Well I got my Firewire fixed:( at DVinfo.net

Randy Johnson · October 27th, 2008, 02:37 PM

$1,500 I have to say im really disapointed over this. They have a flimsy firewire system then they stick it to ya on the repair. You cant tell me that that board is worth $1,500 thats a third of the price of the camera. They could at least do a board level repair.

Jason McCormy · October 27th, 2008, 03:02 PM

Damn. That is insane. Did you have a warranty?

Randy Johnson · October 27th, 2008, 06:19 PM

nah it was out, I thought about selling it for a while and getting the new panasonic. maybe later.

David Allen Smith · October 27th, 2008, 06:23 PM

I wonder if this repair is something a savvy electronics tech could do and save some money.

Hank Coffin · October 27th, 2008, 06:39 PM

The days of soldering iron fixes are fading into history.
We had to have a Firewire controller replaced in our HVX200. It was around that price. But they initially did the wrong service and we had to send it back. It ended up being away for far too long.

What caused ours to go out? Beware plugging into a cheap Firewire socket on your computer. We had a bad socket that allowed you to plug it in upside down. The camera did not appreciate that any too much.

At least our JVC 110 has a beefy 6 pin Firewire connector. Those 4 pin connectors are one of the worst designed connectors. Not very robust.
--Hank

Jason McCormy · October 28th, 2008, 07:38 AM

If you make very sure it is plugged in the right way, and that the computer and camera are off, there is not much chance of it blowing the port? Right? I find it incredibly stressful to plug these things in.

Randy Johnson · October 28th, 2008, 08:11 AM

2 things 1. I wish they had a 4 pin, The 4 pins dont carry power so the chances of a power surge are much less.

2.They say turn everything off and that may be true (and believe me I will do it) but I dont think they really know why this is happening. Even if you talk to the techs they say anywhere from putting it in upside down (which I would have to have done it twice and im not even that dumb) to static on putting in the connector. I have been using Firewire since it came out I never have paid attention on what was powered and what was'nt. I used USB 2 self powered drives and until I got my GY-HD100 I NEVER had a problem. Personally I think theres a flaw in the camera that they should back. IMHO.

Randy

Paul Cascio · October 28th, 2008, 12:26 PM

I keep hearing horror stories about Firewire, or what I call Fryerwire. This is the worst designed piece of carp of all time.

Just cursiou, if you're power off at both ends, which one should you power up first, the camera or the computer, or does it not matter?

Christopher Glavan · October 28th, 2008, 01:54 PM

Typically you want any fw hard drives, sound devices, etc to be on before you switch your computer on, so it will recognize everything on boot. With my HD100 I've found it doesn't matter which I have on first, camera or computer, so long as they're both up before I start up FCP.

David Allen Smith · October 28th, 2008, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Randy Johnson

2 things 1. I wish they had a 4 pin, The 4 pins dont carry power so the chances of a power surge are much less.

2.They say turn everything off and that may be true (and believe me I will do it) but I dont think they really know why this is happening. Even if you talk to the techs they say anywhere from putting it in upside down (which I would have to have done it twice and im not even that dumb) to static on putting in the connector. I have been using Firewire since it came out I never have paid attention on what was powered and what was'nt. I used USB 2 self powered drives and until I got my GY-HD100 I NEVER had a problem. Personally I think theres a flaw in the camera that they should back. IMHO.

Randy

Check this out

FireWire Port Isolator

FireWire Port Isolator - 6pin - 6 inch

I still would not recommend hot swapping but it does give you a little peace of mind.

Stuart Nimmo · October 30th, 2008, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Allen Smith

Check this out

FireWire Port Isolator

FireWire Port Isolator - 6pin - 6 inch

I still would not recommend hot swapping but it does give you a little peace of mind.

That's a MUST HAVE David. In the meantime red tags over the firewire port and as Tim Dashwood is saying, don't forget the IEEE HD/DV switch at the back on the 200 series! Apparently you have to "power off" before switching that too. I've got mine well marked - pity really

Clay Morton · October 30th, 2008, 08:52 PM

I usually use a 6pin to 4pin fire wire cable with a 4pin to 6pin adapter at the end thereby averting the voltage transfer.

-Clay

Mark Silva · October 31st, 2008, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clay Morton

I usually use a 6pin to 4pin fire wire cable with a 4pin to 6pin adapter at the end thereby averting the voltage transfer.

-Clay

I go one step further with a 6-pin to 4-pin adapter on either end of a 4-pin cable.

but I still shut down just in case (1,500 bucks is worth it)

October 27th, 2008, 02:37 PM	#1
Randy Johnson Trustee Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Newark, Delaware Posts: 1,067	Well I got my Firewire fixed:( $1,500 I have to say im really disapointed over this. They have a flimsy firewire system then they stick it to ya on the repair. You cant tell me that that board is worth $1,500 thats a third of the price of the camera. They could at least do a board level repair.

October 27th, 2008, 06:39 PM	#5
Hank Coffin Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 25	Sure, just pop one of them resistors in there The days of soldering iron fixes are fading into history. We had to have a Firewire controller replaced in our HVX200. It was around that price. But they initially did the wrong service and we had to send it back. It ended up being away for far too long. What caused ours to go out? Beware plugging into a cheap Firewire socket on your computer. We had a bad socket that allowed you to plug it in upside down. The camera did not appreciate that any too much. At least our JVC 110 has a beefy 6 pin Firewire connector. Those 4 pin connectors are one of the worst designed connectors. Not very robust. --Hank

October 28th, 2008, 12:26 PM	#8
Paul Cascio Trustee Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Bristol, CT (Home of EPSN) Posts: 1,192	I keep hearing horror stories about Firewire, or what I call Fryerwire. This is the worst designed piece of carp of all time. Just cursiou, if you're power off at both ends, which one should you power up first, the camera or the computer, or does it not matter? __________________ Paul Cascio www.pictureframingschool.com

October 28th, 2008, 01:54 PM	#9
Christopher Glavan Major Player Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Redding, CA Posts: 260	Typically you want any fw hard drives, sound devices, etc to be on before you switch your computer on, so it will recognize everything on boot. With my HD100 I've found it doesn't matter which I have on first, camera or computer, so long as they're both up before I start up FCP. __________________ Reel Impressions Media - Make it more than a memory GY-HD100- 7D- PSC Promix 3- Lectro/Sennheiser- Zoom H4- MPB- CS6/CC

October 30th, 2008, 08:52 PM	#12
Clay Morton New Boot Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 20	6to4to6 I usually use a 6pin to 4pin fire wire cable with a 4pin to 6pin adapter at the end thereby averting the voltage transfer. -Clay

October 27th, 2008, 03:02 PM	#2
Jason McCormy Major Player Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Agoura California Posts: 268	Damn. That is insane. Did you have a warranty?

October 27th, 2008, 06:19 PM	#3
Randy Johnson Trustee Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Newark, Delaware Posts: 1,067	nah it was out, I thought about selling it for a while and getting the new panasonic. maybe later.

October 27th, 2008, 06:23 PM	#4
David Allen Smith Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: FTW Texas Posts: 77	I wonder if this repair is something a savvy electronics tech could do and save some money.

October 28th, 2008, 07:38 AM	#6
Jason McCormy Major Player Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Agoura California Posts: 268	If you make very sure it is plugged in the right way, and that the computer and camera are off, there is not much chance of it blowing the port? Right? I find it incredibly stressful to plug these things in.

October 28th, 2008, 08:11 AM	#7
Randy Johnson Trustee Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Newark, Delaware Posts: 1,067	2 things 1. I wish they had a 4 pin, The 4 pins dont carry power so the chances of a power surge are much less. 2.They say turn everything off and that may be true (and believe me I will do it) but I dont think they really know why this is happening. Even if you talk to the techs they say anywhere from putting it in upside down (which I would have to have done it twice and im not even that dumb) to static on putting in the connector. I have been using Firewire since it came out I never have paid attention on what was powered and what was'nt. I used USB 2 self powered drives and until I got my GY-HD100 I NEVER had a problem. Personally I think theres a flaw in the camera that they should back. IMHO. Randy