Anyone have a DISH 211k with extra drive for DVR?

I use a small laptop harddrive in a small USB HD enclosure. It is powered through the 211K USB connector. If your drive requires an extra USB connection for power (such as using the Y type cable), the 211K doesn't have that capability.

I have a 211k receiver and have installed an external hard drive. I made sure to get one that is externally powered. They are readily available but when you purchase it be sure to check as many are powered through the usb port and I don't think the 211 will support that. I believe mine is a seagate and I got it at best buy, in the store. It simply plugs into a 120 v recepticle and to the 211 via a usb port. Direct tv provided the download software and I was in business very quickly.

I use a WD 500GB Passport. Powered by USB from 211k.

You say it is powered by USB...yet DISH told me it has to be externally powered...so your USB powers it..without a conventional AC cord to a DISH 211K???the thing was right in my hands yesterday but DISH said externally powered...so who is right?...Thank you for your help.

I bought a Hitachi 500 GB hard drive from dishformyrv.com the same time I bought the vip211k. Has external 120 vac power. I think any external HD with separate 120vac power plug will work. I think you can use up to 1 TB.

I am confused here

The Disk network VIP 211K is a single TV HD receiver without DVR. Are you saying you can connect an external hard drive and use this receiver as a DVR?

Where does the "DVR" software come from? It doesn't appear to be resident on the stock receiver.

Help please

Dave

You can do this with the limitation that you can't record on one channel and watch another since the receiver has only one tuner. You can record a program while watching it or program it to record when you are away. Click on any program in the guide that is in the future and a menu will pop up which gives you several options. You can also pause program while watching.

My experience was with Bell who uses the same (relabelled) equipment. It was as simple as hooking up the hard drive (with external power supply), turn on the receiver and a menu came up to the effect that "I see you've hooked up a hard drive, press OK to format". Then "hard drive ready to go, press Done". That was about it. There may be an additional "hoop" to jump thru with Dish since they charge a one-time fee for this service.

Some seem to have been able to use a USB-powered HD but I didn't try that. Had an old drive kicking around so I decided to try it. Has been working well for a couple of years with the above caveats/limitations. I use it at home and have found it quite handy, but the real DVR would offer more flexibility at a much higher cost.

You pay $40 to Dish for the ability to use an external HD as a DVR. They send the programming to your VIP211K. The VIP211K formats the drive.

Don't read into this. We are giving you our experience. I was told that it needed external power source but when I plugged in the Passport, the 211K powered it.

I'll bite.

Why not just replace the unit with a DVR and be able to record and watch.

I will say the DVR is the top on my list for inventions in the last 20 years. If it did not exist I would never pay for satellite.

Depends on your needs/wants/usage I suppose. In my case, I had an available HD that worked. New features albeit limited, cost nothing. At the time, the real DVR was $399 where I live....now a much more "reasonable" $299! Still don't need it.