2012Sled forum
Upgrading a PRO II sled to HD-SDI capability
14 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
What the thread found
- Official PRO HD upgrades requiring replacement of upper junction box, lower junction box, and centerpost are expensive, often costing nearly as much as purchasing a new HD sled outright.
- Attempting a DIY HD upgrade on a quick-release PRO II sled requires rewiring upper and lower junction boxes with a 19-pin LEMO cable, purchasing a new centerpost cable, and potentially modifying the centerpost to accommodate a wider cable.
- The complexity and rewiring effort required for a DIY HD upgrade typically costs as much or more than the official upgrade path when accounting for labor, materials, and risk of failure.
- An alternative approach involves taping a thin BNC connector to the coiled cable and soldering it to BNC connectors in the upper and lower junction boxes, which is cheaper than replacing the coiled cable and LEMO connectors but may complicate disassembly.
- Third-party technicians can perform HD-SDI upgrades on PRO II sleds at reasonable costs as an alternative to official manufacturer upgrades.
Depends on
- One person's attempted DIY upgrade was ultimately abandoned without completion, so firsthand successful DIY results are not documented in this thread.
- The BNC soldering approach was tested on a non-PRO sled, not specifically on a PRO II quick-release model.
- Specific pricing information is not provided for any upgrade option.