E317 · Source-scoped pinout variants

FireWire 9-pin connector engineering reference

Named wiring from the pinout research; connector shape alone does not establish capabilities.

Open field note Source trail

Source checked · no independent review claimed · Fabrication approved: no

FireWire 9-pin (IEEE 1394b beta/bilingual) engineering reference original orientation schematic — Original pinout diagram; read the exact variant and view below. Not to scale.

Contact count

Not asserted

Source-scoped connector interface

Mating boundary

Shape is not the verdict.

Check the exact device and mating connector.

Orientation

How to read this profile

Read the exact variant view convention. Schematic layouts do not establish physical positions.

Source-scoped identification facts

Each value retains its exact example, role and measurement axis. Facts from different parts must not be combined into an invented component.

Documented examples; not a mating drawing or compatibility approval
Nominal contacts	9S088Nominal contact count; some implementations may omit populated positions. It is not a wiring map.
Connector role	plug (1394_99_6)S939Named source examples retain separate role, part, view and axis limits; values are not a universal family specification. 1394_99_6. Documented role: plug. Manufacturer generic compatibility statement is not repeated as universal device/cable approval.; No shell axes or contact pitch verified. TE2011presentation names9pin1394b but provides only image geometry; directPDF403 prevented localview.
Manufacturer	StarTech.com (1394_99_6)S939Named source examples retain separate role, part, view and axis limits; values are not a universal family specification. 1394_99_6. Documented role: plug. Manufacturer generic compatibility statement is not repeated as universal device/cable approval.; No shell axes or contact pitch verified. TE2011presentation names9pin1394b but provides only image geometry; directPDF403 prevented localview.
Series	FireWire800 nine-pin cable (1394_99_6)S939Named source examples retain separate role, part, view and axis limits; values are not a universal family specification. 1394_99_6. Documented role: plug. Manufacturer generic compatibility statement is not repeated as universal device/cable approval.; No shell axes or contact pitch verified. TE2011presentation names9pin1394b but provides only image geometry; directPDF403 prevented localview.
Exact part / implementation	1394_99_6 (1394_99_6)S939Named source examples retain separate role, part, view and axis limits; values are not a universal family specification. 1394_99_6. Documented role: plug. Manufacturer generic compatibility statement is not repeated as universal device/cable approval.; No shell axes or contact pitch verified. TE2011presentation names9pin1394b but provides only image geometry; directPDF403 prevented localview.

Not recorded: Positions / cavity span, Populated contacts, Contact rows, Contact pitch, Dimensions / axis, Contact gender / arrangement, Mounting, Coupling / latch, Keying / polarization, Shell / form, Recorded markings, View convention. Unknown fields stay unknown; illustrations supply no measurements or pin assignments.

Recorded variant and source limits

Check the exact device manual before wiring or applying power.
IEEE 1394b 9-circuit (beta and bilingual) plug/socket: See connector view_convention.
Apple Xserve (G4) FireWire 800 port, IEEE 1394b 9-pin bilingual: Apple Table 3-2 contact numbers.
TI TSB41BA3A reference design, 1394b bilingual connector: TI schematic symbol pin numbers (pins 10-13 are shell/mounting).

Report a correction to these facts →

Pins & wiring

Pinout

Choose the exact wiring. Pin numbers follow its stated view; a schematic does not establish physical positions. Check your exact device before wiring.

Dark pinout view

What the status labels mean

Confirmed: Recorded research passes agree within this variant; this is not independent human review or hardware validation.
Single source: Only one underlying document, or one pass, supports this assignment.
Device-specific: Supported for the named equipment or wiring only. Check your device’s manual.
Unverified: Missing or conflicting evidence. Do not wire from this row.
Not connected: The source explicitly says NC, no contact or no pin for this wiring.

Wiring variantIEEE 1394b 9-circuit (beta and bilingual) plug/socket

IEEE 1394b 9-circuit (beta and bilingual) plug/socket

View and evidence limits

See connector view_convention.

P107 FireWire 9-pin — **Agree** (1 TPBâˆ’, 2 TPB+, 3 TPAâˆ’, 4 TPA+, 5 TPA(R), 6 VG, 7 SC no-connect, 8 VP, 9 TPB(R)) — The 1394 TA guide (pass A) and Apple (pass B) match. Pass B's TI reference schematic couldn't trace pins 5, 6 and 9, which stay unverified in that variant only.
Beta-only versus bilingual keying is not distinguished in the pin tables; both use the same contact assignment in FWDG Tables 2-2 and 2-3.
Paywalled (IEEE); not inspected.
Not transcribed from any drawing.

Schematic only · physical contact positions unconfirmed. Original drawing · not to scale. Scroll sideways if needed.

IEEE 1394b 9-circuit (beta and bilingual) plug/socket — source-scoped contact map
Pin	Signal	What it does	Status
1	TPB- (TPB*)	Control, detection or configuration connection; check the source and device.	Single source Sources
2	TPB+ (TPB)	Control, detection or configuration connection; check the source and device.	Single source Sources
3	TPA- (TPA*)	Control, detection or configuration connection; check the source and device.	Single source Sources
4	TPA+ (TPA)	Control, detection or configuration connection; check the source and device.	Single source Sources
5	TPA(R)	Control, detection or configuration connection; check the source and device.	Confirmed Sources
6	VG	Control, detection or configuration connection; check the source and device.	Confirmed Sources
7	SC	Not connected or absent in this named wiring.	Not connected Sources
8	VP	Control, detection or configuration connection; check the source and device.	Confirmed Sources
9	TPB(R)	Control, detection or configuration connection; check the source and device.	Confirmed Sources
Shell	Outer shell / inner shell	Cable screen or shield connection; check the named equipment.	Single source Sources

Sources (3)

S717 · 1394 Trade Association · FireWire Design Guide
FWDG 1.0TA, 03/02/2010 · Section 2.2, Figure 2-4 '1394b type 1 cable assembly and schematic (Beta plug to Beta plug)' and Table 2-2 '1394b type 1 (Beta to beta) end-to-end connections'
S719 · Apple Computer, Inc. · 17-inch PowerBook G4 Developer Note, Input and Output Devices (Devices and Ports > FireWire Ports)
Updated 2005-10-19 (Apple Developer Documentation Archive, marked Retired Document) · FireWire Ports > FireWire 800 Connector: Figure 3-3 '9-pin FireWire 800 connector' and Table 3-3 'Signals on the 9-pin FireWire 800 connector'
S718 · Apple Computer, Inc. · Xserve Developer Note, Chapter 'Input and Output Devices', section 'FireWire Ports' (developer.apple.com archive HTML)
Last updated April 22, 2003 (archive page footer also carries a 2016 Apple copyright) · Section 'FireWire Ports', Table 3-2 'Signals on the 9-pin FireWire 800 connector' and Figure 3-2

Apple Xserve (G4) FireWire 800 port, IEEE 1394b 9-pin bilingual

Device-specific wiring. Check your device’s manual before connecting or applying power.

View and evidence limits

Apple Table 3-2 contact numbers.

P107 FireWire 9-pin — **Agree** (1 TPBâˆ’, 2 TPB+, 3 TPAâˆ’, 4 TPA+, 5 TPA(R), 6 VG, 7 SC no-connect, 8 VP, 9 TPB(R)) — The 1394 TA guide (pass A) and Apple (pass B) match. Pass B's TI reference schematic couldn't trace pins 5, 6 and 9, which stay unverified in that variant only.
Paywalled; not read.
Their nets join a capacitor/ground network that could not be traced unambiguously; Apple's table is the only verification for 5/6/9.
1394b beta-only keying versus bilingual keying was not mapped separately; TI notes beta-only and bilingual ports cannot mate with 1394a 4- or 6-pin connectors.

Schematic only · physical contact positions unconfirmed. Original drawing · not to scale. Scroll sideways if needed.

Apple Xserve (G4) FireWire 800 port, IEEE 1394b 9-pin bilingual — source-scoped contact map
Pin	Signal	What it does	Status
1	TPB-	Control, detection or configuration connection; check the source and device.	Device-specific Sources
2	TPB+	Control, detection or configuration connection; check the source and device.	Device-specific Sources
3	TPA-	Control, detection or configuration connection; check the source and device.	Device-specific Sources
4	TPA+	Control, detection or configuration connection; check the source and device.	Device-specific Sources
5	TPA (R)	Control, detection or configuration connection; check the source and device.	Device-specific Sources
6	VG	Control, detection or configuration connection; check the source and device.	Device-specific Sources
7	SC	Not connected or absent in this named wiring.	Not connected Sources
8	VP	Control, detection or configuration connection; check the source and device.	Device-specific Sources
9	TPB (R)	Control, detection or configuration connection; check the source and device.	Device-specific Sources

Sources (1)

S718 · Apple Computer, Inc. · Xserve Developer Note, Chapter 'Input and Output Devices', section 'FireWire Ports' (developer.apple.com archive HTML)
Last updated April 22, 2003 (archive page footer also carries a 2016 Apple copyright) · Section 'FireWire Ports', Table 3-2 'Signals on the 9-pin FireWire 800 connector' and Figure 3-2

TI TSB41BA3A reference design, 1394b bilingual connector

View and evidence limits

TI schematic symbol pin numbers (pins 10-13 are shell/mounting).

P107 FireWire 9-pin — **Agree** (1 TPBâˆ’, 2 TPB+, 3 TPAâˆ’, 4 TPA+, 5 TPA(R), 6 VG, 7 SC no-connect, 8 VP, 9 TPB(R)) — The 1394 TA guide (pass A) and Apple (pass B) match. Pass B's TI reference schematic couldn't trace pins 5, 6 and 9, which stay unverified in that variant only.
Paywalled; not read.
Their nets join a capacitor/ground network that could not be traced unambiguously; Apple's table is the only verification for 5/6/9.
1394b beta-only keying versus bilingual keying was not mapped separately; TI notes beta-only and bilingual ports cannot mate with 1394a 4- or 6-pin connectors.

Schematic only · physical contact positions unconfirmed. Original drawing · not to scale. Scroll sideways if needed.

TI TSB41BA3A reference design, 1394b bilingual connector — source-scoped contact map
Pin	Signal	What it does	Status
1	TPB0- / TPB1-	Control, detection or configuration connection; check the source and device.	Single source Sources
2	TPB0+ / TPB1+	Control, detection or configuration connection; check the source and device.	Single source Sources
3	TPA0- / TPA1-	Control, detection or configuration connection; check the source and device.	Single source Sources
4	TPA0+ / TPA1+	Control, detection or configuration connection; check the source and device.	Single source Sources
5	Not confirmed	No settled assignment. Do not wire from this row.	Unverified Sources
6	Not confirmed	No settled assignment. Do not wire from this row.	Unverified Sources
7	(no connection)	Not connected or absent in this named wiring.	Not connected Sources
8	BUS POWER	Control, detection or configuration connection; check the source and device.	Single source Sources
9	Not confirmed	No settled assignment. Do not wire from this row.	Unverified Sources

Sources (1)

S721 · Texas Instruments · Application Report SLLA153A: Interfacing Between the 1394a Links and TSB41BA3A
SLLA153A, October 2004 (Appendix A schematic sheet 1 dated August 04, 2003, Rev 1.0) · Appendix A Reference Schematic, sheet 1 'Power and 1394b Bilingual Connectors' (CONNECTOR 0 / CONNECTOR 1 net labels)

Unknowns stay unknown.

Check the exact device manual before wiring or applying power.

Your next step

Use the detail without guessing past its limits.

Read the connector field note Recognition clues and practical checks.Work through a connection Keep exact equipment and cable requirements separate.

Source trail

Claims and sources

C803Osource checked

IEEE 1394b 9-circuit (beta and bilingual) plug/socket: original contact normalization. Statuses distinguish comparison agreement, source limits and named-device wiring.

1394 Trade Association · FireWire Design Guide ↗
Section 2.2, Figure 2-4 '1394b type 1 cable assembly and schematic (Beta plug to Beta plug)' and Table 2-2 '1394b type 1 (Beta to beta) end-to-end connections'; Section 2.2, Figure 2-5 '1394b type 2 cable assembly and schematic (Legacy 6 circuit plug to Bilingual plug)' and Table 2-3 'Legacy 6 circuit to 1394b Bilingual end-to-end connections' (6-circuit side columns); Section 2.2, Figure 2-6 '1394b type 3 cable assembly and schematic (Legacy 4-circuit plug to Bilingual plug)' and Table 2-4 'Legacy 4 circuit to 1394b Bilingual end-to-end connections' (4-circuit side columns) · Source scope and unresolved evidence are preserved in the engineering variant.

Apple Computer, Inc. · Xserve Developer Note, Chapter 'Input and Output Devices', section 'FireWire Ports' (developer.apple.com archive HTML) ↗
Section 'FireWire Ports', Table 3-2 'Signals on the 9-pin FireWire 800 connector' and Figure 3-2; Section 'FireWire Ports', Table 3-3 'Signals on the FireWire 400 connector' and Figure 3-3 · Source scope and unresolved evidence are preserved in the engineering variant.

Apple Computer, Inc. · 17-inch PowerBook G4 Developer Note, Input and Output Devices (Devices and Ports > FireWire Ports) ↗
FireWire Ports > FireWire 400 Connector: Figure 3-2 '6-pin FireWire connector' and Table 3-2 'Pin assignments on the 6-pin FireWire connector'; FireWire Ports > FireWire 800 Connector: Figure 3-3 '9-pin FireWire 800 connector' and Table 3-3 'Signals on the 9-pin FireWire 800 connector' · Source scope and unresolved evidence are preserved in the engineering variant.

C803Psource checked

Apple Xserve (G4) FireWire 800 port, IEEE 1394b 9-pin bilingual: original contact normalization. Statuses distinguish comparison agreement, source limits and named-device wiring.

C803Qsource checked

TI TSB41BA3A reference design, 1394b bilingual connector: original contact normalization. Statuses distinguish comparison agreement, source limits and named-device wiring.

Texas Instruments · Application Report SLLA153A: Interfacing Between the 1394a Links and TSB41BA3A ↗
Appendix A Reference Schematic, sheet 1 'Power and 1394b Bilingual Connectors' (CONNECTOR 0 / CONNECTOR 1 net labels) · Source scope and unresolved evidence are preserved in the engineering variant.

4 source records support this profile. No independent engineering review or hardware validation is claimed.

Evidence behind this page

Scope first. Source second. Approval separate.

4 linked sources · 3 scoped claims · 0 sources with inspection/access flags.

Page scope: Original schematic; not to scale and not fabrication approval.

Assessment 2026-10-22 · earliest scheduled source review 2027-01-18. This is a recorded-date assessment, not a live source check. Page-level independent review is not established by this panel.

Inspect 4 source scopes, access limits and dates

S717 · FireWire Design Guide

1394 Trade Association · Unclassified publisher domain · inspected 2026-10-20 · due 2027-01-18

Within inspection window

Scoped support: Exact named pinout variant only; not capability or compatibility approval.

Not established / limitations: Source scope and unresolved evidence are preserved in the engineering variant.

Locator: Section 2.2, Figure 2-4 '1394b type 1 cable assembly and schematic (Beta plug to Beta plug)' and Table 2-2 '1394b type 1 (Beta to beta) end-to-end connections'; Section 2.2, Figure 2-5 '1394b type 2 cable assembly and schematic (Legacy 6 circuit plug to Bilingual plug)' and Table 2-3 'Legacy 6 circuit to 1394b Bilingual end-to-end connections' (6-circuit side columns); Section 2.2, Figure 2-6 '1394b type 3 cable assembly and schematic (Legacy 4-circuit plug to Bilingual plug)' and Table 2-4 'Legacy 4 circuit to 1394b Bilingual end-to-end connections' (4-circuit side columns)

S718 · Xserve Developer Note, Chapter 'Input and Output Devices', section 'FireWire Ports' (developer.apple.com archive HTML)

Apple Computer, Inc. · Manufacturer / product-owner domain · inspected 2026-10-20 · due 2027-01-18

Within inspection window

Scoped support: Exact named pinout variant only; not capability or compatibility approval.

Not established / limitations: Source scope and unresolved evidence are preserved in the engineering variant.

Locator: Section 'FireWire Ports', Table 3-2 'Signals on the 9-pin FireWire 800 connector' and Figure 3-2; Section 'FireWire Ports', Table 3-3 'Signals on the FireWire 400 connector' and Figure 3-3

S719 · 17-inch PowerBook G4 Developer Note, Input and Output Devices (Devices and Ports > FireWire Ports)

Apple Computer, Inc. · Manufacturer / product-owner domain · inspected 2026-10-20 · due 2027-01-18

Within inspection window

Scoped support: Exact named pinout variant only; not capability or compatibility approval.

Not established / limitations: Source scope and unresolved evidence are preserved in the engineering variant.

Locator: FireWire Ports > FireWire 400 Connector: Figure 3-2 '6-pin FireWire connector' and Table 3-2 'Pin assignments on the 6-pin FireWire connector'; FireWire Ports > FireWire 800 Connector: Figure 3-3 '9-pin FireWire 800 connector' and Table 3-3 'Signals on the 9-pin FireWire 800 connector'

S721 · Application Report SLLA153A: Interfacing Between the 1394a Links and TSB41BA3A

Texas Instruments · Unclassified publisher domain · inspected 2026-10-20 · due 2027-01-18

Within inspection window

Scoped support: Exact named pinout variant only; not capability or compatibility approval.

Not established / limitations: Source scope and unresolved evidence are preserved in the engineering variant.

Locator: Appendix A Reference Schematic, sheet 1 'Power and 1394b Bilingual Connectors' (CONNECTOR 0 / CONNECTOR 1 net labels)

Trace 3 claims to their source records

C803O · P107

IEEE 1394b 9-circuit (beta and bilingual) plug/socket: original contact normalization. Statuses distinguish comparison agreement, source limits and named-device wiring.

Claim scope: Pinout variant only; see comparison and per-contact status. Not fabrication approval.

Source links: S717 · S718 · S719 · Evidence trail → (private workspace)

C803P · P107

Apple Xserve (G4) FireWire 800 port, IEEE 1394b 9-pin bilingual: original contact normalization. Statuses distinguish comparison agreement, source limits and named-device wiring.

Claim scope: Pinout variant only; see comparison and per-contact status. Not fabrication approval.

Source links: S718 · Evidence trail → (private workspace)

C803Q · P107

TI TSB41BA3A reference design, 1394b bilingual connector: original contact normalization. Statuses distinguish comparison agreement, source limits and named-device wiring.

Claim scope: Pinout variant only; see comparison and per-contact status. Not fabrication approval.

Source links: S721 · Evidence trail → (private workspace)

Prepare this page for review →Read the evidence method →

Recorded evidence only. An inspection date, publisher label, source link or generated packet is not independent technical review, hardware testing, fabrication approval or a compatibility verdict.