Thunderbolt to Firewire adapter not working!

[LouisLeLou]

Hello there,

I just bought a what-will-become-much-needed Thunderbolt to Firewire adapter (basically to fill the time because I'm saving for an iMac and would otherwise need to be sedated).

Currently I don't actually have a Mac equipped with Thunderbolt so I took my WD My Book Studio external HDD (that I usually connect using FW800) and my Apogee Duet Firewire (that I usually daisy-chain via the HDD) and assaulted my mum's Mac Mini, running Lion 10.7.5, I believe, the latest version of Lion anyway.

I tried every combination and there is just no response at all. I plug in the drive using the adapter – turn it on, it doesn't mount. I turn it on, then plug it in – doesn't mount.

Then I tried the Duet Firewire on its own (it is actually a Firewire 400 device, but I use a cable with a 400 plug at one end and an 800 plug at the other) and nothing, it didn't power it.
Now, Apogee officially state this:
http://www.apogeedigital.com/knowledgebase/duet-firewire/does-the-apple-thunderbolt-to-firewire-adapter-work-with-duet-firewire/

There they state it works with the latest software, which I didn't bother to download on my mum's Mac Mini because the Duet gets powered without the software, even when the computer is turned off. At least that is the case with my 2008 Macbook Pro.

Oh, and before anyone asks, yes it is a Thunderbolt port not a mini-displayport, unless it's tricking me with that little thunderbolt symbol above it

Can anyone help me out?

Thanks!

L

 

[marzer]

Hello there,

I just bought a what-will-become-much-needed Thunderbolt to Firewire adapter (basically to fill the time because I'm saving for an iMac and would otherwise need to be sedated).

Currently I don't actually have a Mac equipped with Thunderbolt so I took my WD My Book Studio external HDD (that I usually connect using FW800) and my Apogee Duet Firewire (that I usually daisy-chain via the HDD) and assaulted my mum's Mac Mini, running Lion 10.7.5, I believe, the latest version of Lion anyway.

I tried every combination and there is just no response at all. I plug in the drive using the adapter – turn it on, it doesn't mount. I turn it on, then plug it in – doesn't mount.

Then I tried the Duet Firewire on its own (it is actually a Firewire 400 device, but I use a cable with a 400 plug at one end and an 800 plug at the other) and nothing, it didn't power it.
Now, Apogee officially state this:
http://www.apogeedigital.com/knowledgebase/duet-firewire/does-the-apple-thunderbolt-to-firewire-adapter-work-with-duet-firewire/

There they state it works with the latest software, which I didn't bother to download on my mum's Mac Mini because the Duet gets powered without the software, even when the computer is turned off. At least that is the case with my 2008 Macbook Pro.

Oh, and before anyone asks, yes it is a Thunderbolt port not a mini-displayport, unless it's tricking me with that little thunderbolt symbol above it

Can anyone help me out?

Thanks!

L

As the Apogee site specifically indicates the latest software should be used, it makes no sense not to download and install it. Give it a try. Getting power means nothing as logical data connections are not necessary to draw power from the port.

I'm assuming both drives work fine through the mini's built in FW port? Everything works well connecting natively?

 

[LouisLeLou]

As the Apogee site specifically indicates the latest software should be used, it makes no sense not to download and install it. Give it a try. Getting power means nothing as logical data connections are not necessary to draw power from the port.

I'm assuming both drives work fine through the mini's built in FW port? Every thing works well connecting natively?

Hi, thanks for the reply!

I'll give it another try with the software. It worked via the FW800 port without it, and it works without the software on my Macbook Pro (in that it immediately powers the device).
It's still weird that the external HDD just does nothing though when plugged in with the adapter...

L

 

[LouisLeLou]

As the Apogee site specifically indicates the latest software should be used, it makes no sense not to download and install it. Give it a try. Getting power means nothing as logical data connections are not necessary to draw power from the port.

I'm assuming both drives work fine through the mini's built in FW port? Everything works well connecting natively?

I'm back, tried the Duet with the software and it made no difference... sad face. It all worked fine with FW800 and the device showed up and was recognised within the software.

So I'm thinking, seeing as neither the harddrive nor the Duet get "recognised" by the Mac Mini Thunderbolt port, there's either a problem with the port itself or with the adapter?

 

[marzer]

I'm back, tried the Duet with the software and it made no difference... sad face. It all worked fine with FW800 and the device showed up and was recognised within the software.

So I'm thinking, seeing as neither the harddrive nor the Duet get "recognised" by the Mac Mini Thunderbolt port, there's either a problem with the port itself or with the adapter?

Agree.

Without clarification in your first post I assumed both devices were mass storage. I see now the Duet is a sound device. So I wouldn't be surprised if it might be a software/driver issue.

As for the WD drive, that is surprising. It should be working fine with the TB adapter. I think that alone would be reason to assume a bad adapter. Just take it back and swap for a new one.

 

[LouisLeLou]

Agree.

Without clarification in your first post I assumed both devices were mass storage. I see now the Duet is a sound device. So I wouldn't be surprised if it might be a software/driver issue.

As for the WD drive, that is surprising. It should be working fine with the TB adapter. I think that alone would be reason to assume a bad adapter. Just take it back and swap for a new one.

Yes, sorry for that lack of info regarding the Duet! You're right, I'll just take it back. I may as well take along my Duet and ask to test it in one of the iMacs they have there as that is more important to me, if it works (the Duet clicks "on" when connected to and receiving power from a computer, this is how I immediately knew something wasn't right) I'll keep the adapter and assume it's the Mac Mini's thunderbolt port that is not working, which probably won't bother my mum at all, and I think I can live with connecting the external HDD via USB (instead of daisy-chaining the Duet through the HDD connected with the adapter) to the iMac until I eventually get/can afford a Thunderbolt HDD.

Cheers!

 

[LouisLeLou]

Adapter's fine!

Just to close this up: went back to the Apple reseller today, tested the adapter with my Duet on a couple of the computers in there and it worked... so it's a problem with the Mac Mini then!