Mike Gailing

Im pretty sure its not CVW (its another Chinese OEM) - same company who builds the Avalon units. Not authentic modern Amimon chips.

You won't be able to pair any other Amimon device with Bolt. Teradek has their own firmware and uses their own FGPA for all 2nd gen Bolt systems.

Alan is correct in stating that Amimon owns the technology and co-opts other companies to develop products around their chips. There are no other WHDI chips out there other than Amimon's.

Dan Kanes (Paralinx) did play a role early on to get Amimon to take the cinema and professional markets more seriously. Teradek did too, especially during development of the 2nd generation Bolt.

Truth is, the real influence came from the volume of sales by both Paralinx and Teradek, two companies that brought the price down substantially when compared to existing systems (Boxx) just a few years ago. If you go to Amimon's website, you'll see that their product offerings are almost exclusively professional or prosumer. You no longer see the very low end, Nyrius type products being offered.

Apologies for continuing to derail the original discussion ;)

Update time!

I just spoke with Nicol (CEO and Founder) and this thread is on the radar. Teradek is still in discussion about how to move forward with this, but Nicol did want me to ask you guys one question:

Are you happy to continue using Gold mount batteries (or any large capacity batteries in general) for your directors monitors w/ Bolt or would you consider using more lightweight solutions such as Sony L series and the like? Now that we are part of a larger organization, we'd like to see how we can better shrink everything all at once for these handheld systems.

So lets hear it!

In other news, I have moved on from Teradek and now work for the Vitec Group. I will still be very active on here so I am happy to help any of you with the many brands under the Vitec umbrella. Just shoot me a message and ill make sure you guys are heard. Andrew Ng who was part of my marketing team at Teradek is taking my old position and will now be your best direct point of contact at Teradek - he'll be jumping on this forum very shortly.

Andy will follow up with more info as he gets it.

Hey guys,

I wont be back in the office until Friday so give me another day to get some information from the team to see whats up. If I hear something beforehand, ill give you a full update.

Speak to you soon.

 

Not anymore :)

 

And from what I hear there's a merger coming.. Paradek? Teralinx? Take your pick...

 

http://www.vitecvideocom.com/Products/WirelessTransmissionSystems/Paralinx.aspx

While the two companies will merge some operations, both brands will continue to operate separately in the market. There will be no Teralinx or Paradek ;)

Yes, definitely interested in a cheaper, short range, additional receiver that will pick up a signal from the Bolt 2000 transmitter. Doesn't even have to be much smaller as the RX is small enough (but it would be a plus). There is definitely a demand for handheld director's and AC's monitors for use in close proximity to transmitter. In addition to the "Big" receiver with flat panel antenna as the main unit at the main video village.

 

What say you on this topic Mike Gailing?

 

PS - If I understand correctly, can I presently purchase a separate Bolt 2000 receiver so I can run two receivers off one transmitter?

I've alerted those in charge of product development about this thread. I too would like to see a smaller, short range RX for our 2000 model.

And yes, you can purchase up to 4 RXs to work with a single TX (applies for models 300, 600, and 2000).

Is the Beam competing with the MicroLite?

MicroLite is similar in some ways, but its also several times more expensive than Beam and it can used licensed band frequencies.

Looks like Teradek has released something similar. About a frame of delay, long range.

Hey Mark,

Are you referring to the Beam? Its a pretty different product from the Triton. It will give you up to 2500ft range, 2 frame latency, 3G-SDI I/O and support for 1080p60. Its an H.264 encoder. We've seen a number of people using them for car-to-car shoots and other highly mobile applications.

Hi Michael,

Have you reached out to Support yet? It should work just fine on Windows.

Support@teradek.com

Let me know if you have any trouble getting in touch with our team.

Mike

Mike : what is different about the current Bolt Pro 600 receiver that it won't work with the 2000 Transmitters?

Hey Walter,

Both products use different Amimon chipsets. Amimon has not allowed cross compatibility with their systems just yet and may never actually allow it. This is just one of those things that we're all limited by...

From your own product's manual, on page 2, Table Of Contents: "Transmission Mode (Bolt Pro 2000 Only)"

 

and also on page 5, "Transmission Mode (Bolt Pro 2000 Only)"

 

 

http://cdn.teradek.com/Public/Bolt2/Docs/Teradek_Bolt_Manager_Guide_v1_0714.pdf

It looks I am mistaken with the Unicast/Broadcast Mode for Bolt 300. However, I have asked every engineer here that has worked on Bolt and they have all told me the same thing:

Bolt 300 (2nd gen) has always supported DFS channels and always was capable of transmitting over them. The reason why those frequencies may have been greyed out for you on Bolt Manager is due to the fact that the 300 cannot manually select frequencies; its all automatic based on the least used channel.

 

I believe you. What threw me off, was that in September 2014, on the second generation Bolt Pro 300, in the Bolt Manager, I was only able to manually select 5190, 5230, 5755, and 5795 and the DFS channels were greyed out, because obviously DFS channels were only available in Unicast mode, and the Bolt Pro 300 has never had a Unicast Mode! Only since December 2014 has the Bolt Pro 300 had DFS Channels. So, while you would technically say that the Bolt Pro 300 may have "always been capable..." of DFS Channels, a more accurate depiction of the product's capabilities would be to say that, "prior to December 2014, the Bolt Pro 300 only worked with 4 channels and after December 2014, it works with 9 channels" right? ;-)

Brian,

That is incorrect. DFS was enabled on Bolt 300 from day one. Im not trying to be sly with words, the product literally could be put into Broadcast or Unicast Mode, with Unicast giving you DFS channels. The drawback to Unicast Most was that the reconnect times were longer than Broadcast Mode. When we merged the two Modes, you now get DFS with quick reconnect times - best of both worlds!

I have the December 2014 firmware on my 2000's... I agree it is a substantial upgrade and I am grateful.

 

But, are you saying the second generation Bolt Pro 300, the version that sells for around 3 Grand all-in, now has access to all 9 channels, including the DFS ones, in broadcast mode? That's news to me. I previously owned two of these systems and sent them back and got the 2000's instead cause I needed the range. Back when I owned them, a month or so after they started shipping last year, in September I think, they were only using 4 channels. And, if someone wanted 9 channels, you had to get the 600 or the 2000. Can you confirm this has changed?

Hey Brian,

Only the original 1st generation gave you an option: the regular Bolt with no DFS, or the Bolt Pro w/ DFS. As I mentioned above, all second generation Bolts 300, 600, and 2000 are DFS capable and always have been. Prior to the December 2014 firmware update, you had a choice between Broadcast Mode or Unicast Mode, with Broadcast Mode blocking the DFS channels. You could change this at any time using our Bolt Manager. Firmware V.1.1.1 has now combined Broadcast and Unicast Mode w/ DFS channels available.

I have two Bolt Pro 2000 systems and here are my thoughts: Yes this situation comes up from time to time. But let's look at the cost.... A Bolt Pro 300 extra RX is 1690.00. It does not do DFS Channels-- which limits you to four channels instead of nine. But it is a little bit cheaper.

 

The cheapest extra receiver for the 2000 system is now the HDMI only model for 3490.00. Works fine with HDMI monitors like the Sonys everybody uses nowadays.....

 

Is it worth a $1700 savings to lose half your channels?

 

To me, no it is not.

Brian,

All 2nd generation Bolt models use DFS channels. If you are running older firmware, Broadcast mode will block the DFS channels. Upgrade your unit when you get a chance - the latest update really enhances functionality.

My Teradek Bolt 300 Rx has quit excepting a signal. It was working fine earlier today, but then it dropped out. I switched my power cables and everything started to work fine again. About an hour ago it dropped out again. The Tx is sending a signal, but there is no response on the Rx end, not even any lights. The only thing happening is the Blue LED light at the power switch is blinking. Any thoughts what the cause is? I still have one more day on this job and tonight I will attempt to reinstall the firmware and see if that works. I've called Teradek, but there is no response yet since they are closed for the weekend. Thanks for any advice.

Hey Aaron,

Have you spoken with our Support team? Support@teradek.com

As Alan mentioned, it is likely just a small wire that has come loose.

Mike

mike@teradek.com

Jameson,

Im sorry that you were offended by our extended warranty offer. Obviously the intention was not meant to upset our customers or lead them to believe something was “wrong” with our products. Thats just plain conspiracy and couldn’t be farther from the truth.

We have always offered extended warranties, at least for as long as I have worked here. The standard Teradek policy when a product is purchased new is 1 year of coverage against manufacturer defects and the like. This is in line with most (if not all) companies in our space and many within the industry at large. However, this has never stopped us from going above and beyond for our customers. Just as Jess pointed out last night, we recalled and upgraded every single original Bolt Pro shipped between a certain time in 2013 just to make sure our customers had products that were built to the highest quality. Even beyond that program, we have constantly worked to ensure our products are free from defects and that if someone did run into a problem, we would do whatever we could to get things fixed quickly.

So why bother with the extra warranty? This is something we offer for peace of mind. I own a Subaru, arguably one of the most reliable cars out there, and yet I bought the extended warranty. Why? Although I have very little doubt I will run into any problems with my vehicle, I like knowing that if for whatever reason something does happen (and it has happened to me with a VW), I will be covered. For the price, I’m happy to know I won’t be out even more money should something random occur. More importantly, this warranty is also being offered to those who bought their units used, even if they were from eBay or Craigslist. Most companies refuse warranty work unless the product was purchased from an authorized reseller - this program allows others to protect their investment, despite not knowing how their previous owners treated the gear.

Even if you do not buy the warranty, we will still do our utmost to make sure our customers are being taken care of. Warranty work is prioritized here so that extended warranty is going to give you a quicker turnaround time and access to upgraded product should we no longer have parts for your device (a good example would be some of our legacy encoders where the chips/boards are no longer manufactured).

We take great pride in our products and what is being accomplished with them by the likes of all of you. Myself and a number of others here spend a lot of time reading this forum, drooling over instagram posts, and doing whatever we can to catch a glimpse of all the cool places you've taken our gear. Our customers are an extension of the Teradek family and we aim to treat them as such.

So let me reiterate this once more: there is no recall, no secret problem, no amnesty program, no Vitec-led money grab. All this is is an option for peace of mind. Nothing more.

Of course, if any of you have an issue, you’re more than welcome to speak to me directly so we can work something out. We’re invested in all of you and this company would not be who we are today without your support and guidance in our product development.

Mike

Mike we got BOLT PRO 300 and having some problems with it.Is there any settings need to done via teradek app on computer? were using 1st gen Bolt and range and range is better than Bolt Pro 300 ? how come

Hi Kemalettin,

Have you spoken with our Support team yet? There are plenty of reasons why this could be the case, but Support can help you diagnose the issue.

Shoot an email to Support@teradek.com and copy me at mike@teradek.com

-Mike

Mike, I gotta say I really appreciate your decorum when you post on the forum. You have an fantastic sense of customer service, and make me want to be a customer. I haven't gone the Teradek owner route just yet, but I gotta say, you are quickly becoming a factor in my purchasing decisions.

I will second Will's thoughts, and as a Teradek owner can further add that Mike has been extremely responsive, helpful and genuinely concerned that the products be as good as they possibly can be. No one could dispute that Steadicam operators have amongst the highest expectations of customer service, since they themselves are held to very high expectations when it comes to their gear. Mike is definitely one of the "good guys".

Mike and Teradek are providing Preston/PRO/XCS levels of customer service and they are refining existing product and designing new products every day. the Vitec acquisition has given them the financial wherewithal to do what they need to do to service the existing market and grow their user base and product line.

Got to agree as well. Mike has been nothing but solid and great. Love the products too.

Thanks for the kind words guys :)

I had great luck with my big, ugly Boxx Meridian for 3 years and only a few months ago switched to Paralinx HDSDI Tomahawk. Couldn't be happier. I did a simultaneous comparison during the prep with Boxx and the Bolt 300 (which my assistant friend uses near his Preston handset) and every unit worked as advertised. The little Bolt broke up at about one quarter the distance of the Boxx/Tomahawk. The Boxx and Tomahawk broke up at almost exactly the same distance (and through a large concrete wall) and both recovered on the way back to the receivers again at almost the same point. The assistants I'm working with own a lot of gear and they're all about to go Tomahawk based on our experience so far.

 

Weight, price and simplicity are major factors in my happiness with the Tomahawk, which I bought through my friends at AbelCine. I have no idea what their customer service is like because I haven't had to deal with Paralinx yet in six weeks of shooting.

 

Incidentally, I was about to buy the BoltPro2000 but pulled my order at the last minute when Teradek jerked me around on the delivery date after sitting on my deposit for a month.

 

Most importantly, Paralinx, as of this writing, is not owned by VITEC (which I consider to be a LARGE VAMPIRE SQUID that systematically buys up every good company we have in our industry and sucks every last drop of goodness out of them), while Teradek is owned by VITEC. When I have the time, I will post the sordid details of my laughably, tragically, preposterously ludicrous recent experience with Anton Bauer, which used to be one of our great companies and is now just another sad chapter in the VITEC takeover story.

 

Stay tuned for that. I promise it will be very entertaining.

 

(Attached is a photo of Red Epic with all three xmitters aboard. You can see receivers in the bg.)

Matt,

Sorry to hear about your poor experience with Teradek, but let me assure you that the Vitec Group isn't as bad as they seem. I cannot speak for other brands, but we still operate independently and have had no interference from our new overlords ;)

In fact, with the Vitec Group's backing, we're now in a position to greatly ramp up our R&D, which will only result in more groundbreaking products.

If you decide to buy from Teradek again, shoot me an email and let me know what you're looking to do. I'll make sure you dont have any issues with delivery/deposit.

-Mike

Hey Mike, do you have any advice about helping to keep the tx cooler when in hot sunny environments?

Hey Kevin,

Shoot me an email and ill get you in touch with the guys who do some of our in-house production work w/ Bolt.

mike@teradek.com

Hi guys, I was using a teradek bolt -1 generation- and really it worked excellent, but I notice the tx was very hot, and I dont know if it is normal. I powered the tx from p-tap from alexa.

Any experience to share?

Best to all,

 

Gus

Hi Gus,

This is normal operation since our chassis acts as a heat sink for the boards inside. The goal is to bring the heat away from the PCB and toward the metal housing.

Guys,

I didn't want to start a new thread for this, but for those of you in the market for a new Bolt model (or Beam), we've got a Halloween special going on. Buy a dual IO Bolt 600 or Beam, get 50% each receiver you add onto the system. Flyer attached.

As always, any questions, concerns, comments - shoot me an email!

-Mike

I'm not trying to pick on you, but What was the exclusivity, 6 months? Sounds like a raw deal for something that was jointly developed.

I do not know to be honest. I was not directly involved in those negotiations.

However, the true value is in the FPGA and not necessarily the RF board. As mentioned earlier, the FPGA will remain unique to only Teradek.

If I get more info tomorrow ill be sure to share it.

Exactly

There are two boards in the new Bolt models. The first is our own FPGA, which gives us dual inputs and other features that no one else has.

We co-designed the RF board with Amimon, which is why the antenna configuration resembles what we are currently selling. It is also why we released it way before anyone else.

Once our exclusivity expired on our co-developed RF board, it was turned into a reference design that Amimon can sell to competitors.

However, since our FPGA and its unique features was developed 100% in house, it will not be shared as a reference design.

I think Teradek released the "1st generation" Bolt Pro 2000 as an unfinished product for the sole purpose of competing with the already shipping Tomahawk.

 

Why else would the second-generation be so different, and released within months of the first?

Alan,

That couldn't be further from the truth. It wasn't a half finished product at all. Good conspiracy theory, though.

The reason we came out with a second revision relatively early was because we were able to complete some R&D ahead of schedule. Instead of waiting to introduce it, we decided to bring it to the industry as quickly as possible. This R&D is what resulted in:

1. Dual HDMI + 3G-SDI inputs/outputs

2. USB 3.0 output on the receiver (GRAB Engine)

3. Half the size of the original Bolt 2000 RX (and for that matter, half the size of the Tomahawk RX)

4. OLED screen for status + config

The new models also do not have any PSF issues and can pass metadata and timecode on select cameras.

We also offered an upgrade program for anybody who bought the original Gen 1 Bolt 2000 just to make sure everyone was taken care of.