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Adding External Storage

Since the previous thread on external hard drives hasn't been touched in almost three months, and is closed to posting (see this link: http://forums.verizon.com/vrzn/board/message?board.id=FiOS_TV&thread.id=2&view=by_date_ascending&page=1) I'll start a new one!!!

When are we going to be able to add external hard drives??? Personally, Verizon, I'm very disappointed in your services. It took almost a week to get my internet working and I'm still having problems with my DVR's. I've been asking since my install date about adding storage to the DVR and I'm getting the run around from Sales, The FSC and the techs that have been in my home.

What is the deal??? Get a clue! Hello, customer service! Try responding to what your customers want for a change. We want a service that works, we want our questions answered.

Now, I ask again, when will we be able to add storage to the Verizon DVR's??? If I have to give up and go get TiVo, FiOS will go bye-bye and I'll light Time Warner up again.

Comments

KenAF

At the moment, no provider offers eSATA expansion on Motorola DVRs.

As noted in other threads, the problem with adding / enabling features is that these Motorola DVRs are based on rather slow processors with limited memory and limited bus and memory bandwidth. This limits what Verizon can do with their DVR at any given time. The FiOS DVR can record two different HD programs, while you watch a third, previously recorded show...while it streams a fourth HDTV MPEG-2 recording to a HDTV STB elsewhere in your home. That consumes most of the available resources on the Motorola platform, which makes it very tricky to support other features. Motorola may still find a way, but it will take a fair bit of work to deliver eSATA expansion that is reliable.

Verizon does not have any specific information on when Motorola will be ready with eSATA expansion on the QIP7216 DVR. That said, Verizon intends to support storage / expansion options before the end of the year. Expect more details in a few months..

If you can't wait, there is always the TivoHD. The TivoHD is available in 160GB and 1TB versions. The 160GB version costs $199 at Sears ($249 shipped @ Amazon), and you can upgrade the internal drive to 1TB for about $100, or you can connect a 1TB external drive for $183 shipped. This expands capacity to ~175 HD hours. Note the TivoHD supports all Verizon channels, plus Amazon PPV VOD and Netflix SD/HD streaming, but it does not support FiOS VOD. You'd have to keep a Verizon STB if you want to retain access to FIOS VOD. More information on the TivoHD can be found in the AVS TivoHD FAQ.

Message Edited by KenAF on 04-04-2009 04:17 PM

scottish

I may be misunderstanding this, but it appears Seagate offer external hard drives for motorola DVR. see here: http://connectedhome2go.com/2008/05/20/1-terabyte-with-the-motorola-dch-set-tops/

i know thats not the same model of DVR that verizon uses. but if seagate offer a EHD for a motorola DVR...then it seems its no longer a motorola problem and is becoming more of a verizon problem.

KenAF

@scottish wrote:
I may be misunderstanding this, but it appears Seagate offer external hard drives for motorola DVR. see here: http://connectedhome2go.com/2008/05/20/1-terabyte-with-the-motorola-dch-set-tops/
i know thats not the same model of DVR that verizon uses. but if seagate offer a EHD for a motorola DVR...then it seems its no longer a motorola problem and is becoming more of a verizon problem.

Motorola does not support external drive expansion with any model yet. That functionality was originally expected in 3Q 2008, but reliability issues caused delays. Motorola still has not yet "delivered" on that capability.

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