A Dish Network DVR receiver has an internal hard drive for storing recorded television shows. Keep the storage space in the internal hard drive available for programs by adding additional storage space through an external USB hard drive. The external USB hard drive can be purchased from a computer or electronics store, and is no different than one you would use with a computer. Once it has been connected to the Dish Network DVR receiver, video that is on the internal hard drive can be transferred to the external USB hard drive.
Place the external USB hard drive next to the Dish Network DVR receiver. Plug the appropriate end of the power cord that comes with the external hard drive into the power outlet on the back end of the external USB hard drive. Plug the other end of the power cord into an outlet for power.
Insert one end of a USB cable into one of the USB sockets on the back end of the external USB hard drive; if there is only one socket, use this one. Insert the other end of the USB cable into the USB socket on the back panel of the Dish Network DVR receiver.
Turn the television that is connected to the Dish Network DVR receiver on. Turn the external USB hard drive's power switch to the "On" position. Press the "Sel" button at the center of the Dish Network's remote to turn the Dish Network DVR receiver on.
Select "Yes," using the Dish Network remote, when the pop-up window appears on the TV screen. Press the "Sel" button.
Let the Dish Network DVR receiver format the external USB hard drive for use. Do nothing until the formatting is done and the Dish Network DVR receiver resets itself and the home screen appears on the TV screen.
Press the "Menu" button on the Dish Network's remote. Highlight "Multimedia" on the screen and press "Sel." Highlight "USB Storage" on the screen and press "Sel." Highlight "Send to Device" on the screen and press "Sel."
Highlight a recording on the "My Recordings" screen that now appears. Press "Sel" to transfer the recording from the internal hard drive to the external USB hard drive. Do nothing until a pop-up window tells you the transfer is done. Press "Sel" to make the pop-up window go away.
Press the "DVR" button on the remote to go to a screen of the recordings that are on the hard drive. Highlight the recording that was just transferred to the external USB hard drive. Press "Sel." Highlight "Delete" on the pop-up window that appears and press "Sel" to remove the recording from the internal hard drive.
You must pay a service charge to Dish Network to activate the USB connection on the Dish Network DVR receiver.