Apple's recent transition to all FireWire 800 ports on their computers marked a major shift in inquiries about FireWire 800 and how to interface with legacy FireWire 400 devices. The good news is, it's very simple and straight forward to connect FireWire 800 with FireWire 400 devices and vice versa.
Bridging FireWire 400 to FireWire 800 provides difference case scenarios and products for hassle free connections.
New for the 1Gsps/75Mhz USB pen-style DSO (Digital Storage Oscilloscope)
We have issued a new version of the Java software for the USBscope50, which includes some minor bug fixes.
It also has a "check for updates" feature under "help" in the menu, allowing a user who is connected to the internet to check easily whether a later version of the software has been released. If a newer version is found, the software will offer to automatically download and install it.
We are now moving on to add the FFT function to the Java software, and expect this to be available around the end of June.
The new version is available from our website for download:
http://www.elandigitalsystems.com/support/usbtmfaq/software.php
Last few days for $5 off CFMulti ADP-CF2-SDHCF with coupon code 1240262762, other offers exclusive, expires 04/30/2009
Elan's line of USB based test, measurement, and scope products provide a range of features at previously dreamed of prices. Portability: the miniature USB test equipment line all use standard BNC probes, but can fit in a shirt pocket. Safety: isolated to 300V Cat II USBscope50, USBwave12, USBpulse100, and USBcount50 are ideal for use in educational environments. Stack and synchronize: Elan's unique "stackability" feature allows use of multiple USB test equipment devices together, a flexible and cost saving arrangement. These Universal Serial Bus devices feature source code for driver and application under GNU license, allowing for modification and customization for specific requirements. Choose from USB based Digital Storage Oscilloscopes, Function Generators, Digital Pulse/Clock Generators, or Frequency/Period Counters.
Elan's Miniature USB Test Equipment Family
Tired of wrangling multiple USB 2.0 hubs? Synchrotech's 10 Port USB 2.0 Hub provides host computers with 10 additional USB ports and allows flexible tiered USB configurations with a single hub! The K10 is a robust and inexpensive hub runs in self powered mode and provides over current protection at each of its downstream ports. The K10's simplified circuitry improves both reliability and compatibility with various host systems. USB 2.0 compliant and USB 1.1 backward compatible, K10 supports low, full, and high speed USB devices and works with any system that supports the USB specification. Providing ten downstream ports, this hub features plug and play installation and transparent operation. It comes with a free power supply with a generous 3 ampere capacity, and USB 2.0 cable to connect to a host computer.
MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2008) Ready! The 6into9 (CAB-FW8-6-9-CONV) is an inexpensive alternative to using 6 to 9 Pin FireWire cables with the latest Macs featuring FireWire 800 ports. The 6into9 adapter allows the use of 6-Pin FireWire 400 devices and cables on any 9-Pin FireWire 800 port, including those found on the all new MacBook Pro 15 inch, MacBook Pro 17 inch, Mac Pro, and Mac Mini.
Featuring the best shielding and construction, the 6into9 is only $9.00!
The FarSync Flex USB Sync/Async Adapter works with X.21, RS530, V.35, RS449, RS485 and RS232C network interfaces operating at serial line speeds up to 2 Mbits/s. FarSync Flex USB provides as single port and is designed to provide a high performance communications solution for use with TCP/IP and an API for companies who wish to quickly develop their own communications solutions. The API permits HDLC framed and transparent bit stream operation from Linux and Windows. The FarSync Flex software and drivers on Windows and Linux can now support 2 wire RS485 operation. All existing FarSync Flex devices can be upgraded to support RS485. This new RS485 serial support adds line types of 2 wire (half duplex) RS485; multi drop and single ended, with line speeds of up to 512 Kbits/s, and with NRZI, FM1 or FM0 signaling modes.
F-FS4100 FarSync Flex USB Sync/Async Adapter with Linux and Windows Drivers
> What we would like is the:
> FW8-FIO-UB4PRH Unibrain FireRepeater-800 Pro FireWire 800 IEEE 1394b
> Repeater Hub 4 Port
> Assuming (all ports a bi-directional) as we would like 4 output
> devices feeding into
> 1 input device.
Since FireWire is a true peer-to-peer technology, unlike say, the prosaic USB standard, terminology for FireWire repeaters and hubs is a little different. Typically the count on a FireWire repeater hub is the total available ports, since the host computer is considered just another peer level device. In other words, plugging a computer into the FW8-FIO-UB4PRH leaves three available ports left. If you have 5 total devices to connect (including a computer), then you could deploy two of the repeater hubs in conjunction with each other. The following schematic illustrates one such configuration with FW8R1 and FW8R2 representing separate FW8-FIO-UB4PRH units.
FW8R1
-----
HOST --- = p1 |
| p2 = --- DEVICE FW8R2
| p3 = --- DEVICE -----
| p4 = ------------ = p1 |
----- | p2 = --- DEVICE
| p3 = --- DEVICE
| p4 = --- DEVICE
-----|
The Glass Optical Fiber Repeater 800™ provides the most reliable and straight forward solution applications requiring long FireWire 800 (IEEE 1394b) cable runs. Available with either LC or MT-RJ connectors, the GOF Repeater extends FireWire 800 signals up to 550 meters over standard glass optical fiber cables. No need for daisy chains of repeaters and long cables, each Glass Optical Fiber Repeater-800™ provides two FireWire 800 bilingual copper ports and one optical port.
GOFR 800™ is an excellent solution for many situations requiring long distance FireWire 800 or FireWire 400 applications. Unibrain has tested and recommended the following over distances of up to 550 meters: FireWire cameras, DV Camcorder, Hard Drive storage, and high performance networking. Glass Optical Fiber Repeater 800™ utilizes the Texas Instruments TSB81BA3D, and is constructed from heavy duty, coated galvanized steel.
Court reporters and stenographers often deploy steno machines featuring RS-232 Serial ports (often called COM ports in Windows-speak). Some transcription software packages for court reporters and stenographers require hardware keys that are RS-232 Serial port based as well. In many cases, USB to Serial devices don't work with steno machines or transcription software package hardware keys. In the past, a PC Card based RS-232 adapter was the optimal solution for notebook computers to interface with these devices.
With the transition to ExpressCard slots on notebook computers, there a number of ExpressCard to RS-232 serial adapters that don't work because they utilize the USB portion of the ExpressCard standard. As mentioned above, USB to Serial devices typically don't work with steno machines or transcription software package hardware keys. Fortunately there is a solution to this situation. Synchrotech offers the Quatech Performance PCIe based RS-232 Serial ExpressCards. Being PCIe based, these ExpressCards are true RS-232 host adapters and don't exhibit the compatibility issues that USB based devices suffer from. For court reporters and stenographers with ExpressCard equipped notebook computers needing to interface with RS-232 Serial ports on steno machines or transcription software package hardware keys, PCIe based RS-232 ExpressCards are the perfect solution.
