[cargo]

Alright, after some research on hard drives, Ive decided to go with the 1TB Western Digital AV-GP (WD10EURX) for my Motorola 3416 PVR.

It turns out the Western Digital Green does indeed have a power saving function that puts the drive to sleep in its firmware. So it might take a few more seconds to wake up when it starts recording, if was not in use for a while.

According to their website, The Western Digital AV-GP hard drives are made for PVR's. They write to the hard drive a little differently for Audio/Video. They use the WD Green hardware (noted in the attached photo of the drive) but use different firmware to keep the drive awake at all times. So you get the 40% power consumption and lower temperature of the green with the specialized write/read firmware made for Audio/Video. It has a silkstream function for 16 multiple HD recordings. Not that we can do that with Shaw but nice to know that the technology exists.

The green is good for computers while the AV-GP is not recommended for PC use because of how it writes differently.

http://www.wdc.com/en/products/products.aspx?id=170

" 24x7 reliability - These drives are designed to last in high temperature always-on streaming digital audio/video environments such as PVR, DVR and IPTV systems."

I was also looking at the WD Purple as well but that is made for surveillance systems.

So ill try this out and let everyone know how the drive works when I format it with the PVR sometime.

Another question though. do you always have to call Shaw to activate the ESATA? or does it sometimes already work off the bat?

 

[gordog]

Mine worked without needing to call Shaw.

 

[cargo]

Thanks for the feedback gordog.

I'm thinking the esata port on all Shaw Motorola PVRs should be active now without having to phone Shaw. When this thread was created in August 26,2009 the firmware was 16.74. Now in 2014 the firmware is 16.76.

According to the Motorola firmware wiki, the new firmware seems to have automatically unlocked the esata port.

http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/How_to_use_a_Motorola_DVR/Firmware_and_Software#DCT-34xx

Firmware: Version 16.76
Available for Models: DCT HD series
Available Date: November 2010 Cable One
Build Date: March 26 2010 16:14:56
New Features: Support for graphics up to 960 x 540 x 32 resolution: Capability to support external DVR hard-dive via the external eSata interface port

 

[Alexbc]

Apologies if I don't get the supposed summary on page-1 (which summary?), but I read most of the post and still have some questions.

I have 2 DX3400 PVRs and I'd like to expand them to 1TB (or more). I am with Novus, but had the box from Shaw. I am curious how difficult it is to replace the internal DX3400 HDD to something larger, I've searched and here's what I understand:

- Max size is 1TB?
- All is needed to plug the HDD to external eSata box, so it gets formatted by the DVR and Cable company, then replace the internal drive with the external drive... I might need some specific tools to replace HDD but that's it...

Are those assumptions correct? If so, I also have the following Qs:

- I've seen claims of 2TB, is that possible? or firmware dependent?
- If formatting is not that easy, how else it could be done?
- Which HDD works and more importantly which HDD does NOT work? I was planning to use either WD Green or WD AV-GP, or to use the Seagate drive in the expander box. While Green is very easily found/cheap, AV-GP is more$ and harder to find.
- With WD-Green, should the head-park feature be disabled (it parks the head to save power)?
- I heard 5400RPM 1TB drive become problematic after 65% full, hence 7200 is better?
- Any other help/guidance?

Thanks!

 

[talljak]

I can answer a few questions
1. 1tb is max internal size with shaw at this time

2. Since you don't have a shaw box I am not sure how you format it and get shaw firmware loaded, BUT this is how you format a shaw box:

With the box on press pwr off and quickly press ok/select to get to configuration window. Then press 15 second replay button list list list live and left arrow key. Both the internal and external if hooked up format!
Every time Ive done this though Ive had it be a shaw box and only the HDD is formated but parental keys and menu setups remain as I believe this is stored on a chip the set series recordings and saved recordings all disappear though

 

[loracweb]

For the DCX3400 no formatting is needed, the unit will do it for you.

DCX3400 and earlier PVR models only support up to 1TB. DCX35XX and newer have no limit that I'm aware of. Both these DCX3501 and DCX3510 (not with Shaw firmware) are supported by Novus.

The type of drive doesn't matter a whole lot, but ones that are designed for DVR recording should be better in theory.

It is more difficult to replace the internal drive in the DCX3400 than the earlier DCT units but not that much. The hardest part is twisting the metal tabs that secure the drive. You have to line them up just right.

It is still much easier than replacing a drive in a DCX3510 which is a PIA!

 

[Alexbc]

Ok, so the formatting on the external box won't do it? Like I have an eSTATA external box and if I put an HDD in there, the PVR detects, asks if I wanna format, and formats it. This is how Shaw did it, as well as Novus (they subcontract Shaw services). I thought I could just format in the eSata box and then swap the drives, no?

 

[Alexbc]

For the DCX3400 no formatting is needed, the unit will do it for you.

DCX3400 and earlier PVR models only support up to 1TB. DCX35XX and newer have no limit that I'm aware of. Both these DCX3501 and DCX3510 (not with Shaw firmware) are supported by Novus.

The type of drive doesn't matter a whole lot, but ones that are designed for DVR recording should be better in theory.

It is more difficult to replace the internal drive in the DCX3400 than the earlier DCT units but not that much. The hardest part is twisting the metal tabs that secure the drive. You have to line them up just right.

It is still much easier than replacing a drive in a DCX3510 which is a PIA!

Really? I thought 3500/3510 are not supported if it was a Shaw box to begin with. I was gonna buy another 3400, as I thought it's the best, but should I look for 3500/3510 instead?

Just to clarify, IF the 3500/3510 used to be a Shaw box, would it work on Novus or not?

 

[loracweb]

you can format the drive via eSata, but you don't have to. The eSata came about because the DCT units wouldn't format internal drives beyond 160gb.

Shaw doesn't use the DCX3501. Shaw DCX3510 can be made to work on Novus (complicated though).

The DCX3510 on Novus wouldn't suck like it does on Shaw.

 

[cargo]

K i just created a guide for replacing the hard drive in the DCT 3416/6416.

Let me know if something is labelled incorrectly or any errors.

Hopefully this guide will make it easier for people to replace their small factory hard drive with a new larger 1TB one by looking at the diagrams.

--> DIRECT IMAGE LINK <--

 

[TheFuzz]

Thanks for that, to bad this old machine can't decode MP4 signals. I just got a gateway, so if anyone wants my upgraded 1TB DCT 3416 I am going to sell it. Let me know if you are interested. It has worked very well, and if it weren't for the MP4 issue, I'd keep it.

 

[cargo]

You're welcome!

TheFuzz is there anyway you could put my guide image at the end of your very first post on the first page of this thread of yours? (after the admin edits)

Im just thinking maybe it might be easier to find on the first post/page for all the people hoping to upgrade their DCT 3416 / DCT 6416 instead of eventually finding a guide after 24 pages and an hour+ of reading.

 

[57]

Link added to post 1.

 

[cargo]

^ thanks 57.

 

[finalcoolman]

For the DCX3400 no formatting is needed, the unit will do it for you.

DCX3400 and earlier PVR models only support up to 1TB. DCX35XX and newer have no limit that I'm aware of. Both these DCX3501 and DCX3510 (not with Shaw firmware) are supported by Novus.

The type of drive doesn't matter a whole lot, but ones that are designed for DVR recording should be better in theory.

It is more difficult to replace the internal drive in the DCX3400 than the earlier DCT units but not that much. The hardest part is twisting the metal tabs that secure the drive. You have to line them up just right.

It is still much easier than replacing a drive in a DCX3510 which is a PIA!

Just what does replacing a drive in a DCX3510 involve? What makes it so difficult?

 

[loracweb]

Well, it is just the design of how the HDD is secured inside the unit. Seems odd of how they went from the most user friendly design for being able to replace the hard drive in the DCX3501 to the unfriendly design of the DCX3510.

I'm not sure if the OCAP firmware has any effect on the using a different HDD in the DCX3510.

 

[finalcoolman]

Yes I am referring to how the hard drive is secured inside. Do you have to use pliers to get it out or something? I am asking because I am thinking about upgrading to 1 terabyte or more.

 

[loracweb]

You do need needle nose pliers, but it is more the location of the two back screws that make it difficult. There are other parts in the way which make it extremely difficult with a regular screwdriver. Probably be easier if you had one that could do 90 degrees. I also don't know if the OCAP firmware on the DCX3510 makes any difference in terms of the unit recognizing a different hard drive. One of these days I may test it out, but since I know upgraded drives work in OOB systems that is really all that concerns me.

Also just as an FYI, the DCX3400 can now accommodate up to at least 2TB both internal and external. 4TB drives don't work, and I haven't tested 3TB.

 

[gordog]

You do need needle nose pliers, but it is more the location of the two back screws that make it difficult. There are other parts in the way which make it extremely difficult with a regular screwdriver. Probably be easier if you had one that could do 90 degrees. I also don't know if the OCAP firmware on the DCX3510 makes any difference in terms of the unit recognizing a different hard drive. One of these days I may test it out, but since I know upgraded drives work in OOB systems that is really all that concerns me.

Also just as an FYI, the DCX3400 can now accommodate up to at least 2TB both internal and external. 4TB drives don't work, and I haven't tested 3TB.

So is replacing the drive in the DCX3400 the same as for the DCT3416? Ie. reformat the drive in an external and simply replace the drive? Is the 2TB WD Green SATA III a good drive to use?

And if I do so, the DCX3400 will recognize the full 2TB internal?

TIA

 

[gordog]

Whoops, I just read the post above: "For the DCX3400 no formatting is needed, the unit will do it for you."

So for Shaw, confirming a 2TB WD Green SATA III will work and the DCX3400 will recognize the full 2TB, plug and play?

TIA