[Ham-Computers] RE: External Hard Drives?

[Hsu, Aaron (NBC Universal)]

A dual-layer DVD recordable disc yields about 9GB (8.6GB or 9.4 billion
bytes, which ever way you want to look at it).  However, dual-layer
discs cost 3 to 5 times more than single layer discs.  Until the prices
come down, single layer discs are more economical.  Plus, you're not
putting all of your eggs in one basket, so to speak.  Plus, there aren't
any long-term stability reports yet as they're so new.

  - Aaron

-----Original Message-----
Sent: Thursday, March 30, 2006 2:27 PM
Subject: Re: [Ham-Computers] RE: External Hard Drives?


Aaron,

Why not put a double layer DVD read/write drive in the machine? Is that
not 
good for about 7 GB? More cost effective over time too.

Duane w8DBF

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Hsu, Aaron (NBC Universal)" <aaron.hsu at nbcuni.com>
To: "I>Ham-Computers" <Ham-Computers at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Thursday, March 30, 2006 1:47 PM
Subject: [Ham-Computers] RE: External Hard Drives?


> Most any external HD would work in your situation.  For simplicity, I 
> would suggest a "portable" 2.5" drive rather than a 3.5" drive.  2.5" 
> drives are a bit more rugged than 3.5" drives as they were designed 
> for laptop use.  They're slower, but you'll be limited by the 
> interface anyway.  Most can also run just by drawing power from the 
> USB port - as long as the USB port can source the full 500ma USB spec.

> I would stick with a drive from an actual HD manufacturer (such as 
> Western Digital or Seagate).  Currently, all my external 2.5" drives 
> are leftover drives (from laptop ugrades) with a "generic" case, but 
> if I bought an "all in one" (drive & case) solution, I would go with 
> the Western Digital "Passport" drives.
>
> Most all external drives these days have a "Hi-Speed" USB 2.0 port 
> (480Mbps/60MBps max).  Due to overhead, you'll lose 10-20% of this 
> bandwidth.  Most 2.5" HD's I've seen max out around 35MBps, so it'll 
> take about 5 minutes to copy those 10 gigs (plus overhead)...actual 
> results may vary.
>
> Might I suggest archiving to DVD's instead?  That way, you have a true

> "archive" that can be updated (older backups contain original 
> material, newer backups contain "updated" material).  Plus, you have 
> more than one backup - should the external HD fail, you've lost your 
> only backup.  As CD/DVD recordable media isn't 100% infailable either,

> check them a couple times a year to make sure everything is still 
> readable.  There are free utilities that will do simple read tests 
> Some companies (such as Plextor) include diagnostic software to check 
> dics almost at the bit level - the more bits in the "red", the more 
> likely uncorrectable errors will eventually show up (time to move the 
> data to a new disc).  At 4.3GB per disc, you can categorize the shows 
> per disc and probably end up with about 5 or 6 discs for the entire 
> collection.
>
> 73,
>
>  - Aaron, NN6O
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> Sent: Thursday, March 30, 2006 11:21 AM
> Subject: [Ham-Computers] External Hard Drives?
>
>
> Hi All,
>
> I have a collection of OTR (Old Time Radio) shows in MP3 Format  that 
> takes up over 6GB of drive space, and before it's completed will 
> probably be about 15-20GB.  These are stored on my Main 80GB Hard 
> drive AND on the 80GB back-up drive.  However, IF I should ever get a 
> worm or virus it could wipe out everything on both drives and all 
> those hours of downloads would  be lost.  Since it's so large I don't 
> really consider using CDR's as a viable backup medium and want to buy 
> an "outboard" hard drive that would ONLY be used as a "archive and 
> backup" medium.  It would ONLY connected to the computer when I want 
> to transfer data.
>
> Is there anything 'special" I need to look for in an external drive?  
> I figure it'll use a USB interface.  Any feeling for how long can I 
> expect it to take to copy, say 10GB from the main drive to the backup 
> drive via USB? I suspect it'll be pretty slow and take a lot longer 
> than from the main drive to the internal backup drive.
>
> 73 de Phil,  KO6BB
> DX begins at the noise floor!
>
> THE BEACONEER'S LAIR:   http://www.geocities.com/ko6bb/
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> Merced, Central California,    37.3N  120.48W  CM97sh
>