8300HD and External SATA - It Works!! - Page 53

Originally Posted by hookbill

My SA 8300 has internally a Maxtor 461R0L0 hard drive, and the external Maxtor Quickview Extendor running SARA v 1.87.23.1.

FWIW, I called Maxtor tech support and told them that I've had 1 partial recording and the sound gliches. Here's how it went:

Me: I'm calling about my rma xxxxxxxx. I got the replacement and I'm still having some problems. (Gave description of gliches and such).

Tech: Do you have this hooked up to your motherboard?

Me: This is a Maxtor Quickview. It's made specifically for the SA 8300.

Tech: Is that a tower?

Me: No it's a DVR. You do know what a DVR is don't you?

Tech: Sure, um...what's it doing again....

I had other things to do and this guy was clueless.

I gave it a try anyway.

Originally Posted by hookbill

This is being talked a great deal in my local thread. TW is going to eventually take over Adelphia in my area.

At first I was overjoyed as Adelphia, well, sucks. But now I'm hearing that TW in North East Ohio uses Passport software on the 8300. The thought seems to be they will convert everyone on to their system.

Passport=no SATA=bye bye External Hard Drive.

Just one more thing that's out of my control to worry about!

Originally Posted by davehancock

Sorry not to respond to this earlier - I've been out of town a bit.

I don't think that you will see any sort of SARA to Passport change. Both are used on various TW systems, and that happens because a system is built around one system or the other. It is virtually impossible to change a system.

So rest assured, your external drive is safe in Ohio.

BTW: I'm on TW Rochester - it's SARA.

Originally Posted by DiscounTech

Can the people experiencing the glitches report the brand/model of INTERNAL drive they have in their 8300HD in addition to the SARA version, and cable system?
Jesse.

Originally Posted by MikeK614

I see... Anyway, has anyone here used the VanTec NexStar 3 enclosure, and have there been any problems in terms or overheating, or during general use? Also, have people been successful using Maxtor DiamandMax 11 hard drives, especially the 400gb models? I noticed that particular model was used in the setup offered by DiscounTech, and they guarantee compatibility with SARA equipped units. Perhaps there will be a higher success rate with this drive due to its more recent implementation of native command queuing and the SATA standard and its purported inclusion of similar content streaming commands utilized by the QuickView 500 series of Maxtor drives. I saw one problem an individual was having with the DscounTech solution, has anyone else had either success or failure with this unit?

Originally Posted by srothkin

Model: WDC WD 1600BB-56GUC0
Firmware Version: 20.02H20
Size 312450730

Sara version 1.88.15.3.

Originally Posted by tomntempe

How did you determine what the internal drive was?

Originally Posted by davehancock

Well,

I CHALLENGE anyone to report* where a major system has converted from SARA to Passport, or visa versa. I just don't believe that has ever happened. (But I am open).

*Report means: Person identifying this is identified (in a manner he/she can be contacted directly, not just some internet moniker), naming the system (TW Columbus, OH), the approximate date the change took place, the change (SARA to Passport) and how this person came to know the change took place.

Originally Posted by hookbill

I think your right. I like your confidence. I'll post your challenge on my local thread.

Bet you won't get any takers.

Originally Posted by pepar

FWIW, the 8300HD does not support any of the SATA II streaming commands or NCQ...

Originally Posted by pepar

...which is more of a multi-tasking/server feature anyway.

Originally Posted by drivie

Can you prove that? How has it been determined that this box for sure does NOT support any of these features?

You mean like the simultaneous recording and playback of high def video?

Originally Posted by davehancock

Well,

I CHALLENGE anyone to report* where a major system has converted from SARA to Passport, or visa versa. I just don't believe that has ever happened. (But I am open).

*Report means: Person identifying this is identified (in a manner he/she can be contacted directly, not just some internet moniker), naming the system (TW Columbus, OH), the approximate date the change took place, the change (SARA to Passport) and how this person came to know the change took place.

Originally Posted by hookbill

Another thing that is going to happen when the TW/Comcast/Adelphia buy out is completed in my area is that the people who have Comcast will becomed TW customers. This is all part of the agreement. Which brings up that Motorola box.

My feeling is something will have to change because of that. Or maybe TW will continue to use the Motorola box?

I know I'm getting off topic a bit, I apologize. It is indirectly linked to whether or not my Maxtor External Hard Drive will still be used after this merge.

Originally Posted by srothkin

I am exploring what to do next with Discount Technologies customer support. Not sure if it's their problem, or the box's problem.

Originally Posted by RaveD

If I was a gambler I'd bet a lot of money that you would have problems no matter what drive/enclosure you use.

Based on my own experience, and those on this thread, the problem lies in the SA8300HD itself. Why some exhibit problems and others don't is anybody's guess.

There has been no identifiable pattern of failure based on drive manufacturer, drive size, or enclosure type. There has been an identifiable pattern that when a user experiences a problem, the problem is not solved by changing the external drive. There has been at least one user who had zero problems with an external drive on one SA8300HD, but glitches using the exact same external drive/enclosure on a different SA8300HD.

There's no proof, but in my mind there is enough emperical evidence to support the theory that something in the SA8300HD itself is the source of the glitches. The question is, what makes one SA8300HD different from another, even when both are running the same version of SARA? Is it firmware? Is it that newer 8300's have upgraded chipsets? Is it something to do with the internal drive?

Unfortunately speculation is all we have, as frustrating as it is.

Originally Posted by tomntempe

I bought a Seagate 300Meg SATA and the vantec NexStar case. There was no problem putting the drive in the case. I formated it by connecting it to my PC with the USB cable just so I could get it running. I let it run all day and periodically measured the VanTec case temp with a non-contact IR temperature "gun". It never got over 90 degrees F. Cooler then one of my PC internal drives. I don't think it will have an overheating problem and the Seagate has a 5 year warranty. I haven't hooked it up yet because I'm waiting for my new tv to arrive from the "C" online store. Once the TV is hear all my "stuff" will need to be moved around and I'm not going to connect the drive till everything else is hooked up and working correctly.

Originally Posted by dialog_gvf

Has anyone tried to see if you disconnect the internal drive, an external-only setup works?

Originally Posted by jruhnke

Well, there's that pesky matter about how the 8300 doesn't actually belong to you.