530 with an External Hard-drive - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

greatger · 2009-08-22, 05:16 PM

Does anyone know if a hard-drive can be used with the 530 via a USB port ?

QCK · 2009-08-22, 06:18 PM

The answer is no, and odds are it never will have this ability. Maybe the next generation receivers will have this.

Moose57 · 2009-08-22, 10:59 PM

This thread has evolved and shows several cases of using an external hard drive.

There are several good reasons for doing so.
One is trying to find SEAGATE drive with IDE interfaces is getting tough and capacity , while many times greater than the factory 160GB has not kept up with the latest sizes in SATA drives.
So using a LARGE any brand SATA drive in a USB enclosure makes a lot of sense.

It also transfer the heat load outside of the unit for potentially more reliable operation.

Reports suggest the overall performance is BETTER.
This may be due to the faster 7200+ RPM over the OEM 5400 and larger buffer sizes.

While it IS true the USB port is NOT enabled and likely never will be, it does have power.

Most have just dangled a USB cable out the back and connected to the internal headers.

You COULD detach the USB rear connections from the main board with some carefully cutting and de-soldering and jumper them over the the main board header.

This would be the tidiest installation.

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=73790

Kudos to the thread author for exposing this exciting modification that makes the unit a contender and the others that also pioneered the USB and external experiments.

Maybe with all the beta testing the members here did when Moto/SD wouldn't will not have them scared to add this feature to the next generation unit. After all, then it will be almost as good as a 5 year old Echostar Technologies PVR

QCK · 2009-08-23, 06:08 AM

Yea, I should have added that it can be done if you don't mind modifying your receiver and voiding the warranty. It is so much cleaner just to put a larger hard drive inside if you need more capacity IMO. It is cool that this can be done though.

2009-08-22, 05:16 PM	#1
greatger Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: North Bay, Ontario Posts: 47	530 with an External Hard-drive Does anyone know if a hard-drive can be used with the 530 via a USB port ?

2009-08-22, 10:59 PM	#3
Moose57 Join Date: May 2009 Location: Near the Hills Posts: 632	Not so fast... This thread has evolved and shows several cases of using an external hard drive. There are several good reasons for doing so. One is trying to find SEAGATE drive with IDE interfaces is getting tough and capacity , while many times greater than the factory 160GB has not kept up with the latest sizes in SATA drives. So using a LARGE any brand SATA drive in a USB enclosure makes a lot of sense. It also transfer the heat load outside of the unit for potentially more reliable operation. Reports suggest the overall performance is BETTER. This may be due to the faster 7200+ RPM over the OEM 5400 and larger buffer sizes. While it IS true the USB port is NOT enabled and likely never will be, it does have power. Most have just dangled a USB cable out the back and connected to the internal headers. You COULD detach the USB rear connections from the main board with some carefully cutting and de-soldering and jumper them over the the main board header. This would be the tidiest installation. http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=73790 Kudos to the thread author for exposing this exciting modification that makes the unit a contender and the others that also pioneered the USB and external experiments. Maybe with all the beta testing the members here did when Moto/SD wouldn't will not have them scared to add this feature to the next generation unit. After all, then it will be almost as good as a 5 year old Echostar Technologies PVR

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2009-08-22, 06:18 PM	#2
QCK Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 1,139	The answer is no, and odds are it never will have this ability. Maybe the next generation receivers will have this.

2009-08-23, 06:08 AM	#4
QCK Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 1,139	Yea, I should have added that it can be done if you don't mind modifying your receiver and voiding the warranty. It is so much cleaner just to put a larger hard drive inside if you need more capacity IMO. It is cool that this can be done though.