# Let me get this straight: The USB port in front of my DVR is completely useless?? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 25, 2010, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-me-get-this-straight-the-usb-port-in-front-of-my-dvr-is-completely-useless/555039 "2010-09-25T21:08:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ruffian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/71e660/32.png) [@Ruffian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruffian)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2010, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-me-get-this-straight-the-usb-port-in-front-of-my-dvr-is-completely-useless/555039/1 "2010-09-25T21:08:47Z")
Well, not _completely_ useless, according to DirecTV. Some people use it to charge their cell phones. :rolleyes: I’ve been wanting to put a Discovery channel show on my computer. I finally recorded the episode in question, and called DirecTV to find out how to use the USB port on the front of my DVR. The first person I spoke with said it _is_ possible, but didn’t have the how-to steps so he transferred me to tech support. The person there said the USB port isn’t functional–it has power, but that’s it. They put it there for future design use, but currently is USB useless. WTF? Really? Or are they trying to tell me not to record a show?? ---
**Author:** ![Declan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Declan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Declan)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2010, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-me-get-this-straight-the-usb-port-in-front-of-my-dvr-is-completely-useless/555039/2 "2010-09-25T21:15:14Z")
> [@Ruffian](#): > > WTF? Really? Or are they trying to tell me not to record a show?? A dvr is simply a hard drive, you just need an FTP program to copy over the episode. They haven’t found a way to monetize the transfer, so they are blocking it via software. There should be info on the net bout hacking it, if nothing else it should give you more info on why directtv has it vestial. Declan ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2010, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-me-get-this-straight-the-usb-port-in-front-of-my-dvr-is-completely-useless/555039/3 "2010-09-25T22:02:54Z")
There’s a USB port on our Dish Network receiver that can be used to connect an external storage drive, to which (from what I’ve read) you can transfer recorded programs from the DVR. I haven’t tried it, because I find their $40 “activation fee” to enable the port exorbitant. Even if DirecTV had the same feature, though, I don’t think you’d have any luck transferring programs to your computer. I think the Dish DVR encrypts files when transferring them to the external drive, and the recorded programs can only be played back on the receiver. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-me-get-this-straight-the-usb-port-in-front-of-my-dvr-is-completely-useless/555039/4 "2010-09-28T21:58:01Z")
The motorola comcast DVR I have is chock full of ports that aren’t activated. I think the only one that works (other than the various normal a/v outputs anyway) is the firewire port, and its use is basically limited to a/v out, not data transfer. And that one’s only working because the FCC mandated it or something. (this is all stuff I read on an A/V message board, I’ve never had reason to use firewire, so I have no firsthand knowledge) ---
**Author:** ![fusoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecccb3/32.png) [@fusoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fusoya)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-me-get-this-straight-the-usb-port-in-front-of-my-dvr-is-completely-useless/555039/5 "2010-09-29T02:28:31Z")
Waitaminute, so Dish charges $40 for the ABILITY to add storage capacity to your DVR??? Man, one more reason I’m glad I stick with warez couriers for my timeshifting. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-me-get-this-straight-the-usb-port-in-front-of-my-dvr-is-completely-useless/555039/6 "2010-09-29T02:33:43Z")
> [@fusoya](#): > > Man, one more reason I’m glad I stick with warez couriers for my timeshifting. How do you receive TV? ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-me-get-this-straight-the-usb-port-in-front-of-my-dvr-is-completely-useless/555039/7 "2010-09-29T19:39:40Z")
> [@fusoya](#): > > Waitaminute, so Dish charges $40 for the ABILITY to add storage capacity to your DVR??? It still beats Comcast’s not allowing it at all. ---
**Author:** ![McDeath\_the\_Mad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a3d4f5/32.png) [@McDeath\_the\_Mad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/McDeath_the_Mad)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-me-get-this-straight-the-usb-port-in-front-of-my-dvr-is-completely-useless/555039/8 "2010-10-01T17:52:54Z")
Up here in Canada using Bell Expressvu receivers (based on Dish Network models) the USB ports are active and you simply add a external HD for more storage. I haven’t had to increase my storage on my dual tunner HD PVR yet. But in the case of my non-PVR HD receiver I bought, when I connected the external HD it then BECAME a HD PVR receiver! Very cool! MtM