Firewire capture hardware - UPDATE - works great!

[CFster]

I have about a 75ft run from my DirecTivo to my PC. I want to capture programming to my PC and author DVDs. I figure the best way to do this (neither the DirecTIVO or PC can be moved) is to setup my digital camcorder next to the DirectTIVO and run firewire to the computer.

My thinking is that I would lose a significant amount of signal running S-Video and RCA Audio cables that far.

Now, I understand that 15ft is the max length for a firewire cable. So, I found "repeaters" that cost around $30 ea.

My question is this - am I getting a better analog-digital conversion through the camcorder vs. say...a Canopus ADVC-100? Is there any data either way? Anybody have screenshots?

-CFster

[THE RIPPER]

Firewire loses speed after the cable exceeds 15 ft . So i would try s video and see what kind of results u can get. And yes direct from the cam is the best.

[CFster]

What about the repeaters?

http://www.macally.com/spec/firewire/connecting/fh110.html

http://www.unibrain.com/1394_products/fire_repeater/firerepeater.htm

Anybody have any experience with these?

[THE RIPPER]

I have no expeirence with the repeaters,i network my two pc's with 1394,if you can get unibrains proggy working,let me know. I had nothing but problems with it.

[dunamis]

I have used 50 feet of S-video cable with 50 feet of audio cables and had no visible deterioration in quality with my captures, despite what is often said about long cable lengths.

[CFster]

UPDATE - works like a charm.

Perfect signal across 75ft.

[FOO]

Firewire loses speed after the cable exceeds 15 ft . .

What a load

[CFster]

Firewire loses speed after the cable exceeds 15 ft . .

What a load

I AM using repeaters however...

[FOO]

Did you try without ?

[CFster]

No.

But I wasn't going to spend $75 for cable and be wrong either.

Are you saying the standard (15ft max in the specs) is bogus?

[FOO]

I suppose this means since you know the price that there is
a long cable for sale that is longer than 15 ft ?

.. I only commented on this because I think "loses speed"
is absurd. I enjoy making fun of people that have no idea
how things work , but make assertions anyway

[CFster]

Yes - they sell cable in very long lengths I found. I also found some very expensive repeaters to go with those long lengths such as this one:

http://www.ramelectronics.net/html/1394_fiber.html

And hey, I'm just going by what the standard is.

It says it should transmit 400 Megabits over 4.5 meters, and anymore than that and you're risking signal loss. Since DV is only 100 Megabits then I suppose I could have run longer lengths without dropouts.

But again, I didn't care to chance it - and it really wasn't that much more to do it with the repeaters seeing as the ones I got have 15ft of cable included with each repeater anyway.

[Bondiablo]

This place sells firewire cables up to 66' (20m) for $60.

http://www.1394store.com/eshop/dept.asp?dept%5Fid=6