nickruss

I am trying to connect an Eyecam Extreme to a Sony DV camcorder using the AV input jack on the docking station. The trouble is that I get a blue screen i.e. no signal. If I power the eyecam on and off, I sometimes get a fraction of a second of image from the camera, but then nothing.

If I connect the eyecam into the input of my TV I see a high quality image. I am in UK and the system is PAL

If anyone has any ideas what the reason may be, I'd appreciate some advice

thanks#

Nick

Sky High

I would think that the Eyecam is NTSC (30 [29.97] fps) and is out of sync with your PAL (25 fps) camera. You should call DFI and ask them.

sixstringlz

I'm having the same problem and I live in the USA. I don't have the eyecam but I'm using the black widow KX141 and trying to connect it to my sony mini DV camcorder. I'm having the exact same response that you discribed. The camcorder will record just fine off the t.v. but not the BWAV RX? This is one of the reasons I bought this camcorder to record from my RX but have had no luck. Please help also? Thanks

Sky High

Nickruss, are you guys sure that your camera can record analog IN? Try hooking up a VCR to it and recording content from it to your camera if you're not sure. If your camera can definitely record analog IN then I don't know what the problem would be other than what I mentioned with the format difference of NTSC and PAL.

sixstringlz, if you're not sure of the same thing check the manual to see if yours accepts analog video IN. Other than that, I don't what the problem could be since all of your gear is NTSC.

Hooch

I have a Sony DV Cam, TRV-10 or something like that, don't recall exactly. And it is for sure an Input/Output device. Maybe not all of them are? But the one time I have tried so far, it worked fine, I just got lots of lines and feedback in the video. I am guessing due to being so close to my house that is majorly Wifi enabled. Gonna do some more testing this weekend. But regardless it appears to work fine. Make sure you are plugged in good. I tried the other night for the fun of it and had blue screen, come to find out, the cable had come slightly out of the dv cam and wasn't getting signal! Good Luck.

sixstringlz

Yes mine also has the input/output feature, I've read it in manual and used it too! I'm sure it isn't a loose cable because while trying to record from the RX I switched my rca plugs to the vcr and recoreded fine from that. Then I switched back to the RX and still the same problem. I really hope someone can figure this out. I'ts getting the single because it will flash on for a second and then it's a blue screen, but if I turn the power off to the KX141 and back on it does the same thing, just for a second then blue screen. Same thing also but much faster if I unplug the video cable and plug it back in. I have the Sony DCR-HC90. Thanks

Sky High

Well the blue screen happens because of a loss of signal no matter what it's connected to, it's made to do that. Since you did successfully record from the wireless camera to the VCR, then the issue is definitely between the receiver and the camcorder. I don't know what it could be. I would call the place you bought it from and see if they know what the problem is.

TheHindmost

That flash of signal reminds of me of the old days in computer graphics hardware/monitors...If it's flashing a good picture and then goes bad (yet another application for the term "blue screen of death" ), it's losing sync. Back in the day, we had to manually select refresh rates and sync types (sync on green or separate [these were RGB inputs], etc.) and frequencies, and the symptom of getting it wrong would frequently be the flash and then nothing. Obviously, manually selecting that kind of stuff shouldn't be necessary (and isn't even possible in most cases) today, but the symptom still probably means sync is being lost for whatever reason.

Perhaps the signal from the camera receiver is weaker than your VCR signal...Have you tried using a very high quality shielded cable? And is the receiver battery-powered or plugged in? Beyond what Sky High has already said, that's all I can think of.

Will

sixstringlz

I tried both battery power and plugging the RX in but with the same results, as for the cable it works fine when inputing it in to the VCR and displaying it on TV. I also have a 2.5in LCD screen in my setup and it works just as good with that to. Your explanation of the possible cause is very interesting! I will try emailing blackwidowav and see what Bill has to say. Any other ideals very appreciated. Thanks

TheHindmost

I'll be curious to hear what they have to say...Please note that I was not saying that you needed to adjust any of those parameters...They're probably not even adjustable. The "flash of picture" symptom just reminded me of the old days (that is, the late 80s ) when misadjusting those things on high-end monitors would cause a quick flash of picture and then loss of sync.

So my theory was just that the video signal from the RX was too weak for the DV to stay in sync...but I'm just grasping at straws...

Will

nickruss

Still no joy, though DF say:

"Are you getting a signal from the camera when connected to a tv or other device? The camera should be compatible with your Sony camcorder although you may want to look at the instructions manual and see what type of video input is has. The output from the eyecam is standard composite through RCA jacks, although you may need to get an adaptor to go into 1/8 inch if this is what your camcorder uses for input. I can not say whether or not the eyecam will work with your camcorder without knowing some technical information about it or at least the model number."

Browsing around I liked the look of their Diversity RX which is PAL and NTSC so I ordered one of those anyway.

Hooch

Well my DV only has an 1/8" jack, that I use the Sony cable on, that cable has all my ins and outs. So not sure if that is how you are hooking up. But I would be guessing so.

sixstringlz

I'm using the stock RX output cable and the stock camcorder cable, both end with male RCA plugs. I'm using a male to male adaptor in between them. Hears what bill said "Hmmmmm... I read the thread, it sounds like a lot of good suggestions. My first
question is this... how are you connecting the RX to the camcorder? I'm assuming you are using the stock camcorder cable, then a gender bender, then the stock RX cable... The only other thing I can think of is to send the setup back and I can look at the receiver output on my o'scope to see if the signal is below or above the normal parameters for a video signal. Do you want to try that?" Well I guess it can't hurt to send the reciever back and see if it is setup right. What do you guys think? Thanks

Sky High

Well, if your receiver records to your VCR then the receiver output works fine. Try using your VCR as a I/O bridge and see if you get a signal from your receiver to the VCR and then from the VCR to the camera. If you do, then your camera is not getting enough impedance or whatever it's called from the receiver and the VCR is boosting that signal.

sixstringlz

Sky,

I tried the bridge connection through the VCR and the camcorder was able to recieve the single. So what does the mean, is my RX bad? Thanks

TheHindmost

Something might be out-of-tolerance on the RX...But if you haven't tried a truly high quality shielded cable yet (NOT the junk they ship with the RX), that'd be the next step. Apparently, your VCR is just more tolerant than the camcorder is for some reason.

Will

Sky High

I am having a very similar issue with a device with an analog OUT going to my media converter. Every other analog device works so why not this one. [:@] Here's the [link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=4130467]the story[/link].....

nickruss

OK, now here's an update. I received my Diversity RX from DFI today and the quality of the images is AMAZING (viewed through eyetop glasses or into my TV).

Sadly when I plugged it into my Sony DV (model DCR PC-109E) I still get the same problem - a blue screen! Well that was money well spent...

I tried a test with my DV - I plugged a digital camera into the A/V input and it worked fine. The signal was set to PAL. When I switched the signal to NTSC on the digicam, I got the same blue screen as on the Diversity RX.

So my conclusion from this evidence is that the Diversity receiver outputs NTSC and is not compatible with my camcorder.

So I have to spend some more money before I can get some DF imagery [&o]

CAN ANYONE RECOMMEND A SMALL LOW POWER NTSC TO PAL CONVERTER??? (if this is the problem)

Sky High

This unit is what I use to convert analog to digital and it also converts NTSC<->PAL. It only requires 5v to operate.

www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=3679069

nickruss

THank you Sky High. I bought one of those and guess what... still no image appearing on my DV!

One other thing I have observed - I can see the output of the Eyecam / Diversity RX on my television (regardless of NTSC or PAL conversion), however after a few seconds of good quality image, the image starts to flash at around 2 times a second.

Do you think I have faulty equipment?

Sky High

Well, if it makes you feel any better, I'm starting to have similar intermittent issues but thankfully not during flight, only during set up. Did you make sure the dip switches on the rear of the ADS unit were set correctly for PAL? I am occassionally having problems getting a picture after my initial flight. If I disconnect, I sometimes have to disconnect and reconnect the firewire or cycle the power on either or both the ADS and/or the camera. I think it does have something to do with sync and possibly the order of which components are turned on first. I'm going to try different combinations to see if I can isolate this.

nickruss

Thanks for keeping with me on this. Sorry for the dumb question, but what is the ADS unit and what are the dip switches for PAL?

Do let me know the preferred switching on order if you work it out!

Sky High

The ADS Pyro unit is the converter that you said you just bought. It has dip switches on the rear and the manual should tell you the combination of how to set it to PAL.

nickruss

Hi Guys

Still no joy here.

- the diversity receiver flickers every few seconds when viewed ok on externa LCD
- if I record the diversity output onto a VCR it is black and white
- still does not work when I plug into my Sony DV camcorder. I also have a Black Widow video downlink and this displays just fine on the camcorder, so what is the difference between the black widow and the eyecam extreme tx?

nickruss

sorry sky, i didnt get the ADS pyro - just some other NTSC to PAL converter from Maplins electronics store.

Are you saying you cant plug the eyecam video feed into your camcorder directly either?