 | reply to The Q
Re: [DVR] External DVR Storage said by The Q: wait, we all are this year? where did you see that? That would be exciting news! ComcastTed in October:
»forums.comcast.com/t5/XfinityTV-···5#M57148
We continue to test and trial the new cloud-based X1 guide on our Cisco RNG cable boxes and the plan would be to deliver the X1 experience (On-Screen Guide 3.0) on the Cisco RNG 200N and the Cisco 150N cable boxes by the end of 2013. |
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 The Q join:2008-06-26 Collegeville, PA | said by mariod:said by The Q: wait, we all are this year? where did you see that? That would be exciting news! ComcastTed in October: » forums.comcast.com/t5/XfinityTV-···5#M57148We continue to test and trial the new cloud-based X1 guide on our Cisco RNG cable boxes and the plan would be to deliver the X1 experience (On-Screen Guide 3.0) on the Cisco RNG 200N and the Cisco 150N cable boxes by the end of 2013. Ah, I live in a Motorola area so the Cisco boxes are not available to me.
Do you really think it will be on all those box types and all areas this year? |
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 yhp join:2006-12-27 Philadelphia, PA | reply to mariod There's nothing in that thread about cloud-storage for DVR recordings.
ComcastTed specifically says that the 3.0 _guide_ is cloud-based, not the recorded shows. He goes on to give detailed advice about who can and can't add storage to their existing STBs.
And the DVR section of the X1 FAQ says nothing about cloud storage of recordings. In fact, there are three or four questions in the DVR section of the X1 FAQ about age-old physical-equipment problems: power outages, zero space left, etc:
»xfinity.comcast.net/x1/faq/
and all the answers only make sense if you're "recording" to a device in your living room. |
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 Russ join:2011-03-17 Houston, TX kudos:1 | said by yhp:There's nothing in that thread about cloud-storage for DVR recordings.
ComcastTed specifically says that the 3.0 _guide_ is cloud-based, not the recorded shows. He goes on to give detailed advice about who can and can't add storage to their existing STBs.
And the DVR section of the X1 FAQ says nothing about cloud storage of recordings. In fact, there are three or four questions in the DVR section of the X1 FAQ about age-old physical-equipment problems: power outages, zero space left, etc:
»xfinity.comcast.net/x1/faq/
and all the answers only make sense if you're "recording" to a device in your living room. The following excerpt is from Comcast's Ted Hodgins, Sr. Director, Video Product Development - Navigation, in Media & Entertainment, "New Features for Scientific-Atlanta/Cisco Cable Boxes" blog. Please note the underlined words and that Comcast is notorious for failing to meet its schedule. quote: Our goal this year is to be able to use the cloud for DVR recordings. The X1 Experience is expected to have a cloud DVR opportunity where individual DVR recordings are not stored on the in-home device. This cloud DVR experience would really negate the need for a limited and physically in-the-home external hard drive and all boxes could be AnyRoom DVRs. Plus the opportunity to retain your DVR recordings should you move or you need to replace the DVR.
See »Re: New Guides for SA/Cisco Areas (Info from Ted Hodgins Blog) -- Cisco RNG 200N & SA 8300 HD DVRs-S26 Guide Links 'Guide Blog' 'Schedule' 'Info' 'Patch Thread' |
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 Russ join:2011-03-17 Houston, TX kudos:1 | reply to The Q said by The Q:said by mariod:said by The Q: wait, we all are this year? where did you see that? That would be exciting news! ComcastTed in October: » forums.comcast.com/t5/XfinityTV-···5#M57148We continue to test and trial the new cloud-based X1 guide on our Cisco RNG cable boxes and the plan would be to deliver the X1 experience (On-Screen Guide 3.0) on the Cisco RNG 200N and the Cisco 150N cable boxes by the end of 2013. Ah, I live in a Motorola area so the Cisco boxes are not available to me. Do you really think it will be on all those box types and all areas this year? Comcast plans on supporting X1 on the more modern Motorola STBs.
I don't think it will be on all those boxes and in all areas this year. -- Cisco RNG 200N & SA 8300 HD DVRs-S26 Guide Links 'Guide Blog' 'Schedule' 'Info' 'Patch Thread' |
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 yhp join:2006-12-27 Philadelphia, PA | reply to Russ Um-Hm. I'm a Digital Econ TV-only subscriber in Philly with a DCX3400.
So in answer to mariod's question - yes, I'd like the $100 eSATA drive option today, please. Oh, wait. My box isn't even cleared for Extender with A30 in place.
So, wow. You're right! I'll save that incredibly exorbitant $100 price tag for a hard drive, and simply wait for
1) X1 to be rolled out in this market, and 2) Comcast to issue me compatible equipment, and 3) DVR-in-the-cloud "opportunities" to be enabled.
Done, and done! |
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 Russ join:2011-03-17 Houston, TX kudos:1 | I wouldn't wait for Comcast to offer DVR recordings in the cloud. It will be a long time before Comcast makes that available to all its customers. If you need more storage and can get the right equipment with the right software to support an external drive, I think it would be worth the cost. |
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 yhp join:2006-12-27 Philadelphia, PA | said by Russ:I wouldn't wait for Comcast to offer DVR recordings in the cloud. It will be a long time before Comcast makes that available to all its customers. If you need more storage and can get the right equipment with the right software to support an external drive, I think it would be worth the cost. I should have used some smileys. My point was that $100 for a TB of DVR storage now (mariod's rhetorical question) is a great deal when compared to playing waiting and service games with Comcast. |
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 | said by yhp:My point was that $100 for a TB of DVR storage now (mariod's rhetorical question) is a great deal when compared to playing waiting and service games with Comcast. Except you're not paying $100 for a TB of storage.
I already have 500gb of storage. You're paying $100 for GBs 501 through 1501. For only a year or two before its defunct. Is that really worth $100?? |
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 1 edit | said by mariod:said by yhp:My point was that $100 for a TB of DVR storage now (mariod's rhetorical question) is a great deal when compared to playing waiting and service games with Comcast. Except you're not paying $100 for a TB of storage. I already have 500gb of storage. You're paying $100 for GBs 501 through 1501. For only a year or two before its defunct. Is that really worth $100?? If reliable cloud DVR support ever becomes available, you'll have the the external hard drive available for other uses such as a back up drive for a portable or desk computer. My laptop has an eSata port as does my desk computer. A TB means storage for a huge number of pictures. -- There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact.
Sherlock Holmes in The Boscombe Valley Mystery A. C. Doyle Strand Magazine, October 1891 |
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 | 1) I already have a backup HD. 2) Prices on non-Comcast sanctioned, even if you needed another 1tb of storage, HDs are still better than the $100+ tag that comes with this drive.
Here's a usb 3.0 1tb mybook for $10 cheaper. »www.amazon.com/Book-Essential-Ex···&sr=1-49 |
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 1 edit | reply to mariod said by mariod:said by yhp:My point was that $100 for a TB of DVR storage now (mariod's rhetorical question) is a great deal when compared to playing waiting and service games with Comcast. Except you're not paying $100 for a TB of storage. I already have 500gb of storage. You're paying $100 for GBs 501 through 1501. For only a year or two before its defunct. Is that really worth $100?? A few things:
1.) You're assuming Comcast can actually get their X1 platform 100% working (it's currently missing some common DVR features that other platforms have, and has 3 tuners completely disabled). So you're assuming that not only will Comcast have fixed the bugs in the X1 hardware/software platform (which is where the X1 Guide is initially being tested), but that it can then quickly and bug free deploy it across their whole footprint of varying hardware platforms (newer Moto, Cisco, and Pace boxes) all within the next two years. That would be very aggressive for any cable provider, let alone the nation's largest. And given Comcast's poor track record that's highly unlikely.
2.) Cloud DVR storage is controversial and so far has been put on hold by legal issues when other MSOs have tried it. So you cannot depend on a sudden increase in space beyond your local storage. Notice the language from Comcast about such a feature has been very tentative. Also consider that people feel better about local storage because Comcast cannot just suddenly have a glitch at their facility and kill your cloud storage by mistake or say force your recording to age out after a certain number of days and be deleted on purpose due to agreements with content holders.
3.) Don't expect Comcast to start offering to swap out your Moto DCX series DVR with an X1 platform based one, without you asking/paying more. Look how long Comcast has kept ancient hardware in service, the Moto DCT-2000 series is still in use for people with SD TVs. So you might get the software upgrade to the X1 Guide on the DCX, but you'll still have 500GB of local storage.
4.) Lastly, you already have one of Comcast's largest DVRs so maybe you don't care to have more space. But those of us with a bit older/smaller capacity DVRs would like it. |
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 The Q join:2008-06-26 Collegeville, PA | reply to mariod said by mariod:1) I already have a backup HD. 2) Prices on non-Comcast sanctioned, even if you needed another 1tb of storage, HDs are still better than the $100+ tag that comes with this drive.
Here's a usb 3.0 1tb mybook for $10 cheaper. »www.amazon.com/Book-Essential-Ex···&sr=1-49 pretty sure you need a drive with esata and not USB for the comcast DVR. |
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| said by The Q:said by mariod:1) I already have a backup HD. 2) Prices on non-Comcast sanctioned, even if you needed another 1tb of storage, HDs are still better than the $100+ tag that comes with this drive.
Here's a usb 3.0 1tb mybook for $10 cheaper. »www.amazon.com/Book-Essential-Ex···&sr=1-49 pretty sure you need a drive with esata and not USB for the comcast DVR. Correct, the usb port is disabled on the set top boxes for use in media storage. -- I'm always up for a good chat and helping with VoIP testing so my contact info is below. Gigaset.net: Michael Wolf Callcentric: 17772288600 SIP URI: sip:226976325024#9@sip.gigaset.net and sip:17772288600@in.callcentric.com Skype: MikeWolf051 |
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 yhp join:2006-12-27 Philadelphia, PA | reply to mariod said by mariod:said by yhp:My point was that $100 for a TB of DVR storage now (mariod's rhetorical question) is a great deal when compared to playing waiting and service games with Comcast. Except you're not paying $100 for a TB of storage. I already have 500gb of storage. And I have 340GB on my DCX34xx.
Some customers have only 250GB on their DCX34xx.
You're paying $100 for GBs 501 through 1501. For only a year or two before its defunct. Is that really worth $100??
I don't get a chance to watch a lot of TV. So I "record" lots of interesting things and delete many unseen because the occupancy on my 340GB drive is pretty reliably north of 90%. That's life with Comcast today.
Someday, when Comcast's awesome technology renders my purchase "obsolete" (LOL) "a year or two" (your words) from now, I will have had a "year or two" of not thinking for even a minute about what shows to delete or whether I should really record something in standard-def to save space.
It's an annoyance. In 2012, it's an insult. It takes time. Time adds up. It's easily worth $100.
YMMV. |
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 | reply to The Q said by The Q: pretty sure you need a drive with esata and not USB for the comcast DVR. That's my point. You're paying more for an external HD that isn't even USB, making it less functional to then start using with a computer when cloud storage arrives. |
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| Um, the Western Digital My Book AV DVR Expander has both USB and eSATA connections, so it can still be used on a computer or other device with USB. I'm not sure why anyone would be mentioning a My Book Essential for DVR backup due to it only having USB. |
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 | said by Mike Wolf:Um, the Western Digital My Book AV DVR Expander has both USB and eSATA connections, so it can still be used on a computer or other device with USB. I'm not sure why anyone would be mentioning a My Book Essential for DVR backup due to it only having USB. You're still missing the point.
Someone posted that if DVR goes to the cloud, then you have an extra external HD to use as backup for your PC.
My point is that I can get an extra backup external for my PC for much cheaper than the one required for use with a DVR. |
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| Yes, but then you wouldn't be able to use it with the DVR in the meantime, so you'd be losing out on the added DVR capacity. I'd think It would be smarter to get the DVR extender so you can use it with the DVR and then when it may no longer be needed, you can then use it on the computer or whatever. |
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 | said by Mike Wolf:Yes, but then you wouldn't be able to use it with the DVR in the meantime, so you'd be losing out on the added DVR capacity. I'd think It would be smarter to get the DVR extender so you can use it with the DVR and then when it may no longer be needed, you can then use it on the computer or whatever. You're being weird about this.
The point was not to use it as an external hard drive simultaneously.
I said, it seemed like a waste to spend $100 for an external HD that would be defunct in a couple years.
Someone else said "but when its no longer used with your STB, then you can just use it as a external to your computer"
All I'm pointing out is that if I was going to use it as an external to my computer, I can get an HD for much cheaper, so that post-defunct functionality isn't really of much value. |
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