CABLE TV USER GUIDE. This is way more. than just TV.

Transcription

1 CABLE TV USER GUIDE This is way more than just TV.

2 Your New Home for Entertainment Thank you for choosing Midcontinent Communications as your cable TV service provider. We ve worked hard to create an interactive entertainment experience you won t find anywhere else. This User Guide will provide information about all the great features available at your fingertips, and give you helpful tips on how to get the most out of your new cable TV service. With Midcontinent Cable TV, it s never been easier. So sit back and enjoy a better way to watch TV.

3 Table of Contents Tune in Turn It On 1 High Definition (HD) Service 3 Digital Cable TV Recorder (DVR) 5 On Demand 8 Using Your Remote 12 Remote Control Quick Guide 13 Introducing i-guide 17 Basic Navigation 18 Screen Icons Quick Guide 20 i-guide Features 23 How to Access Free On Demand 29 Parental Controls 31 Using Your DVR 35 Remote Record 41 TV Everywhere 43 Customer Care midcocomm.com

4 Turn It On Watch. With Midcontinent, you ve got hundreds of channels to choose from. And your favorite programming is now ready whenever you are with On Demand. You want the very best in premium sports and movies? We ve got it for you! Hi-Def? Most definitely! We ve got all the most popular networks in HD. Listen. Turn up the music! Listen to digital music channels that play the type of music you want to hear in CD quality. How do 50 great commercial-free music stations sound? Take a listen and find out! Record. Can t tune in to your favorite programs because of your busy schedule? DVR it and never miss a TV show again! Midcontinent s Digital Cable TV Recorder (DVR) gives you the freedom to record hours and hours of your favorite shows and watch them whenever you want! Remote Record. Hear about a new show at work? Record the show on-the-go with Remote Record, the free service that gives you online access and control to any DVR in your home. Control. With Midcontinent, you have the power to control your TV like never before! i-guide interactive programming guide lets you search, select, and personalize your favorite TV channels and shows with ease. i-guide s intuitive features and advanced technology will take your entertainment experience to the next level. So sit back, relax and experience TV like you ve never seen. Midcontinent makes it all possible. Go ahead turn it on! midcocomm.com 2

5 HD Service Hi-Def? Most definitely! What makes HD so great? Smaller pixels mean greater resolution for a super-sharp picture. HDTV has a wide-screen format, so you ll see everything the director intended you to see not just the center of the picture. HD is easy with Midcontinent There are a variety of High Definition televisions available and more than two-thirds of American households now have at least one HDTV. Ready to take the HD plunge? Visit midcocomm.com/ cabletv/equipment. What you need to view HD: 1. High Definition Television Set 2. HD DVR, HD Receiver or HD Digital Adapter* from Midcontinent 3. HD Channels and HD Programming If you haven t seen what HD looks like, stop by one of our Customer Service Centers and see the difference for yourself. Questions about HD? Chat with us online at midcocomm.com/ chat or call HD 16:9 aspect ratio for a 33 percent wider picture. Why HD? Just the facts More pixels for a sharper, clearer picture 2,073,600 pixels per image vs. 210,000 pixels per image with standard TV. CD-quality sound with 5 separate channels perfect for a surround sound system. Get HD service So, you ve got an HDTV now what do you do? If you have a DVR, HD Receiver or HD Digital Adapter* connected to your new HDTV start watching in Hi-Def now! Midcontinent delivers a variety of HD programming and continually adds HD channels to our lineup! Remember, even with HDTV, you won t be able to watch HD programs on every channel. Only channels delivered in an HD format can be viewed in High Definition. Please check your channel lineup at midcocomm.com/channellineups to find out what HD channels are included with your package. Need help? Go online to midcocomm.com/techtips or just give us a call at We ll have you watching in Hi-Def before you know it! 3 4 HD programming not available in all areas. Visit us online at midcocomm.com or call for specific services available in your area. *Device is only equipped with a simple now/next guide and does not include a full Interactive Program Guide. *Device is only equipped with a simple now/next guide and does not include a full Interactive Program Guide.

6 DVR Watch what you want when you want! You ll love your DVR! A Digital Cable TV Recorder (DVR) is similar to a standard digital receiver, but it also has a hard drive that can save hours and hours of your favorite shows to watch whenever you want. All with the simple touch of a button and no videotapes! Watch TV on your schedule not a network s. What s not to love? Installation is easy! Midcontinent gives you options to install new or upgrade to a DVR or any digital equipment. You can either have a Midcontinent professional install your equipment or do it yourself with a Self- Install Kit. You can pick up a Self-Install Kit at one of our Customer Service Centers or you can contact us by phone or one the web to have a Kit sent to you. We will ship a Self-Install Kit directly to you and you install it using the included step-by-step instructions all at your own pace. Just DVR it! Watch one program while recording another. Record two shows at the same time. Record the entire season of your favorite show. Set aside a TV night to watch all your favorite programs from the previous week. For details on how to use your DVR, see page 35. DVR not available in all areas. Call , or visit us online at midcocomm.com for specific services available in your area. * DVR service requires a monthly fee. Midcontinent Communications provide cabling (HD Component Cables, Audio Cables, or HDMI Cable) for professional and Self-Install Kit installation. Additional HDMI and Component Cables are available for sale at our Customer Service Centers or can be purchased at a qualifying retail store midcocomm.com 6

7 On Demand TV on your terms! With On Demand, you have TV that s ready when you are! You ll get instant access to hundreds of hours of FREE programming as well as access to the latest music, movies, and events. What you want, when you want! Preview movies before ordering see a clip before you decide. Order now and watch later they re stored for 24 to 48 hours in your MY RENTALS folder. View your rental* on any Midcontinent Digital Receiver/DVR in your home. Pause, rewind, and fast-forward any program with just a touch of your remote. Easy-to-use Parental Controls allow you to block access to any program in seconds. On Demand not available in all areas. Call , or visit us online at midcocomm.com for specific services available in your area. * Shows viewed or purchased in HD can only be viewed on an HD-capable Digital Receiver, DVR, and HD-capable television midcocomm.com 8

8 The best part? It s free! That s right. There s no charge to access hundreds of great programs On Demand. Movies are a great value, too just $3.99 for new releases and $1.99 for classic favorites.* New releases & classic movies You can choose from action, drama, comedy, sci-fi, family titles, and more. Free music Did you know your TV makes one heck of a jukebox? How about a concert stage? Relax and listen to today s hits or timeless classics or experience it all, with live concerts and music videos. On Demand Music is like having your own personal music collection FREE! Events On Demand Premium channels When you order HBO, Showtime, The Movie Channel, Starz/Encore, or Cinemax, you automatically receive their On Demand content free. Watch sports, movies, documentaries, series, and specials. On Demand is your in-home, front row ticket to major sporting events and concerts. Leave the traffic and parking hassles for someone else. You ll be watching from the comfort of your couch! Free On Demand ** Everybody loves free and with On Demand, you get hours and hours of free programming from your favorite cable networks! Watch cooking, home improvement, kids shows, sports, news, world events, and more. With On Demand, you can even play games right from your TV great for family fun! For details on how to use On Demand, see page 28. * HD movies are $4.99. Some movies may be slightly more midcocomm.com if they are still in the theater. 10 ** Must subscribe to Basic Cable package and above to view content.

9 Using Your Remote Your remote* it s the key to unlocking your whole new Cable TV experience. View your Interactive Program Guide, access your DVR and On Demand programming, and set Parental Controls all by using your remote in conjunction with the screen icons. To learn more about these options, simply follow the tutorials in this guide, complete with step-by-step directions and screen icons. ontrol *Remote features vary by model. Visit the Midcontinent s library of tutorials online at midcocomm.com/techtips or contact our Customer Care Team at for more information midcocomm.com 12

10 Remote Control Quick Guide 1. SYSTEM ON/OFF Turns up to five components (DVR, TV, etc.) on and off with one touch. 2. POWER Allows you to turn on/off just your TV, VCR, DVD, AUX and Cable Box. 3. AUX, DVD, VCR, TV, CBL Used to select the component you want to operate INFO Displays information about the program currently playing or the one highlighted in the program guide. 7. EXIT Takes you away from the current screen. 8. SETTINGS Displays settings menu. 9. Cursor Navigation ( ) Navigate to and highlight an item from on-screen choices. 12. VOL Raise or lower the sound level. 13. MUTE Silences the audio. Press again to restore sound. 14. LAST Returns you to the last channel, menu or On Demand page you were viewing. 15. CH Selects the next higher or lower channel. 4. GUIDE FAV 10. OK/SEL Displays your Interactive Program Guide. Displays your favorite channels Selects the highlighted screen option. 5. MENU PAGE +/- Displays the Applications menu for access to DVR, On Demand and more. Accesses pages above or below the information currently displayed midcocomm.com 14

11 DAY 21. LIVE SWAP Skip forward or back a whole day when viewing the Interactive Program Guide. 18. On Demand Direct access to the On Demand menu. 19. LIST Displays live television programming. 22. VCR/DVD/VOD KEYS Perform standard VCR and DVD functions when in VCR and DVD mode, and Cable TV On Demand functions when in Cable (CBL) mode Swaps between tuners on your DVR. 25. LIGHT Press to light up the keypad. Displays a list of programs you have recorded, allowing you to select one for viewing. 20. Instant Replay 23. Number Pad Enter numbers to tune to specific channels. Replays the last 7 seconds of what you re watching midcocomm.com 16

12 Introducing i-guide Basic Navigation Allow us to introduce you to the key that will unlock your digital TV entertainment package i-guide *! With i-guide, you can view a 14-day calendar of programming in a simple-to-navigate format. Set Reminders and save Favorites. Plus, the Quick Menu makes it easy for you to manage DVR recordings, and access popular services like On Demand, HD networks, and Parental Controls. To learn more about i-guide you may also watch a step-by-step cable TV online under Midcontinent s library of tutorials at midcocomm.com/techtips. Finding your TV listings is simple! Press the GUIDE button on your remote to see channel listings and current programs available. Yellow is always the highlight color. As you navigate listings using the remote, the highlight appears on screen to indicate the current selection. Press the PAGE button (located vertically on the right side of your remote) to quickly see all available channels or enter a specific channel to view show listings and times for that channel. *i-guide menu(s) and/or remote control may appear to be different than as pictured midcocomm.com 18

13 To find out information about a TV program, highlight the show and press INFO on your remote. This will give you an overview of a current or future program. Icons will appear at the bottom of the screen. See the next page for more information on these and other icons that are used in the guide. Screen Icons Quick Guide Go Back View Program My Favorite Channels Search Record Options Using the arrows on your remote, choose a program you would like to view and press OK/SEL. To return to normal TV viewing, select the EXIT button on your remote. TV Guide Main Menu DVR On Demand Movies Sports Parental Controls Don t Listings Buy Pay-Per-View View Upcoming Times HDTV Set or Cancel a Reminder midcocomm.com 20

14 Setting reminders Select REMIND. A reminder is now set for this Choose VIEW REMINDER SETTINGS. By using Once preferences have been set, press the Looking forward to seeing your favorite program particular show and time. If you return back to the arrow keys, you can set repeating reminders icon. If you decide not to set the or series? Using the REMINDER feature ensures the information screen, you will see the once a week, every day, or Monday through that you ll never miss it. Setting a reminder is icon in the upper middle of the screen Friday. Other options include customizing reminder, select the button. easy simply follow the steps below. indicating that a reminder has been set. a start and end time for your reminder. When you set a reminder, you have the option of To view all upcoming times for this program, To customize the frequency and timing for First, highlight the icon and press OK/SEL. bypassing parental control locks placed on the press the button and press OK/SEL. reminders, return to the Reminder Menu and program. You can then tune directly to the press the icon. program from the reminder without having to enter your 4-digit PIN to bypass parental locks midcocomm.com 22

15 i-guide Features Quick Menu: easy shortcuts Main Menu: all access Listings by Time Enhanced search and discovery* The Quick Menu 1 offers shortcuts for key Main Menu 1 gives you full access to all features Displays listings in a 90-minute grid format, It s easy to find and record favorite shows and i-guide features. Just press MENU on your and cable services in one convenient place. with instant program details and color coding subjects when you search by Title. Then, save remote anytime while using the guide or Simply press MENU twice, then select from to identify genres at a glance: your search criteria for the next time. You can watching TV, and you ll have easy access to options including DVR, On Demand, Weather, Purple Movies also search by Keyword, Actor/Director, view key features such as DVR, HDTV, On Demand, Setup, and more. your Saved Searches and Auto-Record selected 1 Search, and Parental Controls. Menu selections vary. Green Sports programs midcocomm.com Light Blue Kids *Function only available with DVR. 24

16 Watch in HD When you are tuned to a Standard Definition channel, you will be notified there is an associated HD channel available, and you ll be asked if you want to switch to HD.* Enhanced Flip Bar on i-guide The Flip Bar lets you see program information as you change channels. Favorites Create short lists of favorite channels for everyone at home. Just select MY FAVORITE CHANNELS from the Main Menu. *HD programming, equipment, and service required. Not available in all areas midcocomm.com 26

17 Pay-Per-View (PPV),* made easy Ordering PPV movies and events is easy with i-guide. From the Main Menu or Quick Menu, select any of the PPV options to see a list of available programs. Use your remote to get detailed information, watch a preview, and place an order. On Demand * With On Demand, you can rent movies or programs from the On Demand library and watch shows at your convenience, as many times as you want within the 24 to 48-hour** rental period. You can even pause, fast-forward, and rewind. Access On Demand programming from the Main Menu, Quick Menu or press the On Demand button on your remote. * PPV and On Demand not available in all areas. On Demand programs may not be recorded with DVR. DVR recording capacities vary. To purchase a program, highlight the icon and follow the on-screen prompts to complete your order. If the program is scheduled to air at a future time, a Reminder is automatically set to notify you of your order before the program begins. * On Demand not available in all areas. On Demand programs may not be recorded with a DVR. DVR recording capacities vary. ** Rental period may vary from 24 to 48 hours depending on the title midcocomm.com 28

18 How to Access Free On Demand Programs You ll wonder how you ever got by without On Demand!* Watch what you want when you want. And it s so easy! Here s how: 1. First, select the MENU button on your remote to see what is available On Demand. 2. Then, using the arrow keys at the top of the remote, select the icon and press OK/SEL. (Pressing the ON DEMAND button on the bottom of your remote; turning to Channel 1 will also access On Demand.) 3. Highlight the Free On Demand button and then press OK/SEL on your remote. 4. Now, highlight TV Entertainment and press OK/SEL. 5. Select any network and press OK/SEL on your remote. 6. Then select any program from the menu and press OK/SEL. How to purchase titles from the On Demand preview banner 1. Use the icon from the On Demand preview banner to easily purchase while watching the preview. 2. Select the icon and press OK/SEL to order the On Demand program. 3. Select the icon and press OK/SEL to return to the On Demand information screen. 4. To buy the program, highlight the icon, and follow the on-screen prompts to complete your order. If the program is available at no cost, the icon will appear instead of the icon. Your selection will begin playing immediately, and you can watch as often as you want during the 24 to 48* hour rental period. 7. After selecting a program, notice Free With Subscription in the upper left corner of your screen. 8. Last, highlight the icon and press OK/SEL to view. * Note: You may wish to set appropriate Parental Controls on each Digital Receiver/Recorder in your home. Learn how to set Parental Controls on page 31. Digital Recorders are not able to record On Demand programming. On Demand Magazine Find out the latest movies, free programming and more. Download the app to instantly access the On Demand Magazine and sign up to receive a monthly notifying you when a new edition becomes available. You can register online at midcocomm.com/myaccount or contact a Customer Service Representative at *Limited programs are available for a 48 hour rental period. 30

19 Parental Controls There may be cable TV programming that s not suitable for kids. And while it s not always possible to monitor what they re watching, you can block out the TV programs you don t want your children to see with Parental Controls. With Parental Controls, you re in control. You can: Select which movie and/or TV ratings are appropriate. Block specific TV channels. Temporarily allow access of channels for adult viewing. Set a personalized 4-digit PIN for security. For a description of the TV Ratings, visit midcocomm.com/support: Click CABLE TV. Click PARENTAL CONTROLS. For a brief step-by-step cable TV tutorial visit midcocomm.com/techtips and select Interactive Guide. 31 How to use Parental Controls: 1. First, select the MENU button on your remote. 2. Use the right arrow button on your remote to navigate to the icon, then press OK/SEL. 3. Use the remote to enter any four digits as your PIN and press OK/SEL. Reenter the same four digits again for security. 4. Use the down arrow button on your remote to select MOVIE RATING LOCKS. 5. Using the arrow keys on your remote, scroll through the movie ratings to find which rating you d like to block. Press OK/SEL to lock movies with that rating. Select OK/SEL again to unlock it. You may select more than one rating to lock. (Use these same steps for Title, TV Rating Locks, and Channel Locks.) midcocomm.com 32

20 6. If you would like to remove or temporarily bypass all the parental locks, select MASTER LOCKS and press OK/SEL. 7. In the Bypass Locks section, using the arrow keys, select YES to temporarily turn off all the Parental Controls while watching TV, or select NO to keep parental locks on. 8. To resume locks, turn the receiver off and on again or choose the LOCKS icon after a few minutes and it will prompt you to turn the locks back on. 9. Use these same steps for the Remove All Locks option. 10. From the Parental Control menu, use the arrow keys on your remote to select Hide Titles, then press OK/SEL. Choose the titles you d like to hide and press OK/SEL. A check mark will appear. 11. Press the EXIT button to return to normal viewing midcocomm.com 34

21 Using your DVR We know you re busy and sometimes you can t be there to watch your favorites when they first air. With DVR, you can record TV shows and events with a simple touch of a button on your remote. Go ahead DVR it! To control a live program You have the power to put your Live TV program on hold, by simply pressing the PAUSE button. Or, you can play it back again, by pressing the REWIND button. To access your DVR menu You can access your DVR Menu through the Quick Menu or the Main Menu. On your DVR Menu you can view your list of recordings, access and manage future and series recordings, and explore DVR Cleanup and History options. DVR Press the GUIDE Button. Highlight the program you want to record, and press the RECORD button. If you re already watching a show, press RECORD to start recording. To record a program To stop recording Press the STOP button. Then follow the on-screen instructions. To record a series Highlight the series you want to record in the Program Guide. Press RECORD twice. Or, from the Program Information screen, select the RECORD SERIES option. Full version of i-guide TM instructions available at midcocomm.com, or to view a brief step-by-step video tutorial visit midcocomm.com/techtips midcocomm.com 36

22 Using your DVR To watch a recording Press the LIST button. Use the arrow keys to highlight the recorded program you wish to play. Press the OK/SEL button. Select the play icon and press the OK/SEL button. To delete a recording Press the LIST button. Use the arrow keys to highlight the recorded program you wish to delete. Press the OK/SEL button. Then, use the arrow keys to highlight ERASE. Press the OK button. If asked to confirm your deletion, press the OK/SEL button again. DVR DVR Recordings Management Manage Your Recordings Access your DVR Setup from DVR Menu or Setup Menu. You can turn off/on DVR Folders, your Live Program Notice option and DVR Clipping. Clipping automatically allows a program to be recorded in the event of a recording conflict by clipping the first few minutes of the program but still recording the remainder of the program. DVR Cleanup allows you to easily delete multiple shows at once with a simple check box. DVR History provides a viewable list of recent DVR-related activity. This shows why recordings were missed or deleted and will remember previously-recorded programs which reduces re- or over-recording. Full version of i-guide TM instructions available at midcocomm.com, or to view a brief step-by-step video tutorial visit midcocomm.com/techtips midcocomm.com 38

23 Using your DVR The User Settings screen The following settings are the default. These should only be changed if needed. TV Type This setting should match your television s aspect ratio. For most HD installs the best option is going to be the 16:9 widescreen format. In some cases, your TV might not be a widescreen and may need to be changed to the 4:3 letterbox format. Please consult your TV s owner s manual to determine the best setting for your TV. To change this setting, aim the remote at the DVR and, using the directional arrows on the remote, select TV TYPE. Then arrow right until 16:9 is selected. YPbPr or HDMI Output This sets the video display format for the component video outputs. The setting is usually 1080i; however, depending on your TV, it may need to be changed to 720p. Please consult your TV s owner s manual to see what the optimal resolution is. DVR 4:3 Override The default option is 480i and should not need to be changed. To change this setting, use the directional arrows on the remote, select YPbPr or HDMI Output. Then arrow right until 1080i or 720p is selected (depending upon your TV s owner s manual specifications). Closed Captioning This allows the activation of closed captioning on both high definition and digital channels. To change this setting and activate/deactivate closed captioning, aim the remote at the DVR and, using the directional arrows on the remote, select CLOSED CAPTION. Then, arrow right once to enable/disable. Any issues relating to HD service installed by you will necessitate a Service Call by a Midcontinent Communications technician and will result in a charge to the customer of at least $ midcocomm.com 40

24 Remote Record* Hear about a movie or new program and you want to set a recording so you don t miss another minute? Set a recording from anywhere with remote record. Accessing remote record is easy. Visit midco.net and login using a Midcontinent address and password ( setup can be handled through midcocomm.com/myaccount). Midco. net will recognize your account instantly. Select TV Everywhere and choose TV Listings. You will be able to easily schedule a single recording or a series recording instantly. Search by date & time, filter by genre or select your favorite program title then select Record and follow the on-screen prompts to confirm your recording is set. Questions about remote record? A step-by-step video tutorial is available online under Manage Your DVR at midcocomm.com/techtips. If you need additional assistance contact a Customer Service Representative at *Remote Record is not available in all service areas. emote Record midcocomm.com

25 43 TV Everywhere TV Everywhere is the mobile point of access for great programming you get with your Midcontinent cable TV subscription. It gives you access to the latest series, specials, movies and events to take with you on all your mobile devices. Visit midcocomm.com/tveverywhere for a list of available networks in your area. Watch on your computer: By going to midcocomm.com/tveverywhere OR Login to midcocomm.com/myaccount. Click Network Access under TV Everywhere. Select the network you would like to enjoy. Click Watch Now. When the new screen appears you can register* using your Midcontinent address and password. Watch on your smartphone or tablet: Search for the mobile network app you want to download (ex: Watch ESPN, HBO GO, Watch Disney, etc). Use your Midcontinent address and password to register*. Auto Login: Midcontinent Cable and Internet subscribers who access TV Everywhere from home will be automatically logged in. No password needed. Social Media Login: Many networks allow you to login using your Social Media information. All you need to do is sync your Midcontinent TV Everywhere. Simply select which social media icon you want to register with and follow the steps. You will need to enter your Midcontinent login and password the first time, but from there you can use your preferred social media login. *TV Everywhere requires a valid Midcontinent address. Visit midcocomm.com/myaccount and click on Manage Accounts under the TV Everywhere section to set up a new Midcontinent address. TVe

26 Customer Care Need help? Have a question? We re here for you 24/7. Call or visit midcocomm.com. Manage services, make payments, order, upgrade and more online, all on your own time at with My Account at midcocomm.com. Of course, you re always welcome to visit us at a Customer Service Center near you. Stop by and set up services, get a personal demonstration, check out our other services, and more! Want to be your own technician? Step-by-step how to videos can be found online at midcocomm.com/techtips midcocomm.com 46

27 MC47 UG 1013 CABLE TV USER GUIDE midcocomm.com