DVR stands for "digital video recorder," a device which lets you record and store programs digitally rather than going through the fuss of setting up a VHS tape. DVRs come in many different forms: some are combined with a cable or satellite receiver, while others are stand-alone, and still others contain their own screens for instant viewing. Operating the system is very easy once you get it set up, however, allowing you to record hundreds of hours worth of shows.
Instructions
1. Access the program guide on your DVR's remote. This shows you all the different shows available, grouped by air time, by genre or alphabetically. The exact method varies, but it usually entails pushing the "Menu" button on the remote, then scrolling through your options to reach "Record Shows" or "Search for Shows."
2. Search for the shows you want to record. You can do this by browsing the overall schedule, by homing in on specific times if you know when it's going to come on, or by instructing the DVR to search for certain key phrases such as "soap operas" or "horror movies." Select the show once you have found it by pushing "Select" or "Enter" on the remote.
3. Determine the exact parameters of your recording. The DVR lets you extend the recording time past the listed length, which is great for sporting events or live broadcasts which may run over. It also allows you to select just a single episode or automatically record an entire season of the show if you like. Finally, the DVR will ask if you want to keep the show indefinitely or erase it if the memory becomes too full. If you choose the latter, it will automatically delete the show if it ever needs room for a new one.
4. Replay a recorded show by selecting the list of shows in the memory (usually by pressing the "List" or "Select" button on the remote, then scrolling through the onscreen menu until you reach the list of recorded shows). Select the one you want to play, then move through the recording just like you would a VCR tape: pressing the fast forward button on the remote to move ahead, the rewind button to go back, and the pause or stop button whenever you want to get a snack or use the bathroom. Most DVRs allow you to use these functions for live TV too: moving back and forth through the parts of the program which have aired and pausing it for up to several hours, depending on your particular DVR.
5. Erase the program when you are done watching it or store it in the memory for viewing it again later. Your DVR will prompt you to make a choice as soon as the show is done.
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