Bridging FireWire 400 to FireWire 800
Working with FireWire 800 and Legacy FireWire Devices
Introduction
FireWire 800 (IEEE 1394b) devices have been on the market for close to a decade. However, Apple's recent transition to all FireWire 800 ports on their computers marked a shift in inquiries about this important standard and how to interface with legacy FireWire 400 devices. Given Apple's influence on other technology firms, there's a good chance that more computers will supplant FireWire 400 with FireWire 800 as well.
Key Differences from an End User's perspective
While the technical details between older and new versions of FireWire aren't of much interest to end users, the change in connectors presents a major shift when existing FireWire devices need be used with newer ports. FireWire 400 features 6-pin (more appropriately circuit), or 4-pin connectors. FireWire 800 features 9-pin connectors. In terms of interoperability, getting different FireWire versions to work with each other isn't very difficult. Typically, cables or convertor plugs placed at the ends of cables solve the mismatched connector problem in short order.
- 6→9 FireWire 400/800 Converter Plug
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- CAB-FW8-6-9-CONV
- FireWire 800 IEEE1394b 6pin (female) to 9pin (male) Converter Plug
- Mac Macs Without FireWire 400? Inexpensive adapter allows use of any 6-pin FireWire 400 device or cable on 9-pin FireWire 800 ports.
- FireWire 800 and FireWire 400 Cables
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- FireWire 400 and FireWire 800 Cables
- Synchrotech's vast selection of the highest quality FireWire cables range from .2M/8I patch to 20M 6-pin FireWire 400 cables, and up to 10M/32.8F FireWire 800 cables.
Directionality (FireWire is Bi-Directional)
The other good news? Unlike the prosaic USB standard with its awkward and outdated master-slave topology, FireWire is a true peer to peer technology. How that effects cables in lay-persons' terms is the only thing needed to change a FireWire cable from say, a 6 to 9 cable to a 9 to 6 pin cable is to simply flip the cable over.
FireWire 400 to FireWire 800 Solutions
- Cables (2, 4.5, and 10M) Bridging FireWire 400 and FireWire 800
- Connect 9-pin female (FireWire 800) on one side, 6-pin female (FireWire 400) on the other. Example use, plugging an Apogee Duet into a new FireWire 800 equipped Apple iMac.
- CAB-FW8-6-9-0200C FireWire 800 IEEE1394b 6pin to 9pin Cable UB 2M/6.6F
- CAB-FW8-6-9-0450C FireWire 800 IEEE1394b 6pin to 9pin Cable UB 4.5M/14.8F
- CAB-FW8-6-9-1000C FireWire 800 IEEE1394b 6pin to 9pin Cable UB 10M/32.8F
- For Existing 6-pin to 6-pin male cables Bridging FireWire 400 and FireWire 800
- Already have a FireWire 400 cable? Use 6→9 Converter Plug to change one end into a FireWire 800 Plug. Example use, plugging the Ratoc FR1SX into the new MacBook Pro 13-inch.
- CAB-FW8-6-9-CONV FireWire 800 IEEE1394b 6pin (female) to 9pin (male) Converter Plug
FireWire 800 to FireWire 400 (6-pin) Solutions
- For Existing 9-pin to 9-pin male cables Bridging FireWire 800 and FireWire 400
- Already have a FireWire 800 cable? Use 9→6 Converter Plug to change one end into a FireWire 800 Plug. Example use, plugging the CFFire800 Pro into an older iMac G5.
- CAB-FW8-9-6-CONV FireWire 800 IEEE1394b 9pin (female) to 6pin (male) Converter Plug
FireWire 800 to FireWire 400 (4-pin iLink) Solutions
- To create a 9-pin male to 4-pin male cable
- Connect 9-pin female (FireWire 800) on one side, 4-pin female (FireWire 400/iLink) on the other. Example use, plugging a Sony DCR-HC40 into a new FireWire 800 equipped Apple iMac.
- Use both a
- CAB-FW4-4-6-CONV FireWire 400 IEEE1394a 6pin (female) to 4pin (male) Converter Plug
- with any of the following
- CAB-FW8-6-9-0200C FireWire 800 IEEE1394b 6pin to 9pin Cable UB 2M/6.6F
- CAB-FW8-6-9-0450C FireWire 800 IEEE1394b 6pin to 9pin Cable UB 4.5M/14.8F
- CAB-FW8-6-9-1000C FireWire 800 IEEE1394b 6pin to 9pin Cable UB 10M/32.8F
