External Storage for VM STBs/DVRs?

leclarks2030 · 23-02-2009, 23:21

Is it possible to attach external HDDs to any of VMs cable STBs/DVRs for additional recording capacity?

BenMcr · 23-02-2009, 23:38

No it's not

leclarks2030 · 24-02-2009, 00:18

What if it were... would there be demand for it?

BenMcr · 24-02-2009, 00:20

Who knows.

But Virgin have no plans to offer it, so its a bit pointless discussing it

MovedGoalPosts · 24-02-2009, 00:23

Although it's not currently possible, I suspect in the long term, if VM do one day get their act together regarding HD, the V+ will either need a larger hard disk, or alternatively some external support for an external drive will be beneficial. In the meantime we are stuck with the archive via scart option.

BenMcr · 24-02-2009, 00:25

The Samsung V+ doesn't have an eSATA socket so I wouldn't bet on external storage ever becoming avaliable

It is more likely that they will refit the V+ with bigger internal disks

Nilrem · 24-02-2009, 00:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by BenMcr

The Samsung V+ doesn't have an eSATA socket so I wouldn't bet on external storage ever becoming avaliable

It is more likely that they will refit the V+ with bigger internal disks

That would probably be the easiest, and cheapest option for them, as i've no doubt the drives in the V+ boxes will probably end up needing replacing anyway within the life time of the boxes.

That's assuming they haven't done something silly, like using an IDE connector for the internal drives...

leclarks2030 · 24-02-2009, 00:39

The Samsung does have a USB doesn't it? and the Scientific Atlanta boxes have eSATA.... how popular is the "scart" option?

BenMcr · 24-02-2009, 00:45

The only reason the SA V+ boxes have eSATA is its a standard design

The Samsung V+ is a custom box so if Virgin were planning on external storage they would have left eSATA in as part of the design.

I'm not even sure if USB 2.0 would be reliable enough to handle live tv recording?

ShadowTD · 24-02-2009, 14:51

USB 2 works for a lot of FTA Satellite receivers.

Kymmy · 24-02-2009, 14:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShadowTD

USB 2 works for a lot of FTA Satellite receivers.

Mine doesn't have that feature, but it does have ethernet

demented · 24-02-2009, 15:19

It's pointless talking about it but I suspect there would be the demand. I'd be quite happy to pay VM fairly large amounts of money to get above the paltry 160Gb we currently have. It's an issue for Sky as well.

leclarks2030 · 24-02-2009, 16:15

Thanks for all the replies... I should "come clean" with you all.... I work for a Storage device company. We have devices that come in USB or eSATA up to 1TB available now. Trying to talk the service providers such as VM and Sky to enable their external ports to allow users such as you all to expand your recording capability. However, they don't "get it" yet.

BenMcr · 24-02-2009, 16:20

They probably do get it. It's not them you have to worry about. It's the content providers. They are the ones that are probably not keen on allowing their content to copied onto external removable storage

leclarks2030 · 24-02-2009, 16:22

That's part of it, however content is encrypted whether it be on the embedded or external storage devices. You can't access the content if you were to disconnect and take to a PC.