DirecTV HDTV - Manual (Page 81)

Getting Assistance
78
Peak Signal
The “Peak Signal”
indicates the highest
signal strength you have
obtained, which is not
necessarily the highest
possible signal.
USING THE ON-SCREEN SIGNAL METER
The signal strength meter is used to determine whether you are receiving the
DIRECTV signal; it also indicates the strength of the DIRECTV signal once the signal
is acquired. Follow these steps to bring up the on-screen signal meter:
1. Press MENU on the remote to bring up the main menu.
2. Select Assistance then Dish Pointing.
3. Select Signal Meter.
If the dish is pointed correctly, the signal meter will show you the current signal
strength (and you should hear a continuous tone).
4. Use the arrows and OK button on the remote control to toggle between the
satellites. Try to achieve the peak signal for each.
YOUR NEW ACCESS CARD
Periodically, your program provider may issue you a replacement access card if you
subscribe to DIRECTV
® programming. The New Access Card Setup screen allows
you to transfer the information from the old card onto the new one. The access card
fits into the TV through the back panel.
To replace the card:
1. Select Assistance from the main menu.
2. Select New Access Card.
3. Follow the on-screen directions to validate the new card.
RUNNING THE SYSTEM TEST
The System Test display screen is accessed through the Assistance menu and allows
you to initiate diagnostic procedures on the DIRECTV System, if you subscribe to
DIRECTV
® programming. You should use this feature to get your access card
number or when your television doesn’t seem to be receiving satellite signals
correctly.
A message screen appears when you select System Test from the Assistance menu.
This screen tells you whether the system passed each test. If your system fails the
test, run the system test several times before concluding that there is a problem.
Occasional fluctuations in the phone line or satellite signal can give temporary false
readings. Note that if you do not subscribe to DIRECTV
® programming or do not
have your satellite dish antenna installed, the test will fail.
See the section “Setup
and Connections” for
details about where to
insert your access card.
While the maximum
signal strength is 100, the
signal strength you
achieve will probably be
less. Although there is no
difference in picture
quality between signal
strengths of 60 and 85,
the higher the signal, the
less likely you are to
experience negative
effects in degraded
conditions such as rain
or snow (called “rain
fade”).