Ask S&V

Q Can recorded programs be transferred from one DVR to another? —Joe Nagy / via e-mail

A It depends on the particular DVR. With Dish Network models, for example, you can transfer content to an external USB hard drive and then connect that to another Dish DVR. There are two limitations: 1) you’ll need to format the USB drive using the menu system of the first DVR; and 2) the second DVR needs to be linked to the same Dish account for you to load programs from the attached USB drive. If the second DVR happens to be on a different account, the hard drive will need to be formatted, thus erasing all the data that’s stored on it.

The same sneakernet option isn’t available with TiVo DVRs, although recorded programs can easily be transferred from one DVR to another if both units are connected to the same local network. The only other limitation with TiVo is that a high-definition program can’t be transferred to a standard definition TiVo DVR.

DirecTV DVRs do not permit transfer of content between DVRs, either by loading it to an external drive or transfer between units connected to the same network. If you subscribe to DirecTV’s whole-home DVR service, however, you can access content from a primary DVR using either another DirecTV DVR or a regular DirecTV HD receiver.

As for other services, Verizon FiOS offers a Multi-Hub DVR, which lets you access programs recorded on a hub DVR from terminal DVRs connected to the home network. And individual cable services have their own take on the whole-house DVR theme, with too many varieties to cover in detail here. With all such services, one thing is certain: a move toward a cloud-based model where you can access recorded content anywhere using an internet-connected smart TV, portable device, or computer.