Log in to My Bell Hide




Using your HD PVR Plus  receiver

For more information on your HD PVR Plus receiver check out the online user guide or look under troubleshooting.


Select page

  • Error messages in the Menus
    What's happeningPossible reasons whyWhat to do
    The receiver displays an "ERROR" message on the TV screen. When the receiver finds a problem, it displays an ERROR message on the TV screen. In most cases, the ERROR message explains the error. Sometimes, the ERROR message prompts you to do something. However, usually all you need to do is select the OK option on the ERROR message to clear the message from the TV screen.
    ERROR message text: The number of password entry retries has been exceeded. Please try again later. You may try to enter the password three times. If you do not enter the correct password any of those times, then you must wait several minutes until you may try again. Wait until several minutes have passed, and try again.
    ERROR message: "The front panel buttons are locked."  Someone locked the receiver front panel buttons. Use the remote to unlock the receiver front panel buttons.
    ERROR message: "Unable to acquire signal" or "Unable to acquire program guide information."  Receiver not receiving signal strong enough to maintain clear, uninterrupted picture. Check all coaxial cables and cable connections. Check condition of dish mounting and aiming. Have installer re-aim dish if necessary. If system is OK, there may be a weather-related problem affecting satellite transmission signal.
    ERROR message: "Please insert your SmartCard." SmartCard is missing or not inserted correctly. Check that SmartCard is fully and properly inserted into receiver front panel slot.
    ERROR message: "SmartCard not inserted correctly." Receiver will work only with SmartCard that came with it. Insert SmartCard that came with system.
    ATTENTION: Your SmartCard does not currently have authorization to view or purchase this program. Please wait or channel up or down.
    Problem with electronic programming guide information transmitted to receiver via satellite signal. You cannot watch selected program even though displayed in electronic programming guide. Try a different program or channel.
    ERROR: "Your receiver has not yet been authorized." Receiver not yet electronically linked with SmartCard via satellite signal. If you authorized your system, wait a few minutes to see if message is removed. If you have not authorized your system, call Bell TV customer service for assistance.
    ATTENTION: "Acquiring satellite signal." Receiver may have just been plugged in and is still acquiring satellite signal. Dish may have moved and is no longer is right position to pick up satellite signal. Coaxial cables may have loosened or have moisture inside. There may be an interruption of satellite signal. Wait a few minutes to see if the message is removed. Check that SIGNAL STRENGTH BAR in POINT DISH AND SIGNAL STRENGTH menu is green and displays word LOCKED. If not, have installer re-aim satellite dish.
  • Using the remote control
    What's happeningPossible reasons whyWhat to do
    Cannot find remote. Lost or misplaced. Use receiver front panel control buttons to control receiver until you find remote. If remote control cannot be found or is too damaged to use, call Bell TV customer service to order a new one.
    When you press a button on remote, receiver does not do what you expect. Remote may be missing batteries, batteries may be incorrectly inserted or batteries may be weak or dead. If batteries are missing or dead, insert fresh AAA-size ones. If remote has fresh batteries, check whether they’re inserted according to diagram. If not, remove and insert correctly.
    When you press POWER on remote to turn receiver ON, receiver front panel POWER light does not light up. Batteries may be weak or dead. Receiver power cord may not be plugged into power outlet, or there may be a problem with power. Try other remote buttons to see if receiver is responding. Replace remote batteries with fresh ones. Check that receiver power cord is not damaged and that plug is inserted correctly into outlet.
    You use infrared remote extenders called pyramids. Other electronic devices exhibit ultra-high frequency (UHF) interference.
    Extenders use UHF signals to transmit signals from one room to another. Signals may be causing interference. Temporarily stop using extenders to see if this stops interference. If extenders are the source of interference, stop using them. UHF signals have a long range even through walls and other solid objects.
    You use infrared remote extenders called pyramids. IR remote control extenders do not seem to work.
    Infrared sensor on extender receiving remote signals may not be facing remote. IR cable on extender sending signal to receiver may not be right in front of IR sensor on receiver front panel.
    Make sure that extender receiving signal from remote is facing the right way so that IR sensor can receive remote signals. Make sure that IR cable on extender sending signal to receiver is right in front of IR sensor on receiver front panel so that receiver IR sensor can receive signals. If this does not solve problem, contact extender manufacturer for assistance.
  • Hearing program sound
    What's happeningPossible reasons whyWhat to do
    Receiver front panel POWER light is on and there is good picture on TV but no sound. Sound may be MUTED or volume set so low you cannot hear. Audio connections may not be properly connected. Check volume level on TV or audio equipment. Turn off MUTE or turn up volume as required. Check audio connectors and cables from receiver to TV or sound system you're using. Check TV speakers or sound system speakers you're using.
    You hear a foreign language with program. Receiver may have been programmed to select an alternate audio language. Use SYSTEM SET-UP menu to open ALTERNATE AUDIO LANGUAGE menu to select language you prefer.
  • Watching a program
    What's happeningPossible reasons whyWhat to do
    Receiver front panel POWER light is on but TV image is black (no picture), frozen, has breakups, has snow, or shows small squares of various colours. TV may not be working properly. If TV and receiver are working properly, there may be interference with satellite signal. TV may be wired to the wrong input. Make sure that TV is plugged into electrical outlet. Make sure outlet has electrical power. Make sure TV is turned on. If receiver is connected to TV using only RF or VHF connections, make sure that TV is tuned to channel 3 or 4 (whichever works best in your area) and that receiver back panel CHANNEL 3/4 SWITCH is set to same channel as TV.
    Make sure TV brightness and contrast are adjusted correctly. Make sure TV is properly connected to receiver. Check that system has been installed correctly. Make sure all required coaxial cables are in place, and check that all cable connectors are firmly connected. Make sure that satellite dish is aimed at satellite. Check strength of signal using POINT DISH AND SIGNAL STRENGTH menu. Have installer re-aim the dish, if necessary, to obtain maximum possible signal strength. Note local weather conditions. Heavy rain, snow, or cloud cover may be interfering with transmission of satellite signal. Remove any snow or other debris, which may have collected on satellite dish. Set TV to S VIDEO or VIDEO input.
    Receiver front panel POWER light is on and there is picture on TV but picture has sparkles or is grainy, has a herringbone pattern, lacks colour or vertical hold, wobbles, or looks washed out or fuzzy. TV may not be working properly. If receiver is connected to TV using only RF or VHF connections, there may be a strong local broadcast on the same channel, or a channel adjacent to the one to which TV is tuned. There may be interference from other nearby electrical devices (including cellular telephones, computers, microwave ovens, radios, stereos or other TVs).
    Dish may have moved so that it no longer picks up satellite signal.
    Make sure TV brightness and contrast are adjusted correctly and that TV is working properly. Make sure TV is properly connected to receiver. Check other nearby electrical devices as possible sources of interference. Check that all required coaxial cables are in place. Check for moisture or water leakage in all connections. Dry out if necessary and then seal with coaxial cable sealant. Check dish-to-receiver cable length. If it’s over 100 feet, call your dealer or professional installer. Make sure that satellite dish is aimed at satellite. Check signal strength using
    POINT DISH AND SIGNAL STRENGTH menu. If necessary have installer re-aim dish to obtain maximum possible signal strength. Check dish mount and tighten bolts if necessary.
    A black box fills almost all of TV screen. CLOSE CAPTION feature on TV may have been activated and put into TEXT MODE. Use remote or menus displayed by TV (NOT receiver remote or menus displayed by receiver) to de-activate CLOSE CAPTION feature.
    TV screen all blue. Receiver may be connected to incorrect input connection on TV for signal output from receiver. Check TV user manual for correct TV input connection for signal output from receiver.
  • Understanding menus
    What's happeningPossible reasons whyWhat to do
    You were using a menu when it suddenly closed, taking you back to the program you were watching. Menus have a time-out feature that closes them after several minutes without activity, discarding any changes you have made, but otherwise causing no harm to receiver.

    Start over.
  • Using electronic programming guide or browse banner:
    What's happeningPossible reasons whyWhat to do
    Cannot display future programs in electronic programming guide or browse banner. Electronic programming guide and browse banner can display programs scheduled for an extended but not unlimited future time. Try electronic programming guide again at a later time. It may then be able to show programs for the time and date you want.
    You cannot display past programs in the electronic programming guide or browse banner. Electronic programming guide and browse banner can only display programs to come or programs still being shown.
    Contact program providers for information on past programs.

    Some channels are missing on electronic programming guide or browse banner.
    A FAVOURITES LIST other than the list named ALL CHAN has been activated. Change the active FAVOURITES LIST using the electronic programming guide and pressing GUIDE on your remote. Choose another FAVOURITES LIST or ALL CHAN to list all channels.
  • Changing channels
    What's happeningPossible reasons whyWhat to do
    New channel not channel entered. Receiver skipping purchased channels as you scan up or down through channel selection. Channel number may have been incorrectly entered or invalid. Channel displayed is closest possible in such cases. If you entered the number of a channel you hadn't purchased, the receiver will display a message or invite you to purchase the program. If a FAVOURITES LIST other than ALL CHAN is active, receiver will skip channels not on active list.
    Retry channel selection. Press RECALL on remote to return to previous channel. Select ALL CHAN as active FAVOURITES LIST.
  • Using your favourites lists
    What's happeningPossible reasons whyWhat to do
    Receiver displays ERROR message when you try to change the ALL CHAN list. Receiver will not allow you to change ALL CHAN list.
    Choose another list to change.
    You try to make an empty FAVOURITES LIST active. Receiver highlights MODIFY LIST option. Receiver will not allow you to activate an empty list. Choose another list or add at least one channel to the empty list.
    Receiver displays ERROR message when you try to add channel to FAVOURITES LIST. List already has maximum number of channels allowed.
    Delete channel from list to make room for each new channel.
  • Setting and using parental locks
    What's happeningPossible reasons whyWhat to do
    You set a parental lock (on programs by ratings, for example) but the lock does not take effect. Receiver has not been locked. Receiver must be locked for any parental lock to take effect.
    Cannot unlock receiver because you forgot your password. Password not written down for keeping in safe place.
    Call Bell TV customer service and provide: your name, your address, your telephone number, the receiver serial identification number and your personal identification number (PIN) if you use one.
  • Ordering Pay-Per-View programs
    What's happeningPossible reasons whyWhat to do
    Someone orders a Pay-Per-View program without your permission. Someone may have used the receiver while you were away from it. Lock receiver to prevent unauthorized Pay-Per-View purchases. You don’t have to use parental locks to do this.
    Locking receiver does it automatically for you. Remember that you are responsible for all Pay-Per-View purchases whether you authorized them or not. Once receiver is locked, your password must be entered before any Pay-Per-View programs can be ordered.
    You're unable to order a Pay-Per-View program. Receiver may not be connected to an active telephone line. SmartCard credit limit may be exceeded. All receivers must be connected to an active telephone line at all times. Call Bell TV customer service.
    You're unable to cancel a Pay-Per-View program. After you order a Pay-Per-View program you decide not to watch it. Orders for Pay-Per-View programs cannot be cancelled.
    Your set-up includes more than one receiver. You order a Pay-Per-View program but it does not appear on all receivers. You wanted your Pay-Per-View program to be available on all receivers in your set-up. You must order a Pay-Per-View program for each receiver you want to be able to view it on.
  • Using the telephone for voice, data and fax
    What's happeningPossible reasons whyWhat to do
    You hear clicks during a telephone call. Receiver may have tried to call Bell TV to send Pay-Per-View information. Receiver automatically disconnects when telephone is being used.
    Don't do anything. All receivers in your set-up must be connected to an active telephone line at all times. Call Bell TV customer service for more information.
    You pick up telephone to make a call but do not hear dial tone. Receiver was calling Bell TV to send Pay-Per-View information. Receiver automatically disconnects when you pick up the phone. Press telephone receiver button to hang up. Release button to get dial tone.
    Computer or fax tries to send a fax but fails. Receiver was calling Bell TV to send Pay-Per-View information. Receiver automatically disconnects when telephone is being used. No dial tone causes computer or fax to cancel transmission. Resend fax from computer or fax machine.
    Your computer or fax was receiving a fax but an error occurred. Receiver may have tried to call Bell TV to send Pay Per View information.  Receiver automatically disconnects when telephone line is being used causing error in fax transmission.

    Have fax resent.

  • Using event timers
    What's happeningPossible reasons whyWhat to do
    Receiver displays PROGRAM LOCKED message when you try to set up an event timer. You must enter password before creating an event timer for a locked program. Enter password before setting up an event timer.
    Receiver displays Pay-Per-View EVENT message when you try to set up an event timer. Pay-Per-View event must be ordered before you can create an event timer for it. Order Pay-Per-View event before setting up an event timer for it.
    Receiver displays ERROR message giving you option to delete an event timer set up earlier when you try to set up a new one.
    You have already set up the maximum number of event timers. Delete an earlier event timer for each new one you set up.
    You set up an event timer but receiver does not tune program channel or does not record program. You may have set up a reminder event timer instead of an auto-tune event timer or VCR event timer. A reminder event timer only reminds you that a program is about to start. You need an auto-tune event timer for receiver to tune program channel. A VCR event timer reminds you, tunes the receiver and starts the VCR.
    An event timer for a program that is repeated, like a regularly scheduled program, does not work when the program comes on. Event timer may have been set up with an incorrect frequency. A once event timer works just one time. A Monday-Friday event timer operates Monday through Friday on the same channel at the same time. A daily event timer does the same, Monday through Sunday. A weekly event timer operates once a week on the same channel at the same time.
    You set up an event timer but the timer does not work at all. Program time may have changed causing event timer to overlap another event timer. Program time may have changed by more than 24 hours. If receiver is ON and finds an event timer overlap, it will display EVENT TIMER SCHEDULING CONFLICT menu. Revise or delete one of the overlapping event timers. Event timers will not operate if program time changes by more than 24 hours.
    Once event timer operates at different time than you expected. Program time changed. Once event timers always operate at actual program times.
    You stop an event timer for a program that is repeated, like a regularly scheduled program, but timer continues to operate for next showing. Stopping event timer applies only to current showing of program. To stop all operations of a repeated event timer you must delete it. Receiver automatically deletes once event timers when they kick in.
    VCR will not do VCR code test to see if receiver controls VCR. VCR may not be turned on, tape may not be inserted, tape may not be rewound or write-protect tab on tape may have been removed. Code you are testing may not be valid for VCR. Make sure VCR is turned on with blank tape inserted, that tape is rewound, and that write-protect tab on tape is intact. Select another VCR code from table and try again.
    VCR does not record program for an event timer you set up. VCR may not be turned on, tape may have not been inserted or rewound, or write-protect tab on tape may have been removed. If you used receiver back panel RF of VHF connections in the wiring set-up, you may not have set the receiver channel 3/4 setting and both the VCR modulator output and viewing channel to either 3 or 4.
    There may be obstacles between receiver and VCR. If you set up VCR event timer using the CREATE AN EVENT TIMER menu, you may have selected an auto-tune or reminder timer instead of a VCR timer. If you did select a VCR timer, you may have selected an inappropriate timer frequency. If you set up the VCR event timer using the quick-record feature, the timer, in that case, was for one time only and would miss any other showing of the program.
    Make sure the VCR is on, with a tape inserted and that tape is rewound with write-protect tab intact. If you use the RF of VHF connections, you must set receiver channel 3/4 setting and both VCR modulator output and viewing channel to either 3 or 4. Remove any obstacles between receiver and VCR.
    When you set up VCR event timer, make sure to select VCR option in TIMER TYPE list in the CREATE AND EVENT TIMER menu and that you select the proper option in TIMER FREQUENCY LIST. You can set up a once (one time only) event timer using the quick record feature.
    After you edit an automatic event timer, the timer does not start or does not end according to the program for which it was set.
    Editing an automatic event timer converts it to a manual event timer. A manual event timer starts and stops at the times you specify, not at the start and stop times of any specific program. If you want an automatic event timer to start and stop according to a specific program, do not edit it.
    Receiver displays ERROR message when you try to set up a manual event timer. You may have tried to set up a manual event timer with invalid start or stop times. Review the rules on start and stop times for manual event timers.
    Receiver does not display program name for a manual event timer. Receiver may not be able to display program name for a manual event timer. Use electronic programming guide or printed schedule to find the program name.
    Event timer misses beginning or end of a program. Program may have started earlier than scheduled or it may have run beyond its scheduled ending time. Use START 1 MIN. early option to start any event timer one minute early except for Pay-Per-View events. Use a manual event timer to start any event timer at times you set yourself except for Pay-Per-View events.