8300HD and External SATA - It Works!! [Text View] - Page 27

cuzzin

03-12-08, 11:08 PM

Just had my first real problem with my DB35 drive since I bought it, though I don't know whether to attribute the problem to the 8300HD or the SATA drive itself:
Last night, while watching TV, not recording or anything, the picture froze up and my cable box reset itself. The reboot took longer than usual, and when the clock finally came back up and I turned the box on, I got a message that the external drive had been "corrupted," and it asked if I wanted to reformat, warning me I would erase everything on it. I did not reformat the first time, hoping I got this message in error, but sure enough, a large chunk of my recorded shows were inaccessible.
Before deciding to reformat the drive, I disconnected it safely from the cable box, opened it up, and found that the inside of the enclosure was incredibly dusty (I've had the drive for just over a year now and have not cleaned it out once). After cleaning out most of the dustballs inside the enclosure (Apricorn), I reconnected the SATA drive to the cable box. After rebooting the box, I got the same message.
Finally, I gave up and just agreed to reformat the drive. After hitting "A" to reformat, I saw no boost in memory. I powered the box off and on, rebooted it, but still, the external drive wasn't being read. I was even getting a new message that the external drive was "not working properly." By now, I was thinking the SATA drive had run it's course and started looking online for information on how to utilize Seagate's 5 year warranty.
Before I emailed Seagate to request an RMA, I had the thought that maybe just the title listings of the inaccesible recordings might be taking up room on the hard drive; I was at 77% with roughly 120 recordings, most of which were inaccesible from my external drive. So I went, one by one, down the list to see which recordings I could still play and which ones I couldn't; the ones I couldn't, I erased from the list. After doing this, I was left with about 30 listed, working recordings, however the percentage in use only dropped by two or three percent. Finally, I powered off the cable box, waited about 10 seconds, disconnected the SATA cable from the back, waited another 10 seconds, and plugged it back in. When the box powered up, the amount of free recording space finally reflected the extra 500 gigs.
I don't know what happened here, and I wish I didn't have to eliminate most of the content on my DVR to fix it, but my ST3500830SCE Seagate drive is working again. I would still recommend this drive, despite all this. It took over a year before I encountered my first problem with this drive, and it was a problem I was able to resolve. Not bad, in my opinion. Just thought I'd give an update on my experience with the DB35 drive.

xnappo

03-12-08, 11:12 PM

It took over a year before I encountered my first problem with this drive, and it was a problem I was able to resolve. Not bad, in my opinion. Just thought I'd give an update on my experience with the DB35 drive.

Hey, long time no see.

Make sure to see my post a couple of messages back about my Apricorn case. I had similar weird things going on for a week and thought it was the drive, but now am fairly certain it was the case. danny also chimed in he had a similar Apricorn case failure that turned out to be the power supply.

xnappo

BobKat6

03-13-08, 12:57 AM

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-Details.asp?EdpNo=3529749&sku=TSD-500H3&CMP=EMC-TIGEREMAIL&SRCCODE=WEM1579H

I see one pass on the SARA database on this drive, also a pass on a Hitachi 320GB on the PASSPORT database. No failures for Hitachi reported anywhere.

Bob:)
Comcast-SA8300HD-SARA 1.88.25.1-Maxtor 7H500FO-coolgear Dual Drive eSATA Case

dannyv@cybernex.

03-13-08, 04:26 PM

Yours was doing exactly the same thing? Still kinda powering the HD but not enough for it to work?

xnappo

Exactly the samething it would spin up then down then back up again would click from time to time. The video would play then freeze for 15 - 30 seconds then start playing again. It would glitch like crazy then be fine. It gave all the symptoms of a bad drive. When hooked up to the PC it recognized it but as soon as you went to partition and format it the PC would say somthing to the affect invalid disk or not recognized.

xnappo

03-13-08, 04:36 PM

Exactly the same thing it would wind up then down then up click. It gave all the symptoms of a bad drive. When hooked up to the PC it would recognize it but as soon as you went to partition and format it the PC would say somthing to the affect invalid disk or not recognized.

Thanks for the confirmation! cuzzin take note!

xnappo

cuzzin

03-13-08, 07:01 PM

Thanks for the confirmation! cuzzin take note!

xnappo

Yeah, sounds like I should keep an eye on the Apricorn, but if the enclosure was the problem, it seems to have fixed itself. I haven't switched out cases or anything. Then again, I haven't recorded anything new since I had to dump most of the content on my DVR. Is glitchy video recording a symptom you've experienced with your bad case? If so, maybe I should do some test recordings. All I know is that, according to my 8300HD, my external drive went from "corrupted" to "not working properly," and finally, back to proper function, or so it seems. If this were indeed a power failure on the part of the case, the drive wouldn't be working with the 8300HD at all, would it?

dannyv@cybernex.

03-14-08, 09:00 AM

If this were indeed a power failure on the part of the case, the drive wouldn't be working with the 8300HD at all, would it?

Not nessessarly,

The power supply is not completely dead. It is just under powering the device. In my case the DVR would record and playback with little problem at first. As time went buy the problems got worse starting with glitching, then freezing for very short amounts of time then the freezing got worse. Then the hard drive would spin up then down and at the end as the hard drive acted up the external unit would shut down (light on frount of apricorn would shut off) picture would freeze then the light on the apricorn would go back on and playback would continue. I put the appricorn on my PC to format it and the PC recognized it but could'nt partition or format it. Like XNAPPO I thought it was the hard drive so I RMA'd it and bought another drive put it inside the apricorn case and it did the samething.

xnappo

03-14-08, 11:12 AM

Not nessessarly,

XNAPPO I thought it was the hard drive so I RMA'd it and bought another drive put it inside the apricorn case and it did the samething.

Jeez I wish I had remembered your original post. That is funny we both did the same thing. Hopefully Maxtor won't give me a hard time for RMAing a good drive!

xnappo

dannyv@cybernex.

03-14-08, 11:27 AM

Hopefully Maxtor won't give me a hard time for RMAing a good drive!

xnappo

Well what I can tell you is western digital did not give me any problems at all about returning a working drive. My big problem with them is the model of drive I sent them (the YS series server drive) was backordered. I had to wait over a month for a replacement. This is what made me go out and buy another drive. So when I finally did get it back I just re-tasked it to additional storage for my NAS. Hopefully maxter won't give you a problem.

xnappo

03-14-08, 11:36 AM

I had to wait over a month for a replacement. This is what made me go out and buy another drive.

Yeah, I actually had been running out of space on my 300gig drive, so it was kinda good to have an excuse to move to 750gig. Due to the writer's strike I was all caught up, but if not for the drive fail I would never have been able to upgrade due to my wife's 3 month backlog of Days of Our Lives :D

I told her the case was bad. I have not told her the drive was not :eek:

xnappo

dannyv@cybernex.

03-14-08, 12:01 PM

able to upgrade due to my wife's 3 month backlog of Days of Our Lives :D
xnappo

OOh do I know that feeling. I've recorded the daily episodes of the HBO series "In therapy" for the last 8 weeks of which my wife has watched only 1 episode. I'm caught up with my viewing and I have a feeling these epidodes are going to sit on the hard drive for the next year.

I feel another hard drive failure coming shortly:)

I told her the case was bad. I have not told her the drive was not

Tell her the case made the hard drive go bad :)

Radagast

03-15-08, 09:51 AM

Hi all. First post here.

I'm on Rogers in Toronto, Canada, and have an 8300HD running Sara.

I've been using an eSATA 500 GB Seagate 7200.10 for a few months and it has that stuttering business big time. Have since discovered many recommendations away from Seagates and towards Western Digitals for this application.

I can definitely find another home for that drive, so that's not a problem. I've purchased a 500 GB WD to replace it with, and was hoping to be able to image the old drive onto the new one to make the switch immediately, but no software I've tried (Ghost; Partition Magic; DFSee; Acronis) can even see this partition, never mind read its contents. I know it's all encrypted, but all I wanted was a block-level copy... anyways...

If this imaging is impossible, what I wondered was: Is it possible for me to swap back and forth between these two drives until I've watched / erased all the content off the old one? i.e., I'd put the new one on before bed to record that night's shows, but plug the old one back in to view previously recorded material.

Obviously if I select something from the recorded items list that's resident on a drive not currently connected it won't be able to find it, but what I'm wondering is, might the 8300HD sort of reset its entire index when I connect what it detects to be a new drive, unformatted, etc. etc. - and thus I would lose access to all the content from the old disk?

Anyone? :)

Thanks in advance.

Scott.

xnappo

03-15-08, 09:59 AM

I can definitely find another home for that drive, so that's not a problem. I've purchased a 500 GB WD to replace it with, and was hoping to be able to image the old drive onto the new one to make the switch immediately, but no software I've tried (Ghost; Partition Magic; DFSee; Acronis) can even see this partition, never mind read its contents. I know it's all encrypted, but all I wanted was a block-level copy... anyways...

No one has found a way to do this - however I do think if there was some way to do a bit-level copy of a drive it might have a chance of working. People have looked for software to do that before without luck though.

Is it possible for me to swap back and forth between these two drives until I've watched / erased all the content off the old one?

Yes, though you have to do a reboot every time and deal with the finicky eSATA connectors (how in the world did engineers allow HDMI and eSATA connectors get to market? they are terrible!). This will work fine - you will not loose your old recordings.

xnappo

Radagast

03-15-08, 11:37 AM

This will work fine - you will not loose your old recordings.

xnappo

Thanks for the quick reply. But I have to ask: are you *certain*? Have you done it personally?

If I do this, I guess what I should expect when connecting the new drive is for it to be detected, get the format prompt, then be able to use it... the existing recorded listings on the PVR will be unchanged... to play any of them, just connect the other drive, reboot, get the "this drive works with this PVR" prompt and just play them...?

Sorry for being so methodical, but this is something you'd only have to get wrong once. :)

Scott.

xnappo

03-15-08, 11:56 AM

Thanks for the quick reply. But I have to ask: are you *certain*? Have you done it personally?

If I do this, I guess what I should expect when connecting the new drive is for it to be detected, get the format prompt, then be able to use it... the existing recorded listings on the PVR will be unchanged... to play any of them, just connect the other drive, reboot, get the "this drive works with this PVR" prompt and just play them...?

Scott.

Yes, I am certain and yes I have done it - BUT that was on my particular version of the SARA software so I suppose there is SOME amount of risk.

xnappo

Millwood1

03-16-08, 11:38 AM

If this were indeed a power failure on the part of the case, the drive wouldn't be working with the 8300HD at all, would it?

If the power supply fails intermittently, then as long as it fails while reading you will see glitches but you can recover. If it fails while the disk is being written, this can cause unrecoverable trashing of the disk contents, up to and including blocks which can't be read at all and must be blindly written to recover their use.

I suspect there is no way to completely reformat a drive while using the 8300HD. I know how to do it under linux, and suspect that a windows scan for bad blocks might also do it - although I don't know that. You need software that will attempt to write a block that can't be read before giving up on it.

sroorda

03-17-08, 05:14 AM

I am in Raleigh/Cary, NC on Time Warner. I have Navigator version 2.4.9_3 and an 8300 HDC box with an external HDD hooked up to it.

For the last 2 weeks we have had to reset our 8300HDC box every morning. After reading these forums I saw that we were experiencing the same problem most others using the external drive and TW Navigator 2.4.9_3 are experiencing. I decided to test it by unplugging my external drive which was pretty nearly full (70% according to the "software"). However, after an entire day of being unplugged I wanted to watch some content and plugged it back in, but its no longer showing any of my recorded programs in the list!!! All I am getting is the list from the internal drive. I have tried all of the following with no luck:

1. Unplugged the HDD, turned off STB, re-plugged in HDD, turned on STB
2. Unplugged HDD, rebooted STB, plugged in HDD, rebooted STB
3. Turned off STB, unplugged HDD, replugged in HDD, turned on STB

The drive is being recognized because I get messages about plugging and unplugging it and asked to reboot when I plug it in. Also my list went from 22% full to 13% full after reboot with the drive attached.

Have I lost my content I had recorded? Did it reformat when I re-plugged it back in because it never asked me? Or is there someway to get it to rebuild that list using the information from the external HDD?

I have read through this thread and the Navigator thread looking for this answer and I have not been able to find it. I apologize if I missed it in there but I spent the better part of a day looking through them.

holl_ands

03-17-08, 11:01 AM

cbh2424

03-17-08, 12:47 PM

Hey All,
Around the end of January, described on page 213, my dvr stopped playing back programs on the external. I went through the usual steps, checking connections, and about100 reboots in every imaginable configuration. I tried reformatting the hard drive and erasing the partition, I even went and swapped for a new dvr box. nothing...what would happen is it would see the external, ask to format, then nothing. Actually, I would hit "A" to format and the on demand menu would start to load. (maybe it can't format and load the menu, but it defaults to channel 1 on reboot.) So that left the hard drive itself and the external case as potential culprits. I ran some diagnostics from the WD site and the hard drive checks out ok. Now I have a new external case, the Antec MX-1. So I got everything hooked up and I still get the same result with the new external. I do not know what else to do. I have changed everything, but the hard drive and that seems to check out ok. So to start from scratch here are the symptoms. When I go to format, I hit "A" . on demand loads, or I quickly change the channel. I check the used space % and it is unchanged. I reboot, it asked to format again. this circle continues. It never formats. BTW, I did have this working back in November and Dec with the Kingwin external and same hard drive. I'm kind of wondering if the SARA version changed and this version isn't supporting external recording. Has anyone had better results using jumpers to make the hard drive 1.5? Finally, can someone confirm that I correctly prepared the hard drive...I did an NTFS format without assigning a letter, when that was done I went back in to management, right clicked and deleted the partition, nothing more. Is there more to it than that?

dannyv@cybernex.

03-17-08, 04:43 PM

Hey All,
Actually, I would hit "A" to format and the on demand menu would start to load.

On demand should not load after hitting the "A" button. It should stay at the same screen and it does not give you an indication that it finished formating.

This tells me that either the hard drive was not recognized as a valid hard drive or somthing's up with SARA.

Finally, can someone confirm that I correctly prepared the hard drive...I did an NTFS format without assigning a letter, when that was done I went back in to management, right clicked and deleted the partition, nothing more. Is there more to it than that?

It sounds like you did everything right in preparing the hard drive. One question though did you prepare the hard drive in the enclosure or remove the drive from the enclosure and hook it directly up to the mother board?

The reason I ask is if you prepared the drive directly on the PC that will only eliminate a problem with the hard drive.

If you did the prepare through the external enclosure this would eliminate a problem with both the external enclosure and the hard drive.

One more thought did you change the sata cable from the DVR to the new case?

cbh2424

03-17-08, 07:40 PM

Danny,
Thanks for the response. I did reformat and delete the partition in the enclosure...although I have previously done it with it plugged directly in to the mobo. I am using a new/different esta cable that came with the antec.

I think it could be SARA. I'm using verson 1.90, a version I don't think I've seen on the forums. I do not know if the version changed since the short period of time when the external worked last year. I'm not sure what else to try....I guess I do have another hard drive in my pc I can try.

xnappo

03-17-08, 10:28 PM

Exactly the samething it would spin up then down then back up again would click from time to time. The video would play then freeze for 15 - 30 seconds then start playing again. It would glitch like crazy then be fine. It gave all the symptoms of a bad drive. When hooked up to the PC it recognized it but as soon as you went to partition and format it the PC would say somthing to the affect invalid disk or not recognized.

Got my RMAed Maxtor back. Good thing I didn't want to use it with the 8300HD - they sent me a Seagate 7200.10 as a replacement!!

Tried hooking up my AZIO power supply to the Apricorn case - and sure enough it works just fine(on my PC). So yep - the Apricorn power supply went bad.

xnappo

dannyv@cybernex.

03-18-08, 11:34 AM

Got my RMAed Maxtor back. Good thing I didn't want to use it with the 8300HD - they sent me a Seagate 7200.10 as a replacement!!

Tried hooking up my AZIO power supply to the Apricorn case - and sure enough it works just fine. So yep - the Apricorn power supply went bad.

xnappo

I kind of figured thats what was going to happen. Time to RMA apricorn for a new power suppy. Don't do it from e-mail otherwise they will take forever to send you a reply. Do it by phone its much faster. Have the model and serial number handy. I happened to save my original retail box so I took the serial number right off the bar code.

MiltonHotard

03-18-08, 06:12 PM

I purchased an Apricorn ADVRX-1TB DVR Xpander on Feb 21. The unit was not recognized at all by the SA8300HD so I sent it back to Apricorn for replacement. They sent back an EZ-BUS-DTS enclosure 2 days ago and I received the WD10EACS 1 TB drive separately yesterday.

The DVR asks to format the drive and I press "A" , then it asks for confirmation and I confirm. There is no other response indicating that the formatting is complete. I go to channel 999 and see that the drive has a "format error".

I hooked my laptop to the USB port on the drive and am able to partition and format the drive with the Western Digital Data-Lifeguard tools. It says that the drive can be used by my laptop but the laptop does not see the drive information. The Western Digital software does not see the partition I just created either.

Has anyone seen similar problems?

as a side note: I'm about 15 hours (over 3 weeks) into this thing so far between shipping, calling/waiting for Apricorn tech support and trying different things myself. I thought I could save time by spending a little more for Apricorn's DVR Xpander turnkey solution. I'm about ready to send it back in again but this time for a refund.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

TWC SA8300HD DVR Passport Echo 2.6.002, Apricorn EZ-BUS-DTS, Western Digital WD10eacs 1TB drive

I finally received a unit from Apricorn that worked. They sent the model I originally purchased, the ADVRX-1TB. Following the regular procedure didn't work though. The DVR didn't recognize the drive until I unplug the SATA cable from the DVR. I plugged it back in and then it asked if I wanted to format. For the first time in 3 weeks of messing with this, I got a response back saying the drive was ready for use.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Raleigh, NC TWC, SA8300HD DVR w/ Passport Echo 2.6.002, Apricorn DVR Xpander ADVRX-1TB

jneil

03-19-08, 08:14 PM

Hello - I have an SA8300HDC with Navigator 2.4.8.2. I installed an external hard drive, and had the DVR freeze-up issues reported here - otherwise it worked OK.

TWC said that my hard drive should work, and they are sending a tech out this weekend, but I'm not very optimistic. They said they have both SA8300HD's and HDC's, depending on what I want - I'm not sure of the difference other than a cable card slot in the back of the HDC - the manuals look identical otherwise. What I am wondering is this - if they replace my box with an SA8300HD (not HDC), will that make any difference in the "sleep" issue? Is there anything about the 8300HD that will prevent the freeze-up problems I'm having with the 8300HDC?

Or is Navigator the culprit, and not the box?

Thanks.

phousley

03-19-08, 10:09 PM

We don't really know yet. They're just now starting to deploy Navigator on older boxes and I don't recall hearing yet if they have the same "sleep" issue with external drives. We do know that non-HDC boxes are getting a version of Navigator that has been constructed entirely differently, so it might not have the same problem.

The response you got from TW is interesting. Most people who try to pursue the issue are told that they don't support external drives.

Pantalaimon

03-20-08, 12:00 AM

My parents needed more capacity on their SA DVR, and after my bad experience with Western Digital I wanted to find a Seagate Drive that works.

I found it. Seagate makes a line of SATA drives designed for DVR use called the DB35 Series. I bought a 320 gig drive and put it in an Antec enclosure and it works perfectly. I got the bare drive at DVRupgrade.com.

xnappo

03-20-08, 10:34 AM

We do know that non-HDC boxes are getting a version of Navigator that has been constructed entirely differently, so it might not have the same problem.

I am pretty sure it happens on both the HD and HDC.

xnappo

jneil

03-20-08, 08:15 PM

BWX

03-20-08, 10:58 PM

http://www.apricorn.com/faqs.php?id=37&family=t GOOD DVR FAQ

I have noticed by the activity light my DVR has decided to record live video on my external drive..the buffer..my case was extremely hot.

The fan had failed.
Because my case was a 100% Aluminum Apricorn case despite fan failure the drive had proper cooling.

IF the same exact fan btw, in the plastic Antec Mx1 with fan that I use with my tivo series 3 with 1TB drive, had failed..that drive wouldve died!!

I got a new case, and the same drive in exact same case is working great....1tb drives get hot!

also all my recording features are working..

My AZIO has no fan at all, the aluminum case gets warm, it has been running constantly with a 500GB WD drive in it for more than a year, with very heavy use. With a good design, I don't think a fan is needed in an enclosure.

Time Warner 1.89.17.1 AZiO ENC311SU41 Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD5000AAKS 500GB 16MB Yes N/A (Pass!) Click Here 3/8/07 BWX (http://baseportal.com/cgi-bin/baseportal.pl?htx=/xnappo/main&localparams=1&db=main&cmd=list&range=0,20&sort=Case)

DoubleDAZ

03-23-08, 11:54 AM

Just noticed in another thread someone reporting that they have successfully copied data off their 160G HDD onto a new 320G HDD and then put the new HDD in their 8300 (owned). Here's a link to that post for anyone interested:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=13447494#post13447494

jneil

03-24-08, 12:09 PM

From the info on the Navigator external hard drive pass/fail list, it appears the cause is the Navigator software, not the box. Those Western Digital "My DVR Expanders" that are reported as passing don't have ver 2.4.8.2 but rather 2.4.5.4. The one with 2.4.8.2 has the "sleep" issue. Wonder if TWC can give me the older version software? My guess is no, since they must push the latest version to all their boxes thru the cable.

Oh well - we'll see what the tech says!

At the risk of jinxing my setup, I thought I would report that now it's working after the TWC guy swapped out my SA8300HDC for another one on Saturday. Two overnights have passed and so far so good. It was freezing up big time on the old box before the swap-out, even just during the day.

About the only thing I noticed differently this time was that on the initial boot of the new box, it told me my existing hard drive was setup for another cable box and would I like to reformat it, then after I pushed A it said now it's ready or something like that. On the old box, I never got a "success" notice - it just worked for awhile before it started freezing up.

I'll post again if it stops working - otherwise, no news is good news!

cuzzin

03-24-08, 12:25 PM

Not nessessarly,

The power supply is not completely dead. It is just under powering the device. In my case the DVR would record and playback with little problem at first. As time went buy the problems got worse starting with glitching, then freezing for very short amounts of time then the freezing got worse. Then the hard drive would spin up then down and at the end as the hard drive acted up the external unit would shut down (light on frount of apricorn would shut off) picture would freeze then the light on the apricorn would go back on and playback would continue. I put the appricorn on my PC to format it and the PC recognized it but could'nt partition or format it. Like XNAPPO I thought it was the hard drive so I RMA'd it and bought another drive put it inside the apricorn case and it did the samething.

This morning I counted the picture on my TV freezing up four or five times. I had to switch to another channel (which itself sometimes took a few seconds to happen) and then back in order to un-freeze the picture. Also, right after the picture would freeze, I would hear some kind of click. I don't know whether it was coming from the external drive/enclosure or the 8300HD because I was always sitting too far back to identify where the noise came from. However, this freezing was happening during live broadcasts, not while I was recording anything. Would the freezing you experienced happen just while you were watching live TV, without recording at the time? Or would the freezings only happen during playback of your recordings? The picture freezing up like this is actually what got the ball rolling on my external drive crashing the last time, as I detailed in my post a page or two back, but again, I was not recording anything when it happened. I have recorded a few things since I got the SATA drive to cooperate with my cable box again, and for the most part, the playback was flawless. I don't know what to make of this situation.

xnappo

03-24-08, 12:30 PM

I don't know what to make of this situation.

That sounds a lot like what was happening to me - especially the 'click'. If you have a power supply from another case (that is the same) I recommend you try that!

xnappo

xnappo

03-24-08, 12:32 PM

phousley

03-24-08, 02:43 PM

At the risk of jinxing my setup, I thought I would report that now it's working after the TWC guy swapped out my SA8300HDC for another one on Saturday. Two overnights have passed and so far so good. It was freezing up big time on the old box before the swap-out, even just during the day.

About the only thing I noticed differently this time was that on the initial boot of the new box, it told me my existing hard drive was setup for another cable box and would I like to reformat it, then after I pushed A it said now it's ready or something like that. On the old box, I never got a "success" notice - it just worked for awhile before it started freezing up.

I'll post again if it stops working - otherwise, no news is good news!Good news indeed. Because you don't have it in your signiture, could you confirm what the Navigator release is on your new box.

DoubleDAZ

03-24-08, 05:09 PM

Very cool. Thanks for the info! We should probably try to get the 1st post of this thread updated...

xnappoThere are 2 ways to get the first post updated:

1. Send a PM to DMILANI with the exact data you want added.

2. Send me a PM with the data and I'll get it to DMILANI.

What I've done in the past is send him a COMPLETE new post so that all he had to do was delete the old and paste in the new. I left the original stuff at the end just so the first few posts would make sense to anyone new to the thread, but I'm not sure that's even necessary anymore. I'm sure there is more (like a link to the Navigator database) to be added than just a link to this new info.

dannyv@cybernex.

03-25-08, 04:35 PM

I was recording anything. Would the freezing you experienced happen just while you were watching live TV,

Yes it would. What ever channel your watching live is also being recorded. This is why you can pause live TV. Have you noticed the disruptions and lockups getting worse? When this starts happening try to listen to your external drive. It will most likely spin up and down as well as click. Do not assume the drive is going bad. When the time comes that it gets so bad that its unusable. Remove the drive from the case and see if you can format it in your PC. If you can sucessfully partition and format it then look to the enclosure or its power supply as the source of the problem.

archiguy

03-25-08, 07:09 PM

For about a year and a half or so I've been rocking a 500GB WD SE16 in an Apricorn enclosure as an external to my SA8300 running Passport. They haven't "navigatored" us yet here in Charlotte (but I just got my warning letter from TWC saying it's coming soon - brrrrrrr) and I'm running Passport Echo v 2.6.002. I've got a few dozen HD movies on that sucker I haven't watched yet.

Started getting some freezes and glitches a couple of weeks ago for the first time. The light on the Apricorn enclosure would go out during those freezes. To try to fix it, I thought I'd try rebooting the system. Done it lots of times, no problem. But this time, to my horror, I can't get the system to recognize the drive. I've tried everything, in every combination. If you leave the expansion drive plugged in and on, the DVR won't reboot (we're talking cold boot - plug removal - here). It counts down for about 10 minutes with a small-case "r" in front of the counter (that was weird; never seen it before). Then, the Passport screen comes up but there are no blue dots underneath the top half of the screen as usual. Then the boot crashes and it starts over. This goes on indefinitely. If I turn off the external drive or pull it's eSATA cable, then the DVR boots normally. But when I connect the drive, it gives me the dreaded "The external drive is not functioning properly" message. All my programs show up on the list, but trying to play anything on the external drive gives me the "This show is currently unavailable" message, check your connections, etc.

I even tried plugging the drive back in halfway through the boot process, after the blue dots appear. That didn't work either. I've been screwing around with this for the past two days and I'm at my wit's end. I doubt the drive has crashed, it's been a champ for over a year and that WD w/ Apricorn enclosure are dependable products, but I guess that's a possibility.

I have "Lawrence of Arabia" on that drive. I've got "Blade Runner" on that drive. The entire season of "Firefly". I can't lose that drive! Any suggestions?

xnappo

03-25-08, 07:30 PM

holl_ands

03-25-08, 08:06 PM

xnappo

03-25-08, 08:23 PM

Even if you fix it THIS time, it's gonna die (or be killed) sometime in the future.

You need a D-VHS fed via Firewire from a separate SA3250HD....
or wait for Blu-Ray Recorders with "5C" copy protect feature....

Well, now with the ability to:

1. Swap between two drives - one for long term archival and one for day to day use.
and
2. The ability to make a bit for bit copy of the long term drive

It is actually possible to use the system for archival with a decent safety net. Cost of 2 500GB drive + the bit copying software ~$240 and 1/2 hour a month to back up... Not too shabby!

Of course when your box dies :) Still screwed.

xnappo

holl_ands

03-25-08, 08:37 PM

Since DVR recordings are encrypted using DVR serial number (or equivalent), you can't
move HDD to another DVR when the first one dies.
Maybe you could move files from internal HDD to an external dual-redundant RAID eSATA.
But it would STILL be rendered useless if the DVR died...or s/w update killed it...

Although PC/Macs can record unencrypted local channels, the only long term storage
option today for most digital channels is D-VHS (digital hi-def tape) fed via Firewire I/F.

cuzzin

03-25-08, 08:53 PM

Yes it would. What ever channel your watching live is also being recorded. This is why you can pause live TV. Have you noticed the disruptions and lockups getting worse? When this starts happening try to listen to your external drive. It will most likely spin up and down as well as click. Do not assume the drive is going bad. When the time comes that it gets so bad that its unusable. Remove the drive from the case and see if you can format it in your PC. If you can sucessfully partition and format it then look to the enclosure or its power supply as the source of the problem.

Yes, the freezings have definitely been getting worse lately. Just now it happened three times. I keep having to switch channels to unfreeze. Also, I was finally able to pinpoint the source of the clicking noise after the picture freezes up: it was definitely coming from the enclosure/drive. Being that my symptoms are very similar to what you and xnappo have experienced, I am just going to assume that the power supply of the Apricorn must be my problem as well. How did y'all go about getting a new power supply from Apricorn? I want to tackle this before the situation gets too out of control.

xnappo

03-25-08, 09:07 PM

How did y'all go about getting a new power supply from Apricorn? I want to tackle this before the situation gets too out of control.

To be honest, I didn't bother because I have a bunch of enclosures around.

Sounds like Danny just called 'em and they were quite helpful...

xnappo

archiguy

03-25-08, 09:18 PM

cuzzin

03-25-08, 09:22 PM

To be honest, I didn't bother because I have a bunch of enclosures around.

Sounds like Danny just called 'em and they were quite helpful...

xnappo

Ah, ya know something, I forgot about a Coolmax enclosure I bought some time ago (over a year now). It was one of the first enclosures I bought back when I was still trying to find the right enclosure/drive combo. I just dug it out of the back of my closet and connected it's power supply to my Apricorn. It seems to be compatible. But is it OK to be mix-matching the power supply of a different enclosure with the Apricorn? If so, I'll just ride with the Coolmax's power supply and see if I notice any improvements with the freezes, etc.

xnappo

03-25-08, 09:24 PM

But guys, the power supply to the Apricorn seems fine. The light is constantly on now (not that it's doing me any good) and the drive and fan are just purring away, recording bits that no one can see. I can't see any problem with the power supply whatsoever. What are the symptoms? It would be kind of poetic if it weren't frakking with my life.

The symptoms are exactly what you described. The light stays on but the drive isn't getting enough power. It first starts to fail with glitches, then goes to longer glitches with the light turning off then on, then fails to recognize the drive at all.

You can safely try hooking it of to your computer - with mine it didn't even recognize it when I plugged in the USB cable. Obviously don't format the drive if it does recognize it.

If it doesn't recognize it, then you can take it out of the case and hook it up to your internal SATA - and see if the computer sees it then.

Of course - it would be much easier to debug if you had another case or spare drive!

xnappo

xnappo

03-25-08, 09:28 PM

Ah, ya know something, I forgot about a Coolmax enclosure I bought some time ago (over a year now). It was one of the first enclosures I bought back when I was still trying to find the right enclosure/drive combo. I just dug it out of the back of my closet and connected it's power supply to my Apricorn. It seems to be compatible. But is it OK to be mix-matching the power supply of a different enclosure with the Apricorn? If so, I'll just ride with the Coolmax's power supply and see if I notice any improvements with the freezes, etc.

Well... They USUALLY make those things safe connector-wise - but no promises :) I am running my Apricorn with an Azio power supply. I have 3 cases with supplies that look like they are from the same factory in China...

xnappo

holl_ands

03-26-08, 01:08 AM

With PASSPORT I found that while the STB was ON, I could unplug HDD and plug it back again
and then IGNORE the prompt to reboot and simply wait for STB to recognize the drive....

Sometimes it worked the first time and sometimes I had to repeat the sequence.
Running NAVIGATOR on SA8300HD now.
Had my first spontaneous reboot under NAVIGATOR (simple RW in current program).
Had trouble getting it to re-recognize eSATA HDD using "hot-plug" technique.

After hot plugging eSATA back in, I ack'd the "eSATA removed" alert, and followed
instructions to REBOOT, waited for MYSTRO intro to compete and then IMMEDIATELY
turned power back "ON" and waited for "Press A to reconfirm eSATA HDD" alert.

SUCCESS....but it took several minutes for "Red Triangle" icons in record list to go away
as it "rediscovered" all the programs.

dannyv@cybernex.

03-26-08, 08:48 AM

dannyv@cybernex.

03-26-08, 08:52 AM

Yes, the freezings have definitely been getting worse lately. Just now it happened three times. I keep having to switch channels to unfreeze. Also, I was finally able to pinpoint the source of the clicking noise after the picture freezes up: it was definitely coming from the enclosure/drive. Being that my symptoms are very similar to what you and xnappo have experienced, I am just going to assume that the power supply of the Apricorn must be my problem as well. How did y'all go about getting a new power supply from Apricorn? I want to tackle this before the situation gets too out of control.

Call them don't e-mail them. Have your model and serial number ready. If you e-mail them it will take forever.

dannyv@cybernex.

03-26-08, 08:54 AM

Ah, ya know something, I forgot about a Coolmax enclosure I bought some time ago (over a year now). It was one of the first enclosures I bought back when I was still trying to find the right enclosure/drive combo. I just dug it out of the back of my closet and connected it's power supply to my Apricorn. It seems to be compatible. But is it OK to be mix-matching the power supply of a different enclosure with the Apricorn? If so, I'll just ride with the Coolmax's power supply and see if I notice any improvements with the freezes, etc.

If its the same polarity and power output it will be fine.

particlejams

03-26-08, 11:51 PM

old box started hanging after sleep mode....after 3 months of my external drive working fine (wd caviar 750gb w mx-1 box) now the cable co (WOW) put in a brand new HDC and i booted 3 times...will not even recognize box external at all (wont ask to boot and with only 2 hours of HD recordings it shows 10 % used...PLEASE HELP!! do i need to format the drive on a PC and start over?? since the external was formatted on a different 8300 hdc will it not work on this one??? :confused:

running SARA 1.90
WD7500AAKS caviar
Antec MX-1
Samsung 50" hln 5063 DLP

cephraim

03-27-08, 08:34 AM

Wow amazing! DO NOT format your drive and DO NOT keep messing with rebooting it. You are now the 4th person to report a similar issue, and for two of us the problem has conclusively been the power supply for the Apricorn case(the 3rd has not come to a conclusion yet). If you have another enclosure with the same type of supply, try that!

Read the last 10 or so pages for posts by me, Danny and cuzzin.

xnappo

Yup, I had the same problem. Switched to an Antec MX-1, and all is well...

dothedewonline

03-27-08, 08:37 AM

If you record a lot of movies - quasi-archive them for viewing "whenever" and/or decide to record an entire new season of multiple shows to (re-)watch them in order, you may yet see the wisdom of more vs. less.

The bug is not that you can't pause live TV, it's that you can't rewind and play from some earlier point. It is also that, after pausing and hitting play, it begins live with you missing everything that happened during pause. Short pause and you might not discern the lost time; do it for a few minutes and you'll easily spot it.

Congrats and welcome to the eSATA Expanded Storage Club! You will soon be receiving information on the secret handshake.
Any updates on your problem with the buffer. I tried it a couple of weeks ago and got the same problem. Diagnostics screen reports the storage space available by adding the internal drive and the new external drive, so I know it is working, except that for that pesky buffer problem (which my wife says she has to have)

dannyv@cybernex.

03-27-08, 12:32 PM

holl_ands

03-27-08, 04:17 PM

Recording are encrypted, based on DVR serial number.
So new DVR can't decrypt old DVR recordings.

Reformatting existing partitions won't do it....
You need to DELETE ALL PARTITIONS using your PC, else DVR can't "see" any free space.

jneil

03-27-08, 06:09 PM

Good news indeed. Because you don't have it in your signiture, could you confirm what the Navigator release is on your new box.

I'm running SA8300HDC - TW Navigator 2.4.8_2, like you.

Well I must have jinxed it - I quit. First I lost all my shows, then after rebooting all was well a couple of days and then it was froze up one morning. It's not that important to have the xtra HD space to go thru all the hassle. The stupid thing should just work. I'll keep the 750 GB hard drive for computer backup, since I'm stuck with a 15% return restocking fee, or if my TV box or software changes, I'll have another go at it. Or if I really need to record an extra show, one thing I suppose I could do is use the HD for extra shows and then turn it off - hopefully the shows would still be there in case I wanted to reboot the box and watch later.

I probably should have tried a My DVR Expander - I'm still tempted if Best Buy would take it back for a full refund (maybe I'm not done yet after all?).

billlh

03-27-08, 07:43 PM

holl_ands

03-28-08, 02:11 AM

I presume you mean using SA8300HD to send data to a PC/MAC via IEEE-1394 Firewire I/F:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=593271&page=13
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=403695
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=962084

The Firewire I/F on my SA8300HD never worked right under either Passport or Navigator,
so I pay for a separate SA3250 HD-STB as the Firewire source to my D-VHS,
which still works after having been recently Navigatored.....
[Ask cable co. for an HD-STB with IEEE-1394 Firewire interface.]

Of course Firewire I/F to PC/MAC only works for unencrypted channels (e.g. Network HD),
so you'll need a D-VHS to capture the preponderance of encrypted cable channels.

There are also new Vista PC's especially equipped to work with CableCARD tuner(s).
No, you can't backfit into existing PC/MAC....decryption requirs special motherboard.
http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/battlemodo/cablecard-vista-media-center-pc-vs-tivo-series-3-262359.php

archiguy

03-28-08, 12:37 PM

The Firewire I/F on my SA8300HD never worked right under either Passport or Navigator,
so I pay for a separate SA3250 HD-STB as the Firewire source to my D-VHS,
which still works after having been recently Navigatored.....
[Ask cable co. for an HD-STB with IEEE-1394 Firewire interface.]

As far as I know, holl_ands, you are the only person in the entire world who has had success in the last 2 years at least with firewire out to D-VHS on any SA STB including the SA3250HD. I've posted the inquiry numerous times on AVS if there's anyone who's still doing this and been greeted with stony silence every time. It stopped working for me with my 3250 well over 2 years ago, which is why I got a second 8300 w/ expansion drive for "archiving" HD movies and other material I want to save. And now my expansion drive has gone on the blink. :rolleyes:

OTOH, the Motorola boxes still have working firewire, to my knowledge. Those are the only folks who are still archiving to D-VHS. Besides you, I mean. ;)

jb222

03-28-08, 03:08 PM

jb222

03-28-08, 03:12 PM

I presume you mean using SA8300HD to send data to a PC/MAC via IEEE-1394 Firewire I/F:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=593271&page=13
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=962084

The Firewire I/F on my SA8300HD never worked right under either Passport or Navigator,
so I pay for a separate SA3250 HD-STB as the Firewire source to my D-VHS,
which still works after having been recently Navigatored.....
[Ask cable co. for an HD-STB with IEEE-1394 Firewire interface.]

Of course Firewire I/F to PC/MAC only works for unencrypted channels (e.g. Network HD),
so you'll need a D-VHS to capture the preponderance of encrypted cable channels.

There are also new Vista PC's especially equipped to work with CableCARD tuner(s).
No, you can't backfit into existing PC/MAC....decryption requirs special motherboard.
http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/battlemodo/cablecard-vista-media-center-pc-vs-tivo-series-3-262359.php
TO HOLL_ANDS - -

I returned the JVC D-VHS recorder after working for many hours to record via firewire from the SA8300HDC. IF YOU COULD PROVIDE SOME DIRECTION TO HELP BE SUCCESSFUL, I WOULD BE ETERNALLY GRATEFUL

Jon

jb222

03-28-08, 03:13 PM

TO HOLL_ANDS - -

I returned the JVC D-VHS recorder after working for many hours to record via firewire from the SA8300HDC. IF YOU COULD PROVIDE SOME DIRECTION TO HELP BE SUCCESSFUL, I WOULD BE ETERNALLY GRATEFUL

Jon
I might add, that I have Time Warner NYC with the SA8300HDC - How do I determine that the firewire ports are active?

Jon B

xnappo

03-28-08, 03:28 PM

Coincidentally, ever since I added the Western Digital DVR Expander, my DVR freezes after a few hours. Essentially, I've had to reboot at least 3 times a day. Other than replacing the DVR (last resort), can anyone provide advice that would stop this occurrence.

Are there diagnostics available that can "cure" this?

Thank you, anyone, for your help!

Jon

This is a bug in the latest Mystro code. Please call your local support to complain, even though it won't help.

The only remedies are:

1. Wait for a new version and pray someone cared enough to fix it.
2. Record something continuously as the lowest priority (a channel that always has the same show on)
3. Set up an IR blaster to send a remote control command every so often like 'C' and always leave the box on.

xnappo

holl_ands

03-28-08, 04:43 PM

TO HOLL_ANDS - -

I returned the JVC D-VHS recorder after working for many hours to record via firewire from the SA8300HDC. IF YOU COULD PROVIDE SOME DIRECTION TO HELP BE SUCCESSFUL, I WOULD BE ETERNALLY GRATEFUL

Jon
As I said, the Firewire on my SA8300HD never worked right....and apparently
your SA8300HDC is no better....I'm not surprised...same design.
[Some MAC users did report retrieving an unencrypted recording.]

The magic solution is to call the cable company and request an IEEE-1394 (Firewire)
enabled cable box....what they will bring you is probably the SA3250HD...
which works for most people to both D-VHS and PC/MAC...when enabled.
BTW: Cable companies are MANDATED BY LAW to provide Firewire when requested.....

You'll have to check your local NYC thread as well as read through the
Firewire thread to see if Firewire works now...it didn't in 2006....

I haven't seen anyone post (9 pages) of Diagnostic Menus for (OCAP) SA8300HDC,
so I don't know what to look for (28 pages for SA8300HD Mystro are different).

archiguy

03-28-08, 06:59 PM

The magic solution is to call the cable company and request an IEEE-1394 (Firewire)
enabled cable box....what they will bring you is probably the SA3250HD...
which works for most people to both D-VHS and PC/MAC...when enabled.
BTW: Cable companies are MANDATED BY LAW to provide Firewire when requested.....

Holl_ands, are you not even reading my posts on this? Seriously? (Because you've never responded to me on this issue even though I've asked you multiple times.) It doesn't work for anyone! Besides you, I mean. Honestly, I bet I've asked this question a couple of dozen times in this forum in the past 2 years and I have yet to see a positive response from anybody! The only conclusion I can reasonably make is that there is simply nobody left even trying to move HD content to D-VHS with the Scientific Atlanta STB's, particularly the SA3250HD.

And the "mandate" to provide working firewire is a joke. Here in Charlotte, they told me they weren't going to even look at the issue because I was, literally, the only person in the entire area who ever mentioned it. When I said I'd file a complaint with the FCC (a bluff; I don't have time to tilt at windmills and those who have got nowhere - the FCC is too busy fining networks for booby shots), they laughed at me. I kid you not. This issue has me majorly bummed out.

phousley

03-28-08, 07:36 PM

I must be in the wrong place. I thought this thread was about external SATA.

rentwist

03-28-08, 07:49 PM

I must be in the wrong place. I thought this thread was about external SATA.

It is. Try spending a few minutes reading a few pages. You'll see.

xnappo

03-29-08, 12:04 AM

Holl_ands, are you not even reading my posts on this? Seriously?

Hmm.. I think there are a lot of people who have it working with the 3250 - and quite a few that have it working with a Mac and an 8300. I can record SD from my 8300 to PC without issue - but get glitches with HD. This is not the right thread though...

xnappo

archiguy

03-29-08, 08:04 AM

Hmm.. I think there are a lot of people who have it working with the 3250

If that's so then why have I never received even one response, not one, from anyone on the Forum verifying that? For over 2 years? It's a source of great frustration to me. If I can figure out why it's working for holl_ands, perhaps I can take that knowledge to my cable company and get them to implement that "kernel" of code or whatever makes it work there. I have a fantasy of my TWC calling his TWC and them sharing the firewire "secret", and then pushing a patch down to me and getting everything working again in delightful harmony! Okay, so maybe that's a dream on the order of world peace, but it would sure make me feel better. :) At the very least, I think he's giving jb222 bad advice by telling him that getting an SA3250 from his cable company will enable him to successfully tape record HD content. I'd like to be proven wrong.

Anyway, you're right, this isn't the proper thread for that, and I'll shut up about it now.

Back on topic, I called Apricorn yesterday and they're sending out a new power adapter as per the recommendation of you guys here and I appreciate it. Their guy said power adapters by "Starmen" (their name is on the label affixed to the adapter block) seem to be the ones that are failing. They apparently use several different vendors for the power adapters. So, if y'all have one of the "Starmen" adapters, be aware they might fail at some point.

DoubleDAZ

03-29-08, 09:59 AM

Anyway, you're right, this isn't the proper thread for that, and I'll shut up about it now.I could be wrong, but I thought holl_ands was using Cox in San Diego, not TWC. I don't know that I've read about anyone with TWC using 1394 successfully, but then I haven't followed that thread for awhile.

Note: I wouldn't have commented OT except that I hate to see a subject dropped without a solution.

xnappo

03-29-08, 10:26 AM

DoubleDAZ

03-29-08, 11:23 AM

Argh - sorry to continue - but I am using 1394 successfully with TWC and the 8300HD for SD only. I am almost positive the only reason that I can't do HD is my computer/Windows vs. a Mac(I get a lot of breakup). The weird thing about the 8300HD is the 1394 only works when playing back something you have recorded - it does not work live.

xnappoI stand corrected, I have read that someone with TWC uses 1394. :) :D :)

Edit: As far as being OT, I agree, but the other two active 1394 threads deal with recording to XP and recording to a PC, though I'm sure recording to DVHS is mentioned in both. I think there is a DVHS thread, but I don't think it's very active.

archiguy

03-29-08, 12:13 PM

I could be wrong, but I thought holl_ands was using Cox in San Diego, not TWC. I don't know that I've read about anyone with TWC using 1394 successfully, but then I haven't followed that thread for awhile.

Note: I wouldn't have commented OT except that I hate to see a subject dropped without a solution.

Hey, that could be it! Every cable company that uses Passport monkeys around with it. Even locally within companies they have different setups depending on what that particular office needs. So, it's not unreasonable to assume Cox is enabling firewire and, maybe, still applying 5C flags. Since TWC stopped supporting firewire (and they did it deliberately... one day it just stopped working), they don't even bother to set the flags anymore. When they did set them, they screwed that up too.

And I'm really just talking about using firewire to record to D-VHS, not a computer - and all the content from the DVR, not just local HD stations. I'm not sure if anyone with TWC is successfully doing that even with a Mac, are they?

Okay, now I'm done. ;)

holl_ands

03-29-08, 05:29 PM

My daughter has SA8300HD from COX-SD, but doesn't own a D-VHS.
My son has Dish VIP722 HD-DVR...which doesn't have Firewire I/F.

I have nearly four years worth of D-VHS tapes recorded on TWC-SD
using SA3250HD, first on PASSPORT and now on NAVIGATOR.
Including HBO-HD, SHO-HD, STARZ-HD, CMAX-HD, HDNET, HDMOV,
MOJO-HD, UNIV-HD, DiscHDTheater-HD, MHD, local HD's, etc....

I use it to archive movies and music concerts and sometimes to
watch or record a THIRD HD program. SA8300HD with eSATA is
used for every day viewing & time shifting.

Which puts this discussion precisely on topic---there are alternatives
to DVR/eSATA for long term archiving....

As usual....YMMV....but you have to specifically ASK for Firewire....

Here is Navigator thread post re. SA3250HD Firewire port still working:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=9861321&#post9861321

PS: Here is another thread re recording Firewire to PC:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=403695

DoubleDAZ

03-29-08, 05:42 PM

Sorry, holl_ands. I assumed since I first saw you posting in the Cox-San Diego forum that you had Cox. I guess now archiguy at least has some info to work with, more than he had beofre this thread went so far off topic. I think now we can finally put this issue to bed in this thread. :)

archiguy

03-29-08, 06:38 PM

I have nearly four years worth of D-VHS tapes recorded on TWC-SD
using SA3250HD, first on PASSPORT and now on NAVIGATOR.
Including HBO-HD, SHO-HD, STARZ-HD, CMAX-HD, HDNET, HDMOV,
MOJO-HD, UNIV-HD, DiscHDTheater-HD, MHD, local HD's, etc....

Did you mean to say TWC-HD...? We're talking about recording hi-def from SA3250 to D-VHS via firewire, not standard def from HD channels - you don't need firewire for that.

DoubleDAZ

03-29-08, 06:39 PM

He means TWC-San Diego. ;)

archiguy

03-30-08, 03:06 AM

He means TWC-San Diego. ;)

Huh?

holl_ands

03-30-08, 03:17 AM

archiguy

03-30-08, 03:53 AM

Look
Here
For A
Clue

<<<=====

BTW: Firewire to D-VHS always records the entire, unmodified
MPEG2 data stream, complete with original hi-def video and DD5.1
and replays in HD via Component Video (also HDMI on new D-VHS).

SD = San Diego, not Standard Def. Yeah, I get it now. Thought I may have had another clue there. At this point, I'm groveling for whatever I can dig out of the dirt (as the great Ben Hogan once said about how he developed his golf game - the analogy is a stretch, I admit, but work with me here). It's been a long hard slog through the IEEE 1394 jungle and I briefly thought I saw a glimmer of light, a brief flicker of hope. Looks like another mirage. :(

dannyv@cybernex.

03-31-08, 01:17 PM

Hmm.. I think there are a lot of people who have it working with the 3250 - and quite a few that have it working with a Mac and an 8300. I can record SD from my 8300 to PC without issue - but get glitches with HD. This is not the right thread though...

xnappo

success is very limited on a PC you really need a MAC.

@archiguy

I for one have been recording from an 8300HD firewire port to a MAC very successfully for years. This includes HD programming. I can't comment on recording to D-VHS as I've never owned one but I would think if the firewire port is active and recognized by a MAC it should be able to be recognized by d-vhs but again I'm talking way out of my field of knowledge on D-VHS.

Recording to PC has very limited success. Look at the previous links and you find more failures then successes with PC. if you want to keep your fustration to a minimium don't waste your time with a PC. If you have a MAC your success will be much better. You don't even need a power house MAC. I use a G4 450MHZ which I bought on ebay for $200.00. Processer speed and memory is not a factor. The only factor is hard drive space.

here's a link to get you started. Its the same link that I followed.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=386740

If your firewire ports are not active then I sympathise with your fustration trying to get any cooperation out of your cable Co. or the FCC as you previously mentioned.

dannyv@cybernex.

03-31-08, 01:28 PM

archiguy

03-31-08, 01:38 PM

I for one record from an 8300HD firewire port to a MAC very successfully for years. This includes HD programming. Recording to PC is very poor. Look on the page previous to this and you will find some links about halfway down the page. Don't even barther to try it on a PC. If you have a MAC your success will be much better.

Thank you for that; I'll look into it as I have a MacBook. I wonder why firewire recording from an 8300 can work for Macs but not for D-VHS, for which it was the only "approved" device as I understood it...? It's like they took out the code that allowed it to work with D-VHS or something. But it will still work to dump content to a Mac?

phousley

03-31-08, 02:34 PM

Come on guys, enough all ready. This is not a firewire thread. PLEASE take your discussion to another thread or use private message.

dannyv@cybernex.

03-31-08, 02:42 PM

But it will still work to dump content to a Mac?

Correct.

I see this discussion is getting old and not quite correct for this thread. PM me if you need further information or assistance and I'll be glad to help you out. We don't want to wear out or welcome:)

xnappo

03-31-08, 06:58 PM

Call them don't e-mail them. Have your model and serial number ready. If you e-mail them it will take forever.

Even though I had a backup supply I went ahead and asked Apricorn for a replacement power supply. Easiest warranty experience I have had in a while...

xnappo

dannyv@cybernex.

04-01-08, 12:32 PM

Even though I had a backup supply I went ahead and asked Apricorn for a replacement power supply. Easiest warranty experience I have had in a while...

xnappo

With the amount of power supplies going bad on them I don't think there really in a position to give people a hard time. The service rep I talked to knew what the problem was right away. I had extra power supplies so thinking he would say well you just voided your warrenty I took a chance and told him I tried the azio supply and it worked. He never flinched and said well that proves the supply is bad I'll send a replacement right out to you. I had it within a week.

xnappo

04-01-08, 01:59 PM

With the amount of power supplies going bad on them I don't think there really in a position to give people a hard time. The service rep I talked to knew what the problem was right away.

Yep. BTW - I checked and my power supply was a 'Starmen' supply too..

xnappo

cuzzin

04-01-08, 11:24 PM

xnappo

04-02-08, 09:43 AM

Well, it's been a week since I switched out the Apricorn's power supply to my Coolmax's, and I have not noticed any freezings since. I suppose I can safely conclude the power supply was the problem with my enclosure as well. I may go ahead and get a new one from Apricorn just for kicks, since it seems relatively easy to do.

Glad it is working for you. Just to get all the data - was your Apricorn supply made by 'Starmen' too? They said the switched vendors about 9 months ago.

xnappo

rentwist

04-02-08, 07:08 PM

dannyv@cybernex.

04-03-08, 11:57 AM

Yep. BTW - I checked and my power supply was a 'Starmen' supply too..

xnappo

Yep.... So was mine.

KavMan

04-03-08, 12:48 PM

Has anyone here used more then one external drive on their 8300HD?

Meaning when one is full, you hook up another empty one and on and on.

Just want to make sure there won't be any massive glitch by doing this and destroy the whole setup essentially making all my recordings on the externals worthless.

Thanks

frankspin

04-03-08, 02:28 PM

I was going to try and read through this but I realized it's 100+ pages. So if this question is redundant I apologize.

Has anyone been successful in taking an external harddrive with recorded content and accessing the content on it with a PC or laptop? In other words, instead of using a program to do a pass through recording, access the physical files? I ask because I know it can be done with TiVO.

holl_ands

04-03-08, 02:32 PM

When I visited Apricorn (here in San Diego) re replacement under warranty,
I talked to them about swapping multiple HDDs. The Apricorn guy said they
frequently swap among several different eSATA drives, making sure to
disconnect power to DVR & power down eSATA drive before making the swap.

I haven't tried it myself, but have been forced to learn that the DVR will
maintain a list of ALL shows, but you won't know whether a particular
show is on the mounted HDD until you try to play it and it says it can't
find it....until you swap drives again.

Remounting the eSATA HDD frequently requires retrying.
Under Passport, I found simply hot swapping eSATA cable worked best.
[Following menu prompt to power down & reboot rarely worked....]

Under Navigator, hot swap didn't work. I had to IMMEDIATELY turn box back
on after Mystro boot turned it OFF to see "Found External HDD" menu.

Good luck if you choose to try....

==========================================
Recordings are encrypted with an encryption key unique to each DVR.
Your PC won't even see the encrypted files....

DoubleDAZ

04-03-08, 06:53 PM

Just be forewarned that IF your DVR needs to be replaced, all your recordings are worthless. This is NOT a long term archival system.

cuzzin

04-04-08, 01:05 AM

Glad it is working for you. Just to get all the data - was your Apricorn supply made by 'Starmen' too? They said the switched vendors about 9 months ago.

xnappo

Actually, I don't see the word "Starmen" anywhere on my power supply. As far as I can tell, it is a "Powmax" by Leadman Electronics Co.

KavMan

04-04-08, 07:12 AM

Thanks for the info guys and yes I definitely know storing content on the externals isn't a safe archival system.

DarrellG

04-07-08, 10:23 AM

Well, I watched some TV and recorded last night's House episode and played it back and I noticed more "digital skipping" than normal. This occurred on my DVR from time to time but seems to be happening more frequently now that I added the extra 500 GB.

Is there any way around this or does it depend on the drive?

It's kind of annoying but I'm willing to pay that price for the increased storage.

Well, it's been almost a year since I posted in this thread (see above).

I actually disconnected the hard drive a long time ago because it had become unbearable. I have the Cavalry CAXM37500. The first thing I tried was a new ESATA cable. I ordered one from monoprice. That didn't work and now, it gives me an error saying something is wrong with the drive. I opened it up and took the Seagate drive out and I ordered the Antec MX-1 from Amazon.

I'll let you guys know how that works out once I get it up and running.

I also saw some posts where people said some Seagate drives aren't working quite well. I know there are some people here that did the same thing I am doing (opening up the CAXM37500 and taking the Seagate drive out).

How has that been working, long term?

Thanks in advance,

D~

xnappo

04-07-08, 10:26 AM

I also saw some posts where people said some Seagate drives aren't working quite well. I know there are some people here that did the same thing I am doing (opening up the CAXM37500 and taking the Seagate drive out).

Thanks in advance,

D~

What model Seagate is it? If it is a 7200.10 it will not work well regardless of case/cable.

xnappo

DarrellG

04-07-08, 10:52 AM

What model Seagate is it? If it is a 7200.10 it will not work well regardless of case/cable.

xnappo

No, it's a Seagate ST3500641????, I forget the last four digits but it's different than the ones in the database.

Thanks for your fast reply and all your work on this thread.

:)

xnappo

04-07-08, 11:36 AM

No, it's a Seagate ST3500641????, I forget the last four digits but it's different than the ones in the database.

Thanks for your fast reply and all your work on this thread.

:)

Hi Darrell,

Sorry, I should have been more specific. ST3500641 is the model number. From what I found on the web this model is usually in the 7200.9 line - however sometimes they change the line and don't update the model number. When you get a chance take another look and see if you see 7200.9 or 7200.10 on it anywhere. If it is 7200.9 then you should continue to debug - hopefully the Antec MX-1 will fix your issue. If is is a 7200.10 then you should get another drive.

xnappo

DarrellG

04-07-08, 11:40 AM

Hi Darrell,

Sorry, I should have been more specific. ST3500641 is the model number. From what I found on the web this model is usually in the 7200.9 line - however sometimes they change the line and don't update the model number. When you get a chance take another look and see if you see 7200.9 or 7200.10 on it anywhere. If it is 7200.9 then you should continue to debug - hopefully the Antec MX-1 will fix your issue. If is is a 7200.10 then you should get another drive.

xnappo

Gotcha. Will do. Thanks.

I know that there have been other people who have opened up the CAXM37500 and put it into another enclosure and have gotten it to work. I just haven't heard any updates from them. Hopefully, no news is good news. :cool:

DarrellG

04-07-08, 10:14 PM

Hi Darrell,

Sorry, I should have been more specific. ST3500641 is the model number. From what I found on the web this model is usually in the 7200.9 line - however sometimes they change the line and don't update the model number. When you get a chance take another look and see if you see 7200.9 or 7200.10 on it anywhere. If it is 7200.9 then you should continue to debug - hopefully the Antec MX-1 will fix your issue. If is is a 7200.10 then you should get another drive.

xnappo

OK, I don't see anything here that says 7200 so I guess that's good. I see something that says NL35.2

Is that what you're looking for?

xnappo

04-08-08, 10:02 AM

OK, I don't see anything here that says 7200 so I guess that's good. I see something that says NL35.2

Is that what you're looking for?

Yep. So that is not the infamous 7200.10 series which I know for a fact will glitch.

Unfortunately, looking at the database I am not sure if the case is going to solve your problem. There is an entry from 'elevans' who looks to have had the same issue as you, but got it working using the Cavalry case with a WD drive...

Worst case scenario now - you try the MX-1 case and it doesn't work, then you can put the drive back in the original case and use it with your computer and buy a known good drive to use with the 8300HD.

xnappo

DarrellG

04-08-08, 11:01 AM

Yep. So that is not the infamous 7200.10 series which I know for a fact will glitch.

Unfortunately, looking at the database I am not sure if the case is going to solve your problem. There is an entry from 'elevans' who looks to have had the same issue as you, but got it working using the Cavalry case with a WD drive...

Worst case scenario now - you try the MX-1 case and it doesn't work, then you can put the drive back in the original case and use it with your computer and buy a known good drive to use with the 8300HD.

xnappo

Yea, that's why I got the MX-1 so I can do that just in case it doesn't work.

The case will be here tomorrow.

Thanks again.

DarrellG

04-08-08, 08:55 PM

My Antec MX-1 came early today (Thanks Amazon!) and I quickly opened it up and popped in the Seagate NL35.2 drive. I unplugged my 8300HD and hooked up the ESATA cable. Then I powerd on the drive and powered on the 8300HD. It was weird because it wasn't asking me if I wanted to format or anything. It just turned back on pretty normally. I began to get a little skeptical. Then I remembered that I already had this drive hooked up to this box using the Cavalry enclosure. So I guess that's why it never asked me if I wanted to format.

I checked my recording space and it went from 80% to 19%. I also checked the diagnostic page and it shows up there also.

http://i31.tinypic.com/2e3pv91.jpg

So far, so good. No skipping or anything. I'm hoping that Elevans just gave up on the drive because of the trouble people were having with the 7200 series. He never tried another enclosure with this particular drive. He got it working using another drive with the Cavalry enclosure but hopefully, both ways work.

I'll post back after a few days. Hopefully, I won't have any skipping. :D

archiguy

04-09-08, 10:20 AM

Just a follow up to anyone interested:

I received my power supply replacement for the Starmen adapter from Apricorn last week and have been testing this week. So far, so good. New adapter seems to be working well, the DVR recognizes it, and the stuttering and dropouts have ended. All is once again well in the world. Thanks to all those smart guys who figured out it was the adapters at fault with the Apricorn enclosures.

DarrellG

04-09-08, 11:03 AM

Well, I had a few skips here and there last night. Maybe once every half hour. Not too bad, so far. I hope it doesn't get worse. (crossing fingers)

rentwist

04-09-08, 12:41 PM

I have been having freeze-ups and the jutters for quite a while now. It used to be pretty problem free. It's a
Rosewill RX-358-S SLV (Silver) 3.5" SATA to USB & eSATA Ext. Enclosure w/Int.80mm fan - Has anyone else had any prob with this? I have a refirb WD 250 HDD in it. Thanks, Ray.

I posted this a wk ago hoping that even though I used a different enclosure someone out there might be able to give me some help.Someone? Anyone? Noone? :confused:

xnappo

04-09-08, 12:55 PM

I posted this a wk ago hoping that even though I used a different enclosure someone out there might be able to give me some help.Someone? Anyone? Noone? :confused:

Shot in the dark... Is your power supply for the enclosure made by 'Starmen' ?

xnappo

BobKat6

04-09-08, 07:31 PM

Note: The most successful drives are SATA. Some converters (i.e. to IDE) work, but not well for the SA8300HD(C). If you have no equipment yet, check the following databases for other member’s experience:
Navigator Software (http://baseportal.com/cgi-bin/baseportal.pl?htx=/xnappo/navigator)
Passport Software (http://baseportal.com/cgi-bin/baseportal.pl?htx=/xnappo/passport)
SARA Software (http://baseportal.com/cgi-bin/baseportal.pl?htx=/xnappo/main)

Links to the databases can also be found in the sig of xnappo.

How To Determine Software Being Used.
Interactive Program Guide Images are useful for determining which software is being used. Look at the A/B/C button labels at the bottom of the guide:

Button= A/B/C
labels for Navigator= Access Menu/Find Shows/[no label]
labels for Passport = Time/Theme/Search or Title
labels for SARA= Browse By/Date[ ]/Home or [curved backarrow]

PLEASE,

We are here to help. And we need your cooperation to be at our best.

Read the first post and the last two pages-The most recently discussed problems are there. They are also the most recently developing problems. Do not read every page that will only drive you crazy. Older pages likely contain outdated information.

An efficient search will help. Try to use just one highly significant word. For tips on searching or any general questions, please PM me or the ID of a frequent poster, or a high post count, or any member. We may use different terminology!

If you can’t find your answer or are not sure you understand it, ask in any way you are comfortable. Try to be brief-Think of the next new person reading this thread.

Tell us where you (or the person with the problem) are-City and State.

Tell us what equipment you are using-HDMI? -All makes and models, and include your video provider (i.e. Comcast, DirecTV)

Try to be brief-Think of the next new person reading this thread.

Be patient-It may take a few days before the best qualified member to answer your question “picks up.”

THANK YOU!

Bob:)
SA8300HD-Comcast-SARA 1.89.22.2-Maxtor 7H500FO-Coolgear Dual Drive eSATA Case

DarrellG

04-09-08, 08:11 PM

OK, the "Skip Monster" is back and I'm really PO'ed right now. :mad:

I figured this was going to happen. At least by me getting the MX-1, I ruled out the enclosure. Now I'm trying to find a hard drive and I want one ASAP. So I'm checking out Best Buy and I see that they have the Western Digital WD5000CSRTL on sale for $99.99 but I don't see this anywhere in the database. I'm a little skeptical to try this but the price is right. I think this is the newer model of the tested and working WD5000KSRTL. I hope my theory is correct.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8682311&type=product&id=1197679235869

I just called my friend who works at Best Buy to ask about their return policy on hard drives and he said that I can return it if it doesn't work.

Here's to being a pioneer for the AVS forums. :D

DarrellG

04-10-08, 06:46 AM

I ran out to Best Buy last night and got this drive. This is the "Green" version of the other one. Here's some info on that:

GreenPower - Compared to a regular version of this hard drive, GreenPower saves you 4-5 Watts of electricity on average. The power savings equates to reducing CO2 emission by up to 60 kilograms per year - the equivalent of taking your car off the road for 14 days each year!

So far, so good. I hooked it up and it asked me if I wanted to format. My extra recording space didn't show up until a second reboot, but after that, everything has been FLAWLESS. I have not seen one single skip yet. I'll report back after a full night of watching TV.

frankspin

04-10-08, 09:09 AM

DoubleDAZ

04-10-08, 09:26 AM

Anyone?There are at least 2 threads devoted to recording to a PC with varying degrees of success. I suggest you check those out.

frankspin

04-10-08, 11:52 AM

There are at least 2 threads devoted to recording to a PC with varying degrees of success. I suggest you check those out.

I know that you can record through the PC. What I'm looking for is to be able to take the external drive, connect to my PC and get the content off of it. I have no PCs within range of the DVR.

dannyv@cybernex.

04-10-08, 12:26 PM

I know that you can record through the PC. What I'm looking for is to be able to take the external drive, connect to my PC and get the content off of it. I have no PCs within range of the DVR.

There have been no reports of this being done successfully. There have been a few reports of a few people cloning the drive for archive purposes but not pulling content off the drive. This drive has a propriorty file system on it that only the 8300HD can read. There is no software available that I know of to install on a PC that will allow you to read the file system on the drive of the the 8300HD.

The only option that I know of and it has been discussed here very recently. You can record the content in its pure HD digital format via firewire. This is not very successful on a PC but is very successful with a Machintosh. The drawback is it's very time consuming. I have done this myself with great success. For more info Click here (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=386740)

davehancock

04-10-08, 12:41 PM

There have been no reports of this being done successfully. There have been a few reports of a few people cloning the drive for archive purposes but not pulling content off the drive. This drive has a propriorty file system on it that only the 8300HD can read. There is no software available that I know of to install on a PC that will allow you to read the file system on the drive of the the 8300HD.In addition to that, the data recorded on the drive is encrypted with a key that is unique to the 8300 that recorded it. So that data can only be played back on the particular 8300 that recorded it.

OrCo1

04-10-08, 12:47 PM

dannyv@cybernex.

04-10-08, 01:10 PM

This is my 1st post so here goes. I hve purchased the WD MY DVR Expander and, based upon most other posts should have been just following the directions. After numerous tries of unplugging everything and plugging back in I got the normal messages of " The external drive is not functioning properly" and "The external drive has been disconnected. Please reconnect & restart the DVR". Well I had not unplugged the DVR, so it appears it knows that it is there but my guess is the drive is bad?

I also plugged the drive into my computer with the same cable it came with and the computer recognized it during boot, but it did not show as a disk drive. So that is why I have questioned whether the drive is bad.

Any help would be apprciated. I figured it would be a easy install that is why I bought it at Best Buy for $170 on sale even though I did not find an entry in the Passport Db you guys have put together. I will also add mine to the DB, but any thoughts?

The WD DVR expander has been used with mixed success.

Hook it up to your PC and right click on the my computer Icon. Select manage from the drop down menu. Go to the disk management section and locate the drive (usually the last drive listed). Look to see if its partitioned and formated and a drive letter is assigned. If not partition it then format it in NTFS. Once the PC recognizes it reinstall it on the 8300 following the same procedure you previously followed. If the PC can't partition and format it then send it back.

OrCo1

04-10-08, 02:31 PM

The WD DVR expander has been used with mixed success.

Hook it up to your PC and right click on the my computer Icon. Select manage from the drop down menu. Go to the disk management section and locate the drive (usually the last drive listed). Look to see if its partitioned and formated and a drive letter is assigned. If not partition it then format it in NTFS. Once the PC recognizes it reinstall it on the 8300 following the same procedure you previously followed. If the PC can't partition and format it then send it back.

That is what I figured I would have to do but was not sure how to do it. I will try that when I get home tonight.

Thanks

UPDATE
I got home and tried it through my computer, Expander shows in device manager but has not been assigned a device letter, any ideas?

I was able to format it on the computer and will try now to connect to DVR and see what happens. I will create a new post with the results later tonight or tomorrow night after work.

OrCo1

04-10-08, 11:29 PM

That is what I figured I would have to do but was not sure how to do it. I will try that when I get home tonight.

Thanks

UPDATE
I got home and tried it through my computer, Expander shows in device manager but has not been assigned a device letter, any ideas?

I was able to format it on the computer and will try now to connect to DVR and see what happens. I will create a new post with the results later tonight or tomorrow night after work.

I re-tried the steps to connect the Expander to the DVR and received the same errors as before. My guess now is that I will swap it out at Best Buy to see if another one acts the same.

Does anyone have any other suggestions?

DarrellG

04-11-08, 12:25 AM

Day 2 and still not one single skip with this WD drive. We can add the D5000CSRTL as working with the MX-1 case and the first "Green Power" energy-saving hard drive. :D

Anyone looking for a drive should take advantage of this Best Buy deal for $99.00

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8682311&type=product&id=1197679235869

holl_ands

04-11-08, 04:19 AM

DELETE ALL PC PARTITIONS before reconnecting to DVR, otherwise it doesn't see any free space.

xnappo

04-11-08, 08:29 AM

dannyv@cybernex.

04-11-08, 11:04 AM

DELETE ALL PC PARTITIONS before reconnecting to DVR, otherwise it doesn't see any free space.

Not nessessarly. The DVR will see it as an unrecognized unformated hard disk and ask you if you want to format it. At least thats what happens on my 8300HD.

OrCo1

04-11-08, 12:45 PM

Not nessessarly. The DVR will see it as an unrecognized unformated hard disk and ask you if you want to format it. At least thats what happens on my 8300HD.

That is kind of what I thought, it should have at least recoginized it but give some other message besides "The external device has been disconnected".

Anyways, went back to BestBuy and exchanged for another one to see if any different results.

Also, the cable that came with the extender says SATA II on it, does that matter?

Thanks

dannyv@cybernex.

04-11-08, 02:34 PM

Also, the cable that came with the extender says SATA II on it, does that matter?

Thanks

It is the right cable. It's a required cable for the 8300HD.

OrCo1

04-11-08, 10:11 PM

That is kind of what I thought, it should have at least recoginized it but give some other message besides "The external device has been disconnected".

Anyways, went back to BestBuy and exchanged for another one to see if any different results.

Also, the cable that came with the extender says SATA II on it, does that matter?

Thanks

Success!!

After multiple tries of plugging & un-plugging I finally go tno errors, so I did the hot try, unplugged the eSATA from the DVR plugged back in and it asked to format and then the available space was updated. :D

xenophonite

04-12-08, 05:31 PM

xnappo

04-12-08, 09:22 PM

I have TWC in Kansas City with latest Navigator. Am trying to plug in a Seagate SATA drive with eSATA cable and the cable box doesn't seem to recognize it. Tried power offs and connecting hot. Nothing. Drive does work on Windows (asking to format).

At what point during the boot of the box should it ask to format the drive?

What exact model? Have you checked the database? Navigator has some special "issues" but if the drive doesn't work with SARA there is no way it will work with Navigator.

xnappo

phousley

04-14-08, 10:32 AM

At what point during the boot of the box should it ask to format the drive?I seem to recall that the format question occurred when I turned on the box AFTER the boot. However, I have the HDC box and we're finding that the non-C 8300 boxes have different Navigator software.

xenophonite

04-14-08, 03:28 PM

I'm on the 8300hdc with 2.4.9.3.

phousley

04-14-08, 03:45 PM

I'm on the 8300hdc with 2.4.9.3.Then you may be wasting your time. You should search this thread for "sleep mode" or read http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=12946421&highlight=sleep+mode#post12946421.

DarrellG

04-15-08, 08:20 AM

Of course, less than a week after I paid $50 with shipping for my Antec MX-1, Buy.com has it for $19.99 after rebate with free shipping.

http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=205851343&adid=17653&dcaid=17653

Hopefully, someone here can catch this deal.

rentwist

04-16-08, 07:45 PM

Hey guys, I have a brand new HHD 500G|WD 7K 16M SATA2 WD5000AAKS I'm looking to sell. I was going to put it in my external enclosure that has 250 GHD in. I've since changed my mind. Pm me if you are interested. Thanks. Ray.

coyotesx5

04-17-08, 04:00 PM

Hello all,

I unfortunately have an SA8240HDC DVR that possesses two Firewire ports and an L-shaped internal SATA connector mounted externally. Cox Communications replaced my dead 8300HD DVR with this "new" 8240 which they claim is an upgrade. Well, besides the fact that from the point of view of upconversion selection, the 8240 no longer allows "pass through," which allowed the TV to do the upconversion, this unit's iSATA and FIREWIRE connections act as if dead. Connection of a new "properly formatted" external hard drive invokes no response from the box. Makes you wonder whether Cox told SA to leave the ports unconnected internally because they had to intention of "supporting them." This box also does not respond to any type of connection with a WD 1 terabyte "My Book" drive (a Costco/Sam's Club special). The SA unit is also nonresponsive to Maxtor External HDs via 1394. I hope "properly formatted" means NTFS, cause that's what I'm using. If anyone has more info on port connection, required activation, or the file allocation table type that SA chose to use to make these ports functional, your 2-cents would be very much appreciated. When two level two techs and 3 level one techs insist that Cox does not support use of an external hard drive on these DVRs, it is then that you develop a real appreciation for the many years of knowledge had by this great forum. Thank you.

Joseph Guida MD
Scottsdale
coyotesx5

xnappo

04-17-08, 04:15 PM

This box also does not respond to any type of connection with a WD 1 terabyte "My Book" drive (a Costco/Sam's Club special).

My Book drives don't work - see the database in my sig.

xnappo

DoubleDAZ

04-17-08, 07:36 PM

Cox Communications replaced my dead 8300HD DVR with this "new" 8240 which they claim is an upgrade.Well, it is an upgrade in that it is newer. It's still basically an 8300 without the analog tuner circuitry.

Well, besides the fact that from the point of view of upconversion selection, the 8240 no longer allows "pass through," which allowed the TV to do the upconversion,Not sure where you get this from. The box probably defaulted to 1080i and you need to go into the initial setup to enable other formats. Pass-through (or Auto-HDMI if usinjg an HDMI connection) is still very much an option. If you don't know how to get into Setup, see the First Post in the SA8300HD Tips & Trciks thread.

this unit's iSATA and FIREWIRE connections act as if dead. Connection of a new "properly formatted" external hard drive invokes no response from the box. Makes you wonder whether Cox told SA to leave the ports unconnected internally because they had to intention of "supporting them."The ports could be dead, but that is hardly the reason. Others use the 8240 with external kits that work.

I hope "properly formatted" means NTFS, cause that's what I'm using.No, it doesn't. Formatting with the 8300 has absolutely no relationship to PC formatting, 2 entirely different animals. When you get a kit that works and hook it up, the 8240 will eventually ask if you want to format the dirve. Answer Yes and it will take a few seconds. It doesn't really format in the PC sense, it simply sets up some indicators, etc., so recordings can be "streamed" to the DVR. There is no file system in the traditional PC sense either.

When two level two techs and 3 level one techs insist that Cox does not support use of an external hard drive on these DVRs, it is then that you develop a real appreciation for the many years of knowledge had by this great forum.Very few cableco's "support" external expansion, mostly because there are simply too many options out there for them to cope with. Expansion is a DIY project, simple as that. The First Post in this thread and xnappo's signature contains links to databases of working/non-working equipment.

coyotesx5

04-18-08, 12:46 AM

Thanks to Dave et.al. for the info re: the SA8240. BTW...DoubleDAZ...I spoke with the SA salesperson who contracted the newer digital-only tuner 8240 boxes for Cox in Phoenix. He told me that Cox specified that the coders leave out "Pass-Thru" in "General Settings" within the latest iteration of that piece. "Auto-HDMI" in my box forces upconversion to 1080i. That Cox should take the task of upconversion away from some of the better sets with "well-executed upconverters" is ridiculous. I was a lot happier when my light tunnel-challenged Samsung HL-R W7861 automatically went to 720p on Fox Sports before the box changeout...than I am now with the box sending all signals out at 1080i.

I was completely unaware that expansion drive hookup was such a morass...thanks for enlightening me to the confusion.

DoubleDAZ

04-18-08, 09:36 AM

BTW...DoubleDAZ...I spoke with the SA salesperson who contracted the newer digital-only tuner 8240 boxes for Cox in Phoenix. He told me that Cox specified that the coders leave out "Pass-Thru" in "General Settings" within the latest iteration of that piece. "Auto-HDMI" in my box forces upconversion to 1080i..........Sorry to keep this going, and I could be wrong (and far be it for me to argue with someone from SA), but if you are using HDMI, there will be no Pass-Through option because Auto-HDMI replaces that option and performs basically the same function. That's the way it's been since the 8300 & 8240 were released and that's the way my 8240 worked before it died. I used Component and had no trouble passing through all formats I had enabled.

All you have to do to verify this is temporarily switch to Component. The Pass-Through option should return and Auto-HMDI will disappear. Unless something has changed very recently, the 8300/8240 use the same SARA software, version 1.89.19.1. The only difference would be the HDC (cablecard) models, which use a newer version, 1.90.x.x.

Did you go through the initial setup to determine which formats are enabled? Both my 8300 & 8240 defaulted to 1080i when they were installed and the tech didn't bother to enable any others. I had to enable 480i and 720p myself.

I'd be very interested to know for sure rather than rely on something a sales person said. If it's too much trouble for you to switch to Component, I'm sure someone out there is using the 8240 with Component and maybe they will chime in to let us know if they have the Pass-Through option or not. It doesn't make any sense at all for Cox to care one way or the other about that option and unless someone uses Component, there is no way to know what the real story is.

BTW. I don't care if I'm wrong, wouldn't be the first time, but if I am worng and something hasd changed, I would like to be able to add this info to my First Post in the Tips & Tricks thread for everyone to use.

lcaillo

04-19-08, 10:31 AM

xnappo

04-19-08, 11:28 AM

Has anyone tried loading files onto an external drive for test patterns? Are the file formats known and does the system require encryption to read a file? It would be a great way to calibrate the output of these boxes if we could get some test patterns into them.

No, the file system is encrypted - there is no way to use the external drive to get a test pattern.

HDNET shows test patterns every once in a while..

xnappo

archiguy

04-20-08, 12:06 PM

davehancock

04-20-08, 02:58 PM

Let's try to get a handle on what the status is with the eSATA port & external drives and the new Navigator software that's been pushed on so many TWC customers in the last few weeks. Reading some conflicting and confusing posts here and in the Navigator thread... Me, I've been 'gatored on my "time-shifting" 8300HD but not my "movie archiving" 8300HD which has my external drive (haven't turned it off yet under the assumption they can't push a download unless the unit is turned off).

1) Does it work or not? Does a specific version of Navigator have anything to do with it? (i.e. has it not worked at first, and then worked when a new version was pushed?)Reports indicate that SOME versions of Navigator make the external drive very "buggy". There were some "workarounds" (like, always recording something) posted. One item of note: There are entirely different versions of Navigator for the 8300s with CableCARDs (SA8300HDC) and those without (SA8300HD). That could be one reason why one box has Navigator (the one with the CC) and one does not.

2) Does it's functionality have anything to do with whether the TWC system "upgraded" was originally SARA or Passport?Probably not. As far as I know (and I keep asking in the Navigator thread) NO TW SARA system has YET implemented Navigator. But there will likely be a first. We hope it will all be squared away when they start to "upgrade" SARA systems.

Rich Klim

04-21-08, 10:37 AM

Hello all,

I have a Tivo Hr10-250 with two 250 GB hard drives that I have just retired, I would like to use one of the 250GB drives with my 8300HD. Is anyone aware if I can use some sort of IDE/SATA adapter with an external Esata case to work on my 8300 HD?? What would I need to do to make this happen.

Thanks to all n advance,

sebadooo

04-21-08, 06:17 PM

davehancock

04-21-08, 08:55 PM

Forgive me for my ignorance, but I'm brand new to this, and couldn't bear to read more than 20 pages.

-Why buy an enclosure/internal drive? Isn't it possible to just buy an external hard drive from wherever, and plug it in to the SA8300 DVR?NO - lots of drives intended for computers won't work properly with the SA8300. At least check out Xnappo's list. If you can't be bothered to do that - you deserve what you get.
-I planned on recording my NBA teams entire playoff run (in HD of course, so need a lot of room) and archiving it. Has it since been figured out how to access and play all saved content without it needing the original SA8300 box for it to work?NO! The external drive is NOT intended for archiving.
I'm renting the DVR from Comcast in Connecticut, and don't plan to be with Comcast, or living in this state longer than 2 years. I want to be able to watch this stuff for years to come.Not going to happen (at least with an external drive).

holl_ands

04-21-08, 09:35 PM

Forgive me for my ignorance, but I'm brand new to this, and couldn't bear to read more than 20 pages.

-Why buy an enclosure/internal drive? Isn't it possible to just buy an external hard drive from wherever, and plug it in to the SA8300 DVR?
-I planned on recording my NBA teams entire playoff run (in HD of course, so need a lot of room) and archiving it. Has it since been figured out how to access and play all saved content without it needing the original SA8300 box for it to work? I'm renting the DVR from Comcast in Connecticut, and don't plan to be with Comcast, or living in this state longer than 2 years. I want to be able to watch this stuff for years to come.
A D-VHS connected to a WORKING Firewire port on a suitable equipped cable box can record nearly
ANY cable channel (incl. HD premiums), whether encrypted or unencrypted.
Since not all cable systems "support" the Federally Mandated Firewire Interface, you should be
able to find a slightly "used" D-VHS for sale. [IEEE-1394 is another name for Firewire.]

A D-VHS is like a VCR, except it also records MPEG2 data stream...hence is HD & DD5.1 capable.
I use Fuji "red box" S-VHS tapes and punch the second sensor hole to enable D-VHS recording....
[Only a few "premium" S-VHS tapes will work....I order boxes of 10 ea on-line.]

A PC or MAC can be configured to record unencrypted channels (e.g. local HD only) via Firewire:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=403695

A recent post by <apel> in COMCAST Hartford, CT thread confirms that Firewire port is available.
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=13277824&#post13277824
Looks like the "free preview" is over for the new HD channels....
You should query him re particulars of Firewire in your local area....

You have to specifically request Firewire capability which may result in either an additional cable box,
or they may swap out your current DVR....losing your recordings....

BullishDad

04-22-08, 10:50 PM

Back on topic, I called Apricorn yesterday and they're sending out a new power adapter as per the recommendation of you guys here and I appreciate it. Their guy said power adapters by "Starmen" (their name is on the label affixed to the adapter block) seem to be the ones that are failing. They apparently use several different vendors for the power adapters. So, if y'all have one of the "Starmen" adapters, be aware they might fail at some point.

My provider is Cablevision, with 8300/SARA and I 've been using WD 250GB drive in an Apricorn enclosure for over one year. I have the Starmen power adapter, so that could be the answer, but another symptom has puzzled me that I didn't see listed in the pages I just read (went back to middle of March 2008).

About two weeks ago we had problems with freezing that sound very similar to the "Starmen" induced ones. That happened for about two days, and hasn't returned, but a new problem has surfaced in its place.

After the 8300 has been powered off for awhile, when powering back on, it takes 30-40 seconds for the cable box to display the picture on the set. I hear a drive spinning up just before the picture displays, but I'm not sure if it is the internal or the external drive. (After listenening closely, it appears to be the internal drive.)

Has anyone had this delay of 30-40 seconds happen? Or have an idea what is happening? I called Cablevision and they want to send a technician, but I'm afraid he'll swap out the box and I'll lose all of my shows.

Update: I listened more carefully after I posted and determined it was the internal drive spinning up. Also, when the cable box is powered off, it takes about three minutes for the drive to spin down. Once that happens, when I power up again, the delay takes place. If you turn the box back on before the drive spins down, there is no delay.

I rebooted the box by removing the power cord, and when it finally came back up, I got an error message about not being able to read the external drive. Then it rebooted itself, twice. It's currently in the reboot process. I try and post again tomorrow.

rentwist

04-23-08, 07:17 AM

My provider is Cablevision, with 8300/SARA and I 've been using WD 250GB drive in an Apricorn enclosure for over one year. I have the Starmen power adapter, so that could be the answer, but another symptom has puzzled me that I didn't see listed in the pages I just read (went back to middle of March 2008).

About two weeks ago we had problems with freezing that sound very similar to the "Starmen" induced ones. That happened for about two days, and hasn't returned, but a new problem has surfaced in its place.

After the 8300 has been powered off for awhile, when powering back on, it takes 30-40 seconds for the cable box to display the picture on the set. I hear a drive spinning up just before the picture displays, but I'm not sure if it is the internal or the external drive. (After listenening closely, it appears to be the internal drive.)

Has anyone had this delay of 30-40 seconds happen? Or have an idea what is happening? I called Cablevision and they want to send a technician, but I'm afraid he'll swap out the box and I'll lose all of my shows.

Update: I listened more carefully after I posted and determined it was the internal drive spinning up. Also, when the cable box is powered off, it takes about three minutes for the drive to spin down. Once that happens, when I power up again, the delay takes place. If you turn the box back on before the drive spins down, there is no delay.

I rebooted the box by removing the power cord, and when it finally came back up, I got an error message about not being able to read the external drive. Then it rebooted itself, twice. It's currently in the reboot process. I try and post again tomorrow.

I have to boxes,8300HD/PVR and a newer 8300HDC/PVR that shut down late at night. When I go to restart them a message says, " internal drive starting up". I then can hear the HD's spinning up. The picture comes on momentarily ( 30-40 sec ). I believe this is NORMAL. Ray :cool:

BullishDad

04-23-08, 08:05 PM

Ray, thanks for the input, but at least for my box, I don't consider the delay normal. After disconnecting the external drive, the 8300HD finally booted properly. When I powered off and waited about 3 minutes for the drive to spin down, then powered up again, the drive started spinning almost immediately and the picture came up. (No delay)

I just tried again to attach the external drive, but continue to get an error message. So, I'm coming to the conclusion the problem is somewhere with the external drive and not the 8300HD itself.

I have another enclosure (new Antec MX-1), so maybe I'll move the drive to it and see if that works. I am still suspicious of the Starmen power adapter, although it could be the enclosure or the drive itself.

xnappo

04-23-08, 08:31 PM

I have another enclosure (new Antec MX-1), so maybe I'll move the drive to it and see if that works. I am still suspicious of the Starmen power adapter, although it could be the enclosure or the drive itself.

My bet - Mr. Starmen.

If the adapter for your MX-1 is the same as the Starmen, just try that...

xnappo

BullishDad

04-23-08, 09:17 PM

My bet - Mr. Starmen.

If the adapter for your MX-1 is the same as the Starmen, just try that...

xnappo

I thought about that, but the output on the power supply is slightly different. It probably would be OK, but I don't know enough about these things. The Starmen says, 5V-2A, 12V-2A. The Antec says, 5V-1.5A, 12V-1.8A. The pins that connect to the enclosure look a little different too, but the shape looks the same.

I have the drive in the new enclosure, but can't test it right now. Hopefully, later.

xnappo

04-23-08, 09:22 PM

I thought about that, but the output on the power supply is slightly different. It probably would be OK, but I don't know enough about these things. The Starmen says, 5V-2A, 12V-2A. The Antec says, 5V-1.5A, 12V-1.8A. The pins that connect to the enclosure look a little different too, but the shape looks the same.

I have the drive in the new enclosure, but can't test it right now. Hopefully, later.

Ok - let us know. Apricorn will send you a new supply. FYI for future reference the adaptors have the same voltages so you would not have hurt anything by trying. The important thing is the voltage and polarity of the pins. Amps do matter too - if there isn't enough amperage the voltage will droop. But in this case it was close enough and high enough that it probably would have worked.

xnappo

BullishDad

04-23-08, 11:16 PM

The old drive in the new MX-1 connected fine to the 8300HD:)

I was able to access of couple of shows that I couldn't earlier, so that's good. I noticed that the used space is at 74% for 30 shows, and that seems too low. Before the swap, it said 49%. The external drive is 250gb. Is it possible that some of the available space isn't being recognized? I estimate about 25 hours of HD has been recorded, so I don't think it is only counting the internal drive.

I've wanted to put in a 500gb drive, so I might do that soon. What happens to the recorded list of shows when you change the drive? Are they still listed, but you can't access them?

dannyv@cybernex.

04-24-08, 09:48 AM

I've wanted to put in a 500gb drive, so I might do that soon. What happens to the recorded list of shows when you change the drive? Are they still listed, but you can't access them?

That is correct. They will show up in the program list but they will not be playable.

BullishDad

04-25-08, 07:20 AM

Thanks, Danny.

I'm still puzzled by the 74%. I was having problems when I deleted a bunch of shows. Maybe that section of the drive isn't available for some reason.

xnappo

04-25-08, 07:53 AM

Thanks, Danny.

I'm still puzzled by the 74%. I was having problems when I deleted a bunch of shows. Maybe that section of the drive isn't available for some reason.

Have you looked in the diagnostics pages to confirm the second drive is there?

xnappo

BWX

04-25-08, 08:43 AM

(EDIT- should add, I am in Amherst)
Just an update- I had SARA ver. 1.89.17.1.. The other night at about 2:15AM (Wed., the 23rd) my 8300HD clicked off and started some kind of alien looking countdown on the front display.
I called and they (TW) said they were updating the DVRs. My other boxes, 2 explorer 3100's were not affected AFAIK. After the 8300 rebooted two times on its own, I clicked it on and it displayed a message about the external drive, but it was a different message than before I am pretty sure. The message indicated the drive was there and functioning properly, but it was worded differently. Anyway, I checked the SARA version, and I now have the updated 1.89.24.1.

The only thing I notice that is different (so far) is that before, when scrolling through the recorded programs with the "page up/down" key on the remote, the list would automatically stop on the last recorded program while scrolling down (only)- not when scrolling up. That was kind of a nice little feature actually, especially when scrolling trough 98 recordings. It also acted that way wen scrolling through the "to be recorded" list. Now, with the new firmware both lists just scroll infinitely in both directions. I am sure there are other changes, and the box controls seem to be a little more responsive, but the main thing is, the external drive still works.

I will have to update my database (http://baseportal.com/cgi-bin/baseportal.pl?htx=/xnappo/main) showing the change.

Everyone in the area should check to see if they got the update and then reflect the changes in the database..

BullishDad

04-25-08, 06:32 PM

Have you looked in the diagnostics pages to confirm the second drive is there?

xnappo

Yes, I did. It shows roughly 40gb available on each drive, and the total of the external is 213gb. For a 250gb drive the 213gb seems a little low, but not so much that it would explain why 30 hrs of HD recordings would take up 74%.

jruhnke

04-25-08, 07:12 PM

Yes, I did. It shows roughly 40gb available on each drive, and the total of the external is 213gb. For a 250gb drive the 213gb seems a little low, but not so much that it would explain why 30 hrs of HD recordings would take up 74%.~40GB * 2 drives = ~80GB.
80GB = 26% of total storage
80/x = 26/100, where x = total storage
80*100 / 26 => 308GB of total storage

That implies that your 160 GB internal drive really has 308-213 = 95GB total "real" storage space on it.

Yup, seems to me you're missing a chunk of storage space, somewhere. Might be time to bite the bullet and try a reformat...

BullishDad

04-25-08, 08:05 PM

~40GB * 2 drives = ~80GB.
80GB = 26% of total storage
80/x = 26/100, where x = total storage
80*100 / 26 => 308GB of total storage

That implies that your 160 GB internal drive really has 308-213 = 95GB total "real" storage space on it.

Yup, seems to me you're missing a chunk of storage space, somewhere. Might be time to bite the bullet and try a reformat...

Thanks for the calculations. Here are the most recent numbers. (sorry if table didn't display properly)

-----AVFS1 AVFS2 Combined
Total 146 213 359
Avail 45 37 82

DVR pct reported filled: 75%

This would seem to imply the total space at 328 (82/.25). So 31gb is "missing". (359-328)

I'm more inclined to reformat the external before the internal to see what happens, but there are some shows to watch first.

DoubleDAZ

04-25-08, 08:12 PM

It's been said that deleting recordings in progress temporarily loses that space until the next reboot. I think you've done a reboot, but I wanted to mention this just in case and I don't know how it works if the recordings in progress are on the external drive.

jruhnke

04-25-08, 08:39 PM

Thanks for the calculations. Here are the most recent numbers. (sorry if table didn't display properly)

-----AVFS1 AVFS2 Combined
Total 146 213 359
Avail 45 37 82

DVR pct reported filled: 75%

This would seem to imply the total space at 328 (82/.25). So 31gb is "missing". (359-328)
Here are my specs for your comparison:

P. 33, DVR drive capacity = 152GB; Ext = 279GB (advertised as a 300GB drive)
P. 34, DVR AVFS partition = 151GB total (9GB free)
P. 35, Ext AVFS partition = 259GB total (8GB free)

I've always wondered why there's a ~20GB difference in the ext drive capacity reported between p. 33 and p. 35, but it's not so big that it ever bothered me.

17 / (151+259) = 4% free. My DVR tells me I'm using 95%. Close enough.

(Note that 17 / .05 => 340GB capacity, and 17 / .04 => 425GB capacity; it'd really help to have another significant digit for that calculation!)

cuzzin

04-25-08, 10:37 PM

BullishDad

04-26-08, 12:25 AM

xnappo's database is an excellent resource to help you determine what to use. It seems like an Antec MX-1 enclosure and a 750 GB Western Digital drive should work, and cost you much less than $379.
http://baseportal.com/cgi-bin/baseportal.pl?htx=/xnappo/main

Scarlett

04-26-08, 06:04 AM

I'm thinking about dumping my 500GB DB35 drive for the 750GB DB35, the ST3750840SCE. I've been nothing but happy with my current DB35 drive, but with my work schedule picking up and me becoming interested in a lot more shows I'd like season passes to, I think the extra space will come in handy. Does anyone have any experience with this particular 750GB drive? Has anyone had any problems attaching an external drive of this size to the 8300HD? I'll most likely purchase the drive from Weaknees, who has it for $379.You can get a 1TB WD at Newegg for $239 + Free Shipping and put it in an Mx1 case or even an Apricorn case if you are still so inclined. If you don't want your DB35 any longer, I might be interested. I still like them a lot. ~ Scarlett

coyotesx5

04-26-08, 09:01 PM

Been out of town. Will recheck my above findings to verify that Pass-thru was eliminated, but I did spend 30 minutes on hold to reach SA tech support at the 2nd level. He insisted that Cox technicians eliminated Pass-thru as part of their own specifications to eliminate service calls or some such reason. The idea being that if everything is upconverted to 1080i, (even Fox Sports at 720p, a channel whose fast action benefits from 720p conversion) most customers will not complain that the picture isn't giving the "best" picture possible. This chosen oversimplification makes sense to me, and it would to anyone who knows how Cox "thinks. I have never found a cable company so dedicated to the bottom line($) as much as Cox... Their level one technical support must check with level two on any technical questions...their inservices are woefully inadequate and their staff at level one and even level two have been known to disconnect the call when it gets too complicated, or if the customer demands a clearer answer at level three. With an upcoming free afternoon, I will recheck and repost. Thanks again.

J. Guida
"coyotesx5"

DoubleDAZ

04-26-08, 11:01 PM

coyotesx5,

I think you need to move to a Comcast market to see how really bad CSRs and cableco's can be. :)

Anyway, I'm going to quote your post to a friend of mine who has an 8240 so he can check. I'll be surprised though if what SA told you turns out to be true. It could be that Cox (or someone) asked them to replace Pass-Through with Auto-HDMI when an HDMI cable is used, but AFAIK, you can still pass 480i/p, 720p and 1080i with that too.

cuzzin

04-26-08, 11:07 PM

You can get a 1TB WD at Newegg for $239 + Free Shipping and put it in an Mx1 case or even an Apricorn case if you are still so inclined. If you don't want your DB35 any longer, I might be interested. I still like them a lot. ~ Scarlett

I like the DB35s a lot too, I'm just looking to upgrade on storage capacity. The 750GB drive I get will be a DB35 drive as well. I'm still happy with my Apricorn case, now that the power supply issues have been resolved, so I'll likely stick with it for now.

vegggas

04-27-08, 04:17 AM

This is not the correct thread for all of this, but here is my responce - all talk not related to the external drive should be moved to the tips and tricks thread.
Hello all,
I unfortunately have an SA8240HDC DVR that possesses two Firewire ports and an L-shaped internal SATA connector mounted externally.
Thats actually an external or eSATA connector for an external drive package from Maxtor or Seagate, specifically made for the 8300 series of DVR's, called a "My DVR Expander" kit. Other drives, kits, or homebrew solutions are not reccomended by the manufacturer, and nothng is supported from the cable company.

Cox Communications replaced my dead 8300HD DVR with this "new" 8240 which they claim is an upgrade. Well, besides the fact that from the point of view of upconversion selection, the 8240 no longer allows "pass through," which allowed the TV to do the upconversion,
It is an upgrade with more processing and memory. Yes it does do Passthrough, but you have to set the box up correctly in the setup guide and in the general settings menu. On top of all of that, your Display must support the resolutions provided. If you are using HDMI, typically the display will send Display data requesting a SINGLE resolution that best fits the displays native resolution. This is a big problem with HDMI displays and two way communication trying to make things easier for the average consumer.

this unit's iSATA and FIREWIRE connections act as if dead. Connection of a new "properly formatted" external hard drive invokes no response from the box.
Why? The firewire (1394) is a 5C (DTCP) video stream output to a 5C (DTCP) firewire equipped display, or a 5TCP equipped D-VHS machine. Did you connect a Firewire equipped display or D-VHS machine and find it not able to see the video working?
As noted above, the eSATA is used for EXTERNAL hard drive storage using a "MY DVR EXPANDER" kit, available at Best Buy, circuit City and other retail outlets. Ironically, the TivoHD, also only supports this same exact My DVR EXPANDER kit, not a homebrew or alternate drive.

Makes you wonder whether Cox told SA to leave the ports unconnected internally because they had to intention of "supporting them." This box also does not respond to any type of connection with a WD 1 terabyte "My Book" drive (a Costco/Sam's Club special).
If the connectors are on the unit, they are connected, especially since they are held in place with the solder that makes the electrical connections. Again, as noted above, the "My Book" drive is an external storage drive for a PC, not a DVR.

The SA unit is also nonresponsive to Maxtor External HDs via 1394. I hope "properly formatted" means NTFS, cause that's what I'm using. If anyone has more info on port connection, required activation, or the file allocation table type that SA chose to use to make these ports functional, your 2-cents would be very much appreciated.
1394 (firewire) on the DVR is for raw video streaming of data to be used for 1394 5C (DTCP) equipped displays, or streaming to a 5C (DTCP) equipped D-VHS deck.

When two level two techs and 3 level one techs insist that Cox does not support use of an external hard drive on these DVRs, it is then that you develop a real appreciation for the many years of knowledge had by this great forum. Thank you.

Joseph Guida MD
Scottsdale
coyotesx5
As noted above, no cable company supports external drive storage. It was the manifacturer that included the port and included in their base software. If you see any cable company advertising they sell or support external drives, let us know.

vegggas

vegggas

04-27-08, 04:34 AM

continued
Thanks to Dave et.al. for the info re: the SA8240. BTW...DoubleDAZ...I spoke with the SA salesperson who contracted the newer digital-only tuner 8240 boxes for Cox in Phoenix. He told me that Cox specified that the coders leave out "Pass-Thru" in "General Settings" within the latest iteration of that piece. "Auto-HDMI" in my box forces upconversion to 1080i. That Cox should take the task of upconversion away from some of the better sets with "well-executed upconverters" is ridiculous. I was a lot happier when my light tunnel-challenged Samsung HL-R W7861 automatically went to 720p on Fox Sports before the box changeout...than I am now with the box sending all signals out at 1080i.

I was completely unaware that expansion drive hookup was such a morass...thanks for enlightening me to the confusion.

The settings are selected as a global setting for all the same series of STB's in a given system. If one 8240 has or does not have a feature, all of them will have the same features. I do not think passthrough is missing and I've never heard of that option not being included. What generally happens is that the user is using HDMI and the display is REQUESTING a specific resolution from the display. Beyond that, you have to go into the Guide+Info setup wizard and enable all resolutions that your display supports (many displays will not support 480i over HDMI). The you have to go to the General Settings menu and change SET:PICTURE FORMAT to Pass-through (may not work if Display's HDMI is requesting only one resolution. At the very minimum you can set your display to fixed and manually change resolutions in the Quick Settings to see the differences.

Been out of town. Will recheck my above findings to verify that Pass-thru was eliminated, but I did spend 30 minutes on hold to reach SA tech support at the 2nd level. He insisted that Cox technicians eliminated Pass-thru as part of their own specifications to eliminate service calls or some such reason. The idea being that if everything is upconverted to 1080i, (even Fox Sports at 720p, a channel whose fast action benefits from 720p conversion) most customers will not complain that the picture isn't giving the "best" picture possible. This chosen oversimplification makes sense to me, and it would to anyone who knows how Cox "thinks. I have never found a cable company so dedicated to the bottom line($) as much as Cox... Their level one technical support must check with level two on any technical questions...their inservices are woefully inadequate and their staff at level one and even level two have been known to disconnect the call when it gets too complicated, or if the customer demands a clearer answer at level three. With an upcoming free afternoon, I will recheck and repost. Thanks again.

J. Guida
"coyotesx5"
If that call was halfway legit, it was all speculation and them trying to get you off the phone They don't field calls for the cable stb's from individuals. SA (SA name is no longer recognized and it's now called Cisco) would not have individual systems configurations. They sell the hardware with a base software package (SARA) that can be modified by the system. Any modification of the user settings are done after the sale by the cable co.

vegggas

cuzzin

04-28-08, 02:18 AM

dannyv@cybernex.

04-28-08, 11:06 AM

I have a question for anyone who knows how the warranties on the Seagate drives work: I'm looking to get the 750GB DB35 drive. Originally, I was planning on purchasing it from Weaknees for $379; they advertise the drive as having a five year warranty through Seagate, which I liked. Then I came across the same drive on Amazon for a great deal less, but I can't find any mention of a five year warranty in the listing. Would this warranty come standard with the purchase of this Seagate drive from anywhere online or is it only valid when purchased from certain authorized retailers? I'd appreciate any information anyone might have on this.

I've noticed on newegg that the WD retail boxed drives carry a one year warrenty while the same OEM bare bones drive carries a 3 year warrenty. The best thing to do is look the model number up on seagates site to determine the warrenty.

Look at this seagate 750GB it has a 5 year warrenty. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148298

Video_8

05-02-08, 11:38 PM

davehancock

05-03-08, 10:53 AM

Unreliable External drive recording. Western Digital 500 Gb

I have recently been noticing that some of my shows are not fully recorded.
I have an external WD5000AAKS in a Vantec case. For the first little while everything appears normal until I started to noticed that some shows were not fully recorded. I only had 15, 20, 18 or 22 minutes. The progression information line showed the show was 1 hour long but only a short green line at the beginning then the remainder was red.
So the show are not completely recorded. This is irregular and I cannot find other element. I may have been watching another show on the ENP, and some time 2 shows may have been recording at the same. I am starting to think this is too much for the external drive only to handle all this information and this is why it craps out and then cannot recuperate, as to why it cannot go back or why it stop recording, it is still a puzzle to me.

Due to this new development I cannot rely anymore of this installation.
Can anyone help me in trouble shooting ?
How is everybody else doing ?
Anyone has encounter similar problem ?
An correction ?

With an eternal drive of 500 mb and 160 internal the external drive always record first. This is why I was told by the cable company to use an identical drive so to eliminate the fact that the external, or bigger drive always record first, so the internal drive is not solicited at this time since the external drive has so much room.

If you guys have any comment please write.I used to have a similar problem that would periodically occur but it was fixed when the cable company upgraded SARA to 1.89.19.1. That was over a year ago.

The statement about "matching" the size of the drives is pure BS. The recording goes to the drive that has the most available space (on a % full basis). So, if both drives were the same size, then ON AVERAGE it would be recording equally on both. These days, 500Gb external drives are the norm (mine is only 250Gb).

One thing that I felt helped with the problem (when I had it) was a periodic Hard Reboot (unplug power to DVR for at least 30 seconds, WHILE HOLDING front panel POWER button, plug power back in, KEEP HOLDING POWER till "boot" appears on front panel, wait till time reappears on front panel and then you are done).

archiguy

05-04-08, 07:02 PM

xnappo

05-05-08, 07:49 AM

Do we have confirmation yet of Passport systems that have been Navigatored playing nice with expansion drives? I'm getting 'gatored on Tuesday and want to know if I need to take the next two days off to try and watch everything on there if it's going to become a paperweight. I have an SA8300HD w/ WD500 drive in Apricorn enclosure.

My understanding is that your recordings will survive. However there is a 'sleep' bug that will cause the box to lock up every three hours the box is idle when the drive is connected. It is unclear to me whether this 'sleep' bug only happens on HDC boxes, or HD boxes too.

The current workarounds are to constantly record a show that is always on, or to rig up some sort of IR thing to keep the box alive by pinging it with an innocuous command every once in a while.

xnappo

archiguy

05-05-08, 07:58 AM

My understanding is that your recordings will survive. However there is a 'sleep' bug that will cause the box to lock up every three hours the box is idle when the drive is connected. It is unclear to me whether this 'sleep' bug only happens on HDC boxes, or HD boxes too.

The current workarounds are to constantly record a show that is always on, or to rig up some sort of IR thing to keep the box alive by pinging it with an innocuous command every once in a while.

xnappo

I was going to say that as long as you don't turn the box off, it should be buffering constantly on both tuners and thus be in an "active" state. Then I remembered that there's no buffering in a box with an expansion drive and a nearly-filled internal drive. But constantly recording a show that's always on? Might that be one of those music channels, perhaps?

CANNON-FODDER

05-05-08, 09:15 AM

I was going to say that as long as you don't turn the box off, it should be buffering constantly on both tuners and thus be in an "active" state. Then I remembered that there's no buffering in a box with an expansion drive and a nearly-filled internal drive. But constantly recording a show that's always on? Might that be one of those music channels, perhaps?I thought NAVIGATOR buffers work more like SARA, buffering the viewing channel, a displayed PIP channel, and an active recording channel only. I am not sure that has to do with the used/free state of the drive(s).

Also with SARA, there is a grey "Press any button to watch TV" screen that pops up after X idle time (seems they might have used the SARA base code as a start, and this might be part of the 3-hour bug...).

v/r,
C-F

xnappo

05-05-08, 10:01 AM

Also with SARA, there is a grey "Press any button to watch TV" screen that pops up after X idle time (seems they might have used the SARA base code as a start, and this might be part of the 3-hour bug...).

C-F

Yes, I think it is more like the SARA thing you mention above. It is doing you a 'favor' and going to sleep.

xnappo

stapuft

05-06-08, 02:26 PM

Do we have confirmation yet of Passport systems that have been Navigatored playing nice with expansion drives? I'm getting 'gatored on Tuesday and want to know if I need to take the next two days off to try and watch everything on there if it's going to become a paperweight. I have an SA8300HD w/ WD500 drive in Apricorn enclosure.

Just got the update last night after zero notice. The box is now stuck in a vicious cycle of "Initializing" to "Converting" then sometimes "Error 13" then "Booting".

Details:

Columbus, OH TWC
SA8300HD
Coming from Passport
External Drive eSATA, Apricorn EZ-BUS-DTS-EKIT, WD 2500AAKS

Any help or experience on this boot loop error? I have seen a few postings but no replies around the net. We have tried disconnecting the drive during one of the reboots and it will still get stuck in a loop. You can hear the drives cranking when it says converting then it will reboot.

xnappo

05-06-08, 02:28 PM

Any help or experience on this boot loop error? I have seen a few postings but no replies around the net. We have tried disconnecting the drive during one of the reboots and it will still get stuck in a loop. You can hear the drives cranking when it says converting then it will reboot.

Some are suggesting a different cable outlet. Try from the least-split cable you can (reasonably) get to. This is a shot in the dark.

xnappo

stapuft

05-06-08, 02:31 PM

See below

archiguy

05-06-08, 03:51 PM

Just got the update last night after zero notice. The box is now stuck in a vicious cycle of "Initializing" to "Converting" then sometimes "Error 13" then "Booting".

Details:

Columbus, OH TWC
SA8300HD
Coming from Passport
External Drive eSATA, Apricorn EZ-BUS-DTS-EKIT, WD 2500AAKS

Any help or experience on this boot loop error? I have seen a few postings but no replies around the net. We have tried disconnecting the drive during one of the reboots and it will still get stuck in a loop. You can hear the drives cranking when it says converting then it will reboot.

Noticed you're using the Apricorn enclosure. Have you checked your power supply? Is it a "Starmen" adaptor? If it's failing, as many of them have, you won't have a consistent power stream to the drive and it will cause your DVR to have those booting problems. I went thru that.

Disconnect your external drive and see if the 8300 boots normally. If it does, chances are your Apricorn power supply is going bad.

stapuft

05-06-08, 04:22 PM

Noticed you're using the Apricorn enclosure. Have you checked your power supply? Is it a "Starmen" adaptor? If it's failing, as many of them have, you won't have a consistent power stream to the drive and it will cause your DVR to have those booting problems. I went thru that.

Disconnect your external drive and see if the 8300 boots normally. If it does, chances are your Apricorn power supply is going bad.

Thx for the suggestion. We unplugged the drive and the SA8300HD still looped the boot and conversion. After a lengthy phone conversation with TWC we just tried another SA8300HD box and it got caught in the loop too. This one was fully functional - used upstairs until last month. It was waiting to get returned. An external drive was never connected to that one.

I tried connecting the box directly to our primary split, where the cable modem gets connected. Still no-go.

The TWC rep is sending a repair person out tomorrow. Looks like it's not the external drive at this point.

Thanks.

archiguy

05-06-08, 05:00 PM

Okay, I got 'gatored on my expansion drive DVR this morning (TWC Charlotte from Passport) and I can report that everything on the external is still there and, like others are reporting, buffering on the external has now returned. That's a relief.

Doesn't nearly make up for all the other deficiencies, however. That rewind function is an abomination. Did the rewind button in SARA work this same way (i.e. dumps you back into the program stream a few seconds ahead of the last frames you viewed during the rewind)? Because from what I've read, Navigator is just another version of SARA; it certainly doesn't have the relatively elegant functionality of Passport.

xnappo

05-06-08, 05:05 PM

Because from what I've read, Navigator is just another version of SARA; it certainly doesn't have the relatively elegant functionality of Passport.

No, SARA's rewind does NOT do that. Sounds annoying. I don't think that Navigator is another version of SARA, but I think that the people who wrote it tended to model things after SARA more than Passport (for some unknown reason).

Glad the drive is okay though - hopefully you won't run into the 'sleep' issue.

xnappo

archiguy

05-06-08, 06:29 PM

No, SARA's rewind does NOT do that. Sounds annoying. I don't think that Navigator is another version of SARA, but I think that the people who wrote it tended to model things after SARA more than Passport (for some unknown reason).

Glad the drive is okay though - hopefully you won't run into the 'sleep' issue.

xnappo

Does that mean it just spontaneously turns itself off? Yep, it's already done that a couple of times today. I'll have to read back in the thread on that because I gather it only happens to boxes that have an external drive hooked up, right? I think we had a brief exchange on that subject on the last page. My other 8300 which got 'gatored a few weeks ago and which doesn't have an expansion drive has never done that. Both my boxes are the SA8300HD variety, I think (how can you check?).

This could get very annoying. :(

xnappo

05-06-08, 07:24 PM

Does that mean it just spontaneously turns itself off? Yep, it's already done that a couple of times today. I'll have to read back in the thread on that because I gather it only happens to boxes that have an external drive hooked up, right? .

This could get very annoying. :(

Yep. HDC boxes have cable cards, HD boxes don't. This box is an HD not HDC right? As I mentioned, only work around is to record something 24/7 and have it as the lowest priority.

xnappo

skelm

05-06-08, 10:41 PM

Let's try to get a handle on what the status is with the eSATA port & external drives and the new Navigator software that's been pushed on so many TWC customers in the last few weeks. Reading some conflicting and confusing posts here and in the Navigator thread... Me, I've been 'gatored on my "time-shifting" 8300HD but not my "movie archiving" 8300HD which has my external drive (haven't turned it off yet under the assumption they can't push a download unless the unit is turned off).

1) Does it work or not? Does a specific version of Navigator have anything to do with it? (i.e. has it not worked at first, and then worked when a new version was pushed?)

2) Does it's functionality have anything to do with whether the TWC system "upgraded" was originally SARA or Passport?

If we can get some specific responses to these questions, it will help clear the air as Navigator rollout now seems to be gathering steam across the land. Thanks.

Would like to add - how do we check that it is enabled??

archiguy

05-07-08, 07:44 AM

Yep. HDC boxes have cable cards, HD boxes don't. This box is an HD not HDC right? As I mentioned, only work around is to record something 24/7 and have it as the lowest priority.

xnappo

Correct; it's an HD (no cable card). If you're recording something 24/7, wouldn't you eat up drive space in a big hurry, possibly resulting in the deletion of other programming? I assume you would try to find an SD channel to minimize that as much as possible (what would be an appropriate program?). And then you'd have to stop the recording periodically to delete it, right?

I guess, while annoying, the only time it would really impact you is if you were watching a live show, but somewhere back in the buffer. The box "goes to sleep" and when you turn it back on, the buffer is gone and you're suddenly at the "live" position in the program. That would have to piss a lot of people off. And this only happens if you have a SATA expansion drive hooked up?

xnappo

05-07-08, 08:17 AM

Correct; it's an HD (no cable card). If you're recording something 24/7, wouldn't you eat up drive space in a big hurry, possibly resulting in the deletion of other programming?

Sorry, I am about at the end of my knowledge here. Perhaps you can ask for details from those dealing with it for months over on the Navigator thread and report back here?

xnappo

archiguy

05-07-08, 08:46 AM

Sorry, I am about at the end of my knowledge here. Perhaps you can ask for details from those dealing with it for months over on the Navigator thread and report back here?

xnappo

I'll try, but if it's an issue that only occurs when an expansion drive is hooked up, this is probably the appropriate place to discuss it.

phousley

05-07-08, 08:52 AM

If you're recording something 24/7, wouldn't you eat up drive space in a big hurry, possibly resulting in the deletion of other programming?Not if you limit the series to keep the last 3 episodes.

xnappo

05-07-08, 09:26 AM

I'll try, but if it's an issue that only occurs when an expansion drive is hooked up, this is probably the appropriate place to discuss it.

I agree completely, but unfortunately the people I know who have figured out the work around only read the Navigator thread (I think).

xnappo

stapuft

05-07-08, 05:13 PM

Update:

I got the other box working by letting it go through the reboot process for two hours.

Today the TWC service man stopped in, checked everything, and determined our original box was dead.

We lost everything.

See this news story (http://www.nbc4i.com/midwest/cmh/news.apx.-content-articles-CMH-2008-05-07-0028.html)

sfdinasty

05-09-08, 11:22 PM

Just purchased a WD500 My Book external drive and I cant get the drive to record. I'm using the esata port. I connected the devices with both of them unplugged. then I plug in the drive, then the 8240. and I get nothing. the dvr wil record its internal drive until its full and then quits. Am I missing a step here? Any recomendations on how to fix it?

DoubleDAZ

05-09-08, 11:40 PM

I could be wrong, but I think if you look through the databases (at least the SARA database I just checked), you'll see that the My Book doesn't work. The links to the databases are in the first post and xnapppo's signature.

sfdinasty

05-10-08, 01:12 AM

vegggas

05-10-08, 02:26 AM

A little difficult finding my way around the list as i dont know what most of those are ( custom built external drives?) but it looks like all of the "off the shelf" eSATA external drives are incompatable. Is that correct? or are htere a few on there that i missed. The Maxtor 1 touche, Seagate Free agent pro, and the My Book. Is there some kinda built in DRM?

Most PC style drives use error correction, which wreaks havoc on continous video streams without buffers, so those usually fail. The new style of hard drive storage media that uses perpindicular recording to increase storage space on a drive is another failure point in drives recording and playing back unbuffered video (see this page about the Seagate .10 drives as en example) (http://www.seagate.com/www/en-us/products/desktops/barracuda_hard_drives/barracuda_7200.10/).
A drive kit designed for this application is the "My DVR Expander" kit available in most Best Buy's and Circuit City locations for $199. It should also be mentioned that the TivoHD will only accept this same exact drive kit in their DVR and will not allow any other homebrew drives due to the failure rate of the random technolgies.
The My DVR Expander kit replaces the previous generation Western Digital DVR xPander kit sold a few years ago, of which I bought and installed dozens of units without any known failures yet!

vegggas

sfdinasty

05-10-08, 12:20 PM

I'll go get one of those then. thanks Vegggas.

scnrfrq

05-10-08, 01:11 PM

davehancock

05-10-08, 02:03 PM

Hilo Hairy

05-10-08, 02:19 PM

Since there are so many problemns getting external hard drives to work, I was wondering if anyone has tried stacking 2 DVR's together to double the storage space? If so, what issues have you run to, if any? Might be a possible solution, maybe using a simple 2-way switch to choose one DVR or the other?

As long as your home's cable wiring doesn't have any bandwidth issues, it should work. Wouldn't be much different than having two boxes in different rooms. You would be able to record four programs at the same time too. Using the remote would be a little weird though.

I'm certain your cable company won't mind at all charging you double:D

If all you are trying to do is double your storage space and you have SARA, it is very easy to replace the IDE drive in the box. If you can mount a drive in a PC tower, you can do this.

I just replaced the 160GB in mine with a 300GB. Diagnostics now shows 279GB available. Of course I lost the programs recorded on my old drive but it surprised me by remembering my "favorite channels". Must be in non-volatile memory.

If anyone's tried this with a 500G or a 1TB drive, I'd like to know if the firmware allowed it to format for still more space.

scnrfrq

05-10-08, 02:51 PM

I've ordered a 300GB external drive, arriving on Wed. Not holding out much hope it'll work with Navigator and my 8300HD box. If it doesn't, I'll have to go the route of stacking DVR's I guess.

So you swapped out the drive in a box you are only renting? TW is OK with this?

davehancock

05-10-08, 03:01 PM

So you swapped out the drive in a box you are only renting? TW is OK with this?Of course not!:cool:

BUT: A couple of years ago Popular Science published an article on doing just that. I know that TW knows about it - but apparently never did anything to get PopSci to delete the article from their website - so it is still available:

http://www.popsci.com/diy/article/2006-04/hack-your-cable-box

Hilo Hairy

05-10-08, 04:03 PM

So you swapped out the drive in a box you are only renting? TW is OK with this?

Theoretically, I'm sure they are not. However, I've previously "rented" non-hd DVRs from Dish Network and TW. When I've changed companies or upgraded, neither wanted the old boxes back. I still use their drives for backup.

If I ever leave TW and they were to take my old box back, would you be willing to rent my old box, pizza stains, much used drive and all?

BTW: I'm very familiar with seeing the insides of components but when I got the DVR open, I was surprised by how much dust and such was on the board. My wife is an overly neat housekeeper and I live in a clean rural area. The reason for so much gunk is that there is so much vent space in the cover. As far as dust is concerned, it might as well not have a cover.

Just conjecture, but I would guess that the unit's cover has so much open space because the chips and drive need that much ventilation. An accumulation of dust on the components will defeat this and shorten the unit's life.

If concerned about popping the top, it might be a good idea to occasionally unplug the unit and blow some compressed air through the holes to get some of the debris out.

jkruger

05-11-08, 04:18 AM

I have had a hd dvr for about 6 months so I'm new to all this. I was surprised at how fast the SA Explorer 8300 HD filled up with a few HD baseball games. I did some reading here and bought the Cavalry 1tb external drive and it works very well. I have more space for recording now than I think I need. The setup was nearly brainless and it gave me 7 times as much disk capacity. I think it is up to 150hrs of HD capacity. Best $200.00 I have spent in a long time. :)

emailists

05-11-08, 12:10 PM

Jkruger - could you provide some details about which software your box runs and the model number of that external drive. I thought 1 TB drives were a problem.

jkruger

05-11-08, 08:06 PM

The drive is the Cavalry CAXM3710T0. Western Digital drive in it. Bought it from Newegg. The OS is 6.14.87.1 - sara is 1.89.22.2 - rom is 1.5.2.1503

Guitar Ed

05-11-08, 10:51 PM

I purchased a Seagate Barracuda 1 TB yesterday at Best Buy (great price). Hooked it up through an Antec MX-1 enclosure. It was not recognized by the 8300HD. It did give error message if you turned off hard drive.

Used the USB port on my PC and the PC did not recognize under My Computer. Loaded Seagate software and used Seagate software to format hard drive.

8300HD still did not recognize. Turned off, got error message, turned HD back on, 8300HD froze, turned off 8300HD and finally got the proper instructions. Rebooted cable box and everything is working properly. Hope this helps anyone trying to get this combo to work. It took me about 6 hours of trial and error.

archiguy

05-12-08, 08:14 AM

xenophonite

05-12-08, 02:49 PM

My 8300HD with expansion drive rebooted 3 times yesterday; it's starting to become a problem. I got 'gatored on that one about a week ago. My 8300HD without an expansion drive, which got 'gatored about a month earlier, has never spontaneously rebooted.

What version of Nav you on and what drive expansion are you using?

To determine version on remote, hold down Select until Mail light comes on and then the down arrow.

jkruger

05-12-08, 11:54 PM

Sorry if this is a stupid question to you guys, but I'm a noob here. What is 'gatored? I'm guessing it's a software switch initiated by the cableco? Is this a east coast thing or is it happening in so cal too?

phousley

05-13-08, 12:18 AM

mtchang

05-14-08, 07:37 PM

The drive is the Cavalry CAXM3710T0. Western Digital drive in it. Bought it from Newegg. The OS is 6.14.87.1 - sara is 1.89.22.2 - rom is 1.5.2.1503

I have this Cavalry 1TB USB/eSATA dual interface External HD working 24/7 since April 2 without any problems. SA8300HD's Diagnostic Mode shows the inside HD is Western Digital Caviar GP WD10EACS 1TB SATA drive. Running cool inspite of no fan inside. Cavalry also has a model with fan but I don't think you need it.

jkruger

05-14-08, 07:47 PM

I have noticed some noise when it is recording and playing back, I'm thinking of putting it on the back of the shelf in a foam cradle. That blue light is really bright, it got covered with black tape right away.

BullishDad

05-14-08, 09:01 PM

On 4/22/08 I posted about problems I was having that were possibly caused by the Starmen (nicknamed the DeathStar) adapter that came with an Apricorn enclosure.

I contacted Apricorn and they asked me to return the DeathStar for a replacement. I've been using the new adapter (Coming Data model CP1205) with the Apricorn enclosure and 250 gb Western Digital drive for a few days now, and all is working fine.

I want to thank the people who posted about the DeathStar failures in this thread because I doubt I would've come to suspect the adapter on my own.

Apricorn asked me to send the adapter back with proof of purchase. Upon receipt, they sent me the replacement even though I had the enclosure longer than the one year warranty. While I would've preferred not to have had the problem, I must say that I was impressed with Apricorn's customer service.

BobKat6

05-15-08, 12:51 PM

Note: The most successful drives are SATA. Some converters (i.e. to IDE) work, but not well for the SA8300HD(C). If you have no equipment yet, check the following databases for other member’s experience:

Navigator Software (http://baseportal.com/cgi-bin/baseportal.pl?htx=/xnappo/navigator)
Passport Software (http://baseportal.com/cgi-bin/baseportal.pl?htx=/xnappo/passport)
SARA Software (http://baseportal.com/cgi-bin/baseportal.pl?htx=/xnappo/main)

Links to the databases can also be found in the sig of xnappo.

How To Determine Software Being Used. Interactive Program Guide Images are useful for determining which software is being used. Look at the A/B/C button labels at the bottom of the guide:

Button= A/B/C
Navigator= Access Menu/Find Shows/[no label]
Passport =Time/Theme/Search or Title
SARA =Browse By/Date[ ]/Home or [curved backarrow]

PLEASE,

We are here to help. And we need your cooperation to be at our best.

Read the first post and the last two pages-The most recently discussed problems are there. They are also the most recently developing problems. Do not read every page that will only drive you crazy. Older pages likely contain outdated information.

An efficient search will help. Try to use just one highly significant word. For tips on searching or any general questions, please PM me or the ID of a frequent poster, or a high post count, or any member. We may use different terminology!

If you can’t find your answer or are not sure you understand it, ask in any way you are comfortable. Try to be brief-Think of the next new person reading this thread.

Tell us where you (or the person with the problem) are-City and State.

Tell us what equipment you are using-HDMI? -All makes and models, and include your video provider (i.e. Comcast, DirecTV)

Try to be brief-Think of the next new person reading this thread.

Be patient-It may take a few days before the best qualified member to answer your question “picks up.”
THANK YOU!

Bob:)
SA8300HD-Comcast-SARA 1.89.22.2-Maxtor 7H500FO-Coolgear Dual Drive eSATA Case

xnappo

05-15-08, 02:11 PM

I want to thank the people who posted about the DeathStar failures in this thread because I doubt I would've come to suspect the adapter on my own.

Thanks for the update. With the number of failures in this thread (5 now?) it must be a rampant problem.

xnappo

Ronin1

05-15-08, 03:46 PM

cuzzin

05-15-08, 06:54 PM

Well after Weaknees dropped the price on the 750GB DB35 drive ($379 to $199), I went ahead and bought one. I've connected it succesfully to the 8300HD, but haven't had a chance to test it out yet (though if it's at all as good as the 500GB DB35, I don't expect any problems). I have a question though: how much overhead space is typical for a 750GB drive? Looking in the diagnostics menu, I see that I have about 698GB of usuable space; I had 465GB of usable space with my 500GB drive. I know as the drive size increases, the more overhead there is, so is 698GB about right for a 750GB drive?
I'm still using the Apricorn enclosure with my Coolmax's power supply; they seem to be compatible, however I went ahead and requested an RMA from Apricorn to get a new power supply. Should be receving that soon.
I'll add to the database my results with this drive once I've had time to test it out.

scnrfrq

05-16-08, 01:15 PM

How long does it take to format the drive? Is there any on screen progress shown? I got the mesage asking to format and clicked yes, but then nothing. I'm checking the % free space, but it hasn't changed.

scnrfrq

05-16-08, 01:46 PM

I tried it again, and it did format OK. My used space went from 80% to 21% with a 300GB drive.

One other question - has anyone got the My Book drives to work? If so, is a special SATA cable needed?

OrCo1

05-16-08, 05:12 PM

I tried it again, and it did format OK. My used space went from 80% to 21% with a 300GB drive.

One other question - has anyone got the My Book drives to work? If so, is a special SATA cable needed?

The regular My Book does not work but the MY Book DVR Expander does which is what I have

mrkalel

05-16-08, 05:13 PM

xnappo

05-16-08, 05:19 PM

I am looking to upgrade my SA 8300HD's external HD from 500 GB to 1 TB. As you can guess trying to empty it out (while still recording things) is a losing battle. Does anyone know a way to clone/copy the contents of the old/smaller drive to the new/larger drive?

Thanks in advance!

Someone posted how to a while back (this year in this thread, it was a link to another thread) but I can't find it.

You will find a conversation where I suggested we get it added to the first post, then DoubleDAZ told me how to get that done. I obviously subsequently did not do so :O

[EDIT] found it: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost.php?p=13450685&postcount=6533

Direct link: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost.php?p=12575357&postcount=1

xnappo

Ronin1

05-16-08, 06:18 PM

Someone posted how to a while back (this year in this thread, it was a link to another thread) but I can't find it.

You will find a conversation where I suggested we get it added to the first post, then DoubleDAZ told me how to get that done. I obviously subsequently did not do so :O

[EDIT] found it: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost.php?p=13450685&postcount=6533

Direct link: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost.php?p=12575357&postcount=1

xnappo

Xnappo,

Thanks!

Here is a link to the web site for Active@ DiskImage (http://www.disk-image.net/).

I had once tried a drive on a Mac and it did not "see" the files, just the drive which it wanted to format. I will take a look at it on a PC. If DiskImage works, I wonder if Norton Ghost or Acronis TrueImage will work? (I have these already.)

In the meantime, I also ran across this post (http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showpost.php?p=373914&postcount=20) suggesting the use of a Linux box to do the cloning.

Now to line up a 1 TB drive...I am debating the WD vs. the Seagate. The database seems to have limited information on the 1 TB drives, but I did speak with someone recently who had successfully used a 1 TB Seagate (externally) on a TWC SA 8300HD SARA box. Unfortunately, I do not recall which enclosure he used, but he did say that he got it from NewEgg. I am using one of the Apricorn (http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?item=N82E16817362002) enclosures from NewEgg with a 500 GB WD that is running out of space.

Cheers!

archiguy

05-16-08, 07:12 PM

BIGA$$TV

05-16-08, 07:48 PM

I'm trying to compile a list of Navigator shortcomings to send to my local TWC engineering guy and I just want to confirm:

Has anyone who has been 'gatored confirm that while expansion drive buffers and trick-play are back, we've lost the ability to quickly move through programs in 15 minute chunks by holding down the FF or REW keys...? (You can definitely do this in non-expansion drive SA8300's that have been 'gatored. Passport's method, much better IMO, was to hit FF or REW and then hit the arrow keys.)

This peaked my interest. On my SARA box, once in a while when I go to rewind a buffered program it will instantly jump back the entire one hour buffer. Is there some combo of button presses that caused this or is it just a fluke. I think all I usually do is press the rewind four times. Most of time it just starts rewinding, but sometimes it makes the instant jump. Please don't tell me this is on page 1!http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/images/icons/icon11.gif
Red face

ttweed

05-19-08, 04:27 PM

I'm trying to compile a list of Navigator shortcomings to send to my local TWC engineering guy and I just want to confirm:

Has anyone who has been 'gatored confirm that while expansion drive buffers and trick-play are back, we've lost the ability to quickly move through programs in 15 minute chunks by holding down the FF or REW keys...? (You can definitely do this in non-expansion drive SA8300's that have been 'gatored. Passport's method, much better IMO, was to hit FF or REW and then hit the arrow keys.)There is a thread on the San Diego HDTV forum that details all of this quite nicely, since we just suffered this "upgrade" to Navigator in the last few months. See http://hdtv.forsandiego.com/messages/2/6554.html?1211204502

TT

Rich Klim

05-19-08, 05:46 PM

have SARA(190.5.311, just put in a thermal take case (2395/2396) USB/ESATA case with a Maxtor 160 GB drive. Before installation I formated it with the XP NTFS structure.

Diagnostics show the correct space as an additional device (2), however in page 26 the partition info, there are zeros in all the categories.

When I do hard boot, the "Want to format" screen pops up, and that is all. How long does it normally take to appear in the recording space, or on the diagnostics screen. The recording space does not change.

I have seen other themaltake cases posted, although it does nto appear on the "compatible list.I have exchanged the case, I am quessing the same results, as I did not check the diagnostics screen previously. Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreaciated.

Thanks in advance,

Guitar Ed

05-19-08, 10:47 PM

After searching this thread, I just wanted to confirm that with the 8300HD and Passport software, you can not buffer programs when the external hard drive is the recording drive? I know the work around of recording programs you are watching. Is there any true fix or will a new software release (which I doubt) fix this problem?

Thanks, Ed.

billlh

05-19-08, 11:54 PM

Rich Klim

05-20-08, 05:16 PM

thanks for the suggestion, but the results are the same.

KavMan

05-21-08, 06:40 PM

Went back reading a bunch of pages just for fun and there was one guy that had a clicking problem with this 500 gig Esata drive

http://img.tomshardware.com/us/2007/02/09/valentines-day-2007-buyers-guide/seagate-esata-500.jpg

I'm not sure if he ever got the right answer cause everyone was telling him it was a bad drive but it isn't.

It's just the hard drive going to sleep and coming back up again. The clicking occurs when you are not recording or buffering from that drive but the internal from the 8300, it somehow wakes it up every I don't know 10 minutes or so.

I have 2 of them and they do the same whenever it's using the internal hd of the 8300.

Also just installed a WD7500AAKS in a APRICORN EZ-BUS-DTS-EKIT on Passport. Works great. Just don't turn on the external until you see the Passport screen with the little loading dots. I 1st had it on before that and the Passport wouldn't load and just stayed at a black screen.

Once the Passport loads up it will ask for a format, takes about 10 seconds then it's all good. No need to reboot or anything.

jkruger

05-22-08, 08:42 PM

Guitar Ed

05-22-08, 09:01 PM

Is there anyway to get the buffering to work with the external drive and Passport firmware? This is a deal breaker for us and I'm about to disassemble everything and take it back.

Thanks.

archiguy

05-22-08, 09:25 PM

Is there anyway to get the buffering to work with the external drive and Passport firmware? This is a deal breaker for us and I'm about to disassemble everything and take it back.

Thanks.

No there's not, but fear not. Your Passport system is probably going to be replaced by Navigator any day now. ;)

At any rate, it's not that big a deal, certainly not a deal breaker. If you're watching a show in which you think you might need to buffer, just hit the record button. Voilà! Trick play will now be available as it is with any recording.

SPiFF-HD

05-22-08, 11:13 PM

I have a question though: how much overhead space is typical for a 750GB drive? Looking in the diagnostics menu, I see that I have about 698GB of usuable space; I had 465GB of usable space with my 500GB drive. I know as the drive size increases, the more overhead there is, so is 698GB about right for a 750GB drive?

There is no overhead. 698GiB = 750GB. Base2 vs Base10. Computers use base2, marketing uses base10.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gibibyte

DoubleDAZ

05-22-08, 11:42 PM

There is no overhead. 698GiB = 750GB. Base2 vs Base10. Computers use base2, marketing uses base10.I think you're right in what you're trying to say, but wrong in the conclusion you draw, though I don't know exactly how to show it. The marketing is based on 1,000 per (decimal) and certainly accounts for some of the difference, but not all:

750 @ 1,000 per = 750
750 @ 1,024 per = 732
698 @ 1,024 per = 714

As the Wiki article says, the first two results do get further apart as the drive size increases, but still don't get to the amount of free space reported by the 8300. This may not be due to overhead in the PC sense, but AFAIK, the 8300 does set aside a portion of the HDD for it's use, perhaps index files, etc. The bottom line is that the amount of space available for actual recordings is less that either the Base 2 or Base 10 reported size of the drive and that counts as overhead in my book. I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

scott_bernstein

05-23-08, 12:12 PM

My 8300hd has started making a noise every second or so, all night long , that sounds like the drive heads smacking the stop or something. when I first got it about six months ago it only did it once in a while during the night and it would quit if i turned it on and off. I recently added a 1TB sata external drive but it is quiet as a mouse. what the hell is going on? it's driving me nuts. i have to unplug it at night to make it stop. is there a setting in the thing to fix this?

Just set both of your tuners to unrecordable channels (any of the Video On Demand work for me). Tune one to one of the channels, press SWAP, turn the other to another VOD channel. The drive should quiet down immediately.

Of course if your internal drive is making lots of noise, that might signal that it is on its way to failure.....so watch out!

Scott