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How to use a Motorola DVR/Connections

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How to use a Motorola DVR
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Need to add info and/or pictures on connecting the DVR to a home entertainment/TV/whatever system.

DVR Connector Descriptions

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For photo illustrations of the various DCT models' connections panels, please refer to the "Identify" module, in this Wikibook.

DCT-34xx

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The 34xx series has no front panel connections.

Rear Panel (From left to right):

  • 1 Coaxial RF connector (CABLE IN for signal from the cable company)
  • 1 Coaxial RF connector (RF OUT for a TV or other device)
  • 1 IR repeater port (1/8 inch socket)
  • 1 S-Video OUT
  • 1 Coaxial SPDIF OUT (digital audio, orange RCA)
  • 1 Optical SPDIF OUT (digital audio)
  • 1 Composite video OUT (yellow RCA)
  • 1 pair Audio OUT (Left [white] & Right [red] RCA)
  • 1 triplet Component video OUT (Y [green], Pb [blue], Pr [red] RCA)
  • 1 HDMI
  • 1 Ethernet
  • 1 USB
  • 1 SATA
  • 2 IEEE 1394 (also known as Firewire or i.Link)
  • 1 Power outlet (to power another device. It may or may not be powered on and off with the DVR.)
  • 1 Power IN (power cord is removable)

NOTE: Your cable company controls which ports are active. Typically, the USB, SATA and Ethernet ports are disabled. The USB port may supply power for devices like a fan or light.

DCT-64xx Phase III

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Front Panel:

NOTE: Most cable companies disable the front panel connections. The USB port may still supply power to run a fan or light.


Rear Panel (From left to right):

  • 1 Coaxial RF connector (CABLE IN for the signal from the cable company)
  • 1 Coaxial RF connector ((Some Models Only)RF OUT for a TV or other device)
  • 1 IR repeater port (1/8 inch socket)
  • 1 S-Video OUT
  • 1 Optical SPDIF OUT (digital audio)
  • 1 pair Audio IN (Left [white] & Right [red] RCA)
  • 1 pair Audio OUT (Left [white] & Right [red] RCA)
  • 1 Coaxial SPDIF OUT (digital audio, orange RCA)
  • 1 triplet Component video OUT (Y [green], Pb [blue], Pr [red] RCA)
  • 1 Composite video IN (yellow RCA)
  • 1 Composite video OUT (yellow RCA)
  • 1 HDMI
  • 1 USB
  • 1 SATA
  • 2 IEEE 1394 (also known as Firewire or i.Link)
  • 1 Ethernet
  • 1 Power outlet (to power another device. It may or may not be powered on and off with the DVR.)
  • 1 Power IN (the power cord is removable)

NOTE: Your cable company controls which ports are active. Typically, the USB, SATA, composite video IN and Ethernet ports are disabled. The Audio IN ports will pass audio through to the audio out when the DVR is turned off. The USB port may supply power for devices like a fan or light.

DCT-64xx Phase II versions 1 & 2

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Version 1 Phase II's have no coaxial RF output and only one USB port on the back.

Front Panel:

NOTE: Most cable companies disable the front panel connections. The USB port may still supply power to run a fan, a light, iPods or even PS3 controllers. (Personal note: My Gen5.5 30G iPod appears to recognize the connection by turning on, but will not actually charge the battery when connected to my 6412 Phase II.)


Rear Panel (from left to right):

  • 1 Coaxial RF connector (CABLE IN for the signal from the cable company)
  • 1 Coaxial RF connector (Version 2 only, RF OUT for a TV or other device)
  • 1 IR repeater port (1/8 inch socket)
  • 1 Ethernet
  • 1 USB (Version 2 has 2 USB ports)
  • 1 DVI
  • 1 pair Audio IN (Left (white) & Right [red] RCA)
  • 1 pair Audio OUT (Left (white) & Right [red] RCA)
  • 1 Coaxial SPDIF OUT (digital audio, orange RCA)
  • 1 triplet Component video OUT (Y [green], Pb [blue], Pr [red] RCA)
  • 1 Composite video IN (yellow RCA)
  • 1 Composite video OUT (yellow RCA)
  • 1 S-Video OUT
  • 1 Optical SPDIF OUT (digital audio)
  • 2 IEEE 1394 (also known as Firewire or i.Link)
  • 1 Power outlet (to power another device. It may or may not be powered on and off with the DVR.)
  • 1 Power IN (power cord is removable)

NOTE: Your cable company controls which ports are active. Typically, the USB, composite video IN and Ethernet ports are disabled. The Audio IN ports will pass audio through to Audio OUT when the DVR is turned off. The USB port may supply power for devices like a fan or light.

DCT-64xx Phase I

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Need information about Phase I DVRs.

Connection samples

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Below are a few basic connection ideas for common situations.

SD TV with no A/V inputs

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You either must use a DCT-64xx Phase III or DCT-34xx, or purchase an RF Modulator.

  1. Connect coaxial cable from cable company to DVR's CABLE IN connector
  2. Connect coaxial cable from the DVR's RF OUT connector to your TV (alternatively, you can connect it to a VCR or DVD recorder's RF input, and connect it's RF output to your TV.)
    1. If your DVR does not have an RF out connection, purchase an RF Modulator. Connect the DVR's Composite video OUT (yellow RCA) jack to the modulator. Connect the DVR's audio OUT (Left [white] & Right [red] RCA) jacks to the modulator.
  3. Tune your TV to channel 3 (or sometimes channel 4)
  4. Refer to the Setup page and change the YPbPr Output setting to 480i.

SD TV with A/V inputs

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  1. Connect coaxial cable from cable company to the DVR's CABLE IN connector
  2. (optional) Connect coaxial cable from the DVR's RF OUT connector to your TV (alternatively, you can connect it to a VCR or DVD recorder's RF input, and connect it's RF output to your TV.)
  3. Connect the DVR's audio OUT (Left [white] & Right [red] RCA) jacks to your TV's Audio IN jacks.
  4. Determine the highest quality connection your TV supports. From highest to lowest, these will be Component, S-Video, then Composite. (If you have a rare standard definition TV that has HDMI or DVI ports, those should be considered highest quality.)
  5. Make your video connection:
    1. Component: Use 3 RCA cables, typically color coded green (Y), blue (Pb), and red (Pr).
    2. S-Video: Use cable with large round connector that has 4 pins and a plastic post inside it.
    3. Composite: Use an RCA cable, typically color coded yellow.
  6. Tune your TV to the video input you made your connections to.
  7. Refer to the Setup page and change the YPbPr Output setting to 480i.
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