Premium Members Dan Coplan Posted March 8, 2006 Premium Members Report Share Posted March 8, 2006 I'm faced with getting an illegal broadcast transmitter or microwave unit and I honestly can't decide. Broadcast units seem to be very popular even on the big shows. There seem to be a number of suppliers. Being able to view the signal with little portable TV tuners and regular TV's is very convenient. I'm currently using the Hermes receiver and it works great. Personally, I don't care about illegal transmission, but I do if I get busted. From what I've heard, some studios are starting to crack down on this and if you get caught, your whole rig can be confiscated (this is what I've heard). From what I hear, microwave units work great, but they're not as flexible as the broadcast transmitters and getting multiple receivers can really add up. But you'll never have to worry about doing something illegal. Rumor has it the Modulus 4000 is going to be microwave? If you didn't already have a wireless video setup, what would you do? I'm really on the fence. Thanks. Dan "Channel Surfer" Coplan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members BJMcDonnell SOC Posted March 8, 2006 Premium Members Report Share Posted March 8, 2006 Hey Dan, I have both a modulus 3000 and a canatrans. My modulus is acting up so I bought the canatrans because I knew customer service with them (canatrans / lentiquip) would be key. Modulus go down and you have to wait forever to get it back. The Canatrans works like a champ. I am very impressed with it. My modulus is good to but I need to get it serviced. I also own a hermes reciever. The cool thing about the canatrans is that you can reduce the signal power. Check it out. Emery at lentiquip rocks. BJ McDonnell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Alec Jarnagin SOC Posted March 8, 2006 Moderators Report Share Posted March 8, 2006 And for those not aware, the Canatrans now operates from channels 20-50! Yes, much needed additional channels and a better user interface. For those who've already made the plunge, units can be upgraded (Emery turned mine around in a day or so) for a $100 (covers parts). Once again, Emery raises the bar. I think you HAVE to have a UHF transmitter in this biz because everyone on set is using watchmen these days (sound mixers, ADs, etc). I've even seen boom ops with a tiny watchman strapped to their wrist. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Brad Grimmett Posted March 8, 2006 Premium Members Report Share Posted March 8, 2006 My modulus is good to but I need to get it serviced. I also own a hermes reciever. BJ McDonnell BJ, I recently had some problems with my modulus and I sent it to Dave Hable at Cramped Attic. I won't receive it back from him until tommorrow, so I've yet to use it since the repair, but his customer service has been really good. He did the repairs and an upgrade quickly, and didn't charge an arm and a leg. I just thought you might like another option when looking for a place to get your unit repaired. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members BJMcDonnell SOC Posted March 8, 2006 Premium Members Report Share Posted March 8, 2006 Hey Brad, Ya dude, can you shoot me over his info? I don't really want to send my modulus to Maine. That sounds like a better way to go to get my modulus fixed. BJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Brad Grimmett Posted March 9, 2006 Premium Members Report Share Posted March 9, 2006 No problem. Here ya go. David Hable-604-254-8619 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Dan Coplan Posted March 15, 2006 Author Premium Members Report Share Posted March 15, 2006 I've decided to go with the Titan microwave system from Transvideo. Not only is it legal (still not sure how much of an issue this is), but the breakup seems to come in the form of white horizontal lines across an otherwise stable image as opposed to the waving and noise degradation experienced with broadcast systems. I was concerned about not being able to use the handy little TV tuners, but the receiver has a video out that I can use to go to my single channel "illegal" transmitter as well if the studio has to have them - best of both worlds. Dan Coplan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members RobVanGelder Posted March 15, 2006 Premium Members Report Share Posted March 15, 2006 ...... but the breakup seems to come in the form of white horizontal lines across an otherwise stable image as opposed to the waving and noise degradation experienced with broadcast systems. Dan Coplan The white horizontal lines are most likely from an follow focus device such as the Preston or Scorpia, which spreads it's transmission on the same channels, You can often find a channel combination between the 2 that works best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Dan Coplan Posted March 15, 2006 Author Premium Members Report Share Posted March 15, 2006 Actually, this particular breakup was most likely from walkabout phones on the same frequency. The Titan is not supposed to suffer interference from follow focus - at least it better not! Word on the street has it that walkabout phones are moving from 2.4GHz to 5.SomethingGHz which is good. Dan Coplan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VideoHawk Posted March 28, 2006 Report Share Posted March 28, 2006 I am currently working on a video transmitter solution for the film and video industry. I've collaborated with my uncle up in Spokane Washington, he has years of experience making video transmitters for surveillance. I submitted a design request that incorporates the same Hirosche connector as the Modulus with video and power(we don't want to be in the cable business), takes 9-36Volts DC, has BNC input and has been tested to run at least three weeks continuously with a range of 3/4 of a mile line of sight with a whip on the transmitter and yagi on the receiver. The prototype arriving in L.A. this week is a 700 Milliwatt 1.2 Ghz system with 4 seperate channels, easily changed with a slide switch. The production version will be available in two 1-watt versions - a 1.2 Ghz and 2.4 Ghz system, each with 8 channels. My uncle's contact at the FCC assured him that if it is not run 24 hours a day, it's legal. We intend to make this very user friendly, and extremely durable. My uncle has many years of experience building equipment for the military and police, so everything is mil spec. I am currently looking for volunteers to field test this prototype and give me feedback regarding its stability and picture quality. The receiver uses a 4 Pin XLR power input for easy connection to block batteries, it too will take 9-36 volts and has a BNC output. Included is a whip antenna for the receiver, and a whip and yagi w/cable for the receiver. From what I understand, the yagi will rarely be necessary. The reason for using 1.2 Ghz is that it is much less crowded than UHF. At the moment there is no sound cabability, but my uncle tells me it makes for a cleaner picture when you don't mix sound. I've been a boom operator for 13 years, and I've never seen a Modulus being used to transmit audio. Please email me at kenstrain@dslextreme.com if you're interested in checking this out in Los Angeles, and I will schedule some time for you and bring it to your set. Your feed back is important, we're very hands on and would like to make service (when necessary), a top priority. We don't have a price yet, but it will probably be between the Modulus and the Canatrans. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members RobVanGelder Posted March 28, 2006 Premium Members Report Share Posted March 28, 2006 Actually, this particular breakup was most likely from walkabout phones on the same frequency. The Titan is not supposed to suffer interference from follow focus - at least it better not! Word on the street has it that walkabout phones are moving from 2.4GHz to 5.SomethingGHz which is good. Dan Coplan Dan, you better believe it, I tried this, not only with the Titan system but also with the new and very nice PEDenz transmitter/receiver system. The last one has a diversity tuner, so it is more stable, but for sure, the white lines are there on many channels, particularly when the focus puller is in between the 2 video antennas (line of sight) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Thomas English Posted April 1, 2006 Premium Members Report Share Posted April 1, 2006 I have pondered this wireless issue for ages. Been using all the film 2.4ghz stuff out there as well as the high power illegal ones and got myself a modulus with transvideo recievers.... UHF is LOADS BETTER! ! absolutely without a doubt. When u get breakup it comes in the way of gradual image degradation rather than synch loss and flickering image. It goes through and around walls. For my applications (100 yards maximum) the picture just is loads better! I am very very happy having gone UHF . The video playback boys are very impressed, they don t see much UHF here since it is illegal. Thomas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Hervé Colosio Posted April 1, 2006 Premium Members Report Share Posted April 1, 2006 I have try the transvideo titan 4 channels in two setups One time on the top of the camera , it work great with a excellent quality picture on 3 channels , I have noticed problems with the bartech transmitter on one channel . The setup may not be easy to use with a camera raincover on the place I have put the titan . Link : http://www.pbase.com/kindofmagik/image/57517574 I have also try the 2 rainbow II superbright with integrated titan . I must say that it was wonderful for the operator and director , no more cables all is in the lcd monitor , also excellent quality picture the same as the titan and for the director , he just have a rainbow II lcd with back battery mount and antenna in the hands no cables . 4 hours of work with one pag 7.5A. I have use this setup in new york,irlande,Australia and france without any problems . Link : http://www.pbase.com/kindofmagik/image/57517589 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Andrew 'AJ' Johnson Posted April 13, 2006 Premium Members Report Share Posted April 13, 2006 Hey Guys... check this out http://www.the-boxx.tv/index.html Digital WIFi Video transmission! there is a post in general disscussion on this ... -AJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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