Dish Network enables external storage, Ethernet port on DVRs
[Thanks, Art]
[Thanks, Art]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
dukefan @ Aug 15th 2007 9:41PM
umm......yea......directv???? :(
zik @ Aug 15th 2007 10:19PM
You've got wrong info. Recordings can be played directly from the USB drive and don't have to be first moved back to the receiver's hard drive to be played.
SpenceJT @ Aug 15th 2007 11:05PM
the $39.99 enabling fee is also a "one time" fee on a per account basis (covering multiple receivers in a given household). There is also no limitation to the number of external drives that may be used. The initial firmware version enabling external storage currently limits drives to a maximum of 750GB in size and only a single drive may be connected at one time, however Dish has mentioned that future firmware upgrades will allow the use of larger drives (It was demonstrated at a satellite convention using a 1TB drive), and USB hubs enabling multiple drives to connect simultaneously.
Greg Caulder @ Aug 16th 2007 12:39AM
Can you plug the external drive back into your PC to take the video files and watch them from the PC? it seems ever one has left this little detail out?
Cash @ Aug 16th 2007 4:12AM
Not yet, but how long do you think it will take the hacker community to come up with a program for doing just that? I give it a couple months tops.
y0lorenzo @ Aug 16th 2007 4:10AM
will content moved/recorded to Ext HDD be DRM'd? what can be done with the Ethernet port?
dslate @ Aug 16th 2007 9:15AM
y0lorenzo,
All content on the drive will be encrypted just like it is on the internal drive and the stream coming from the sat itself. When you play recordings from the HD it is just like it is getting it LIVE from the sat. It does not compress or unencrypt the data to store it on the HD.
Marc @ Aug 16th 2007 8:45AM
I think zik's right, you don't have to move it back to the receiver in order to watch it. You do however, just need to go to a different option than "My Recordings" to access what you have on the drive. But it does stay there.
SpenceJT @ Aug 16th 2007 9:44AM
Ethernet port is currently enabled for use in place of the "call home" feature (wherein the receiver calls home to check in and update usage data). It will eventually be used for Video on Demand content (SD only for the ViP622, HD & SD for the new ViP722), Dish Home (interactive feature with access to account info etc.), and remote scheduling of recordings, something that I am pretty excited about.
There are rumors floating around that while the "ViP" indicates "Video over IP" as in the Video on Demand feature, it may also mean that networked ViP models may be able to share recorded content via the LAN which would also be cool, but I'm not holding my breath because Dish is very concerned about maintaining integrity of recorded material that is any way copyrighted.
Cheers,
Spence
CPLO @ Aug 16th 2007 9:40AM
Here are some network setup instructions I found on the Dish tech site.
http://tech.dishnetwork.com/departmental_content/TechPortal/images/pdf/tech/HomeNetworkInstallGuide.pdf
andy @ Aug 16th 2007 12:06PM
I'm looking at you Tivo.
/glaring/
Rubaiyat @ Aug 16th 2007 6:50PM
Called E*, rep did not know what to do, asked around, was told, need a formatted HDD to start with. Did not want to format my drive, at least not right now, but definitely a welcome change. Thank you E*!!
pnzrfckr @ Aug 17th 2007 1:10AM
It amuses me how Mr. Patel types down incorrect knowledge and doesn't bother to edit the mistake. Videos can be played directly off the external hard drive without having to transfer it back to the internal drive. Where did you get your info? In a Direct TV message board? Because I don't see where it states that in the link for the article. : P
Nilay Patel @ Aug 17th 2007 4:08AM
I got my info directly from the Dish Network information sheet that was distributed to customers. I apologize if it's inaccurate or outdated, but that's the information I received.
Jann @ Oct 20th 2007 12:16PM
Well, he was KINDA right. The main receiver can play directly from the hard drive, but the secondary reciever on the VIP622 cannot. The option is grayed out! :(
SpenceJT @ Aug 25th 2007 10:43PM
Not a problem Nilay Patel. Just trying to see that Dish Network gets a fair shake. After all, I think this may be one of the first times that they have actually made good on activating any feature that was originally described as "for future use". ;)
Are the upgrades perfect? No. Is it a step in the right direction? Heck yeah!
Regards,
Spence
virtue @ Aug 21st 2007 9:33AM
I recently paid for this service though dish network. They reformatted my external hard drive and i have successfully copied over events from my dvr to my external hard drive. However my problem is that my computer no longer recognizes my external hard drive and therefore i can not add other file types to it, i.e. music or picture files.
If anyone has experienced this or knows what i need to do to get my external hard drive working again please let me know.
Thanks.
Richard W @ Aug 23rd 2007 9:37AM
The HD will be unusable on your PC until you attach it to your PC, use Disk Management within Computer Management to delete the un-lettered partitions (there will be two), create new partitian(s) and format. Of course none of the content added by the DVR will be present. If you then reattach the HD to the DVR, it will reformat it and loose any content added by the PC. The HD works in one location or another, not both. Hope this helps.
300bowling @ Aug 25th 2007 12:54PM
I found this to be a problem also. I can transfer up to 4 saved programs at a time...but when I tried to transfer additional programs I got a message advising that an error had occurred during the transfer. This kept repeating over and over. To transfer additional programs I have to power off the DVR and unplug the storage drive. After restarting both I can move another 4 programs. It's a bother but all transferred programs can be instantly accessed...with no problems someone else mentioned (not being able to view HD quality movies from the storage drive). HD looks just like HD should off the external storage drive!!!
Ed @ Sep 26th 2007 3:12PM
Be advised that when you format your drive to the 622/722 vip series receiver it is formatted for only the receiver. When you signed up you should have been told that you can never go back to your computer with this drive. You would have to reformat the drive for the operating system on your computer and of course you erase all your drive contents. Same goes when you first attach the drive to Dishnetwork receivers on your account.
You can move the drive to up to three times on vip 622/722 receivers on your account only but the 3rd time it will tend to stay with that receiver. If you move it back to another receiver on your account you reformat for that receiver. This is for Copyright Protection per MPAA and other Federal laws that all providers must adhere to. The Dishnetwork receiver is Linux based and proprietary software thus not readable by your PC or laptop.
Jeff Baker @ Oct 12th 2007 11:06PM
I just activated my external hard drive yesterday. I can only play video for a few minutes and it then freezes up. It disconnects the USB device and fails to recognize it, but if I unplug the power supply to the external hard drive for a few seconds and plug it back in it will then recognize it again.
I am not sure if your will react the same, but give it a try. I did not want to unplug the USB cable as I am not sure of all the details of it requiring a reformat of the external hard drive if you have swapped hard drives three times.
Terry @ Oct 31st 2007 12:24PM
I have the same problem with my external drive after I hooked it back into my computer. Try these steps:
SOLUTION:
1. Right click on My Computer and choose Manage.
2. Navigate to Disk Management and check to see if the drive is appearing
as a drive. The drive is showing
3. If it is showing as unallocated, right-click on it and Partition the
drive.
4. If it is showing as formatted and healthy, right-click on it, choose
'change Drive Letter and Path' to assign a drive letter.
Kimberly @ Aug 22nd 2007 8:19AM
I recently installed an Hitachi 750 external hard drive and copied content to it. I can view right from the hard drive (which is good). My problem: when viewing the content on the hard drive, it is no longer being displayed in HighDef. It is ok to view....just doesn't have the POP it does with HD. Is there something I can do about this to be able to view the shows in HighDef from the Hard Drive? Has anybody else experienced this?
Dennis V @ Aug 24th 2007 9:30AM
I just installed a Western Digital 750G "My Book Premium Edition" external HDD to my Dish Vi622 DVR. When it is connected, it reformats the hard drive which erases all information that is on the HDD. I assume the formatting changes the operating system to a system your PC will no longer recognize. The content can be viewed from the HDD without having to restore it to the DVR and it is displayed in HD. It looks as good as the original recording on my HD Plasma screen.
Nickso @ Aug 24th 2007 10:44AM
I had no issues setting this up. I asked the Dish Tech very specific questions:
Q- What video format does the DVR use to copy the video to the USB drive
A- AVI for normal Def and MPeg 2 for HD.
Q- Will I be able to plug the USB Dive into my PC and watch and Xfer the videos.
A- Was told directly from the Dish rep (he also asked around) that I would be able to do this, but that I would need the correct codecs.
When the DVR wanted to format the drive, I instantly thought that it was going to use a "special" Dish file system format.
I moved a few shows to the USB drive and watched them.
I say moved since this is what the DVR does. When the DVR places the recording on the USB drive, it removes it from the DVR.
When you move the recording from the USB drive to the DVR, the DVR removes it from USB drive.
I was VERY impressed with the speed of the xfer to the USB Drive.
The videos played great from the USB drive.
I connected the USB drive to my PC and what I suspected was true. I had to go into Disk Management to see the drives.
The drive showed up, but it was split into 2 Basic partitions.
(For Both)
File Systems = Blank
Status = Healthy(unknown partition)
First Partition:
Capacity = 151.6GB
Free Space = 151.6GB
% Free = 100%
Second Partition:
Capacity = 1GB
Free Space = 1GB
% Free = 100%
My USB drive is a 250GB, so I am not sure where the other 150GB went as I only copied about 20GB of DVR data.
I am going to move the shows back to the DVR and keep one show that I don't really care about.
I'm then going to use Partition Commander, Partition Magic or other tools to try to format the drive and keep the data to see what the data is.
But as someone else suggested, encryption might be another issue.
Nick
Jack @ Aug 24th 2007 9:40PM
The drive is reformated to Linux.
The videos are encrypted "tsp" files.
Dish Network uses Nagravision (1 and 2) encryption.
That's all I know so far.
JozJonlin @ Aug 25th 2007 11:47AM
Seems to me that if the AppleTV box can be hacked, there shouldn't be too much of a problem for this to be hacked and cracked, as well. For now, it's simplly hurry up and wait for the codemonkey's to do their thing.
I can't believe we're limited to 750GB! I was really hoping to replace my paltry 120GB drive with a TB drive. Still, moving recorded content back and forth between the DVR and USB Drive has been flawless, as well as playing that content. Nice job Dish!
imike30 @ Aug 27th 2007 11:16AM
I am excited to see any software relating to pulling videos off the hard drive for use on my mac - I will be watching these posts eagerly for the next few weeks for ideas that might work.
gabe222 @ Aug 28th 2007 5:46PM
I just added the 750gb WD MyBook to my 622 and archived a HD program. It plays back in HD. But the 2nd TV connected to the 622 does not recognize the USB drive. I guess I can archive a bunch of shows but I'll have to watch it on TV1 only - or restore it and then be able to watch it on TV2. Anyone know if it's possible to watch a program on TV2 that's archived on the USB drive.
itsky @ Aug 30th 2007 5:40PM
You can use a freeware program from DiskInternals named Linux Reader which will allow you to browse the Linux EXT2/EXT3 file systems. I was able to copy them over to my local hard drive. Now I'm looking for some way to play the files.
Ivan Reel @ Sep 20th 2007 2:52PM
I find VLC (Video Lan Converter) unwraps many archives formats and plays them back. ISO mounts at the very least.
Ivan
Tom @ Sep 1st 2007 1:01PM
I signed up and had my Dish 622 DVR USB activated. I have a Dvico multimedia device with a 300gb hard drive. If I connect it with a USB cable the Satellite box sees the hard drive and wants to format it. I said NO because I don't want to loose all my multimedia files. However if I connect my external 2 1/2 120gb Samsung Hard Drive the satalitte box says no USB device connected. I even tried connecting the external hard drive via a powered USB hub with the same result. I have been in contact with Dish Tech support 3 times and spent hours on the phone with no solution. Now they want to replace the 622. I don't think that will solve the problem. Why does the 622 see 1 hard drive but not the other? I tried to cancel the USB activation but Dish will not give me a refund. Do I keep buying external hard drives until I find one that works??
cpfoutz @ Sep 1st 2007 7:32PM
The info I've found here corresponds with what I've found elsewhere...the drive is a linux partition and can be read as such. all files are stored as .tsp files. I found the following link to make the files readable http://www.lyberty.com/mediatech/projects/tsp-to-mpeg.html Does this work?
The only reason I want this feature is so I can take my tv shows on the road and watch from my laptop. So far it looks like I'd need to dual boot with linux and install a reader...I'm hoping I wouldn't have to demux. can someone check this?
David Voss @ Sep 3rd 2007 3:19PM
I have removed the Hard Drive from my DISHDVR522, disconnected my PC's CD player and used those connections to connect the HD to my PC. Then I used the program Ext2Mgr (See http://lyberty.com/mediatech/projects/dishrip.html for a link) to mount the linux partitions from the DVR HD. I copied the files from the 3rd partition of the DVR HD to my own USB drive, because I have to ship the DVR back to DishNetwork for replacement.
I downloaded the Zoom Player mentioned on the Lyberty site above, but the player doesn't work for me, so I haven't yet been able to view the .TSP video files from my computer.
I haven't yet tried to next steps mentioned at the Lyberty site for burning video DVDs from the files.
If anybody finds a .TSP viewer that works, please post the information.
manny @ Sep 3rd 2007 9:45PM
I have been palying with a couple of HD. (one WD 160 7200 rpm ATA 3.5 inch and one Seg. 120 2.5 inc. 4200 rpm).
Transfer speed is really bad for the 7200 and terrible for teh 4200, makes it almost unusable.
The DVR formtas the HDs to a Linux only format, and makes 2 partitions, 1 GB and the rest.
I have been able to MOUNT the drive when conecting to an Ubuntu PC, no success reading it so far. Windows can not even understand what this drive is. MAC can see the drive but can nether mounted it nor read it. Fedora is at the same level.
I will post any success (if ever get any) ..
My next step is to actually SEE the files, If I get to it, then will worry about READING them.
Bye
David Voss @ Sep 3rd 2007 11:43PM
Since my last post I have found a program that can read Linux partitions and convert DishNetworks .TSP files to .MPGs which Nero can use to create Video DVDs that play in your DVD player. The program is PvrExplorer-Pro and can be downloaded for free from http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=165873.
As in my previous post, I took DishNets hard drive out of their DVR and installed it in place of my CD player. I ran PvrExplorer-Pro and it found the Linux drive and listed the names of all of the programs we had recorded. I then could convert individual files or all files at once to .MPGs.
I put these on a USB drive so that my wife and I can each access the files on our own computers. We can play them on our computers and create DVDs from the ones that we want to save for a while.
A MARVELOUS program!!!
webaliasrex @ Sep 5th 2007 12:51AM
I haven't tried taking DishNet's hard drive out of their DVR (mine's a VIP622) and installing it in lieu of a CD drive. But I have downloaded and installed PvrExplorer-Pro (both the Mac and the Windows versions) in an attempt to use it to read the external USB hard drive I've got authorized and working with the VIP622. As others have found, the Mac can see my USB drive (a Western Digital 750 GB) in its Disk Utility program, which shows me its Linux partitions. But the Mac can't mount or read the drive, and running PvrExplorer-Pro doesn't change that -- the program says its unable to locate "any PVR HDDs" connected to the computer, even though the USB drive is connected. I get the same result with the Windows versions of PvrExplorer-Pro when I connect the USB drive to a computer running Windows. I'm thinking of installing Linux on one of my computers to see if it can read the USB drive and give me access to the .tsp files, which PvrExplorer could presumably then read -- the program invites me to look for .tsp files in a local folder after it tells me it can't find any PVR HDD. But somebody said Linux Ubuntu isn't finding the drive either. Anybody else have any additional suggestions?
webaliasrex @ Sep 5th 2007 12:54AM
I went ahead and installed Linux (Ubuntu) as the OS an older Dell PC I had sitting around -- first time I'd used Linux, but installation was easy enough. The Dell now reads my USB drive (formatted in Linux by Dish) just fine; I can see several partitions and some tsp and other files. And because Linux, Windows and Mac OS X can all read USB disks formatted in Fat 32, it was easy enough to connect a second (Fat 32) USB drive, and copy the all files over to it. Now I can see the tsp and other files on my Mac, or on another Windows PC, or on my new (old) Linux computer. Problem is, I can't play the files on any of those computers. I did a Google search and found software for each OS that would theoretically play tsp files (Mplayer for Mac, Xine for Linux, Zoom Player for Windows) -- but nothing would play any of these. Maybe there's still something out there, but I haven't found it yet.
David Voss @ Sep 4th 2007 10:27PM
Webaliasrex,
1)I installed Red Hat Linux on a computer and connected the DVR drive, but Linux did not see the files. I think it might have seen the partitions, but would not give me access to them. I didnt have time to pursue.
2)I live in San Diego, but work in Phoenix, which is where Im at right now. This weekend, I intend to experiment with connecting the DVR's hard drive to an IDE to USB adapter to treat the DVRs drive like a USB drive. Your experience leads me to believe that it needs to be connected directly, on the IDE bus. Well see.
William @ Sep 5th 2007 6:37PM
I recently activated the Dish USB storage capability. Unfortunately, the DVR had to reformat my hard drive, and I would lose anything I had saved on there. Once it was reformatted, my computer would not mount the hard drive, rendering it useless with the computer. I currently have a macbook with OS 10.4. Is there a way I can get the hard drive to work on both the Dish and my computer? I don't necessarily need to get these recorded Dish movies to play on my computer. I just want to use my 1 hard drive for both. Any help would be appreciated.
ButlerBob @ Sep 7th 2007 10:44AM
I upgraded to the USB archive option, moved over 3 different programs: an OTA HD recording, ESPN2HD recording (should be mpeg4 stream), and a SD recording. None of the TSP files play in MPlayer or Zoom, and PvrExplorerPro pukes when trying to extract the show. Although, they really aren't .tsp files. Here is what I have noticed. Once on the USB drive the file structure is as follows:
Drive Root (F:\)
- F:\DishArc
- F:\lost+found
F:\DishArc contains 1 folder for each show archived, I'll just pick the first one and list it.
F:\DishArc\1ef3ec0 contains 4 files, each with no file extension. There names are:
F:\DishArc\1ef3ec0\bm (3KB)
F:\DishArc\1ef3ec0\cat (1KB)
F:\DishArc\1ef3ec0\tsp (46,248KB)
F:\DishArc\1ef3ec0\wtt (24KB)
the bm file looks to hold some descriptive info on the show
the cat file holds the same info, at least the readable part as the bm but has other info like my receiver model, channel, etc.
tsp file should be the video but nothing runs it
wtt file doesn't have any user readable info
just my 2 cents
domo @ Sep 7th 2007 9:03PM
Like stated above, use "Linux Reader" from diskinternals and you can browse and copy
the tsp files over to your windows hard drive. From there, I can't get much to happen.
All media players I have gives me some kind of invalid format error.
PvrExplorerPro says that the files are encrypted
FusionHDTV gives me the following error.
'ocum' is not a valid integer value.
hope someone can get it to work.
Hey David Voss, how did you get pvrexplorer to find your hard drive? if I have it connected to usb or ide it still cannot find the drive.
Dave Voss @ Sep 5th 2007 1:12PM
I'll have to give you more info when I'm back home this weekend. I only have my work laptop here with me in Phoenix.
As I recall, there's a batch file in the PvrExplorer-Pro folder. I think it's called "Setup.Bat". Edit it and add a line that says "Pause" at the end of the file. That way you can see error messages before the window closes. Run the batch file from a command prompt and include an operating system parameter. For example, for Windows XP it would be "Setup XP". Later it will ask for a file that it can't find. Search the PvrExplorer-Pro folders for the file. It's there, you just need to tell the program where it's at. I copied the file to the directory where it was first searching.
Also, according to a Yahoo group for PvrExplorer-Pro you can use an IDE/SATA-to-USB adapter and read the drive on a USB port. Also, they open the DVR case, but don't remove the DVR drive. They just remove the drive connectors and attach the USB adapter.
TuoKen @ Sep 8th 2007 3:57PM
Interesting to find this site, as I have been going through hoops getting my USB drive to work. As others mentioned, Dish had no idea of how to deal with this, even to the point of being told it couldn't be done, that hooking anything up to the 622 would be against the law!
Anyway, they sent out techs to replace the 622 and still couldn't get the brand new ST3500830A 500GB drive to work. They left shaking their heads and said Dish would call us to let us know what to do next. Since no one called from Dish, I pulled the Seagate out of the external drive box I had (an Acomdata that came with a Hitachi 350GB drive - I didn't want to use that drive as I had a lot on it I didn't want to lose), and put it in another box - an A Power AP35USL, and it works like a charm. BTW, both came from Computer Geeks.com, great buys!
SO now I have it working and of course want MORE. I found the Linux Reader software and was able to copy the files from one recorded event over to my PC. So now I'm looking for something to actually DO something with them on the PC. I have not had any luck with PvrExplorer, though haven't tried the setup tips above (yet).
Question - an HD event of just over two hours seems to be a bit under 5 gigs. That should mean I could at least store it on a DL DVD. Does that seem right? I assume that converting the files fattens them up some?
Ken
Ivan Reel @ Sep 20th 2007 2:52PM
I am wondering and maybe you an help. Will the drive need to be 7200 rpm. Or can it be 5400rpm. Lots of good deals on 5400rpm drives out there.
Ivan
Jason Ludwig @ Sep 8th 2007 11:39PM
Has anyone had any success getting the files they've transferred to their computer to play on their computer?
domo @ Sep 9th 2007 8:42PM
Here is what I found:
1) External HD encrypts the files.
2) Internal HD doesn't
3) PVRExplorerPro will transfer the mpeg2 files only. The Mpeg4 files are shown, but won't transfer.
If you want to transfer the mpeg2 files over to your computer, here are the steps.
1) Take cover off of vip622
2) Place vip622 near your pc with an open sata connection
3) Turn off pc
4) plug vip622 in electrical outlet. The fans will start running loud and then stop. Then you can hear the internal hard drive start working.
5) disconnect the sata connection on back of internal hard drive
6) plug sata cable connected to your pc into the internal hard drive
7) turn pc on
8) pvrexplorer pro should now see your hd and files
BTW I tried to just take the hard drive out and connect it to PC, but pvrexplorer wouldn't recognize it, so I guess you have to leave it in the 622 for initialization.
Hope that MPEG4 gets supported in pvrexplorerpro soon!!
brando @ Sep 11th 2007 2:56AM
Okay, I have tried everything above. Thank you everybody for your valued data that you have collected!
Ext2Fsd will read the data and copy to my hard drive.
It is saved as 4 files without extension...
bm, cat, tsp, and wtt
I have tried all above solutions, but I cannot play or convert the files.
Also, TuoKen, The files are broadcast in 1080i through cable. That is why the file is around 4 gigs. If we ever figure out how to convert it, the Dish files will be perfect on DVD and will be great quality!
Thanks everyone, let's make it happen!
brando
P.S. I have Nero 7 Ultra Edition, DVD Decrypter, DVD Shrink, DVDFab HD Decrypter, and AnyDVD. All these programs convert video to DVD format, so it should work, but we have to find a way to convert these 4 files to a solid video format. Lemme know if you have any thoughts...
domo @ Sep 11th 2007 6:41PM
you haven't tried my method because you wouldn't have those 4 encrypted files from the external hard drive. You would have one mpeg file which is playable on your computer and free to do whatever you wish.
TuoKen @ Sep 20th 2007 4:15PM
I'm surprised the files are so SMALL. Since HD DVDs are 25 GB, what is different about the HD feed we are getting? How is it that we can (eventually) put a full HD movie on a regular DVD?
I already know that my Toshiba A2 HD DVD player can play a home-made HD DVD. I used Pinnacle Studio 11 with some big jpeg files and created about a 20 minute animation. It plays at full HD. V. Cool.