Canopus ADVC55 - blank screen - faulty device?

[gstretch]

I have a Canopus ADVC55, which I am unable to use with my PC, a Dell dimension 5000. I am running Windows XP Professional SP2 v.5.1.2600 (latest update Dec 19, 2005, I also have the latest Directx installed).

I have connected the ADVC55 to the firewire port to the rear of my PC, this port works fine with my Panasonic digital camcorder. When I do this the red LED on the side of the device comes on and is red. The PC recognises the device and gives a acknowledgement tone and offers the choice of software to process data (I use Windows Movie Maker V2.1.4026.0 or Sonic MyDVD LE version 5.3.0, I have also tried WinDV v1.2.3). When I connect my VCR to the plugs on the front of the device via either SVideo or RCA (I have tried both) and press play the LED on the side of the device remains red, and the software is unable to detect any signal (the preview sreens all remain blank). Connecting my analogue camcorder via RCA also elicits no change in the colour of the LED or signal in any of the three software packages I have tried.

Am I correct in assuming an incoming signal from an analogue device should change the colour of the LED on the ADVC55 from Red to Green? Does the LED illumination indicate the device is receiving the correct power from my firewire port?

I would be very grateful for any assistance you could lend.

Kind Regards

Graham

[redwudz]

I would assume if the LED lights the device is receiving proper power. I use a ADVC-100, though the 55 is similar.

Common problems are a bad Firewire cable or using a motherboard Firewire input. I've never had a problem with motherboard Firewire, but some have. Probably depends on the motherboard. The cable is easy to substitute, adding a separate Firewire card would cost you a few dollars, but should be about $20US or less. I would think the camera working would say the FW input is alright, but not sure.

Or the unit itself could be bad. You could test it on another PC with Firewire input.

Unfortunately Canopus supplies little info with their devices. You might try the Canopus forum. http://forum.canopus.com/