[Ham-Computers] RE: Adding a DVD burner (questions)

Fri Jul 27 17:23:07 EDT 2007

Philip,

The media compatibility issue still exists, and is probably worse today than it was a couple years ago.  As manufacturers need to make lower cost media to compete, out goes quality.  You can find "quality" discs fairly easily, but drive compatibility still needs to be tested.

As to drives, I prefer Plextor and Pioneer drives.  A typical dual-layer DVD writer costs about $50 these days.  The Plextor's are more expensive, but they're typically considered the cream-of-the-crop.  LG makes decent lightscribe drives, if you want lightscribe (LS).

Is LS worth it?  Don't know - the media costs quite a bit more than even ink-jet printable media.  Looks OK if you view it from an angle.  Wears out the laser sooner though, if you think about it.  But for $50, you could always buy another drive if it burns out.

For "archival" quality backups, Mitsui makes "archival grade" media known as MAM-A.  They use a 24K gold reflective layer and are scratch resistant.  You can find MAM-A via on-line media retailers.  Not cheap by DVD-R standards - still over a buck each in bulk.  You can get more info about MAM-A media here:

  http://www.mam-a.com

So, to answer your questions numerically:

1.  I generally recommend Pioneer or Plextor drives.  The current Pioneer model is the DVR-112D and Plextor has two "800" series models.

2.  I'd install the new DVD-R drive on the "primary" IDE controller as a "master".  Then I'd probably remove one of the CD-R drives and keep the other on the secondary IDE controller as a "Master".  I currently have two DVD-R drive in my system though I really never use both at the same time.

3.  Keep the external HDD on the Firewire port.  Yes, they are slower than internal drives as the interface is slower than internal IDE/SATA.  1394a (Firewire 400) is 400Mbps and USB 2.0 is 480Mbps max (bits per sec).  Don't let this fool you into believing that USB 2.0 is faster though...USB has much more protocol overhead and the actual througput is higher with 1394a.  For reference, ATA/100 is 100MBps max (Bytes, not bits), SATA is 1.5Mbps (bits), and SATA-II is 3Mbps (bits).  For the bits per sec rates, just divide the bps rate by 10 (includes some overhead) to get the Bytes per sec.

4.  Personal preference.

73,

  - Aaron, NN6O

-----Original Message-----
Sent: Friday, July 27, 2007 12:53 PM
Subject: [Ham-Computers] Adding a DVD burner (questions)

Hi All,

Well, after all this time of resisting the urge, I think that I'm going to 
bite the bullet and soon get a DVD burner for my computer (probably next 
month).  When I had the machine built a year and a half or so ago I didn't 
get one as I didn't think I'd need one, and had heard of 'compatibility 
issues' with various burners.  Instead I had the machine built with a 52x CD 
burner AND a 52x ROM reader (both Sony units).  With my old time radio files 
etc. I use a 'lot' of mass storage.

Here are the specifics of the machine:
Systemax with Intel MoBo, 3.4GHz Pentium 4, 1GB RAM, 3 SATA hard drives (70, 
70 and 320GB, though 1 70GB drive is only connected when backing up the main 
drive) and the two CD ROM drives.  The MoBo has 4 SATA hdd ports and two IDE 
Ports that can handle 2 IDE drives each.  Both CD drives are on the same IDE 
cable. Power supply is a 550 Watt unit and the full tower still has empty 
drive slots.

Primary purpose of the drive will be for mass data storage of OTR (Old Time 
Radio) by genre or program, NOT watching videos.  Examples, Your's Truly 
Johnny Dollar consists of 756 files occupying 7GB, Lux Radio Theater 393 
files on 5GB, Theater 5 has 256 files on 4.6GB and so forth.  Many programs 
only occupy a couple hundred MB or so and could be "grouped".

I seem to recall many "compatibility" issues with early DVD burners, which 
is why I avoided them like the plague. It wouldn't do any good to burn a 
couple hundred GB of files and then be unable to access them later.  Hence 
my dependence on an external hdd for total backup of the shows.

Here are my multiple questions.
1.  For this application, what should I look for in a burner?  Keep in mind, 
this is for DATA storage, NOT for movies etc.

2.  Would I be better off with an Internal unit, adding it on the 'other' 
IDE bus as a master, or removing one of the present drives and putting it 
there?  Or would an external drive be a better (though probably more costly) 
choice.

3.  I still have more USB slots open as well as a USB hub sitting on the 
shelf.  The present 320GB external hdd runs on the firewire port, but can 
also be moved to a USB port. This external drive 'seems' a little slow when 
I copy a hundred gig or so to it, is that normal for external drives?

4.  How 'good' are laser scribe drives and DVD's?  Are they worth the extra 
cost to avoid having to make paper labels?  (many of my "bulk" downloaded 
shows include labels in .jpg format).

73 de Phil,  KO6BB
http://www.ko6bb.com
DX begins at the noise floor!
Ten Meter CW Beacon KO6BB/B, 20 Watts 24/7 on 28.248MCs.
Merced, Central California,    37.3N  120.48W  CM97sh

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