ESATA EXTERNAL DRIVE FOR HD recording hr24-100

I've gotta say a 3TB is only needed for archiving. You can't watch that much TV. I've never hit 50% on a 2TB drive, I'm retired and four people in the house schedule TV. You can't really use a hard drive for archiving. When the associated DVR bites the dust or gets outdated, all the recordings are lost. A new DVR will reformat the drive. It can't access the programming. Drives larger than 2TB are not supported for present DVRs.

Part of the problem driving me to add another big drive is that the reciver s DTV "rents us". They only will record 50 max (serial) programs.  So I am recording on 3 seperate HD DVR's. ( Thanks Direct TV for that limitation)   I know the archiving thing is against some peoples religions .I personally don't see anything wrong with saving programs to view later (archiving) it is like either buying a DVD watching it at any time or or renting one, watching immediately, a personal choice.  Hard drives are installed so you can record now watch later.

All Hard drives will fail at one point (MTBF) and so depending on them is what everyone does wjhen they record.  Some of us just record more than others. I guess after working 35 years in the IT field, I and retiring, I have too much free time on my hands as well.  Ihope that wanting to record more programs is not frowned upon or maybe I am just reading to much in?

I am a strong advocate of refernce material, and would appreciate where can I find this information that  drives larger than 2TB are not supported for present DVR's?  it's not that I don't belive the blog/forum...but I am a person who likes to read refernce material, especially when it deals with technology

For 5 years I have asked DTV for a manual with "specifications", for which they have had deaf ears for 5 years.  Thier manual is nothing but a quick start guide with no real data.

The following links to WD an thier claims about thier drives in DVR's makes me wonder why Western Digitaal is hawking the 3TB drives with that feature

and makes me think that they are "not being honest they can be used in DVH/PVR" units

Wd's AV drives http://www.wdc.com/en/products/internal/av/

for reference, the specific drive I am asking about the Western Digital AV-GP WD30EURS WD AV-GP SATA hard drives store more hi-def audio and video than ever before – up to 3 TB. They are optimized with SilkStream™ technology to capture data from up to 12 simultaneous HD video streams. And with 24x7 operation, low temperature, and best-in-class reliability, WD AV-GP hard drivesare ideal for DVR/PVR and video surveillance applications. 3-year limited warranty.

While WD is stating they are for DVR, I am using a 2TB one now.  There must be some info on my Reciever that I can physically read that addresses actaul IOS standards and limitations for the recivers.  Why does DTV keep it such a big secret...(money?) I was a systems engineer for 33 years,don't get me wrong, and everyone is different in opinions, but I just want to find the printed data.

Thanks for your time and your input,

Bob

It's pretty commonly reported at DBSTalk.com that 2TB is the max. I have 3 DVRs myself, one with a 1TB drive and one with a 2TB and that's enough for me. I record programming to DVD I really want to save but it isn't the same quality.

Thanks for the info.  Whewn my 3tb arrives, I'll let evryone know the results (crossing my fingers as i know that 2TB is inherent any many IOS).

stay tened it should be here from newegg by thursday!!

Thanks again for the good info and help,

Bob

I konw this question is tangential to the original post.  When you add an external drive, does it act like an extension of the internal drive or does it make it so you can't see what's on the internal drive?

Raddle.  When you add any external drive, it is formatted then set up to act as the main drive, and is also encrypted.  you will only see what is on the external drive, and you cannot view it on a computer or other reciver.  If you do connect it to another reciver....it will format (you will loose everything recorded), then it will record and display on that specific receiver.  God bless DTV for this stuff...mostly it is "protection of content from piracy, so we can't put a finger in thier eye.  However thier lack of specifics like what size TB will or not work I feel is extremely lacking in customer service.  This is a direct quote from DTV when I asked for specifics.  I have sanitized the employee info so they won't try and hammer me.

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Discussion Thread

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Response Via Email(YXxxxx X (ID #######) - 08/23/2011 04:34 AM Dear Mr. Curtis,

Thanks for writing back. I'll be happy to further assist you.

Please know DIRECTV does not officially support external hard drives, which is why this is not addressed in our manuals. We cannot guarantee that your external hard drive will work well for you. DIRECTV does recommend a few different models:

- Western Digital 500GB (model WDG1S5000)

- Western Digital 1TB (model WDG1S10000)

- Seagate 1TB (model ST31000SCA109-RK and model STAP1000100)

- Seagate 500GB (model ST30500SCA109-RK)

This was the best I could get from DTV.  I do know that the most recent recivers will support 2TB.

Well I hooked up the 3TB and the 3 TB will not work, at least I have a good new drive for my computer system.  Ordered a 2TB AV-GP WD20 EURS.  Will post when I install this weekend. If that doesn't work will ask DTV for a new reciver ... or rethink and maybe buy my own and get a real manual......

Can't blame the help support people, they are held captive by management and the giant brains who think we all should be imited to web log forums, and that we don't have enough intelligence to read real manuals.  I still can't fathomk why DTV won't "support customers" with specs, manuals, and enhancements that would make ut the greated pay for service company.  I love them, but hate some of the backward con customer service --service.

Stay tuned....  I'll post my 2TB results by monday if the drive arrives.

I can understand the reluctance to support stuff like networking and hard drives beyond the company's control. It's cost ineffective.

Thanks, 6076366.  That's good information.  I think I can live with 2TB.  It's that 500GB that leaves me feeling a bit crowded.  I was hoping to be able to add storage while maintaining the shows currently archived on my DVR.  The kids have a lot of movies I would rather not go out and buy but I guess if I add external storage I won't be able to see them anymore.

For occasional use, you can unplug the power to the DVR and external drive, disconnect the drive and boot up the DVR to the internal drive. Don't do it a lot though as the eSATA cable is kinda delicate. You can play programs with a DVD-R recorder connected to the analog outputs of the DVR and record them.

Greywolf' outside the box thinking is great.  Lis does leave you an additional option I have not heard anyone address.

Thanks Greywolf!!!!

Thanks for the tips.  Unfortunately, my components are in a rack so unplugging an external drive is not very convenient.  I guess I will try to manage the 500GB on the internal drive.  What resolution is the analog output?  480i?

The yellow and S-Video outputs are 480i. The Red/Green/Blue Y/Pb/Pr outputs can be up to 1080i depending on the original programming but I don't know of any recorders that can handle it.

Thanks again to Greywolf.  I just recived and installed the WD20EURS a 2 TB drive and it formatted and us running well. No problems.

THank you again for the great help!!

Cheers,

Bob