Posted by Rick Merrill on 02/24/07 20:20

Gene wrote:
> Thanks, Rick.
>
> There is no specific point in the tape where it hangs up,
> it's random for sure. Could be anywhere in the tape.
>
> I have no idea if it's 110VAC problems or not, it's just my
> LAST hope:-) I have tried about everything else, including
> cooling down all equipment, turning off all other appliances,
> etc., etc. ...
>
> Having personally sent products through RF testing for certification, I'm
> well aware that RF and other is just one notch above witchcraft.
>
> It seems to me to be worth buying a box that has AVR , etc. & giving
> it a try. I just need to find a good deal on something small, as I only
> need a constant ~69W - so the tiny stuff will work.
>
> I really find it hard to believe that a 3' shielded firewire cable could
> be an antenna - but I've been surprised before:-)
>
> Something is surely happening at random times, and I have pretty
> much ruled out temperature & humidity - so I guess it's noise
> and voltage that I need to experiment with now.
>
> The Sony MiniDV camcorders work fine when connected to a
> PCI firewire card, but fail with three set-top DVD recorders -
> one being a new Sony brand.
>
> Thanks,
> Gene
>
....

It might be that the GROUND wire of your 3' connection forms a long
loop with other ground connections and it is that ground loop that
can act as an antenna (and a big one sometimes) - I've even seen
"ground" wires that are carrying a sizable CURRENT of all things!

The Sony I-link is nominally the same as 1394/firewire but there could
be issues between an older Sony i-link and a recent 1394 device, but I
have not heard of any.

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