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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

Announcing the Teradek Bolt Pro 2000 Zero Delay Transmitter

Dave Adams said:
I find that the bolt range rarely extends past 50 feet. Love the system when it's close to camera, but has been an issue with using the Movi where there are multiple operators needing to look at screens with a moving camera. And once the signal is lost it takes a while to kick back on.

Dave
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Hey, everybody. I did email Mike and Teradek technical support immediately got in touch with me. They offered to look at my unit and see what the problem is, but I watched this video he sent me on setting up the Bolt and I think I may not be following the optimal setup as recommended by Teradek: https://teradek.zendesk.com/entries/27645666-Bolt-Best-Practices-Setting-up-your-Bolt

I do mount the transmitter vertically on the camera top handle as instructed, but the receiver is usually velcroed horizontally to a V-mount battery on the back of my 9" handheld director monitor, which seems to be less than optimal. I will try putting a hotshoe on top of my monitor to mount the receiver on top vertically and see if that improves the range.

Julio
 
I have had pretty good luck with the bollt, it was an early one so I did have to send it in for an upgrade.
 
Got my replacement unit awhile back... with the same 50' or less range. This is line of sight... no walls
A buddy of mine got a new unit a couple months ago with similar range... supposedly his replacement unit was a marked improvement and just shy of the range of his Paralynx. Quality control? Some users think that the metal housings, although robust, limit the range as compared to the Paralynx
 
bolt

bolt

I have used my Bolt with two receivers continuously for months on a few different shows and it has worked without fail at around 120-150ft. I've never really tried to test the extreme range on set. There was one time we were having issues but it turned out to be a pinched power cable. I have received the updated version though. If I'm trying to transmit through a lot of walls I can see getting 50 ft. But every time five been on a set the Flats don't seem to bother it.
It seems like Mike is taking care of the issue though. Good luck . I don't think the metal bodies limit range. All of the Antennae are housed in the upper plastic portion of the transmitter.
 
joshua gitersonke said:
I have used my Bolt with two receivers continuously for months on a few different shows and it has worked without fail at around 120-150ft. I've never really tried to test the extreme range on set. There was one time we were having issues but it turned out to be a pinched power cable. I have received the updated version though. If I'm trying to transmit through a lot of walls I can see getting 50 ft. But every time five been on a set the Flats don't seem to bother it.
It seems like Mike is taking care of the issue though. Good luck . I don't think the metal bodies limit range. All of the Antennae are housed in the upper plastic portion of the transmitter.
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Absolutely correct. The metal body in no way affects the range.

Keep in mind, 100% of our units are range tested and if they do not meet 300ft or more, they get sent back to be rebuilt. Often times, range problems arise from incorrect mounting, 5GHz interference (from WiFi and other sources), or obstacles like walls.
 
Redusers.

This thread is very timely for a project we are working on. We have a project that we are spec'ing in which we intended to use the lower priced version of the Bolt (regular, I guess, not pro). Teradek rep's indicated 300ft which would ideal for an application involving live broadcasting of football games. We had been thinking about end zone cameras with rx at the 50 yard line in press boxes.

Please post your experiences as you guys work through tech support to see if you are getting the increased range.

Thanks in advance.
 
Just a quick update:

Here is the definitive range test video for the Teradek Bolt Pro 2000. We also wanted to show you what the video looks like when it breaks up after going past the maximum advertised range with stock antennas. Reconnection times are typically 1 to 3 seconds, but may slightly increase when you go over 2000ft.

https://vimeo.com/82254348
 
Received my Bolt 2000 a few weeks ago and transmission as been flawless. I haven't done any extreme range tests but it's worked perfectly all around an ice rink and in a small house with the receiver at one end on the main floor and the receiver at the other end in the basement. There are a couple little quirks, not really bugs but in talking to their tech support they are already being addressed. Very refreshing to talk to tech support that actually knew all about the product and were open with the known issues instead of just letting your find it on your own while shooting. System is easy to set up and doesn't require any fiddling. Power on...go.

This is the first product I've purchased from Teradek and their tech support has been spectacular. A stand that the bolt receiver was mounted to fell over while wrapping a location. The receiver fell forward at just the right angle to land against the edge of the boards at a hockey arena and sheered off ALL FIVE antennas from the receiver at the elbow bend. I e-mailed tech support right away and they let me know that the product was so new that they didn't have any spare parts yet. A few hours later I receive an e-mail that they've sourced the antennas and have updated their website so I can purchase them. I make the purchase at 5:20 Eastern time, 2:20pm Pacific the same day and they had the shipment out via FedEX at 4:47pm yesterday. At 10:40am I have the replacement parts in my hand here in Toronto and am back in business.

Great product. Great support.
 
Really keen to hear any more Bolt 2000 real world accounts?

We have the normal bolt systems and they are pretty good (and excellent for the money) but we have on occasion needed more and something really super rock solid..

Teradeck seems to have some great people working for them and are getting better at understanding real world on set needs.

Michael
 
Michael Lindsay said:
Really keen to hear any more Bolt 2000 real world accounts?

We have the normal bolt systems and they are pretty good (and excellent for the money) but we have on occasion needed more and something really super rock solid..

Teradeck seems to have some great people working for them and are getting better at understanding real world on set needs.

Michael
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Hey Michael,

You can read 3 more real world accounts from Robert Starling, Nick Parker, and Jon Beattie over at the Steadicam Forum:

http://www.steadicamforum.com/index.php?showtopic=19495&page=3
 
The device is multicast capable, but the firmware isn't ready. We have a few units in house that can do it now, but public release won't be for a few weeks.
 
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