Ok Dave I see where ur coming from regarding updating cam firmware, I did my panny some time ago really was a doddle to do
I've had a check thru my bookmarks ,and because of the legal implications firms now cannot supply firmware or dongle's for sale to joe public
but all is not lost you can still get your cam converted legally by using a professional service like this
http://www.smartdv.co.uk/dvinjvc&thompson.htm
about the same cost as the software/dongle that were the rage 6 months ago
Then all your
Spileberg editing then can be put back onto a dv tape (archived) with no quality loss that would be evident by placing it onto VHS tape (back to the stone age)

thru rgb or tv out , this defeats the money spent on the dv cam imho
got a burner/dvd player ? have u thought about putting your movies it onto Vcd or Svcd current encoding software is very good nowadays and cheap
Enougth banter for now
regards from your Lord and Emperor the
Great Ming