192 interface upgrade? EXT clock unstable?

[rtcstudio]

I'm still trying to get my system stable.

Almost all the crashes I'm experiencing now seem to happen when I'm doing something to tracks that are routed to the 2nd 192 interface. I've updated the firmware. Is there ANYTHING else internally that would need to be updated in a 192 if it was 2 or 3 years old?

Examples: I'll select a group of tracks that are routed to the 2nd 192 outputs and try to move them in the mix window. I get the spinning beach ball and after a LONG TIME a message about a time out occuring accessing audio hardware. Or I'll add a send to a track that's routed to the 2nd 192 interface and Pro Tools will crash.

I'm using a Big Ben to clock my system, using it set on internal/44.1. Are there issues with 7.1 that can make this scenario unstable?

The reason I ask is that all my current problems seem to have started when I got the 2nd 192, the Big Ben, and upgraded to 7.1.

I'm thinking for now I may just go back to the 192 clocking and PT 7.0, and then hook up the Big Ben to lay final versions.

I realize I have that other thread going (mac under the weather). But I've done all those things except replace my system drive, which I may do tonight. But this coincidence just struck me today about when I obtained the 2nd 192 and the Big Ben.

[mixer]

big ben works great for me in 7.1cs4...

[gives]

big ben works great for me in 7.1cs4...

Good to know.. btw.. Is there any reason not to upgrade to 7.1cs4 from a new install of 7.0? I am wondering if all of the upgrades previous are necessary in the cs category? I just finished a large project and am now able to install my new 7 version.
I looked around and could not determine from the download if all of the updates are necessary.

Thanks in advance.

G

[rtcstudio]

Meanwhile, back to my post....

After searching some more on the DUC I found a post where guys were talking about how to hook up the Big Ben and 192. Digi posted and said that you're supposed to have one cable from Big Ben to the 1st 192 and then loop sync to the other.

Apogee and other users say to use the star method, where each 192 gets its own cable and DO NOT connect the loop sync in/outs on the 192's.

FURTHER there seems to be some controversy over which firmware works on the 192/Big Ben system. One thread said don't use anything over 3.0. One says their system is using 4.9.

WHICH BRINGS UP my next question: What firmware should we be using in 192's? My Digitest scanned my 192's and only took them to 3.0 (this was after a new Pro Tools 7.0 install and then running Digitest to check the firmware). If Firmware 4.9 exists, why did Digitest only take mine to 3.0?

Can someone definitively post firmware versions, and how to best hook these things up?

[rtcstudio]

Has anybody searched the answerbase lately? I searched "192 I/O firmware" - nothing pertinent. I searched "Big Ben" and zero hits came back (wow). I searched "connect external sync", "external sync" - minimal, nothing helpful. And most of the hits were about 888 interfaces and Adat bridges! Is it ever updated? I searched 'late breaking....' and got nothing about this issue at all.

[Rail Jon Rogut]

Apogee have a bunch of details about how to hook up their gear on their web site.

Rail