ViP 211z + Hard Drive?

[timandsusan]

Any tips on connecting a hard drive to the DISH ViP 211z rcvr via the USB connector for recording programs? I am considering using this feature in the Monty.

[brenkco]

Tim,
Dish limits the external hard disk to a max of 2 TB. I'm not sure about the 211z but the 211k's USB port is not powered, therefore you must buy a hard disk with an external power supply. You'll need to activate it with Dish after you install it, a one time $40 charge, that will include all of your receivers. Once activated, you may have to restart your receiver and you'll be good to go.

The 211 only has one tuner so you can be recording a show and watch something on your dvr. However, you can't watch a live program while recording another since there is only one tuner.

Ken

[davidaf]

What Ken said. i bought the smallest AC powered drives I could find. Mainly use it for pause/rewind but record a bit when I know I won't be around.

[rohrmann]

Also, the 211z does not need to be self powered like is needed for the 211k, it will work connected to the usb port. When you install the hard drive, you go into setup, and have to format the drive, and after the setup, you should be good to go, this all after calling Dish to activate having a hard drive connected.