FS7: Wireless Monitoring

Liam Hall

Liam Hall

Veteran
My Parallinx Arrow died on a shoot in India this week, before I rush out and replace it, what is everyone using for wireless monitoring? Any new, cost effective solutions out there?

Cheers,
 
Paralinx Ace is pretty nice. Definitely holds up over 200ft of range and connects very fast. If you drop more money, you can probably get a Teradek Bolt 500 or even go crazy with Bolt 3000. Obviously it's expensive, but you almost never have to worry about connection drops.
 
Everyone is going crazy over the Vaxis systems at the moment and which seem to have a great performance to cost ratio.

I have a Paralinx Ace which is great for the money but it can drop connection through a couple of walls.
 
We just used the Teradek Bolt 500 on a feature, and it was pretty much flawless over five weeks of heavy shooting (mostly handheld, frequently running away from video village).

Connection/re-connection were rapid, and it can apply 3D LUTs on to the incoming signal, so that each monitor can see what you want it to see. Certainly feels improved over the previous generation systems.
 
Thanks guys. Not sure I can justify a Bolt - that's more than twice the cost of the Ace I've been using for the last two years, then again, it broke...

Has anyone used any of the IDX solutions?
 
Liam ..I have the CW7.. (not sure if they are still making them?).. its been very good.. main advantage I find over other systems is the V mount powering and no antenna .. the only cable is the 4 inch SDI .. very compact.. for TX and RX.. I had the CW3 for a short while.. useless and very flimsy antenna... one broke straight away.. wouldn't recommend it..traded it in... for the CW7
 
I've had the IDX unit out on two shoots, the bigger one that uses a v-mount passthrough to mount on the camera. And I'd certainly never use it again. We had horrific connection issues, even just a few meters from the receiver with a clear line of sight, that's on two separate occasions, with two separate units.
 
Grug said:
I've had the IDX unit out on two shoots, the bigger one that uses a v-mount passthrough to mount on the camera. And I'd certainly never use it again. We had horrific connection issues, even just a few meters from the receiver with a clear line of sight, that's on two separate occasions, with two separate units.
Click to expand...

Yes the older one were a bit crap.. the CW7 is the "new and improved version "..
http://www.idxtek.com/products/cw-7/
 
Thanks guys. Looks like I'll prob go with an Ace. Fly off again in the morning, so a 10 ft cabe will have to do for now.
 
Certain folks big up the Animon Connex Mini (I think it is called) - but not specifically for the FS7

This is what I will buy.. but more for my BMC micro on gimbal.

The pictures dont show (I think) the rather awkward areil on the sender.

I think Rich Greb knows about these. (and speaks english)

https://www.camotionllc.com/connex/

S
 
Last edited:
We had the Ghost Eye on the Bollywood feature I shot, and I have to say I was impressed by the performance and reliability. It was better than I'd expected.

I haven't heard of a lot of great experiences with the Cine Gears stuff though. It does sound like it's built to a price point.
 
Cinegears is one of the worst companies in the game for broken kit and horrific customer service. Countless threads on them everywhere.

However, they don't make their wireless efforts and simply rebrand them so they are good to go. Their new 600m is quite inexpensive. Still prefer to stay with Paralinx or Teradeck personally and might just get an extra receiver for my Ace.
 
Animon came from Rich in America (very fast - nailed for VAT on import)

He's done half the job of making into something usable on set with a little bracket with 1/4threads to mount and Vlock power adapter.. but still way too flimsy.. time to make an MM aluminium box to house it all :(
 
Sam, we won't be satisfied unless you completely butcher it with a Dremel, and house it in plywood with a few wires sticking out for good measure.




morgan_moore said:
Animon came from Rich in America (very fast - nailed for VAT on import)

He's done half the job of making into something usable on set with a little bracket with 1/4threads to mount and Vlock power adapter.. but still way too flimsy.. time to make an MM aluminium box to house it all :(
Click to expand...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top