External Hard Drive Problems and Discussion - See Facts Link in Post 1.

[wrongway]

I'm new to this so please bear with me. I've tried searching with no success.

I just upgraded to a 9241 because my kids gave me an external hard drive for my BD.

Anyway, it formated just fine so here is my question.

As I keep recording movies etc, does the external drive become an overflow when the 9241 is full?? If this isn't the case, do I have to archieve shows to the external drive manually??

Once movies etc are in the hard drive do I just access them for watching the same as if they're on the 9241 drive.

I hope I explained properly but I'm sure somebody will let me know if not.

Here's the link to the eHDD facts thread. Read it to find the appropriate eHDD, etc.

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=100773

Do not ask questions in the Facts thread. Use this thread for questions.

[Pinza]

As I keep recording movies etc, does the external drive become an overflow when the 9241 is full?? If this isn't the case, do I have to archieve shows to the external drive manually??

The EHD is just for archiving your recordings, you cannot record directly to it. Ensure that you never fill it or you will experience major problems, as outlined elsewhere in these forums.

[wrongway]

Thanks Pinza.

So, Once movies etc are in the hard drive do I just access them for watching the same as if they're on the 9241 drive??

I did notice that when I went to archieve a program, it said it would take about 5 minutes. Does this sound about right??

[Pinza]

Although I have had a 9242 for quite some time, I have yet to connect an EHD so I am not sure about playback. All I can advise, it try it out.... Archive a 30 minute show, then see if you can just play it, or if it needs to be moved back to the receiver to play. I hope you can just play.....lol

Archiving, is very slow though, that I do know, from reading on this forum and at other peoples homes.

[ScaryBob]

A new item called External Drive shows up in the PVR recording list. Shows on the HD can be watched in the new submenu that shows up when it is selected. The EHD interface is similar to the regular PVR recordings list but not identical. Recordings can be archived by pressing Menu-4-3-2.

[waterug]

The EHD is for storage and viewing only. Movies cannot be transferred back to the receiver. As Pinza said, don't let the EHD get too full; stop archiving when it's about 75% full. At that time either delete some recordings or buy another EHD.

[jumpy27]

Too bad you cannot record directly to the EHD. It would make things much simpler! Does Dishnetwork in the states work the same way?

[ScaryBob]

Movies cannot be transferred back to the receiver.

Movies can be transferred back to the internal HD by selecting Restore while managing EHD recordings.

[gworg]

The EHD is just for archiving your recordings, you cannot record directly to it.

I am very confused. Post #2 states, in part

6131/6141
EHD functionality introduced in firmware v165.
EHD's can be shared between 6131/6141s that are on the same Bell TV account. I am told the three strikes and your out rule is not in effect.
Programming from an EHD mated to a 6131 or 6141 receiver cannot be viewed on a 9241 or 9242 receiver. Attempting to do so could result in your drive being reformatted.
Multiple drives can be added to the 6131/6141 but only one at a time

I have a 6131 and was looking at connecting an external hard drive under the assumption that I would achieve PVR functionality. PVR functionality to me includes recording.

Telus advertises thusly

Western Digital 500 GB external hard drive
Connect a 500 GB external hard drive to expand the recording capacity of your HD PVR or to add PVR functionality to your HD receiver.

Bottom line, will my 6131 record a program to an external hard drive. Post #2 certainly implies that it can.

[Zero G]

On the 6131 it's the EHD that makes it a PVR. Yes you can record on it. I believe on the dedicated PVR receivers(9000 series), the EHD is for archiving.

[gworg]

Thanks for that confirmation. Now it's on to the next task which is to find an EHD that doesn't sleep.

[ScaryBob]

On the 6131 it's the EHD that makes it a PVR. Yes you can record on it. I believe on the dedicated PVR receivers(9000 series), the EHD is for archiving.

Correct. Sometimes we 9200/9242/9241 owners forget that the EHD also applies to the 6141/6131. (I also have a 6131 but don't use an EHD with it.) These two types of PVRs/receivers treat the EHD completely differently. Some threads may have information from before when PVR functionality was made available for the 6141/6131 receivers.

[gworg]

Thanks to everyone who responded to my requests for help and information. My final decision was to get a 1TB SimpleTech SimpleDrive. The noise will take some getting used to. While not a loud noise it sounds like water dripping on something hollow and is intermittent.

[waterug]

The extended hard drive is what makes the receiver a PVR. You can do all the things with the 6131 as others with 9241s and 9242s can with an EHD. Post #2 explains this very clearly. Be sure that the hard drive you get does not have a sleep mode because it must be on when the TV is on in order for the receiver to act as a PVR.

[Pinza]

Originally Posted by Waterug;

You can do all the things with the 6131 as others with 9241s and 9242s can with an EHD.

Well not quite. The 6131 is a single tuner so you cannot record a show, whilst watching another, that magic is reserved for the Dual Tuner models.