sputnikslim
Active member
So, do I need to shut down my computer and camera - connect Firewire - then turn both back on, OR, do I only have to make sure that the camera is off when I hook up?
DVX hot swappable question
- Thread starter sputnikslim
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Barry_Green
Moderator
It depends on if you're using a computer with a six-pin connector or a 4-pin. If using a Windows laptop with a 4-pin to 4-pin cable, you can hot-swap all you want, no problem -- no need to turn anything off.
If you're using a desktop with a 6-pin port, then you've got a potential probelm. Ideally you'd turn the computer off, as it's the source of blown firewire ports in camcorders. It may be happening when people temporarily try to plug in a firewire cable backwards, shorting out the power pins. If you have the computer off, that won't happen.
So -- 4-4, no worries. 6-4, you've got a potential problem and you'd better be *extremely* careful how you plug in, or to be safe you'd turn the computer off before connecting.
The middle ground is to just connect the computer cable first, properly, before attempting to connect the camera side.
If you're using a desktop with a 6-pin port, then you've got a potential probelm. Ideally you'd turn the computer off, as it's the source of blown firewire ports in camcorders. It may be happening when people temporarily try to plug in a firewire cable backwards, shorting out the power pins. If you have the computer off, that won't happen.
So -- 4-4, no worries. 6-4, you've got a potential problem and you'd better be *extremely* careful how you plug in, or to be safe you'd turn the computer off before connecting.
The middle ground is to just connect the computer cable first, properly, before attempting to connect the camera side.
sputnikslim
Active member
6 contacts inside the firewire that plugs into a Mac/4 pins on the end of that, which plug into the dv port on the camera. I just leave the 6 end plugged into the computer and plug/unplug at the camera.
So the potential problem is that you might short out the dv port by shorting out the firewire cable by trying to install it backwards into the computer?
Thanks for helping me to understand this.
So the potential problem is that you might short out the dv port by shorting out the firewire cable by trying to install it backwards into the computer?
Thanks for helping me to understand this.
Barry_Green
Moderator
That is, I believe, the crux of the matter, yes. Not 100% sure but it certainly seems to make a lot of sense.
So if you never unplugged the cable from your Mac, then it's entirely possible that you might be able to hot-swap all the time. But I wouldn't recommend doing so since the manufacturers also recommend to power devices down before connecting.
If it was my own system I think I'd feel plenty confident in hot-swapping as long as the cable was never removed from the Mac side. You could also probably plug in while both units were powered on IF you plugged in the Mac side *first* and wer absolutely certain it was properly connected the right way, before attempting to plug in the camcorder.
So if you never unplugged the cable from your Mac, then it's entirely possible that you might be able to hot-swap all the time. But I wouldn't recommend doing so since the manufacturers also recommend to power devices down before connecting.
If it was my own system I think I'd feel plenty confident in hot-swapping as long as the cable was never removed from the Mac side. You could also probably plug in while both units were powered on IF you plugged in the Mac side *first* and wer absolutely certain it was properly connected the right way, before attempting to plug in the camcorder.
sputnikslim
Active member
Thanks Barry.