Signal loss

[Philip J. Martinez SOC]

HI Guy?s

 

I?m having a video glitch problem.

 

I have a Marell digital level and a RF links video transmitter. When I use them together I get video hits, like there is a drop out in the signal.

 

When I do not plug in my RF links the signal with the Marell is great.

 

When I do not plug in my Marell the signal with the RF links is great.

 

So I do not think there is a problem with my sled (clipper 24) it has to be with the RF and Marell together. Has any one else had a problem like this? Any ideas what I can do to fix it.

 

Thanks in advance for any ideas,

 

Philip

[Robert Starling SOC]

So I do not think there is a problem with my sled (clipper 24) it has to be with the RF and Marell together. Has any one else had a problem like this? Any ideas what I can do to fix it.

 

Hi Philip, I have an RF-Links as a back up now to my Canatrans but I'm not familiar with the Marell.

 

One thing to test is does the transmitter affect the Marell when it is not powered on the same system or linked to the system? If you can figure out how to separate them to operate independently you can see if there is some form of RF feedback physically leading to the Marell. As well, if you can separate the two units by some distance (how far apart are they now?) you may be able to tell if it's RF getting into the Marell via transmitted signal.

 

I've seen the inside of the RF-links and it's little more than a few components on a board held into the chassis by silicone caulk. I doubt it's shielded very well. There could be a tiny wire or component inside the Marell that is the prefect resonance of the transmitter frequency or one of it's harmonics. That tiny component could be acting as the perfect antenna inside the Marell.

 

Have you tried the Marell with a different transmitter?

 

Also, you can't totally discount the sled; there could be some component inside that is not shielded properly. Have you installed a video DA in your C24? They don't come with one built-in so I had to put one in mine. The only video DA output on a C24 is actually on the LCD the monitor; the rest of them just make the signal weaker with every new video component you plug in. No idea how the Marell fits into the equation.

 

Hope this helps a little.

[Philip J. Martinez SOC]

Hi Robert,

 

I?ll be on a job tomorrow that has a Modulus 3000 so I?ll try that also I can power the RF Links off an A/B tap with a video camera so I?ll do that too. Marell saw my post and they are being very helpful.

 

Who put in your DA, how much and how long did it take? How about the power port, are you thinking of upgrading it? I hear the F23 and other digital cameras pull to much power for the lemo pins.

 

Thanks,

 

Philip

[Robert Starling SOC]

I?ll be on a job tomorrow that has a Modulus 3000 so I?ll try that also I can power the RF Links off an A/B tap with a video camera so I?ll do that too.

 

Who put in your DA, how much and how long did it take? How about the power port, are you thinking of upgrading it? I hear the F23 and other digital cameras pull to much power for the lemo pins.

 

Hi Philip, let me know how the Modulus test goes.

 

Terry West installed my DA and it was just a drop it off one day and pick it up the next but I'm sure it depends on his work load. The DA is a VAC-BRICK internal unit that cost about $120 or so and I ordered it from them direct. I was going to install it myself but it's so tiny I decided to let a pro do it and Terry did a very clean professional installation.

 

The F23 power / Lemo issue would be a good question for someone like Jerry Holway or maybe Robert Orf to answer; someone with knowledge of the amperage rating capacity of the connectors. My GUESS is the wiring in the post for a Clipper 24 would be okay but if there is an issue it would be the connector... maybe. On a similar note, I'm not really sure if the C24 top stage was designed to handle camera packages like a fully loaded Genesis or F23 on a daily basis.... again just a guess.

[Robert Starling SOC]

I?ll be on a job tomorrow that has a Modulus 3000 so I?ll try that also I can power the RF Links off an A/B tap with a video camera so I?ll do that too.

 

Who put in your DA, how much and how long did it take? How about the power port, are you thinking of upgrading it? I hear the F23 and other digital cameras pull to much power for the lemo pins.

 

Hi Philip, let me know how the Modulus test goes.

 

Terry West installed my DA and it was just a drop it off one day and pick it up the next but I'm sure it depends on his work load. The DA is a VAC-BRICK internal unit that cost about $120 or so and I ordered it from them direct. I was going to install it myself but it's so tiny I decided to let a pro do it and Terry did a very clean professional installation.

 

The F23 power / Lemo issue would be a good question for someone like Jerry Holway or maybe Robert Orf to answer; someone with knowledge of the amperage rating capacity of the connectors. My GUESS is the wiring in the post for a Clipper 24 would be okay but if there is an issue it would be the connector... maybe. On a similar note, I'm not really sure if the C24 top stage was designed to handle camera packages like a fully loaded Genesis or F23 on a daily basis.... again just a guess.

[Jerry Holway]

The F23 power / Lemo issue would be a good question for someone like Jerry Holway or maybe Robert Orf to answer; someone with knowledge of the amperage rating capacity of the connectors. My GUESS is the wiring in the post for a Clipper 24 would be okay but if there is an issue it would be the connector... maybe. On a similar note, I'm not really sure if the C24 top stage was designed to handle camera packages like a fully loaded Genesis or F23 on a daily basis.... again just a guess.

 

Would anything be so easy. Amp ratings depend on many things, not only the size of the connector and number of pins, but also on whether the connector is soldered, crimped or a PC board connector.

 

That said, the #3, 3 pin Lemo's used in the Ultra2 (PC board connections) should take the loads presented by the F23 and Genesis just fine. The same size connectors are used in the Clipper; again, should be no problem. And the wiring, as Robert suspects, is also fine. The power cable to the Genesis is critical, as is soldering to multiple pins on the camera end.

 

Go to www.Lemo.com and download the B series catalogue for all the details.

 

The Clipper 24 stage is robust enough to handle the F23; but its footprint is less wide (and bearings less strong) than the Ultra2, so some caution is advised in more violent side to side moves. FYI, the stage of the Ultra2 by itself can handle a 180 pound object (me!) no problem....

 

Jerry

[Philip J. Martinez SOC]

Hi Robert,

 

I did not use my rig on that shoot, so I did not get a chance to test the 3000 with my digital level. I?ve sent the level back to Marell in the U.K. They are going to upgrade it for me. Hopefully it will solve my problem. Dave at Marell saw my post and emailed a solution before I even had a chance to contact them.

 

I wish there were a Terry ?East? I do not want to send my sled across the country. The shipping would cost more then the DA. Does anyone know of someone who does work like this in the NYC area?

 

By the way Jerry, thank you for putting a stop to any inaccurate rumors I?ve spread about the power port on the Clipper 24 sled. I?m very happy to know that it will run all these new digital cameras.

[Jaron Berman]

Jerry, now I'm really confused! Are you saying the camera power connectors are the same between the ultra II and the clipper series? From the spec sheets in the UII manual, the ultra uses shell size 2 connectors at the sled for cam power. I took apart my stage to check, and my cam power connector is a shell size 0. Did Steadicam change their manufacturing... Do I have a black sheep rig?Am I just confused?

[Iain Baird]

I realize this is an old thread but I just read it now and I experienced similar issues with my Marell level when in combination with the Transmitter (canatrans) and the recorder being plugged in at the same time. The video would only remain stable if only 2 of the three were plugged in. After installing a video D.A. (from VAC) the problem went away.

[Philip J. Martinez SOC]

does anyone know of someone who could in install a video DA in the New York area?

[George Grammatikos]

Canfort have a nice 1 to 4 video distributor (verry helpfull ,very small (9v battery size plus bnc conectors ,also marrel can built in a 1 to 2 vda inside the level)

fly safe