KOMODO Link Adapter, any reviews/use?

[Trishul Thejasvi]

I'm debating whether to buy the Link Adaptor or not, it seems expensive for what it is, but being used to RED LCDs I'm not a big fan of most monitor options that require external power and just feel overly bulky for a build I'm trying to keep as compact as possible. I personally don't ever use false color, peaking, LUTs etc.. or any of the features of typical monitors, I just want as accurate an image as possible, and I find iPhone and iPads pretty damn accurate, my 11 Pro is probably the most accurate screen I own. In the brief testing I've done, I've found the Komodo Control App very useable, and the lag is very impressive. Honestly I'm just amazed it works as well as it does for something that is built into the body, it's great.

But the lag is there, and obviously the quality of the image is only as good as the signal, so it's not ideal for consistent operating. Has anyone purchased the adaptor and how have you found using an iOS device with it? Does it supply power to the device, if so have you noticed any significant drain on batteries? Are there any other uses you've found, such as ability to transfer files, or even record to an SSD?

 

[Christoffer Glans]

It supplies a small amount of power so it will drain even when plugged in, even if it’s by a small amount. There’s a bit of a lag but it’s not bad and it’s faster than WiFi viewing. However, the downside I feel is micro stutters. There might be an update to improve this, but the benefit of SDI monitoring is that you get frame accurate smoothness of the video signal.

If Link stays the same as it is now I will probably change it out in the future for a better SDI option.

 

[Phil Holland]

I just bought one last week to bring with me for the next shoot. Still tinkering on the rigging a bit, but I have been testing Link and RED Control. Wireless and cabled connection performance really depends on your phone, newer IOS and Android phones do a great job. When cabled it's very low lag, like not noticeable. Don't think it's exactly 0ms, but it's speedy. The connection does trickle charge your phone which is nice and when you detach the cable it can seamlessly go to wireless, which I was hoping for.

I believe it keeps the 720p resolution for now, hoping that increases for the cabled connection in particular. But it's early days.

Somewhat blown away how well this works in practice. Nothing will beat that SDI for zero latency as well as resolution and bit depth, but this works a treat when you need to grab and go.

 

[Christoffer Glans]

When cabled it's very low lag, like not noticeable. Don't think it's exactly 0ms, but it's speedy.

Have you seen the micro stutters? I agree that latency is very good, I don't have a problem with that, but there are stutters all the time, framedrops and such which makes it a bit unreliable for critical viewing. 720p is ok for these small "monitors", I much rather have framerate accurate smooth motion before having more resolution.

 

[Andrew Gentle]

I'd really like to know if the KOMODO LINK will support R3D data streams like RED TETHER using either direct-attached SSDs through the port or using an Ethernet adaptor and a computer running the RED Tether app. I am aware that you can record to an SSD with an adaptor in the CFast port but the Ethernet solution can come in handy in some situations also.

 

[Carlo De Agostini]

I’ve just received my link adaptor, I connect it to my iPhone (latest firmware and red Komodo updated), but it doesn’t work.

Red control doesn’t see the Komodo, how do you make it work?

It ships with a huge box without the manual

Thanks

 

[Phil Holland]

I’ve just received my link adaptor, I connect it to my iPhone (latest firmware and red Komodo updated), but it doesn’t work.

Red control doesn’t see the Komodo, how do you make it work?

It ships with a huge box without the manual

Two things I've noticed on iPhone:

1. It needs a Sim card in there
2. Enable Airplane Mode

 

[Thomas B.]

I’ve just received my link adaptor, I connect it to my iPhone (latest firmware and red Komodo updated), but it doesn’t work.

Red control doesn’t see the Komodo, how do you make it work?

It ships with a huge box without the manual

Thanks

Quick guide from Jonathan Pett's video on the RED Solitary Series (just in case that's what you're looking for):

1. Plug one end of the USB-C cable into the KOMODO LINK
2. Plug the other USB-C connector into your phone
3. RED CONTROL app / Settings / Network & Internet / Hotspot & tethering / turn on USB tethering
4. KOMODO MENU / Communication / KOMODO LINK Adapter / (after connecting the cable to the phone, an IP address should be displayed)
5. Perform a Re-Scan in the RED CONTROL app. If WiFi is still enabled, 2 cameras will be displayed (one for each connection type). Then ...
6. ... select the camera that shows "[LINK]" to receive the wired video feed via the KOMODO LINK adapter.

As Phil mentioned earlier, iOS devices need a SIM card, Android devices work without it.

 

[Carlo De Agostini]

I had a chat with the red customer care, they told me that there is as issue with iOs 14, they are working on the solution.

They confirmed also that the link adaptor does not work with iPads that don't have a sim card.

 

[Trishul Thejasvi]

thanks for the replies guys!! That's a shame to hear iPad needs a SIM card, was looking forward to potentially using my old mini. I think this decision would be a lot easier to make if the SmallHD Focus options were in stock. Or are there any other options that have touch Red control, I'm struggling to find anything.

 

[Björn Benckert]

Strange that it needs a sim. And also the studdering. Must be unfinnished code no?

 

[Peter John]

Strange that it needs a sim. And also the studdering. Must be unfinnished code no?

Yes i would love to know why some people have super smooth playback and some don’t. I being one of the latter. Tried everything to get the ad-hoc to work but only infrastructure is stutter free. And I was about to grab the link only to see that there is still some stutter problems even with that? Man this is my fav part about komodo... would love to get this issue solved.

 

[Phil Holland]

Strange that it needs a sim. And also the studdering. Must be unfinnished code no?

Sim thing, it's an IOS security thing as far as I can discern, might need an update to allow for it. Has something to do with connection. Might be something RED can address, but seems to be OS related. Similar to some phones needing Airplane mode or not.

Studering not really sure what the culprit is. All the devices I've tested cabled connection with are very smooth and low lag. I know older phones, like much older ones aren't ideal. You can tweak the stream quality internally on Komodo, that might be worth tinkering with.

 

[Dave Kratz]

You can not turn on USB tethering on a Red Hydrogen phone without a SIM card inside. It hits you with a prompt that says “Enable the cellular data before turning on hotpot” and that cannot be done without a SIM card. Whether or not that SIM needs a mobile plan, I have no idea but I’ve tried to get this adaptor working all day just as he did in the video and it does not let me.

 

[Christoffer Glans]

Studering not really sure what the culprit is. All the devices I've tested cabled connection with are very smooth and low lag. I know older phones, like much older ones aren't ideal. You can tweak the stream quality internally on Komodo, that might be worth tinkering with.

I'm highly sensitive to noticing stuttering in video. I know people who can watch something and never realize its played at the wrong framerate or has any problems with consistent framerates. So maybe everyone has this problem, but some notice it more than others.

But the stuttering I experience with it is far more noticeable than a question of debate. It's not about lag, the latency is consistent with the Link, it's enough for critical viewing. But the stuttering has to do with something else. It's not data bandwidth, since the stutters appear even on low streaming quality. So it has to be about some inconsistencies with the code, either in Komodo, how it works with the Link or the Control app itself handling the data through tethering. I also tried different project frame rates to see if it's smooth in 24 fps compared to 25 fps, but nope, no difference.

As of now, I think Red need to test the Link with both Android (hopefully Hydrogen since Link is popular among the Hydrogen discount owners) and iOS and tweak the code. It might even be that this stuttering appears on the WiFi feed, but since WiFi is generally inconsistent we "accept" it more on that than with the Link. So maybe the stuttering is a general problem with viewing through the control app.

I hope Red reads this thread and try to find the bugs causing this, because if we get consistent framerates with the control app, that's all that's needed to make the Link a viable option for critical viewing when shooting, without having to get a dedicated monitor.

 

[Peter Choi]

Apologies slightly off topic, but can anyone confirm if the revolva can still be mounted with the link?

 

[Thomas B.]

Apologies slightly off topic, but can anyone confirm if the revolva can still be mounted with the link?

I doubt it will work just like that. I don't own the Revolva but I can confirm that the Link Adapter sticks out to the front for at least 8mm and this protrusion with the mounting holes or 1/4"-20 threads begins to protrude at just about 5mm above Komodo's top. Solution: Cut off the protrusion and use longer screws to mount the Link (and maybe a NATO rail?). Be careful when cutting off this thing (just take away as much as necessary) since the Link Adapter has thin walls (max. 1mm) and is a very compact build.

 

[Dave Kratz]

Does anyone know how they were able to activate USB tethering on the Hydrogen without a SIM card? I've tried repeatedly and my Hydrogen tells me to Enable Cellular Data first, which cannot be done without a SIM installed.

 

[Christoffer Glans]

Does anyone know how they were able to activate USB tethering on the Hydrogen without a SIM card? I've tried repeatedly and my Hydrogen tells me to Enable Cellular Data first, which cannot be done without a SIM installed.

I have no problems with my Hydrogen in this matter. I have no sim and I can tether no problem. Have you updated your Hydrogen?

 

[Dave Kratz]

I have no problems with my Hydrogen in this matter. I have no sim and I can tether no problem. Have you updated your Hydrogen?

Yes, it's totally up to date. What version of Android are you running?