when's wireless firewire coming?

jeff jassky

jeff jassky

Active member
Aye guys. I'm curious when something will come along that will allow me to captured direct-to-drive on location without being constrained by a firewire cable (weddings, etc).

Does anything like this currently exist? If not, how much talk is there about something like this?

I know that last year the people who oversee the development/standards of I394 firewire have approoved people for developing wireless firewire products... but is anything out yet? Thanks guys!

-Jeff
 
Perhaps a better way to ask the question would be when is a wireless system with a bandwidth equivlent to IEEE 1394 coming? The quick answer is that over limited distances, this is currently feasible, however, with the spectrum and power allocations, this type of bandwidth is not currently available.

As for a token name, I kinda like Mikko's "Firewireless", sums it up nicely.
 
khmuse said:
Perhaps a better way to ask the question would be when is a wireless system with a bandwidth equivlent to IEEE 1394 coming?
Click to expand...


I realize there are currently wireless systems with bandwidth capabilities equal or higher than IEEE 1394, Though there is no portable way to convert the output signal of the DVX to such a wireless system. And even if you could, you would need to find a way to make your software recognize your DV device through that connection. So my question isn't exactly when will a wireless system with bandwidth equivalent to IEEE 1394, because of course that already exists. The question is - when will there be a wireless system compatible with the output of the DV output of the dvx?

To add something a bit different - How about wireless USB (UWB)? Such a technology is currently available. It's capable of handling the bandwidth needed for a DV stream, though is there a way to adapt this system to the DV output of the DVX?

There are a few things we can research. I think a system like this could really help people out when shooting on location. What does everyone think? Well I gotta run. I'll talk to you guys later!
 
Streaming bursts of 25Mb/s packets (DV data rate) is currently possible, however, this is but one of the applications for 1394. If the only application is "...a wireless system compatible with the output of the DV output of the DVX..." this would a much smaller burden as it would be but a small part of the 400 Mb/s 1394 throughput.

What would the destination of this RF stream be?

Perhaps a stand alone storage device or a wireless node?

Data integrity would likely require a double buffered approach rather than a simple "push only" data model. A system that generated a RTS (request to send) and was acknowledged by a CTS (clear to send) backed up by either a data redundancy and or checksum system would be highly desirable. This places the added burden of full duplex communication between the two ends of the RF link and would impact the available bandwidth based upon the overhead and protocols employed.

This is unlike the current wireless network technologies that are in use today would suffice; as these are not intended for real time streaming applications as they are not isochronous approaches. Attempting to adept this technology would likely be fairly unsuccessful as it lacks the fundamental architecture to support this type of use.

The use of licensed portions of the commercial spectrum could support this application as the limitations of power and spectrum use that unlicensed systems are bound by would be avoided.
 
khmuse -

I understood everything you said except for the
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This places the added burden of full duplex communication between the two ends of the RF link and would impact the available bandwidth based upon the overhead and protocols employed.
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I'm somewhat techy, but that part lost me. I'm not sure what "full duplex" means. If you could please explain that, and how it would impact the bandwidth capabilities of the system, that would be much appreciated. Thanks for your input so far on the topic. It's nice to get scientific responses from educated people. Thanks everyone!

-Jeff
 
Full duplex means that both radios are transmitting simultainously (a walkie-talkie is simplex, only one can talk at a time; a telephone is duplex, you can talk and listen at the same time).

Full duplex requires the use of 2 frequencies, and the result is more stuff in air and a higher need for badwidth. It also taxes stuff like antennas to a degree, not to mention the amount of electronics envolved in sustaining a solid 2-way asyncronous link.

That doens't mean it's not done. Look up "Wireless Triax" and you will see what is beeing used in the pro world for wireless cameras sending much better picture qaulity than firewire, in multiple directions.

- Mikko
 
Full duplex as opposed to simplex is a simultaneous bi-directional communication. The analogy would be a telephone system as opposed to a "push-to-talk" (PTT) radio. The impact is the increased spectrum necessary to support this type of communications. If the allocated bandwidth is finite (and really, when wouldn't it be) then a full-duplex system would require a division of the spectrum to both communication channels, and hence a reduction in available bandwidth for the primary data channel.

Is your query a general interest one, or do you have a specific and commercial application in mind?

I have done some RF design work over the years, but it is not my engineering forte, so I can only address your questions with a more general approach. Really good RF engineers are a fairly specialized branch of EEs.
 
It's completely general interest. I'm a "beginner" in videography and film making. I've got a background in web development and graphic design (my profession). I thought it would be great to shoot some free weddings to get better at shooting and editing. I'd really like to use DVRack to do most of my capturing and naturally, I can't have cords running around the place - hence the topic. I'm guessing that this technology will be available sometime soon. I was curious if somehting could be configured that would be capable of doing this. I guess, you really COULD get a real small laptop (like a 12" powerbook) and transport that with you. But that's of course not as convenient as a little wireless getup attached to the camera.

Anyone got any more ideas? Thanks guys!

-Jeff
 
The company I work for is currently designing a system that will handle networked wireless signals capable of handling HD quality video. I'm not an engineer so I don't know the details though.
 
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