SD PVR with Sata Hard Drive

[cfvh600]

It was definately the Hard Drive Preservation. No hiccups at all now. So using a SATA drive with the IDE>Sata converter obviously brings in some new parameters when it comes to the source command that comes from the PVR board. So basically it will park the SATA drive but can not wake it again... hmmm. Well makes no difference to me, the drive is running super cool all the time, and I disable all my PC's hibernation and HDD power down features while leaving my PC on 24/7, and those drives run for years...

Besides now to change to a new drive again will be so easy.... Wonder what the size limitations are on the PVR? If I had to pop a 1.5TB drive I would get an additional 500 to 600 hours!

Glad it's sorted! Now all that's left to do is to enjoy the upgrade.

 

[remybfg10k]

I had a look at Esquire, and they have a SATA to IDE converter, looks pretty small enough to fit into the PVR, might need to upgrade the fan though (on the side of the enclosure)

 

[SirFooK'nG]

I had a look at Esquire, and they have a SATA to IDE converter, looks pretty small enough to fit into the PVR, might need to upgrade the fan though (on the side of the enclosure)

There are many brands out there with the same type of device, I went for the closest shop to me as well as the cheapest option. I am sure that everything can be neatly arranged within the PVR unit, that is if your intention is to do that. I am also pretty sure that I could have found an IDE to USB2 converter, but then I would have to have extra cables to supply power to the USB HDD enclosure. That is why I just modded my USB enclosure. Obviously for me, I wanted to get the Hard Drive out of the PVR box. THe PVR is just not a good environment heat wise for any Hard Drive.

So there are many options on the setup, hell I could have just popped in a 500gig IDE drive (if I could find one) and be done with it. Unfortunately I like to fiddle with stuff, so modding it was like a fun project. The PVR has worked flawlessly now for 2 days solid... So I am still

 

[remybfg10k]

There are many brands out there with the same type of device, I went for the closest shop to me as well as the cheapest option. I am sure that everything can be neatly arranged within the PVR unit, that is if your intention is to do that. I am also pretty sure that I could have found an IDE to USB2 converter, but then I would have to have extra cables to supply power to the USB HDD enclosure. That is why I just modded my USB enclosure. Obviously for me, I wanted to get the Hard Drive out of the PVR box. THe PVR is just not a good environment heat wise for any Hard Drive.

So there are many options on the setup, hell I could have just popped in a 500gig IDE drive (if I could find one) and be done with it. Unfortunately I like to fiddle with stuff, so modding it was like a fun project. The PVR has worked flawlessly now for 2 days solid... So I am still

If i didnt have a 2 year old toddler i would have gone the same route as you, i like the vantec solution you have going there, so the drive connected through normal sata, will relook at your pics tomorrow. For myself i'm going to get a usb power output device to put my cooling situation sorted out. Esquire have a 1.5TB on special for R929 so thinking of taking the leap and doing the mod this weekend.

 

[ponder]

I had a look at Esquire, and they have a SATA to IDE converter, looks pretty small enough to fit into the PVR, might need to upgrade the fan though (on the side of the enclosure)

Someone on these forums have already done what you want to do. Should be fine.

 

[SirFooK'nG]

If i didnt have a 2 year old toddler i would have gone the same route as you, i like the vantec solution you have going there, so the drive connected through normal sata, will relook at your pics tomorrow. For myself i'm going to get a usb power output device to put my cooling situation sorted out. Esquire have a 1.5TB on special for R929 so thinking of taking the leap and doing the mod this weekend.

Hope that 1.5TB works on the converter! Man thats going to be hundreds of hours of PVR!!!!

 

[Nerfherder]

What is standard ?

140 gigs with 80 hours ??

 

[remybfg10k]

What is standard ?

140 gigs with 80 hours ??

250GB for 80 hours.

 

[SirFooK'nG]

250GB for 80 hours.

Nope ... u forgot to take off the 90 + 1 gig for the other partitions

250gig is partitioned into 3 parts

1 gig for system stuff
90gig for DSTV demand
Remainder for PVR recording (roughly 150gig - but its not all utilized more like the 140gig mentioned)

average recording size of a movie is 1.7gig per hour. so 140 / 1.7 = 82hrs
put a 1.5TB drive - (90+1) / 1.7 = about 800hrs of PVR recording!

Eish ... bring on the coffee...

 

[SirFooK'nG]

So I have been thinking about the hard drive preservation glitch with my mod. Maybe the problem is that the source power for the converter is from the HDD power supply, so when the preservation kicks in and powers down the HDD, it then also powers the converter down. Thus leaving the PVR with a HDD fail error as it cant communicate with the hard drive anymore. Maybe I should look at what voltages are available from the pins on the board that were used to power the HDD cooler fan. I no longer use them anyway. hmmmm.....

 

[Hectic]

Well done!

 

[joffieb]

PART 2

6) Made a 90 degree female to male IDE pinout so that the XGR would fit (standing up it was to high)

Please advise how you did this.

Thanks

Joffie B

 

[SirFooK'nG]

Just a quick note... Still working like a charm, but i got a bug up my a$$ and went out and bought the HD-PVR (was on special for R2999 - good price!). Loving the HD-PVR, yes its slightly less responsive, but still very very nice!

Eish... I now have the SD-PVR, HD-PVR and my mVix-PVR.... jee What next?!?

 

[cfvh600]

Just a quick note... Still working like a charm, but i got a bug up my a$$ and went out and bought the HD-PVR (was on special for R2999 - good price!). Loving the HD-PVR, yes its slightly less responsive, but still very very nice!

Eish... I now have the SD-PVR, HD-PVR and my mVix-PVR.... jee What next?!?

Tivo......

 

[SirFooK'nG]

Tivo......

got to many damn remotes now!

 

[ribbo]

IRG (or anyone else), I am trying to do the same thing - using the same controller and 500GB SATA disk as well.

However - when I boot the PVR with the disk and controller attached it get stuck dispaying 3==3 on the front panel. If I disconnect the hdd and leave the controller in and powered the PVR boots perfectly.

I ave checked the controller and disk and PC - the BIOS detects it. I am pretty sure about my partitions.

Any ideas?

 

[ribbo]

Ok, seems that the problem is when I use the IDE cable to connect the adapter to the PVR. Some reading and deep thought -- -- later shows that I cannot plug the adapter into the IDE cable using some form of mother-daughter riser connector.

How did you make the 90 degree male to male adapter IRG?

 

[S.T.A.L.K.E.R]

Ok, seems that the problem is when I use the IDE cable to connect the adapter to the PVR. Some reading and deep thought -- -- later shows that I cannot plug the adapter into the IDE cable using some form of mother-daughter riser connector.

How did you make the 90 degree male to male adapter IRG?

In the likely event u manage to find that ide male to female converter thingie please let me know. of update this post. cos I manage to find a 750g ide for R850 but is running way too hot. So please keep my posted

 

[SirFooK'nG]

Sorry guys I have not been on this thread for a while...

Firstly, my mod is still running flawlessly!!! Very happy with it, althou I bought the HD-PVR now and hardly ever use the SD-PVR for recording anymore.... sigh

as for the 90deg male to female ide pin converter. I went to a local electronics suppplier and bought the parts there. (I have two brothers who are both in the electronics / mechanical engineering fields) So the one boet told me the stuff I needed (cant remember the names of them - the pins that is).

Because you dont get a 90 male to female pin, we had to solder two male ends together as in my pic...

you can see the 90 is male on both ends and the female is has male pins on the one end too. So we soldered each pin (there are more pins than the standars 40 pin IDE - just cut to the correct length) from the male 90 to the male side of the female. Once done the we tested each solder for continuity with a tester. Plug the female onto the PVR board and the males into the XGR....

Edit: dont mind those extra pins on the female side... We just put them in for support while soldering. As you can see there are actually two females next to eachother in order to make up the required 40 pins for IDE.

 

[superjuice]

got to many damn remotes now!

http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Harm...8?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1261495182&sr=8-8

Just got one, works an absolute charm!

If you don't need RF, check out the Harmony One.