522 in closet - keep it there?

[cleal]

For the past three months my original Dish DVR, I think it's a 510, has started to to act wierd, basically rebooting instead of rewinding. Dish CSRs say it's a software issue and will be fixed "soon". I was able to get two month's credit for the $5.99/mo. DVR fee. The CSRs say the 522 does not suffer from this same malady. CSRs suggested I find a 522.

I've got a 522 that I received from a dealer in trade for some network security work some time ago and left it unopened until about a year ago when my Series I Tivo's hard drive with lifetime subscription died. I decided to go ahead and take the very quiet Samsung drive out of the 522 and use it to upgrade the Tivo as far as its total recording time is concerned. So now the 522 sits in my closet, still new, except with no drive.

So my question is, aside from the fact that 522s appear to suffer from a poor reliability reputation in this forum, should I get a 200Gb drive and find a 522 image for it or should I just look at newer gear?

I don't know if images are available out there, but considering that the service and the rest of the hardware is legal, I can't see it as being a legal issue.

I'm going to get into my 5xx DVR anyway to take all my recorded movies off the drive and over to DVD anyway so I thought I'd do as much as possible while everything is uncovered.

Any constructive ideas involving minimal additional $$s are welcome as HD is not in my short-term plans.

 

[KE4EST]

to SatelliteGuys cleal.

Also I would look to newer equipment.

 

[Pepper]

If you want to use the 522 it needs an "approved" drive. There's a list of them here somewhere. One I remember is the Maxtor 4R120L0.

 

[cleal]

I have an "approved" drive, the Samsung currently in my Tivo that I can just shift over back to its original location. The real question is how to find an image for it or is there enough in firmware to reload the drive from scratch without an image?

I'm typing this as my 5xx reboots, losing the last 45 minutes of recording, agggggg!!

 

[Smith P.]

You will do nothing with the disk, just return back into 522. If you like to see it clean and be sure there are no bad sectors - run manufactur's utility for clean it and do surface check.

 

[cleal]

You will do nothing with the disk, just return back into 522. If you like to see it clean and be sure there are no bad sectors - run manufactur's utility for clean it and do surface check.

Thanks, I'll do that. I'll check into a replacement drive for my Tivo now. I've discovered a quiet drive is more important than a speedy one when it comes to DVR drives in your living room.

 

[navychop]

If you get both running, and you don't use both, I recommend you sell one. Each day that passes, they become worth less. And in about 3 years, SWAG, they will be worthless as Dish switches to MPEG-4/8PSK units only.

Welcome- and stick around and join in the fun!

 

[cleal]

If you get both running, and you don't use both, I recommend you sell one. Each day that passes, they become worth less. And in about 3 years, SWAG, they will be worthless as Dish switches to MPEG-4/8PSK units only.

That's good advice but in my case, I don't own the 5xx, so I'll just send it back to Dish.

I'm still unsure of how/when to go as far as HD is concerned. The FCC has given broadcasters so much latitude regarding how they use the bandwidth that I'm not sure we'll ever catch up to modern asian countries as far as HD is concerned. I haven't been persuaded to toss everything away yet and I'd be surprised if the cut-off day doesn't get extended considering no one is being paid to ramp up converter inventory prior to the switch-over date. Nothing scares politicians more than angry voters.

 

[navychop]

It won't be put off again. Too much money committed to the conversion. And there's the spectrum auction- they won't keep putting that off, that's money they plan on spending. Broadcasters now want a date definite, which they have, to quit paying two transmitter electric bills, two maintenance contracts, etc etc. Manufacturers are building and about to introduce more converter boxes (the coupons are available beginning Jan 2008). This is the first time the date was put in law, not regs. It's not changing.

And you've got to remember, most people won't even notice the change- they get all their TV from satellite or cable. Maybe 15% get OTA as primary or secondary.