HD storage

[lemoncadillac]

Hi

Just thought I would share my DTV HD DVR storage upgrade.  With the HD conversion,  storage is going to be an issue with DVR's.  I added a 2tb external hard drive to my DTV HD DVR.  I used a SimpleTech FP-UFE2/2TB 2TB 7200 RPM USB 2.0 / eSATA External Hard Drive. HERE

I used the esata port and cable.  Works like a champ and is amazingly quiet.  $209 with free shipping ( buy.com)+ a esata cable $12.

I should not have to make choices about what to keep or delete for a while.  The upgrade does bypass the internal HD.  You can switch back if you need saved items on the drive.  I can post the steps for the installation if needed.

Lemon

[jttar]

Lemon,

Thanks for sharing this info. I have the HR21 DTV DVR and was thinking about trying something like you did. Did you have to configure the recorder or does it just recognize the external drive once you plug it into the DVR sata port?


Joe

[lemoncadillac]

Joe

I have read in other forums cables and drives can be an issue.  I had none.  Power down the DVR, unplug.

1. Power down the DVR, unplug.
2. Connect esata cable
3. Power up the external drive wait until it is up to speed ( 1 min to be sure)
4. Plug the power cable back in.
5. Touch nothing wait
6.  You will see 2 messages on the screen 1st checking the system or something like that, 2nd formatting the drive.

You will have to re enter all you programming info, I wrote down all the items in my prioritizer.

That's it

I was watching and waiting to do this.  Can not believe 2tb in a raid drive $209.  The drive also has a Quad interface.  3 different USB and the esata.  Even if it did not work or you change in the future you can always use the hard drives and the case.  Reviews of the drive at "Tom's hardware" drive storage over 1tb, that's what I remember.  Let me know if there is anything else.

Lemon

[jttar]

Lemon,

Great step by step instructions that are easy to follow.

It is unbelievable that you can get a 2 terabyte raid hard drive for $209(USD). That should be able to hold a whole lot of HD programing!!!

Again, thanks Lemon for sharing you experience and time.

Joe

[lemoncadillac]

Joe

Your welcome.  Just something I found in my research.


Nominal Actual  Space    Capacity  Capacity  Hours Hours   Hours
Drive  Drive  for User  versus   versus   of   of    of
Size   Size   Recording  HR21    HR22    SD   MPEG2-HD MPEG4-HD
300GB  279GB   179GB   x 0.90   x.0.49   200   30    50
320GB  298GB   198GB   x 1.00   x 0.54   221   33    55
500GB  465GB   365GB   x 1.84   x 1.00   408   61   102
640GB  596GB   496GB   x 2.51   x 1.36   554   83   139
750GB  698GB   598GB   x 3.02   x 1.64   668   100   167
1TB   931GB   831GB   x 4.20   x 2.28   928   139   232
1.5TB  1397GB  1297GB   x 6.55   x 3.55  1449   217   362
2TB   1863GB  1763GB   x 8.90   x 4.83  1970   295   492All of the hour-numbers are guestimates, based on applying arithmetic to other guestimates. They are not measures.
Use them as rough rules-of-thumb, not as actual facts.

Lemon