Which Raspberry Pie Kit

Channels DVR Server
#1

Hi Guys,

I was at Best Buy and saw a bunch of Raspberry Pie kits by Canakit but I am unsure which one would work best as a network DVR for Channels.

Can anybody guide me which one to get and what I would need to add to it to work as a DVR.

The kits available for sale are:
The Starter Max Kit
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/canakit-raspberry-pi-4-starter-max-kit/6405650.p?skuId=6405650
The Premium Starter Kit:
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/canakit-raspberry-pi-4-4gb-starter-pro-kit-premium-black-case/6365737.p?skuId=6365737
The Ultimate Maker Kit:
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/canakit-raspberry-pi-4-2gb-ultimate-maker-kit-clear-case/6365733.p?skuId=6365733
The Extreme Kit:
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/canakit-raspberry-pi-4-extreme-kit-8gb-ram/6429585.p?skuId=6429585
and The Premium Starter Kit:
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/canakit-premium-case-for-raspberry-pi-4-black/6365739.p?skuId=6365739

Do I need to add a WiFi adapter or is there one inside and how do I connect a hard drive to it and which one would be good?

Would appreciate your help…

#2

We have a shopping list here: getchannels.com/raspberry-pi

But Best Buy probably doesn't sell just the Pi huh?

Honestly any of those kits is fine. Just get the cheapest one.

#3

Don't need Wi-Fi adapter. Just a Pi 4, either 2GB or 4GB.

The drive should be USB3 and will plug into the Pi USB3 port.

#4

So do you plug-in the external hard drive into the USB 3 port designated to be the card reader?

How big of storage is suitable 2TB? 4TB?

Thank you for your fast response :+1:

#5

There are 2 USB3 ports, 2 USB2 ports, and 1 SD CARD port.

2TB is good. If you plan to make a lot of recordings, 4TB is better.

#6

One other thing to know about the Raspberry Pi 4 is they do not have enough bus power for two external USB 3 hard drives.

If you plan on having more than one drive plugged in, make sure they have their own power supplies – or get a powered USB 3 hub and plug the drives into the powered hub.

#7
#8

If you have a MicroCenter near you, they sell just the boards, and other parts if you want to build it up on your own instead of a kit.
But the Canna Kits at BestBuy, are nice and have all that you need, and often are cheaper to get than all the parts separately.