Anyone use Firewire on their 180A5

[Unregistered]

I've spent literally all day from about 9 AM to 10 PM trying to get my Firewire (IEEE 1394) connections on my 180A5 to work with either of my Firewire devices, without luck. I talked to Best Buy tech support for a while and got the usual "well, the device driver doesn't show a yellow exclamation point, so everything must be working fine - it's your fault".

Both my Firewire devices work fine with my other PC (a desktop, with 6 pin connectors) but neither works at all with my vpr Matrix (a notebook, with 4 pin connectors). I even blew away everything I've added to the notebook since buying it and installed the Restore CD, with the Quick Format option. That's because tech support blamed the problem on software I'd installed after I got the machine.

So has anyone used their Firewire ports, and if so what for?

[Angus]

I've used my firewire ports for a couple things... I have an external firewire CDRW drive (LaCie) that works flawlessly. I also have a recently built firewire external drive using a Maxtor 120GB drive and a drive enclosure from FirewireDirect.com. Also works great. I'm waiting on a 4 pin to 4 pin before I connect my mini DV video camcorder, so that will have to wait for a week or so. So far so good though with everything else.

The only thing I haven't been able to accomplish was connecting my desktop computer (6 pin) to my notebook (4 pin) using FireNet. But I've read a few things about firenet and apparently it doesn't work with unpowered ports (4 pin). Bah. Or maybe I'm just not doing something right. Who knows.

I'm running Win2k Pro btw, on a 200A5.

[Ioman]

Did your 200A5 come with firewire cables? Where can I buy them for my laptop?

[Angus]

No mine didn't come with firewire cables, sadly. I happened to have one with my videocamera (4 to 6) and I have a 6 to 6 i got with my external burner.

Whatever you do, DO NOT BUY BELKIN CABLES. They're so goddamn expensive and you can get firewire cables from some place like www.firewiredirect.com for about $15. Still not cheap, but Belkin wants like $40 which is absurd. I've also gotten cables from www.sidewindercomputers.com and they were good and cheap on the wallet. Plus it's a good little american e-business that always treats you well.

[Chris Shaeffer]

I've got a 200A5 and I use both its firewire ports everyday. One for an external harddrive and the other for a firewire audio interface.

The only problems I've run into were when I tried to add a third firewire port with a PCMCIA card. In that case, though, I think it was the card and the audio device that didn't get along.

Other than that its a solid as the rock beneath our feet. I haven't tried dasiy chaining the DV camera to the harddrive, yet, though.

Have you had the firewire ports working before? With the same or different hardware? If you are sure its not the devices, then call Customer Service, explain about the unknowledgeable tech support, and say you want a machine with firewire ports that work. If the service rep isn't helpful, thank them for their time and ask to talk to their supervisor: chances are they just don't have the authority to bend a rule that needs to be bent.

Best Buy wants their computer line to be successful. To do that they need happy customers. Let the boss know that you want to be a happy customer- with working firewire ports.

Take care,
Chris

[Ioman]

Originally posted by Chris Shaeffer
I've got a 200A5 and I use both its firewire ports everyday. One for an external harddrive and the other for a firewire audio interface.

The only problems I've run into were when I tried to add a third firewire port with a PCMCIA card. In that case, though, I think it was the card and the audio device that didn't get along.

Other than that its a solid as the rock beneath our feet. I haven't tried dasiy chaining the DV camera to the harddrive, yet, though.

Have you had the firewire ports working before? With the same or different hardware? If you are sure its not the devices, then call Customer Service, explain about the unknowledgeable tech support, and say you want a machine with firewire ports that work. If the service rep isn't helpful, thank them for their time and ask to talk to their supervisor: chances are they just don't have the authority to bend a rule that needs to be bent.

Best Buy wants their computer line to be successful. To do that they need happy customers. Let the boss know that you want to be a happy customer- with working firewire ports.

Take care,
Chris

Firewire audio interface? What do you mean by that? Can you send me a link or somthing?

Thanks!

[Angus]

Oh, one thing you may want to consider Mr. Unregistered....

You didn't say what devices it was that you were trying to connect. Depending on what they are, they may REQUIRE a 6 pin connection port. The 2 additional pins carry power from the firwire bus. This power is sent so that various "slim line" pocket drive type things can get power from the computer and not need an AC adapter.

So what I'm thinking is maybe you have a device that needs power, isnt' getting it through the 4pin jacks, and isn't going to work without an AC adapter for juice.

Firwire audio devices.... hmm... MP3 players? Apple iPod? Super expensive studio gear?

[Ioman]

Originally posted by Angus
Firwire audio devices.... hmm... MP3 players? Apple iPod? Super expensive studio gear?

Oh I am sorry, I was thinking speaker system, not MP3 players etc...

I really hate running the audio cables from the front of the unit around to the back. A side audio interface would be awsome.