Wireless Idea... why wouldn't it work? at DVinfo.net

Jim Karrels · December 27th, 2005, 02:20 AM

I am certainly no expert on wireless technology. However, it seems to me that with 802.11N (or pre-N available now) coming down the pike having bandwidth in the 100Mbps to 200Mbps range, a P2-based wireless card (same form factor even!) would make a lot of sense.

Nice to imagine that we would not need our PC/Mac tethered to our camera for capturing footage. Instead, you safely have your computer sitting in your car, on your desk, under an umbrella, in the room next door, etc. and you transmit the 100Mbps signal wirelessly from the HVX to your capture computer. And, since WiFi is 2-way, the HVX could potentially 'pull' data from your PC to show scenes, etc.

Assuming 802.11N data transfer/throughput were consistent and realiable (unlike 802.11b for example), wouldn't this be a serious threat to FS or Cineporter? *I realize that for serious film-types to use this workflow would require 99.9999% reliability. But for filmhacks like me, I would trade 1% failure rate (i.e., 99.00000% reliable) for a few less pounds to carry.

Thoughts?

Ash Greyson · December 27th, 2005, 02:37 AM

Pretty sure the camers would need to be built with the drivers/etc. Also, wireless at that bandwidth will always have hiccups, you would need some special capture software to decode it.... this may work in 20 years but... not in the next 5 for sure....

ash =o)

Paul Matwiy · December 27th, 2005, 11:38 AM

Wireless technologies are based on isochronos transmission. Most video and audio streaming require synchronous communications. You'd have to have an enormous input buffer to ensure that drops in signals caused by interferrence could be recovered. Might be feasable for transfers, but not for streaming live material.

Jeff Kilgroe · December 27th, 2005, 12:23 PM

Pretty much what Paul said...

Wireless may be feasible at some point in the future, but you had better plan on a wireless format that can provide 200Mbps or more reliably and it better have 8 to16 GB of onboard buffer. In reality, a P2 compatible card that could be created that provides dual-channel 802.11Nx at 144Mbps per channel with 8GB of buffer space. The camera would see it as a huge P2 card, and all the networking would be handled internally within the card itself and on the NLE side of things.

Yes, it could work, but I think we're still a couple years away until all the necessary components are available and even then, it will be very costly. For right now, 50ft. firewire cords are pretty cheap...

Barry Green · December 27th, 2005, 01:03 PM

As I understand it already exists to some degree on the SPX800; the SPX can take a wireless card and transmit. But for some reason I think that what it transmits is a low-rez proxy, not full-rez... not sure on that...

So that would imply that yes, someday the tech will be there, but probably not right away.

Paul Matwiy · December 28th, 2005, 03:01 PM

Spread spectrum might work over short distances. It's probably a short way off. That said, I was amazed by my Airport Express and the ability to stream 2 channels of audio using Apple Loss-less Compression to my stereo. Of course, the signal lock is whacked when I use the microwave, which is what you don't want to happen when you are transferring live video.

December 27th, 2005, 02:20 AM	#1
Jim Karrels Regular Crew Join Date: May 2005 Location: DC Area, MD Posts: 128	Wireless Idea... why wouldn't it work? I am certainly no expert on wireless technology. However, it seems to me that with 802.11N (or pre-N available now) coming down the pike having bandwidth in the 100Mbps to 200Mbps range, a P2-based wireless card (same form factor even!) would make a lot of sense. Nice to imagine that we would not need our PC/Mac tethered to our camera for capturing footage. Instead, you safely have your computer sitting in your car, on your desk, under an umbrella, in the room next door, etc. and you transmit the 100Mbps signal wirelessly from the HVX to your capture computer. And, since WiFi is 2-way, the HVX could potentially 'pull' data from your PC to show scenes, etc. Assuming 802.11N data transfer/throughput were consistent and realiable (unlike 802.11b for example), wouldn't this be a serious threat to FS or Cineporter? *I realize that for serious film-types to use this workflow would require 99.9999% reliability. But for filmhacks like me, I would trade 1% failure rate (i.e., 99.00000% reliable) for a few less pounds to carry. Thoughts?

December 27th, 2005, 11:38 AM	#3
Paul Matwiy Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Marin, CA Posts: 85	Wireless Idea... why wouldn't it work? Wireless technologies are based on isochronos transmission. Most video and audio streaming require synchronous communications. You'd have to have an enormous input buffer to ensure that drops in signals caused by interferrence could be recovered. Might be feasable for transfers, but not for streaming live material. __________________ Paul

December 27th, 2005, 12:23 PM	#4
Jeff Kilgroe Major Player Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Golden, CO Posts: 681	Pretty much what Paul said... Wireless may be feasible at some point in the future, but you had better plan on a wireless format that can provide 200Mbps or more reliably and it better have 8 to16 GB of onboard buffer. In reality, a P2 compatible card that could be created that provides dual-channel 802.11Nx at 144Mbps per channel with 8GB of buffer space. The camera would see it as a huge P2 card, and all the networking would be handled internally within the card itself and on the NLE side of things. Yes, it could work, but I think we're still a couple years away until all the necessary components are available and even then, it will be very costly. For right now, 50ft. firewire cords are pretty cheap... __________________ - Jeff Kilgroe - Applied Visual Technologies \| DarkScience - www.darkscience.com

December 28th, 2005, 03:01 PM	#6
Paul Matwiy Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Marin, CA Posts: 85	Wireless streaming Spread spectrum might work over short distances. It's probably a short way off. That said, I was amazed by my Airport Express and the ability to stream 2 channels of audio using Apple Loss-less Compression to my stereo. Of course, the signal lock is whacked when I use the microwave, which is what you don't want to happen when you are transferring live video. __________________ Paul

December 27th, 2005, 02:37 AM	#2
Ash Greyson Trustee Join Date: May 2003 Location: Tulsa, OK Posts: 1,689	Pretty sure the camers would need to be built with the drivers/etc. Also, wireless at that bandwidth will always have hiccups, you would need some special capture software to decode it.... this may work in 20 years but... not in the next 5 for sure.... ash =o)

December 27th, 2005, 01:03 PM	#5
Barry Green Barry Wan Kenobi Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 3,863	As I understand it already exists to some degree on the SPX800; the SPX can take a wireless card and transmit. But for some reason I think that what it transmits is a low-rez proxy, not full-rez... not sure on that... So that would imply that yes, someday the tech will be there, but probably not right away.