F350 Firewire no longer working

Mitchell Skurnik · February 5th, 2008, 02:44 AM

It could be static discharge that is damaging your port. I remember browsing through a product catalog a year or so back and seeing a product that protects firewire devices from ESD. Might want to get one. Its about 1/2" x 2".

Alister Chapman · February 6th, 2008, 02:17 PM

I don't think a cable change will make much difference becuse I think the short often occurs as you insert the plug in to the socket and the connections in the socket contact the wrong pins on the plug as you push it in, passing power up the data line, so disconnecting the power in the cable won't stop this at the computer end. It would stop it at the camera end.

I would suggest that if you must hot plug that you always connect the cable to the computer before the camera is connected.

I have heard of far more blown FW connections from PC users than Mac users. This could either be down to better quality connectors on Macs or simply a larger number of PC users, thus more failures.

Phil Bloom · February 12th, 2008, 01:46 PM

this is insane

it blew again today. It was plugged into my macbook pro with a new cable. I had a disc in. Working fine, i ejected using the camera, not on the desktop, put another disc in and it no longer worked!!

Paul Gale · February 12th, 2008, 02:52 PM

Could be a dodgy firewire component in the Mac???

Mitchell Skurnik · February 12th, 2008, 04:53 PM

Get a PCMCIA or express card firewire card for your mac and try it with that or try it on another mac or PC.

Phil Bloom · February 12th, 2008, 05:04 PM

well its fried and it has to go back so got no choice there. Hope they dont charge me. Need the U1 to be writable!

Alister Chapman · February 13th, 2008, 12:16 PM

Are you running the camera off mains? You may have an earth loop problem. I would also get a new firewire cable. Some of the connectors used in the cheaper firewire cables are too slack in the sockets used on the Mac's and Sony cameras allowing the conntacts to move and short.

Phil Bloom · February 13th, 2008, 12:36 PM

nice new expensive cables already! Also, battery powered. OH WELL, Sony are picking it up tomorrow no problem. They took 3 days to get it back to me last time. Just going to use the expresscard firewire from now on

Chris Rowe · February 13th, 2008, 12:51 PM

Seems to me I remember hearing that a damaged FW port could damage a working FW port. Meaning, if the Mac port had been damaged at any time (usually by hot swapping), it could damage a known good FW port on the camera. This is kind of like a contagious infection. I don’t know if the Mac’s port could be damaged, but still working, but it would explain your situation if it is possible.

Regards,
Chris

PS, I got away with hot swapping for years and never had a problem. Guess I was lucky. I’ve read about and know many, many people who have blown the FW port by one or both of the devices being powered up.

February 6th, 2008, 02:17 PM	#32
Alister Chapman Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Bracknell, Berkshire, UK Posts: 4,957	I don't think a cable change will make much difference becuse I think the short often occurs as you insert the plug in to the socket and the connections in the socket contact the wrong pins on the plug as you push it in, passing power up the data line, so disconnecting the power in the cable won't stop this at the computer end. It would stop it at the camera end. I would suggest that if you must hot plug that you always connect the cable to the computer before the camera is connected. I have heard of far more blown FW connections from PC users than Mac users. This could either be down to better quality connectors on Macs or simply a larger number of PC users, thus more failures. __________________ Alister Chapman, Film-Maker/Stormchaser http://www.xdcam-user.com/alisters-blog/ My XDCAM site and blog. http://www.hurricane-rig.com

February 12th, 2008, 01:46 PM	#33
Phil Bloom Trustee Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: London UK Posts: 1,939	this is insane it blew again today. It was plugged into my macbook pro with a new cable. I had a disc in. Working fine, i ejected using the camera, not on the desktop, put another disc in and it no longer worked!! __________________ Philip Bloom Cinematographer, Director, Filmmaker www.philipbloom.net

February 12th, 2008, 05:04 PM	#36
Phil Bloom Trustee Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: London UK Posts: 1,939	well its fried and it has to go back so got no choice there. Hope they dont charge me. Need the U1 to be writable! __________________ Philip Bloom Cinematographer, Director, Filmmaker www.philipbloom.net

February 13th, 2008, 12:16 PM	#37
Alister Chapman Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Bracknell, Berkshire, UK Posts: 4,957	Are you running the camera off mains? You may have an earth loop problem. I would also get a new firewire cable. Some of the connectors used in the cheaper firewire cables are too slack in the sockets used on the Mac's and Sony cameras allowing the conntacts to move and short. __________________ Alister Chapman, Film-Maker/Stormchaser http://www.xdcam-user.com/alisters-blog/ My XDCAM site and blog. http://www.hurricane-rig.com

February 13th, 2008, 12:36 PM	#38
Phil Bloom Trustee Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: London UK Posts: 1,939	nice new expensive cables already! Also, battery powered. OH WELL, Sony are picking it up tomorrow no problem. They took 3 days to get it back to me last time. Just going to use the expresscard firewire from now on __________________ Philip Bloom Cinematographer, Director, Filmmaker www.philipbloom.net

February 5th, 2008, 02:44 AM	#31
Mitchell Skurnik Major Player Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Rancho Santa Margarita, California Posts: 201	It could be static discharge that is damaging your port. I remember browsing through a product catalog a year or so back and seeing a product that protects firewire devices from ESD. Might want to get one. Its about 1/2" x 2".

February 12th, 2008, 02:52 PM	#34
Paul Gale Major Player Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Oxfordshire, UK Posts: 425	Could be a dodgy firewire component in the Mac???

February 12th, 2008, 04:53 PM	#35
Mitchell Skurnik Major Player Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Rancho Santa Margarita, California Posts: 201	Get a PCMCIA or express card firewire card for your mac and try it with that or try it on another mac or PC.

February 13th, 2008, 12:51 PM	#39
Chris Rowe New Boot Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Santa Rosa, CA Posts: 21	Poss bad Mac FW prot? Seems to me I remember hearing that a damaged FW port could damage a working FW port. Meaning, if the Mac port had been damaged at any time (usually by hot swapping), it could damage a known good FW port on the camera. This is kind of like a contagious infection. I don’t know if the Mac’s port could be damaged, but still working, but it would explain your situation if it is possible. Regards, Chris PS, I got away with hot swapping for years and never had a problem. Guess I was lucky. I’ve read about and know many, many people who have blown the FW port by one or both of the devices being powered up.