William Demeritt

If you decide to recell them, contact John Ritter ( siebold35@hotmail.com ). He's recelled some batteries for me and did a fantastic job. I'll use him for my next round of recells.

From what I understand, you can't (or maybe shouldn't) rebuild them with different cell types. I'm OK with being incorrect in my thinking, but the electronics in the shell are probably tweaked to work with specific chemistries and changing the cell type would probably cause problems.

These are absolutely brilliant and hilarious. I remember seeing just the Alexa video before, but the other two are classic as well!

Charles, that would be fantastic! I'd love to test it out with the system.

Thomas,

The external antennas are rather crude on this prototype, but I think my final version will look similar:

Not shown is my power cable, which is simply an AUX power LEMO for my PRO, runs to a 12/24v -> 5v transformer (big grey heatsink), runs out to a simple DC plug.

Basically, they're 4 wifi antennas specifically for 4.9-5.8Ghz range mounted to SMA connectors on pigtails. The pigtails are cut and soldered down to the PCB antennas inside the AirSync HD. I don't own a spectrum analyzer, or I could have verified their actual broadcast output, but when I removed the antennas and did my "walk", the signal didn't carry as long, so I know they're contributing.

Probably by mid-June, I'll have my final proof-of-concept finished and I'll begin showing my presentable version. Depending on the popularity, I may sell my conversion as a service for people who are interested, but that depends on other factors.

I've actively posted in some of the other threads regarding using the Brite-View Air Sync HD as a low cost HD transmitter solution, so I'm here now to post my first round of results of testing with a few videos I shot at Clairmont last week.

For those unaware, Brite-View as well as Asus have been selling a consumer product which allows for streaming 1080p video inside your house, from one box to another. The guts that make this work are parts by an Israeli company called AMIMON, who also happen to supply the parts for the IDX Camwave (and I suspect parts for the Transvideo Titan HD).

Yes, these are consumer products which rely entirely on HDMI input and HDMI output. However, for $220, and with the advertised broadcast capability, I thought they'd be worth considering for our purposes (Steadicam, narrative, etc). If anything, my hopes are that this inspires some clever company to actually address the "low cost" HD transmitter market whose lowest price seems to be $5,400 (Camwave) -$6,000 (Boxx Atom).

FIRST CAVEAT: this system hates any video input that is not 29.97. I spent the first 30 minutes struggling with the transmitter because the F35 was giving me 23.976. Yes, that's a huge problem, and something I'm going to begin researching portable ways to address that problem. With a camera like the RED, that's not a problem, because the HDMI output on camera already does 29.97, so it plays very nicely.

So, here's my rig built with the transmitter:

I built my own power cable with a 12/24v transformer that draws power off my AUX port and converts it to 5v. The transformer handles up to 6amps, which is good since the transmitter requires 3amps. My next task will be to build D-tap power cables.

The signal works this way:

Sony F35 -> HD-SDI -> Decimator 2 -> HDMI Loopthrough -> HDMI cable to -> AirSyncHD transmitter -> TRANSMISSION

...

TRANSMSSION -> AirSyncHD receiver -> HDMI Cable -> Monitor

NOTE: I also tested this, and it worked seamlessly:

TRANSMISSION -> AirSyncHD receiver -> HDMI Cable -> AJA HA5 -> HD-SDI -> Monitor.

The system works just fine with an AJA, so you don't always need an HDMI capable monitor. HDMI inputs are appearing more and more on set, but at least this protects against all scenarios.

ENVIRONMENT: we were testing at Clairmont yesterday, which for all I can tell was a fairly noisy RF polluted environment. They have wifi, LOTS of fluorescents, an elevator, plenty of cell phones and the such. With that in mind, we threw the system to the wolves and it did quite well.

Test 1: 60 feet moving camera with obstructions (several layers of drywall, a staircase, people, etc).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQjDxOVmAFM

Brian Freesh helped record me and my walking path, while a second camera recorded the monitor's live feed from my transmitter. I did the walk a few times, and during none of those trips did the image break up, pixellate or drop out. I removed my external antennas during one walk, and the image did distort.

Test 2: Latency at 12 feet, line of sight

Here, we rigged up the TVLogic monitor with both inputs in a split screen: one line is hard wired off the F35 HD-SDI, and the other is using the wireless transmitter. I used my iPhone 4's stopwatch to create a running clock for comparison. You can try to guess which is the transmitter and which is the hardwired.

Test 3: Latency at 60 feet, line of sight

Same test as the 12 feet, but it's at 60 feet. Same results: no discernible latency. My apologies for the glare.

Other tests performed included me getting into an elevator on the 2nd floor and riding down to the 1st floor. Image held up during the elevator ride, and 15 feet down the hallway before the image was lost. Image was not restored until I got back onto the same floor. (I'm hoping to address this problem with the next modification, where I'll add an antenna to the uplink, so the communication between devices is more robust).

My next phase will include tweaking the receiver unit to include an HDMI -> HD-SDI (most probably an AJA HA5), a single power until for both devices and possibly some more antennas. That being said, I'm still seeing the raw costs not exceeding $2,000 (so far, with the videos you see above, I have spent only $500 including cost of the kit).

My goal is to make this as set friendly as possible: the receiver could be a single box with minimal bells and whistles. The transmitter, while goofy looking now, is just a prototype. I want to rehouse it still into a box as lightweight, but with more internal space for cabling.

I'm also acquainted with ... Will Demeritt ...

I've been trying to sell him on the L'aigle for quite some time now. :D

Did your quick test include running the camera at 25fps? Did it work at 25fps during the test but then fail on set?

What was your other testing methods trying to get it running?

Since I very rarely have to flip the camera over going to low-mode, I can usually swap into low mode in 90s or less. Here's how:

My setup:PRO2 monitor on Sacthler telescopic dual rod monitor arm. I operate normal, monitor about 60% extended on the arms.

Someone says "Next shot is low mode."

1. Attach F-bracket to gimbal arm (I keep it in my back pocket at all times).

2. Extend post to maximum (remember which notch I started at for going back).

3. Extend monitor full distance from post, tilt monitor up so screen is nearly-facing the post, but not flat to the post.

4. Unlock gimbal, slide it up an inch or two, just roughing it in.

5. Slide camera forward maybe 1/2" to 1".

6. Undock sled, flip it over on my arm, finish the camera fore/aft rough adjust. Trim the sled, and adjust the side-side.

7. Check drop time while still on the arm. Adjust gimbal position accordingly.

8. Final adjustments to trim and side-side static balance.

9. Dock.

10. ...

11. PROFIT!

First time I do this, it takes a bit longer than my asserted 90 seconds. However, the subsequent mode changes happen quicker once I've memorized the notch and gimbal positions.

Since most of my jobs are on RED, sometimes I just have the AC's flip the camera battery so I can balance while booting up. I usually finish just about the time Windows95 finishes loading.

I was only mildly interested until you said "drinking heavily". I'm in!

Some other thoughts:

- Two monitors per system in each environment: tethered and transmitter (simultaneously) so we can see latency.

- mounting at camera and mounting at battery options.

- testing for range, image stability, image quality, weight, cost, power consumption, powering options, latency, components replacement cost, customer service experiences.

A stabilizer expo is in the works for this year.

J-Labs has an $8k transmitter they were advertising at NAB 2011.

Maybe Boxx can provide a Meridian and an Atom for comparison?

If I have some future success with my wireless system, I'd love to show off what a few hundred bucks and an overzealous soldering iron can achieve. I know I'm not alone in the "consumer product gone bad" market.

Tom: I ripped off the u.fl connectors on the pcb of the transmitter and soldered down the connection from a cut pigtail in line with the rf signal.

Chris, if you have any questions or ideas please shoot them my way? Ive been working on making my Brite view "set friendly", and today will be it's first real world test.

I've got a power cable, added some new antennas, and even have it ready for an hdsdi field monitor. Power amplifiers and receiver antennas are next on the slate.

A quick picture of the 7" steadicam monitor.

You probably just sold a few dozen more based on your choice of image.

So she thought you were red in the face and sweaty because you were holding the rig, huh? :-)

Just testing the waters to see if anyone in LA area is interested in a trade. I have a FilmTools Magliner Steadicam Sr, but just moved into a new apartment and probably need to downgrade to a Jr.

Basically, if you have a Junior and want to trade up to a Senior, let's talk? Even if you don't have a Steadicam version, we may be able to work things out. If you have the models that have a top shelf and a bottom shelf, let's talk.

If they were the ones at NAB, then yea their replacement Meridian transmitter apparently goes well over 100 feet. If memory serves, the Boxx folks confirmed some power amplification was introduced to their transmitters and receivers to allow greater range.

I'd be curious to see if the new transmitters can work with the old receivers, considering the new chips are a two part system, and the receiver does have one uplink transmitter antenna, so that would require the new technology and PA's.

I'm still building my own HD transmitter from consumer parts, here's hoping I'll have a working model soon.

The newer Camwaves I think use the latest revision of the AMIMON chips, but they still use a PCB antenna, so the transmission integrity could be improves. The new Meridian uses 4 external rubber duck antennas to increase broadcast capabilities (plus a receiver antenna).

What will really push the boundaries is whoever introduces power amplifiers to the antennas.

Boxx just announced at NAB their smaller transmitter that works with their receiver called the Atom. 2 antennas as opposed to the Boxx Meridian's 4. Looked lIke a decent unit at NAB, potentially limited in range though but probably still 50-100 feet @ 1080p. I think the price was $6,000?

J-LABS also had a model that wasnt functioning, but they were estimated for $8,000. Built on the newer generation AMIMON chips that allow for some huge range (which the newest rev of the Meridian uses).

I'd love to be able to place my crosshairs anywhere I want, like with my Pro 2 monitor.

I saw the Gemini at NAB, cool device as well but I think costs $6k?

Hmmm, that's an interesting idea. I've given small gifts to my team when they've really gone above and beyond or made the shoot a real pleasure, but it was usually just a $10 gift card to Starbucks or something similar (depending on budget of the show, honestly).

I think buying shirts in certain sizes might make it hard to give gifts (what happens when you have all small and xlarges left?), but for longer shoots, not a bad idea.

At NAB, I couldn't get much information out of the interns running the Sony compound (it was like the Death Star back there). The Sony F65 on the motorized lazy susan was actually just a mockup, empty inside, so I couldn't get a report on expected weight. Seemed like the camera is a ways off, and they hinted that the camera body was on lockdown back at Sony.

The SRMaster recording system does seem pretty cool, considering all the hatred for the current Sony recording decks. SR-R4 will dock with the F65, and use solid state hard drives to record 4K. Looks like they're also releasing the SR-R3 for use with the F23/F35 cameras.''

http://www.pro.sony.eu/biz/lang/en/lu/product/4kcinematographycamcorders/sr-r4/overview

http://www.pro.sony.eu/biz/lang/en/lu/product/4kcinematographycamcorders/sr-r3/overview

I think the issue with using standard hard drives would be a speed one - this thing is recording truly uncompressed 1080 video, which is a huge throughput of data. Most hard drives, at least in laptop form, cannot sustain this on their own. Apart from that, and also the lack of any kind of analog input, it looks like a pretty cool device. Might make something like the new Sony F3 a more viable solution for high-end productions - a very interesting idea for us ops, as it means that everything can come down weight-wise.

Yea, I forgot to pay attention to the uncompressed HD part as far as bandwidth :blink:

Most laptop hard drives max out at write speeds of ~100MB/s, whereas writing uncompressed 1080x24p 4:2:2 10-bit video weighs in closer at 150MB/s.

Keep in mind, as of right now, I'm seeing SSD drives of 512GB in 2.5" form costing around $1140 ( here's one option ).

So, if you're thinking of buying this, remember you'll also need the storage to make it go boom. With the current cost of SSD drives, $345 for the unit plus $1140 for 512GB SSD drive = $1485.

Oh, and as far as I can tell right now, 512GB SSD uncompressed 1080x24p 4:2:2 10-bit video = 64 minutes recording time.

Like Tom said, I think this might be a great solution for people trying to get better images out of the Sony F3 or similar situations.

For roughly the same cost, The Samurai gives you the same recording capabilities, but recording to Apple ProRes (and I edit on FCP anyway). It also accepts 2.5" laptop hard drives (non-SSD), and they can support the write speed.

Just looking at the enclosure and the drives they're advertising, I think it would be worth seeing if other types of hard drives work. The connections are SATA connections, so any 2.5" SATA hard drive will work. 500gb SATA 2.5" drive on Newegg for $60-70.

SSD is the drive du jour, and for on-camera solutions, solid state is perfect. However, for us, traditional platter hard drives should work.

As for offloading the footage, look on Newegg or Frys for a toaster dock with USB, FireWire or eSATA connections. They're <$50.

For mounting, good old Velcro would probably work. Cool device!