After reviewing the Dish Network Website regarding adding an EHD to my 211 Z receiver, I decided to give it a try.
The DISH instructions say the hard drive must be between 0.5tb and 2.0tb, and must conform to USB 2.0 standards, and must be externally powered and not rely on the USB to provide power to the unit.
Here is my experience:
I found the availability of powered EHDs to be outdated technology and now almost non existent. I could only find one unit (MY BOOK) and it was 1 tb and about the size of a paperback book. It seems almost all the EHDs being made today are quite small, only USB powered, and comply with USB 3.0 standards. So, I purchased a Seagate Portable 2 tb USB 3.0 compliant EHD from Amazon SEAGATE PORTABLE USB 3.0 2tb EHD for about $65. It is not much larger than a credit card. It seems the 3.0 USB is backward compatible with the USB 2.0, and that this unit has sufficient USB power to work with the receiver without an external power source. I just powered down the receiver, (pressed the power button on the remote), plugged the included USB 3.0 cable into the EHD and connected it to the 211 Z USB port, and when I pushed the power button on the receiver to turn it back on, it found the EHD and gave a number to call DISH to have it authorized. There is a one time fee of $40 which I had to agree to (to be added to my next bill).
After that, the DISH tech started the process, and the screen started downloading the authorization, and formatting the EHD. If there had been anything already recorded or otherwise entered into the EHD, it would be erased when formatted. It took about 30 minutes or so for the process to complete, and when finished, the EHD was installed and working. As a bonus, I found the Program Guide had been extended from the normal 2 day guide of the 211 Z to a 9 day guide, which makes it much more usable. It also allows scrolling back, pausing etc. on live programming similar to the other DISH receivers.
I can't guarantee all the newer USB 3.0 EHDs will work, but they probably will if between 0.5 tb and 2.0 tb, but this Seagate unit worked for me. I''m pretty sure that most non powered USBs will work if plugged into a powered USB hub connected to the 211 Z. if necessary.
The only drawback is that as the 211 Z is a single tuner receiver, it cannot record one program while watching another, but I can live with that.
I've wanted to do the external hard drive thing for a number of years. After reading this helpful post I ordered the Seagate unit for my 211 Z receiver. Got it activated and formatted, all well. Worked perfectly. Even set a couple movies to tape. Went out to the rig two days later and the receiver would not even turn on without unplugging the HD. Now it's working again but doesn't see the HD. Any ideas?
External Hard Drive for DISH 211 Z - GOOD NEWS.
in Satellite TV and Radio on the Road
Posted
I've wanted to do the external hard drive thing for a number of years. After reading this helpful post I ordered the Seagate unit for my 211 Z receiver. Got it activated and formatted, all well. Worked perfectly. Even set a couple movies to tape. Went out to the rig two days later and the receiver would not even turn on without unplugging the HD. Now it's working again but doesn't see the HD. Any ideas?
Thanks and regards.