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A fanless PC with Firewire port- any possible options?

Member ✭✭
edited March 2020 in FLEX Series (Legacy) Radios
I plan to replace my large in size PC with a much smaller fanless PC. A Firewire port is essential as I am going to use it with my Flex 3000 and 5000.
Can someone suggest me some specific brands, models or possibly ebay offers?
So far I have not had no luck in locating a PC which has a Firewire port.

Tom,  SP7WT

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Answers

  • Member
    edited March 2020
    I use Macs running Windows 10 on BootCamp partitions. Middle-age Macs have Firewire ports, and they work fine with my Flex 3000. Prices of recent model used ones, including Mac Minis, iMacs and laptops, are reasonable.
    -- Tom / k3orc
  • Member ✭✭✭
    edited May 2019
    Is there a firewire to USB adapter?
  • Member
    edited July 2017
    Just make sure you get a motherboard that has an extra PCIe slot available and then buy a PCIe Firewire 1394a Card.   Less than 30 dollars...I doubt any new computers will come with a built in Firewire Port. 

  • Member ✭✭✭
    edited July 2017
    note
    that only works with Bootcamp on the Mac

    the VM's such as VMware and Parallel do NOT support firewire interface
    .
    Paul K3SF
  • Member ✭✭
    edited July 2017
    Hello Bill
    Never has been, I wouldn't expect one in the future, either. USB itself, can't do Firewire. Horses, also make lousy chicken substitutes, YMMV!!!image

         SDRgadgets

    #FlexRadio IRC chat

       73, Jay - NO5J

  • Member
    edited July 2017
    I just down-sized my computer size and bought one of these:
    Genuine Dell 1394A Dual Port Low Profile FireWire Card J886H CN-0J886H
    off eBay. Not all Firewire cards work with these radios. I would not get a 400/800 speed card. Just a 400. The one I bought was low profile for a slim case and was used for about 5$. There are no Firewire/USB adapters.
  • Member
    edited July 2017
    Correct; it must be a real Windows installation on a separate partition with BootCamp. Note that all new Macs have a Thunderbolt port and an inexpensive Firewire adapter for that. This will work with the Flex 3000. 
  • Member ✭✭
    edited July 2017
    I believe FireWire cards with the TI chipset work well. At least for me they do
  • Administrator, FlexRadio Employee admin
    edited July 2017
    For Win10, the VIAs are working fairly well too.
  • Member ✭✭
    edited July 2017
    Tom, I would recommend using a Gigabyte fanless system. The best of them can run i7 processors but at a cost. Here is an Amazon US link of the model I would personally useL
    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GX5YVTG/ref=psdc_3015426011_t2_B0196LP1LG


    You can configure USB 3.1 to use Thunderbolt devices so I would then get a Thunderbolt to Firewire adapter from Apple.
    https://www.amazon.com/Apple-Thunderbolt-to-Firewire-Adapter/dp/B00SQ2CJUS/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&...

    I have tested this on my Asus ROG laptop and it works fine with my 3000/5000 radios.

    73
  • Member ✭✭
    edited July 2017
    The VIAs do work but I still prefer TIs. The older-style 1394a TI chipset PCIe cards do not work with the latest Intel motherboard chipsets. You can safely buy the PCIe cards that use 1 1394A and 2 1394B ports and it works really well.

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