[jmc1720]

I recently tried to copy DV from my Canon MVX250i camcorder to my Panasonic DMR-EX77 HD/DVD recorder.

I connected them using a Maplins Firewire 400 1394 4-pin to 4-pin mail cable and both units recognised a DV connection.

The Pansonic menu "DV Auto Rec" appears, and it recognises the camera, showing "Canon MVX250i" on the screen and gives the option "Start DV Automatic Recording" against a grey background. The "Rec" button is greyed out though and after a few seconds the menu changes to give the error message "Cannot detect proper DV signal".

I tried doing it both from turning off units, connecting and then turning on and also via the "DV Auto Rec" menu on the Panasonic - same result each time.

About 1 in 20 times, rather than a grey background appearing I get running video from the camcorder, and the Rec button is not greyed out. Unfortunately both times I then tried to record I needed to change something and then couldn't get it working again.

Could it be a poor quality cable or something more complicated? The links does get established, and occasionally seems as if it will work but 95% of the time it errors.

I've attached the screen messages if they help at all.

Any suggestions greatly appreciated!