OK Redmote.... I dont like you... you dont like me...

[Ken Willinger]

I gave up on the Redmote a long time ago as well. Recently had a friend who said it's much better now. Guess I'll have to try to upgrade it as well. It was a major PIA last time I tried... and gave up. Maybe time for a second try.

 

[Johnny Friday]

Johnny, how hard was the Antenna upgrade to do ... my mote signal starts fading about after 10 feet.

Very easy to do the upgrade....follow instructions and nothing complicated and you are done in ten minutes--this includes double takes and extra looks inside the camera.

 

[Mike 'Fireman' Ross]

Heh, fair enough.

Maybe there is something in this thread that will spark something:

http://www.reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?78457-Redmote-won-t-complete-upgrade-connection

Basically you have to connect the USB, then go to System Prefs/Network.

Turn off Airport (this may kill your internet until you turn it back on after upgrading)

For Ethernet 1 and 2 you may choose to switch from USING DHCP to OFF (this will kill your internet until you turn it back on after upgrading)

You should see REDMOTE in the list. Select it and change USING DHCP to MANUALLY.

Change the IP Address to 192.168.0.1

Change the Subnet Mask underneath to 255.255.255.0

Click APPLY in the bottom right, this should connect.

Then run the firmware upgrade app downloaded from Red.

After it's done, be sure to turn your Ethernet and Airport back on so you can go back online.

If this is all too weird, find a friend to do it for you, it's not nearly as scary as it looks, just takes patience.

And exactly what other USB device on the planet requires you to arse around with your bloody *network* settings to talk to it?!

This was designed - no, *congealed* - by geeks, for sure.

I was a geek for a long time before I went into this business and trust me, I could swallow a bunch of code and *puke up* a better system.


Mike (not an uncritical fanboy)

 

[William Albertini]

And exactly what other USB device on the planet requires you to arse around with your bloody *network* settings to talk to it?!

This was designed - no, *congealed* - by geeks, for sure.

I was a geek for a long time before I went into this business and trust me, I could swallow a bunch of code and *puke up* a better system.


Mike (not an uncritical fanboy)

Various devices use the same setup protocol, the Logitech remote controls jump to mind. It is a pain but if one follows the manual setup guide it works every time (on the mac). I have upgraded successfully at least 4 times since I got it in March and also downgraded to use with a rented Epic with old firmware...

 

[Jason Osterday]

Just wanted to chime in on REDmote use.

I was fighting the earlier builds/firmware constantly on commercial jobs. When it came to features I would basically give up and rarely use it outside of morning prep. After the newer versions released and they improved the signal strength it was like a whole new tool on set.

As a 2nd Assistant I'd wear it on my belt and never have to look at the monitor for clip numbers or settings for my reports and the tally light always let me know when we were rolling during real long lens stuff or jib work.
As a 1st, I can adjust almost anything and never bug the DP during lighting or shot composition. I'd leave it attached to the back or sides and use it at free will to stay in the loop with the body. It's actually quite graceful.
As a DP, I can monitor everything and make adjustments on the fly while working with the camera team, gaff/key and not find myself hindered by screen swipes and submenus.

The problem is that it could disconnect and then never reestablish a link unless manually performed or the direction of the sun or alignment of the planets changed. Now with the new version, it auto links so you can actually lose the LCD all together for certain shots and not feel disconnected from the camera. I've taken the 'mote to 30 feet and even operated with it for an entire show that was setup in a 50x100 stage with few issues.

My .02 is to not abandon it yet because if I know RED, they'll keep tweaking and enhancing it until it officially suits your fancy.

 

[Michael Millichamp]

I am currently trying to upgrade my RedMote from 2.0.2 and I want to pull my hair out... I've entered in IPS and Subnets and everything that I can possibly think of. DSMC Utility won't install correctly either.

Anyone want to buy a basically brand new Redmote for 400?

 

[Milan S.]

I've had this same problem (Mac) and after nearly giving up I simply docked the Redmote to the back of the camera and voila, a message popped up asking me if I want to upgrade the Redmote firmware (it takes 30 minutes). I sat through the process only to get "upgrade failed" message at the end. When I checked the Redmote, it was on the latest firmware!?!?! The upgrade worked despite of the fail message.

I don't understand what happened to the wonderfully simple Redmote upgrades of the past? (Via Redmote utility)

ps- I've been using the Redmote/EVF/7"LCD combo almost exclusively and it's been absolutely solid for me.

 

[Peter Majtan]

I haven't had a single issue with mine since I've got it back in March and I can't imagine living (filming) without it. The update procedure is not necessarily user-friendly, but if You RTFM it is a straight-through process and it has to fail me yet...

Peter

 

[Björn Benckert]

Why do you not just update it via the camera? It takes some time but it's very much hassle free.

Push a button and then drink coffee, then it's done.

 

[Timur Civan]

I have tried, it hasnt asked to update. My remote is on the build when it firstshipped with the epic M

 

[Jon Jones]

I agree I hate the Redmote. It has done me no good. It would be cool if the battery in it lasted longer than a few hours, and wasn't a pain in my butt to charge, and didn't unconnect itself and try to reconnect 100 times in a row. I love the idea, but it sucks in the real world. Worse than me hating it, is my clients really hate it.

 

[Glen Powell]

ha, ha. I was gonna buy one due to the 1 in 20 time I might need it for a crane rig. After hearing this, it eases my need to continually spend money as if I had any...

On a jib is the only time I use it… and only for the big red button.I must add that I've never had trouble updating it - even less now that it updates just by docking to the camera. It's still a little finicky at times and will drop connection to the camera or freeze just when we're ready to roll, & I need to remember to plug it in a lunch, or the battery won't make it through the day.But really the problem is me; I've never really spent the time to learn how to control the camera with it.

 

[Sky Pinnick]

For those seeking help connecting on a Mac, the thing that worked for me was switching the Network protocol to DHCP, rather than the suggested Manual settings... hope that helps someone.

 

[Timur Civan]

Huzzah!!! Tom Wong got my redmote to work!!!! actually works rather well now....

I was ready to kill that thing..... He did it through the mac, wifi off, and manually set the IP and it took a couple minutes.

 

[Björn Benckert]

Is it not possible just to update from the camera? even if it takes a little bit of time I found that path way simpler than fiddling with instructions and network setting etc.

 

[Timur Civan]

it was still on its original factory firmware from 3 years ago. it couldnt update that way.

 

[Harry Clark]

Oh how I wish I could love this thing. I hold it in my hands and every thing feels just right. On the job... I am scared to death it will fail and embarrass me again... and again... and again....

A- f'in men brother.
It just sits on the back of my Pro I/O. Like Kryptonite.
Cheers.
Harry

 

[Eric Haase]

A- f'in men brother.
It just sits on the back of my Pro I/O. Like Kryptonite.
Cheers.
Harry

I upgraded the Redmote antenna in the Epic and its STILL unreliable. It makes me really skeptical about the Meizler module, which is wireless just about EVERYTHING. If Red can't get a simple remote control for the menus to work properly, it makes me highly dubious about that piece of gear....Love my Epic but the Redmote really stinks!!!!

 

[Terry VerHaar]

As I have said in a probably hundred posts before: If your REDmote doesn't work well, work at getting it right; do what it takes. Mine has always worked extremely well and it is a joy to have it as an alternative for controlling the camera. Your going to let this tiny piece of kit defeat you?

 

[Gunleik Groven]

As I have said in a probably hundred posts before: If your REDmote doesn't work well, work at getting it right; do what it takes. Mine has always worked extremely well and it is a joy to have it as an alternative for controlling the camera. Your going to let this tiny piece of kit defeat you?

Hm....

Point is more:
It is rather silly that a thing like this is such a fight for so many people.
Redmote is one of those things that "should just work" without much more ado.

It doesn't for many.

I have made it work, even over long distances...
But it has not been reliable.

Working on my own, that COULD possibly be acceptable.
Working in a big-crew setting, it is definitely NOT acceptable with random behaviour.

Thus, it gets its rest and we find "other" solutions.

Now... That iPad app Ted demoed a couple of years ago without a Meizler module involved...

I guess I am not the only one who'd rather have paid for that than the RedMote if it actually worked reliably....