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Trying to do wireless video tap. Need Help!

Tanner Stauss

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I have a Titan Transvideo wireless tap system, an AJA HD to SD downconvertor, several HD-SDI and BNC cables, and the monitor I am using is a small cheap Ikan V8000HD. I have tried several different combinations with the Titan, the AJA and the monitor with no luck on getting picture.

Here is the thing about this monitor, it may not even be important in this matter. On the box it says that this is an On-Camera "HD" LCD Monitor, meant for smaller/lesser digital cameras. It claims to be capable of 480p, 720p and 1080i, but on the back of the box it says that the resolution is only 800x480...what the hell. Not only does this monitor pose a very confusing set of specifications, but I have still gotten no picture to verify what the resolution is.

Sorry to ramble as that may not matter since I a using the downconvertor anyways.

I just want to know if anyone has used the Titan before with the RED, or any camera for that matter, and had it work. Is it capabe of sending an HD signal? Or do I have to use the downconvertor. I just don't know what cables to use where, and what end the downconvertor needs to go on, camera side or monitor side?

Please help, I am trying to get it working as soon as possible. Thank you in advance for any help.

Tanner
 
Furthermore, I just tried going straight from the camera to the monitor, nothing. I also tried from the camera to the AJA and then the monitor, nothing. How do you know if the AJA is bad?

I know that this isn't exactly a RED issue, but I really need help and I have had good luck with good answers on Reduser, so sorry and thank you.
 
That monitor can support input signals of several resolutions but will convert them all to it's own fairly limited native resolution which is about the same as SD.

The monitor has three available inputs, SD via composite video (a BNC connector), SD via S-Video (a multi-pin connector) and SD or HD via component video (three BNCs for Y-G [Luminance/green], pR [red], and pB [blue]). No HD-SDI or SD-SDI supported. This means that the monitor would never be able to accept the signal directly out of the RED.

The Titan is an SD video transmitter, sending out only composite video over a broadcast frequency. You need a receiver on the other end to capture this broadcast. Think of it as a little TV transmitter and you need a TV receiver to see the signal. Currently you have just a monitor, which is a screen with no built in tuner.

The AJA HD10MD3 is the correct downconverter box to use with the RED One. It will take HD-SDI in and output five possible signals: [1] a pass-thru of HD-SDI, [2] a downconvereted SD-SDI, [3] a downconverted SD component YpRpB (see above), [4] a downconverted SD component RGB, and [5] a downcoverted SD composite (this is the one you want). By flipping the little DIP switches on the back you can switch the output connections between YpRpG and RGB, component v. composite, 4:3 & 16:9, letterbox vs. center-extraction, and other options. The composite out port is the same as the luminance out which is why you need to switch. If you get a B&W or all green image then you know you need to change a DIP switch. It is an extrememly versatile little box that you will likely set to just one thing and never touch again! You know if it is functioning properly by pluging in power and the HD-SDI signal out of the RED One and if the green LED lights up on the side of the unit then it is functioning. You should be able to go directly from theAJA to your monitor if you go to the correct input.

Order of connection is as follows:

- Red One HD-SDI OUT to AJA HD10MD3 HD-SDI IN. Don't forget to provide power to the AJA.
- AJA SD composite OUT to TITAN Video In. Be sure to power the Titan.
- Tune TV receiver to whatever channel the Titan is set to broadcast. Be sure that the tuner is set to broadcast UHF frequencies instead of cable TV frequencies, which are different (confused yet?).

Get a TV tuner of some kind. Something with an Antenna. In 2008 your home may have all TVs connected to cable and no VCR just DVD deck, or frankly maybe you just use your computer. But you need something with an antenna to receive a signal. Good luck on finding a pocket-sized tuner to connect to you Ikan monitor. For the size and cost you're probably better off buying an all in one unit. My suggestion (which we sell) is to buy a Camos portable TV from Nebtek. This is a 7" 16:9 LCD TV with built in tuner and antenna. Nebtek modifies it to take camcorder batteries on the back so that you are truly portable with it and it works great. We sell and rent these in combination with downconverters and video transmitters every day with great success. They are the device of choice for reality TV production.

Hope this all helps. If you need any further assistance feel free to contact me directly. This may be less puzzling if we went through it over the phone.
 
Wow, thank you so much. This does shed some light on the subject. One thing though, I do have a Titan transmitter AND a Titan Reciever. I guess I mainly need to get the cables correct and the settings on the AJA correct. You said to go HD-SDI to the AJA. Is it then ok to use HD-SDI cables for the rest of the connections(from AJA to Titan Transmitter, then Titan reciever to the monitor)? or do I need to use BNC or SD-SDI cables. Is BNC different from SD-SDI?

Thanks again, truly,

Tanner
 
Wow, thank you so much. This does shed some light on the subject. One thing though, I do have a Titan transmitter AND a Titan Reciever. I guess I mainly need to get the cables correct and the settings on the AJA correct. You said to go HD-SDI to the AJA. Is it then ok to use HD-SDI cables for the rest of the connections(from AJA to Titan Transmitter, then Titan reciever to the monitor)? or do I need to use BNC or SD-SDI cables. Is BNC different from SD-SDI?

Thanks again, truly,

Tanner

You need to get the AJA settings correct and use the SD composite Video In of the Monitor from the SD composite Video Out of the Titan Receiver.

HD-SDI cables will be fine for all your connections, as these are backwards compatible with SD signals whether SDI or composite.

BNC is a type of connector, and SD-SDI/HD-SDI/Composite are signal formats. The type of connector has no direct link with the signal format, except that BNC happens to be a commonly used connector for cables carrying those signal formats and is therefore manufactured with the correct 75 ohm impedance to use with those signals.
 
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