Teradek Bolt DSMC2 on set review

[Adam Welch]

Any issues using the Teradek Bolt DSMC2 with the V-Lock IO Expander?

 

[Ivan Verlaan]

We received ours a little while ago. No time to test the actual signal yet, but this DSMC2 Bolt 500 will be put through it's paces next week on a multicam setup. In the meantime, I've been dealing with the physical setup.

The stock antennas aren't very big by any means, but not exactly "low profile". Inspired by Markus, I ordered 90° low-profile antennas from Teradek -- Item no. 11-0035.

Installation is dead simple... as expected. The only issue I had was top plate clearance.

Despite the smaller antenna size, I had a collision with the OMOD top plate, which sticks out behind the body a little bit. The top plate was a few millimetres from making contact with the camera at the back, and the antennas couldn't rotate. So, rather than drop more coin on a new top plate (and then possibly affect our side + base plates), I opened up the tool box and turned on the GoPro: https://www.instagram.com/tv/BqtQ5UKnS8p/

Please forgive the vertical format... it's IGTV ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Very excited to have eliminated two cables and a 1/4-20 mount from this camera! Here's hoping the signal holds up!

 

[Jarred Land]

Well done Ivan. ninja.

 

[Dan Graetz]

Hey Phil,

Do you have if the DSMC2 module is compatible with Offhollywood top plate below?

https://csny.io/collections/mounting-support/products/dsmc2-top-plate

It seems like the plate may get in the way of the antenna.... hopefully I'm wrong!

Cheers,

Pete

I just bought the Offhollywod Standard top plate hoping it would give me a solution since my old Extended OMOD top plate covers the antennae ports. Unfortunately the Standard plate is a millimetre too long to fit the antennae on - not even sure the Paralinx antenna extender Greg posted earlier would fit on there? At this stage my best option looks like the revised Wooden Camera pass-through top plate they modified to fit the new KipperTie Revolva lens mount (which is badass!) https://woodencamera.com/products/revolva-pass-through-top-plate-dsmc2

 

[Dan Graetz]

I upgraded to the latest RED Weapon Release Candidate build (7.1.01) to get support for the Teradek module (prior to that I was getting no video to the receiver but everything was powering correctly with Brain->Teradek->OMOD XLR2->RED V-lok plate config). As soon as I upgraded - everytime I'd boot the camera, after initialization it would go straight into a low voltage 10sec countdown and turn the camera off (despite trying with fully-charged batteries from two different manufacturers). I removed the OMOD & RED Vlok plate and switched to a RED V-lok Expander module and it all worked fine.

The module is bad-ass. Hoping I can get it working with the OMOD XLR2 - waiting on word back from Offhollywood on that.

 

[Peter Lay]

Thanks Dan. I hit it with Dremel

 

[Ivan Verlaan]

Thanks Dan. I hit it with Dremel

I need to get a Dremel :emote_headwall:

 

[Markus Foerderer]

Any issues using the Teradek Bolt DSMC2 with the V-Lock IO Expander?

I used it with V-Lock Expander and Base Expander. Both work great with the Bolt DSMC2.

 

[Derek Morrison]

We just got ours in the 1000 flavor, but we're having a lot of trouble getting signal from it to our bolt1000 RX. I've done a spectrum scan and most look to be clear but it will not hold a connection for more than half a second. Then it takes about 5min for it to re-connect. I've updated firmware on both Tx/Rx and I see a new release of firmware from RED, but I don't think that will fix it. Has anyone had issues like this before and found a solution. I'm going to open a ticket with Teradek on Monday if we can't get this sorted over the weekend. Its an awesome piece of gear if i can get it to work.

 

[Peter Lay]

We just got ours in the 1000 flavor, but we're having a lot of trouble getting signal from it to our bolt1000 RX. I've done a spectrum scan and most look to be clear but it will not hold a connection for more than half a second. Then it takes about 5min for it to re-connect. I've updated firmware on both Tx/Rx and I see a new release of firmware from RED, but I don't think that will fix it. Has anyone had issues like this before and found a solution. I'm going to open a ticket with Teradek on Monday if we can't get this sorted over the weekend. Its an awesome piece of gear if i can get it to work.

Hi Derek, we had the same exact issue with two of our DSMC2 modules. Also, the modules would not connect with Bolt Manager properly so running a firmware upgrade was not possible either. Teradek has been extremely helpful in getting this resolved for us though - they've since replaced both modules, which are now working perfectly.

 

[Derek Morrison]

Great to hear you were taken care of Peter. We managed to re-run firmware updates and after a few reboots, everything is up and running. We're loving this new integrated design. Fantastic addition to any DSMC2 Kit.

 

[Keith Dela Rosa]

Has anyone else purchased this piece of gear?

Looking to get one myself!

 

[Tim Morten]

How are DSMC2 Bolt users dealing with the base IO module covering the side of the Bolt that has the joystick/HDMI for configuration? Just use the PC software to configure?

 

[Tim Morten]

I started out Body->Bolt->Base IO->Battery plate. Sounds like I should do Body->Base IO->Bolt->Battery plate, I'll give that a shot.

Update: Nope, the Bolt won't screw into the Base IO, so it has to go first, which means its HDMI is covered. Hopefully I can do the pairing without it, otherwise I'll have to try the software solution, or perhaps do the pairing with my Base IO not installed.

 

[Rhys Lynn]

I started out Body->Bolt->Base IO->Battery plate. Sounds like I should do Body->Base IO->Bolt->Battery plate, I'll give that a shot.

Update: Nope, the Bolt won't screw into the Base IO, so it has to go first, which means its HDMI is covered. Hopefully I can do the pairing without it, otherwise I'll have to try the software solution, or perhaps do the pairing with my Base IO not installed.

We finished a week long shoot last month that involved a lot of re-pairing (2 cams that we swapped in and out as needed, each time re-pairing the cam to two 703 monitors). All we needed was a paper clip. Pretty seamless except for a few times when we needed to power cycle the RED to get the module to enter pairing mode.

 

[Tim Morten]

Yeah, I was able to pair no problem even with the Bolt HDMI covered. Nice piece of gear, very happy.

 

[Blair Thornton]

I upgraded to the latest RED Weapon Release Candidate build (7.1.01) to get support for the Teradek module (prior to that I was getting no video to the receiver but everything was powering correctly with Brain->Teradek->OMOD XLR2->RED V-lok plate config). As soon as I upgraded - everytime I'd boot the camera, after initialization it would go straight into a low voltage 10sec countdown and turn the camera off (despite trying with fully-charged batteries from two different manufacturers). I removed the OMOD & RED Vlok plate and switched to a RED V-lok Expander module and it all worked fine.

The module is bad-ass. Hoping I can get it working with the OMOD XLR2 - waiting on word back from Offhollywood on that.

Dan, Do you have the Brain->Teradek->OMOD XLR2->RED V-lok plate config working yet?

 

[Nicholas Wise]

Anyone here know if the antennas position will interfere with Red's Tactical Top Plate?

UPDATE: Teradek have confirmed that the antennas WILL interfere with the Tactical Top Plate ... sh*tballs.

 

[Benjamin Roth]

Quick question for you guys with more experience on the subject:

Bolt XT 500 vs. 1000. Is there a difference in terms of signal strength/connection when TX and RX are 50m apart?
We're not looking for long distance, but reliability in around that range.

Currently w're running a Bolt Pro setup from a couple years back and we frequently have dropouts/reconnects etc. TX and RXs usually aren't too far apart I'd say a maximum of 50 meters.
Now we'd like to switch to a current setup and the Bolt DSMC2 is pretty attractive.
Trying to figure out if it's worth it to spend double on the 1000ft. version when we rarely have those distances.

This note from the Teradek Bolt FAQ made me think: "the use of external / directional antennas cannot increase the range on the Bolt -- they are always limited to the maximum distance of the model. This limitation is built into the wireless chipset by the wireless module manufacturer, and is outside of Teradek's control."

Thanks for your thoughts.
Cheers,
Ben

 

[Tim Morten]

Considering that they bought the wireless chipset manufacturer, I'd say it's no longer outside their control. Bolt 500 should work fine at 50m, depending in what sort of walls are in between.