2015Video Assist and Video Accessories forum
Connex wireless video link capabilities, pricing, modifications, and comparison with alternatives
What the thread found
- The Connex is designed primarily for drone use and transmits flight telemetry alongside video, making it less ergonomic for steadicam and camera rig applications than purpose-built cinema video links.
- The Connex uses weak connectors including a 4-pin plastic internal power connector with thin 30AWG wires, making it vulnerable to damage if rehoused or modified.
- Accessory packages are available that add antenna support, mounting solutions, and power management to the Connex, enabling use on camera rigs at lower total cost than dedicated cinema links.
- The Connex Mini version ships without a cooling fan on the transmitter and is significantly smaller and lighter than the original model, with comparable performance in less noisy RF environments.
- The original Connex remains preferable when maximum range and robustness in interference-heavy environments justifies the higher cost compared to the Mini version.
- A Decimator converter can handle SDI to HDMI conversion for cameras that output only SDI.
Depends on
- The Connex was engineered for drone applications rather than cinema camera work.
- No consensus reached on whether simple HDMI-to-SDI conversion with connector upgrades would deliver comparable performance to purpose-built cinema video links.
- The original poster did not receive technical explanations for the significant price difference between consumer drone links and cinema-grade systems.
- Claims about specific performance figures and reliability come from equipment dealers and users, not independent testing reports.
- Discussion does not address latency performance across different Connex models.