Firewire 1394b (800 Mbps) - where is the driver?

[Guest]

I just installed the Adaptec FireConnect 8300 PCI card. (This is Texas Instruments OHCI Compliant IEEE 1394 Host Adaptor). The card has both 1394 a (400 mbps) and 1394 b (800 mbps) ports. I am interested in the faster speed. Adaptec does not supply drivers with the card and the Microsoft driver 5.1.2600.1106 seems to support only the slower 400 speed even when I connect to a device with the 1394b port. I got most of this info from the device manager
Can I get a better driver? When is Microsoft going to come out with the 1394 b driver

Thanks.

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Using IEEE 1394 (FireWire) Devices with Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;310433&Product=winxp

General Troubleshooting for IEEE 1394 Devices and Host Controllers
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314873&Product=winxp

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


|I just installed the Adaptec FireConnect 8300 PCI card. (This is Texas Instruments OHCI Compliant IEEE 1394
Host Adaptor). The card has both 1394 a (400 mbps) and 1394 b (800 mbps) ports. I am interested in the
faster speed. Adaptec does not supply drivers with the card and the Microsoft driver 5.1.2600.1106 seems to
support only the slower 400 speed even when I connect to a device with the 1394b port. I got most of this
info from the device manager.
| Can I get a better driver? When is Microsoft going to come out with the 1394 b driver?
|
| Thanks.

 

[Bill Drake]

As far as I am aware, Microsoft do not yet have a release-version
of the Firewire800 (also known as IEE1394b) driver.


Wrinkles and "gotchas":

1. Until recently, there was only one Firewire Specification -- which
was known as IEEE 1394. Recently, a faster second-generation
form of firewire was ratified. This new specification did not get a
new number.

2. The original Firewire Specification is now called Firewire 400 (as
its original maximum data-transfer-rate was 400Mb/s). The
Technical Specification for Firewire 400 is now called IEEE 1394a.
Any *old* information that reads 1394 is now assumed to be read
as 1394a.

3. The new Firewire Specification is now called Firewire 800 (as its
new maximum data-transfer-rate is 800Mb/s). The Technical
Specification for Firewire 800 is now called IEEE 1394b. From
now on it is mandatory for a 1394-specification-document to state
the "a" or "b" suffix to differentiate between the old and new chips
and/or old and new drivers.

Note: It is assumed that further Firewire developments will run in
a similar vein. (Eg: Firewire 1200 will probably be known
as IEEE 1394c.)

4. Currently, the only release-version drivers that support IEEE 1394b
of which I am aware are part of Apple OS 10.3 - also known as
Panther.

5. It is my understanding that Windows Firewire 800 support will be
rolled out along with the WXP-SP2 release. For now, I recommend
using the 1394b-rated chip at the 1394a datarate (the new chips are
backwards-compatible with the old drivers at the old datarate).

Once the final WXP-SP2 update is released, you will then be able
to use your new card at its full datarate.


Best I can do for now. <tm>


Bill

 

[Ken D]

Try www.unibrain.com. I believe their ubCore 3.1 drivers
should be general enough for your Adaptec card with TI
chipset. Unibrain sells a Firewire800 PCI card, which I
have and which works well with the ubCore drivers, but I
believe the drivers should work with your adapter.

The ubCore package is $30 from their website, but I think
you can download them and try them (for 30 minutes at a
time). If they work for you, you can pay the
registration fee and activate the drivers fully.

 

[whitehawk82]

*I just installed the Adaptec FireConnect 8300 PCI card. (This i
Texas Instruments OHCI Compliant IEEE 1394 Host Adaptor). The car
has both 1394 a (400 mbps) and 1394 b (800 mbps) ports. I a
interested in the faster speed. Adaptec does not supply dri
vers with the card and the Microsoft driver 5.1.2600.1106 seems t
support only the slower 400 speed even when I connect to a devic
with the 1394b port. I got most of this info from the devic
manager.
Can I get a better driver? When is Microsoft going to come out wit
the 1394 b driver?

Thanks. *

Windows XP does not require a new driver to operate at 1394b speeds
trust me, I work at a company that makes USB and FireWire bridgeboards
I have done extensive testing with 1394b. The only thing you must do i
make sure your chipset in whatever you are attaching is a 1394
chipset. Right now they are not very popular, we have not made many o
them and they dont sell very well, probably because people do no
realize what they are buying. When you connnect a 400Mbps port to a
800Mbps port you will only run at 400Mbps, same goes fo
daisy-chaining, do not mix and match 400 and 800Mbps devices as the
will operate at the slower speed. Most of the time you can tell if you
device is 400 or 800 by the port. The new 9 pin, so called 'beta' port
are required for 1394b, if you only have the standard 6-pin the devic
most likely is not 1394b. The chipset may be 1394b however with a 6-pi
port it will run at 400Mbps. Also, if they put a 400Mbps chipset an
used a 9 pin this would be totally useless and not very cost effective
those connectors are expensive and short-handed. But back to m
original point. You do not need a new driver, if you have a 1394b car
and a true 1394b device, it will work.

A note on the uni-brain drivers, they are making money off of peopl
easily for their driver, it is not needed, they do include some nic
little diagnostic tools, but mainly they are ripping people off. Lik
this morning I received an email telling me that XP SP2 will limi
FireWire back to 100Mbps, this would be against the original spec an
never happen, I could see them limiting to 400Mpbs but 100? Come on
what a bunch of bull-****

-WhiteHawk8


-
whitehawk8

 

[whitehawk82]

*Windows XP does not require a new driver to operate at 1394b speeds
trust me, I work at a company that makes USB and FireWir
bridgeboards, I have done extensive testing with 1394b. The onl
thing you must do is make sure your chipset in whatever you ar
attaching is a 1394b chipset. Right now they are not very popular, w
have not made many of them and they dont sell very well, probabl
because people do not realize what they are buying. When you connnec
a 400Mbps port to an 800Mbps port you will only run at 400Mbps, sam
goes for daisy-chaining, do not mix and match 400 and 800Mbps device
as they will operate at the slower speed. Most of the time you ca
tell if your device is 400 or 800 by the port. The new 9 pin, s
called 'beta' ports are required for 1394b, if you only have th
standard 6-pin the device most likely is not 1394b. The chipset ma
be 1394b however with a 6-pin port it will run at 400Mbps. Also, i
they put a 400Mbps chipset and used a 9 pin this would be totall
useless and not very cost effective, those connectors are expensiv
and short-handed. But back to my original point. You do not need
new driver, if you have a 1394b card and a true 1394b device, it wil
work.

A note on the uni-brain drivers, they are making money off of peopl
easily for their driver, it is not needed, they do include some nic
little diagnostic tools, but mainly they are ripping people off. Lik
this morning I received an email telling me that XP SP2 will limi
FireWire back to 100Mbps, this would be against the original spec an
never happen, I could see them limiting to 400Mpbs but 100? Come on
what a bunch of bull-****

-WhiteHawk82 *

Note that the above email was from Uni-Brain I believe this to be
marketing scam


-
whitehawk8

 

[whitehawk82]

*Note that the above email was from Uni-Brain I believe this to be
marketing scam. *

Wow, so much information flying at me in the same day, evidently wit
Microsoft Windows XP SP2, they will be "killing" 1394B, any 1394
products connected will operate at 100Mbps (slower than 1394A). WTF
They are doing this because they dont want FireWire cutting back int
USB's market-space. Feel the control of Microsoft. Maybe they will fee
the consumer control when everybody stays with XP SP1


-
whitehawk8

 

[Sonartech]

Ok, there's a lot of Bull____ floating around regarding 1394b support i
Windows XP et al. I want to set things straight.

First off, Windows XP does NOT support S800. It supports S100, believ
it or not. Service Pack 2 will NOT support S800, either. That wa
never planned to be the case, and I have no idea why someone previousl
posted that would be the case. There was/is some effort to add S40
(yes, I said S FOUR-HUNDRED) support to XP SP2, but from th
information I've received, that may not happen based on some grou
re-orgs and a lack of employees working on the 1394 team.

The sad fact is, Microsoft doesn't have a whole lot of incentive to ad
1394b support to Windows because it's a direct competitor to Intel'
USB, and Intel lines Microsoft's pockets with lots of $$$$. Inte
would just as well have 1394 die completely. Apple, the origina
proprietors of "Firewire" don't give Microsoft jack-____ to add 139
support to Windows. In other words, you should probably be glad yo
have what you have. Personally, I love 1394 and I hate the Intel'
CPU-hogging USB protocol. Sadly, both Intel and Microsoft have stuffe
so much USB garbage down the consumer's throats these past few year
that it has a VERY strong market hold. That makes pushing 1394b tha
much more difficult. To this day, most consumers don't know th
difference between USB 1.1, USB 2.0, USB "Full Speed" and USB "Hig
Speed". The USB Sig did a bang-up job unnecessarily confusing the hel
out of consumers with all this unnecessary terminology. They shoul
all be fired for thier blind stupidity.

Now about the drivers. First off, NO ONE makes a "decent" 1394b/S80
driver right now. The very worst ones on the market today ar
OrangeMicro's drivers - they are absolutely AWFUL. They are a whoppin
"8k" in size and do NOT operate at S800 as advertised. They cras
constantly, even in Windows XP. They are extremely unstable, and can'
even handle S400 properly. Stay far away from these peices of crap
regardless of who re-branded them, if you value your data. Sadly
these are the most common 1394b drivers around - DatOptic uses them
SIIG uses them and a couple of other craptastic companies also use thi
busted-XXX driver.

UniBrain's drivers are interesting and at least will offer Windows X
users true S400 transfer rates. However, I have NEVER been able t
make them work at S800. All of the 1394b host controllers I have trie
all enumerate as S800 devices, and all of the S800 devices I attach t
that controller are also recognized as S800 devices - but NONE of the
has ever once had an S800 link speed - they always say S400.
Benchmarks confirm that as well. I have no idea why S800 devices don'
run at S800 using these drivers. I've even tried UniBrain's very ow
1394b controller with the same lackluster results. So if you want tru
S400 speeds, this is a good option. The drivers appear to be prett
stable as well, but I'll be damned if I could ever make them work a
advertised at S800, regardless of the devices I attached.

Adaptec's recent venture into the 1394b market has been laughable a
well. These a-holes sell a 1394b card without drivers to unsuspectin
CompUSA customers. In fact, they flatly state on the box that it'
fully Windows XP compatible, but in the system requirements, it say
"1394b Driver required for use" in nice, small print. So pay your $7
bucks so that you can enjoy S100 like every other Windows XP user.
LAME LAME LAME LAME LAME. Shame on you, Adaptec. Shame on you.

In closing, the sad news is that NO ONE makes a 1394b driver for PC'
right now (as of 5/28/2004) that's truly S800 capable AND stable. You
best bet is to stick with Microsoft's in-box 1394a driver. At leas
you'll have the stability you need.

Sorry for the bummer news :-(

Kerr McGe


-
Sonartec