1TB is most likely a software limitation of the Sky firmware, but not one which can be overcome with external formatting with Copy+ like the 508GB limit could (I've tried). There is a hard stop at 2TB though which would probably require some major recoding of some of the XTV file system.
However it has been reported that the new EPG gets progressively slower the more programs there are in your planner. Most users seem to agree that anything over 1TB would result in unacceptably slow performance due to the number of recordings. Hence, I expect, the lack of people trying larger drives.
Also the above confirmation was from one user, and on one particular box, software and HDD variant - YMMV.
I've upgrade one my HD boxes (Thomson) with 1Tb some time ago - it's now down to around 12% free and certainly the new EPG became very sluggish.
What seems to work for me is to disable the mini-tv view and the performance improvement is marked - coupled with the ability to see more Planner entries in one go. The only downside it the program information has to be manually selected - no big deal, really.
My 1tb with the new EPG was painfully slow, now got a 640gb in and its quick again so size does matter
I have a (pretty full!) 1Tb WD drive in my Thomson model 4E007. While it is slowish I can live with it - and, in my case, I would not call it "painfully slow"
I have a (pretty full!) 1Tb WD drive in my Thomson model 4E007. While it is slowish I can live with it - and, in my case, I would not call it "painfully slow"
I have a very full 1Tb Samsung in my Thommo - can't really say epg is any slower than old one - but I disabled mini-tv from day 1 (would be ok if it didn't lose half the epg lines)
Why has no one invented the switchable Sata stack where you can select from a stack of 500gb hard drives?
Of course, this could only be done whilst the box was off as can you imagine how upset your Sky box would get if you switched in another hard drive mid-flow. :eek:
Also, finding an easy and reliable way to copy/convert off at least the FTA stuff that you wanted to keep over to your PC would be an idea.
However, since getting Sky+HD only two weeks ago, I have found that it stops me collecting loads of crap that I will never watch again like I did with VHS tapes.
Why has no one invented the switchable Sata stack where you can select from a stack of 500gb hard drives?
That was the question I asked Pace customer service on the day the original Sky+ box was launched in 2000(?). There was no demand then apparently and is none now obviously.
I suspect this has a lot to do with managing content rights. Imagine what you could achieve recording and passing on multple copies of high-demand content block-buster films, sports finals, porn, etc.
That was the question I asked Pace customer service on the day the original Sky+ box was launched in 2000(?). There was no demand then apparently and is none now obviously.
I suspect this has a lot to do with managing content rights. Imagine what you could achieve recording and passing on multple copies of high-demand content block-buster films, sports finals, porn, etc.
But surely as the recording could only be played with the correct sky card, passing to another person would not work?
An external disk array, where disks were in removable caddies would be a great idea, particularily for those who hoard various HD recordings.
I'm wondering (as I often do) why am I not working on this (as i have an electronics background) instead of (as I usually do) waiting until someone else has brought one out and is making a mint from it and I am saying to myself "Why didn't I bring it out first? :mad: )
Having said that, Sky should have implemented the Sata socket (already sitting there doing nothing) on the back of the unit to plug in additional drives.
I'm wondering (as I often do) why am I not working on this (as i have an electronics background) instead of (as I usually do) waiting until someone else has brought one out and is making a mint from it and I am saying to myself "Why didn't I bring it out first? :mad: )
Having said that, Sky should have implemented the Sata socket (already sitting there doing nothing) on the back of the unit to plug in additional drives.
Can you imagine the problems Sky would cause if they tried to modify their software to allow access to another drive through the SATA socket :eek:
Haven't they caused enough problems with the new EPG :rolleyes:
Can you imagine the problems Sky would cause if they tried to modify their software to allow access to another drive through the SATA socket :eek:
Haven't they caused enough problems with the new EPG :rolleyes:
Well touch wood, I haven't had any problems yet, but they obviously do exist as per the postings on here. But as the socket is there and all wired to the chip, it shouldn't be such a major thing to enable it and to add a small "Drive Switch" sub-menu in the Options menu.
But Sky are renowned for having extra sockets that would be oh so useful if they implemented them, but never end up doing so.
So some type of third party Add-on to the internal Sata socket that is working and is already feeding the internal drive to add switchable external hard drive(s), would be an option at least.
Comments
they wont work, the biggest you can use 1TB and it has to be formatted with copy+ to work.
The Sky+HD box can only handle 1TB max, it's a hardware limitation.
Judging with what happenened in past with sky+ boxes, I suspect it is a software limitation.
1TB is most likely a software limitation of the Sky firmware, but not one which can be overcome with external formatting with Copy+ like the 508GB limit could (I've tried). There is a hard stop at 2TB though which would probably require some major recoding of some of the XTV file system.
However it has been reported that the new EPG gets progressively slower the more programs there are in your planner. Most users seem to agree that anything over 1TB would result in unacceptably slow performance due to the number of recordings. Hence, I expect, the lack of people trying larger drives.
Also the above confirmation was from one user, and on one particular box, software and HDD variant - YMMV.
What seems to work for me is to disable the mini-tv view and the performance improvement is marked - coupled with the ability to see more Planner entries in one go. The only downside it the program information has to be manually selected - no big deal, really.
I have a very full 1Tb Samsung in my Thommo - can't really say epg is any slower than old one - but I disabled mini-tv from day 1 (would be ok if it didn't lose half the epg lines)
Of course, this could only be done whilst the box was off as can you imagine how upset your Sky box would get if you switched in another hard drive mid-flow. :eek:
Also, finding an easy and reliable way to copy/convert off at least the FTA stuff that you wanted to keep over to your PC would be an idea.
However, since getting Sky+HD only two weeks ago, I have found that it stops me collecting loads of crap that I will never watch again like I did with VHS tapes.
That was the question I asked Pace customer service on the day the original Sky+ box was launched in 2000(?). There was no demand then apparently and is none now obviously.
I suspect this has a lot to do with managing content rights. Imagine what you could achieve recording and passing on multple copies of high-demand content block-buster films, sports finals, porn, etc.
But surely as the recording could only be played with the correct sky card, passing to another person would not work?
An external disk array, where disks were in removable caddies would be a great idea, particularily for those who hoard various HD recordings.
Having said that, Sky should have implemented the Sata socket (already sitting there doing nothing) on the back of the unit to plug in additional drives.
Can you imagine the problems Sky would cause if they tried to modify their software to allow access to another drive through the SATA socket :eek:
Haven't they caused enough problems with the new EPG :rolleyes:
Haven't they caused enough problems with the new EPG :rolleyes:
Well touch wood, I haven't had any problems yet, but they obviously do exist as per the postings on here. But as the socket is there and all wired to the chip, it shouldn't be such a major thing to enable it and to add a small "Drive Switch" sub-menu in the Options menu.
But Sky are renowned for having extra sockets that would be oh so useful if they implemented them, but never end up doing so.
So some type of third party Add-on to the internal Sata socket that is working and is already feeding the internal drive to add switchable external hard drive(s), would be an option at least.