No Firewire signal from camera at DVinfo.net

David Morgan · December 6th, 2009, 12:44 AM

I own 2 A1 cameras.
One unit outputs firewire to my DVD recorder or DV deck just fine. I can see the picture on my TV connected to it. The other is not recognized by the deck. Is there some sort of software update that I don't know about?

Allan Black · December 6th, 2009, 03:00 AM

David, currently there's no software updates for the A1 and I don't think at this stage there ever will be.

In the A1 not outputting firewire, I'd say either its FW output is cactus, or something in its play menu is not set the same as your other A1.

You could line both play menus up together to spot any differences or go through the manual P106. Cheers.

Steve Rusk · December 6th, 2009, 08:21 AM

When my A1 stopped being recognized by my PC, I sent it in to Canon. Their response was that a bad firewire cable must have shorted the port. They fixed it as a courtesy. I noticed about the same time there were talks on this site about a possible flaw in the firewire port that made them less reliable than other camera ports. I haven't experienced a bad cable since then (or prior to that for that matter).

David Morgan · December 6th, 2009, 10:46 AM

hum.....shorted......not a good word when it comes to this situation.
thx to all for the replys.

Allan Black · December 6th, 2009, 04:08 PM

Yeah, the 4 pin FW port on the A1 is a real trap. Because the cam is generally not sitting 'at eye level' so to speak, it's easy to push the cable plug in at an angle.

One bad push and it's .. ?....#@#%$!

And stay away from cheap Ebay FW cables, reportedly the pins bend easily and break off. The A1s has the 6 pin port, supposed to be more secure but use the same care there.

Cheers.

Jonathan Shaw · December 8th, 2009, 02:54 PM

Totally agree regarding cheap FW cables. Definitely stay away.

Nate Haustein · December 8th, 2009, 08:59 PM

Cracked mine somehow about 6 months ago. Camera had just left the one year warranty, though I called up Canon and they fixed it for free, saying there was a 60-90 day grace period they included after the warranty was up. Good thing because I think the price was regularly somewhere close to $300 for the labor and parts.

Canon fixed it for free and sent me a "how-to" instruction packet about NOT DOING IT AGAIN!

There is hope. Give one of their (US-based) phone reps a call, and just be real nice.

Battle Vaughan · December 8th, 2009, 10:34 PM

David, in using the XHa1 with a computer for OnLocation, I found the 4-pin firewire terminal "twitchy" --- nothing broken about it but bad design, you had to "tweak" the cable ever so slightly on my camera -- nudge the connector a little from side to side --- to get it to talk to the computer. It may just be a hincky connection... /Battle Vaughan

Chris Hurd · December 9th, 2009, 08:36 AM

These issues probably influenced Canon to switch to 6-pin FireWire on the XH A1S and G1S.

Chris Barcellos · December 9th, 2009, 02:08 PM

I have to say I don't know what I would have done without my HV20. My Sony FX1 had the same thing happen... firewire port damaged, and the little HV20 just stepped up and captured the FX1 footage without complaint.

Allan Black · December 9th, 2009, 09:43 PM

I've only used the A1 FW port once in 2yrs, too scared to. Presently dubbing A1 HDV and it's T/C direct to a new tape on an HV20.

It's original 50i footage of our Super Connie for a new TV series. They can do all the deinterlacing and post, just give 'em the original stuff with 30secs of SMPTE bars at the head. I can see the improvement over 18months going from the first custom preset I played with to VIVIDRGB and PANALOOK. Just on the LCD.

The original A1 factory presets were not good .. till our heroes got going :) Cheers.

Ron Haley · December 30th, 2009, 11:36 AM

Mine went - $800 repair Main board was toast, althought the only function that didn't work was the firewire :(

William Tegethoff · January 4th, 2010, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Morgan

I own 2 A1 cameras.
One unit outputs firewire to my DVD recorder or DV deck just fine. I can see the picture on my TV connected to it. The other is not recognized by the deck. Is there some sort of software update that I don't know about?

This happened to mine. I reset all camera parameters to default. All became well. I did lose my function presets but no big deal...

December 6th, 2009, 12:44 AM	#1
David Morgan Major Player Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Burbank CA Posts: 466	No Firewire signal from camera I own 2 A1 cameras. One unit outputs firewire to my DVD recorder or DV deck just fine. I can see the picture on my TV connected to it. The other is not recognized by the deck. Is there some sort of software update that I don't know about?

December 6th, 2009, 03:00 AM	#2
Allan Black Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Sydney. Posts: 2,937	David, currently there's no software updates for the A1 and I don't think at this stage there ever will be. In the A1 not outputting firewire, I'd say either its FW output is cactus, or something in its play menu is not set the same as your other A1. You could line both play menus up together to spot any differences or go through the manual P106. Cheers. __________________ Drink more tap water. On admission at Sydney hospitals more than 5% of day patients are de-hydrated.

December 6th, 2009, 04:08 PM	#5
Allan Black Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Sydney. Posts: 2,937	Yeah, the 4 pin FW port on the A1 is a real trap. Because the cam is generally not sitting 'at eye level' so to speak, it's easy to push the cable plug in at an angle. One bad push and it's .. ?....#@#%$! And stay away from cheap Ebay FW cables, reportedly the pins bend easily and break off. The A1s has the 6 pin port, supposed to be more secure but use the same care there. Cheers. __________________ Drink more tap water. On admission at Sydney hospitals more than 5% of day patients are de-hydrated.

December 8th, 2009, 02:54 PM	#6
Jonathan Shaw Major Player Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sydney Posts: 552	Totally agree regarding cheap FW cables. Definitely stay away. __________________ www.ginclearfilm.com www.facebook.com/ginclearfilm

December 8th, 2009, 08:59 PM	#7
Nate Haustein Trustee Join Date: May 2007 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 1,313	Cracked mine somehow about 6 months ago. Camera had just left the one year warranty, though I called up Canon and they fixed it for free, saying there was a 60-90 day grace period they included after the warranty was up. Good thing because I think the price was regularly somewhere close to $300 for the labor and parts. Canon fixed it for free and sent me a "how-to" instruction packet about NOT DOING IT AGAIN! There is hope. Give one of their (US-based) phone reps a call, and just be real nice. __________________ Nate Haustein PXW-FX9 / FCPX www.flightcreativemedia.com

December 6th, 2009, 08:21 AM	#3
Steve Rusk Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Stuttgart Germany Posts: 63	When my A1 stopped being recognized by my PC, I sent it in to Canon. Their response was that a bad firewire cable must have shorted the port. They fixed it as a courtesy. I noticed about the same time there were talks on this site about a possible flaw in the firewire port that made them less reliable than other camera ports. I haven't experienced a bad cable since then (or prior to that for that matter).

December 6th, 2009, 10:46 AM	#4
David Morgan Major Player Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Burbank CA Posts: 466	hum.....shorted......not a good word when it comes to this situation. thx to all for the replys.

December 8th, 2009, 10:34 PM	#8
Battle Vaughan Trustee Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Miami, FL USA Posts: 1,505	David, in using the XHa1 with a computer for OnLocation, I found the 4-pin firewire terminal "twitchy" --- nothing broken about it but bad design, you had to "tweak" the cable ever so slightly on my camera -- nudge the connector a little from side to side --- to get it to talk to the computer. It may just be a hincky connection... /Battle Vaughan

December 9th, 2009, 08:36 AM	#9
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	These issues probably influenced Canon to switch to 6-pin FireWire on the XH A1S and G1S. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

December 9th, 2009, 02:08 PM	#10
Chris Barcellos Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Elk Grove CA Posts: 6,838	I have to say I don't know what I would have done without my HV20. My Sony FX1 had the same thing happen... firewire port damaged, and the little HV20 just stepped up and captured the FX1 footage without complaint. __________________ Chris J. Barcellos

December 9th, 2009, 09:43 PM	#11
Allan Black Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Sydney. Posts: 2,937	I've only used the A1 FW port once in 2yrs, too scared to. Presently dubbing A1 HDV and it's T/C direct to a new tape on an HV20. It's original 50i footage of our Super Connie for a new TV series. They can do all the deinterlacing and post, just give 'em the original stuff with 30secs of SMPTE bars at the head. I can see the improvement over 18months going from the first custom preset I played with to VIVIDRGB and PANALOOK. Just on the LCD. The original A1 factory presets were not good .. till our heroes got going :) Cheers. __________________ Drink more tap water. On admission at Sydney hospitals more than 5% of day patients are de-hydrated.

December 30th, 2009, 11:36 AM	#12
Ron Haley Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Los Altos Hills, CA, USA Posts: 30	Mine went - $800 repair Main board was toast, althought the only function that didn't work was the firewire :(