What is this Frankencable?

[MotionMan]

30-pin to both USB and Firewire 400.

What was this originally used for? Can it be used with the latest iOS?

Tell me all you know about this freak-of-nature cable.

Thanks.

MotionMan

 

[Rakehellion]

Looks like it's a connector for an old style iPod. The first iPods that came out used Firewire before USB 2.0 was invented.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Looks like it's a connector for an old style iPod. The first iPods that came out used Firewire before USB 2.0 was invented.

bingo.

 

[IronWing]

30-pin to both USB and Firewire 400.

What was this originally used for? Can it be used with the latest iOS?

Tell me all you know about this freak-of-nature cable.

Thanks.

MotionMan

That is the precise cable for which I am searching (not too hard at the moment). The USB power pins on my old iPod Classic wore out and Czroe suggested that I try one of these cables as the Firewire side used different power pins on the iPod.

 

[Eug]

30-pin to both USB and Firewire 400.

What was this originally used for? Can it be used with the latest iOS?

Tell me all you know about this freak-of-nature cable.

As mentioned it is for the old iPods. However, you'll have to check but I don't think you can charge those old iPods over USB with this.

 

[TheStu]

The USB side probably still works. Back in the day, iPods could connect over either firewire OR USB (and for the first 1 or 2 gens, ONLY connected over firewire.)

 

[MotionMan]

That is the precise cable for which I am searching (not too hard at the moment). The USB power pins on my old iPod Classic wore out and Czroe suggested that I try one of these cables as the Firewire side used different power pins on the iPod.

Do you want me to send it to you?

If so, PM me your address and I will drop it in the mail this week.

MotionMan

 

[MotionMan]

The USB side probably still works. Back in the day, iPods could connect over either firewire OR USB (and for the first 1 or 2 gens, ONLY connected over firewire.)

After a little more research, using info from this thread as direction, I read somewhere this cable will only work in Windows. Does that seem right? Or does it now work with modern Macs, too?

MotionMan

 

[rugby]

I remember those cables! They are from when the iPod became Windows compatible. You had to charge the iPod via the FW cable even when connected to USB. I worked at Apple back then and the amount of support requests our genius bar got from Windows users regarding the cables not charging was insane. The first question we always asked was, "Are you plugging in the firewire cable into the charging brick that came with this?"

 

[MotionMan]

I remember those cables! They are from when the iPod became Windows compatible. You had to charge the iPod via the FW cable even when connected to USB. I worked at Apple back then and the amount of support requests our genius bar got from Windows users regarding the cables not charging was insane. The first question we always asked was, "Are you plugging in the firewire cable into the charging brick that came with this?"

Every so often I come across a power adapter with a firewire port at garage sales. 99 time out of 100, the sellers have no idea what it was for.

I had seen firewire to 30-pin cables, but never before the one pictured above.

I guess there is always something new to learn.

MotionMan

 

[IronWing]

Do you want me to send it to you?

If so, PM me your address and I will drop it in the mail this week.

MotionMan

Thanks MotionMan! My iPod Classic lives again. 😀

 

[MotionMan]

Thanks MotionMan! My iPod Classic lives again. 😀

:thumbsup:

MotionMan

 

[Ichinisan]

A lot of old AC and DC chargers used FireWire pins and FireWire voltage (12.8v?), so there are other things that might work to charge the iPod Classic. So many iPod docks and accessories were designed with the original FireWire voltage and pins, I bet even newer iPod touch devices can still charge from those pins.

iPhones are a different story. My friend at work was an Apple/Mac nut before it was "cool." He charged his original iPhone with his iPod accessories and was frustrated to find that none of that stuff would charge his iPhone 3G when that was released.

 

[TheStu]

A lot of old AC and DC chargers used FireWire pins and FireWire voltage (12.8v?), so there are other things that might work to charge the iPod Classic. So many iPod docks and accessories were designed with the original FireWire voltage and pins, I bet even newer iPod touch devices can still charge from those pins.

iPhones are a different story. My friend at work was an Apple/Mac nut before it was "cool." He charged his original iPhone with his iPod accessories and was frustrated to find that none of that stuff would charge his iPhone 3G when that was released.

Since the iPod Touch is a stripped down iPhone rather than a juiced up Classic, I think it's likely that it never had firewire pins.