Would a 120 GB hard drive be ok for use on the AZ Box? 300 GB or 500 GB?
Nothing is mentioned in the manual about this.
Nothing is mentioned in the manual about this.
Size hard drive for AZ Box
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I use a external 500 usb free agent go and 1.5 TB barracuda internal . working great for timeshift and recordings on both (it even records ok while timeshifting despite AZBOX advicing to stop timeshift when recording). I noticed though that high rate SCPC feeds record "less bad" with the internal SATA barracuda than with the external USB free agent but still it has problems with those high rate feeds. i beleive the SATA connector on the azbox it is at the end of the day a PATA one so this could be the issue. Mine internal is 7200 RPM and 3G therefore 3 Gbps transfer rate. I have read claims of using succesfully a 10 000 RPM drive.
Thank you. I have been thinking about using a 500 GB internal hard drive. I figured the 160 GB may be too small. I want to record some shows and short videos.
MrFTAMan and Hd Fan,
I believe that you may use any size HDD with the AZBox, but certain makes and models are more compatible. I have read that the HD speed is one of the factors here.
However, one thing that I have heard from others (and read direct from the AZBox mfg.) is that the box will not support any HDD larger than 1 TB. I read Hd Fan's post about using a 1.5 TB HD, but I am highly curious what will happen if and when you reach the 1 TB capacity. You might have 500 GB of HD space remaining that it won't allow you to access. That was my basic understanding from what I have read in the past... i.e. That the AXBox will only format and use up to 1 TB of HDD space (internal or external).
I wanted to bring this HDD limit information to your attention so that you would be aware, just in case it is correct.
I don't know how long it will take you to reach the 1 TB point, but I would be interested to hear if and how well it handles anything additional. I have a 1 TB HDD (Samsung) installed internally and I am about 58% full now. This is quite a bit of data (112 movies or so transfered via FTP from DVDs and 18 recordings from the satellites plus a few audio CDs).
I wanted to transfer all of my DVDs to an internal HDD to make it easier to play movies at my Drive-In theatre. I set up a mini drive-in at my cabin, which is part of a campground area. When we have a football game on the sat, we can watch that on the big screen and when the game is over, we can watch any movie that I have stored on the HD. Easier than hauling around the DVDs and a DVD player in addition to the AZBox.
It works really well. I have a 8' x 12' upper quality, motorized projector screen that I got for virtually nothing (literally) and an inexpensive ACER projector that throws out a really decent picture. You can still see the video fairly well from about 250 feet away but it looks excellent at 40-60 feet. All my neighboors drop by on their golf carts and ATVs to watch the movies and drink some beer and sit by the fire! Fun time!
The AZBox just makes this "drive-in" theatre so perfect, so convenient and manageable! Thus the reason I personally desired a large capacity HDD - so I could get as many movies stored as possible to play almost anything at whim.
RADAR
I believe that you may use any size HDD with the AZBox, but certain makes and models are more compatible. I have read that the HD speed is one of the factors here.
However, one thing that I have heard from others (and read direct from the AZBox mfg.) is that the box will not support any HDD larger than 1 TB. I read Hd Fan's post about using a 1.5 TB HD, but I am highly curious what will happen if and when you reach the 1 TB capacity. You might have 500 GB of HD space remaining that it won't allow you to access. That was my basic understanding from what I have read in the past... i.e. That the AXBox will only format and use up to 1 TB of HDD space (internal or external).
I wanted to bring this HDD limit information to your attention so that you would be aware, just in case it is correct.
I don't know how long it will take you to reach the 1 TB point, but I would be interested to hear if and how well it handles anything additional. I have a 1 TB HDD (Samsung) installed internally and I am about 58% full now. This is quite a bit of data (112 movies or so transfered via FTP from DVDs and 18 recordings from the satellites plus a few audio CDs).
I wanted to transfer all of my DVDs to an internal HDD to make it easier to play movies at my Drive-In theatre. I set up a mini drive-in at my cabin, which is part of a campground area. When we have a football game on the sat, we can watch that on the big screen and when the game is over, we can watch any movie that I have stored on the HD. Easier than hauling around the DVDs and a DVD player in addition to the AZBox.
It works really well. I have a 8' x 12' upper quality, motorized projector screen that I got for virtually nothing (literally) and an inexpensive ACER projector that throws out a really decent picture. You can still see the video fairly well from about 250 feet away but it looks excellent at 40-60 feet. All my neighboors drop by on their golf carts and ATVs to watch the movies and drink some beer and sit by the fire! Fun time!
The AZBox just makes this "drive-in" theatre so perfect, so convenient and manageable! Thus the reason I personally desired a large capacity HDD - so I could get as many movies stored as possible to play almost anything at whim.
RADAR
hello gentlemenI recently installed a Western digital 1T hard drive on my AZBOX+ the box recognized the drive, I formatted without the deleting any partition, after the drive was formatted it shows Linux p1 964 gb, I preceded to record a part of the
movie they did record it and play it back with no problems, I recorded 3 small portions of different shows, now I try play back these three shows I get an error
" not supported " any it doesn't play the file. I was thinking maybe I should delete the partition it reformat the drive again.
I hope I'm not kidnapped in this thread, if I am, I really want to apologize.
Any thoughts will be much appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
Regards.
Chewie
Depends on how much recording you're going to do. A 250 GB might just be right for you. No sense spending any more than you need to.
MrFTAMan found something on page 12 of the Elite/Premium Manual:
"The large storage capacity of the hard disk drive allows you to record up to about 60 hours of television-in case of 250 gigabytes-in excellent picture and sound quality."
From the above can we assume that a HDD of 500 GB = 120 Hrs of TV recording, and 1 TB = 240 Hours of TV recording??
MrFTAMan,
I think you would be correct in assuming that a 160 GB HDD would be too small. In all honesty, when you start collecting videos and movies and favorite shows, they do start to add up fast. I would personally not use anything less than 500 GB but would also steer away from anything larger than 1 TB (until it is proven) that such a large or larger HDD is fully compatible with the AZBox.
One external HDD that I have also used is the 750 GB Maxtor One-Touch. This being an external USB connected drive. This is very convenient as you can format it to be compatible with your PC and thus can use it in conjunction with either the AZBox or your PC and it is easily disconnected and connected to one or the other.
RADAR
Last edited:
I recently installed a Western digital 1T hard drive on my AZBOX+ the box recognized the drive, I formatted without the deleting any partition, after the drive was formatted it shows Linux p1 964 gb, I preceded to record a part of the
movie they did record it and play it back with no problems, I recorded 3 small portions of different shows, now I try play back these three shows I get an error
" not supported " any it doesn't play the file. I was thinking maybe I should delete the partition it reformat the drive again.
I hope I'm not kidnapped in this thread, if I am, I really want to apologize.
Any thoughts will be much appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
Regards.
Chewie
Chewie,
How did you record these programs and how are you attempting to replay them? If you set a timer for record (reserve record) or if you just hit the RECORD button while a program was in process, then you should try to replay it by pressing the MENU button (to the upper left of the OK button) and scroll down to the RECORDED PROGRAM option and use the CHECK button (to the upper right of the OK button) to select the program to replay and then press OK.
If that is what you have already been doing and it results in the error you mentioned, then I might tend to agree with others who have reported problems with Western Digital HDDs having compatibility troubles with the AZBox. I have read others stating such before, so I wouldn't be surprised, although I wouldn't be able to explain why.
It seems that we usually hear about the failures much more often than we hear about the successes. My best luck (without any troubles) has been with the "green" HDDs from Samsung (HD103SI model for the 1 TB size internal drive).
RADAR
I will try to find a 500 GB Maxtor HDD. From what I'm gathering the Western Digital HDDs is having problems with the AZ Boxes.
I hope I'm not "bursting your bubble" but I found a WD 500GB at Staples for less money than a 250 GB at ebay.
Hello Gents
Mr. Radar thanks for your response, I recorded while a program was in process,
and my big mistake was to play it back using File Manager, after I follow your instructions it plays all the clips i recorded, I am new with this receiver.
ROOKIE MISTAKE.
Thank you.
Regards.
Chewie
Radar , on mine , the azbox Linux formatted the hd and it says 1.4 Gb and for now I have only 1.3 Gb still reported as empty so I would assume that it will record 1.4 TB fully. this is azbox premium plus and an internal 1.5Tb Seagate Barracuda 3G 7200 RPM drive. I do not even think I will even get to 500 Mb anyways but just wanted to mention this. I agree that 1 TB is the safe number with most drives and boxes.
Nay, you didn't burst my bubble. There's no Staples near here so I went online and found what I wanted.
I recently installed a Western digital 1T hard drive on my AZBOX+ the box recognized the drive, I formatted without the deleting any partition, after the drive was formatted it shows Linux p1 964 gb, I preceded to record a part of the
movie they did record it and play it back with no problems, I recorded 3 small portions of different shows, now I try play back these three shows I get an error
" not supported " any it doesn't play the file. I was thinking maybe I should delete the partition it reformat the drive again.
I hope I'm not kidnapped in this thread, if I am, I really want to apologize.
Any thoughts will be much appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
Regards.
Chewie
I get the same error but when I transfer the files to my laptop the programs playback but I got an "invalid pixel format" error even though the video played fine on the laptop. The timeshift feature works great though. I have a WD 500GB in the Ultra. It sucks to still be without a decent PVR. Oh yeah, I have an external USB attached WD 500 GB HD attached to my Elite and I get the same results. 5020 firmware on both boxes.
Yikes, guys does this mean that WD is not compatable withAzbox? I was going to pick one up next week, but maybe now I'll wait a bit. The other option was the Seagate, don't think the local outlet I have here carries the Maxtor that FTA Man is ordering. Maybe look for Samsung?
Jsattv,
I wouldn't wish to draw that conclusion regarding WD HDDs with any absolute certainty. I can only state that I have heard / read that quite a few other AZBox owners have complained about the operation of the WD HDDs and that makes me skeptical.
I can say, with certainty, that the Samsung HDDs are well suited and compatible with the AZBoxes. I have several of the "GREEN" Samsung HDDs (500GB and 1TB) and they all work exceptionally with the Premium and the Premium Plus models. I can swap these HDDs in and out of any of my boxes and they work beautifully. I especially approve the "GREEN" or "eco-friendly" models as they are extremely quiet and draw lower current and work well with the AZBox HDD STANDBY feature (that puts the drive to sleep when not accessed for X number of minutes).
RADAR
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