How to Add a Disk to a DirecTV DVR

DirecTV digital video recorders (DVRs) are equipped with an eSATA socket on the back panel for connecting an external hard disk drive (HDD). This feature lets you expand the recording capacity of the unit as the DVR's built-in hard drive becomes full over time. A standard eSATA cable connects the external drive to the DirecTV component, which is designed to format the disk drive automatically. As with any re-formatting of digital media, any content stored on the external drive will be erased.

• 1

  Press the power button on the front of the DirecTV DVR to turn off the unit, then unplug the power cord.

• 2

  Connect the eSATA cable from the labeled port on the rear of the DirecTV component to the matching port on the external disk drive.

• 3

  Plug in the power cords for the DirecTV DVR and the external drive, then turn on the external drive only. Wait a few seconds for the external hard disc drive to get up to speed.

• 4

  Turn on the DirecTV DVR, which will reboot and format the external drive automatically.