your guide information at this point, but if you leave the receiver on one channel and don’t look through the guide for 10 to 15 minutes, this information will reload.

The above process will resolve most minor issues with your receiver(s), but if you’re still having troubles give us a shout and we’ll help get everything sorted out!

You can also learn how to hide unsubscribed channels from the guide, here:

*rg