8300HD and External SATA - It Works!!

DMILANI · 03-04-05, 06:10 PM

UPDATED INFO

Xnappo's SATA Databases. Tracks compatibility issues between SA8300HD and various SATA drives/enclosures:

Interactive Program Guide Images. Useful for determing which software is being used:

Installation Instructions

Pepar's Passport Installation Link

ORIGINAL POST
At least in Shrewsbury, MA. Our town owns and operates its own cable company, so they do their own thing, but we're running SARA version 1.85.17.3.

So, I ordered the following items:

External enclosure (black plastic)-
http://www.addonics.com/products/ext.../aeehdsa35.asp

SATA I to eSATA External Cable-
*** LINK NOW DEAD

And a 120GB Maxtor Ultra Series SATA drive.

I plugged the unit in as described in the 8300HD manuals found online, and the 8300HD recognized the external drive and asked me if I wanted to format it. Once this was done (it did this very quickly) the remaining disk space on my existing 8300HD increased accordingly.

Now, I had to "fill up" my fairly new 8300HD's internal drive enough to equalize the remaining disk space on each drive. Once this was done, the 8300HD recorded my next recording to the external drive (the 8300HD always records to the drive with the most remaining space, and ping pongs back and forth).

So, if anyone has any questions, let me know.
-D

lexluthor · 03-04-05, 07:55 PM

Interesting.

What was your total cost (by item)?

DMILANI · 03-04-05, 08:05 PM

Enclosure - $35 plus shipping
Cable - $12.50 plus shipping
Drive - had this already, but about $100 retail.

So, about $150 for 120GB - about 15 more hours of HD.

-D

DoubleDAZ · 03-04-05, 08:13 PM

I didn't see a price for the cable, but it looks like the enclosure was about $35 and the drive around $110. So, for less than $200 it looks like you got about 15 hrs of added HD recording capacity. It looks like the 250GB drive would add another $100 to the total cost, assuming it would also work. Am I close?

DMILANI · 03-04-05, 08:14 PM

Yes, see my post above.

michaeltscott · 03-04-05, 08:18 PM

Wow! I'm amazed. Maxtor's prepackaged drive for this purpose implied that the provider would have to hit the SA8300HD with a command to enable the function. I assumed that this was to let them force you to lease them from them. Either yours came "pre-enabled" or Maxtor was wrong. Cool.

Ken H · 03-04-05, 08:40 PM

Just as planned.

DoubleDAZ · 03-04-05, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DMILANI
Yes, see my post above.

I was composing and checking your links, etc., while you were posting. Guess I shoud have refreshed before posting. LOL

DMILANI · 03-07-05, 07:44 AM

Bump!

templeofdoom · 03-07-05, 08:43 AM

Thanks dmilani for posting your success, and for pointing out an additional source for parts.

Anybody here tried this on the 8300HD with Passport?

We're getting unconfirmed reports that this functionality is not yet enabled in Passport.

sgr · 03-07-05, 11:02 AM

Do you think 120Gb is the max, or we can try bigger?

dt_dc · 03-07-05, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by templeofdoom
Thanks dmilani for posting your success

I'll second this. Very cool post!

Like michaeltscott mentioned above ... I was a little worried about "something" preventing you from using any ole drive ... forcing you to only rent a drive from your cable company ...

Good to see I was wrong.

Thanks again for trying this out and posting your results ...

DMILANI · 03-07-05, 12:12 PM

sgr, I used a 120GB because that is what I had.

Supposedly, the dedicated one that Maxtor will sell will be available in a 300GB version.

Also, Silicon Image demonstrated with Scientific Atlanta (at CES) a RAID system that will allow expansion of the 8300HD up to several Terabytes.

-D

LJG · 03-07-05, 01:15 PM

Anyone try this on cablevision 8300hd?

dt_dc · 03-07-05, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by LJG
Anyone try this on cablevision 8300hd?

I'd note:
1) SARA v. Passport - OP is on SARA ... templeofdoom notes uncertainty on Passport
2) Firmware version - Seems like the later the firmware ... the better the possibility. OP says he's on 1.85.17.3. Will my 1.83.4.a8 software work? Hmmm ... maybe not ...

sgr · 03-07-05, 02:11 PM

>>Also, Silicon Image demonstrated with Scientific Atlanta (at CES) a RAID system that will allow expansion of the 8300HD up to several Terabytes.<<

Great i know that Lacie make external SATA In a raid array for a terabytes

Foxbat121 · 03-07-05, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dt_dc
2) Firmware version - Seems like the later the firmware ... the better the possibility. OP says he's on 1.85.17.3. Will my 1.83.4.a8 software work? Hmmm ... maybe not ...

Is that a 8000HD firmware version because my SA8300HD (Cox Fairfax, VA)has firmware version of 1.85.14.3 (or somewhere close to that number,) last time I checked.

When I get time, I may order some parts and see if it will work for me. I'd get at least a 300GB SATA HDD.

dt_dc · 03-07-05, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Foxbat121
Is that a 8000HD firmware version because my SA8300HD (Cox Fairfax, VA)has firmware version of 1.85.14.3 (or somewhere close to that number,) last time I checked.

Just trying to make a point ... ie, people experimenting should note firmware version along with success / failure.

hall · 03-07-05, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Foxbat121
Is that a 8000HD firmware version because my SA8300HD (Cox Fairfax, VA)has firmware version of 1.85.14.3 (or somewhere close to that number,) last time I checked.

My contact at TW here in town told me that the 8000 and 8300 units use the same software. The 8300s they're testing now have Passport v1.8.xxx while their current 8000s have v1.5.xxx. He said the 8000 units will be upgraded to the same 1.8.xxx soon (probably when they release the 8300s to the public).

Foxbat121 · 03-07-05, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by hall
My contact at TW here in town told me that the 8000 and 8300 units use the same software. The 8300s they're testing now have Passport v1.8.xxx while their current 8000s have v1.5.xxx. He said the 8000 units will be upgraded to the same 1.8.xxx soon (probably when they release the 8300s to the public).

That is the magic of passport: run same software across different boxes, even boxes from different brands. SARA software is different. It only runs on SA boxes and different boxes usually have totally different software.

03-04-05, 06:10 PM	#1 \| Link	<a href='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adclick.php?n=a4ac4393' target='_blank'><img src='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adview.php?what=zone:30&n=a4ac4393' border='0' alt=''></a>
DMILANI AVS Special Member AVS CLUB MEMBER Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 1,093	8300HD and External SATA - It Works!! UPDATED INFO Xnappo's SATA Databases. Tracks compatibility issues between SA8300HD and various SATA drives/enclosures: SA8300HD eSATA Compatibility Database (SARA) SA8300HD eSATA Compatibility Database (Passport) Interactive Program Guide Images. Useful for determing which software is being used: Image of SARA IPG Image of Passport IPG Installation Instructions Pepar's Passport Installation Link ORIGINAL POST At least in Shrewsbury, MA. Our town owns and operates its own cable company, so they do their own thing, but we're running SARA version 1.85.17.3. So, I ordered the following items: External enclosure (black plastic)- http://www.addonics.com/products/ext.../aeehdsa35.asp SATA I to eSATA External Cable- *** LINK NOW DEAD And a 120GB Maxtor Ultra Series SATA drive. I plugged the unit in as described in the 8300HD manuals found online, and the 8300HD recognized the external drive and asked me if I wanted to format it. Once this was done (it did this very quickly) the remaining disk space on my existing 8300HD increased accordingly. Now, I had to "fill up" my fairly new 8300HD's internal drive enough to equalize the remaining disk space on each drive. Once this was done, the 8300HD recorded my next recording to the external drive (the 8300HD always records to the drive with the most remaining space, and ping pongs back and forth). So, if anyone has any questions, let me know. -D Last edited by DMILANI; 05-10-07 at 10:24 AM..

03-04-05, 08:13 PM	#4 \| Link
DoubleDAZ Cox - SARA 1.89.27.1 Join Date: May 2003 Location: Peoria, AZ (75 Ave & T-Bird) Posts: 8,170	I didn't see a price for the cable, but it looks like the enclosure was about $35 and the drive around $110. So, for less than $200 it looks like you got about 15 hrs of added HD recording capacity. It looks like the 250GB drive would add another $100 to the total cost, assuming it would also work. Am I close? __________________ Cheers, Dave

03-04-05, 08:14 PM	#5 \| Link	<a href='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adclick.php?n=a591f81a' target='_blank'><img src='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adview.php?what=zone:36&n=a591f81a' border='0' alt=''></a>
DMILANI AVS Special Member AVS CLUB MEMBER Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 1,093	Yes, see my post above.

03-04-05, 08:18 PM	#6 \| Link
michaeltscott Wireless Wiseguy Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: San Diego, CA, USA Posts: 7,321	Wow! I'm amazed. Maxtor's prepackaged drive for this purpose implied that the provider would have to hit the SA8300HD with a command to enable the function. I assumed that this was to let them force you to lease them from them. Either yours came "pre-enabled" or Maxtor was wrong. Cool. __________________ -- Mike Scott "Think of the cable company as a group of terrorist (sic)." -- hookbill

03-04-05, 08:40 PM	#7 \| Link
Ken H AVS HDTV Moderator AVS GOLD CLUB MEMBER Join Date: Nov 1999 Location: Metro Detroit Posts: 39,970	Just as planned. __________________ 'Better Living Through Modern, Expensive, Electronic Devices' ™

03-04-05, 07:55 PM	#2 \| Link
lexluthor Advanced Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 560	Interesting. What was your total cost (by item)?

03-04-05, 08:05 PM	#3 \| Link
DMILANI AVS Special Member AVS CLUB MEMBER Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 1,093	Enclosure - $35 plus shipping Cable - $12.50 plus shipping Drive - had this already, but about $100 retail. So, about $150 for 120GB - about 15 more hours of HD. -D

03-07-05, 07:44 AM	#9 \| Link
DMILANI AVS Special Member AVS CLUB MEMBER Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 1,093	Bump!

03-07-05, 08:43 AM	#10 \| Link	<a href='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adclick.php?n=a591f81a' target='_blank'><img src='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adview.php?what=zone:36&n=a591f81a' border='0' alt=''></a>
templeofdoom Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 117	Thanks dmilani for posting your success, and for pointing out an additional source for parts. Anybody here tried this on the 8300HD with Passport? We're getting unconfirmed reports that this functionality is not yet enabled in Passport.

03-07-05, 11:02 AM	#11 \| Link
sgr Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 58	Do you think 120Gb is the max, or we can try bigger?

03-07-05, 12:12 PM	#13 \| Link
DMILANI AVS Special Member AVS CLUB MEMBER Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 1,093	sgr, I used a 120GB because that is what I had. Supposedly, the dedicated one that Maxtor will sell will be available in a 300GB version. Also, Silicon Image demonstrated with Scientific Atlanta (at CES) a RAID system that will allow expansion of the 8300HD up to several Terabytes. -D

03-07-05, 01:15 PM	#14 \| Link
LJG AVS Special Member AVS CLUB MEMBER Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Brookville, NY Posts: 3,102	Anyone try this on cablevision 8300hd?

03-07-05, 02:11 PM	#16 \| Link
sgr Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 58	>>Also, Silicon Image demonstrated with Scientific Atlanta (at CES) a RAID system that will allow expansion of the 8300HD up to several Terabytes.<< Great i know that Lacie make external SATA In a raid array for a terabytes