DVR Hard Drive

[whiteypeterson]

I am in the process of converting to FIOS from TW.  Both TW and Verizon have 160GB hard drives in their DVR limiting the amount of HD programming.  I have read the theme on why the eSATA port hasn't been activated and it seems reasonable.  The easy solution would be to just put a larger HD in the DVR.   Why is this not being considered?   Pardon me if this has already been discussed but I just joined today.

[KenAF]

Motorola "hard codes" their firmware to use the maximum capacity of the SKU.  When a cable provider buys a 160GB Motorola DVR, that DVR can never use more than 160GB internally, even when a larger drive is installed.

This is done primarily to discourage end-user upgrades in violation of the provider's terms of service.  But it also prevents cable providers from upgrading the DVRs themselves, forcing them to buy new, more expensive models with larger hard drives.

Message Edited by KenAF on 03-24-2009 09:20 PM

[TimSykes]

Don't worry, with the natural evolution of technology, there will be a bigger hard drive in future DVRs. One would have to assume the will never just stay at 160gb forever. Just because Verizon has not told any one about them, does not mean they are not working on it.