DISH VIP211k or z DVR upgrade

Dutch_12078 wrote:

Gdetrailer wrote:

Dutch_12078 wrote:
Is anyone using a USB powered external hard drive with their Dish 211k or z for the DVR upgrade? Dish specifies using an external power supply unit, but I seem to recall seeing reports of folks using portable USB powered drives successfully instead.

I don't have your model but the VIP722 which has the same restriction. The reason for this is many external HDs can exceed the current rating of the receivers USB ports.

The current typically allowed on USB ports is 500 Ma (Milli Amperes).

Exceeding that current may damage the USB port and or other components in the receiver.

It is for that reason they recommend external HDs that have their own power supply.

It is possible to run without the external supply provided the drive is a smaller laptop (2.5") drive since they tend to use less power. But read the drive info first and make sure it draws less than 500 MA.

I am aware of the USB current limitations. There are many portable HD's though, that work within the 500 ma spec and don't need an external power supply. I'm thinking the smaller format external portable drives would be preferable to the standard format external drives intended for desktop use, due to their better shock protection in an RV environment.

That is why I stated that the SMALLER as in PHYSICALLY SMALL 2.5" LAPTOP drive external drives MIGHT work.

Standard DESKTOP (IE 3.5") drives require considerably more current than 500 MA and also require 12V which is not available through the USB port.

Typical external drives which use 3.5" drives will have drive sizes lager than 1 TB of space. However you should check the current draw on small drives if they exceed 500 gig in space..

One should also understand that the recordings placed on the external drive WILL be PROTECTED or "encoded", you will not be able to plug the drive into your PC and watch or copy the recordings.