2012Video Assist and Video Accessories forum
Wireless RF tally light indicator system for broadcast camera operations
14 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
What the thread found
- A wireless tally system can be built with a transmitter mounted on top of a camera sled using a photocell sensor to detect the camera tally light, and a separate receiver with LED indicators placed elsewhere on the rig or monitor.
- The prototype achieved a wireless transmission range of approximately 150 feet.
- The system can run on 12 to 18 volts for the receiver and uses a 12-volt battery internally for the transmitter, eliminating the need to run cables down the outside of camera rigs.
- Photocell sensitivity requires adjustment during camera checks to ensure reliable operation throughout a production.
- Field testing over a full outdoor broadcast operation showed the system functioned without issues after initial photocell calibration.
- A four-pin XLR socket on the receiver allows flexible power input from various 12-volt sources such as sled power outputs or D-tap connectors.
Depends on
- This was a prototype and proof of concept that underwent limited field testing.
- The final production configuration had not been completed at the time of the discussion.
- Initial design used mixed power sources (9-volt and 12-volt batteries) that were intended to be consolidated into a unified 12-volt system.
- Photocell sensitivity required manual tuning and may vary depending on ambient light conditions and camera tally light design.