Custom Wireless HDMI Transmitter and Powered Splitter Battery Solution Thing

[Tim Nitsch]

Not exactly sure what to call it but it solves my issue.
Which was how to power a HDMI Splitter and a Wireless HDMI transmitter like the Paralinx Arrow on a budget.

The Wireless HDMI Transmitter could to be powered by a USB battery pack, so I searched for a HDMI splitter that could be powered via USB as well. (I've tried non powered splitters but they didn't work)

Which I did eventually find.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...60&cm_re=HDMI_Splitter-_-12-423-060-_-Product

Next I needed a USB Power pack. There are tons of rechargeable packs out there but the issue with those are what do you do when they die? Sit there and wait for them charge. No, that wasn't going to work.

Then I stubbled across these USB packs that run of regular AA batteries.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Rayovac-PS73-4B-Rayovac-7-Hour-4-AA-Alkaline-USB-Charger/26359020
Perfect, when they die, pop in new batteries and get back to filming.

After I got the components I just needed to tie them all together into a single unit.
So I went to my local surplus parts store (SkyCraft here in Orlando, love that place!) and bought an aluminum plate for $2.50.

Took a hacksaw to it and got the shape I needed to fit the 15mm rod mount I already had.
Spray paint it back, because everything looks better black, duh.
I wanted everything to be modular so I used velcro to attach the splitter and the battery packs to the plate.

It's not pretty, but it works:

 

[goodgoings]

Thanks for writing this up. Looks like a good solution.

 

[Mitch Gross]

Nice, but those AA battery packs are going to run up costs over time. Why not get a couple of rechargeable USB battery packs and swap them like you would any other rechargeable battery, like the ones you put in your camera? Those batteries are very inexpensive relative to their available power.

 

[Michael Carter]

The USB packs made to keep your phone running? Those things are pretty badass for the $$. They won't power a big camera, but for things like audio recorders, preamps, splitters - really handy if you're not in the pinch-plate market. Get two and keep one charging, you can use those little wall-mount phone chargers.

BTW, you can cut aluminum plate with a chop saw (sure beats a hack saw), up to at least a quarter inch or so. If you have a Harbor Freight nearby, grab one and a cheap drill press, and bits and taps for 1/4-20 and 3/8-16 (or check craig's list). Being able to tap mount holes for the standard sizes really can get things much more "pro" utility-wise.

 

[Tim Nitsch]

Nice, but those AA battery packs are going to run up costs over time. Why not get a couple of rechargeable USB battery packs and swap them like you would any other rechargeable battery, like the ones you put in your camera? Those batteries are very inexpensive relative to their available power.

True, but I've yet to find a decent rechargeable usb battery pack. Most are pretty much garbage. You never get the ratings they claim to give in capacity and charge/discharge rates. As a result they take a stupid amount of time to recharge where as with an AA pack, once the batteries die I just toss new ones in and I'm back to shooting. Which is the only thing that really matters for me.

Eventually I'll just go with a V-Mount setup, but until then, the AA packs seem to work for what I need.