Posted by Gene on 02/24/07 20:55

I tried a number of different firewire cables, and all
worked on the PC, with the all three Sony camcorders - so
it's probably something specific to the set-top box arrangement.

Think I'll just buy & try a couple of 110VAC clean-up solutions. If
I buy a tiny UPS that does not help, I can always use it for the
Sprint PCS SOHO Repeater.

Gene




"Rick Merrill" <rick0.merrill@NOSPAM.gmail.com> wrote in message
news:pMOdnV9-hM-BA33YnZ2dnUVZ_uudnZ2d@comcast.com...
> 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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