Is 3rd gen Firewire dock compatible with 120GB iPod Classic?

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Is 3rd gen Firewire dock compatible with 120GB iPod Classic?

I have a 20GB 3rd gen iPod that came with a Firewire dock (Apple supplied, no USB at the time as I recall). It both charges and synchs fine, but I mostly use it with my BMW iPod interface and if I don't drive the car for a couple of days the battery in the iPod dies and I lose my settings, I'm also running out of space for music so it's time to update.

I've ordered a refurb 120GB iPod Classic as a replacement. I gather that it comes with a USB dock. That's fine, but I'm also just about out of places to plug in USB stuff on my PC that hosts my iTunes library. So I'd like to use the new iPod Classic with my existing 3rd gen Firewire docking station.

There is a discussion about using the new iPod Classic with older 3rd party docking stations that implies it should charge OK, but some discussions seem to imply it won't be able to synch with the Firewire based docking station.

Can someone (preferably Apple tech folks) provide a definitive answer? If I have to free up a USB port, I will find a way to do that, but it would be nice to be able to dock and charge/synch either of my two iPods with the same old Firewire docking station.

PC, Windows XP, HP

Posted on Apr 28, 2009 6:06 AM

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Answer 1

Lyssa

Level 8

41,405 points

Apr 28, 2009 11:16 AM in response to DrTomBlinn

You can charge the iPod classic using Firewire or USB. However, you can only sync over USB.

See here:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1353#iPodclassic120GB

~Lyssa

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Answer 2

Apr 28, 2009 11:46 AM in response to Lyssa

The other current iPod's no longer support charging over FireWire, so it would probably be best not to use a FireWire docking cable at all with the latest iPod classic (120GB model).

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Answer 3

Lyssa

Level 8

41,405 points

Apr 28, 2009 11:49 AM in response to Kenichi Watanabe

I have the now-discontinued 160GB classic and it charges fine using Firewire. Was that removed starting with the 120GB classic?

~Lyssa

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Answer 4

Chris CA

Level 10

82,513 points

Apr 28, 2009 11:53 AM in response to DrTomBlinn

I've ordered a refurb 120GB iPod Classic as a replacement. I gather that it comes with a USB dock.

It does not come with a dock at all.

some discussions seem to imply it won't be able to synch with the Firewire based docking station

Correct. It will not sync via FireWire.

If I have to free up a USB port,

Get an external, powered USB hub. 7 additonal ports for ~$15.

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Answer 5

Apr 28, 2009 12:10 PM in response to Lyssa

I see articles that say FireWire charging no longer works with the current iPod nano and iPod touch.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3215
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1476

I do not see a similar article for the current iPod classic. However, since FireWire charging uses a different voltage, and Apple has removed the capability from the other iPods, I just think it is prudent to use USB charging instead of FireWire charging.

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Answer 6

Chris CA

Level 10

82,513 points

Apr 28, 2009 12:20 PM in response to Kenichi Watanabe

I just think it is prudent to use USB charging instead of FireWire charging.

The classic will charge via FireWire or USB with no problem.
Plugging in FW to the current touch and nano will not hurt them. They simply display a message that FW charging is not supported.
FireWire and USB use completely different pins and the connection to the charging circuit for FW was simply removed from these pins.

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Answer 7

DrTomBlinn Author

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Apr 28, 2009 12:45 PM in response to DrTomBlinn

Thanks for all the good pointers. I had read in other topics that Firewire charging would work with the iPod Classic (but not the other current iPod models, none of which I own). No dock is OK, just a cable to the iPod is a win and I have a port I usually use with a camera when I need to access it, that should work with the iPod if it is the same plug size. Sounds like it will all be fine, it would have been convenient to use the existing Firewire dock, but if it won't work it won't work.

Yes, powered USB 2.0 hubs are a good thing and cheap, I just want to avoid having even more wall warts to power all the stuff.

Thanks, all.

DrTom

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