can one firewire port be split so that two devices can use it at the same time?

Question

just wanted to know. because i need an external hard drive to run with another device that is fire wire, but my laptop has but one firewire port.

Answer 1

You can put firewire devices in a serial chain

laptop -> Hard Drive -> Other Device -> Etc.

There is a limit of course (I think up to 8) and the hard drive or the other device need to have two ports.

Answer 2

I think there's a splitter as well, or you can do so applying a cardbus FW card. Maybe no need for either, most FW devices can be connected in a chain, up to 27(!) as far as I remember.