Install HR24 Motherboard Inside HR21 PRO Chassis?

[MTSTEWDOG]

I have two HR21 PRO's which I really like for their rugged chassis design and rack-mount capability. So far as I can tell, it's a one-of-a-kind beast and I believe there are no current or future plans to release anything like it. They probably just didn't sell enough of them to justify production.
The HR21 is, of course, a bit dated at this point, though still a very viable DVR. I also have an HR24 in another location and my feeling is that the HR24 is a bit faster in its response to commands. My guess is this is due to a faster processor. These machines are, after all, essentially a modified PC and the HR24 is a generation newer than the HR21.
What I'm contemplating doing and wondering if anybody has done anything like this (probably not) or has enough familiarity with these machines to know if it's possible without really extensive modifications (like metal fabrication), is to take the motherboard out of an HR24 and install it inside the HR21 PRO box. Simply stated, is an HR24 motherboard a direct bolt-in replacement for the HR21 motherboard?

 

[Hutch1814]

I have two HR21 PRO's which I really like for their rugged chassis design and rack-mount capability. So far as I can tell, it's a one-of-a-kind beast and I believe there are no current or future plans to release anything like it. They probably just didn't sell enough of them to justify production.
The HR21 is, of course, a bit dated at this point, though still a very viable DVR. I also have an HR24 in another location and my feeling is that the HR24 is a bit faster in its response to commands. My guess is this is due to a faster processor. These machines are, after all, essentially a modified PC and the HR24 is a generation newer than the HR21.
What I'm contemplating doing and wondering if anybody has done anything like this (probably not) or has enough familiarity with these machines to know if it's possible without really extensive modifications (like metal fabrication), is to take the motherboard out of an HR24 and install it inside the HR21 PRO box. Simply stated, is an HR24 motherboard a direct bolt-in replacement for the HR21 motherboard?

I wouldn't think this would be that easy in any way. As for the HR24, are you leasing it? If so, you're gonna get stuck with the full retail price of the machine once you open it up regardless if you take anything out of it or not.

 

[MTSTEWDOG]

I guess how easy this would be - or not - is exactly what I'm asking. Whether or not I'm leasing doesn't really matter. If I learned that this could be done, I would simply pick up a used HR24 on eBay to pull the motherboard out of it. What really matters is the connectors and the size/shape of the motherboard and mounting holes, etc. Once again, the question really comes down to: Is an HR24 motherboard a direct, bolt-in replacement into a HR21 PRO? I'm not concerned about opening up these units and any ramifications of doing so. Heck, I've already replaced the hard drives in both HR21 PRO's. What I don't want to get involved in is any sort of metal fabrication to make it work, or incompatible connectors for front panel and/or rear panel controls.

 

[Hutch1814]

I guess how easy this would be - or not - is exactly what I'm asking. Whether or not I'm leasing doesn't really matter. If I learned that this could be done, I would simply pick up a used HR24 on eBay to pull the motherboard out of it. What really matters is the connectors and the size/shape of the motherboard and mounting holes, etc. Once again, the question really comes down to: Is an HR24 motherboard a direct, bolt-in replacement into a HR21 PRO? I'm not concerned about opening up these units and any ramifications of doing so. Heck, I've already replaced the hard drives in both HR21 PRO's. What I don't want to get involved in is any sort of metal fabrication to make it work, or incompatible connectors for front panel and/or rear panel controls.

You have full reign to do whatever you want to HR21P's as they're all "owned" receivers. I was under the impression you was opening up the HR24 you currently have and trying to swap the board on that one. I have no clue how easy/hard it would be but I would guess to say they won't hook up as the board on the 24 is smaller and more compact. A 21/22/23 would all be fairly simple I would think but that sort of defeats the purpose of trying to make the HR21P faster as they're all about the same speed

 

[Jimbo]

Wouldn't it be easier to adapt a HR24 to make it rack mountable ?

 

[MTSTEWDOG]

Wouldn't it be easier to adapt a HR24 to make it rack mountable ?

Yes it would be easier to make the HR24 rack mountable with a custom rack mount shelf from Middle Atlantic. I just do not want to go that route. Going back to the very first point I made, I really like the beefy, more professional look of the HR21-PRO's rack-mount chassis. In other words, it's that box that I desire to stick with, but upgrade/update the innards. I actually found an HR24-200 on eBay really cheap ($14.99!) because it was missing the power supply board. Anyway, for that price I bought it and will simply find out for myself if what I want to do can be done. I deliberately went with a -200 version of the HR24 because that's what my HR21-PRO's are - 200 Series. My understanding is that the 100 -200 - 500 - 700 (or whatever) indicates the manufacturer, so I figured that sticking with the same manufacturer will up the odds of this working out successfully. I will report back once I've received the HR24 and have attempted the swap. Stay tuned...

 

[MTSTEWDOG]

I just stumbled upon this article, which goes back to 2008 when the HR21-PRO debuted. It does a great job - way better than I did - of explaining why I don't want to simply rack-mount an HR24, but prefer to stay with the HR21-PRO box: http://www.dbstalk.com/topic/113128-dbstalkcom-first-look-directv-hd-dvr-pro/

 

[Hutch1814]

Yes it would be easier to make the HR24 rack mountable with a custom rack mount shelf from Middle Atlantic. I just do not want to go that route. Going back to the very first point I made, I really like the beefy, more professional look of the HR21-PRO's rack-mount chassis. In other words, it's that box that I desire to stick with, but upgrade/update the innards. I actually found an HR24-200 on eBay really cheap ($14.99!) because it was missing the power supply board. Anyway, for that price I bought it and will simply find out for myself if what I want to do can be done. I deliberately went with a -200 version of the HR24 because that's what my HR21-PRO's are - 200 Series. My understanding is that the 100 -200 - 500 - 700 (or whatever) indicates the manufacturer, so I figured that sticking with the same manufacturer will up the odds of this working out successfully. I will report back once I've received the HR24 and have attempted the swap. Stay tuned...

Good luck! Keep us informed if it works, I'm gonna read that article you posted

 

[MTSTEWDOG]

Today I received the HR24-200 that I bought for 15 bucks on eBay. Upon inspection of the inside, as well as the inside of my HR21PRO-200, it became rather apparent rather quickly that my "grand plan" was nothing more than wishful thinking. The plain and simple fact is that the main boards are way too different for there to be any hope of installing the HR24 main board inside the HR21PRO. The boards are different sizes and mounting holes are in completely different locations. As another example, the access card slot is integral in the HR24, but resides on a separate, small board connected to the main board with one of those short, flat multi-conductor jumpers. There's just no way to adapt one to the other without having the entire Samsung factory at your disposal. Every single connector to other items, such as front panel USB port, rear panel connectors, all different. I suppose it's not impossible, but way above my pay grade, which is pretty high! I think at this point my only hope is that some day DirecTV will once again release a "pro-grade" rack-mount DVR, whatever model it may be.

 

[Jimbo]

Today I received the HR24-200 that I bought for 15 bucks on eBay. Upon inspection of the inside, as well as the inside of my HR21PRO-200, it became rather apparent rather quickly that my "grand plan" was nothing more than wishful thinking. The plain and simple fact is that the main boards are way too different for there to be any hope of installing the HR24 main board inside the HR21PRO. The boards are different sizes and mounting holes are in completely different locations. As another example, the access card slot is integral in the HR24, but resides on a separate, small board connected to the main board with one of those short, flat multi-conductor jumpers. There's just no way to adapt one to the other without having the entire Samsung factory at your disposal. Every single connector to other items, such as front panel USB port, rear panel connectors, all different. I suppose it's not impossible, but way above my pay grade, which is pretty high! I think at this point my only hope is that some day DirecTV will once again release a "pro-grade" rack-mount DVR, whatever model it may be.

Sorry to hear that ...

 

[Hutch1814]

I'm not really surprised but I was thinking you had better odds getting the same manufacturer of both receivers