What are the different types of Firewire® connectors?

different types of FireWire® connectors can be identified by the number of pins they have, although several different physical shapes are also used. Two of the common versions of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) 1394 Standard are FireWire® 400 and 800. The Firewire® 800 also uses the type of connector that differs significantly from others because it has more square shape, while the previous types were flat with a notch or a pointed end. Some firewire® connectors use different configurations, even if they are less common.

Each version of the FireWire® standard uses a unique number of pins, offers different transmission speeds, and in some cases also uses connectors that are shaped differently. These different connectors are not always directly compatible with each other because of different pins configurations, size, D physical shapes. However, all versions of the Firewire® standard are compatible, which means it isPossible to bridge different firewire® connectors using different adapters and cables.

When Firewire® was first introduced, the connectors used four pins. This version of the standard is referred to as the firewire® 400 and uses the smallest connector of all different versions of the standard. The variation on this type of connector uses six pins instead, although other connections provide only power supply and do not offer additional transfer speed. Both firewire® Connectory Four connectors, so six pins are referred to as Alpha connectors and the six pins are significantly larger.

The third type of FireWire® connector is usually known as a beta connector. This connector uses nine pins and is physically greater than either four or six -round versions. Beta connectors are used with firewire® 800 devices, although they are backward compatible with the right adapters. When Firewire® 800 is designed forUsing the beta connector, connected to FireWire® 400 or port, power and transmission speeds usually suffer.

There are several other types of FireWire® connectors, including proprietary connectors that use different versions of the IEEE 1394. One example is the IEE 1394C, a variation of a specification that is designed to use the traditional Ethernet connector and twisted paired cable. This version of the standard allows one port to function as an Ethernet connection and the IEEE 1394C connection simultaneously.