Is it possible to connect 3 x 2.5 TB HDDs to a satellite receiver with USB 2.0 ports?
Hello.
I recently asked if it was possible to connect an external 2.5" 4TB HDD to a USB 2.0 port. Someone in a hardware forum successfully tested this for me on the same 10-year-old Technisat Technicorder ISIO STC receiver. I took the warning here seriously that damage to the HDD or the receiver itself could occur, so I won't do it.
Many manufacturers are cautious about communicating a maximum capacity limit. Technisat wrote to me that if I connected 2TB drives, the STC would constantly reboot. I was able to refute this warning because I've had a 2TB HDD connected to the front USB 2.0 port and an external 1TB REC drive to one of the rear two for years.
In your opinion, is the following possible: 3 x 2.5" 2TB HDDs and 1 x 1TB SATA as the recording drive, i.e. a total of 7TB, or would that be just as problematic for the receiver as with the single 4TB drive? Although this time 3 HDDs would be distributed across 3 USB 2.0 ports.
greeting
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The situation is technically complex as it affects both the performance of the USB ports and the firmware of the receiver. Here are some reflections on your question:
1. Power supply of USB ports
• USB 2.0 provides a maximum of 500 mA per port. A 2.5” hard drive typically requires 400-900 mA, depending on the model and operating state.
• If multiple hard drives are operated directly at the USB ports of the receiver, the ports could be overloaded as they may not be able to supply enough power for all devices.
• Solution: Use an active USB hub with its own power supply to ensure that the hard drives are supplied adequately.
Two. Firmware-Limit of the Receiver
• Many receivers have firmware licenses that determine the maximum size of the addressable memory. Technisat indicates that there are problems with larger drives (e.g. 4 TB).
• Even if 2 TB drives work, firmware might have difficulty managing multiple drives simultaneously, as this requires more resources (e.g. file system management and buffering).
3. Data distribution to multiple drives
• If you use 3 x 2 TB (on 3 USB ports) and an internal 1 TB plate, the function depends on whether the firmware of the receiver:
• can manage multiple drives simultaneously.
• Supports the total size of the memory (7 TB).
• Some receivers have limit values for the total number of files or partitions, which could also cause problems.
4. Possible problems
• Permanent restarts: If the firmware of the receiver is not designed for so many drives or such a high overall capacity, crashes or reboots could occur.
• Power losses: Several connected drives could negatively affect the performance of the receiver (e.g. during navigation or playback).
Recommendation
1. Test step by step:
• Start with 2 drives (e.g. 2 x 2 TB).
• Add a third drive and observe the behavior.
• End up testing with all 4 drives if there are no problems.
2. Use an active USB hub:
• An active hub relieves the USB ports of the receiver and reduces the risk of overload.
3. Alternatives:
• Use a network storage solution (NAS) if your receiver supports DLNA or network recording. This could be the best long-term solution.
Conclusion
It is possible that your receiver can manage 3 x 2 TB and 1 x 1 TB, but this depends greatly on the firmware and hardware restrictions. Since Technisat already speaks about problems at 4 TB, caution is necessary. Step-by-step approach and the use of an active USB hub minimizes the risk of damage or malfunctions.