1394 INITIAL ERROR / Firewire -> external drive

[aj_newman]

Hi,

+ I have bought a new LaCie 320 Gb External rugged drive
+ I set my HVX200 to Menu -> Other Functions -> PC Mode -> 1394 HOST
1) I connect a Firewire 400 cable, with 4 pin end to Camera, 6 pin to LaCie
2) Connected the Lacie power source to dedicated USB power source
3) Switched on HVX 200
4) After about 15 seconds -> "1394 INITIAL ERROR" dispayed in Red.

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Looked at the manual that comes with the HVX. No help.
Searched through some forums.
Some state you have to format the drive before connecting it to the camera (which I don't believe is correct).
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+ Formatted Lacie on MacPro using Lacie Utility
+ Redid 1,2,3 .. and got same error message.

( This is my first time trying to dump the footage to an external drive )
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+ Changed the setting from 1394 HOST -> 1394 device.
+ Redid 1,2,3 .. and got same error message.

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+ Changed it back to 1394 Device again.
+ Tried wiggling the Camera and HDD ends of the cable to ensure they are pushed in perfecty.
+ Redid 1,2,3 .. and got same error message.

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+ Connected Drive to Mac using a new FW400 cable.
+ Mac pro sees it, copies fiels to it not problem.
+ reconnected it to HVX
+ Redid 2,3 .. and got same error message.

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Searched all the Google problems where other people have off and on problems
with Lacie external hard drives.

Some pople think that Pannasonics implmentatio of Apple's 1394 standard was not fully implented.
Others this is untrue. (I find it hard to believe myself)

I've tried taking the magnet off the cable. Nothing works.
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Its now 2:46am and I have to catch a flight in 7 hours.
How could such a basic function be so impossible to work?
I don't have a Firewire HUB.

Is that what everyone has bought to fix the problem?

Or does everyone stay away from Lacie HDDs?

:crybaby:

[Coldpizza]

Hi AJ
I stay away from Lacie and use only Maxtor or G-Tech. As for connection to the camera the setting is Host not Device and yes the drive needs to be formatted before the camera can transfer any files. The camera will do this though you don't need to format it your self.
From the work flow you described I would change the power source of the drive to AC rather than USB. I don't know how this could be a problem but you never know. Reason I am saying this is that when I tried to do the same thing I powered the drive of AC and it worked.
Last thing I can say is go to the Other Functions menu scroll down to 1394 Control and select Both if that doesn't work try EXT. This may have something to do with it.

[aj_newman]

Coldpizza,

Thankyou for your insight!

The other menu function lists:
REMOTE VCR1
1394 CONTROL OFF
1394 CMD SEL REC_P
PC MODE 1394 HOST

The 'OFF' and 'REC_P' options are in BLUE and unmodifiable.

If buying another Hard drive solves this - I'll be over the moon.

Thanks,
AJ