Re: FiOS HD-DVR crashing since adding external eSATA drive
ILikeFIOS
Contributor - Level 1

I built my own using a 1.5TB drive and if the % is to be believed, I should get around 200 hours of HD. Its been running for around 3 weeks with no issues. Seems to be able to handle multiple HD recordings as well as streaming to other STBs concurrently with no hiccups.

Here's what I used:

$64 - Western Digital AV-GP WD15EVDS-FR 1.5TB 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136991

This HDD was designed with STB/PVR/DVR recording and streaming in mind. It runs cool and is super quiet as well. Hopefully will last a long time.

$39 - Rosewill METAS Aluminum / Plastic 3.5" USB3.0 & eSATA External Enclosure
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182245

I liked this enclosure mainly because it is fan cooled -- which is fully adjustable. The number one reason drives fail is due to heat (or so I've been told). With this enclosure, I can set the fan to a level that is inaudible but still moves heat off the HDD. If you listen closely, in a quiet room, you can here it "swooshing" slightly, but it doesn't bother me.  It looks nice as well.

Re: FiOS HD-DVR crashing since adding external eSATA drive
Pstreicher11
Enthusiast - Level 3

Just wanted to add that I ordered a Vantec NexStar CX NST-300SU-BK 3.5 inch SATA to USB 2.0 and eSATA External hard drive enclosure on Amazon this past Wednesday. Four days later, Sunday, 12/11/2011, I received the package.

I made a video of the unboxing and posted on Youtube. If you are interested in watching it just search for my account name of pstreicher and you'll find it.

I'd like to add that I've just successfully enable the DVR with the external hard drive and it's currently recording. I used a Seagate Barracuda 1tb 3.5 inch internal drive that I got on sale at Staples. It's 7200 RPM and using the eSATA direct cabling connection to the DVR I believe this is the best and probably the only method that will work without any problems. Keeping my fingers crossed of course.

I followed the directions to enable the drive per the DVR onscreen display. You first have to make sure the external drive is connected to the DVR and powered up. It's then a matter of going through the steps on the 'enabling' procedure and then the box will reboot and it will then see the drive. I did not have to use the format option of the DVR before using the drive. It will auto format upon finding the drive after reboot and then it will be ready for use.

I wish you all luck in your external drive adding and using. I'm hoping to get years of use and enjoyment out of this new feature and option. I'm finding more and more that I like the FIOS DVR and am thinking less and less of spending big bucks for a Tivo which I've been using a series II model now for over 12 years, with the original hard drive and no problems with it either.

The thought of using a Tivo with a cable card just kept nagging me. But then again you can use the little IR or infrared reciever cable to control the set top box and not have to pay for a cable card. The only downsize to this is there is a slight lag as the Tivo box changes the set top boxes channel. If that's not a problem then no big deal. To me it's not a big deal at this time. I still like the Tivo GUI though and wish that one day Verizon's boxes would employ it or at the least, Verizon might one day offer a Tivo box to lease. I'm jump on that so quick.

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Re: FiOS HD-DVR crashing since adding external eSATA drive
Caps09
Specialist - Level 2

I tried reconnecting my WD external drive this week, hoping that whatever bugs had been fixed. It worked for a couple days, but my box crashed again today, so I disconnected it again. This is a replacement box with 1.9a pre-loaded into it. Hopefully Verizon gets this issue worked out eventually, because it's been a disaster so far.

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Re: FiOS HD-DVR crashing since adding external eSATA drive
Wingate1
Newbie

Does anyone have any experience using: Iomega 2 TB USB 2.0 eSATA 3 Gbits Professional Hard Drive ?

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Re: FiOS HD-DVR crashing since adding external eSATA drive
Fis1
Enthusiast - Level 3

Just an update to my original post: I continued to receive period crashes for many weeks.  Each time, the entire set-top box would freeze and require a reboot.  It seemed to happen a couple of times a week, and often when I was time-shifting (i.e., watching on delay while recording at the same time).  Then, things quieted down, and suddenly I've gone two months without any crashes. 

This is consistent with the story I've heard from a few other people.  Lots of crashes at first, then suddenly peace and calm.  It's almost like a break-in period of sorts.  I don't know what the explanation is. 

I do see some HD stuttering on playback ocassionally (not often enough to be a problem).  I'm not sure if this is normal, or if it means my external HD isn't fast enough to keep up.  At any rate, I'm not sure what this means except if you do have this crashing problem, it might pay to live with it for a month or two to see if it just goes away.

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Re: FiOS HD-DVR crashing since adding external eSATA drive
TommyRox
Enthusiast - Level 3

I have a 7232 and recently added a WD Studio Edition II Book Studio II 2 TB esata external drive...so far so good ...no issues.

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Re: FiOS HD-DVR crashing since adding external eSATA drive
JohnC
Newbie

I am having the same issue with the WD External hard drive.  I am ready to go back to SAT.

I have gone through 3 DVRs - after about two weeks with the external hard drive attached the DVR fails and eneters a continuous reboot cycle.  If you unplug the hard drive it will boot but your recordings are lost and it will not record agan until you get a new box from Verizon.  

There must be some software issue that causes it to crash after the hard drive is somewhat full.  I am really thinking of ditching FIOS as it is very painful and the techs are not equipped to handle complex problems like this.  At least the kids can't watch iCarly in a loop any more.

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Re: FiOS HD-DVR crashing since adding external eSATA drive
Caps09
Specialist - Level 2

I hooked mine back up a few days ago, and all went well for a few days. By today, it was rebooting all the time. Doing something as simple as looking at "chapters" on a recording would cause it to freeze up and restart. It then got to the point where the picture would freeze while watching a recording, and nothing would get it to move. I finally called tech support, and after only a few minutes on hold, I talked to a very nice guy who walked me through a code entry. I was told to go to Menu, Settings, System information, then simply enter 1472. This worked for a few minutes, but then the box started crashing again and trying to record every time it started. I'm going to try this again tonight when nothing is scheduled to record. I'll try it without the external drive, and if that doesn't work, I'll try it with the drive plugged in. At this point, I'm pretty confident that nothing will work, but I'll try it anyway. At this point, this is a quest for me to get this thing working like it should.

I found a couple other codes on this forum that I may try-

8888- flush logs

1472- flush crash logs

2601- reboot STB

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Re: FiOS HD-DVR crashing since adding external eSATA drive
Caps09
Specialist - Level 2

I was right, nothing works. I tried all these codes but the box crashed within 10 minutes of hooking up the drive and watching a movie on another box. I guess it's time to disconnect it again and lose half of my recordings. This just stinks.

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Re: FiOS HD-DVR crashing since adding external eSATA drive
john02
Enthusiast - Level 2

I see this thread is dead, but with what I am contending decided to add.  first off, I am not seeing much in this thread regarding which dvr.  assume nothing with fios as in you might assume the same performance/functionality from all their dvrs.  no.  I moved, had to hand over the 7216 and forced a 435hdc, which I am trying to swap, and not only do I see clear performance issues, sluggish, but the darn thing does not correctly format my 2TB drive. I had several other issues, strange ones, but I think mostly over those.  no such issues with the 7216.

the 7216 works will with the iomega 2TB pro and projected ~250+ hrs of HD.  I am projected less than half that with the cisco and not pleased.  their support first tried to tell me it a regional thing but dropped that when I said this is my second time in area from 2yrs back in which I had a 7216. once again, verizon support pushes me off to billing or the store for a please go away forward. 

the point, the cisco is not the preferred dvr regarding greater than 1TB drives unless you do not mind wasting at least half of it.  it is also sluggish and initially with issues to resolve--was for me anyway.  if you are working with that dvr and with esata problem, try to get the 7216. 

the new motorola might be better, I have no experience with it.

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