Only one Firewire port on MBP while using camera and external hard drive

[mwsr6]

I have a MacBook Pro that only has one firewire slot. I'm running the external hard drive to the computer via FW800. I also need to capture the footage from my hv40 but since I don't have a FW port left, should I run it directly to the external hard drive's 2nd FW800 port?

I know I'm not the only one with this problem so thanks for the help in advance!

[Janke]

You just need a 9-pin to 4-pin FW cable.

I have had five (yes, 5) FW hard drives daisy-chained, and the camera at the end. Worked!

However, read my comments here: http://www.hv20.com/showthread.php?4...ireWire-frying

[ceentv]

Hi, would using a grounded 4way like this Tacima 6 Way Mains Conditioner and Radio Frequency Interference Filter help solve the problem?

[cgbier]

Not really, as you normally don't have a ground (besides the housing) on your external drives.

[Janke]

It's the power supplies that leak - all do. Only if you have a grounded 3-prong mains connection (both plug and socket!) on ALL equipment, with the mains ground internally connected to device ground, can leakage be neutralized.

So, power off all your stuff while connecting, just to be sure, or run the HV on battery power. if you run everything on AC, it might be a good idea to have a main switch to power on everything at once, after connections are done.

These are just IMHO thoughts, maybe over-cautious, but I really got scared by that sparking from the external HD, and the 80 volt leakage from the Canon power brick...