Anyone else here expand their DirecTV DVR capacity?

[FLskydiver]

I recently followed the instructions in another forum on how to copy my current DVR hard drive onto a bigger one (both externals - no warranty busting necessary) ... and boy am I happy I did. My DirecTV DVR now has over 100 HD movies archived and still indicates 56% free space on a 1.5 TB drive. How perfect is that for movie collectors like us?

Anyone else here take the plunge?

Anyone curious to find out how? I'll happily help out anyone interested... I know it took me a while to work up the courage to try the copy procedure.

[thorhimmel]

I'd be interested to find out about this. I'm at capacity with my DTV DVR right now. What can you tell me?

[diggumsmax]

Below is some good information. You need an external eSata drive and a HR2X receiver for this to work. The HR2X models can only access one drive so if you add a new external drive you will not be able to access the programs on your internal drive.

http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=142735

[FLskydiver]

I'd be interested to find out about this. I'm at capacity with my DTV DVR right now. What can you tell me?

To avoid loosing the shows you have recorded now, you'll want to do the copy procedure as indicated on the other forum (I'm CTskydiver there and I posted my results in the new thread). I'll also send you the links via PM - In case the mods need to delete the links below.

You'll need to open the case of your DVR if you want to keep / copy the content of the DVR's internal hard drive. That makes it a bit more complicated than just plugging in an external drive, but it really isn't THAT complicated. If anything, it looks more complicated than it really is. Be careful though, opening the case. You'll want to make sure you can close it up again without making it TOO obvious you've been inside (in case you ever need warranty service down the road).

New thread: http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=148760

Old thread: http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=100894

Let me know if you still have any questions after browsing there.

[FLskydiver]

Below is some good information. You need an external eSata drive and a HR2X receiver for this to work. The HR2X models can only access one drive so if you add a new external drive you will not be able to access the programs on your internal drive.

http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=142735

That's a cool thread for folks who don't want to bother with opening their DVR or copying previously recorded programs to the new, bigger drive - thanks!

I wish I did the copy process when I first got my external (a 750gb drive) - I still haven't been able to re-record some of the shows I had on the box originally. But once I filled up the 750 GB drive and upgraded to the 1.5 TB drive, I knew I had to break down and do the copy procedure.

It was a lot easier that I expected ... anyone who has ever replaced a hard drive in their desktop and knows how to boot their computer from a CD should be able to figure out all the steps just fine. Even people who haven't done those things - but are willing to try - should do fine. And the results kick ass.

[DustoMan]

I stuck a 500GB drive onto my DISH ViP 722. With Dish receivers, the storage compliments the internal drive instead of overriding it. I use it to archive programs.

[Mr. Cinema]

I have DirecTV and am using the HD-DVR - HR21-100. What's the best external drive to use with this? I'd like to add some extra storage. Seems like most of the reviews of the Western Digital and Seagate drives on Amazon are hit and miss.

[FLskydiver]

I can only comment on the Seagate 7200.11 drives I bought (1.5 TB, ST31500341AS), but they worked fine (and continue to do so) for me, after firmware update.

I don't know if they still require a firmware update after all this time, but if they do, some people might be annoyed by that. Plus, there are now 2TB drives out there, so I'm sure I'd be getting one of those if I did this again today.

I used an internal hard drive that I installed myself in an external enclosure. I bought the Antec MX-1. I have two of those as well and they work great.

A better solution might be to open up the case and replace the internal drive in the DVR, but I kept hoping someday DirecTV would silently upgrade the firmware to use both hard drives, like the DISH DVRs. Guess they were busy instead giving us "DoublePlay" (2-live tuners like Tivo only way better) and all the other cool features they've added over the last year or so.

[Carsen]

Isn't it so easy ? I am still facing the problem.. How i can expand the capacity..?

[FLskydiver]

You can't really expand the capacity with DirecTV, but you can replace it with something more spacious. And with a tiny bit of computer hardware skills and comfort with using an alternative OS, you can copy the contents of your current playlist and series manager / to-do list to the new harddrive.

Use this NEW guide linked here with full instructions and pictures:

http://www.dbstalk.com (thread)

[boltzmann]

before i even attempt to open my dvr box would like to ask to those who have, would it be possible to use a cable like in a desktop computer on the hard drives to just put a second hard drive in a dvr? one being master the other slave. could this work or is it just a dream?

[FLskydiver]

before i even attempt to open my dvr box would like to ask to those who have, would it be possible to use a cable like in a desktop computer on the hard drives to just put a second hard drive in a dvr? one being master the other slave. could this work or is it just a dream?

I don't think that would be possible. There is only space for one internal hard drive. Would require extensive modification. You can swap out the original or simply plug a compatible external in via the eSATA port on the back though (both of which basically achieve the same goal).

Sadly I've moved to a place where too many old growth trees block my ability to stay with DirecTV, so I'm now with AT&T U-verse. Miss having my giant archive of movies available and certainly miss the higher bandwidth per channel quality of DirecTV, but thank my lucky stars I'm not forced to deal with something as bad as Comcast.