FreeAgent Theater and GoFlexTV

[PixelPilot]

Hello folk of the Seagate FAT+ Community.

Question for those in the know.

Lets say I have a USB Hub and I have two or perhaps even three external USB hard drives each with 1TB storage (but could be less, its an extreme example).

If I were to connect them all to the USB Hub and in turn connect that to my FAT+ would the FAT+ recognise all three drives so I could extend my DVD collection much further?
Indugle me in an answer to that rather than simply saying why don't you just buy a really big single external HDD.

Many thanks for any guidance with this in mind.

Regards

PixelPilot

Happy to report that at this time all is well with the FAT+.

Message Edited by PixelPilot on 01-31-2010 12:46 PM

[vbdino]

Using a usb hub, it would slow down access to usb devices. Would that create a problem, only a test would tell.

But if you want, you can connect three usb disks to FAT+. Front and back connector. The third one which is the bay connector, would require a small adapter sold for around $3 on ebay with free shipping. USB A Female to Mini USB B 5 Pin F Adapter Converter. I have tried this connector and it works with a usb disk that has its own power supply.

[bodhi78]

Excellent idea! I think it will work fine, because most likely you will use one USB drive at a time.

Just make sure it's an active hub with power adapter.

[Zelpheriz]

I think for this to work properly , the USB HUB and the HDDs should be externelly powered.

[PixelPilot]

Thanks to everyone for taking the time to reply.

I guess I can only give it a go to see what happens.

Regards to all.

[DJK]

I have tried connecting 2 external drives (they have their own power supplies) through USB hub ( no external power) and audio/video stops playing after a while or breaks in the middle.

[PixelPilot]

I see.
Perhaps a powered USB Hub might make the difference as some have suggested.
Regards

[bodhi78]

Pilot,

Please let us know. I think the power hub is a must. Totally agreed with Zelpheriz on the powered USB drive,

too. I'm guessing that the lack of juice or related design flaw is the cause of a lot problems people have been

seeing. We're really stretching the capability of this player. Most of the users did not voice complain is

because for normal every days usage, these types of problems are not likely to turn up.

[Jaydn21 · Accepted solution]

I just tried it.

I had an externally powered USB hub plugged into the FAT+ with 3 externally powered hard drives plugged into the hub. Plus I had a USB flash drive plugged into the rear USB, and I also had a FreeAgent Godrive in the FAT+'s bay. All drives were recogized under the Devices menu, all drives played movies, music, and pictures off them just fine, no interuptions. Thats a total of 5 independent USB devices working. I have room for one more but I'm pretty sure it will show up if I put something on there.

I will note that when I went into the Movies menu item on the home screen, the FAT+ started to yell and scream. None of my movies showed up, and 3 weird files that I can't recognize were in there, they were .dat files. No idea why, but at least everything was accessible under Devices.

[PixelPilot]

Hey Jaydn21 thanks for your efforts. Good to see things worked for you.

Its a shame though that you can't just access your entire library of movies via the Movie option.

I had hoped I would be able to do that.

Bugs me that there is always a trade off.

Thanks again