Using a hard drive for recordings and USB stick for timeshift
- Thread starter trickpaul
- Start date
Bobbywolly
Member
Neater to use a micro SDcard in the slot on the side and keep the front usb port free.
I've also been considering using a SD card for EPG and swap, but not so much for timeshift. What's the logic behind this? I'm guessing to reduce wear on the Hard drive right? Mechanical drives are designed to be run like this though. This really is their bread and butter. Sequential data writes, for long periods of time. Operating systems, that's a whole other story, small random R/W's are out of the comfort zone for a mechanical drive, hence our desire for SSD's. CCTV systems use hard drives, even periodic ones. Sky boxes use hard drives. All TiVo's use hard drives..... there's a pattern here.
In fact, it's no surprise that Sky Plus boxes have drives that are recording ALL THE TIME and are known to keep going, and going, and going and going (my girlfriends parents have had their Sky Plus box for over 10 years). By recording timeshift to a SD card I'm really struggling to see the advantage. You'll wear out an SD card, probably in no time (look at dash cam forums) and you'll pay more for the fun of it. I'm not trying to poop on the idea, and I'm keen for someone to correct me, because if there's some logic behind it, I'll go and fit one myself.... I just can't see it right now.
In fact, it's no surprise that Sky Plus boxes have drives that are recording ALL THE TIME and are known to keep going, and going, and going and going (my girlfriends parents have had their Sky Plus box for over 10 years). By recording timeshift to a SD card I'm really struggling to see the advantage. You'll wear out an SD card, probably in no time (look at dash cam forums) and you'll pay more for the fun of it. I'm not trying to poop on the idea, and I'm keen for someone to correct me, because if there's some logic behind it, I'll go and fit one myself.... I just can't see it right now.
Bobbywolly
Member
I use my SD card for timeshift, swap and EPG. It's a 64gb purely because I already had one, a 16gb would be adequate. My logic is to keep the full capacity of my hdd free for recordings. I take your point about the SD card possibly wearing out, but they are cheap enough to replace although mine has been in operation for around 6 months now without any problems, and I do like to keep the front USB flap cover closed.
QUOTE=Stoke;661645]I've also been considering using a SD card for EPG and swap, but not so much for timeshift. What's the logic behind this? I'm guessing to reduce wear on the Hard drive right? Mechanical drives are designed to be run like this though. This really is their bread and butter. Sequential data writes, for long periods of time. Operating systems, that's a whole other story, small random R/W's are out of the comfort zone for a mechanical drive, hence our desire for SSD's. CCTV systems use hard drives, even periodic ones. Sky boxes use hard drives. All TiVo's use hard drives..... there's a pattern here.
In fact, it's no surprise that Sky Plus boxes have drives that are recording ALL THE TIME and are known to keep going, and going, and going and going (my girlfriends parents have had their Sky Plus box for over 10 years). By recording timeshift to a SD card I'm really struggling to see the advantage. You'll wear out an SD card, probably in no time (look at dash cam forums) and you'll pay more for the fun of it. I'm not trying to poop on the idea, and I'm keen for someone to correct me, because if there's some logic behind it, I'll go and fit one myself.... I just can't see it right now.[/QUOTE]
QUOTE=Stoke;661645]I've also been considering using a SD card for EPG and swap, but not so much for timeshift. What's the logic behind this? I'm guessing to reduce wear on the Hard drive right? Mechanical drives are designed to be run like this though. This really is their bread and butter. Sequential data writes, for long periods of time. Operating systems, that's a whole other story, small random R/W's are out of the comfort zone for a mechanical drive, hence our desire for SSD's. CCTV systems use hard drives, even periodic ones. Sky boxes use hard drives. All TiVo's use hard drives..... there's a pattern here.
In fact, it's no surprise that Sky Plus boxes have drives that are recording ALL THE TIME and are known to keep going, and going, and going and going (my girlfriends parents have had their Sky Plus box for over 10 years). By recording timeshift to a SD card I'm really struggling to see the advantage. You'll wear out an SD card, probably in no time (look at dash cam forums) and you'll pay more for the fun of it. I'm not trying to poop on the idea, and I'm keen for someone to correct me, because if there's some logic behind it, I'll go and fit one myself.... I just can't see it right now.[/QUOTE]
Oh totally agree regarding the front flap. It's ugly when open, and even uglier when there's something plugged in.... my case currently the WiFi dongle plugged in. Looks a joke at best. That'll be coming out this evening and replaced with a cable. I didn't actually comment on the size, although in your case a 64GB might work in your favour as a good SD card will have wear-levelling built in which should reduce the amount of wear when it's being used. There's no reason it won't last a few years.
You must do a lot of recordings to fill a hard drive though..... or a really small capacity?
Bobbywolly
Member
It's a 250gb hdd, I'm just a bit lazy about deleting recordings I have viewed!
As good an excuse as any
