Contributor
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239 Messages
Cloud DVR versus Physical DVR
Possibly it's because I've been a software engineer for 40+ years, but I'm confused. I recently took the X1 Koolaid, moving from a Non-X1 DVR to the XG1v4 which came with the addition of the Cloud. The joke is that the way our account was setup, using the Beta Stream app, we already had Cloud recording, just could not see it from the physical non-X1 box.
So, my question is how the current combined recording storage works! Do I really have 300 hours of recording capacity or is the cloud mirroring the physical box so that I can see the content from internet devices? Nowhere in the labyrinth of Comcast have I found any detailed explanation of this. Additionally, I can see a percent used when I bring up the recording page on the box. Is this percent used on the combination, the physical box only or what???
I also see that one can purchase additional hours of Cloud recording. OK, how does this work? Now I would have 150 hours of physical and 300 hours of Cloud???
If different recordings are in each location, can they be seen from all viewing locations?? I'm sure I've got more questions (count on it), but this is a start.
MNtundraRET
Gold Problem Solver
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5.9K Messages
3 years ago
I believe all new DVR's are only cloud. They can likely help get past videos transferred if they fit.
You will probably wish you kept the old DVR.
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plummerld
Contributor
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239 Messages
3 years ago
@MNtundraRET Actually, they do contain hard drives, monstrous 500GB ones. First, this is from the article, X1 DVR Services Overview:
Storage Capacity: Currently, your X1 DVR can record approximately 150 total hours of HD programming on the hard drive, and 150 hours of Cloud DVR storage per X1 DVR. You can purchase additional Cloud DVR storage hours by visiting www.xfinity.com.
Second, from the diagnostics screen of the XG1v4:
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MNtundraRET
Gold Problem Solver
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5.9K Messages
3 years ago
@plummerl :
Thank you for the information. I have had DSL from day 1 in my area. I refuse to switch to Comcast Internet in order to use an X1 box.
I only use Comcast for standard cable. Never had a problem with DSL broadband. We spend more time on You Tube watching 4K and our collection of Real 3D movies. I can convert 2D sports (or any program) to 3D too.
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Andyr1
Gold Problem Solver
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7.9K Messages
3 years ago
The only way to tell if playing a recording is local or Cloud is to look at the icon when you hit the down arrow to show the timebar. If it just says "DVR", then it is a local recording. If there is a cloud symbol in front of "DVR", then it is a cloud recording. Only QAM channels can be recorded locally. If you record something on one of the IP-only channels, then it will always be Cloud.
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MNtundraRET
Gold Problem Solver
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5.9K Messages
3 years ago
@plummerl
My first reply quoted below was likely correct for the final sentence. I haven't seen many happy customers who gave up their old DVR.
Quote: "
I believe all new DVR's are only cloud. They can likely help get past videos transferred if they fit.
You will probably wish you kept the old DVR. "
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Schbond
Regular Visitor
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13 Messages
2 years ago
All new DVRs are strictly cloud these days. The boxes no longer have hard drives in them (this is why the new 4k boxes are MUCH smaller than the old 1080 boxes). I was having issues with our storage space indicator fluctuating, and the customer service agents training seemed to be limited to “let my try a system refresh on my end.” Beyond that, they were stumped, every time.
So, myself having technological experience of 30 years, just started analyzing the situation and speaking to agents at the XFinity store, where they are MUCH more knowledgeable than the internet agents, because the store reps have to be prepared for any question, whereas on the internet the minimally-trained, novice-level reps are frontline, and the more advanced reps are only bothered when needed for help…and I learned that the (cloud) storage attached to DVR boxes is separate from the cloud storage that allows you to use X1 using the Xfinity Stream app. This is why storage space indicators can be wonky. Ours would show 67% full with 200 recordings, then just minutes later, show 90% full with 205 recordings. So I would u plug the box, plug it back in, and when it rebooted it would be back to about 67% with 205 recordings. So, unplugging the box and plugging back in will solve this, temporarily. This is apparently because the DVR storage and cloud storage for mobile device use of X1 are supposed to work together, but it can be buggy. I wish I didn’t have to unplug/re-plug in my damn box every day just to prevent issues.
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