• Action Bar - Provides a means of choosing various functions depending on mode or screen displayed in the GUIDE.
• Antenna - A device used to receive over-the-air broadcast signals from various radio and television sources.
• Blue screen - A bright blue background image which appears on the television monitor when an "on-screen display" (OSD) VCR is either receiving no broadcast signal or set to the incorrect neutral channel.
• Brand Code - The designated code number used for duplicating a specific manufacturer's remote signal.
• Broadcast Industry Sources - Companies which provide television channel lineup and program listing information for the U.S. and Canada.
• Broadcast signal - The process in which various television stations transmit their daily programming to TV and VCR receivers.
• Cable Ready - Does not require a cable box to receive cable.
• CATV mode - The mode a "cable ready" TV or VCR must be set to in order to receive cable signals.
• Channel Banners - A station advertisement for an upcoming show.
• Channel Map - A complete list of channels present in a given cable or antenna lineup.
• Channel Map Selection - The means by which the TV Guide On Screen system discriminates between multiple cable lineups broadcast in a common ZIP or postal code.
• Display panel - These are located below the video window which displays Product or Program Related information.
• "Download" cycle - The amount of time it takes for the system to receive current program information from its designated "Host" station (see: Host Download).
• Downloading - The act of transmitting channel lineups and program listings through television broadcast signals to TV Guide On Screen receivers built into consumer televisions and VCRs.
• DSS - Digital Satellite System. Incompatible with TV Guide On Screen system.
• Channel Editor - A mode accessed on the Main Menu Bar which provides manual channel mapping capability and allows channel customization.
• Electronic Preset VCR - A VCR which uses an old style manually programmable tuner. Channels must be set into the VCR memory by the user. Tuner capacity is usually limited to a maximum of 12 to 16 channels (incompatible with TV Guide On Screen system unless a cable box is being used).
• Expanded Information Window - Screen which displays program title, PlusCode number and, in some cases, a detailed plot description, list of cast members and production points of interest. Additional program titles may also be displayed.
• F.A.Q.'s - "Frequently Asked Questions". A list of answers to questions most likely to be asked by customers based on past product experience.
• G-LINK Wand - The small L-shaped attachment at the end of the G-LINK cable used to send remote commands to a separate VCR or cable box.
• Grid - The mode on the Main Menu Bar used to display GUIDE program listings for all active channels.
• Host Station or "Host" - A term used to indicate a broadcast station which maintains a Gemstar data insertion device for TV Guide On Screen and Index Plus+ products.
• Host Download - Periodic transmission of TV Guide On Screen data through designated television broadcast signals to TV Guide On Screen televisions and VCRs. This process is used to maintain current television listings in the TV Guide On Screen system.
• Information Box - Screen which displays program title, starting time, length and, in some cases, a brief plot description, list of cast members and quality rating (***).
• Initial Setup - The first-time entry of setup information required for the proper orientation and operation of the TV Guide On Screen system.
• Line-ups - Channels available in a given broadcast or cable system.
• Listings - Titles and descriptions of programs being broadcast by television stations.
• Lock/Unlock Video Window - This function on the Action Bar allows continual viewing of a desired program while scrolling through the program listings.
• Manual Preset VCR - See "Electronic Preset VCR".
• Main Menu Bar - Provides a means to navigate between an expandable list of TV Guide On Screen services.
• OTA - "Over-The-Air": refers to a television or VCR which receives broadcast signals by antenna as opposed to cable.
• Picture in Picture (PIP) - A small viewing screen superimposed onto the larger main viewing screen of a television monitor.
• Point and Shoot recording - TV Guide On Screen feature which allows a user to program a show for recording simply by highlighting it in the grid and pressing "record" or "VCR+" on their remote.
• Quality rating - A system used to inform the viewer of a television show's quality, usually using a star system (****). The more stars present the better the rating.
• Remote sensor - The receiving eye on a TV, VCR or cable box which picks up the infrared commands sent by a user's remote control.
• Schedule - A mode that can be either accessed from the Action Bar when using the Watch/Record feature or through the Main Menu Bar. It lists programs selected for Watch or Record and allows removal or frequency changes to the programs.
• Search Mode - The mode a TV Guide On Screen system is in when scanning local broadcast channels for set-up information.
• Snow - A term used to describe the loud hissing sound and distorted picture displayed on a television screen when a reception problem exists.
• Sort - A mode accessed on the Main Menu Bar which previews program listings for various categories such as movies, sports and children's shows for up to eight days.
• Split channels - Multiple television stations broadcasting on the same channel number at different times of the day.
• Split Filter - The process which removes some "split channels" from the cable line-up information.
• Symbols -
  • Ω : In stereo
  • i : Additional program information available in Expanded Information Box.
  • cc : Closed Caption
• TV/VCR mode - A toggle mode used to switch from watching a television picture to a VCR picture or vice versa.
• VCR A/B or 1/2 - Auxiliary remote modes, present in some models, which allow a user to control two identical VCRs independently using the same remote control.
• Video Window - The small viewing screen located on the upper left corner of the TV Guide On Screen system which allows continual viewing of current program.
• Watch 'n Record - The capability of watching one show while recording another.
• Wire Remote - A remote control device which is physically connected to a VCR or cable box by a wire cable (incompatible with TV Guide On Screen system).

NOTE: Naming used for remote control buttons can vary by product, refer to your owner's manual for the specific remote control button used to control TV Guide On Screen's functionality.