Upgrading an Edge

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I have a 2 tuner on the way. Was planning on upgrading it with a 14TB drive. However I did not check far enough into the process........... While the upgrade is easy enough with the Edge have to punch two holes through the label to remove the cover. Which could very easily void the warranty. Other models pretty easy to disassemble and put back together with original parts, with an Edge would end up with those two holes. Not sure if I'm going to keep the Edge or send it back, between original warranty (3 months no cost exchange, 9 months minimal fee) and the continual care (up to 5 years total with tiered exchange fees) giving ALL that up may not be wise? I'd say at minimum run it stock for the 3 month free exchange period, make sure it works fine, then maybe try upgrade?

 

Well I myself like to "collect" entire old series, many have hundreds of episodes and can take years to get them all. I usually record on two Tivos in case one fails. Though I monitor the age of the drives and would copy/replace if needed. I use all 3.5" CMR drives so could/should last 5 years or more, knock on wood. Since the future of Tivo as a company is in question I want to get as many of those series as possible, can still watch even if Tivo goes under. Yeah, I could just buy DVD/Bluray sets but not as much "fun"

The Edge arrived. When first hooked up got "serious error screen of death". Came back pretty quick, then ran guided setup. It did an update, then ran guided setup again, seems ok. I will run for awhile to make sure it's working. If I do the upgrade may try to remove the sticker by heating the glue with a hairdryer, don't really want to lose up to 5 years of warranty/continual care by punching holes in it. I'm assuming the 500GB drive is CMR, I know the 2TB model uses an SMR drive but hoping small 500GB is CMR. I'd open the Edge to check model number, but I'd have to punch the holes........... Does anyone who upgraded the 2 tuner 500GB model know the model number of the 500GB drive?

 

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I am/was going to use an external drive. But to do that you have to punch holes in the sticker. And could lose warranty. Unless you mean one of those Tivo brand expansion drives that hookup to the eSata port on the Tivo. That I would NEVER do, just adding another point of possible failure, if either drive fails you lose it all. One drive for me, CMR only, external or internal, internal would be very limited as very few CMR 2.5" drives.

 

Yeah, but never great to use two drives, if one fails you lose everything on both. The WDs are not longer manufactured and I think they were 1TB max. You can use eSata expansion drive with MFST but again two drives not recommended. Best thing to do is external, Sata to Sata (no Esata involved, either off the Tivo or a port on the enclosure), CMR drive, 5400RPM. Weakness upgrade will work of course, with their enclosure and their drive. But very easy to do yourself, heck with theirs you have to do most of the work anyway.

 

I think you are right. I doubt there can even be a replacement for the cable card Edge. They could make an ASTC 3.0 OTA DVR but doubt the market is big enough. So enjoy while you can, the antenna version should be good for at least 5 more years, IF Tivo continues to support the guide and does not go out of business completely.

 

Oh, do consider, to upgrade an Edge you have to punch holes in the sticker. Which COULD void the warranty. I myself will wait awhile before doing an upgrade, at least a few months (90 day no cost replacement). And if/when I do the upgrade I will attempt to use a hairdryer to remove the sticker without punching holes in it, I use hairdryers to remove stickers all the time, it softens the glue and makes it easy to peel off. The Tivo sticker is pretty big though.

 

Interesting thought. I've never tried anything like that. Probably need a high res picture or scan and maybe a photo printer. I'll bet a print shop could do it if I can't. For sure will take a picture or make a scan before I try "peeling" it off

 

That is true, technically opening ANY Tivo can/would void the warranty. Even Weaknees confirms that. Other models you can open, swap drives around, then if something goes wrong you can put back the original parts and no one could tell. The Edge you have to punch those two holes in the sticker. So Tivo could void the warranty. Definitely taking a chance, mine was a special, $289, not a HUGE investment. But some probably paid 600 up to $1000 for cable Edge with lifetime, would be a bit scary since things can go wrong that are NOT user fixable (HDMI port, ethernet port, tuners, flash drive, heck anything on the motherboard).

 

Bolt Vox can be rolled back to TE3/Classic. Except the OTA only model. Not sure what you mean about not using Red drives OVER 6TB. 8TB and up are fine, it's the 2-6TB EFAX models that are SMR and not recommended for Tivos. Purples are good

7200RPM should not matter if using in an external enclosure. The possible extra heat would not matter since not inside the Tivo (and can use enclosure with a fan as I do.) MIGHT be a bit noisier.................

 

Could be. Other than shipping labels are mostly white (so no ink/printing of the background) with black printing. The Edge label is gray background with white lettering. So the entire background would use ink and need to match color exactly since being used as an original. For sure I will try before doing any peeling though