Switronix Wireless hd

[Andrew Ansnick]

William your experiments are definitely interesting. I'm keen to find out more about this Swiftronix. Do you guys think this will be better than the IDX CAMWAVE?

 

Unless I'm missing something, it seems to be basically a repackaged and slightly improved IDX Camwave for a few thousand less. Definitely an attractive option at the price point but I fear the link issues and dropouts that we are all too familiar with from the Camwave may rear their ugly head in this Switronix version. Not to mention I've never been a fan of the now shared large and clunky transmitter housing.

[Thomas English]

I think all the digital transmitter and receivers are the same chipset just made soldered onto boards to varying standards of quality giving varying standards of performance.

 

I severely doubt IDX would have given Swiftronix their boards and designs to re-package. I'd safely bet its not a repackaged IDX CAMWAVE.

 

People have put these external antenae onto Camwaves. Are the improvements noticable?

 

Are we excited about the possibility of putting on an additional, larger, antannae array to the receiver?

 

Its looking a little slimmer in both dimmensions.

 

The Riser seems like a nice idea (http://www.switronix.com/products/batteries?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=162&category_id=49) although on a V-Mount it does seem like a good way of generating vibrations.

 

I'm excited. Sure you can't put an SD signal in but I've found consistenly on SD film jobs people to be more than happy with my modulus. DoP's expose with a lightmeter. On Digital I'm finding increasingly DoP's want to expose off an HD wireless link.

 

Thomas

[William Demeritt]

Thomas: when it comes to HD vs. film gigs, I find the same to be true. Of course, in the digital age, the UHF "fuzz" makes them a bit more skiddish since they're spoiled by clear, digital images.

 

Personally, I just want one system with great range and clear images for all cameras: HD, film, pixel vision, iPhone (god help me).

[Daniel Stilling DFF]

My Camwave had the external antennae installed by the previous owner, and soon after getting the system I realized that it only made it worse.

I sent the system in to IDX and got all new boards and now it works very well, so I'm a little skeptical with the external antenna design of the Switronix.

[Thomas English]

Certainly the older IDX boards had issues. i noticed a vast improvement on newer IDX's and spoken to many people who agree after the board upgrade. Could your signal issues have been down to the older board or the antennae array? Maybe both...

 

I've spoken to someone that had one of the IDX units apart as well as a load of consumer ones apart. It turns out the cheap consumer boards and the IDX boards as well as the chipset are identical. I don't know if this is the older or the newer IDX boards.

[Jess Haas SOC]

Yea, I'm doing research now for a decent 12v regulator that has 3 amp capacity that's also small enough to function as a decent cable (or in-line module of the cable). Of course, 12v @ 2amps means the unit is 24 watts, which is already 9 watts higher than the power consumption on the BriteView Air Sync HD I was hacking apart. Once I get this unit, I'll tear it open and see what/where I can add antenna.

 

The 12v and the multicast capability are the most exciting, in my opinion.

Spec sheets on stuff like this often list maximum power consumption and in actual use it is often less. If you need a voltage regulator you would actually be much better off with a unit that has something like 9v in. The required input voltage on most 12v regulators will be lower than a fully depleted 14.4v battery. There are options that will work you just have fewer to chose from. Try to get a switching regulator if you can although they are often more difficult to implement.

 

~Jess

[Thomas English]

Sorry Jess, but Williams TX/RX is really interesting but it definitely needs its own thread.

[William Demeritt]

Sorry Jess, but Williams TX/RX is really interesting but it definitely needs its own thread.

 

Thomas: when I get the device and verify it can do all the things I want it to do, I'll post all the information in it's own thread so everyone can exploit the consumer technology out there for our own means.

[Thomas English]

http://pro-x.en.alibaba.com/product/512790286-210593415/XW_HDU01_Wireless_Transmission_Better_than_IDX_WEVI_CW_5HD.html

 

This seems to be what the Switronix is based on. I mean it even has PRO-X written on the side. Although I think Switronix have requested it be modified it a bit. The pure PRO-X doesn't have the additional antennae sockets.

[Thomas English]

http://www.dslrnewsshooter.com/2011/08/25/birtv-2011-pro-x-launch-camcorder-shoulder-support-with-bars-and-vct-quick-release/

[Aaron Foley]

Anyone have any hands on experience yet?

Price, HDMI to sdi (and vise verse) compared to the Camwave it looks good on paper...

[GAYLEN NEBEKER]

I am glad to see you pressing on with this! I actually need a few of these shorter range 0 delay TX/RX systems. Cobbled together will be fine for my purposes.

I will check out Peerless too. There are a few more I am researching too. Some are smaller on the TX. I will pass on the info.

5V at 2amps or 10 Watts for the TX. This would work nicely. Can you contact me off board about this and we can kick around some possibilities?

 

I agree that a sub $2k solution is possible with product combining but if you want the whole deal with a smaller package professional looking and built for SDI in and out you will probably end up somewhere around the switronix price point but I would hope with better range.

 

 

Gnebeker at nebtek.com

 

 

 

Just to be clear the NEBTEK Microlite Hd has 2.9 frames of delay at 23.98/24 FPS 120MS. Just under 1/2 half mile range. And at the demo last week it was going through 7 interior walls and a brick wall too.

 

 

 

Andrew: yes, I'm still working on my own homebrew version. After Gaylen's response in the other thread (you know, the $22k HD transmitter that has 4 frames delay), it has renewed my interest in finding a better system, but instead of me making something, I'll probably just sell cables and a handbook for how to make various systems work.

 

This is the next kit I'll be buying to test out for upgrades:

 

http://www.amazon.com/Peerless-HDS100-Wireless-Multimedia-Center/dp/B004CYE6V4/ref=pd_cp_e_1

 

Sub 1-frame delay (20ms), 1080p, multicast (multiple receivers, so option is there for a clamshell AND receiver for village), 12v input, HDMI for HD as well as component, but also does composite video input, so it technically should work with film cameras or any CVBS signal. Also 140 feet (according to the white doc). All for $400.

 

All I currently foresee needing to make is a D-tap to DC plug power cable with 12v regulator (to make sure voltage is exactly 12v).

 

Decimator 2 or any HD-SDI to HDMI converter + this transmitter, and HDMI -> HDSDI converter + this receiver means sub-$2000 solution.

[Mike Germond SOC]

Will, here are programmable voltage regulators that fit your bill. Andy Montejo got me hooked on these. I think Stilling knows a thing or two about them as well. Most serious hobby shops carry them too..

 

http://www.castlecre...ucts/ccbec.html

Edited March 9, 2012 by Mike Germond

[Dan Kanes]

@ Mike Germond - I am probably one of the first people to use the castle BEC to regulate camera power. It's been the secret ingredient in my wireless HD system for the last three years - but I did share it with the world on another forum.

[Dean Smollar]

Using tomorrow for 2 days, will post thoughts