TW SA8300 Question

[ctl11]

My box makes noise pretty much all the time now. I'm sure it's the hard drive but don't know if it is normal. It is kind of annoying.

Also if I get a replacement from TW will they be able to transfer my saved shows over to the new box? That is the only reason I haven't called them yet.

Thanks

[zelig2]

The noise is from the HD constantly writing. I also found the noise a bit annoying. Plus there's no way to stop it short of unplugging the unit.

If you get a replacement they don't transfer the shows over (as far as I know, someone correct me if I'm wrong).

[festivus]

I had the 8300 for about a year, I think, and never noticed the noise. Maybe because I always had the volume so high.

I wouldn't count on any type of data transfer from TWC. Even if it could be done I doubt that they would provide that service/expertise. I was lucky to find someone there that knew what component, dvi, hdmi and hdcp meant.

[csujjhoov]

I currently have the SA8300HD from TW. Had one die on me when they upgraded the Passport software on it. TW was not able to transfer the recordings over. However with about 15 minutes of work after I got the new box, I had my recordings re-set up.

Works great now, Even upgraded hard drive in it using eSATA enclosure. now have 480Gigs of storage on it including the internal HD.

[gillers29]

To stop the hard drive and silence mine, I turn to channel 300, hit the SWAP button (under the pip section) and again turn the other tuner to channel 300. The DVR doesn't record that channel so the Hard drive is quiet.

My understanding is that every DVR has a unique key used to encrypt the saved shows so they can't be copied or viewed by another DVR. Similarly if you get an external hard drive, I believe the content is encrypted and can't be viewed by a different DVR box.

[Cape]

Someone correct me if I am wrong, but will using an eSata connection instead of a USB connection solve the problem with viewing programs on the external hard drive on a different DVR??

[csujjhoov]

Someone correct me if I am wrong, but will using an eSata connection instead of a USB connection solve the problem with viewing programs on the external hard drive on a different DVR??

The eSATA connection on the 8300HD is not going to allow you to move the drive to another dvr, as is true with USB. Once you connect a drive the first time to the 8300HD regardless of the software running on it, it will format the drive. If you move it to another 8300HD it does the same thing, it will wipe the drive. Part of the security features in the SA platform ist he fact that the drive and data on it is only accessible by the unit that created it (meaning no PC direct access).

I just had to replace my 8300HD as it completely died (hard drive failed), my external drive had all of my programs on it, but unfortunately were gone the minute I plugged the drive into the new 8300HD I exchanged out for.

Hope that answers your question.

[ctl11]

I ended up getting a new box and it is much more quiet now. Something was up with the hard drive and my new box seems to have more storage now too.