# A Device/Modem to Access External HDD Over a Network
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-device-modem-to-access-external-hdd-over-a-network/816704
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [June 25, 2018, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-device-modem-to-access-external-hdd-over-a-network/816704 "2018-06-25T14:34:43Z")
**Posts on this page:** 8
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@molten](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/molten)
#### Post date: [June 25, 2018, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-device-modem-to-access-external-hdd-over-a-network/816704/1 "2018-06-25T14:34:43Z")
I have an external HDD which I do not want to connect directly with my laptop, as when you do that and you move the laptop a little there are constant disconnections due to the bad wiring of the usb port. And sometimes you get a corrupt drive or files.
I have been using my router (Tenda AC1200) to access the drive over the network. This is basically a large music library drive and I play songs from it. But recently the songs are starting to get stuck while playing and pause because it is so slow.
What is a reasonably priced alternative to achieve the desired result?
I don’t really have to be able to access the files remotely, that is a bonus, but the main thing is accessing over the local network @ my home.
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### Author:  [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)
#### Post date: [June 25, 2018, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-device-modem-to-access-external-hdd-over-a-network/816704/2 "2018-06-25T14:42:36Z")
A [Drobo](http://www.drobo.com/) is a NAS (Network Attached Storage) and will do what you want. But unless you need lots of storage and/or expansion, it might be overkill.
You might invest less money in a new USB cable, or get the socket fixed. I don’t have this problem with USB cables unless I yank one out. Although, admittedly, the design spec on USB sockets provides much less “grip” than other plug & socket specs.
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### Author:  [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)
#### Post date: [June 25, 2018, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-device-modem-to-access-external-hdd-over-a-network/816704/3 "2018-06-25T14:50:22Z")
I have the 2TB version of this, which I’m happy with. It is hard-wired to (and sits next to) my router at home. I have on occasion accessed image and video files from it at home through my smart TV, which was fine, and I backup my images to it remotely over the internet (I’ve just now been saving some photos taken here in Austria today, to the MyCloud sitting ar home in London, and likewise played some music files back from it over the internet).
[http://www.trustedreviews.com/reviews/wd-my-cloud](http://www.trustedreviews.com/reviews/wd-my-cloud)
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### Author:  [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)
#### Post date: [June 25, 2018, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-device-modem-to-access-external-hdd-over-a-network/816704/4 "2018-06-25T16:45:13Z")
You can buy really cheap Raspberry Pi-type computers that have both USB and networking capabilities, if you don’t need an expensive NAS.
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### Author:  [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)
#### Post date: [June 25, 2018, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-device-modem-to-access-external-hdd-over-a-network/816704/5 "2018-06-25T18:52:57Z")
> [@DPRK](#):
>
> You can buy really cheap Raspberry Pi-type computers that have both USB and networking capabilities, if you don’t need an expensive NAS.
The good news, the new Pi 3+ has a gigabit Ethernet port. The bad news: only USB 2 ports. (Sort of even worse: both connect bis the same part of the SoC. But the USB 2 part is a big drag on its own.)
For a lot of cheap boxes with USB ports, the sharing of the Ethernet and USB linkages slows down things a lot. I have an old rooted $20 Pogoplug with a USB 3 connector and 100Mb Ethernet and they fall all over themselves trying to ram bits thru the same circuitry.
If you do a “proper” NAS you soon find that they think you want a “pro” level box and the price jumps considerably.
So cheap, USB 3, gigabit Ethernet boxes are not a thing.
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### Author:  [@PoppaSan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PoppaSan)
#### Post date: [June 25, 2018, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-device-modem-to-access-external-hdd-over-a-network/816704/6 "2018-06-25T19:07:24Z")
> [@molten](#):
>
> I have an external HDD which I do not want to connect directly with my laptop, as when you do that and you move the laptop a little there are constant disconnections due to the bad wiring of the usb port. And sometimes you get a corrupt drive or files.
>
> I have been using my router (Tenda AC1200) to access the drive over the network. This is basically a large music library drive and I play songs from it. But recently the songs are starting to get stuck while playing and pause because it is so slow.
>
> What is a reasonably priced alternative to achieve the desired result?
>
> I don’t really have to be able to access the files remotely, that is a bonus, but the main thing is accessing over the local network @ my home.
For about $60-$70 replace [**the router**](https://www.amazon.com/Tenda-AC1200-Wireless-Gigabit-Router/dp/B01COA6SNG). That is if your router is what failed. Otherwise change brands if the router is just shitty for this application. My router can’t handle my 3TB drive so I can’t do what you want until I get around to upgrading.
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### Author:  [@Cleophus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cleophus)
#### Post date: [June 26, 2018, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-device-modem-to-access-external-hdd-over-a-network/816704/7 "2018-06-26T22:54:04Z")
Honestly you’re trying to solve an [XY problem](http://xyproblem.info). That’s when you focus on a specific workaround instead of fixing the underlying problem. In this case, if the defect is really with the cable or the USB port on the drive, you will have the same problem but compounded by the additional complexity of the network. This could be what is causing the recent reliability issues.
Regardless, unless you have a medium to high end router/NAS with wired gigabit ethernet to the laptop, you will have significantly less performance then if the drive was directly connected. Lower end devices will bottleneck by their slow CPUs, and this will be especially noticeable with random, small accesses.
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### Author:  [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)
#### Post date: [June 27, 2018, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-device-modem-to-access-external-hdd-over-a-network/816704/8 "2018-06-27T00:04:11Z")
You don’t need anything near gigabit for streaming or downloading music. Something else is going on. Take the hard drive out of its enclosure and plug it into a NAS or raspberry pi or Craigslist router with a USB port…