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I have a Scientific Atlanta HD8300. I want to increase the storage capacity, I've read I need a SATA cable to connect the DVR to a HD and I would like around 1TB of storage. Anyone know of a good deal on an external HD with SATA connection? Anyone done this before on here?
I have a Scientific Atlanta HD8300. I want to increase the storage capacity, I've read I need a SATA cable to connect the DVR to a HD and I would like around 1TB of storage. Anyone know of a good deal on an external HD with SATA connection? Anyone done this before on here?
I'll ask my brother-in-law about it tomorrow. He works for Scientific Atlanta, he helps design the new boxes or the software on them or something...
I saved 3 HD movies so far and I'm already at 16% capacity. Once my wife figures out how to record she'll fill it up with Law and Order I figure 1 TB will last us a year.
Be sure to ask about connectivity problems. From what I've read it has to be a SATA to eSATA chord. I hope you can clarify if that is the case. Or if he knows of an All-in-one 1TB solution (chord and all) that would be even better.
I saved 3 HD movies so far and I'm already at 16% capacity. Once my wife figures out how to record she'll fill it up with Law and Order I figure 1 TB will last us a year.
Be sure to ask about connectivity problems. From what I've read it has to be a SATA to eSATA chord. I hope you can clarify if that is the case. Or if he knows of an All-in-one 1TB solution (chord and all) that would be even better.
I'll copy down the model number of your box, I'm having lunch with him and my sister tomorrow.
Here's a quick list of things my brother in law told me.
First turn on your box and see what logo pops up, that will tell you who made the software on the box. SA uses a "Power TV" logo.
If you have SA software you can plug in any (name brand recommended) SATA HD into the firewire port on the back of the DVR. (Use one of those multiple HD enclosures for more space) He wasn't sure on the exact cable you would need. I would suggest buying the cable separate so you can take it back if need be)
The DVR will format the HD automatically (note: the HD will not show up on any computer if you try and plug it in; SA uses proprietary formatting).
He told me this on AIM a few minutes ago, "if he holds down the select button until the mail indicator light flashes on the led (about 3 sec) then hit the info button, he can get into the diagnostics of the box -if it's sa software. if it works, hit the vol + button until he gets to page 3 and the sa software version will be at the top of the page"
Anyway, hope that helps. If you have anymore questions I'll see if he can answer them. He actually has a couple HD8300's on his desk that he is testing software on right now.
Just to be clear, if you don't have SA software on your DVR you'll have to contact the software maker to determine if adding external HDs will work.
Thanks! I just need to find a high capacity external HD with a SATA connection that doesn't cost an arm and a leg.
Check pricegrabber.net, I found some 1TB external SATA drives for $466 with shipping. Not sure on your price range. I know newegg has cables that convert SATA to firewire too.
That box on top should work. Check the back of your DVR, my brother-in-law said it was firewire on the back (So you'd only need the cable that comes with that box), but it's possible yours has a different plug.
Why in the fuk do you need 2 TB??? That's like 100 fully uncompressed blu-ray movies or something!!
If you have that much storage, you'll never watch everything!
That box on top should work. Check the back of your DVR, my brother-in-law said it was firewire on the back (So you'd only need the cable that comes with that box), but it's possible yours has a different plug.
The reading I've done says everyone is using the eSATA connection for some reason. It does have two firewire ports on the back of it though.
Why in the fuk do you need 2 TB??? That's like 100 fully uncompressed blu-ray movies or something!!
If you have that much storage, you'll never watch everything!
The reading I've done says everyone is using the eSATA connection for some reason. It does have two firewire ports on the back of it though.
*shrug* That's the tough thing about the internet, hard to tell what is good advice and what is bad. I don't have any personal experience with your problem (only what my b-in-law told me), and I'm just another interweb person anyway, so take what I say with a grain of salt as well. Heh
EDIT: Make sure you buy from someplace with a return policy in case it takes a couple tries to get things right.
External Hard Drive for DVR
I figure 1 TB will last us a year.
and you HAVE to use the eSATA connection.
