I just got direct tv w/o the dvr can i just hook up an external hard drive into the usb and record to that?

Sorry that is not possible. DirecTV does NOT have the USB ports activated on their DVRs or any Receivers. The ONLY DVR's from DirecTV (Which they do not sell any longer) are the DirecTV Tivo Series 2's that can be modified by a third party softeware to enable the USB ports. You can however use a Tivo Standalone unit attached to the DirecTV receiver. The Tivo can be connected to the IR port on the receiver so that the Tivo will change the channels for you to record the correct channels. The only downfall is that Tivo is another monthly charge seperate from the DirecTV monthly charge. Secondly the Tivo units with Dual Tuners cannot record TWO Digital Channels at the same time. Now you can still purchase DirecTV Tivo units from places like Ebay.com or http://www.weaknees.com then purchase software to upgrade the hard drive to ALOT more recording time and enable the USB ports so that you can connect the DirecTV Tivo to your homes wired/wireless network so you can transfer the shows/movies to a networked PC for editing and burning to DVD. If this sounds interesting then keep reading below, I have put together the ways to get this done with Links to sites for HOW TO's and NEEDED Software. First check out site #1 it has forums that explain how to hack your DirecTV Tivo and Tivo brand Tivo's so that you have Networking abilities on your D Tivo which allow MRV (multiroom Viewing if you have more than one D Tivo), HMO (Home media Option) which allows you to have a PC connected to your home network that can be used as a server for your MP3's and Pictures to be shown on your D Tivo. Once you hack the unit/s (HAS TO BE A SERIES 1 OR SERIES 2 DirecTV Tivo or Series 1 and Series 2 Tivo) you can apply some programs so that you can download the shows/movies from the decrypted programs stored on your D Tivo onto a PC for veiwing/Burning onto a DVD. If you have more questions I can give you alot more details if you email me. I have used these site below to aid me in Hacking 5 DirecTV Tivos (Qty2-SD-DVR40, HDVR2,Qty2- DSR704). I have HMO, MRV, can access over the internet with gotomydvr.com, can download shows/movies from all the units. Site #2 is where you purchase the software necessary to upgrade the D Tivo, look for either their kits or if you want to upgrade yourself look at InstantCake 3.1 or 6.2, PTVnet, Slicer. (InstantCake is the operating system/ software displays you see on the screen, PTVnet is the software to boot the ISO disk you download onto your PC when you connect a NEW harddrive and it enables the USB ports and allows networking, The Slicer lets you get/receive upgrade from DirecTV without losing all your previous hacks upon software upgrades.) #3 is a forum to get the other necessary software patches to allow you to decrypt the DirecTV signal before it is stored onto the D Tivos harddrive. And a patch to allow downloads of the shows/movies from the D Tivo. (Superpatch-67all-nutkase, and superpatch-62a, Tytool 10R4, and others) #4 a forum on HOW TO and questions and answers #5 a GREAT display of instruction with pics on how to remove the hard drive form the Tivo unit and install all the hacks) #1 www.dvrplayground.com (Forum and instructions on how to hack units) #2 www.dvrupgrade.com (site to purchase the DirecTV linux software to upgrade to a LARGE harddrive and enable the USB ports for networking) #3 http://www.dealdatabase.com/forum/ #4 www.tivocommunity.com #5 http://www.weethet.nl/english/tivo_dtv2_os6hack.php (for Version 6.2) #6 http://www.weethet.nl/english/tivo_dtv2_os4hackrid.php (for Software Version other than 6.2) Hope this helps, and have fun. Any other questions feel free to email me.