Top EHD choices

[anchovie]

I have two VIP 722 units that service HD screens. I am interested in furthering my choices of EHD brands to purchase. Would you help me choose one? I have researched and searched, and this forum is also one of my tools to read before the purchase.
Please reply with your favorite brand and storage size, and why that one is tops. I appreciate your help, and experience.

 

[KAB]

Don't over think it. Any AC powered WD up to 1.5 T (single platter) will do fine. Seagates must be set not to spin down (snooze), or they will not be identified by the receivers once it's done so. Reboot of drive corrects, but it's a pain.

http://www.satelliteguys.us/dish-network-forum/186055-what-ehd-should-i-get-vip211.html

 

[gadgtfreek]

Using two diff WD ext drives and they work flawlessly.

 

[anchovie]

Don't over think it. Any AC powered WD up to 1.5 T (single platter) will do fine. Seagates must be set not to spin down (snooze), or they will not be identified by the receivers once it's done so. Reboot of drive corrects, but it's a pain.

http://www.satelliteguys.us/dish-network-forum/186055-what-ehd-should-i-get-vip211.html

Thanks KAB, I referred to the on going thread and saw some interesting talk. One portion talked about FF, Rewind, and Pause features of EHD. Do the WD models offer those features?
Second, the A/C powered models must also plug into the 722 via the USB, but have separate power source, correct?

 

[anchovie]

Using two diff WD ext drives and they work flawlessly.

Thanks elwaylite,
Are the WD models you use, have A/C power only? I see KAB suggests that. Which models do you have?

 

[gadgtfreek]

I have the 500gb My Dvr Expander and the 1tb My Book Essential.

Both are AC powered, and I how swap back and forth between them fairly often. The 722k handles it fine.

 

[anchovie]

I have the 500gb My Dvr Expander and the 1tb My Book Essential.

Both are AC powered, and I how swap back and forth between them fairly often. The 722k handles it fine.

Thanks for the specific model info. Should I ignore the Dish website info that states the 750 gb max storage limit? That part is confusing so far.

 

[gadgtfreek]

Depends on your needs. I see OTA stuff at max 8.0 gigs, while sat recordings are more in the 2-3 range for an hour.

I'd go with what size you need to cover your recording, but you can use a 1tb WD with little to worry about.

 

[anchovie]

Depends on your needs. I see OTA stuff at max 8.0 gigs, while sat recordings are more in the 2-3 range for an hour.

I'd go with what size you need to cover your recording, but you can use a 1tb WD with little to worry about.

Thanks for quick reply. Will log that gb info. Why does Dish even limit at the web site page? Is there some licensing issues? Do they think it will limit dvr sales? Very odd..

 

[gadgtfreek]

Since they charge a fee and offer tech support, Im sure its because they may have only currently tested drives up to 750gb's.

 

[glen242]

I now have a WD 500 GB and a 650 GB My Book Essential. Both work fine after 6-10 months.

Had a Seagate Free Agent 500 GB drive that quit after 3-4 months. Lost a lot of programs. I could not get anything off the drive, even using Linux. I got so mad, I threw the drive against the wall. I had a lot of problems with Seagate HDs in the'80s, platter sticking, R/W heads sticking to the platters. Seagate located an office to Pittsburgh (now gone), so I bought a Seagate. I figured they would have problems solved by now. I was wrong. NEVER, and I mean it this time, will I buy a Seagate.

 

[KAB]

Thanks KAB, I referred to the on going thread and saw some interesting talk. One portion talked about FF, Rewind, and Pause features of EHD. Do the WD models offer those features?
Second, the A/C powered models must also plug into the 722 via the USB, but have separate power source, correct?

FF, rewind, etc are controlled by the receiver. Yes, must have separate power source, NOT USB powered (Notebook drives).

 

[anchovie]

I now have a WD 500 GB and a 650 GB My Book Essential. Both work fine after 6-10 months.

Had a Seagate Free Agent 500 GB drive that quit after 3-4 months. Lost a lot of programs. I could not get anything off the drive, even using Linux. I got so mad, I threw the drive against the wall. I had a lot of problems with Seagate HDs in the'80s, platter sticking, R/W heads sticking to the platters. Seagate located an office to Pittsburgh (now gone), so I bought a Seagate. I figured they would have problems solved by now. I was wrong. NEVER, and I mean it this time, will I buy a Seagate.

Thanks for the headsup on this product. This info is worth knowing, especially when you visit the Dish site and Seagate is their highlighted name.
The two you have that work sound good and will research them thoroughly.
Thanks for helping.

 

[anchovie]

FF, rewind, etc are controlled by the receiver. Yes, must have separate power source, NOT USB powered (Notebook drives).

Excellent description and I now get it. When purchasing will make sure that the separate power source description is highlighted, or will it be?

 

[anchovie]

Since they charge a fee and offer tech support, Im sure its because they may have only currently tested drives up to 750gb's.

This makes sense, and likely. I don't know much in the gb field, but cannot understand why storage that is larger would need more testing.

 

[gadgtfreek]

Could be the OS may only be known to support up to a certain size drive, OR be only able to manage so much data reliably.

 

[anchovie]

Could be the OS may only be known to support up to a certain size drive, OR be only able to manage so much data reliably.

Thanks for helping me understand. Excellent possibilities. That is why I like this site, folks like yourself, make these issues understandable.

 

[KAB]

Excellent description and I now get it. When purchasing will make sure that the separate power source description is highlighted, or will it be?

You are still over thinking. Any WD MyBook or MyBook Essential. No MyPassport.

 

[gadgtfreek]

Thanks for helping me understand. Excellent possibilities. That is why I like this site, folks like yourself, make these issues understandable.

Its more of a WAG

Here is a pic of my two set up. I use the 500gb for HD movies and the 1tb for tv shows. With everything on, depending on what I want to watch and what drive is connected, I just pull the usb cord and move it to the other drive, and it works very easily.

Here is the drive I bought

 

[anchovie]

You are still over thinking. Any WD MyBook or MyBook Essential. No MyPassport.

Thanks for the over thinking nudge. And thanks for the MyPassport info. Is the Mybook the same as DVR Expander?