Anyone Use Venus Ds3r-pro Sata Enclosure?

[Richierich]

Just wondering if anyone has used the AMS Venus DS3R-PRO SATA RAID Storage Enclosure? I am going to install 2 1TB Hitachi SATA Hard Drives (0A35155) in it and use RAID-1 so that one drive mirrors the other one in case one drive fails.

I don't want to lose recordings, setup info, etc. such as has happened with my 2 HR10-250s when they have failed.

[Richierich]

No one using a SATA RAID enclosure with dual drives?

[saxon2000]

No one using a SATA RAID enclosure with dual drives?
Yes. I have it.

[Riot Nrrrd™]

I'm about to buy one of these DS-DS3RPRO Venus units.

Fry's is selling the Seagate 32MB buffer 1TB drives for $199.99 (through April 8th) so RAID mirroring this kind of setup is just too tempting and can now be done for under $550 total.

[Richierich]

I like the RAID MIRRORING Option because if one of your drives fails you are SCREWED without it!!!

I have lost 2 drives on my HR10-250s over the past 3 or 4 years and that is a PITA!!!

[hdtvfan0001]

I like the RAID MIRRORING Option because if one of your drives fails you are SCREWED without it!!!

I have lost 2 drives on my HR10-250s over the past 3 or 4 years and that is a PITA!!!
Now you know why I archive to DVD anything that I want to keep for posterity. :D

[Richierich]

Now you know why I archive to DVD anything that I want to keep for posterity. :D

I need to start Archiving stuff like that too!!!

[hdtvfan0001]

I need to start Archiving stuff like that too!!!
Since I started that process....I sleep better at night. :D :lol:

[garlett]

richierich, please let us know if the enclosure/drives work with the HR21

I want to do the same thing but am always concerned about what works in the HR21. It seems to be finicky compared to the HR20

[Richierich]

I use my DS3RPRO with my HR21-700 and it works fine with no problems at all!!!

[saxon2000]

I use my DS3RPRO with my HR21-700 and it works fine with no problems at all!!!

Mirroring is neat, but space is my priority, so I have two unmatched drives (1TB and 750GB) from different manufacturers set at RAID 0 which the manual describes as one big drive.

Works well, after two days.

[Richierich]

The only problem with running it RAID 0 is when one of your hard drives fail you will be sorry that you didn't run it RAID 1 unless you can live with the loss of all of those recordings or you do alot of archiving.

[saxon2000]

The only problem with running it RAID 0 is when one of your hard drives fail you will be sorry that you didn't run it RAID 1 unless you can live with the loss of all of those recordings or you do alot of archiving.

Yes. I can live with the loss. It's only TV. I mostly record movies and if I really like a movie I have recorded, I go online and buy the DVD. I sometimes record boxing or football, but find I very rarley watch sports more than twice. Sports is much better live.

[rajeshh]

Wow, that one's pretty expensive. I have just filled up my Seagate 750 FAR, and bought a 1 TB drive that was on sale at buy.com yesterday, and am looking at how to proceed from here...was considering the MX-1, and was intrigued by this...

[Richierich]

Well, if you have the money and want to sleep at night not worrying if you will lose all of your recordings then this is the WAY TO GO!!!

I just love it but it comes at a PRICE like anything that is worth the money!!!

I have had no Problems with it but I have lost hard drives on three occasions on my HR10-250s and I was P!SSED so I am not taking any chances.

[P Smith]

Mirroring is neat, but space is my priority, so I have two unmatched drives (1TB and 750GB) from different manufacturers set at RAID 0 which the manual describes as one big drive.

Works well, after two days.
Actually it have a name JBOD not RAID-0 and doesn't have ability to interleave clusters between disks, ie not take advantage of multiple spindles.

[seanmcgpa]

I purchased this unit - been playing around all day and no joy so far.

I have the Venus DS3PRO with 2 1TB drives - I have tried raid-0 (Fast), JBOD and Safe modes with no joy - when I unplug the HR21-700 (for at least 5 mins) and reboot, it won't recognize the Venus. I have tried using the tiny Software switch button, that didn't do anything either.

I do have two green lights on the unit, no red lights.

I tried hooking it up via USB to a vista box - Vista sees a 1.78 TB drive, and I was avle to format it , write data to it with no problem.

Any suggestions guys?

I did also buy a MX-1 for the bedroom, it was so easy : up and running in 5 minutes.

[Richierich]

I would have to guess that your eSATA cable isn't working properly or is not connected properly to the RIGHT ESATA PORT!!!

[seanmcgpa]

Well, tried 3 different cables ... 4 different hard drives.

The Venus just doesn't want to play nice with the HR-21 :(

Anyone have any other suggestions for working external raid cases?

[Richierich]

Sean, have you tried calling their tech department. I talked to their head guy and he directed me to do the setting I mentioned to you. He may have something else for you to do that you aren't doing unless you have a bad port.