Wireless Transmitter

[soundvoid]

I have been doing video mixing for a few events recently, and just looking into getting some better equipment as it's usually what I can scrape together. I've been running all the camera's on wire's but I would like to have a camera with no strings attached, I've got a camera but am after idea's what cheap transmitter I can get, (even second hand).

 

Any idea's or help would be great.

 

Jon

[david.elsbury]

Cheap (especially if cheap = 2.4ghz or 5.8ghz consumer stuff) will not be as good as a wire. Very prone to interference. Just bear that in mind when you're trying stuff out.

[sleepytom]

Wireless is not possible on a budget - reliable wireless transmission starts at about £500 / day hire for the gigawave system.

[peternewman]

Cheap (especially if cheap = 2.4ghz or 5.8ghz consumer stuff) will not be as good as a wire.

I'd go as far as saying wireless will never be as good as a wire, even the high end pro stuff, it can be acceptable, with different levels of reliability/dropout considered acceptable in different cases.

 

If you can get another person they could cable bash and that might make things more usable, as well as tripeing (triping?) any cables into a loom with some tape. This comes up quite often, so have a search for some similar posts.

[Johnparrack]

Cheap (especially if cheap = 2.4ghz or 5.8ghz consumer stuff) will not be as good as a wire.

I'd go as far as saying wireless will never be as good as a wire, even the high end pro stuff, it can be acceptable, with different levels of reliability/dropout considered acceptable in different cases.

 

If you can get another person they could cable bash and that might make things more usable, as well as tripeing (triping?) any cables into a loom with some tape. This comes up quite often, so have a search for some similar posts.

 

Not quite true Peter..The Gigawave/ Link systems stuff is of 2gb bandwidth and very very reliable...I used 2 at a recent event and managed to go down a steel staircase which I thought would cause breakup...but didn't (just a 2db loss in signal) and even managed to wander into the streets outside and along the Embankment with no problems!.The only thing to remember is to keep batteries on charge in places where a cameraman/runner can get to them quickly.. I've found you generally get about 1.5-2 hrs out of a standard battery, depending on how much the lens motors are being used.

I've even used the Link Broadcast system to send links to Outside Broadcast trucks in situations where running cable is difficult.

 

Also in terms of Quality of image, you can still get a SDI signal (with embedded audio if necessary), or Composhite (if Your desperate!) and if you also use the Communications (also called Telemetry) package, you can also engineer the camera just like a standard Triax unit and add Tally's etc.

 

Presteigne are one of the more well known holders of these systems on the Hire market.

 

I would agree with most though, that the consumer units are pretty poor and are interfered with by things like wireless networks etc..and I'm not sure I've seen anything on the consumer market that will run from batteries.

 

HTH a little

[Pattern123]

We have a couple of cheapo CPC units to send/receive Composite Video (And Audio, though I never use that bit) They work OK over clear line of sight for 4-5 Metres. Anything above that, and if the transmitter or receiver are anywhere too close to anything electrical, you get break up. What's more, it is VERY prone to the old 'works fine in every rehearsal, goes wrong as soon as the show starts' routine. If you can avoid it, then always best to run a cable. I generally only use them to give a video feed back from a camera to control position, so not show critical.

[eviljohn2]

I've had good results with the IDX Camwave system. Obviously the usual wireless caveats are there and it's nowhere near as robust as the Gigawave systems but is remarkable for the current price. :)