Problems with Samurai BNC cable on XLH1 at DVinfo.net

Bob Prichard · April 7th, 2012, 02:28 PM

Am having a problem connecting the Samurai to my Canon XLH1.

I have the Samurai mounted on the hot shoe toward the front of the camera.

One of the mini-BNC to BNC cables did not even fit on the Samurai.

The other one fit, but the connector has already separated from the cable.

In addition, my local electronics shop tells me that they only stock BNC cables of 3' or more. But I only need a total cable length of 21" from the mini input of the Samurai to the SDI output of the camera.

I'm surprised that Atomos did not supply the mini-cables with a 90-degree connector to prevent them from breaking so easily.

Can anyone tell me what they have done to successfully connect their Samurai to the XLH1?

Greg Waite · April 8th, 2012, 01:01 AM

bob,
i have samurai on my xlh1 - used a 14 inch ( could be a touch longer) sdi cable and made a cable loom with that, audio out and lanc cable and put them in heat shrinl tube... works fine...
hope this helps

Bob Prichard · April 8th, 2012, 07:48 AM

Where did you find a 14" SDI cable?

Greg Waite · April 8th, 2012, 09:16 AM

just made one up...
greg

James Kuhn · April 8th, 2012, 09:48 AM

Bob...have you spoken to the Atomos after sales Help Desk? They're very good responding to issues with their equipment.

Your statement confuses me: "One of the mini-BNC to BNC cables did not even fit on the Samurai."

Please don't take offense, I'm just asking, but you do know one end of the supplied cable is Mini-BNC/F and the other-end is a 'normal' BNC/M connector. Atomos made the cables that way in-order for people to purchase a short 'BNC' cable with both ends Female.

Atomos is 'investigating' a longer version with a 90-degree Mini-BNC/F and a 90-degree BNC/F on the other end. These cables will be longer ~75cm for direct connection from the Samurai to the camera, making the BNC 'extension' cable unnecessary. I hope this helps.

support@atomos.com

Regards,

J.

Robert Fierce · April 8th, 2012, 12:09 PM

When Jeromy does demos, I've noticed that the cables he uses to connect the Samurai to a field monitor are not the typical RG59 type shielded cables. Instead he uses what looks like plastic coated wire instead of cable. Does anyone know what it is? I'm wondering if this is only good for short runs like in his demos or if you could use this wire for long runs of 100'.

James Kuhn · April 8th, 2012, 04:10 PM

Robert...The two supplied Mini-BNC to BNC cable are smaller diameter, plastic coated cables, electrically, they exhibit the same characteristics of 'normal' RG59 cable and are fairly robust. I just wish they where long enough to go directly from the Samurai with the appropriately sexed connector to the SDI male connector of my camera.

More(longer)cable equals more 'snagging' potential.

Regards,

J.

Robert Fierce · April 9th, 2012, 04:07 PM

I was thinking of long runs of the HD-SDI signal back to the producer in a video village or to a production switcher in a multi-cam set up. I thought shielded RG59 would help prevent video interference over longer distances, but maybe that's my analog thinking in this digital world. I would certainly prefer to use that thin stuff if there's no advantage to using RG59. Do you know what it's called?

James Kuhn · April 11th, 2012, 09:38 AM

Robert...I don't know the specific spec for the cable, but this might help.

1274566-3 TE Connectivity RF Connectors

J.

April 7th, 2012, 02:28 PM	#1
Bob Prichard Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Tiburon CA Posts: 123	Problems with Samurai BNC cable on XLH1 Am having a problem connecting the Samurai to my Canon XLH1. I have the Samurai mounted on the hot shoe toward the front of the camera. One of the mini-BNC to BNC cables did not even fit on the Samurai. The other one fit, but the connector has already separated from the cable. In addition, my local electronics shop tells me that they only stock BNC cables of 3' or more. But I only need a total cable length of 21" from the mini input of the Samurai to the SDI output of the camera. I'm surprised that Atomos did not supply the mini-cables with a 90-degree connector to prevent them from breaking so easily. Can anyone tell me what they have done to successfully connect their Samurai to the XLH1?

April 8th, 2012, 01:01 AM	#2
Greg Waite Regular Crew Join Date: May 2006 Location: toowoomba australia Posts: 47	Re: Problems with Samurai BNC cable on XLH1 bob, i have samurai on my xlh1 - used a 14 inch ( could be a touch longer) sdi cable and made a cable loom with that, audio out and lanc cable and put them in heat shrinl tube... works fine... hope this helps

April 8th, 2012, 07:48 AM	#3
Bob Prichard Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Tiburon CA Posts: 123	Re: Problems with Samurai BNC cable on XLH1 Where did you find a 14" SDI cable?

April 8th, 2012, 09:16 AM	#4
Greg Waite Regular Crew Join Date: May 2006 Location: toowoomba australia Posts: 47	Re: Problems with Samurai BNC cable on XLH1 just made one up... greg

April 8th, 2012, 09:48 AM	#5
James Kuhn Major Player Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Merritt Island, Florida Posts: 865	Re: Problems with Samurai BNC cable on XLH1 Bob...have you spoken to the Atomos after sales Help Desk? They're very good responding to issues with their equipment. Your statement confuses me: "One of the mini-BNC to BNC cables did not even fit on the Samurai." Please don't take offense, I'm just asking, but you do know one end of the supplied cable is Mini-BNC/F and the other-end is a 'normal' BNC/M connector. Atomos made the cables that way in-order for people to purchase a short 'BNC' cable with both ends Female. Atomos is 'investigating' a longer version with a 90-degree Mini-BNC/F and a 90-degree BNC/F on the other end. These cables will be longer ~75cm for direct connection from the Samurai to the camera, making the BNC 'extension' cable unnecessary. I hope this helps. support@atomos.com Regards, J.

April 8th, 2012, 12:09 PM	#6
Robert Fierce New Boot Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Albany CA Posts: 15	Re: Problems with Samurai BNC cable on XLH1 When Jeromy does demos, I've noticed that the cables he uses to connect the Samurai to a field monitor are not the typical RG59 type shielded cables. Instead he uses what looks like plastic coated wire instead of cable. Does anyone know what it is? I'm wondering if this is only good for short runs like in his demos or if you could use this wire for long runs of 100'.

April 8th, 2012, 04:10 PM	#7
James Kuhn Major Player Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Merritt Island, Florida Posts: 865	Re: Problems with Samurai BNC cable on XLH1 Robert...The two supplied Mini-BNC to BNC cable are smaller diameter, plastic coated cables, electrically, they exhibit the same characteristics of 'normal' RG59 cable and are fairly robust. I just wish they where long enough to go directly from the Samurai with the appropriately sexed connector to the SDI male connector of my camera. More(longer)cable equals more 'snagging' potential. Regards, J.

April 9th, 2012, 04:07 PM	#8
Robert Fierce New Boot Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Albany CA Posts: 15	Re: Problems with Samurai BNC cable on XLH1 I was thinking of long runs of the HD-SDI signal back to the producer in a video village or to a production switcher in a multi-cam set up. I thought shielded RG59 would help prevent video interference over longer distances, but maybe that's my analog thinking in this digital world. I would certainly prefer to use that thin stuff if there's no advantage to using RG59. Do you know what it's called?

April 11th, 2012, 09:38 AM	#9
James Kuhn Major Player Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Merritt Island, Florida Posts: 865	Re: Problems with Samurai BNC cable on XLH1 Robert...I don't know the specific spec for the cable, but this might help. 1274566-3 TE Connectivity RF Connectors J.