How buy quality IEEE 1394 card/cable?

[George]

These cards and cables seem all over the board in price, I wondered how to
get best value.

Setup is... I'm using a WinXP(pro) PC with Windows Movie Maker, and
connecting a Sony digital camcorder, abt 3 yrs old.

Is there anything to watch out, and make sure I do or don't get when it
comes to buying card/cable. Don't need more USB ports. So far found
these...

-Most in-store cards $25-50. Most cables around $25-30, some online ones are
cheaper but loaded with shipping/handling.

-Tiger Direct. Found via Amazon. Has a IEEE 1394 card for PCI slot, plus
cable for $12.97, plus about $7 shipping. Seems like a great deal. Are
there any "watch out for's" for something this inexpensive?

Aren't IEEE 1394 cards approaching commodity status by now...wouldn't they
all be about the same?

Thanks,
George

 

[PapaJohn \(MVP\)]

When people run into problems capturing via firewire, it sometimes is
because the cable developed a problem..... and at times the capture card
failed....

I don't know how to tell up front which ones won't fail....
--
PapaJohn

Movie Maker 2 and Photo Story 3 website - http://www.papajohn.org
MM2 Tips and Tricks: http://www.simplydv.co.uk/simplyBB/viewtopic.php?t=4693
Online Newsletters: http://www.windowsmoviemakers.net/PapaJohn/Index.aspx

 

[Graham Hughes]

In my expperience, yes they are all similar, so buying the cheapest with a
cable is generally ok. As Papjohn says telling which may or may not fail is
hard, although I have good experience with Belkin ones. I've had many people
have problems with combined usb/firewire cards. Make sure it is OHCI
compliant, and all should be well.

--
Graham Hughes
MVP Digital Media
www.myvideoproblems.co.uk
www.dvds2treasure.com
www.simplydv.com

 

[Guest]

George,

When I got my sony Dig 8 I ordered a 3 port Firewire card and cable from
Amazon. I think I paid about $30-35. It is a Belkin as Graham recommended.

Steve

 

[George]

Thanks, I was wondering what OHCI compliant means, and where to find that in
the specs. Haven't seen so far. But did see "IEEE 1394a 6-pin ports" and
also compared two cards where one said "interface 64-bit PCI" and other
slightly less expensive said "interface 32-bit PCI". Any
suggestions/interpretations on these three factors appreciated,

George

 

[Graham Hughes]

OHCI
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=ohci&meta=
Firewire comes with 4 and 6 pin ports, 6 pin are better as they are more
robust, it means you will need a 4 - 6 pin lead as all cams come with 4 pin.
If you have a std version of windows it will be 32 bit, whereas you can get
64 bit versions, now I'm not fully sure on this, but suspect that is the
case with number 3, but stand to be corrected

--
Graham Hughes
MVP Digital Media
www.myvideoproblems.co.uk
www.dvds2treasure.com
www.simplydv.com