On Jan 3, 2012, at 1:34 PM, Kevin wrote: > RE: 17" G4 1.5Ghz Powerbook (2006) and an Intel Mac Mini 2.4 Ghz > (2010) both with maxed out RAM and most current OS. > > Is there a safe way to keep all of my FW devices physically connected > so that all I need to do is power on/off the device when needed?
Yes, just keep 'em plugged in. Be aware some enclosures need power to properly daisy-chain connections. > > Are FW800 to FW400 adapters and/or cables a bad idea (I'm thinking of > people who rip out the ground on a 3 prong power cable)? No they're not. be aware, though that a FW400 device on a FW800 port will degrade the entire chain to FW400. > > I use 5 OWC FW drives for various things like Audio and Video > production and Archives. I'd like to be able to connect them all and > not have to be connecting disconnecting all the time. I'm aware that > FW can support up to like 64 devices via daisy chain however I'm not > sure if that is recommended in the real world or if that is only > theoretical. Very theoretical. Realistically more than ~8 or 10 on a chain is REALLY pushing it, and all of those devices need to be self-powered. Seee: <http://www.1394ta.org/consumers/FAQ.html#FW800DaisyChain> > It scares me personally. It shouldn't, it's a standard feature of the firewire standard. Remember, FW was adopted as a replacement for SCSI, and one of the design goals was decent daisy-chaining performance. > OWC told me over the phone they > only recommend 3 FW devices in a chain (Mac, Device 1 and Device2). That's extremely conservative, probably specced for bus-powered devices. > Naturally I've been thinking of a powered FW hub but I don't see many > on the market, specifically FW800. They are pricey, but Google says: <http://tinyurl.com/6ncxt2g> Also this: <http://www.amazon.com/Firewire-Repeater-Power-Voltage-Automatically/dp/B0057M1KFU> which looks clearly designed for studio use, judging from the mounting brackets... > > I also have a FW400 audio interface and a FW400 DVD-/+RW drive (both > not bus powered) to throw into the mix! As I said, you will want to segregate the FW400 and FW800 devices on different ports. > > What are my options, if any? I'm now down to one FW800 port on the > Mini from having a FW400 and FW800 (though not sure if they're > discrete buses) on the Powerbook. Buying a Mac Pro even used, is not > an affordable option for me. Going back to my GigE G4 with a PCI FW400/ > USB2 card is also not much of a solution. > > -- > You received this message because you are a member of G-Group, a group for > those using G3, G4, and G5 desktop Macs - with a particular focus on Power > Macs. > The list FAQ is at http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-list.shtml and our netiquette > guide is at http://www.lowendmac.com/lists/netiquette.shtml > To post to this group, send email to g3-5-list@googlegroups.com > For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/g3-5-list > -- Bruce Johnson University of Arizona College of Pharmacy Information Technology Group Institutions do not have opinions, merely customs -- You received this message because you are a member of G-Group, a group for those using G3, G4, and G5 desktop Macs - with a particular focus on Power Macs. The list FAQ is at http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-list.shtml and our netiquette guide is at http://www.lowendmac.com/lists/netiquette.shtml To post to this group, send email to g3-5-list@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/g3-5-list
