PCs Damaging Camcorders?

[dazuk1972]

Is it possible for a PC to damage a camcorder where the camcorder loses the playback feature where you get a blank screen buring playback? The reason why I'm asking is because ages ago I bought a JVC DV camcorder and it was playing my tapes back fine and I was able to rip footage into my PC. Somewhere along the line when I was ripping OK, I put another tape in (that was full because I slid the tab aside days before) and I had a blue screen as in a blank screen. I phoned JVC and they confirmed it required a repair job. Months later, my camcorder went wrong again over other issues and it was beyond repair. I was told to order another as a replacement. I got it the other day and I was using it OK with no problems. Playback was fine, too. I plugged it into my Firewire card to rip new footage and the playback was still fine. About three hours later, I decided to do some filming and I put a different tape in that was half-used. I put the tape on Play to set it at the correct spot and I got a blank screen again. Remember, this was a replacement camcorder. I filmed for thirty seconds as a test anyway and when I put the tape on Play the screen was blank. It seems as if my PC or maybe, my Firewire card is doing this damage. It seems strange the last time it happened my PC was involved and the same again this time.

Does anybody think my PC or my Firewire card is causing the damage or do you think JVC have a common problem with their camcorders?

Many thanks.

Darren.

[toomanycats]

Your replacement camcorder was a refurb. That is common practice so it wouldn't be surprising if you got a lemon. I would return it with a stern letter (call first) saying they have not got it right yet. I do not see how an external hookup could hurt playback. The only thing the firewire card could hurt is the firewire port components, IMHO.

[dazuk1972]

Your replacement camcorder was a refurb. That is common practice so it wouldn't be surprising if you got a lemon. I would return it with a stern letter (call first) saying they have not got it right yet. I do not see how an external hookup could hurt playback. The only thing the firewire card could hurt is the firewire port components, IMHO.

I packed it all in the box ready to send it back. I was told it can be repaired but I told them I don't want a repair because I just got mine back after two months of waiting. I'm going to get a Sony camcorder next because I've losing all trust in JVC now. One of my brothers has a JVC camcorder, too and his keeps going wrong.

Many thanks.

Darren.

[toomanycats]

I have always liked Sony Camcorders. RFBurns is a sony Engineer and could direct you to a good model I'm sure. I would ask.

[RFBurns]

Howdy!

The symptom here with the blank video and/or loss of control of the camera functions via the firewire connection is due to a surge when the camera is plugged into the firewire port. Sony addressed this issue in the last 4 generations of DV camcorders by putting in surge protection diodes at the I/O port on the camera. This prevents over-voltage surges from entering the camera when the firewire cable is attached.

What happens is this.....when the PC and camcorder are connected via the firewire port, both camera and firewire card have voltage potential on some of the pins. Since this voltage is generated by two different sources...ie the PC and camera, when they are joined by connecting them, there is a momentary spike until the two voltages settle and match up. The surge knocks out the communications lines and causes various problems, such as the blank screen and/or loss of camera control.

It would also be a good idea to have the firewire card checked, it may have been damaged the first time and could cause damage to other cameras when they are plugged into it, causing repetitive, identical failure.

Here is a tip. When plugging in the camera to the firewire port, make sure the camera itself is not powered on. Plug it in while the camera is in the off mode, then after the plug is secure, turn on the camera. This will reduce the surging of the two voltage sources since the ports on both ends are attached and seeing the protection diodes. Basically the voltage on the camera will "ramp" up instead of being "hot", thus preventing the surge when connected.

All of the current Sony DV camcorders have the protection diodes on the I/O ports.

I would guess that JVC either did not have large amounts of failures to address this problem, or they just didnt care and implemented fixes in later models or none at all. Hard to say for sure.

But if you have gone through 2 cameras and the problem is presistant, I would definately consider replacing the firewire card just for good measure and prevention of future hair-pulling frustrations!

[toomanycats]

@RFBurns, I feel vindicated with your response, right on the money as usual. I didn't think about the firewire damage extending to the new cameras, good call.

[dazuk1972]

Howdy!

The symptom here with the blank video and/or loss of control of the camera functions via the firewire connection is due to a surge when the camera is plugged into the firewire port. Sony addressed this issue in the last 4 generations of DV camcorders by putting in surge protection diodes at the I/O port on the camera. This prevents over-voltage surges from entering the camera when the firewire cable is attached.

What happens is this.....when the PC and camcorder are connected via the firewire port, both camera and firewire card have voltage potential on some of the pins. Since this voltage is generated by two different sources...ie the PC and camera, when they are joined by connecting them, there is a momentary spike until the two voltages settle and match up. The surge knocks out the communications lines and causes various problems, such as the blank screen and/or loss of camera control.

It would also be a good idea to have the firewire card checked, it may have been damaged the first time and could cause damage to other cameras when they are plugged into it, causing repetitive, identical failure.

Here is a tip. When plugging in the camera to the firewire port, make sure the camera itself is not powered on. Plug it in while the camera is in the off mode, then after the plug is secure, turn on the camera. This will reduce the surging of the two voltage sources since the ports on both ends are attached and seeing the protection diodes. Basically the voltage on the camera will "ramp" up instead of being "hot", thus preventing the surge when connected.

All of the current Sony DV camcorders have the protection diodes on the I/O ports.

I would guess that JVC either did not have large amounts of failures to address this problem, or they just didnt care and implemented fixes in later models or none at all. Hard to say for sure.

But if you have gone through 2 cameras and the problem is presistant, I would definately consider replacing the firewire card just for good measure and prevention of future hair-pulling frustrations!

Many thanks for the info. I've always suspected the Firewire card most of all because it seemed strange I've had this problem happen twice with two camcorders and I couldn't really see the PC itself causing it. Also, it would have been strange two camcorders suddenly going wrong in the same way when I hardly used them. I never suspected a surge causing it, though.

Many thanks.

Darren.