Dish Network 211 Rcvr - Need a compatible hard drive?

[GlennB]

Hi,
In our 5th-wheel, I have a Dish Network 211Z Receiver, a Dish Tailgator that I connect a WD Elements portable Hard Drive to for recording/viewing recordings. In the past 2 or 3 years I have gone thru 3 of those hard drives. They work for a while then I get a message that the HD needs to be formatted. I wind up reformatting, or try to reformat, but they never seem to work again. I keep losing $ and recorded programs. I figure the vibrations in the trailer are the cause for the failures and have tried setting the drives on a spongy material, but to no avail.
What do you folks use with your Dish 211z receiver? Do you keep having the HD fail? Do you use a hard drive that connects to a power source as Dish says you need to do or do the ones powered via the USB connection work OK for you?
I've been thinking of doing one of these 2 things:
1. Use a SSD (solid state drive). They are still pretty expensive but no more expensive than what it costs to keep replacing drives.
2. Use a more rugged hard drive, such as a LaCie drive.

Any ideas?
Glenn

[afrescopXx]

Dutch_12078 wrote:
We've been using a WD 2TB "MyBook" external HD with our 211K for the past 3 years with no problems so far. The drive is anchored in the TV cabinet with TV hold down straps.

X2. Dish recommends a portable hard drive with an external power supply. The My Books are very rugged. BTW: I have two Dish 211s in my RV. Dish charged $40 for the DVR activation that covered both receivers.

[AllegroD]

GlennB wrote:
Hi,
2. Use a more rugged hard drive, such as a LaCie drive.

Glenn,

My experience with 211K (have not had the Z) is that it will handle a wide variety of drives. External power not required. Do not know if that is true in he Z. I have used up to a 2TB drive on the K.

Now as to why I quoted #2 above. You typed rugged and LaCie in the same sentence. I find that to be oxymoronic. My experience is that LaCie drives are very sensitive. I do not believe they will take the bouncing when left behind the receiver.

[8_1_Van]

Walmart has the 500GB Samsung 850 EVO SSD for $139.99.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Samsung-MZ-75E500B-AM-850-EVO-Series-500GB-2.5-SATA-III-Solid-State-Drive/42455262

[STBRetired]

Look into the Samsun Pro Solid State Drives. No moving parts that would be bothered by vibration. Still a bit pricey, but getting cheaper.

[Bumpyroad]

I had to use an externally powered HD. I only plug it in/turn it on when I am recording or playing, not 24/7. don't operate it while you are moving?
bumpy

[dahkota]

We have a MyPassport (1 TB on sale at Amazon for $59). It survived Alaska Roads including the Dalton highway. It only connects to the 211Z - no power cord. Its just laying there next to the 211Z - it has been bounced around a lot and doesn't seem to care. We have a second one loaded with movies we downloaded that has been dropped a few times; it doesn't seem to care either. They come with a 3 year warranty...

[hbillsmith]

Wonder if a usb flash drive would work.

[Dutch_12078]

We've been using a WD 2TB "MyBook" external HD with our 211K for the past 3 years with no problems so far. The drive is anchored in the TV cabinet with TV hold down straps.

[K_Charles]

I took one out of an old laptop but that was only about a year ago, so far so good.