Why doesn't Windows recognize my HVX200 in P2 mode?

B

braindraw

New member
I just got an AG-HVX200AP and I want to monitor/capture DVCPro HD footage with OnLocation CS3. I've read the manuals and I know that it's possible in theory.

However, when I connect the camera to my Vista/XP machines, the OS doesn't even recognize that a camera is connected. At least not when the camera in is P2 mode. It works perfectly when it's in TAPE mode, but HD isn't an option in TAPE mode.

  • I've switched the monitor in OnLocation between m2t and Mpeg
  • I've tried every 1394 PC connection mode in the camera
  • I've installed the P2 drivers and the camera's firmware is up to date
  • The camera is not set to 720PN
  • I bought a brand new firewire cable and got the same results
Nothing so far has helped Windows recognize the camera in P2 mode. At this point I'm considering returning the camera, or exchanging for an HPX170.

Can someone please help me out?
 
If you're trying to use OnLocation, you don't want to be in P2 mode, you want to be in camera mode. The 1394 PC connection doesn't matter, that's for transferring footage and you wouldn't use 1394 Device on Windows anyway, you'd use USB device.

So if you made it work in tape mode, you should be able to slide the switch over and make it work in HD mode.

Oooh, but another question: are you using the trial version of CS3? If so, I don't think it has any support for DVCPRO-HD in the trial version, so that might explain it.
 
Thanks for your quick reply, Barry!

Barry_Green said:
If you're trying to use OnLocation, you don't want to be in P2 mode, you want to be in camera mode. The 1394 PC connection doesn't matter, that's for transferring footage and you wouldn't use 1394 Device on Windows anyway, you'd use USB device.
Click to expand...

I've kept it in camera mode while testing this issue. I assume that's the mode it needs to be in for live capture, right? When I say "P2 mode", I'm referring to the P2/TAPE media switch on the back of the camera.

Barry_Green said:
So if you made it work in tape mode, you should be able to slide the switch over and make it work in HD mode.
Click to expand...

I absolutely agree! I really don't understand why it's not working that way. It defies logic.

Barry_Green said:
Oooh, but another question: are you using the trial version of CS3? If so, I don't think it has any support for DVCPRO-HD in the trial version, so that might explain it.
Click to expand...

I'm using a paid-for, activated version of OnLocation that came with Master Collection CS3.

If anyone has any more ideas or things I could try, I'd love to hear them!

Has anyone tried both the HVX200 and HPX170 and found that one works better than the other? I hate to have to switch models so soon, but that's looking more and more like my only option.
 
Thanks for directing me to that thread, Al. I should clarify that I have no trouble at all transferring HD footage from the P2 card via USB. I'm not sure I've tried it through the firewire, but I don't think you're supposed to on a PC anyway. I'm only trying to use firewire for live HD capture with OnLocation.

I saw a post in that thread about how when somebody physically pushed the firewire cable upward near the camera port, suddenly the PC recognized the connection. That is super janky and just seems like poor craftsmanship or poor design on Panasonic's part.

I may try that, but if that's the solution, I don't see any point in getting it repaired if it's just going to happen again. I may just try and exchange it for an HPX170 if I can.

Any other ideas? I still feel like the solution must either be incredibly simple or unsolvable (like if the problem is the design of the camera).
 
There's no reason you shouldn't be working (sine Tape mode works), I use OnLocation with my HVX/firewire all the time. Only two reasons I can think of; 1) are you absolutely sure you are not in 720p/24pn mode? (or/30pn?); 2) camera broken.
 
How long is the FW cable? OnLocation CS3, does not support cables longer than 15 feet in HD mode.

Try a shorter cable.

If any doubt exits about the camera, try it in DV mode trough firewire, it supports any cable size (to 100 feet as I know)
 
I finally resolved this problem by exchanging the camera for a new one. The new camera streams to my computer through 1394 just fine. Thanks for everyone's advice!
 
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