@Rxb0nrw Is the Elements drive you’re using externally powered? When your devices disconected from the Tablo, did the Tablo appear to be rebooting (flashing LED)?
@tablosupport the element is externally powered. Not sure about the light, it seemed to flicker at times but couldn’t really tell. I did replace it with a new seagate 1tb slim backup plus portable drive today , looks like it solved the frequent disconnect issues. The bad news is the recording issues still continue. This is how it went with the primetime recordings tonight:
Channel 2 (PBS): set to record 9 - 10pm. Did not record any of it
Channel 4 (ABC): set to record 8 - 11pm. Recorded 8 - 9pm, Missed 9-9:30pm, Recorded 9:30–11pm
Channel 7 (FOX): set to record 9-10pm, did not record
Channel 39 (CW): set to record 10:30pm-11pm, recorded it
Not sure what to try next. I’m on the latest firmware that was released earlier this week.
Has anyone tested any of the 2.5" self powered USB enclosures and off the shelf bare drives? I am interested in using an enterprise class 2.5" SATA drive for reliability. I may just try it out anyway since I already have the drive.
I have been using a Western Digital Elements 1 TB drive (WDBUZG0010BBK – 03) since I got my beta Tablo in Dec/Jan. Since the last firmware update the drive has been disconnecting. Support sent me a new Tablo, but still seeing the same problem. Wondering if anyone else has seen this with the Elements drives.I basically have to cycle the power on the Tablo for the drive to reappear. Am considering sending it back to WD for warranty replacement.
I have the same WD-Elements 1tb HD model, and have been experiencing a similar problem for months (pre and post latest firmware update). The only thing that seems to work (temporarily) is to dis/reconnect the drive though, not cycling the Tablo power. Rather than sending a replacement Tablo, support suggested the drive may be corrupt and I should try to replace or re-format. But currently I do not have a spare drive to replace, nor have I had the patience to reformat yet.
@Dkevdog No official testing done here - sorry!
@Kevrx We’ve only seen good results with the Elements drives here, but we’re starting to get a few reports of the frequent disconnect/reconnecting behaviour, which isn’t a good sign. This is similar to the issue that Western Digital is having with their My Passport series.
@tablosupport - Thanks, I’ll give it a try when my new 4 tuner Tablo arrives. I personally think that searching a blog to see if a drive will work or not is a bit unprofessional, if you have a “Known list” of tried, true and tested drives that your engineers have had success with, it should be clearly and easily found on your website. The blog could still be here for those who wish to tinker and experiment.
@Dkevdog Sorry for the mixup. We intend to have our new kernel out soon to eliminate these compatibility issues.
@TabloSupport: Will new kernel support hard drive size >2GB?
@Dkevdog the main problem is you could list a make/model but the manufacturer can often change the internal specs without any change on the packaging so its hard to know if you actually have a compatible drive …
I posted this in another thread - but how long after apps stop accessing the Tablo does activity cease on the HD? I have a WD Ultra - just set up my Tablo (guide is 100% downloaded). The HD is still blinking after at least 10-15 minutes as if activity is taking place. Will the drive eventually go idle. The Ultra differentiates between activity, idle, etc. This is definitely activity (R/W). Is the Tablo stuck(?). Thoughts?
FYI - it finally went idle. No idea what all the reading/writing was
So I went and tried the "recommended" drive- WD Elements 1TB and Tablo won't even recognize the drive.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CI3BLPA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
On a side note, I have tried several standalone wall powered USB docking stations with various hard drives and I have not had a single problem with any of them, each of them work just fine. Formatting seems to take an eternity (much longer than I would expect) but I don't know if this is normal or not.
User interface could use A LOT of improvement- for example more control over and an idea of what devices are streaming, and the ability to end. The drive I have connected now is being accessed constantly- and has never been allowed to rest even when nothing is programmed to record and nothing is streaming. I don't see regular drives lasting very long at all before failure in this type of environment.
@dkevdog the problem could be WD started replacing that model’s drive with a version that uses the currently unsupported larger sector size… manufactures rarely tend to post that level of detail on the packaging. And unfortunately the only way to know often is by using a diagnostic tool on a desktop computer to get the drives technical specifications. I don’t fault the TABLO in this case (and they have said they are working to patch the device to accept hard drives that use larger sector sizes) … the fault really lies with WD for changing the internal compoentns without publiicizing it.
@DKevdog - Sorry to hear that. @ericgus is correct that even within the exact same company and product style there can be variances in sector sizes. We’re working very hard to be able to support a larger amount of hard drives and there is light at the tunnel.
@TabloTV - That may well be the case. Hopefully you get the sector issue resolved soon as I think it is essential to the success of Tablo. While I (and probably many) of the members here in the forum have an above average understanding of technology, the average consumer needs to just be able to “plug & play”. For now, an older Hitachi Enterprise class drive in a plug in USB is working ok.
@tablotv What would be smart (at least on your website) is to offer bundles with a hard drive you know works. You could createa 500/1tb/2tb bundle by partnering with at least one manufacturer. That way, the average consumer doesn’t even have to think about which hard drive to buy post-facto. Either that - or have a list on the main page of officially supported devices with referrer amazon links (you could even earn a commission on sales).
In other words - make it as easy as possible to NOT run into an issue…
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For what its worth I have a very tasty 3TB Toshiba drive just sitting here waiting…
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Lockups and other issues are likely cause by other sources than the hard drive.
I had my Tablo lookup twice now. Once after running for 3 or 4 days when first purchased. At the time I spoke with support and they said it was because my drive enclosure for my old laptop drive drew too much power and it locked up the device.
It happened the day after updated to build 16, and support couldn’t get in to get logs that time.
@Dkevdog @samcraig @ericgus Thanks for the feedback, all. Getting rid of the sector size issue and increasing compatibility with more (and bigger) drives remains a priority for us - we’ll get this implemented as soon as we can.
I know you guys have a ton of things both important and critical … but if you could see to including some kind of “transfer or migrate” ability I would like to be able to keep the recordings I got now when my 3TB drive is supported… that would be great… (or even if you can provide manual directions for “the brave and fearless” on how to do it ourselves… I am very familiar with unix/linux and I am not afraid of rsync, dd and the lot … )