FireWire® devices come in many types, with two specifications: FireWire® 400 and FireWire® 800. There are three types of connectors, and FireWire® is ideal for audio and video applications. Other devices include hubs, repeaters, and extenders, with external hard drives being the most popular. A new 1394 standard will enable the development of more portable FireWire® devices.
Portable FireWire® devices come in many varieties, from webcams to external hard drives. There are currently two types of FireWire® specifications available. The original is FireWire® 400, also known as 1394a, which transfers data at 400 Mbps over a distance of up to 14.8 feet (4.5 meters) of cabling. FireWire® 800, or 1394b, is the current standard as of 2011 and transfers data at 800 Mbps over up to 328.1 feet (100 meters) of cabling. Daisy-chaining devices allows for much longer connections.
There are three types of connectors on portable FireWire® devices. FireWire® 400 connections are passive four-pin for self-powered devices, such as camcorders, or active six-pin for devices that require cable power, such as external hard drives. The latest FireWire® technology has the nine-pin connector that is standard for all 1394b devices. FireWire® 800 is backwards compatible, and specialty cables and adapters are a couple of the other types of portable FireWire® accessories.
Digital video applications are where many gadgets make use of the isochronous real-time data transmission that comes with the 1394 connection. Most digital cameras and camcorders have FireWire® connections. Examples of portable FireWire® gadgets in this category include external video capture devices and analog-to-digital video converters. The ability to transmit digital data over long distances quickly and without data loss makes the 1394 standard ideal for audio and video applications.
Due to their speed and clarity, audio interfaces typically use FireWire®. These audio interfaces allow you to record and mix from virtually anywhere, drawing power from the computer they’re connected to. FireWire® portable speakers have been designed that do not require an external power supply or an open Universal Serial Bus (USB) port and improve data transmission.
Other types of portable FireWire® devices and gadgets include hubs, repeaters, and extenders. Repeaters and extenders allow you to daisy chain multiple devices and extend the reach of your cabling. The hubs allow for the expansion of ports that can be controlled via FireWire®, including USB.
The most popular device is probably the external hard drive, as most of those manufactured are equipped with FireWire® technology. Media card readers are another prolific example. Many computer devices, such as external DVD or CD burners, printers, and scanners, will have a FireWire® connection. A new, faster 1394 standard transmitting up to 3.2 Gbps will become mainstream in the coming years, enabling the development of even more portable FireWire® devices.
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