Hi Folks
I have a Sony PC110 with firewire.
I have loaded the MGI software wjich came with the camera onto my Windows 2000 PC.
The firewire link does not work! I have changed the cable but no luck, looked thru the menus on the camera and found a option which allowed me to set AV out but still cannot get the software to recognise the camera. The PC does not detect a new device being added to it as it would usually with plug and play. There is an ilink button on the side on the camcorder I recall (now that I'm sitting at work!), should I press that to initiate communication or is there a setting elsewhere I need to set?
My brother tried it on his PC but it did not work for him either.
Any help would be appreciated.
Regards
Minkos

[Andy98765]

On your PC click on Start, Connect to (Show all connections) it will open a window, from here you should see 1394 connection, if it is disabled then right mouse click it and enable, hope this is all of your problems.

[redsox_mark]

On the camcorder itself, all you should have to do is turn it on in VTR (i.e. play mode, not record mode) with the cable attached.

Thanks guys, will give it a try tonight
Regards
Minkos

[FuzzyFreak]

Minkos, when your brother tried it, did he use the same cable? Cables are notorious for sending you on wild goose chases when it comes to diagnosis of equipment. If you are sure your firewire input on the PC is working and you have done nothing recently that might have made it stop working then definitely try another cable first. Get back to us once you have tried this.

Fuzzy.

Hi Guys

Tried the following:

1. a new cable again (third one). Camera still won't work. (did not work on my brother's pc with his firewire card and his cable)
2. Found some option in the menus stating "i-link", set it. Still wont work.
3. Looked in Device Manager of my PC, the firerwire card is being recognised and it is reported as working.

Powering on the camera and putting it into the playback mode does not pick it up. Beginning to think it's the firewire port on the camera but it looks fine and it it were to fail, I would expect other features to be knocked out too. Might have to send it to Sony or give up and get soemone else t oread my tape for me!
Regards

Minkos

[redsox_mark]

Originally Posted by minkos

Hi Guys

Beginning to think it's the firewire port on the camera but it looks fine and it it were to fail, I would expect other features to be knocked out too.
Minkos

Not neccessarily - I've seen many reports of having the firewire port get "blown out" on a camcorder... it won't stop anything else from working.

In the Sony HC1 manual it says:

''Connect the i-LINK cable to the computer first, then to your camcorder. Connecting in the opposite order may cause static electricity to build up, resulting in a malfunction of your camcorder.''

Not saying that you did this or that this is your problem.. but it is not uncommon for these ports to fail.

[FuzzyFreak]

Hi Minkos, following your diagnosis it does sound like the firewire port on the camera is defunct. I have had a problem inputting from PC to camera (opposite to your problem) on the firewire port of my PC110 for years, I diagnosed with Sony but they were pretty useless - thing is, I also had problems on the PC but these were software related and were resolved by reinstalling the OS, by the time I ruled out all other components (cable, card, software, drivers) time had passed and I had found a way around it as if it was never an available function.

Your problem however is a little more serious because without output, you are not able to capture your footage, in which case I would definately send to Sony's repair centre, for a fee (approx £60 - can anybody confirm this?) they will fix your problem, alternatively they will tell you that to fix it will cost more than the camera is worth - thus leaving you to by a new camera - annoying isn't it?

Anyway, here is the telephone number you will need to get it fixed - 08705111999.

Thanks for your input guys, I've ordered a dcr-hc35 (with dv in/out- £217 from pixmania, much less than Comets £330!) for my father in law so will use it to test my firewire card and PC set up but otherwise it will have to be the repair centre. With PC editing as it is, I'll buy a basic camcorder next time as I never used any of the editing features on the pc110- an expensive, £1200 lesson!
Cheers again
Minkos

[redsox_mark]

I agree that there is no need for any editing functions on a DV camcorder - it is best to do this in your editing application.

But there are improvements in video quality as you move up from entry level models to more top of the range ones, so when you next buy consider that too... not just the functions you may or may not use.

The biggest reason your PC110 looks so expensive today is that prices have dropped significantly. Today a Sony HC96 (at £450) would be comparable.