View Full Version : Wireless Video


Isaac Gonzalez
May 1st, 2006, 03:58 PM
Have a GL1 and a GL2. I am looking at sending video to projector via a wireless system. Does anyone know how I would get started in something like this?

David Ennis
May 2nd, 2006, 08:05 PM
I don't think that affordable equipment of sufficient quality exists. There are video transmission systems in the $1000 range for monitoring purposes, but they are susceptible to interference and reflected signals.

Isaac Gonzalez
May 3rd, 2006, 11:50 AM
Thanks Fred. Wow, how much do you think that I would have to invest for some good equipment? What features or specs should I be looking at?

DJ Kinney
May 3rd, 2006, 11:51 AM
802.11 Wi-Fi. That's the answer. I can't exactly envision it right now, but I imagine a scenario in which you render the video out to a file. An mpeg (AVI might be too meaty for transmission bandwidth). That is on one laptop. The other laptop has its video-out jack plugged into the projector. Digital or even RCA composit.

Create an ad-hoc connection between the laptops (or even through a central router)...

Share the file on laptop #1, open the file and play it on laptop #2....

Output it to the video. If the signal is strong enough and fast enough, you should be able to feed the video from one system to the other without a hitch.

I know this works in theory because I have watched DVDs in my house that have been routed through the wireless network by sharing the DVD drive.

Whadda ya think!

DJ

David Ennis
May 3rd, 2006, 02:52 PM
Sounds at least plausible, DJ, and makes me also start thinking in terms of a DVD cam where MPEG is being created in real time. The problem I keep seeing is that I think a whole file has to be created before it can be sent from one computer to another. That takes you out of live coverage, which I thought was what Isaac was after.

DJ Kinney
May 3rd, 2006, 02:57 PM
Hm...I didn't get that part of it. If he is looking for live wireless broadcast, then there might be somethig one could do with sharing the device (GL2 as a webcam) on the network.

That's a longshot. I'll have to investigate.

DJ

Isaac Gonzalez
May 4th, 2006, 02:34 PM
Thanks DJ, thanks Fred! Yeah, I want to send live feed from one camera to the projector. I like the Wifi idea, however, wouldn't there be a delay in the feed? I mean, wouldn't there be pauses in the live feed?

DJ Kinney
May 4th, 2006, 05:16 PM
What do you mean? If there were to be a pause, it would be because of a system lag, and it would be correctable depending on the software/system you're using. But there shhouldn't be a lag because of the WiFi...

So what do you mean exactly?

Mikko Wilson
May 4th, 2006, 10:55 PM
Systems thaty will do this in real tiem without lag at an acceptabel quality run in the tens of thousands of dollars. - you can rent them for a few hundered a day though. Look at www.dcam.tv for an idea of what you are looking at.

There are some WiFi systems (like www.wevi.tv) for only a few grand today, but they al have a lag of around ½ seccond - which is WAY too much if the projector is in the same space as the action (IMag) as all sodun will be out of sync.

Best option, is still to use a cable if possible.
Otherwise the golden rule steps in really fast: Good, Fast, Cheap. - Instant transmission is "fast" and so good will not be cheap.


- Mikko

DJ Kinney
May 5th, 2006, 09:23 AM
Yeah, I guess I was never clear on what you were using this for. I got the idea that it was just projecting a piece for an audience or something. I guess it's more of a seminar scenario.

Oh well....

DJ

Isaac Gonzalez
May 9th, 2006, 03:19 PM
Thanks DJ and Mikko. Mikko, thanks for the referances.

Yeah, I was planning to use live feed to shoot it over to the projector that would be in the same area of the wedding hall. So, really it sounds like I will need cords like Mikko mentioned. Can't afford right now to spend thousands of dollars on cordless equipment. So off to the store I go to get cords!

Anybody has a cheap projector for sale? :)

Thanks guys for clearing this up for me!!!

Daniel Wang
May 27th, 2006, 06:26 PM
Look around on markertek.com

They offer 2.4ghz systems inteded for security monitoring, I use them for monitoring on multi-cam shoots. I have seen them run from $200-$500.

http://www.markertek.com/ProdList.asp?cat=VIDEOEQUIP&subcat=&prodClass=WRLESSV&search=0&off=0
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I've used a Laird Waveshot system also, which is a little more dignified than taping a transmitter to the camera.

http://www.lairdtelemedia.com/Product.asp?baseItem=LTM-WAVS-30&cat=VIDEOEQUIP&subcat=CAMERAS&prodClass=WRLESSV&mfg=&search=0
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And then again... if you want to, a SD RF send and receive system will run you about...$20k

http://www.rfcentral.com/products.shtml
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Video over 802.11 is still being... well it's still being developed. I'd wait for a few years

John Miller
June 11th, 2006, 04:47 PM
I'm sure I'll get shot down for this suggestion but I have found it works satisfactorily.

You can get an inexpensive transmitter/receiver pair that will transmit a composite video signal and stereo audio across a few hundred feet via FM or more via 2.4GHz. I haven't had any problems with interference from the older FM type that would lead to it being unwatchable. In a wedding hall, I doubt anyone would notice anyway!

$99.99 at - ahem - RadioShack:

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2102464&cp=2032057&f=Taxonomy%2FRSK%2F2032057&categoryId=2032057&kwCatId=2032057&kw=transmitter&parentPage=search

Worth a try, I'd say. Test it in a real environment - if it's too prone to interference, take it back.