Thrifty Roadstar instr

DESCRIPTION

General

The Thrifty Package is ready-made and all-inclusive. Without any fuss or needing to do anything, you can just switch it on and start filming. And it comes at a very reasonable price.

The Thrifty Package incorporates the Roadstar 7" Wide Screen LCD Monitor (16 x 9, but switchable to 4 x 3), our Miniature Video Sender Transmitter called The Stamp together with our standard Mk 1Receiver (5 channel), a Kata carry bag, an NP1 powering shoe and all the relevant custom-made leads. The bag is nice and roomy and allows space for an NP1 battery. (Note that we do not include the NP1 battery as part of the Thrifty Package, but we can supply it if you wish).

The Monitor itself comes with several accessories, inclusive.

Our Video Sender units are designed to transmit high quality pictures and sound from a camera to a monitor using a legal, licence free 2.4 MHz microwave link.

The Stamp Miniature Transmitter

The Stamp is an incredibly small and lightweight Video Sender Miniature Transmitter - literally the size of a postage stamp and weighting only eight grams! Ideal for situations where the monitor will be close to the camera, but you need to work without a cable.

The Stamp is so small and light it is practical to use it even with DV Cams.

Standard 5 Channel Receiver - Mk 1

The Mk 1 Receiver is designed to receive microwave signals from the Transmitter and display high quality pictures and sound on any monitor of your choice, as before. It is compact and light with an efficient omni-directional aerial a right angled SMA connector comes as standard.

You can expect up to 300 metres range outdoors (line of sight) or up to 30 metres indoors. However, in this case, with The Stamp the ranges you can expect are 50 or 15 metres respectively.

The Receiver can be powered from any nominal 12 volt source capable of supplying 170mA. The actual voltage range is from 8 to 16 volts and is applied via the 4 pin Hirose socket on the end of the unit.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE

The Stamp Miniature Transmitter

Plug the right-angled BNC into the camera's video out socket and the Hirose into the camera's power socket.

The Stamp will not blow the fuse on early DigiBetas - current consumption is only 70mA.

Velcro The Stamp to the camera - and that's it!

If you don't have a Hirose socket on your camera, The Stamp can be powered from a PP3 type 9 volt battery by using our PP3 Clip Adapter, or our PP3 Battery Box. We can also make adapter leads to almost any plug and power source if needed.

The Stamp will run on any voltage from 6 - 15 volts, it has an internal voltage regulator.

Experiment to find the best place for The Stamp. Usually the highest point on the camera is best, on top or on the back of the battery often works well.

We can supply The Stamp to transmit on any of the 5 channels our standard Video Sender Receiver works on, or custom frequencies to order. The coloured dot on the top of the unit indicates the channel. Please check our Frequency Chart (or the TX/RX Specifications Comparison

Standard 5 Channel Receiver - Mk 1

Video is output via the BNC socket and sound via the phono socket.

If you have a multi-channel unit make sure the rotary selector switch is set to the same channel as the Transmitter.

Switch on the unit using the toggle power switch on the end of the unit and check the red light comes on. The brightness of the light indicates the battery state. As the battery runs down the light will dim and when it goes out the unit sill stop working and the battery will need recharging.

We can supply suitable batteries, mains power pack and cables if required.

Make sure the aerial is vertical and clear of any surrounding metalwork or obstructions.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR ASSEMBLING THE THRIFTY PACKAGE

Assembly

	Unzip the bottom flap of the bag and place the Roadstar Monitor face down in the bag, with the controls on the bottom edge, and secure with Velcro straps provided in an X pattern
	Plug the R/A power lead into the 12v socket on the bottom left of the monitor
	Plug the video/audio lead into the AV1 socket
	Plug the R/A BNC into the Video Sender Receiver BNC socket and phono plug into the video RX phono socket
	Plug the HRS4M plug into the Video Sender Receiver HRS4F socket
	Attach the R/A aerial to the SMA socket on the Video Sender Receiver so that the aerial rests down the side of the bag
	Attach the NP1 battery to the shoe and switch on the Receiver, the red LED should light
	Zip up the bag and turn over

The Stamp Miniature Transmitter

Attach The Stamp to the camera: plug the BNC into video out and plug the HRS4 power lead into the power socket on the camera.

The Stamp should be positioned on the camera as high up as possible with the aerial above the top of the camera in free space without touching any metalwork or wires. If no power from the camera is available, it can be run from a PP3 type 9 volt battery by using our PP3 Clip Adapter, or one of our PP3 Battery Boxes. A good battery should last several hours.

Operation

Turn the monitor on by pressing the power switch on the bottom left of the unit. If necessary select Video 1 input by pressing the power switch until 'Video 1' is shown on the monitor. The picture should now be displayed on the monitor.

To switch the monitor off hold down the power switch until the unit powers down.

Refer to the Roadstar instructions to set up the monitor. For general use make sure the dimmer is set to off or the picture will be very dim!

For specifications and more information (including links) on the Roadstar Monitor please see here.

WARNING


	A mains power supply is provided by Roadstar for the monitor. ONLY use this for power the monitor directly (ie plugged directly into the monitor itself). DO NOT EVER plug the mains power supply into the Thrifty Package power lead as this is wired centre pin negative (PAG standard) for the NP1 shoe adapter. The monitor is wired centre pin positive and will be damaged if you try to power the Thrifty Package in this way!

Batteries

To improve battery life, switch off the monitor when not in use.

It is not worth switching off the Video Sender Receiver in day to day use as the NP1 battery would power it for about 20 hours.

However, at the end of the days shoot, remove the battery or unplug the NP1 shoe from the power lead socket or the battery will run down during the night and eventually will be damaged.

You should charge the battery at the end of the day anyway for next day's use.

Never leave the battery connected when not in use as the monitor still draws a small current even when off, and if the battery is over-discharged it will become PERMANENTLY DAMAGED.

UPGRADES

Some amount of picture break-up has to be expected when movement between the Transmitter and the Receiver occurs. Careful positioning of the Transmitter and Thrifty Package can help minimise this.

By it's nature, the Thrifty Package is built to a price but you can improve range and picture break-up by upgrading to an 8dB Gain Box Aerial on the Receiver (as used in our premium Package).

You can also upgrade The Stamp to a standard 5 Channel or High Power model and keep The Stamp for short range situations.

As standard, The Stamp Miniature Transmitter is supplied tuned to channel 1, so the Video Sender Receiver also needs to be set to channel 1. To special order we can supply or retune The Stamp to any of the five Black Box video standard channels. The coloured dot on the top of the unit indicates the channel. Please check our Frequency Chart (or the TX/RX Specifications Comparison) for more information.

PROBLEM SOLVING

Don't forget that the Receiver must be on the same channel as the Transmitter! By default, The Stamp is supplied on channel 12, unless you have specified a different channel (Note that only channels 1 to 5 on the Receiver's channel selector are valid). As mentioned already mentioned above, please check our Frequency Chart (or the TX/RX Specifications Comparison) for more information.

The Stamp has an omni-directional aerial which radiates in all directions. It is very important that the aerial tip is free of space with no objects or wires near it.

When using the Sender indoors reflections from girders, wiring, etc, will cause occasional flashes on the received picture when cancellation occurs. This will only happen when the Transmitter or Receiver is moving relative to each other or when objects are moved between the Transmitter or Receiver.

When using The Stamp outside, line of sight, these problems largely don't arise and the signal is much more stable. The maximum range outdoors is about 50 metres. Indoors a range of around 15 metres should generally be expected.