Splitter For 1394 (FireWire) Connection for Video

" ... I don't think I want a hub (which would let me connect more firewire peripherals to one computer), I want to split the feed coming from a peripheral into multiple identical feeds. ..."

Actually, a hub is exactly what you want. FireWire is totally "peer to peer" meaning that the first host to become active on a FireWire network becomes the lead host (lowest addressed host) and other computers (hosts) that become active "log on" to the FW network, but do not have access (directly) to the peripherals on the FW net.

This is not as complicated as it sounds ... just plug it all together and try it ...
http://www.firewirestuff.com/repeaters.html

Hi all,

A hub sounds like a good idea. But if I were to be limited by my budget, and I am only allowed fabricating multiple splicing point from the main host's firewire, will that work?

I have experimented this:
I have a single length (2m) 1394b cable, with both end terminated with 9 pin connector. I cut this length of 1394b cable into two, and tried to re-connect them via pin-socket connection to simulate splicing point, or a male connector-female connector connection.

Result was that my laptop could not detect my storage media drive. =(

I don't know what is wrong with my method. I have tried with various configuration:

> 1394b with 1394b (as stated above)
> 1394b with 2 core twisted
> 1394b with CAT5 cable

Result is still a disappointing no detection from the laptop. It seems like there can't be any break point in between a single length 1394b cable transmission.

Can somebody help me with this??

Thanks in advance for any suggestions. =)

I'm a newbie, but this thread sounded like the closest to what I'm trying to do. I have two cameras (firewire out) that I need to send to a device (a mixer or splitter) that will send two ouputs. 1 for live video, 1 for recorded video, so it's going to 2 different PCs essentially. The setup would look like this

Camera 1 -->mixer/splitter -->PC1
Camera 2 -->mixer/splitter -->PC2

First of all, before anyone asks the obvious. I want to select which of the cameras is being recorded/broadcast, not record both at the same time. So that's why the 'mixer' needs to be able to select the which input source in real time. So my question is, where can I get a 'mixer/splitter' like what I have described here?

Thanks in advance for your help!

" ... I want to select which of the cameras is being recorded/broadcast, not record both at the same time. So that's why the 'mixer' needs to be able to select the which input source in real time. ... "

You need professional help ... professional edit/mixdown/switching equipment.

This could all be done with regular home grown equipment and a fancy plug panel, or you could just use the "plug and play" feature if FireWire, plugging in what you want, then unplugging and plugging in what you want later ...

Cameras are treated as disk drives by the Mac OS-X (and Linux ... and on some PCs for certain cameras), so you could also just plug everything together through a 6-port FW hub and run it all from the desktop(s), powering up and down what is needed and what is not, rebooting as needed.

The cheapest solution: don't treat your computers as "swiss army knives" ... just connect what you need for the particular job at hand ... then rearrange as needed for the next job = Time consuming, but that's why pro video editors make the big bucks.

So basically... it can't be done unless I want to hire it out to a pro... or rig it up so it will KINDA work how I want, but probably not - just headaches trying to get it all going.

Thanks for the input and advice Fast Eddy, I appreciate it.