seadweller Posted March 1, 2005 Report Share Posted March 1, 2005 Got one today, very noisy!, new one coming Thursday. Anyone had the same experience? should I send it back and stick a 250GB hard drive in my Sky+ instead? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparky Posted March 1, 2005 Report Share Posted March 1, 2005 Is there no other differences in the two systems? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waylander Posted March 1, 2005 Report Share Posted March 1, 2005 which magazine commented they are noisy - all i can add i'm afraid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seadweller Posted March 2, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 2, 2005 [ QUOTE ] Is there no other differences in the two systems? [/ QUOTE ] Hi Not that I know of. We were always on the edge of the 40GB, and although I have only had it for a day, I think the extra storage is a must Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seadweller Posted March 2, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 2, 2005 [ QUOTE ] which magazine commented they are noisy - all i can add i'm afraid [/ QUOTE ] I did a quick google and found lots of stuff on the problem, so got straight on the phone to Sky. They are bringing a new one tomorrow, but if it is not a lot nearer to the noise levels of our 40GB Sky+ box, then I will cancel it and get a second 40GB one instead and spend the £200 (they charged me £299 for the 160 (as an existing customer) but I have since found out you can get it off them for £250) saving on a new hard drive for our original one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big_Dan Posted March 2, 2005 Report Share Posted March 2, 2005 I've bought a 250Gb disk for ours - just haven't viewed everything stored on the old one yet! The only other difference (apart from the disk) with the 160 is the addition of 2 USB 2.0 ports for "future use". Upgrading the old box is supposed to be pretty simple. A suitable 160Gb disk is about £50, a 250Gb about a £100. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seadweller Posted March 2, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 2, 2005 [ QUOTE ] I've bought a 250Gb disk for ours - just haven't viewed everything stored on the old one yet! The only other difference (apart from the disk) with the 160 is the addition of 2 USB 2.0 ports for "future use". Upgrading the old box is supposed to be pretty simple. A suitable 160Gb disk is about £50, a 250Gb about a £100. [/ QUOTE ] Yes, should have thought of getting a second 40GB and upgrading the old 40GB first really but guess I just subconsciously wanted the '160' written on the front! Gotta go, UPS van just pulled up with my Sony PSP. Gone a bit gadget'tastic since selling the S3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazza_g Posted March 2, 2005 Report Share Posted March 2, 2005 [ QUOTE ] Gotta go, UPS van just pulled up with my Sony PSP. Gone a bit gadget'tastic since selling the S3 [/ QUOTE ] Pics and review to follow shortly I hope Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seadweller Posted March 2, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 2, 2005 [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] Gotta go, UPS van just pulled up with my Sony PSP. Gone a bit gadget'tastic since selling the S3 [/ QUOTE ] Pics and review to follow shortly I hope [/ QUOTE ] Gotta brush up on my Japanese first! Am gonna get the new 17" Philips LCD ASAP too. It can record onto memory sticks (and other cards), and I am hoping they can than be viewed on the PSP? Am up against it working on the house at the mo, but will do my best with a review Pics in a mo (taken with my S700i, which is a top phone, and should do until the W800 comes out) Right, lets see what a UMD looks like? Should I wait for the unit to get to room temp (after being in the cold van) or just whack it on? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparky Posted March 2, 2005 Report Share Posted March 2, 2005 Just upgrade the existing Sky+. No need to get the 160 if it's only disk space. A neighbour upgraded theirs within 10 minutes. Pop the lid open, remove old disk and replace with new one - then followed some notes they got from www.digitalspy.com and they were up and running with a 120GB disk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seadweller Posted March 8, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 8, 2005 [ QUOTE ] Just upgrade the existing Sky+. No need to get the 160 if it's only disk space. A neighbour upgraded theirs within 10 minutes. Pop the lid open, remove old disk and replace with new one - then followed some notes they got from www.digitalspy.com and they were up and running with a 120GB disk. [/ QUOTE ] Thanks Sparky. I have done a bit of research, and it seems that whilst changing the hard drive is fairly easy, they come in 'performance' mode, i.e. noisey, and have to be connected to a P.C. and have software changed if you want them to run quitely? As my main concern is noise and I am not good with computers, I may as well keep the 160? Do you (or anyone ) know what use the USB's are on the 160 are? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisT Posted March 8, 2005 Report Share Posted March 8, 2005 I'm not sure what Sky are going to use it for, but they are putting it on the projects I'm working on (I do freeview kit) for future expansion atm probably only a 2nd hard disk and maybe a DVD burner. There was also talk of maybe doing a photo browser from a USB key, but that sounds like a gimiky sales thingy that our parent company loves to come up with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seadweller Posted March 8, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 8, 2005 Thanks Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparky Posted March 8, 2005 Report Share Posted March 8, 2005 [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] Just upgrade the existing Sky+. No need to get the 160 if it's only disk space. A neighbour upgraded theirs within 10 minutes. Pop the lid open, remove old disk and replace with new one - then followed some notes they got from www.digitalspy.com and they were up and running with a 120GB disk. [/ QUOTE ] Thanks Sparky. I have done a bit of research, and it seems that whilst changing the hard drive is fairly easy, they come in 'performance' mode, i.e. noisey, and have to be connected to a P.C. and have software changed if you want them to run quitely? As my main concern is noise and I am not good with computers, I may as well keep the 160? Do you (or anyone ) know what use the USB's are on the 160 are? [/ QUOTE ] We used IBM/Hitachi Deskstar drives (have been for ages) and you cannot hear it at all. It's as quiet, if not quieter than the model (no label) it replaced. It runs at 7200 RPM. It was dropped in, and forgotten about. Worked a treat! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarMad Posted March 8, 2005 Report Share Posted March 8, 2005 Can you remember what drive it was.. Mine is about to drop out of warranty and I am going to give mine Sky+ box the treat of more space to play with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seadweller Posted March 9, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 9, 2005 Thanks Sparky, Do you have any model numbers? I want about 160-200gb, and can you tell me what precautions I need to take re. 'static discharge' when changing the drive? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparky Posted March 10, 2005 Report Share Posted March 10, 2005 Yes, it was the Deskstar GX120 Series. Seriously, you couldn't tell this drive was running. The 7200 drives can get a little warm, but as Sky+ has a fan, this seems okay. You could opt for the 5400 drives but I think these might be too slow. I'm just about to upgrade our system to a 200GB but have just read the firmware upgrades to these boxes limit it to 180GB. That and having to watch all the programs on the old drive first! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigyb Posted March 10, 2005 Report Share Posted March 10, 2005 250GB Maxtor works fine in my original SKY+ box, both use the same firmware. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daz Posted March 10, 2005 Report Share Posted March 10, 2005 Deskstar's aren't known as "Deathstars" for no reason - wouldn't touch one with a barge pole. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparky Posted March 10, 2005 Report Share Posted March 10, 2005 I was waiting for that one! Installed over 50 of these drives for friends, myself and family. Not one failure. Can't say the same for Seagate, WD or Maxtor. I think it's luck of the draw as I know those brands are good and some people have no problems. Besides, it's only TV shows you're recording. Not the end of the world whatever drive dies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daz Posted March 10, 2005 Report Share Posted March 10, 2005 What and lose all my TV programs I upgraded my Tivo with a 120Gb Maxtor drive. At the time they were recommended and was told to get a 5400RPM version as they run much cooler and quieter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparky Posted March 11, 2005 Report Share Posted March 11, 2005 If anyone is interested, I'm upgrading my Sky+ box this weekend with a 300gb HDD as they are only £122 for Maxtor 10s (7200 rpm). If anyone wants the model number of the current sky hard disk, let me know. Can do a full upgrade guide if required. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big_Dan Posted March 12, 2005 Report Share Posted March 12, 2005 I thought the 300Mb disk wouldn't work? Putting my 250Gb in this evening ... I'll let you know Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seadweller Posted March 13, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 13, 2005 [ QUOTE ] I thought the 300Mb disk wouldn't work? Putting my 250Gb in this evening ... I'll let you know [/ QUOTE ] Is that a Maxtor? If so/not, what model is it? Hope the mod goes well, and look forward to hearing about it and how you find the new drive I cannot live with the Sky+ 160 (it's not just the amount of noise it makes, but the constant changing in pitch!) and they are due to take it back tomorrow, so I will need to get a new drive in my old one soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigyb Posted March 14, 2005 Report Share Posted March 14, 2005 I tried a 300G, no go, 250GB's are ok Craig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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