Scientific Atlanta Models supported*:

*All units must run the SARA software. To determine if you have SARA, click here.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

The following FAQ is designed to help answer any questions you may have.

What is the Maxtor Expander PLUS drive?
First of its kind in the market, the Maxtor Expander drive plugs into a digital video recorder (DVR) to add up to roughly 200 hours of recording time (depending on the system and signal quality), once the DVR is enabled by the provider for external recording.

When will the Maxtor Expander be available?
You can purchase the Expander online from weaKnees.com - see above.

Does the Maxtor Expander include an eSATA cable to connect the external drive to my cable box?
Yes. It includes the eSATA cable and an A/C adapter for power.

Does my DVR have the SARA software? Is the Maxtor Expander compatible with any DVR?
At this time, the Maxtor Expander drive only works in association with the Scientific-Atlanta Explorer 8300 and 8240 series (8240, 8240HD, 8300C, 8300 HD, 8300 MR, and 8300 HD-MR Digital Video Recorders). It works with many companies/8300HD (and 8240HD, 8300C) boxes, but not all. It depends primarily on which software is running on your box.. Cable boxes that run the SARA software are fully compatible, those that run the Passport software are not. For example all Cox cable subscribers with the 8300HD are fully compatible. To check which software is on your box:

Go into Diagnostic Mode. There are two ways to enter the Diagnostic Mode:

Press and hold the Select button on the front of the unit until the Mail light starts to flash, then press the INFO button.

Press and hold the Pause button on the remote until the Mail light starts to flash (around 10-15 seconds), then press the Page Up (-) button.

Scroll through the pages until you see SARA or PASSPORT listed. If you see SARA, then your box is compatible!

How many extra hours of recording time can users expect after adding the Expander to a DVR?
Results will vary. A 300GB Expander recorded with standard definition television can store approximately 200 hours of content. A high-definition television signal is roughly 8 to 10 times larger than standard definition. Therefore, if you record the same 300GB drive with high-definition content, you will get about 20-25 hours of recorded HD content.

What interfaces will be offered for connecting the Maxtor Expander to the DVR?
The interface available today is external SATA (eSATA).

What about digital rights management (DRM) and content protection?
Maxtor strongly supports the protection of intellectual property and cooperates with industry endorsed digital rights management (DRM) solutions. The Expander drive is designed to work in conjunction with the DRM protection scheme that currently exists in the Explorer 8300 series as implemented by Scientific-Atlanta.

Is the Expander drive "portable"?
No, the Expander is not a portable drive. This drive is not designed to be used as an attachment to a PC.

What will happen if the Expander drive is plugged into a PC?
If you connect the Expander drive to a PC, the recorded content will not be viewable. Users will be prompted to reformat the drive before the device can be used, causing all content to be erased.

Is it okay to disconnect a Expander drive from a DVR?
Users are advised not to unplug, or disconnect the drive while the DVR unit is plugged in or operating. To safely disconnect the drive from a DVR, first unplug the DVR from its power source, wait 10 seconds, and then disconnect the Expander drive.

Can I use a Expander drive on multiple DVRs in the house?
Moving a drive from one DVR unit to another will require reformatting before use on another DVR, causing all recordings that were previously saved to be erased.

Can I take all of my favorite shows that were previously saved to my DVR and move them to my Expander drive?
No. Once your Expander drive is connected to the DVR, it cannot be used as an archiving device. This means the DVR unit will not allow you to copy all of your saved programs to the Expander drive once it is connected. Recording logic that is built in to the DVR decides where the next recorded program is stored. The drive with the most available space will store the next recorded program. The DVR will not allow you to specify the location of the next recording on the internal DVR drive or the external drive. The DVR does not span recorded programs from the internal drive to the external drive.

I always defragment the hard disk on my home computer. Does the Expander drive require defragmenting?
No. Your Expander drive does not require defragmenting. Hard disk fragmentation is caused by two things - small files that take up only a portion of a sector on the disk, plus constant addition, and deletion of small files that creates gaps in the media on the drive. Both situations make it hard to find a large continuous block of disk space for storing new content. Since DVRs record a small number of very large files, a disk defragmenter isn't necessary.

How can I tell if a recorded show is stored on the internal DVR drive or the external Expander drive?
The DVR does not allow users to see where the content is stored, internally or externally. However, a list of recorded programs is stored on the internal DVR's drive. This can be useful when trying to diagnose and solve technical issues between the external Expander drive and the internal drive. To do this, the external Expander drive must first be safely disconnected. The programs that have been stored on the external drive will show up in the DVR's recorded list, but they won't be available to be viewed.

Where should users place the Expander drive in an entertainment center?
It is up to the user. However, it is important not to obstruct the front or rear panels of the Expander drive. The Expander drive comes equipped with front air vents and a thermostatically controlled rear fan. The fan operates when a predetermined drive temperature is reached. You should only hear the fan running occasionally, or you may never hear it running at all. If you hear the fan running constantly you will want to reduce the ambient (surrounding) air temperature in and around the components in your entertainment center. Some components will have vent holes in the tops and sides allowing heat to escape. Do not stack the Expander drive on top of, or block the vent holes of other components in your entertainment center.

It sounds like the fan is always running on the Expander drive. What can users do to turn it off?
The fan is controlled by an internal thermostat and will shut off after a predetermined temperature is reached. If the fan never shuts off, try opening the doors to the entertainment center. Some components generate heat inside the confines of a cabinet when the doors are closed. The Expander drive and most DVRs remain in stand-by mode even if they are not being used, or the power has been turned off by the switch on the front of the unit.

How will users know when the Expander drive is almost out of recording space?
When trying to schedule the next recording, the DVR will provide an on screen warning if there is insufficient space available. If this is the case, users may find it necessary to delete some previously recorded programs.

What if my DVR malfunctions or my cable provider decides to upgrade or swap out my DVR with a new one?
Any previously recorded content on your Expander drive will not be available for viewing on your new DVR, and the Expander drive will have to be reformatted before use, causing all recordings that were previously saved to be erased.

What is the difference between the Maxtor QuickView Expander QVX drive and this Expander PLUS drive?
The Expander PLUS is assembled here at WeaKnees with Maxtor drive. Full warranty is through WeaKnees.

*DirecTV DVRs and Series3 TiVos (in HD) record digital broadcast streams and all compression is determined by the broadcaster, so hours stated are estimates assuming average compression. Standard Definition TiVo DVR and TiVo Upgrade Kit capacities are stated at Basic Quality. All capacities may vary due to hard drive models used. Capacities are guaranteed to be within 5% larger or smaller of stated size. Email with any questions.