Firewire over USB4

FireWire Information and Issues (for Flex-3000 and Flex-5000 models only). FireWire is the connection between your Flex radio and the PC (PowerSDR)
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ke9ns
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Firewire over USB4

Post by ke9ns »

I have successfully run my Flex-3000 and 5000 with PowerSDR v2.8.0 using a mini-PC (BOSGAME M4 Ryzen with a true USB4 port). I used a Wavelink WL-ST401C (USB4 to M.2 adapter enclosure) and a M.2 to PCIe adapter card. The tape is to hold the adapter card because the enclosure does not allow the use of screws). I purchased a SYBA FireWire card that has the TI XIO2213B chip on it (I tried older FireWire cards, both TI and VIA, and found some didnt not work, or only at lower Sample Rates).


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Creator of PowerSDR KE9NS v2.8, based on the Flex Radio PowerSDR v2.7.2 software.
Flex-5000, LDMOS and Titan Amps, G5RV, and Mosley TA-33 Junior
KR4FHI-CT
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Re: Firewire over USB4

Post by KR4FHI-CT »

Good to know.

I don’t have the particulars on hardware, but one of my hosts is fairly stable, and the other one, with a lucent Fire wire driver, is very unstable.
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Re: Firewire over USB4

Post by KR4FHI-CT »

Good to know.

Ive got serious instability issues with my Win11 laptop with a Thunderbolt Lucent Firewire. In contrast, on my older desktop with a PCI-E Firewire card (don't know the chip), PowerSDR and the whole PC is fairly stable.
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ke9ns
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Re: Firewire over USB4

Post by ke9ns »

With Win10/Win11 you never really know what brand of FireWire will be more stable than another brand?
And also sometimes the "Legacy" FireWire Driver is stable compared to the default Driver, but sometimes the default is better.
(Microsoft stopped testing hardware and driver compatibility after Win7)

If your Laptop is Intel based, then you have a true Thunderbolt port, so you might be able to use a Apple Thunderbolt2 to FireWire adapter?
I know that a true Thunderbolt 2 or 3 will work with the Apple adapter, but not sure about a true Thunderbolt 4.
I know for sure that AMD based Thunderbolt will not work with Apple adapters.

ke9ns

KR4FHI-CT wrote: ↑
Tue Aug 18, 2026 10:07 am
Good to know.

Ive got serious instability issues with my Win11 laptop with a Thunderbolt Lucent Firewire. In contrast, on my older desktop with a PCI-E Firewire card (don't know the chip), PowerSDR and the whole PC is fairly stable.
Creator of PowerSDR KE9NS v2.8, based on the Flex Radio PowerSDR v2.7.2 software.
Flex-5000, LDMOS and Titan Amps, G5RV, and Mosley TA-33 Junior
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