iZ Technology Corporation

Question:
We have noticed that there are now several inexpensive triple combo SATA/Firewire/USB 2.0(SFU) drives coming on the market.
Example 1: BusLink Triple Interface
Example 2: Mac Gurus Triple Combo Drive
Example 3: CoolGear Triple Combo External Hard Drive
Example 4: Value Disk Triple Combo
Example 5: MacPower Pleiades Super S-Combo (The Coolest and most Pro looking one)

































Since our number one requested feature is Firewire Drive Support, we were wondering how valuable it would be for users to have an external SATA port on RADAR to which one could connect an SFU drive for transfers or even direct recording. This would give users the ability to record onto an inexpensive SFU drive in RADAR, and then plug it into any MAC or PC.

Choices:
I want an external SATA port on RADAR so I can use inexpensive Triple Combo SATA/Firewire/USB drives to tranfer projects between RADAR and my MAC or PC
I already have enough invested in Firewire drives and would not buy another one just because it had a SATA port and could be recorded on with RADAR

 

This message has been edited. Last edited by: President,

The SATA specs are much better than even Firewire 800. Having dealt with internal SATA drives, I can’t imagine that this is not the way to go for external drives, too. Since SATA is becoming the more common standard for internal drives (both PC & Mac), I would assume that the protocol will be around for some time to come. (A least a wee bit longer than USB 1.0)

As for Radar users, this would open a few more doors for us. I’m in favor.

What about these by Quantegy?
http://www.quantegy.com/PDFs/specsheets/FHD3info.pdf

quote:

Originally posted by Mix1:
The SATA specs are much better than even Firewire 800. Having dealt with internal SATA drives, I can’t imagine that this is not the way to go for external drives, too. Since SATA is becoming the more common standard for internal drives (both PC & Mac), I would assume that the protocol will be around for some time to come. (A least a wee bit longer than USB 1.0)

As for Radar users, this would open a few more doors for us. I’m in favor.

Why not vote in the poll?

quote:

Originally posted by Spiritworks:
What about these by Quantegy?
http://www.quantegy.com/PDFs/specsheets/FHD3info.pdf

The Quantegy do not yet support SATA - they are still using the older (and slower) Parallel ATA technology.

Why not vote in the poll?

Barry:

I did vote in the pole. In fact, I was the first to vote. The score was 1 to 0 right after I voted. I see it's still 1 to 0. Do I win anything? <grin>

How would the port be retro-fitted on a RADAR 24?

The external SATA port would be a user installable kit that includes:
1)a SCSI to SATA bridge(the same one we've been using for over a year for internal 10,000 rpm raptor SATA drives in DE110 carriers)
2)a bridge bracket,
3)a SATA bridge to back panel SATA cable,
4)an external SATA back panel port bracket(into an available PCI slot - but of course not actually plugging into a PCI slot - just the plate),
5)some screws, and,
6)a nice little instruction sheet.

Hi Barry-hope all is well. Got a price in mind on the eSATA kit? This is a great move.

Hey, Barry

Long time no speak...hope all is well.

I was just scanning this thread and wondered if there has been any forward movement at all on the external drive kit?

Cheers & Thanks!
Click.

Hey, Barry, howya doin?

You left that keyboard adaptor plug here on the desk, dude. I'll save it for ya.

Looks like no one thinks this is a bad idea. hehe

I'm in. Gimmee gimmee.

Wazzup, Click?

quote:

Originally posted by bbkong:

I'm in. Gimmee gimmee.

Wazzup, Click?

Hey, BB...good to see ya...surprised they letcha in here, but meh...they let me in as well...who'da thunk?

Yes indeed, this would be a very good move. As bubba said..."Gimme Gimme!".

Cheers
Click.

This sounds like another reason why we love iZ and Radar...they stay on top and help us to stay there with them...bring it on!!(firewire that is!!), Thanks guys

Hi Barry/NJ, Any forward progress on the SATA retro-fit? Any time lines? Thanks, Greykatz

Hi GreyKatz,
This will be released with 3.40, as there is some preferences to correspond with the hardware upgrade.

I, for one, am looking forwards to this with great excitement!

I often record long improvisation sessions, sometimes upwards of 3 or 4 hours, multitracked. The high-end digital processing is done on a workstation... but transferring such huge multitracked projects over the Ethernet is very, very time consuming.

External drives for the Radar are the way to go.

Burning questions:
(1) What will the formatting options be? Will we be able to make the external drive Mac OS/X friendly? --fingers crossed--

(2) Any release date for this kit and the associated v3.40 software yet? I can't wait!

Hi Jaranth,
Once you get the direct export over the network, the transfers are quite quick.

1. For recording drives with native BWAV recording is a pseudo FAT32 format, which can be read by Windows, OSX, Linux, etc... As for an 'export' or transfer drive, there will be OSX friendly options.

2. No firm date. Looking late Q2, early Q3.

Hi All,

When I called a couple weeks ago regarding the SATA kit, I was told July. I know it's only the 2nd, but I'm impatient :-) Are we getting closer to releasing any details on availability? I just bought a pair of Radar 24's last week for live location work, in anticipation of the SATA retrofit. (I switched my PT HD rig over to SATA, too) The SATA option is what will really make them viable for me for multiple day projects, when I'm creating 60-80 gig of material a day. So pleeeaaasseee say it's not far off!

PS: I've been playing around with these units for several days now, and find thenm to be everything I had hoped for. Outstanding gear!

justpushplay

Hi Justpushplay,
Glad to hear you are enjoying your RADAR's. Don't have a firm date yet, but we are still on track for July.

Hi All,

Congrats on getting the 3.40 software out! I'll be ordering that in the next day or so for both Radars. However, I was really hoping the SATA kit for external drives would be released at the same time as 3.40, especially since it is referenced in the 3.40 manual. I understand your reluctance to get caught in 'vaporware' announcements, but I'd really like to have that capability. I'll even pay full price to be a beta tester. (hint hint) :-) Any hints as to a timeframe?