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Virtual horizon 2 false readings


Christopher Kechichian

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Gentlemen,

 

I'm the proud owner of a Transvideo Cinemonitor 6" X-SBL and love everything about it. However, after many jobs I'm noticing that the included virtual horizon 2 becomes off balance after a pan, tilt or other minor movement (even though on their website it's written that the monitor has real-time shock compensation and acceleration compensation.)

 

I have already turned off the (0 Cal on Tap) parameter and still have the problem, which is starting to annoy me honestly.

 

So, I'm herewith looking for solutions and would like your expert advice. Transvideo have the Virtual horizon 3, can anyone give me their feedback on that? and what about the Tiffen WHM-BG? anyone recommends that? Pros and cons of each...

I know that XCS have their programmable digital level plus as well, but at 9700$ it's far out of my budget.

 

 

Thank you,

Chris

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buy an iphone and put it beside your monitor and download the app "shot assistant" for 10 dollars USD.

 

but to be honest i don't really use level these days. if its not level you can really feel in your hands and see it in the framing.....

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The only solution that works is the complete one: measure 360 degrees of motion for any orientation in all three axes of rotation using rate gyros, then convert that to a horizon value using accelerometers for gyro drift correction. It is very hard to do but the WHM-BG, properly calibrated comes beneficially close to a true acceleration/fast pan, tilt, roll rotation immune level. The only way to fool it is to do long sweeping turns at speed on a vehicle mount. Only GPS compensation would help that. Hopefully you can find a used WHM-BG out there.

Steve Wagner

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The only solution that works is the complete one: measure 360 degrees of motion for any orientation in all three axes of rotation using rate gyros, then convert that to a horizon value using accelerometers for gyro drift correction. It is very hard to do but the WHM-BG, properly calibrated comes beneficially close to a true acceleration/fast pan, tilt, roll rotation immune level. The only way to fool it is to do long sweeping turns at speed on a vehicle mount. Only GPS compensation would help that. Hopefully you can find a used WHM-BG out there.

Steve Wagner

Thank you Steve for the detailed reply. May I ask why was your product discontinued? I'm interested in buying one...

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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buy an iphone and put it beside your monitor and download the app "shot assistant" for 10 dollars USD.

 

but to be honest i don't really use level these days. if its not level you can really feel in your hands and see it in the framing.....

True, but it's always better to have a guide to refer to. Thanks for your reply.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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That's a shame. It's hands down the most immune level sensor out there. Not keen on the separate display but for immunity to extraneous movement, it's awesome. The Transvideo version 3 standalone is no better than the 2 which is built into the monitor. The issue stated above happens with them both but not to the Wagner. Just wish it could display on screen and yes, I do own both versions of Transvideo and the Wagner and have done side by side tests with lateral moves, whip pans, etc. I can't speak about the new version of XCS level. It's probably great also.

 

Grayson Grant Austin, SOC

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  • 2 weeks later...
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Hi Christopher

 

I have had similar issues with my x-sbl, with the horizon sticking off to one side then resetting itself. Annoying to say the least. Try sticking the range on 45° then back to 90°. It worked for me the other day.

 

Best

 

Tony Kay ACO

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  • 2 weeks later...

I had the same issues with my 8" X-SBL Transvideo. I've switched back to the Virtual Horizon 1 and it has been fine in heat and cold winter nights. Wish Transvideo could get these issues solved with VH2 & 3 as it was a big reason why many of us bought these monitors. I suspect they have had their hands full getting the much delayed Stargate line out the door.

 

Mr. Wagner, are you able to produce new versions of your level for operators to buy? Even with an increased price point for your trouble, my guess is that you'd still sell quite a few.

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Hello everybody,

 

I have forwarded this issue to the factory for a few months already but it was a bit elusive as not all the monitors had the issue. Also, all monitors that we sell from our North Hollywood office are tested before shipping and the problem did not show. It seems to appear after a little bit of usage in most cases. It is also correct that it seems to affect more the Horizon2 and 3 than the Horizon1 (no inertia compensation).

The factory has informed me that they finally traced down the problem to a slight variation in the manufacturing of a component. The software has not changed and is not responsible for the odd behavior.

The latest is that they need to find a way to correct this component variation - hopefully by software, but it is going to take a little bit of time. If we need to do a hardware modification, it will be available free of charge from our North Hollywood office.

 

My apologies for not being able to post here a link to a new software that would solve this once and for all, but hopefully soon...

 

Marianne Exbrayat

marianne@transvideointl.com

Tel: 1 818 985 4903.

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  • 4 months later...
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Hi all,

 

same issue with my 6" xSBL, using Virtual Horizon 2 (Gyro).

It seems this problem just showed up on my monitor after the latest software upgrade to Latest software package: 7.27b (Feb 15, 2017).

 

Before that i could literally shoot for days without ever having to do a 0cal. ( I usually only recalibrated during the day, when turning my monitor over for low-low-mode)

Now I have to redo 0cal at least every second time I pick up the sled from the docking stand!

I do not stare on the horizon during a shot, as neither of us does.

But there can be this annoying moment of doubt, when you are holding a lock off in the midst of a continuing shot and your horizon tells you, that you are terribly off level. Not a helpful thing.

 

I talked to Frederic at Transvideo France about this. He told me to always wait for the "sensor init" message to disappear, before moving the monitor.

But it takes up to 40 seconds sometimes for this to happen. Hard to explain to a 1 AD, why you are not preceding to first position...

 

Does anybody have the same issue? Insights?

 

Best Thomas

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Hello All,

I have done a lot of testing on this. I hope the 2 tests below will be helpful.

Do not move the monitor during the entire test.
Test #1 Horizon1:
1/ Set the monitor on a flat surface, Traditional bubble display, turn Horizon1 (No gyro) on, set sensitivity to 45 Deg, and calibrate. The bubble is centered and green
2/ Shut power off (if possible without touching the monitor. The bubble starts just left of the center and yellow and within 10 seconds it will slide to the center and turn green. These 10 seconds is the time required for the sensor to recognize & communicate its position. If during these 10 seconds you re-calibrate, you will actually de-calibrate.
If you do not move the monitor, you should be able to turn the monitor off and back on and after a few seconds the bubble will be green again.
If without the monitor moving and after the 10 seconds the bubble is moving all over the place there is a problem with the sensor and you should contact us or the factory.

Test #2 Horizon2:
1/ Set the monitor on a flat surface, Traditional bubble display, turn Horizon2 (with gyro) on, set sensitivity to 45 Deg, and calibrate. The bubble is centered and green.
2/ Shut power off (if possible without touching the monitor). The bubble starts left of the center and red and within 4 seconds it will slide to the center and turn green. For these 4 seconds and more, the monitor displays SENSOR INIT. But once the bubble is back to center and green it is already OK. If when the message SENSOR INIT is displayed you re-calibrate, you will actually de-calibrate.
If you do not move the monitor, you should be able to turn the monitor off and back on and after a few seconds the bubble will be green again.
If without the monitor moving and after the message SENSOR INIT disappears the bubble is moving all over the place there is a problem with the sensor and you should contact us or the factory.

So it is important to fire up the monitor a few seconds before rolling, but do not re-calibrate it right after the power is on.

Marianne Exbrayat
marianne@transvideointl.com
Tel: 1 818 985 4903

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