Thread: Adding storage to a Time Warner Hi-Def DVR?

I've got the Scientific Atlanta 8300HD DVR and I'm wondering about adding storage capacity to it. The manual says it'll take an external SATA drive, but I'm reading on the web some out-dated reports of that port being inoperative.

Anyone doing this with their Time Warner boxes? Will any external drive with an eSATA connection work (i.e. can I buy a drive and an eSATA enclosure and build an expander myself)?

Or am I stuck with a pre-made expander like the ones from Western Digital?

The SATA port is active. The only problem is the Passport software doesn't work correctly when you attach it. My experience is that you can't rewind live TV. You can pause, but you can't just back up. This could be the drive I used, but I'm not sure. I haven't tried any others. I just did it to see if I could, & it's amazing how much you can record with a TB of space.

You should be able to build your own, as long as it has SATA.

My DVR recognized the drive right away, had me format it, and it seems to be running like a top. At least it did before I left for work. I'm sure it will be there when I get home.

Didn't notice any problems rewinding live TV at all, either.

I have read things in the past of people getting it working. As I recall people mentioned being real picky about which operating system is in there and then which version. In some regions I guess they actually use a whole different OS in that same box even though it's still TW. I also read some mixed results from people where one drive would work fine but another drive wouldn't work properly. This as all a couple years ago.

I always wanted to do it, but never did as I didn't want to waste my money if I F'd up the drive selection. Now that you guinea pigged it for us right here in our own region can you tell us what model drive you used, etc?

Originally Posted by Socrates

I have read things in the past of people getting it working. As I recall people mentioned being real picky about which operating system is in there and then which version. In some regions I guess they actually use a whole different OS in that same box even though it's still TW. I also read some mixed results from people where one drive would work fine but another drive wouldn't work properly. This as all a couple years ago.

I always wanted to do it, but never did as I didn't want to waste my money if I F'd up the drive selection. Now that you guinea pigged it for us right here in our own region can you tell us what model drive you used, etc?

Well, I figured that if it didn't work, my desktop could always use an additional drive, and it uses SATA, so it wouldn't have been a waste for me if it hadn't worked.

I grabbed a DVR Expander drive. They're made by WD and seem to be pretty bulletproof. Fanless and silent, too. They do run a tad hot, though. Fry's had them last week for $129, which was cheaper than I could buy an internal drive with an eSATA enclosure to build something similar myself.

Funny thing is that when you call TWC, they will swear up and down that the eSATA port on the back of their DVRs doesn't work and that they cannot support the use of an external drive. But even in the manual that came with their DVR, it says that a drive can be added. I think they just don't want to have to support these expansion drives...or their gearing up to start offering them as rentals.

Originally Posted by FlyBoeingJets

Well, I figured that if it didn't work, my desktop could always use an additional drive, and it uses SATA, so it wouldn't have been a waste for me if it hadn't worked.

I grabbed a DVR Expander drive. They're made by WD and seem to be pretty bulletproof. Fanless and silent, too. They do run a tad hot, though. Fry's had them last week for $129, which was cheaper than I could buy an internal drive with an eSATA enclosure to build something similar myself.

Funny thing is that when you call TWC, they will swear up and down that the eSATA port on the back of their DVRs doesn't work and that they cannot support the use of an external drive. But even in the manual that came with their DVR, it says that a drive can be added. I think they just don't want to have to support these expansion drives...or their gearing up to start offering them as rentals.

We don't support them anyways. I tell people: "If you want to add one? Go ahead, but don't call us if it doesn't work." TW isn't going to rent external HD's.

Glad to hear that the WD one works. Mine is from Acomdata. I might have to pick up one of the WDs.

edit: The people you talk to when you call in are tools. They don't know the basics of our equipment, not to mention using advanced features.

Originally Posted by Socrates

I have read things in the past of people getting it working. As I recall people mentioned being real picky about which operating system is in there and then which version. In some regions I guess they actually use a whole different OS in that same box even though it's still TW. I also read some mixed results from people where one drive would work fine but another drive wouldn't work properly. This as all a couple years ago.

I always wanted to do it, but never did as I didn't want to waste my money if I F'd up the drive selection. Now that you guinea pigged it for us right here in our own region can you tell us what model drive you used, etc?

This is true. It doesn't work with the new OCAP software. The model # is 8300HDC & it uses Mystro software. You need the SA 8300 with Passport software.