Vantec NexStar 3 NST-360SU-BK External Hard Drive Enclosure (Onyx Black)

QUICK SUMMARY: This Vantec hard drive enclosure is a more expensive option than the  Vantec NexStar CX NST-300S2-BK 3.5-Inch SATA to USB 2.0 External Hard Drive Enclosure (Black) . It moved a 20GB file in about 11 minutes, averaging around 25-32MB/sec, which was about the same speed as the Vantec CX model. That's not speedy compared to USB 3.0 performance standards (this has a USB 2.0 interface), but it does what it's supposed to do. I recommend the CX model over this model unless you need eSATA.Background: I had several desktop hard drives lying around gathering dust, and the thought occurred to me that I could buy some hard drive enclosures and use those hard drives for storing backup files. A quick search of Amazon led me to two Vantec enclosures: this one, the NexStar 3, and the Nextar CX. What's the difference between these two models? Here's what I've come up with.The NexStar 3 is slightly larger in size, comes with an unusual four-prong power supply, has a shiny black exterior that shows off scratches and fingerprints, an eSATA port (if you don't know what that is, then you probably don't use it or need it), you can easily stack additional hard drive enclosures (of the same model), and the NexStar 3 has an on/off hardware switch on the backside. The NexStar CX is a little smaller, has a more rounded contour, a black matte exterior that doesn't show fingerprints or scratches, and a recessed push button on/off switch. It doesn't have an eSATA port. Between the two (I own both), I prefer the CX because it's less expensive, looks nicer (to me), and does what it's supposed to do. Both dissipate heat similarly well, without the use of a fan.WHAT I LIKE:- Came with a USB cord (it connects with a standard USB connection, not with a mini or micro USB connection)- Works with the 2TB Western Digital Green drives I already own- Has satisfactory data transfer speed (25-37MB/second)- It's easy to install a hard drive, or remove one that's already installed- Windows 7 quickly recognizes the device using plug-n-play- You can operate it laying it flat, or use a stand to operate it in a vertical orientation. It's stackable, too, if you lay it flat.- I don't need the eSATA connection, but if I did, that would be a welcomed feature, too.WHAT COULD BE BETTER:- You have to manually connect a power cable that operates the disk activity LED lights, but stuffing that power cable into the enclosure as you slide the hard drive into the enclosure can be a little tricky. If you pull out the hard drive from the enclosure too quickly, you risk bending the pins to which the power cable is connected. Use caution, and it's okay, though.- Vantec doesn't provide a clear comparison between the CX model and the NexStar 3. I bought the NexStar 3 originally, only to find later that the CX model does what I need it to do...for less money.WHAT I DISLIKE:- The shiny service shows off fingerprints, smudges and little scratches much more than the matte finish of the NexStar CX model.- Compared to the much smaller blue LED light on the Vantec CX model, the much bigger, flashier blue fLED light on this model is annoying.CONCLUSION:Buy this Vantec CX hard drive enclosure unless you need an eSATA connection, or unless you need USB 3.0 data transfer speeds (and have a USB 3.0 connection on your computer).

This review is for the NexStar 3 hard drive enclosure, model NST-360SU. Mine is black so its full model number is NST-360SU-BK. I also discuss using this enclosure to expand the recording capacity of a DirecTV receiver.I have been using NexStar enclosures for 2.5" hard drives for years and have always liked them. This larger enclosure is just as good.Some have complained that the enclosure doesn't include a fan to cool the drive, but it doesn't seem to be necessary. The entire unit is aluminum, so it should radiate heat fairly well by itself. In any case, I haven't seen any ill effects due to heat (or anything else for that matter).The power transformer is about 3" x 2.5" x 1.3". This makes it about half the size of the transformer that powers my Apricorn hard drive enclosures. It plugs directly into an outlet and has a 48" cord that runs to the NexStar 3.The NexStar 3 is very well made. The internal SATA connector, the drive mounting holes, and the holes for the screws that keep the end cover attached, all lined up perfectly. The supplied hard drive mounting screws were the correct length and had the right thread pitch and diameter. In other words, everything worked just as it should, which cannot be taken for granted these days.Even the plastic stand that allows the unit to stand on edge fit perfectly and provides enough stability without being too wide. (It's just under 2" at the widest point.) The power transformer's prongs that plug into an outlet are positioned so that the transformer extends sideways out of the outlet. This means that it won't block the other plug in the receptacle. Somebody at Vantec/NexStar apparently gave this some thought.The kit contains:o The hard drive enclosureo The power transformer (adaptor), with a cord about 48" (1.2 meters) longo An eSATA cable, about 40.5" (1 meter) longo A USB 2.0 cable, about 48" (1.2 meters) longo A plastic stand to enable the enclosure to stand on endo A user manual. The manual actually has clear instructions on how to install your drive and how to set it up with your computer. It doesn't include instructions on how to set it up with a DirecTV enclosure. More on that below.o A small-diameter CD-ROM with drivers and a copy of the user manual in PDF format. If your computer won't accept these small CD-ROMs you may have to copy the files on someone else's machine.o The six screws required to install a hard drive and to fasten the tray/cover to the enclosure shellI suspect that you can find hard drive enclosures for less money, maybe even here on Amazon, but what is it worth to you to avoid the hassles that come with something that isn't designed well? The NexStar 3 is everything I expected it to be, plus some extras I didn't expect. You won't go wrong buying this one.I used this enclosure and a hard drive to create more storage capacity on my DirecTV receiver. My DirecTV receiver is a model R22-200. The "-200" part of the model number is insignificant; it indicates where the receiver was manufactured. According to on-line experts, this upgrade should work with any DirecTV receiver that has an eSATA connector on the back. Other receivers may not show such a dramatic increase in capacity, however, because they have a larger internal hard drive to begin with.My R22 receiver was originally installed as a standard-definition receiver and had the capacity to record about 200 hours of programming. DirecTV upgraded it to an HD receiver after I bought an HD television. (I think the R22 is the only receiver with this upgrade capability.) HD programs have more data per hour of program so the limited storage space on the receiver's internal hard drive was quickly filled with the new HD programs. It looked like only 35-50 hours of HD programming would fill the original, internal hard drive. Connecting this NexStar 3 enclosure with a 1 TB external hard drive has increased storage capacity dramatically. Extrapolating from the small amount I have already recorded would result in an estimate of 150-200 hours of recording capacity in HD for the new drive.This NexStar 3 enclosure accepts a SATA hard drive. It has no provision for the older style IDE drives. I used a Western Digital WD1002FAEX, which I also bought from Amazon. Here: [Edit: I originally had a link here, but apparently it no longer works so Amazon removed it.]Installing the drive takes about a minute, not counting the time to read the manual. I'm obsessive about reading manuals, but in this case it really wasn't necessary. Hard drive installation consists of:1. Open the enclosure by pulling the end cover (with the tray attached) off the housing.2. Slide the hard drive onto the tray, ensuring that the SATA connection is made.3. Using the supplied (#2 Phillips) screws, screw the hard drive to the tray.4. Slide the tray, with the hard drive attached, part way back into the housing.5. Attach the connector from the housing to the tray to power the LED indicator on the enclosure.6. Slide the tray completely into the housing, routing the LED power wire to avoid snagging it.7. Attach the tray to the housing with the supplied (#1 Phillips) screws.It took longer to write these instructions than it did to install the hard drive.To connect an external hard drive to a DirecTV receiver you MUST use an eSATA connection. You cannot use a USB connector of any kind with a DirecTV receiver. This NexStar 3 enclosure has both a USB 2.0 and an eSATA connection.The procedure for connecting this to the receiver is:1. Unplug the receiver from its power source. (Note: Turning the receiver off without unplugging it probably won't work.)2. Attach the eSATA cable from the eSATA connector on the NexStar 3 enclosure to the eSATA connector on the receiver. An eSATA cable is included with the NexStar 3.3. Attach the NexStar 3 power transformer to an outlet.4. Attach the power cord from the transformer to the NexStar 3.5. Turn the power on to the hard drive by switching the NexStar 3 on.6. Wait several seconds to ensure that the hard drive is spinning at normal speed.7. Plug the DirecTV receiver back in to a power source.8. Wait. During the wait you can watch the TV as it tells you that the receiver is checking for software, etc. After 15-30 minutes (for a 1 TB hard drive), you will be able to watch TV.Some Notes:1. It's neither required nor desired to format the hard drive prior to attaching it to the DirecTV receiver. The receiver will format the drive using its own system.2. You will lose access to all programs that were recorded on the receiver before you installed the external hard drive. The DirecTV receiver can operate off EITHER its own internal hard drive OR the external hard drive that you just installed, BUT NOT BOTH.3. You will also lose all your favorite channel listings and all pre-programmed recording instructions. If you had the receiver set up to record your favorite programs automatically you will have to program it again for those same programs. You will also have to rewrite all your favorite channel listings. This can be daunting. I recommend that before you connect the external hard drive you write a list of your channel listings and the programs in your Series Manager or To Do List so you can re-create the lists more easily.4. It will take hours before the receiver rebuilds the channel guide. You will get most of the current programs quickly, but to build a two-week database requires several hours. Also, the extra information, like the Cast & Crew listings, will not be rebuilt for quite some time. [Edit: It will take days.]5. You WILL NOT be able to move this hard drive from one receiver to another receiver and play the programs on it. My understanding is that the programs are encoded so as to be playable only by the same recorder that originally recorded them.6. I have read on-line, but have not verified yet, that your programs and settings that were lost when you installed the new hard drive are not gone for good. According to sources, you should be able to remove the external hard drive by performing the steps basically in reverse and that this should restore your receiver to its pre-upgrade state. [Edit: I have now verified that this does work.]When all is said and done, I am thrilled with the results and the ease of this upgrade.

If all you need is to turn a SATA hard drive into an external USB 2.0, then I'd rather go with this one (I own both):http://www.amazon.com/3-5-Sata-Enclosure-Button-Backup/dp/B000UZH4FY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=automotive&qid=1239842010&sr=8-1Otherwise, you'd be paying more with NexStar because of the eSATA option, which you may or may not use anyway depending on whether your computer has an eSATA connection or not. And even if you can use it, the actual transfer speed will most likely not be optimized due to the physical speed limitations of your hard drives anyway (the actual speed is only about twice as fast as my USB 2.0, which isn't worth it to me).Furthermore, there needs to be a fan. Heat will inevitably build up, and that isn't good for the life span of your hard drives. This makes me hesitant to leave it on to transfer large amounts of data at once.Bottom line: Three stars because it's quiet and it works, but price is a bit on the expensive side especially with its lack of a cooling system.

I bought this drive to replace an EIDE external NexStar case. Works great witha SATA3 1 Gigabyte WD drive. Drive has the features I like, combination poweron and activity LED indicator.

Works perfect with my PVR. No problem since I have it.