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WiggMuffin · Oct 10, 2003, 11:03 PM

Ok, I just got this thing, and I'm not exactly a computer expert

Anyway, I have the cable connected to the iSight itself, but where do I connect it to on my computer?

I'm using a Powermac G4, by the way. If you need to know anything else, just post.

dtriska · Oct 10, 2003, 11:09 PM

You plug the other end of the FireWire cable into a FireWire port on your Mac. Check out the back of your Power Mac, probably at the top of the ports area.

Look for this image:

zachs · Oct 10, 2003, 11:11 PM

Plug it into one of the ports circled:

WiggMuffin · Oct 10, 2003, 11:14 PM

Thanks guys! Got it connected

WiggMuffin · Oct 10, 2003, 11:23 PM

Ok now it won't turn on. When I first connect it, the green light turns on for a few seconds, flashes once, and turns on. I open up the lens, nothing. I check the preferences, it says no camera is connected. =P

zachs · Oct 10, 2003, 11:32 PM

Try restarting with the iSight plugged in. Then open iChat AV, making sure that it is still connected.

WiggMuffin · Oct 10, 2003, 11:37 PM

Nothing. =\

zachs · Oct 10, 2003, 11:43 PM

1. Turn the computer and the camera off.
2. Unplug the FireWire cable from your computer and the camera.
3. Wait a few seconds.
4. Firmly, without forcing, plug the cable back in to the camera and the computer.
Caution: FireWire ports are keyed so the FireWire cable can only be inserted one way. _Ensure you are inserting the FireWire cable into the FireWire port in the correct orientation.
5. Restart your computer.
6. If the green light on top of the iSight is not lit, turn on the camera by gently twisting the lens.
7. Launch iChat AV.

WiggMuffin · Oct 10, 2003, 11:47 PM

Ok well my parents just kicked me off the computer because it is just about midnight here, so I'll try that tomorrow. Thanks again.

Disgruntled Head of C-3PO · Oct 10, 2003, 11:51 PM

Ok I'm sorry but you don't have to be a computer expert to:

1) Match plugs
2) Read the incredibly easy to follow instructions.

I am surprised you found your way onto the web!

Parky · Oct 11, 2003, 04:34 AM

Have you installed iChatAV?

What version of Mac OSX are you using ?

The Apple web site states - "Requires iChat AV Software (not included), Mac OS X v.10.2.5 or later, 600MHz G3 processor or higher, Broadband Internet connection."

By the way this means that to buy and use an iSight in the future, you will also need to buy iChatAV or Panther.

It seems a bit mean to not include iChatAV with the camera, especially when the Apple Web site says, "Made for iChat AV"

Ian

Angus_D · Oct 11, 2003, 05:12 AM

It is possible that your G4 is having trouble with recognising firewire devices. Sometimes resetting the NVRAM will cure this. If none of the above helps, reboot holding down cmd-alt-o-f, and at the white screen with black text on it type:

Code:
reset-nvram
reset-all
continue

WiggMuffin · Oct 11, 2003, 12:50 PM

I did what you said zachs. The green light lit up as the computer was starting up, and then turned off again. So I twisted the lens open and launched iChat AV. Still nothing =\.

Mac OS 10.2.6

Ok I'm sorry but you don't have to be a computer expert to:

1) Match plugs
2) Read the incredibly easy to follow instructions.

I am surprised you found your way onto the web!

Ok now that was just uncalled for. Did you not read ANY of my posts? It was late at night, the only light in this room shines AWAY from the computer tower, and I have never had to try to search for the firewire port, so I didn't know where it was. So sue me, why dontcha? The plugs ARE matched, I READ the instructions (which didn't help me with this matter) and consulted multiple other articles that I thought would help me on the apple website that DIDN'T, so now I come here.

Is this how you treat all of the people who just want some help? Please. Go back to your cave.

Oh, and Angus, will reseting the NVRAM do anything else? What exactly will this cause to happen? Can it harm the computer in any way? I don't want to do this unless I know it is harmless, because it's my dads computer =P

WiggMuffin · Oct 11, 2003, 01:01 PM

Crap. Just remember that the G4 I have is 350 mhz. Sorry for the trouble, thanks anyway!

keston · Oct 12, 2003, 09:05 AM

details details... like troubleshooting someone's problem over the phone, those damn ESSENTIAL details that they leave out...

U need to use iChatUSBCam. It will allow you to use iChat/iSight on your slower computer.

mattyd · Oct 12, 2003, 11:15 AM

i have a TiBook 400. don't use an iSight but my firewire video camera works perfectly with iChat AV.

i thought you only needed a 600 or better if it was a G3.

ryju · Oct 12, 2003, 11:32 AM

Originally posted by keston:
details details... like troubleshooting someone's problem over the phone, those damn ESSENTIAL details that they leave out...

U need to use iChatUSBCam. It will allow you to use iChat/iSight on your slower computer.

Does that let you use an iSight as well??

:XI: · Oct 12, 2003, 12:06 PM

Originally posted by Disgruntled Head of C-3PO:
Ok I'm sorry but you don't have to be a computer expert to:

1) Match plugs
2) Read the incredibly easy to follow instructions.

I am surprised you found your way onto the web!

Originally posted by mattyd:
i have a TiBook 400. don't use an iSight but my firewire video camera works perfectly with iChat AV.

i thought you only needed a 600 or better if it was a G3.

My iSight works fine with my Ti400.

Originally posted by WiggMuffin:
It was late at night, the only light in this room shines AWAY from the computer tower, and I have never had to try to search for the firewire port, so I didn't know where it was.

What? you couldn't move the mac around? You couldn't feel around for the firewire port?

Resetting the NVRAM will just mean you might hae to set the clock and screen resolutions and a few other things. it won't 'harm' anything. It might fix a few other things that you didn't know were broken

Also, the iSight should work on a G4. does it show up in Apple System profiler?

Disgruntled Head of C-3PO · Oct 12, 2003, 01:09 PM

Originally posted by WiggMuffin:
Ok now that was just uncalled for. Did you not read ANY of my posts? It was late at night, the only light in this room shines AWAY from the computer tower, and I have never had to try to search for the firewire port, so I didn't know where it was. So sue me, why dontcha? The plugs ARE matched, I READ the instructions (which didn't help me with this matter) and consulted multiple other articles that I thought would help me on the apple website that DIDN'T, so now I come here.

Is this how you treat all of the people who just want some help? Please. Go back to your cave.

No I don't, yours just came off as crazy stupid and lazy.

midwinter · Oct 12, 2003, 01:39 PM

The iSight doesn't "turn on" until it's needed. Once you have iChat AV installed, you'll get a little camera icon next to your buddy image. Click on it to bring up the iSight's preview window.

Cheers
Scott

aaanorton · 02:16 PM

Requires iChat AV Software (not included), Mac OS X v.10.2.5 or later, 600MHz G3 processor or higher, Broadband Internet connection.

any G4 > 600MHz G3.

WiggMuffin:
I have a theory...
You know those little adaptor clips that come with the iSight for the cable? Did you install those on BOTH ends of the firewire cable?
Remove the one at the end going into the computer. Now plug that end in. You should be all set.
I think you'll also find that the firewire cable seats a whole lot better now as well.

:XI: · Oct 12, 2003, 02:36 PM

aaanorton, that's a good theory.

WiggMuffin · Oct 12, 2003, 06:12 PM

Heh, still gettin' replies...

Originally posted by aaanorton:
any G4 > 600MHz G3.

WiggMuffin:
I have a theory...
You know those little adaptor clips that come with the iSight for the cable? Did you install those on BOTH ends of the firewire cable?
Remove the one at the end going into the computer. Now plug that end in. You should be all set.
I think you'll also find that the firewire cable seats a whole lot better now as well.

The only adaptor clip was the one connected to the iSight.

About that requirement of "any G4 > 600MHz G3"... does that mean it only needs to be 600MHz or faster on a G3 computer, and that it will work with a 350MHz G4?

And sorry about that earlier post, C3PO. I was having a bad day =P, but you could have posted that in a nicer way

What? you couldn't move the mac around? You couldn't feel around for the firewire port?

It's in an inconveniant place, not really great for moving it around.

I felt around, but when I hit it, I probably thought it was a USB port

aaanorton · Oct 12, 2003, 07:10 PM

Originally posted by WiggMuffin:
About that requirement of "any G4 > 600MHz G3"... does that mean it only needs to be 600MHz or faster on a G3 computer, and that it will work with a 350MHz G4?

Yes.

Try this:
Plug it in.
Make sure BOTH ends of cable are seated firmly.
Restart computer.
Open iChat AV.
Open iChat preferences (from iChat menu).
Click on the Video tab.
What do you see?

WiggMuffin · Oct 13, 2003, 06:15 PM

"There is no camera connected to this computer"

Developer · Oct 13, 2003, 06:32 PM

Originally posted by WiggMuffin:
"There is no camera connected to this computer"

� Plug the camera into your computer, then reboot
� Open Apple System Profiler and check that the camera is indeed connected to the compter and recognized
� Check if you can see video with a video viewing application.
� If you get video with that launch iChat instead and see if you can get video in the video preferences.

aaanorton · Oct 13, 2003, 06:51 PM

I think you just got a bum camera. Can you return/exchange it? Do you have another Mac you can try it on?
As a last ditch effort, try using a completely different cable. Forget the mounting clips for now. just plug any old (known-working) firewire cable into the camera and into the computer. If you still get that message, return the camera. If you don't, then either the cable is bad (in which case you should return it as well) or you're connecting it wrong.

Spheric Harlot · Oct 13, 2003, 07:10 PM

Another option: It is possible that your PowerMac's Firewire controller chip is blown. This happens, especially since older machines didn't have proper electrostatic discharge protection on the Firewire ports (my iMac DV 400 blew twice. Second time, I didn't bother having the entire motherboard replaced AGAIN. At over $400. No.).

Reboot the Mac and hold down Apple-V immediately after you hear the startup chime. This will have your make startup perfectly normally, the only difference being that the fancy graphic is dropped and all the protocol messages made by the computer as it checks through its components and loads the appropriate drivers are shown on the screen. So don't be shocked.

Somewhere near the very start, there should be a message involving a "FWIOHC" - either recognized, or showing a "broken FW Phy" or something like that, followed by "aborting FWIOHC". If that is the case, your controller is indeed broken, and I'm afraid only a motherboard replacement OR buying a PCI Firewire card (far cheaper) will be your options.

-s*

WiggMuffin · Oct 16, 2003, 02:46 PM

I think you just got a bum camera. Can you return/exchange it? Do you have another Mac you can try it on?
As a last ditch effort, try using a completely different cable. Forget the mounting clips for now. just plug any old (known-working) firewire cable into the camera and into the computer. If you still get that message, return the camera. If you don't, then either the cable is bad (in which case you should return it as well) or you're connecting it wrong.

I probably can't return it... My brother got it at the Apple Developer's Convention.

It is possible that the camera is a dud, but oh well.

And no, I'm definately connecting it right =P

aaanorton · Oct 16, 2003, 04:11 PM

Originally posted by WiggMuffin:
I probably can't return it... My brother got it at the Apple Developer's Convention.

It is possible that the camera is a dud, but oh well.

And no, I'm definately connecting it right =P

Did you try a different cable? If that's the problem, you could easily pick up a new one from an Apple store.

brapper · Oct 16, 2003, 04:40 PM

Originally posted by Disgruntled Head of C-3PO:
No I don't, yours just came off as crazy stupid and lazy.

Did you have to answer it?...No?...really then why did you?...to be a pr*ck.
There's no harm in asking when you don't know.