How do I add or remove a DVR Expander to my TiVo device?

Spend more time recording and less time erasing shows! Get more recording space for your favorite programs by adding a TiVo Verified DVR Expander to your HD TiVo box.

Requirements

HD TiVo box (Series 3 or Higher) Sparklight will be utilizing a series 4 box.

Stable power source (If possible use the same power source for bth the TiVo box and DVR Expander)

Connecting the DVR Expander

Use the procedure below to add a TiVo Verified DVR Expander to a HD TiVo box.

Step 1: Disconnect the AC power cord from your TiVo box.

Step 2: Connect the eSATA cord to the TiVo Verified DVR Expander and TiVo box. Make sure not to pinch the eSATA cord or run the eSATA cord by an amplifier, speaker, or any other device with a strong magnetic field.

Note: Use the eSATA cable supplied with the TiVo Verified DVR Expander. Use of a third-party eSATA cable is unsupported and may cause various performance problems (rebooting, poor recording quality, lost recordings, etc.).

Step 3: Connect the AC power cord to the DVR Expander and electrical outlet. The power LED illuminates.

Note: The LED light may not be visible in bright lighting conditions.

Step 4: Wait approximately 15 seconds for the hard drive to reach operating speed.

Step 5: Power on the TiVo DVR by reattaching the AC power cord.

Note: If possible, plug the TiVo box into the same power source as the DVR Expander. This ensures both units turn off and turn on at the same time should there be a temporary loss of power.

Step 6: A few minutes after the TiVo box has finished restarting, and you will be propted with a TiVo screen advising of the new hardware detected.

Step 7: Select Yes, set up external storage device to begin marrying the DVR Expander to the TiVo box.

Note: If you decide to set up your DVR Expander later, select Skip for now. You can continue the setup process later by pressing the TiVo button on your TiVo remote to go to the TiVo Central screen. Then select Messages and Settings > Settings > Remote, CableCARD, & Devices > External Storage.

Step 8: From the External Storage screen, select Yes, set up this device.

Step 9: Once you have read the warning message, press the THUMBS DOWN button on your TiVo remote three times, then press ENTER.

Step 10: The TiVo box will automatically restart again. After a few minutes, the following screen will appear verifying the setup was successful

After the TiVo box has finished restarting, you can check the new recording capacity of your TiVo box and DVR Expander system. Press the TiVo button on your remote to go to TiVo Central. Then go to Messages & Settings > Account & System Information > System Information and look at the Recording Capacity field.

Temporarily Disconnecting the DVR Expander

Follow these instructions when temporarily disconnecting the DVR Expander (to clean or move your entertainment center, for example).

Note: Always unplug the power cord from the electrical outlet before disconnecting the AC adapter from the DVR Expander.

Step 1: Reconnect the AC adapter cord and eSATA cable to the DVR Expander.

Step 2: Power on the TiVo box by reattaching the AC power cord.

Note: Disconnecting the DVR Expander while the DVR is powered on will cause the TiVo box to restart. The box will not recover until the DVR Expander is reconnected and the DVR is subsequently restarted, or the drive is permanently removed (See Below). Programs are not recorded when the DVR Expander is disconnected.

Permanently Removing the DVR Expander

Under normal operating conditions, there is no reason to remove the DVR Expander. Removing the DVR Expander does not allow you to play your recordings on a different TiVo box. Because each recording is distributed equally between the DVR's internal drive and the DVR Expander, you cannot gain additional storage by using more than one DVR Expander. You should only remove the DVR Expander if you wish to stop using it.

Note: If you permanently remove the DVR Expander, you will lose all or most of your existing recordings on both the TiVo box and the DVR Expander.

Step 1: Power off the compatible TiVo box by disconnecting the AC power cord.

Step 2: Disconnect the AC adapter cord and eSATA cable from the DVR Expander

Step 3: Plug in the power for the TiVo box. When the box restarts, it will detect the DVR Expander is missing and display "External Storage Missing".

Step 4: Press the CLEAR button.

Step 5: The WARNING screen will appear and ask for confirmation to remove the DVR Expander. Press the THUMBS DOWN button three times, then press ENTER.

Step 6: The TiVo box will begin permanently removing the DVR Expander. Wait until the box restarts.

Note: Do not unplug the TiVo box before it finishes removing the expander and automatically restarts. Doing so may cause serious damage to the box and DVR Expander.