If you add an esata drive to your DVR, you don't lose the existing recordings on the internal drive but you can't access them with the external disk connected. To view the programming on the internal drive, you need to disconnect the external one. Doing this very often is not recommended because the connector isn't really designed for multiple disconnects.If I get an EHD for my dvr, will I lose all of the recordings on it?
If you add an esata drive to your DVR, you don't lose the existing recordings on the internal drive but you can't access them with the external disk connected. To view the programming on the internal drive, you need to disconnect the external one. Doing this very often is not recommended because the connector isn't really designed for multiple disconnects.
do i have to use esata, or do usb external drives work?
Well, the USB ports are used for the AM21 external OTA tuner (on the HR21 and later).Only esata. The usb connections on the dvrs are only good as a power source.