What is inside a H1? Can a hard drive be installed?

brisvegas1 · Post by **brisvegas1** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 16:42

Since the H1 is the same size as a P1 - I was wondering if anyone has had a look inside to see if there are any connectors left over? Would it be possible to install a hard drive internally?

Thanks for any info you may have...

prl · Post by **prl** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 17:10

All three DP-x1 models have the same motherboard, and it would probably be possible to add the ATA connector for the HDD. However, the H1 firmware would probably ignore that internal HDD, and if you managed to hack the H1 firmware to allow it to load (say) the P1 firmware, then that firmware would probably throw a fit because there was only one tuner.

I'd be surprised if it could be made to work even passably well.

I use a WD MyBook on my H1, mainly because the drive shuts itself down when power on the USB connector goes away.

DaveR · Post by **DaveR** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 19:57

The 3 models (S1, P1 and H1) all have slightly different power supplies too.

Paranoid666au · Post by **Paranoid666au** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 03:26

Took the cover off mine, pretty bare in there.

No IDE connector or power for a HDD. There is this thing on the board with 4 pins though, no idea what that does, it looks like it may also be unused on the S1, hard to tell in the S1 photos. Could be interface with the board at the factory maybe? I'll be glad take some photos if people want me to.

prl · Post by **prl** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 09:13

Paranoid666au wrote:Took the cover off mine, pretty bare in there. No IDE connector or power for a HDD. There is this thing on the board with 4 pins though, no idea what that does, it looks like it may also be unused on the S1, hard to tell in the S1 photos. Could be interface with the board at the factory maybe? I'll be glad take some photos if people want me to.

I think it may be the serial I/O connector.

Paranoid666au · Post by **Paranoid666au** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 05:17

peteru · Post by **peteru** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 11:41

There's enough room inside to add a 2.5" laptop drive and a USB converter. There should also be some spare connections on the board that normally connect the front panel USB port - this would be a good place to hook up an internal USB drive.

Paranoid666au · Post by **Paranoid666au** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 15:13

I couldn't find the USB connector just that four pin interface thingy. Where abouts on the board do you think it would it be? I was investigating the 2.5" potential and you could fit at least three of them in there. But could you connect three to the H1? I think only one could be used as the recording drive right?

Oh an I forgot to mention that there is actually a front door on the H1, if look on the bottom you can see the hinge. There plastic on front is all one piece so you can't open the door. I think all you would need to do is just put a cut in it. But getting it off probably wont be easy. All the holes are there for USB and the card reader, you could probably shoe horn a USB card reader in there somehow.

tonymy01 · Post by **tonymy01** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 15:42

The 4 pin riser is the serial port. The USB would have to be cludged into the system on pin blanks or to the main IC or something.

prl · Post by **prl** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 16:12

Just get a P1. Get the card reader and second tuner thrown in as well!

For peteru's idea about putting in a laptop drive and USB converter: the whole thing would have to run off the available 500mA from the USB connector you use.

Paranoid666au · Post by **Paranoid666au** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 16:43

Yea I don't think I'll do anything with my H1. But if you could be bothered and had the skills it would be cheaper than getting a P1.

I might consider getting a P1 in future or maybe a P2 to avoid the remote issues with both devices in the same room.

peteru · Post by **peteru** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 19:22

prl wrote:For peteru's idea about putting in a laptop drive and USB converter: the whole thing would have to run off the available 500mA from the USB connector you use.

The unused card connector for the front panel card reader has the USB data lines as well as power for two USB ports, so a variant of the ubiquitous USB Y cable to get sufficient power could be easily put together.

However, I agree with you - just get a P1 and be done with it.

peteru · Post by **peteru** » Tue Aug 12, 2008 19:23

Paranoid666au wrote:I might consider getting a P1 in future or maybe a P2 to avoid the remote issues with both devices in the same room.

Bad news, I am afraid.

prl · Post by **prl** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 09:08

peteru wrote:
Paranoid666au wrote:I might consider getting a P1 in future or maybe a P2 to avoid the remote issues with both devices in the same room.
Bad news, I am afraid.

I thought the DP-P2 had a different codeset from the DP-x1 models, so a P2 and an x1 could happily share the same room without code conflicts. The P2 remote can be switched between the two codesets with a press-and-hold of two buttons.

peteru · Post by **peteru** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 11:04

Really? I don't recall seeing that information anywhere. If that is the case, it should be possible to retrofit same functionality into existing P1s.

prl · Post by **prl** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 11:14

peteru wrote:Really? I don't recall seeing that information anywhere. If that is the case, it should be possible to retrofit same functionality into existing P1s.

It was posted in the DTV Forum (and following posts). The information about how to switch BW modes in the DP-P2 remote is in its manual (download page on the BW corporate web site).

The P2 doesn't have any extra ability for this, it just has a (presumably) single, but different, code set built in. For the P1, there's still the problem of the apparent inability to field-modify the POWER and 1+2+3+4+POWER codes in the front panel.

IanSav · Post by **IanSav** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 11:43

Hi PeterU,

I also recall reading or hearing that the DP-P2 uses a different code set to all the DP-x1 models. I can't remember where I noted the comment.

Edit: Prl appears to have found the reference.

Regards,
Ian.

Paranoid666au · Post by **Paranoid666au** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 01:24

It would be good if you get a another front board of BW. It shouldn't be too difficult to replace it.

Anyone want to put a P2 board into x1 Wiz and prove my theory.

prl · Post by **prl** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 09:36

Paranoid666au wrote:It would be good if you get a another front board of BW. It shouldn't be too difficult to replace it.

Anyone want to put a P2 board into x1 Wiz and prove my theory.

I think that most of the code set is actually interpreted in the main firmware, so even if this worked, I think all you'd have would be a P1 that could be turned on (and possibly off) with the P2 remote, but would need the P1 remote for all its other functions. Probably not the result you'd want

What is inside a H1? Can a hard drive be installed?

What is inside a H1? Can a hard drive be installed?

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