firewire: dead or alive?

M

mpalmer12345

Well-known member
Because I've not been able to transfer P2 cards via firewire, I thought that my camera's firewire connection was dead due to the notorious "not plugging things in exactly the right order" issue... but just recently I was able to transfer a miniDV tape to the computer via firewire with no problem whatsoever, so now I'm stumped.

I called Panasonic, and they told me that if I can transfer a tape via firewire then the firewire connection is definitely working okay. Nonetheless, I am completely unable to get the NO NAME folder to appear on the desktop, no matter what settings I use (1394 host, device, etc.). When I switch to USB and do the P2 transfer that way, however, everything works perfectly fine, no problems whatsoever.

Was I given bad advice? Why would I be able to figure out how to use USB and not firewire? What's my deal? Do I need to send this in for repair, or not???
 
It seems to be a data rate thing...dv is a smaller stream and the cable's connector is the limiting factor. Loose connector equals lower capacity. Try a different cable...one that fits snugly may work for you.
 
What is your computer system setup? I ran into a problem on a Mac G5 Dual 2.7 - apparently only one firewire device can be connected at once through the on-board connectors . . . the solution for me was to go with USB, or disconnect my Firewire hard drive then connect my camera to capture from minidv - or get an expansion card with additional Firewire ports.
 
I've tried several firewire cords, no success. I've tried several computers as well. The one i have now is a Macbook Pro , latest OS, with a single firewire outlet.
 
If the fit isn't snug and you have tried several cables, the socket on the camera may be the culprit. If it has had a lot of use and has a sloppy fit, a trip to Spec Comm may be in order. You might email them to find out your options.
 
mpalmer12345 said:
I've tried several firewire cords, no success. I've tried several computers as well. The one i have now is a Macbook Pro , latest OS, with a single firewire outlet.
Click to expand...

I had a problem getting a connection on my g5 quad. What worked for me was to plug into the second firewire port on my external hard drive.
 
Okay, I'll try and convince Pana to take this in for repair-- I'm still under warranty. Getting them to set up a repair order is horrendous, as they only say they will call me sometime within a 24-hr time period. What am I supposed to do, wait by my phone for 24 hours? (I don't have a cell.) That really sucks, Pana, if you're listening.
 
Excuse me for revisiting this, but I’ve now tested 4 different firewire cables and tried my camera on 4 different computers with no success, and still Panasonic tells me that if the miniDV transfer works via firewire as it does, then the fw port cannot possibly be broken and they see no point in trying to fix my camera (still under warranty, but not for long). What am I doing wrong that I can’t get my P2 NO NAME folders to show up on the Mac OSX desktop via firewire? They show up fine with USB, and with the PCMCIA slot on a friend's laptop. Am I just being a total dunce here, or what??????

The reason I am asking about this is that I want the firewire port to be working in case I sell the camera, so that I can say that it works perfectly in good faith.
 
Do you have any virus protection programs at all ? If those are on that might be your problem. You can always reset your ports on your mac too.




While we're on the subject what is the proper way to connect/disconnect your camera - firewire & firewire - computer ?

I'm using a firestore and I'm eventually going to buy some P2 cards.





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Tech support folly

Tech support folly

mpalmer12345 said:
Excuse me for revisiting this, but I’ve now tested 4 different firewire cables and tried my camera on 4 different computers with no success, and still Panasonic tells me that if the miniDV transfer works via firewire as it does, then the fw port cannot possibly be broken and they see no point in trying to fix my camera (still under warranty, but not for long). What am I doing wrong that I can’t get my P2 NO NAME folders to show up on the Mac OSX desktop via firewire? They show up fine with USB, and with the PCMCIA slot on a friend's laptop. Am I just being a total dunce here, or what??????

The reason I am asking about this is that I want the firewire port to be working in case I sell the camera, so that I can say that it works perfectly in good faith.
Click to expand...


It can be frustrating dealing with tech support types that feel their experience
is universal. If they have not seen it...it isn't possible.

I struggled with this same issue, and I found DV would pass through the 1394
cable and the HD signal would not.
In my case the connector was found to be the problem.

Digital appears to differ from analog in that a signal that steadily decreases in quality will hit a point where you have a blank screen instead of an analog picture that just gets noisier.

I'm sure this phenom has happened to more folks than just me.
Email a few authorised service places and read what they say.
 
I've no virus protection, so that can't be it. I believe the order is cables in, then camera power on, not the reverse.

I've spoken to one service place in Southern CA referred to me by Panasonic that refused to take my camera, saying that it isn't a problem if the miniDV transfer via firewire works. I can't get anybody to even admit the problem, let alone fix it. EXTREMELY frustrating!

...
Is there a service person reading this who would like to fix my camera??? I am still under warranty, so I shouldn't have to pay anything other than shipping. Contact me via PM.
 
Exactly what is your process for trying to connect your camera to your laptop? Walk us through it.

And (possibly stupid question), you do have the Panasonic P2 Drivers installed on your Mac, right?
 
FW plugged into laptop & cam. Cam turned on. Round button pressed twice. Flashes message "1394 disconnect." No folder appears.

I did have drivers installed (how do I check to make sure they went in okay?). If USB works but not FW, wouldn't that indicate that the driver is not the problem?
 
Mac P2 driver link at sixbullets is dead! Anybody with a good one? Also, is anybody using Leopard? I am, could that be the problem?

...
Mac P2 Drivers
Latest Mac driver
released September, 2008. Includes a format utility. Leopard support is still not quite right.
Mac downloads include firewire (IEEE 1394) support.
 
im having the same problem , it would work for DV but not HD , i found out it was the firewire port was broken just by moving the cable upward and holding it, then i hear the beep ON MY PC, so i opend the part that covers the firewire (JUST 3 SCREWS) .here it was the soldering was broken i have to take it for repair , so all you have to do if you still under waranty, just tell them you have broken firewire ...me im out of the country now, and i dont have no waranty anymore :)
does anyone knows where i can buy the firewire port ?
 
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