Wireless video transmitter

btownproductions

btownproductions

Well-known member
Hi, don't really know a whole lot about wireless transmitters, but I wanted to get an affordable wireless video transmitter, so I could transmit what I'm filming to a monitoring station. I searched a bit on the forums, and with google, and so far I've found two products that look like they may do what I need, but I'm not totally sure if I've got the right idea here.


I was looking at a few transmitter/receivers something like this one:
http://cgi.ebay.ca/2W-2-4G-Wireless...14&_trkparms=72:1215|66:2|65:12|39:1|240:1318

The only problem with them is, they run off of a 12vDC power supply. I think I've found an adapter that will work for me (I remember seeing it on this site a while ago too..) But I found the description a little confusing, so I'm not too sure if it's what I'll need or not. Will this allow me to power the transmitter off of my camera's XLR socket?
http://www.dolgin.net/DCConverterPan.htm


Any help would be appreciated, as I don't really know much about these things. Also, other suggestions you guys might have would be helpful as well. I'm working on next to no budget here, so keep that in mind haha.

Thanks,

Patrick
 
Hi Patrick,

You say you have next to "no budget", Hmmmm that narrows the field qiet a bit.
Downunder here is a link to some Broadcast types you can get an apprecieation of what your up against.
http://www.gdbint.com.au/Product.aspx?ptype=p&cID=86

I did some time ago use a domestic "elcheapo" 1.4ghz system (as you pointed to, it was 12volt) to transmit a cam composite signal from infield of an arena event to the out field monitors, not a perfect system but was very cheap n nasty and did the job. I suppose it all comes down to what your intending to do with the transmitted signal.
Be aware that these cheap systems can be blocked/jammed by some phone systems.

cheers
Tom K
olinevideo.com.au
 
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Thanks Tom, I checked the link you gave me, and none of those are anywhere NEAR my price range haha. All I plan on using the transmitter for is sending it maybe 50 feet or so to a monitor that my co-producer/assistant director can watch, so I don't have him hovering over my shoulder looking at my onboard monitor. It doesn't need to be HD (But it would be nice), I just want to be able to send a fairly decent picture to a small television monitor or computer screen for him to watch. But one thing I do need as a way to power the transmitter, be it xlr or battery powered. I don't want to have a bunch of cords that I don't really need all over the place while I'm filming. Thanks for the help though
 
We rented microwave on-board transmitters for a pilot I worked on. The company was in Hollywood and this is what they do, wireless video. Their systems retail in the $5,000.00 to $10,000.00 per camera range.

From what I have seen, with wireless video, you get what you pay for. The low cost systems are close to useless. Even these more expensive systems we used were useless much of the time. Wireless video is not quite ready for prime time IMHO unless you go up to NFL/NASCAR level and get the really big bucks systems.

Dan
 
What about these setups used for transmitting a satellite/cable signal to other tv's in the house? I'd imaging their quality must be pretty decent for them to have any use...
 
Most of these are complete junk. Especially if you are moving. If you are not moving I recommend a cable and a cable wrangler. If you are moving I recommend trusting your DP or camera Op.

With all that said there are some out there in the same price range that run of 1 9 Volt battery. You have to spend upwards of 4 grand or more to get a reliable frame accurate transmitter. Even then if you wander past the directional antenna line of sight they are awful as well.

You will never get good signal from the cheap ones, but they will work.
 
Thanks for the input, as far as trusting my DP, that shouldn't be too hard, since it's me lol. It's just the assistant director I'm working with likes to see the footage I'm getting as well
 
Do some google searches on 2.4ghz wireless video transmitters. There are tons of them out there, in parts, for you to build your own kit for professional use. The key thing is having a REALLY HIGH QUALITY antenna on the receiver. The rest is easy. For anyone who thinks 2.4G is an unreliable technology that is "useless" when you're a videographer in motion, consider this fact. There are hundreds of videos on youtube of these model rocket guys recording videos, from fast moving ROCKETS, thousands of feet away, sending a video feed to a ground based receiver, and recording incredibly clean (mostly) artifact free images from over a mile away. From a moving target. And, all this, with equipment that costs under 200 bucks. What do they know that you don't? There's a lot to be learned from these little hobbyist groups.. :thumbup:
 
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orangesaybananas said:
Do some google searches on 2.4ghz wireless video transmitters. There are tons of them out there, in parts, for you to build your own kit for professional use. The key thing is having a REALLY HIGH QUALITY antenna on the receiver. The rest is easy. For anyone who thinks 2.4G is an unreliable technology that is "useless" when you're a videographer in motion, consider this fact. There are hundreds of videos on youtube of these model rocket guys recording videos, from fast moving ROCKETS, thousands of feet away, sending a video feed to a ground based receiver, and recording incredibly clean (mostly) artifact free images from over a mile away. From a moving target. And, all this, with equipment that costs under 200 bucks. What do they know that you don't? There's a lot to be learned from these little hobbyist groups.. :thumbup:
Click to expand...

word, I love these types of answers. instead of pushing the "not possible, you need big bucks" answer, we get a decent indie alternative that has already been tried and tested in another hobby field.
 
All I am reporting on was my experience with a high dollar system rented from a top Hollywood rental house. We shot on the central coast of California, in a fairly remote area around Lake Nacimiento and for the most part, the wireless was useless there. In other areas in nearby Atascadero and Paso Robles, the signal was usable, if not particularly clear. We were using a fairly elaborate external shark fin antenna with a separate amplifier system.

I am still of the opinion that wireless video is totally dependent on the area it is used in. We were pretty near Vandenburg AFB where I would imagine there is a ton of all kinds of RF in all frequencies. When we also tested the rental units in our brick building in Los Angeles, all units received nothing until we would walk out of the building, even from a foot away.

Wireless video is a crapshoot. To me, I would never count on it working in a professional environment, pretty much like wireless mics, sometimes they work great and sometimes they are useless in certain areas. Depends on what else is stepping on your frequencies.

Dan
 
As orangesaybananas mentioned, check out the radio control folks. There's something called "First Person Video" or FPV piloting. An on-board camera gives the RC pilot a first-person view up to a few miles away.

Hobbyists have been putting them on airplanes, helicopters, cars, etc.

Google RC FPV Transmitter and you'll see all sorts of options and reports.
 
Those FPV's look awesome! That would be so much fun lol

http://www.vimeo.com/898444

I'm probably gonne try something like the one chapelgrove sent me. The price is right, and it's worth a shot. Plus my dad and his friends are into RC planes, so worst comes to worst, I'll give it to him and he could try making an fpv camera.

Thanks guys
 
Anyone have any opinions on what these products might be like?

Rx:
http://www.rangevideo.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=35_22&products_id=12

Tx:
http://www.rangevideo.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=35_22&products_id=43

I've read that 1.2GHz frequencies are better as far as not getting as much interference, but I couldn't find much selection for 1.2GHz systems, the ones on this site only have 300mw or 500mw output, and I wasn't sure that would be enough power to rely on, so I think I'd rather go with a 1000mw system.

Anyone on here very experienced in radio transmitters? Do I need 1000mw for my application? Would it be better to go with 1.2GHz over 2.4? (I don't believe 1.2 is banned up here in Canada like it is in the States)

Thanks in advance, sorry I'm pretty much in the dark here when it comes to this kind of stuff, I'm trying to learn though! lol
 
This just occured to me. Any RF device works best in L.O.S. or line of site. Any model rocket application should work leagues better than common usage on the ground because there is absolutley nothing between the transmitter and receiver but blue sky.

It is when you add buildings, trees, rocks, earth, cars, etc. in between and around the transmitter and receiver that you run into the systems not working at all.

Dan
 
I tried a cheapo TV transmitter and it works fine for short distances and as a composition/framing tool. You certainly wouldn't want to use it for focus or colour.

On a big-budget shoot we had an HD microwave setup, and that was quite amazing. Perfectly clear several rooms away through thick concrete walls. Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay out of my budget though!
 
I've decided I'm gonna try to make my own transmitter, and just buy a decent receiver. I've got the plans for the board drawn up, just gotta order the parts now. If all else fails, I found a pre made transmitter for around $35 that I'd just need to put in a case. But since I've never done any circuit boarding, I figured it would be a learning experience either way, so it's worth a shot!
 
There's no way I could afford something like that.. I'm only making films as a hobby right now. I'm all about low budget/diy where I can get away with it. Plus, all I want this for is monitoring, I don't need exceptional picture quality or anything. Plus, now I'm really interested in trying to build my own. The components are really cheap, and I think it'll be pretty fun to see if I can pull it off.
 
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