Shaw pvr expander

[cal_guy]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Stang

- A couple of recorded programs show up in the list, the length of the program is correct (60 minutes, for example), so I know that it isn't a partial recording. Everything looks normal until you go to play it and it just sits there. Black screen. Programs recorded before and after that one work just fine, and there's no issues like conflicting recordings, a power outage, etc.

It probably only happens about 5% of the time, but it is still kind of annoying. Anyone have any insight? I was on the phone with shaw to cancel some of my "free for a month" movie channels before I had to start paying for them, and I asked the guy about it. He didn't really have an explanation, and just recommended power-cycling and making sure that I had the channel that I was trying to record on. I have obviously done both of those.

Just one of those things that I thought I'd float to the CP brain trust.

It happens because the PVR run into an error when it tries to record. If you swap to the tuner that's record while this happens you see an error message. Once you "Ok" through the message it'll begin recording but it'll won't stop recording.

[Rathji]

Just a note about the HDD suggested for this from Memory Express (http://www.memoryexpress.com/Product...S%28ME%29.aspx

It is still on sale, and will be until the end of the week. My wife just picked up ours last night.

[Boblobla]

Any able to figure out how to get it to stop displaying 0% full?

[Jimmy Stang]

Originally Posted by cal_guy

It happens because the PVR run into an error when it tries to record. If you swap to the tuner that's record while this happens you see an error message. Once you "Ok" through the message it'll begin recording but it'll won't stop recording.

Do you think that there's anything that can be done to prevent such errors, or is it something that I'll need to learn to live with?

I suppose that I could reformat the drive and see if a fresh start can help, but I have some tele watching to do before I can do that!!

[GreenHardHat]

I also just talked to Shaw to cancel the "free for a month" movie channels. My Pace box was having the same problem with recording shows. Maybe one in ten shows didn't record and when I tried to play it back there was just a black screen. I asked shaw about this and the guy put me on hold to ask his manager about it.

He came back and said that it is a problem that they were aware of and that they expect new firmware update to the Pace box in the next few months.

[Jimmy Stang]

Originally Posted by GreenHardHat

I also just talked to Shaw to cancel the "free for a month" movie channels. My Pace box was having the same problem with recording shows. Maybe one in ten shows didn't record and when I tried to play it back there was just a black screen. I asked shaw about this and the guy put me on hold to ask his manager about it.

He came back and said that it is a problem that they were aware of and that they expect new firmware update to the Pace box in the next few months.

Good news. It is nice to know that a solution is on the way and that I'm not the only one experiencing it. My Shaw guy was lazier than your Shaw guy, I guess.

My brother-in-law has the Motorola PVR and added the 1TB drive, and he has never had anything like that happen before (except when his PVR, pre-expansion, was actually full). The Pace boxes are fairly new, so these types of bugs are bound to happen.

[Rathji]

So we bought the velocity enclosure and WD drive from memory express and it seems to be making a little noise when it is being accessed. Anyone else noticing this or do I have a bum drive?

[Bertuzzied]

Originally Posted by Rathji

So we bought the velocity enclosure and WD drive from memory express and it seems to be making a little noise when it is being accessed. Anyone else noticing this or do I have a bum drive?

That should be just the hard drive spinning. If you stand it up it shouldn't be as loud though. I have to say that blue light is one of the most annoying ever. it is sooo bright.

[ricosuave]

Originally Posted by Bertuzzied

That should be just the hard drive spinning. If you stand it up it shouldn't be as loud though. I have to say that blue light is one of the most annoying ever. it is sooo bright.

you can unplug the light...

[Rathji]

We are going to return the drive. This is way louder than a HDD should be.

[Boblobla]

I read through the digitalhome thread and it seems like it is still a bug that causes the HDD to display at 0% full. Anyone been able to fix this?

[Jimmy Stang]

Originally Posted by Rathji

We are going to return the drive. This is way louder than a HDD should be.

I found that when I had my drive standing, the vibration against the shelf made it a little louder. I put it horizontally so those little rubber feet we now being used, and it was just fine.

Not saying that you shouldn't take it back - if it doesn't sound right, you might as well swap it out.

[Old Yeller]

I'm still debating just voiding my warranty on the HD/PVR, opening it up, ripping out the old 160 gig and putting a 1 TB drive in there.

From what I've read it's pathetically easy.

[Jimmy Stang]

Originally Posted by Old Yeller

I'm still debating just voiding my warranty on the HD/PVR, opening it up, ripping out the old 160 gig and putting a 1 TB drive in there.

From what I've read it's pathetically easy.

Tough call... for basically the cost of an enclosure ($30) and a tiny bit of shelf space, it may bite you in the arse down the road.

Not saying you couldn't do it, but one day your box might go on the fritz and Shaw might not do an easy changeover for you.

That being said, is there a seal inside that would prove you voided the warranty? If not, you could always put the 1 TB drive in, keep the original HD on hand, and if things get ugly down the road just swap it back in.

[VladtheImpaler]

Of course, I found this thread late, and the Memory Express link is no longer useful... Now, what happens if I take my 1 TB external drive and plug it in?

[ricosuave]

^ If the unit is still under warranty, do not open it up and put in a bigger HD, you will void the warranty because of a security tab (plastic) that is on the back, plus the security screws... if the warranty is up, however, yes, it is dead easy See instructions below:

^^ vlad, you can use other enclosures, all you have to do is make sure shaw has enabled the feature, then you can go ahead... follow my instructions here:

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/show...85#post1008985

[VladtheImpaler]

Originally Posted by ricosuave

^ If the unit is still under warranty, do not open it up and put in a bigger HD, you will void the warranty because of a security tab (plastic) that is on the back, plus the security screws... if the warranty is up, however, yes, it is dead easy See instructions below:

^^ vlad, you can use other enclosures, all you have to do is make sure shaw has enabled the feature, then you can go ahead... follow my instructions here:

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/show...85#post1008985

OK, as a Luddite I need a couple of terms clarified. Oh, I have the Motorolla PVR.
Enclosure - does that just mean an external HD?
E-sata port?

Thanks.

[Jimmy Stang]

Originally Posted by VladtheImpaler

OK, as a Luddite I need a couple of terms clarified. Oh, I have the Motorolla PVR.
Enclosure - does that just mean an external HD?
E-sata port?

Thanks.

Yes, and enclosure is basically the case that you put a hard drive in to make it external. Hard drive + enclosure = external hard drive. You can buy external hard drives that are already put together, or you can buy your own drive and drop it into an enclosure. End result is essentially the same. And putting your own HD into an enclosure couldn't be easier. Very intuitive and not really technical at all.

eSATA is kind of like USB in that it provides a way to connect your external drive to the HDTV box (in your situation) or to your computer, but the transfer rates are way faster. The HD boxes only accept these external hard drives if you're using eSATA. Some enclosures/extrernal HDs are USB only - you'll need one that is eSATA. Many come as USB and eSATA so you've got both options should you ever want to use it for something else.

So you basically connect the external HD to the HDTV box using the eSATA ports on each using an eSATA cable (if you buy an enclosure from Memory Express, it comes with it). You'll then need to call Shaw and have them activate the port and they'll instruct you on how to get the box to recognize the new hard drive. It'll format and you'll suddenly have a whole lot more space.

[VladtheImpaler]

One more question - I would not be able to have anything else on this HD, such as all the Sopranos episodes or my vast porn collection?

[ricosuave]

yeah, it has to be used for just the pvr, when you hook up the drive via esata, it will ask to format it. ps, they use linux as the file system.