So - while we wait... details on bigger Hard drive for HR20-700?

hendersrh · 09-21-2007, 03:58 PM

I've got a HR20-700 and I've seen references to being able to add a bigger external Hard Drive using an ESATA drive. So, I understand that, AND I understand that a new external drive will be the ONLY drive that works when it's installed. So, the internal becomes a throw-away. (so to speak). What I don't know is how do I do it. Do I just buy a 750 gig ESATA drive and hook it up to the connector on the back, then turn on the HR20? Does it take care of everything else, or do I need to format the drive somehow before doing this. If so, how does that work?

Next question, can I unhook that drive and have the internal drive work again If I need to see something that's on the old drive? Is that practical?

Any other comments, or suggestions?

Steve

mcbeevee · 09-21-2007, 05:07 PM

From what I've read, you just hookup the eSata cable from the HR20 to the external hard drive, then restart the HR20 and it will automatically format the external drive. Unplug the eSata cable and restart the HR20 to go back to the internal drive. From the posts I've read, the most popular drive for this is the Seagate 750gb.

hendersrh · 09-21-2007, 05:13 PM

Thanks a bunch - exactly the info I needed. Now to start googling seagate 750 drives

saldana · 09-21-2007, 05:20 PM

how much space does using the external drive give you in terms of hours?

VegasFlyby · 09-21-2007, 05:25 PM

You also have to buy an eSata cable....which the drive doesn't come with.

VegasFlyby · 09-21-2007, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saldana

how much space does using the external drive give you in terms of hours?

It's more than double the size of the internal drive.

saldana · 09-21-2007, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcbeevee

From what I've read, you just hookup the eSata cable from the HR20 to the external hard drive, then restart the HR20 and it will automatically format the external drive. Unplug the eSata cable and restart the HR20 to go back to the internal drive. From the posts I've read, the most popular drive for this is the Seagate 750gb.

does it reformat the drive everytime you hook it up, or could you theoretically use it like a portable flash drive (i have two HR20-700's, and would do this in a second if it would let me record something in one room and then watch in the other)

sorry for all my noob questions...is there a thread that talked about this that i can look back at.

thanks all

adhalejr · 09-21-2007, 10:30 PM

I didn't know about this - I'm yet to take the plunge and upgrade from my 10-250. Is the eSATA capability also true of the HR20-100?

Thanks,

Donnie

Quote:

Originally Posted by hendersrh

Thanks a bunch - exactly the info I needed. Now to start googling seagate 750 drives

Synergi · 09-21-2007, 10:39 PM

Dumb question, but how big is the internal drive on the HR-700?

garak · 09-22-2007, 01:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Synergi

Dumb question, but how big is the internal drive on the HR-700?

The internal drive is 300GB. Of that 100GB is reserved for use by the HR20, 200GB is how much space you can use for your recordings.

I'm actually using a 500GB drive inside an esata enclosure. This actually doubles the recording time (100GB reserved, 400GB user space).

You can plug and unplug the external drive as you like (just do it only when the HR20 is unplugged from the power socket).

The external drive is NOT reformatted when plug it in (except the very first time it's plugged in) so you won't lose the recorded programs on the external drive if you unplug it, then plug it back in.

Actually you should do a search of this forum. This topic was discussed to death January of this year

boomstick68 · 09-22-2007, 05:41 AM

If you try to plug in the EDrive into your computer, it will be reformatted and you will lose data. I am def going to add an exteranl HDD, especially with the new HD channels coming. I could use more storage space. BTW, I have lots of SATA cables for MOBO's, will these work on an external SATA drive?

saldana · 09-22-2007, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by garak

The internal drive is 300GB. Of that 100GB is reserved for use by the HR20, 200GB is how much space you can use for your recordings.

I'm actually using a 500GB drive inside an esata enclosure. This actually doubles the recording time (100GB reserved, 400GB user space).

You can plug and unplug the external drive as you like (just do it only when the HR20 is unplugged from the power socket).

The external drive is NOT reformatted when plug it in (except the very first time it's plugged in) so you won't lose the recorded programs on the external drive if you unplug it, then plug it back in.

Actually you should do a search of this forum. This topic was discussed to death January of this year

thanks for the info, and about the thread...i'll go back and find it.

garak · 09-22-2007, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boomstick68

If you try to plug in the EDrive into your computer, it will be reformatted and you will lose data. I am def going to add an exteranl HDD, especially with the new HD channels coming. I could use more storage space. BTW, I have lots of SATA cables for MOBO's, will these work on an external SATA drive?

No, the plug on the back of the HR20 is an ESATA cable. They are different. I believe you can buy an ESATA to SATA adapter.

Or you can get an ESATA external drive enclosure, and then put the SATA drive inside it. That's actually what I've done.

saldana · 09-22-2007, 11:04 AM

so i went back and found one of the original threads about this, and followed the link back to an old thread on dbstalk....ironically, the banner ad at the top of the page was for this..

saldana · 09-22-2007, 11:06 AM

hxxp://www.tenbox.net/index2.htm

pretty much does exactly what we have been talking about...too bad the price is a bit ridiculous

09-21-2007, 03:58 PM	#1
hendersrh Love that HD Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 50	So - while we wait... details on bigger Hard drive for HR20-700? I've got a HR20-700 and I've seen references to being able to add a bigger external Hard Drive using an ESATA drive. So, I understand that, AND I understand that a new external drive will be the ONLY drive that works when it's installed. So, the internal becomes a throw-away. (so to speak). What I don't know is how do I do it. Do I just buy a 750 gig ESATA drive and hook it up to the connector on the back, then turn on the HR20? Does it take care of everything else, or do I need to format the drive somehow before doing this. If so, how does that work? Next question, can I unhook that drive and have the internal drive work again If I need to see something that's on the old drive? Is that practical? Any other comments, or suggestions? Steve

09-21-2007, 05:07 PM	#2
mcbeevee 97% Complete Join Date: May 2007 Location: Big Orange Country, TN Posts: 1,925	From what I've read, you just hookup the eSata cable from the HR20 to the external hard drive, then restart the HR20 and it will automatically format the external drive. Unplug the eSata cable and restart the HR20 to go back to the internal drive. From the posts I've read, the most popular drive for this is the Seagate 750gb. __________________ There are no TV's too big...only rooms too small!

09-21-2007, 05:25 PM	#5
VegasFlyby Serenity now Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Fabulous Las Vegas, NV Posts: 694	You also have to buy an eSata cable....which the drive doesn't come with. __________________ Sony KDL46S2000 DirecTV / HR20-100 / Sony STR-DG810 Toshiba HD-D2 Xbox 360 / Nintendo Wii / PS3 Harmony 880 Remote

09-22-2007, 05:41 AM	#11
boomstick68 High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Connecticut Age: 41 Posts: 157	If you try to plug in the EDrive into your computer, it will be reformatted and you will lose data. I am def going to add an exteranl HDD, especially with the new HD channels coming. I could use more storage space. BTW, I have lots of SATA cables for MOBO's, will these work on an external SATA drive? Last edited by boomstick68; 09-22-2007 at 05:48 AM.

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09-21-2007, 05:13 PM	#3
hendersrh Love that HD Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 50	Thanks a bunch - exactly the info I needed. Now to start googling seagate 750 drives

09-21-2007, 05:20 PM	#4
saldana My plasma is High Def. Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 8	how much space does using the external drive give you in terms of hours?

09-21-2007, 10:39 PM	#9
Synergi High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 61	Dumb question, but how big is the internal drive on the HR-700?

09-22-2007, 11:04 AM	#14
saldana My plasma is High Def. Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 8	so i went back and found one of the original threads about this, and followed the link back to an old thread on dbstalk....ironically, the banner ad at the top of the page was for this..

09-22-2007, 11:06 AM	#15
saldana My plasma is High Def. Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 8	hxxp://www.tenbox.net/index2.htm pretty much does exactly what we have been talking about...too bad the price is a bit ridiculous