External HDD feature for ViP622 and ViP722: coming 8/15: $39.99

[Allin4greeN]

What about 3 or 4 500GB drives with an Adaptec (or similar) HW controller?

Pricey probably but, maybe a better use of $$ I'd otherwise be spending on a new BD/HD DVD dual format player and the software to run on it.

BTW, I have no idea what I'm talking about (if it wasn't already obvious). I'm just hoping that someone says it's possible so that I can research it some more and buy it or build it

 

[John Kotches]

Actually you couldn't have 2 750GB drives in RAID5 since you have to have at least 3 to use RAID5 but I do understand what you were trying to relay.

No, you aren't. Consider an array of 4x500GB drives. This is 1.5 TB of usable storage in RAID-5. This can be presented as 1x1.5TB, 2x750GB, 3x500GB, 4x375GB, 5x300GB etc.

Although as soon as DISH removes the 750GB limit(is it really a limit or have they just not tested about 750GB since during the testing it might have been hard to get a hold of 1TB+ drives from a testing/cost standpoint) then the 2GB Quattro should definitely be able to provide 1.5TB of storage(ok, how many GB per hour were we talking again? )

1TB drives on a single spindle were just announced the first of the year and started shipping late Q1.

I am in IT but had not had the privilege of working with the Quattro type devices. I still don't know that I would drop a grand on 1.5TB of protected storage when it might be possible to go that route or higher with a Windows Home Server(I know, may not come around but I am just pointing out other possible options) for possibly less(at least for me since I can build the computer myself to my own specs).

With Windows Home Server, there's no built in RAID-5, you're stuck with either RAID-0 or RAID-1. If you want protection, you've just doubled your cost / GB of storage.

You could go the route of hardware RAID-5, that's a perfectly viable alternative. The hardware raid cards start at about $200 for 4 ports of access and go up from there.

Are you really saving anything? Let's see....

4x500GB drives $400-500 ($400 on a good sale, $500 otherwise)
Hardware RAID-5 $200 and up
System $200
OS $TBD

For ~$900 you can have the Buffalo product which is set it and forget it, or you can mess with Windows. I know which way I'd go.

Cheers,

 

[Smith P.]

What about 3 or 4 500GB drives with an Adaptec (or similar) HW controller?

Pricey probably but, maybe a better use of $$ I'd otherwise be spending on a new BD/HD DVD dual format player and the software to run on it.

BTW, I have no idea what I'm talking about (if it wasn't already obvious). I'm just hoping that someone says it's possible so that I can research it some more and buy it or build it

Doesn't works - those HW RAID cards are for PC.

Better luck you'll have with standalone RAID enclosures ( first one was in 1992 - Micropolis RAIDion disk array device, independent HW RAID from host's OS ).

 

[John Kotches]

What about 3 or 4 500GB drives with an Adaptec (or similar) HW controller?

Pricey probably but, maybe a better use of $$ I'd otherwise be spending on a new BD/HD DVD dual format player and the software to run on it.

BTW, I have no idea what I'm talking about (if it wasn't already obvious). I'm just hoping that someone says it's possible so that I can research it some more and buy it or build it

How are you going to deliver this to the USB port on the 622? Until you can shove that into a computer, and deliver it as a network share (NFS or SAMBA) then it's a dead end path.

Once they open up network mounts, that's another story.

There is something to be said for the simplicity of direct attached storage vs. network storage from a supportability standpoint as a vendor (ie Dish).

Cheers,

 

[yaz96]

You don't know how that storage was presented to the 622 though.

1.5TB as 3x 500s or 2x 750s adds up the same.

Cheers,

Hi John,
Did you watch the video?
The DISH guy states " this is a terrabyte and a half hard disk", while he is holding the drive. Maybe he's not a tech and just a PR guy, and doesn't know the difference, but I assumed he knew what he was talking about.
He also mentions that only one USB device could be connected at that time, but they were shooting for 4, giving the capacity of 6TB. Watch the video.

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

Trust me the guy in the video knows what hes talking about.

Just because Dish is only officially supporting drives up to 750 GIG, it does not mean that larger drives will not work (or that they will work)

If you want to try going bigger then there is a chance it might work or not work. Let us know if it does work and your model number.

 

[tigershere]

if you plug the drive into your PC can that data be dumped or recorded intact ?

i am guessing no but why had that NIC port if there was not something to do with networking in their original plans

 

[Smith P.]

It will be almost same way to make files as PocketDish transfer ( practically Dish used same code/functions from PD support ). Looks like you'll see them and could copy to/from the disk, but it will be encrypted. Try to listen that video what Scott made.

 

[tigershere]

thanks, i just read a few posts and need to read the rest

about time they added this as recording it to a regular DVD rather loses all of the HD quality. I am not buying a HD recorder any time soon.
I use my HDs to store my divx files and stream them through the xbox 360

Anyways, things are looking good for DISH and HD and storage finally!

 

[whatchel1]

external Hitachi

By looking at pricewatch here is a Hitachi 500 gb external USB w/ aluminum case for 118.49. The 1st 750 gb listed is selling for almost 229.
EagleBit.com - Moving Star Deluxe Black powered by Hitachi 500GB 7200rpm 8MB USB 2.0 Aluminum USB External Hard Drive (Brand New)

 

[Smith P.]

Please, we have dedicated thread for prices, you're trashing the thread.

 

[KAB]

Please, we have dedicated thread for prices, you're trashing the thread.

What he said. Post prices, etc. here:

http://www.satelliteguys.us/dish-hd-discussions/98808-hard-drive-bargain-watch.html

 

[Smith P.]

Trust me the guy in the video knows what hes talking about.

Just because Dish is only officially supporting drives up to 750 GIG, it does not mean that larger drives will not work (or that they will work)

If you want to try going bigger then there is a chance it might work or not work. Let us know if it does work and your model number.

He (Dave Belt, Sr. Engineer) did show working ESD with size 250 GB ( 213 GB free ). Other '1.5 TB' brick he just waved. If someone touched it ? Watching how he did that, I feel it was an empty enclosure.

Scott, you was there, why you miss to check all the technical details before of after shooting the clip ?

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

From what I remember (this was January) that one drive was not hooked up, they were trying to get home the point that you could use almost any USB drive.

The drive he used was hooked up and I checked it out, including unplugging it which they were not happy about.

If you think you can do coverage of these event better then come join us in January. Just remember that when we do these things we only have 30 minutes or so to do everything and we need to book time in advance. So sometimes we can not get in depth as I would like, but it gets the idea across.

And the guys name is Dave Belt.

 

[Smith P.]

Also, I'm very sceptical about his credentials - he states you could offload content from the ESD ( why, if you can use a few of them ? That means only one disk allowed !) to PC but can't play it on PC, and minute late he's talking about proprietary ESD format what will NOT allowed to recognize by PC OS !

 

[Smith P.]

"The drive he used was hooked up and I checked it out, including unplugging it which they were not happy about."
So what was the model of unplugged one ?

 

[Allin4greeN]

Doesn't works - those HW RAID cards are for PC....

Thanks, I thought that it might not work but, wasn't sure...

How are you going to deliver this to the USB port on the 622? Until you can shove that into a computer, and deliver it as a network share (NFS or SAMBA) then it's a dead end path...

As I mentioned, I don't know a whole lot about attached storage, direct or network. I have a rudimentary understanding of some concepts and am simply curious about how much we can do and what's possible with the new feature. I appreciate everyone's responses!

 

[Sammy033]

Checked out the forums this morning after a week and glad to see this is coming. The devil is in the details as they say. But considering the cost of the largest drive + enclosure, the one-time $40 while expensive compared to the competitors is relatively cheap. Multiply by 4 drives + the hub, its not even worth thinking about. And dont forget the cost of keeping the things on and spinning 24/7. I am sure most people will.

Anyways... assuming 500GB, how much time in mpeg4 HD will it hold? How much mpeg2 HD? I have had to delete some things I would have liked to keep for lack of space and must be conservative what I do record because I dont have the time to watch it all.

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

Also, I'm very sceptical about his credentials - he states you could offload content from the ESD ( why, if you can use a few of them ? That means only one disk allowed !) to PC but can't play it on PC, and minute late he's talking about proprietary ESD format what will NOT allowed to recognize by PC OS !

Phil, your looking at something from January 6th, and today is July 21st. The external storage has improved greatly since then.

If you would have come to our meeting with Charlie Ergen you would have been able to look at and touch everything and seen how much the external storage feature has improved.

Even at that time the drive was tied to one DVR, you could not move it to other DVR's, and now you can move the drive to any 622 / 722 in your house on your account, this is a big improvement since May.

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

"The drive he used was hooked up and I checked it out, including unplugging it which they were not happy about."
So what was the model of unplugged one ?

I cant remember what I had for lunch yesterday and you want me to remember back to January.

But if memory serves me, it was a Western Digital Drive.