S3 HD Tivo

[Mchero]

Had purchased just a week ago after I gave up on the Comcast Tivo.

Will be getting cable card installed this Saturday. I have forced connections to Tivo & up to the current software. Anything I need to know and pass onto the installer? I assume he will be installing ONE M-card in one of the two slots under the front panel.

Also,
Circuit City selling a Western Digital 1TB Caviar GP SATA Hard Drive for $160.00. Is this a drive I can use internally? I'm long time Tivo user. I have UG'ed both S1 & S2 Tivos but this HD Tive S3 is all new to me! I did purchase cakewalk UG CD bout 6 months ago, I'll have to see if it will work on S3 HD Tivos.

I'd like to up the drive before the family loads it up with programs! LOL

Perhaps some links you guys can point me too?

I think I'm going to love my TRUE Tivo Tivo!

Thanks all

[Kelnor]

Unless something has changed since I last knew (quite possible), the S3 is going to require 2 SCards. AFAIK, the S3 does not support the MCard yet.

As for the 1TB drive, I just ordered two of em, 1 for my S3 and one for my HD. I was actually coming to the forums to confirm whether or not they will work and I will return them if not. But I couldn't wait and risk that deal expiring first.

[Mchero]

I believe the S3 HD Tivo with the cable card slots on the front end WILL support ONE M-Card. One has to force a few connections to get the current SW.

I'm just not sure if the Esata drive is a good choice for the S3 HD Tivo.

Thanks for the post

Unless something has changed since I last knew (quite possible), the S3 is going to require 2 SCards. AFAIK, the S3 does not support the MCard yet.

As for the 1TB drive, I just ordered two of em, 1 for my S3 and one for my HD. I was actually coming to the forums to confirm whether or not they will work and I will return them if not. But I couldn't wait and risk that deal expiring first.

[moxie1617]

A 20 hr S3 is a Tivo HD, not what is refered to as the "S3" in these forums. If you read the sticky at the top for e-SATA expansion follow the path for the Tivo HD expansion. The only Plug and Play option is the Tivo approved one, the 500GB WD MyDVR Expander.

[Kelnor]

From the FAQ (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=370784)
6. What retail drives do not work with the TiVo?

Based on member reports, the My Book Home Edition (320GB - 1TB) eSATA drive is incompatible with the TiVo and cannot be used. The bridge chip built into that product's enclosure is believed to be responsible for the incompatibility, because if you remove the bare drive from the enclosure and install it in another, it will work.

The current version of the Western Digital 1TB WD10000CSRTL (retail bare drive) will not work as an internal drive upgrade for the TiVo Series3. This original version of this product included the WD10EACS-32ZJB0, which worked great as an internal drive upgrade. The new version of this product includes the WD10EACS-00ZJB0, which will not work as an internal drive upgrade for the TiVo Series3. You can tell the new version from the original based on the retail box; comparison pictures here, courtesy of richsadams. The new 1TB Western Digital WD10EVCS works well with both the TivoHD and Tivo Series3.

Some other retail eSATA drives include eSATA cables that do not work reliably with the TiVo, but that is typically fixed by adding a cable from FAQ #26.




So, if you have a Series 3 (which is what I was assuming), the drive on sale at Circuit City will not work as an internal upgrade.

~Kelnor