DVR capacity

After erasing all recorded movies from DVR, I check Recorder Status and see "16% used", 84% free". I thought maybe 16% of memory is used to store data regarding Schedule. Then I deleted all schedules to see what happens. It still says the same, i.e. 16% and 84%. How come? Anybody pls explain, thanks.

Don't know the answer to your question but ran into a "Status" problem also. My 6416 said it had two hours of HD programming recorded. I don't yet have HD TV's so would not have recorded any HD shows. When I went through the Recorded Programs listing so I could erase whatever this was and regain the 2 hrs of space, I didn't find anything to erase. My thought then was that, as this is an HD DVR, maybe the operating system needs to have something on the drive to record correctly or whatever. I've just replaced this unit with another 6416 that Verizon sent me to solve another problem. When I checked Recorder Status while setting up this new box, it said 0% recorded. So my theory about the 2 HD hours recorded has to be wrong.
In any event, these two problems seem to show that the FIOS operating system will not always show you everything recorded on the disk or allow you to completely erase what's on it. Does anyone know how to completely clear a disk or to find out how to view all of what's recorded on it?

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External Hard Drive Installation to Extend DVR capacity

I recently purchased one of the recommended Western Digital 1TB SATA hard drives to extend our DVR capacity. When trying to install it, the DVR wouldn't recognize the drive. I worked through diagnostic steps with the Verizon Tech. Ultimately, they decided to send another DVR assuming my current unit was defective. When the new DVR arrived, we had the same problem. After spending more than an hour with a Tech on the phone again trying to get the DVR to recognize the drive, she said I'd need to contact Western Digital for support. I went to their website and found a very simple step in the process had been overlooked, and the Verizon Tech's appear not to be aware of it.
When you install an external drive, you start the steps through the DVR menu options to add storage. Have the new external drive plugged in to the AC power but DO NOT plug the eSATA cable into the back of the DVR until you are promoted on the TV screen through the setup menu to add the drive. If the eSATA cable is plugged in before you are prompted for that step on the TV screen, the DVR will not recognize the drive. It will let you go through the rest of the installation set-up and will reboot the DVR, but the external drive isn't recognized.

msilagy wrote:
I recently purchased one of the recommended Western Digital 1TB SATA hard drives to extend our DVR capacity. When trying to install it, the DVR wouldn't recognize the drive. I worked through diagnostic steps with the Verizon Tech. Ultimately, they decided to send another DVR assuming my current unit was defective. When the new DVR arrived, we had the same problem. After spending more than an hour with a Tech on the phone again trying to get the DVR to recognize the drive, she said I'd need to contact Western Digital for support. I went to their website and found a very simple step in the process had been overlooked, and the Verizon Tech's appear not to be aware of it.
When you install an external drive, you start the steps through the DVR menu options to add storage. Have the new external drive plugged in to the AC power but DO NOT plug the eSATA cable into the back of the DVR until you are promoted on the TV screen through the setup menu to add the drive. If the eSATA cable is plugged in before you are prompted for that step on the TV screen, the DVR will not recognize the drive. It will let you go through the rest of the installation set-up and will reboot the DVR, but the external drive isn't recognized.
I have the same external drive and it works flawlessly. Seems reasonable that Verizon is responsible for Verizon equipment, and Western Digital is responsible for Western digital equipment, so when I hooked the drive up, I simply did whatever the Western digital documentation told me to do.
Not surprising at all to me that the average Verizon phone tech is not current on Western Digital instruction manuals.

New to Fios: Schedules Recordings and DVR Capacity

I just gave up on RCN in lieu or Verizon Fios and thus far - can't stand the dvr.
1) The capacity is no where near what RCN's was. I had days worth of TV, movies, etc saved and never ran out of space. With Verizon, it's been less than a week and I`m already half full. I don't have a HD TV, but I`m wondering if my lack of space is caused by the recorder taping in HD. How do I check this setting to ensure that everything being recorded is standard definition?
2) The Verizon DVR is really bad at only keeping two episodes of a show, and only recording new/first run shows. Is there any setting to make this work better? I tried to set it to record first runs only of the show scrubs, on any channel (i wasnt sure what channel the new ones are run on) and in two days it taped 10 episodes...

The FiOS DVR has the same 160GB capacity as the RCN DVR.
SD channels are 0-499 and HD channels are 500+. All the SD local channels can be found under 50.
Recordings from HD channels consume 3-6x the capacity of SD channels.
If you are the original poster (OP) and your issue is solved, please remember to click the "Solution?" button so that others can more easily find it.

High Def HM DVR capacity

I am a new user. First STB was 7216 showed a capacity of 40 hours recording only SD. Called and complained that capacity should be closer to 80 hours. Agent agreed and reset the box remotely then later changed the STB to 6416. I lost all recordings and programming. Now I have the new STB programmed and it only shows a projected capacity of 40 hours of SD programming also. Called and agent didn't know what the solution was as nobody had called in a similar problem. How do I get the 80 hours of SD programming that everybody thinks is correct?

What you want to do is this
press menu on your remote
go down to settings
and then go down to system information
press 4883 and you WILL see a confirmation that code 4883 was succesfully executed., if you don't see that keep trying, you'll eventually get it.
That will correct your dvr reporting correct storage issue. AND after you do code 4883 you have to reboot the box, so you can either unplug it for 5 seconds, and plug it in, or in the same menu you can hit the left key to go to the main part, hit the down arrow to help, and then in home agent and then reboot stb.
That will correct your issue more than likely.

VIOS DVR CAPACITY

I FEEL SWINDLED!!!!!!
I just switched from DISH network to Verizon FIOS, where I had:
1. One  DVR with the capacity to record hundreds of shows and hundreds of hour of SD and HD plus the ability to store and easily retreive shows from a 750 GIG hard drive. This DVR fed a second room SD TV as well
2. A second one room DVR that could record hundreds of hours of SD that the kids used.
What I got now is one sucky low capacity DVR that feeds a set-top box in a second room that has very limited DVR functionality. The kids can watch stuff on the DVR, but they can't even erase shows they've watched from that second set-top box.
Worse, the DVR  reaches capacity with less less than 50 hours of HDTV and I can't use the 750 GIG hard drive at all, even though it looks like I could hook it up.
DISH Network has had this level of storage since 2006, when we got our HDTV.
I thought that on-demand would help reduce the need for real storage, but I was sooooo wrong. This thing can't even hold a week of what we watch, and the On-Demand programs are not even close to meeting our needs.  The Star Trek fan in the family is quite PO'd -- its not "on-demand".
And I can't believe that I overwritten two HD football games because of capacity issues.
Before I pull the plug on FIOS, does anyone have any idea how to increase or add capacity?   This is A MAJOR ISSUE FOR US, AND i FEEL LIKE VERIZON LIED ABOUT THE CAPACITY OF THEIR DVR.
Solved!
Go to Solution.

Version 1.8 is being rolled out right now. some areas already have it and others are going to get it shortly. 1.9 is going to be needed for the new 3D programming that is tentatively scheduled for around Christmas time. Granted they have not given out a time table, but they are trying to have all the 3D channels available for the Christmas shopping season. So if they are to have the 3D available, 1.9 goes hand in hand. But your right, its a wait and see position we have to take.
====================================================================================
Error exists between keyboard and chair.

Software update and DVR capacity

I had recently updated softweare on FIOS Quantum box. On an old software DVR shows that I had used 90% or 92hrs of HD. After software update I have that is used 100% and used capacity spiked to 144 hrs of HD. Deleting anything it shows that still I have used 100%. Any idea what is going on? Thanks

Ok, so this is a new Macbook Air that you migrated settings from another computer that had the same problem?
First thought is that you may have the Airport network prefs set to require a proxy server. Open Network System Prefs and select Airport. Click on Advanced… then Proxies. Check that none are selected.
If that's ok, then check Ethernet tab and make sure it is set to configure Automatically (or check the manual settings if appropriate).
If that doesn't work, you might try removing all the network preferences and setting everything up from scratch.
If you are not familiar with the Network settings in Network Preferences, you might want to look and see what they look like or take screen shots.
Go to the Macintosh HD/Library/Preferences/System Configuration folder and remove these items.
preferences.plist
com.apple.airport.preferences.plist
NetworkInterfaces.plist
com.apple.network.identification.plist
com.apple.nat.plist
Then, open Network System Preferences and add all the Network Services that you need (Airport, Ethernet (I guess over USB--not sure of the name))

New Customer with DVR Capacity questions

I just ordered FIOS and was promised by the sales person that came to my door that a dvr that would hold 300 standard recording hours and 88 HD recording hours. I called verizon to verify this and I can not get a straight answer. I see on the verizon website the 2 different type dvrs from Motorola. The 160 GB drive and the 500 GB drive. I read many threads and even the 500 GB disk will not meet the numbers quoted to me by the sales person. The only way I know to get the recording hours promised is to add an external SATA drive to the DVR.
I have called Verizon 2 times and can not get any answers to this question. They can not tell me the type dvr that will arrive on install day. They can only say that I will get a multi room dvr and a standard dvr. I need 2 of these dvrs since my wife sometimes records 4 shows at the same time. I also tried to contact the Verizon installer to get answers and no response.
Can anyone clarify any of this for me before I cancel my order ?
Thanks

rpitster wrote:
I just ordered FIOS and was promised by the sales person that ... that a dvr that would hold 300 standard recording hours and 88 HD recording hours ... the only way I know to get the recording hours promised is to add an external SATA drive to the DVR ... I need 2 of these dvrs since my wife sometimes records 4 shows at the same time ... Can anyone clarify any of this for me before I cancel my order ? ...
Probably not. At some point in the future when Verizon begins rolling out something called "Verizon Media Center" equipment, users will be able to get expanded capabilities. Unfortunately that time isn't here yet so you have fewer options.
Usually current initial installs cannot specify the exact model device, but only that the devices delivered will meet the order specifications. In other words, you will receive a DVR, but it may not be the latest or largest model. It depends on a number of factors such as what's available at the dispatch location, what's available on the truck, etc. Sounds pretty haphazard I guess, but it's really not all that bad. Besides, you just may end up getting the latest, largest whatever. It's a roll of the dice, but my personal view after about a year of FiOS is that the technology and performance are worth whatever "teething" issues one encounters. Others of course may disagree.
Things change once you actually have the equipment in your home. Then you have the ability to switch, trade up, etc., depending on your needs. Note that there often is some sort of fee associated with changing certain gear, especially if it's not defective.
It would be nice if each new order provided brand new gear with the latest and largest specifications, but that simply is not practical and is not standard industry practice. Sorry if you are not happy with this news, but it's the best I can offer based on the prevailing situation..

Switching to FIOS, want the new high-capacity DVR. How can I guarantee getting one?

After 12 years I have to say goodbye to Dish because my old oaks are getting too tall and too wide and I don't have a clean line of sight...so I'm switching to FiOS. I've gotten used to the best DVR in the industry, and I understand that there are new high capacity DVRs for FiOS that rival the Dish DVR's capacity. How can I guarantee that when I order FiOS I'll get one?

You can't . Its whatever is put on the truck that morning. HOWEVER, you can do what I did and refuse the install. My installer was nice enough to go back to the office and get one for me. It is outgrageous to offer the older smaller equipment to new customers.

DVR doesn't recognize new eSATA drive

I just purchased a new eSATA drive (Western Digital 1 TB: WDBABT0010HBK-NESN) and connected it to my Motorola QIP7232-P2 set-top box, but after following the on-screen prompts to enable more storage the DVR does not recognize the additional storage and still reflects the pre-eSATA drive usage %.
I've already disconnected and reconnected the eSATA drive and tried to "enable more storage" through the DVR, which included rebooting the set-top box, a few times already.
Thoughts?

Thanks, Armond! I haven't tried replacing the SATA cable yet, but that may be the next logical step.
I tried disconnecting, reconnecting and rebooting the DVR at least a dozen times. Finally, I was able to get the DVR to recognize the external storage (showing 100% capacity).
However, when the eSATA drive was connected and recognized the DVR wouldn't record any shows (neither scheduled nor live TV). As soon as I disconnected the drive, recording would resume. The error message I received in the "History" section of the DVR stated, "This show could not be recorded due to the channel being unavailable, not subscribed or other error." Verizon Technical Support even sent me a refurbished DVR and that encountered the same problem.
Do you still think it's the cable?

4:3 Menu and DVR Storage

OK. I just switched to FIOS TV, Internet, and Phone....for the most part I am very happy. However, I have two major complaints and I hope Verizon is working to resolve these issues!
1. The program guide simply sucks. It's 4:3, difficult to navigate and read. Where the heck is a 16:9 format version for my LCD HD TV?
2. The storage capacity on the DVR is crazy. After recording just 3 shows the DVR said it was 40% full. What the heck? will I only get about 10 HD shows on this thing?
Outside of the above, the picture quality is great and the internet is awesome. I switched from DirecTV and the DVR rocked compared to what Verizon is giving you. These are two major disappointments and I really hope Verizon is working on a firmware upgrade that will at least give me the ability to add an external HDD and a guide that's actualy readable in 16:9 format.

hotzorro,
I guess I don't understand; if you are a picture freak, why do you care about the guide? Aren't you watching the TV to watch the actual program, not the guide?
I have zero interest in Verizon making any changes to the guide, other than to improve the accuracy of the content, which for me is the most important improvement Verizon could make to the entire FiOS system. I look at the guide to see what is on so I can pick an actual program to watch or record. The way the guide appears on the screen, and the time span I can view, works just fine for me as it is (and I suspect many hundreds of thousands of others). You say it is simple to fix, maybe it is you that thinks you know what they're talking about when they don't....changing it will take resources and time, both of which I think can be spent more effectively doing something else (almost anything else IMHO).
Just my $.02 worth....
Justin
Verizon FiOS TV, Internet, and phone
IMG 1.6.0, Build 06.89
Keller, TX 76248

Thinking to get FIOS. Need Info on DVR

I have been renting a TiVo Premium with my RCN cable tv service. I am leaving RCN and thinking to get FIOS which is finally available in my neighborhood. But I love the TiVo. Anyone has any hand-on experience wth Verizon's DVR?
In particular, I am most concern with 3 things:
1 With the TiVo, using their software I can transfer recorded shows to my PC. Can the Verizon DVR do that?
2 The RCN TiVo has 2 turners, so I can record 2 different shows at the same time. I chat online with the Verizon sales people, they say all their DVR's are single turner but then they said I can "watch one show while recording another. It even allows for recording two shows while watching a previously recorded show." I asked him how that's possible with only 1 turner in the box but they didn't know the answer.
3 Can I expand the capacity with an external hard drive?
Solved!
Go to Solution.

BlackBeanie wrote:
... I am ... thinking to get FIOS ...
1 With the TiVo, ... I can transfer recorded shows to my PC. Can the Verizon DVR do that?
2 The RCN TiVo has 2 turners ...
3 Can I expand the capacity with an external hard drive?
Question 1: No, not directly. You can however copy material recorded on the DVD in real time to another recording device (e.g., a DVD-R device).
Question 2. The VZ DVRs also have 2 tuners, not one. They operate in the same way as the TiVo you described.
Question 3. The latest VZ DVR units support an eSata external drive (evidently 2 TB max).

Multi-Room DVR Questions - switching to Fios

I am getting ready to make the switch to Verizon Fios and have lots of questions.
I am going to get a Multi-Room DVR and either 2 or 3 set-top boxes.
I have 4 tv's: A -Main (Living room) TV is STD-Def, B - Bedroom TV is Hi-Def 1080p, C - Bedroom TV is 720P, D - Other TV - STD Def .
1. Does it matter which TV I hook up the Multi-Room DVR to?
2. Can I record in STD-Def and then play back on the Hi-Def TV?
3. Can I record in Hi-Def and and then play back on the STD-Def TV?
4. Are the STB's the same for STD-Def and HD (in case I want to swich where I have the DVR)?
4a. If not, is ther a charge if I change the box from STD to HD?
5. Will I be able to watch any channels on a TV that has no STB or DVR?
6. What DVR functions are available on the STB's?
Play, Pause, FF, Rew? What about controlling the recording of shows?
9. Is there a "higher capacity" Multi-room DVR, and how do I get one?
7. What is the capacity of the multi-room DVR?
8. Can I add an external hard drive?
Thanks in advance for your help.
Regards,
Rich_L

Further qualifying a few items below ...
mphare wrote:
Additional Comment below
Anthony_VZ wrote:
1. Does it matter which TV I hook up the Multi-Room DVR to? No it does not.
2. Can I record in STD-Def and then play back on the Hi-Def TV? Yes
3. Can I record in Hi-Def and and then play back on the STD-Def TV? Yes but will be in a smaller box in the middle of the screen
4. Are the STB's the same for STD-Def and HD (in case I want to swich where I have the DVR)? Verizon only uses HD boxes now and will work with SD televisions. Verizon used to have SD boxes and last time I checked still had the basic SD terminal adapters -- these adapters do not support the guide or other expanding STB features including remote DVR access or on-Demand.
4a. If not, is ther a charge if I change the box from STD to HD? N/A
5. Will I be able to watch any channels on a TV that has no STB or DVR? If your TV has a QAM digital tuner you can watch the local stations only (channels 2-49)
6. What DVR functions are available on the STB's? You can pause and rewind live TV. You can set up a schedule to record all your favorite shows in advance so you don't have to set it back up every week. You can extend recording at the begining or end of show. You can set priority of shows incase there is a scheduling conflict. You can set a show to be protected so its only erased if you manually erase it. You can set how many episodes to keep. You can set whether to record either new episodes, repeats, or both. Pause and rewind live TV feature is on the DVR box only, not on the other STB's. You can pause and rewind DVR playback on these other boxes, but not live TV. Note also that you need to be in an area which has the newer IMG 1.9 to be able to setup recordings from remote STB's and/or extend a recording as these are new features in IMG 1.9.
9. Is there a "higher capacity" Multi-room DVR, and how do I get one? If you are not provided one at installation (depends if they are in stock or not) it can be ordered from out htttp://verizon.com/fiostvcentral website
It costs an additional $40 to order a 500 GB DVR if one is not provided at time of installation. I would hold out for one at that time so you don't have to pay the $40. You may be able to forgo the $40 upcharge if you can take your 160 GB DVR to a Verizon store and exchange it there (it they have the 500 GB DVR to exchange). I would ask for the 500GB DVR at installation and make sure they can provide it before accepting it.
7. What is the capacity of the multi-room DVR? 160gb for existing DVR 500gb for expanded DVR
8. Can I add an external hard drive? The set top boxes running IMG 1.9 have this capability. 1.9 is still in its initial stages of deployment and not in most areas.
I hope this answers your questions you had.

How To add a second eSata drive once first drive capacity is reached

What upgrade options are available once an eSata drive recording capacity is reached?
Once an eSata drive connected to CHS 435HDC DVR reaches recording capacity, is there a way for a second external eSata drives to be connected and used as external storage devices without loss of all data on the first eSata drive?
Currently once a second drive is connected and activated on the DVR, all playback access to ALL the data stored on the first eSata drive is lost and cannot be played back once the second drive is ejected from the DVR and the first reinstalled..
Once the first drive is reinstalled the Check Capacity option for the first drive which once showed the drive as full and at maximum capacity before it was ejected and uninstalled, now shows 0% full, and 0 hours usage hours and the drive space 100% available.
These reading are without having reformatted the drive and only selecting the "accept" option once the DVR detected the drive being reinstalled.
The Recording option still will show recorded program listing, but once a recording is selected for playback, no recorded program data appears on the screen nor none of the normal indicators displayed on screen during normal playback does not appear.
This means there is no upgrade path or option available once recording capacity is reached for an eSata extended storage drive, other than losing all 350 hours of recorded program data or deletion of files to free up capacity.
Also there is no warning that once a drive is disconnected from the DVD and another drive is activated all data recorded on the first drive is lost and cannot be played back! The data must be there nut not recognizable by the DVD program even though the data was created on the same DVR and eSata drive.
How can I safely connect a second eSata drive to the DVD and not lose all the recorded data on the first eSata drive?
Thanking you in advance for your help.

phoneb1ll wrote:
How can I safely connect a second eSata drive to the DVD and not lose all the recorded data on the first eSata drive?
Thanking you in advance for your help.
Based on the description of your own observations, you can't. Does some one else know otherwise?

When will Verizon/Motorola release a DVR with MORE STORAGE?!?! This is pathetic

Just thought I would repost a letter I sent to verizon beggin g for more DVR storage, as 160 GB of storage is pathetic, and laughable whne I can buy a 2 TB drvie for $100. I realize it is Motorola's fault we are locked to 160 GB at the moment, but Verizon is the one who chose them as a vendor, so this is hardly an excuse. Motorola should be able to turn on the USB port on the box for additional storage at the very least. Anyway, here's my letter, posted out of desperation and frustration more so than expecting any great results.
"Hello. I am anxiously wondering when you plan to offer larger hard drive capacities in your DVRs. We have FiOS now and are happy with the service, however, the fact that the devices can only hold 20 hours of HD content is pathetic, and has us looking to switch back to Dish Network, who allow you to use external hard drives via the USB port on the back of the receivers to add record time. We don't have the kind of lives where we can watch TV every night, so we often have to wait until we can find time to go through our favorite shows, and 20 hours cannot hold more than 1 or 2 episodes of any series with the 10 or so shows we enjoy watching in HD. I realize Motorola makes the boxes and motorla ultimately controls the capacity, but Verizon MUST have some pull here, and if not, you should really look into buying a company that makes boxes and move the operation in house for the sake of keeping customers. Give that a 2 Terabyte drive that can hold over 12 times the amount of shows as the pathetic 120 GB drive in my recorder can be bought at the local best buy for $100, I am sure a large company such as yourself could pick them up for far less. PLEASE make increasing the storage of the DVRs a TOP priority, and please let us customers know your plans with regards to storage in the near future. The capacity has not increased in years, despite more and more HD TV customers signing on, and the number of HD stations tripling. Thank you "

That IS good news. We're constantly juggling and recording in SD because of the low storage capacity in the Motorola unit. Any idea on the time frame for the new DVR and will current subscribers be able to upgrade? I was just about to upgrade our old Series 2 Tivo to Series 3 HD and then do the home-upgrade on that to 1.5TB.

Verizon Online Chat sez the new 500 GB DVR is not available in Plano, TX, does this sound right?

I just got off chat with Verizon about ordering FiOS TV and 3 x DVRs. They told me the high capacity DVR is still not available in my area (Plano, TX). Is anyone in my area using the new hi-capacity DVR ???
Thanks!

It is available in Plano because we got ours. After receiving the email that we could upgrade we went into the store and exchanged ours out.

DVR capacity

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