Contributor
Can I expand external storage for DVR?
Currently I record my DirecTV programs on an external drive connected via E-Sata cable to a compatible docking station. If I wanted to go from, say, 2TB to 4TB of storage for the Genie HD DVR, could I do that without losing the recorded programs on the 2TB external drive I have now? Thx for any suggestions and feedback.
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goldw1800
ACE - Professor
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2K Messages
4 years ago
Yes you can add a larger HD up 10tb for the genie --However all Programs on the 2TB will be gone . NOTE remove the 2TB and set it aside --Put your Larger Drive on and start over --When ever you want you can Attach the old 2TB drive on the same genie and then view those save programs.
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shannon02
ACE - Expert
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21K Messages
4 years ago
Yes, while the programs will remain on the 2TB drive you will have to switch back and forth between the 4TB and 2TB and the Esata port is not made for frequent connects/disconnects as it will break so best to watch the programs first before adding the 4TB drive.
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Juniper
ACE - Expert
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22.9K Messages
4 years ago
There is no official hard cap on an external for the Genie models, though on first launch they had cautiously suggested up to 4TB. Others have used 12TB, 16TB and up successfully. Though if you need that much space then it seems you are recording way more than you can catch up on.
Now the non-Genie HDDVRs do have a hard cap of an external of 2TB. Still an option for those that need to not have all eggs in one basket in case of failure, or want each user to have their own recording list. Unfortunately that is not an option with the Genie-2 (HS17) since it forbids everything but Clients.
Regardless of model, the recordings are encrypted to the DVR that recorded them. They are not intended to be transferred as you don't own them. They are part of the lease license of your equipment.
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randybell2
Contributor
4 years ago
So, I take it there's no way to clone the 2TB drive's content onto a blank 4TB drive in a way that the Genie HD DVR will recognize that content. Thx for such quick reply. 🙂
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randybell2
Contributor
4 years ago
shannon02, thx for your swift and helpful reply, much appreciated:
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Explanation: The docking station for the external drive has an E-Sata port which connects to the Genie DVR port via E-Sata cable --
So, switching between two different external SATA drives used for recording doesn't affect the physical E-Sata cable connection, which remains in place regardless.
Just have to switch the drive that is plugged into the docking station. There's no stress on the cable or its connectors.
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Apparently there is no way to transfer the recorded information from one drive to another, in a way that the Genie HD DVR will recognize and accept it. Shucks. 🤔
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goldw1800
ACE - Professor
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2K Messages
4 years ago
CORRECT --if your using a DOCK
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shannon02
ACE - Expert
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21K Messages
4 years ago
The programs are encrypted to the DVR that recorded it making it nearly impossible to transfer them to another hard drive. There is a company called weeknees.com that can put in a larger internal drive and copy the programs to the new drive but unknown if they can do this with an external drive.
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choppers
New Member
4 years ago
So couldn't Direct TV transfer them in for example they needed to switch out the main DVR due to some faulty issue it was having? I had to have mine switched out & I lost all the recordings I had saved & not yet watched. I have had some other issue recently & am concerned that they will suggest this as the fix as I have had them do so since & do not want to lose what I have saved. I know years ago when I had Dish Network, I was told I could buy a hard drive to transfer my recordings to. How could one not be able to do so with Direct TV if it could be done with Dish?
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Juniper
ACE - Expert
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22.9K Messages
4 years ago
Recordings are encrypted to their exact DVR and hard drive pair. A transfer option, such as during a warranty replacement, has been often requested. However there is no indication of this changing.
Though DirecTV and Dish are both satellite TV providers, options of one doesn't mean they are available on the other. They each have their own proprietary equipment and programming licensing agreements.
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shannon02
ACE - Expert
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21K Messages
4 years ago
Nobody is going to pay a tech to transfer recording in real time so no there is no why to do a hard drive to hard drive transfer and DTV has had this policy for 30 years so don't expect it to change.
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