Points that you should keep in mind include:. This is not the case when you use a 3. As you begin recording TV shows or movies on an external hard drive, the existing data may erase. This is not always the case, but some television models prompt you to format the disk before proceeding. If you have any such drive that the television has already refused to accept, you might consider using an HDD instead.

If you are using a 3. In the case of 2. In such a scenario, you might need an additional USB port for more power, as inducing AC to this small drive could permanently damage its hardware. Once you have gathered all the essential ingredients listed above, you can go through the following method to use an external hard drive for TV recording:. Ensure that your television is connected to the cable or set-top box to receive OTA programs, and connect the external hard drive for recording on a smart TV.

The 1TB Seagate Portable external hard drive is a decent choice for TV recording, alongside storage expansions and file backups. The drive supports USB 3. It also works with USB 2. The Toshiba Canvio Basics is an excellent option for you in case you are searching for an external hard drive for tv recording with a smaller footprint. It also works with the legacy USB 2. You can connect the external drive to a USB 3. The 1TB variant of Toshiba Canvio Basics is often discounted, so keep your eyes for sales if you want to grab one for cheap.

The 1TB version weighs only g, and its slim casing looks very premium. Check Price Taiwan-based storage solution brand Transcend is mostly popular for its flash memory cards, pen drives, card readers, and other storage accessories.

The 1TB variant is g, but the 4TB version weighs g. This easy to use device lets you save and watch all your favorite TV shows with the option to record by connecting an external hard drive to the device.

When connected, you can record one live program while watching another or you have the option to record two live programs at the same time while you watch a previously recorded program.

The device comes equipped with an on-screen 14 day channel guide which allows users to schedule either a one-time recording or an entire series. Find out how much you can save today! You surely remember the constant commercials for TiVo from years ago. Well, it is alive and well and you can use it to record your favorite television shows. With TiVo, you can even record up to four displays at the same time. That means that you can be sure you are never missing a beat. The features are excellent, however the price does not favor the consumer.

The Amazon Fire TV Recast has 75 to hours of recording time and two or four tuner options, as well. The ability to record without cable, of course, comes at a price. The digital signal that probably arrives through the same TV aerial has to be decoded by a Freeview or Freeview HD tuner, and Freeview tuners have been included in all TV sets sold in the UK since Be sure to use an external hard drive with its own power supply, rather than using the power available via the USB socket.

On its website , Sony lists 14 Bravia TVs that can record to an external hard drive, and 41 models that can play back from an external hard drive. The biggest drawback with most Freeview TVs is that they only have one tuner.

To do this, you need two Freeview tuners. However, there are other drawbacks with the USB recording technology, as generally implemented.