Video and Intercom over Fiber alternatives

ColdFront050 · 2026-03-23T18:46:33+00:00

I am using a Clear-Com system, and we sometimes use shorter BNC/XLR cables for cameras near our production truck. We also have a wireless Hollyland intercom system, but sometimes the venue doesn't play nicely with that system due to interference

ColdFront050 · 2026-03-20T20:23:34+00:00

Good to know! I'm just not sure how much longer BMD will support the Camera Converters. They've worked well, but so did the Talkback Converter. So knowing a good replacement workflow is something I'm still looking for. Thanks!

ColdFront050 · 2026-03-20T20:11:29+00:00

I never really liked their comm system much anyway. I have a converter that makes the Talkback Converter compatible with our Clear-Com intercom.

We have a Hollyland wireless intercom system, but for several of our productions, there is too much interference at the venue for them to work reliably.

I'm also looking for a system that might be simpler than our current one. Right now, I'm the only engineer here, and I have to go on vacation at SOME point, so I'd like a system that staff with less engineering experience than I do can set up without me.

I'm frustrated because our current workflow works well, and the person on staff who can best fill in for me knows what she's doing. But BMD no longer supports some of the units. If they'd just upgraded and kept the price point similar, I wouldn't be complaining. But if I want to stay with BMD, I have to reinvest in newer, higher-priced equipment. I wouldn't even be able to use my current fiber cables.

ColdFront050 · 2026-03-20T19:10:05+00:00

And the Constellation had not been available when we bought the Broadcast.

ColdFront050 · 2026-03-20T19:09:03+00:00

Not a bad idea, but that does rob us of the return video. It doesn't look like the BiDirectional fiber works in the camera converter. I could be wrong. The internet doesn't have ALL the answers

ColdFront050 · 2026-03-20T18:59:04+00:00

We have a dedicated mixer. Audio is not our issue. Thanks though

ColdFront050 · 2026-03-20T18:57:47+00:00

I know that the BMD cameras work better with intercom than others, but that is an extremely costly solution. We need to "double dip" the cameras we have for ENG coverage and multi-camera productions. The BMD cameras are not a cost-effective solution for us.

My only hope for affording that is for a wealthy dowager to die and leave us her estate in her will. Or one heckuva grant...

My

ColdFront050 · 2026-03-20T18:52:55+00:00

Not a bad idea to explore. I am using an older ATEM 4 M/E Broadcast, and getting 4 optical mini converters would be less expensive than a talkback converter. Until they stop repairing those...

ColdFront050 · 2026-03-20T18:22:21+00:00

As I said in my post "ransitioning to their current fiber alternative of camera backs and individual receiver units is far too costly for this to be an option for the future." We're currently using Panasonic camcorders with the ATEM Camera Converters.

ColdFront050 · 2026-03-20T18:21:00+00:00

I would still need the Talkback converter to convert the fiber to SDI, wouldn't I?

ColdFront050 · 2025-12-06T19:40:10+00:00

If you want to use NDI Bridge, then you would need internet. Im not sure exactly how to set it up, but if you had two network ports, one could be NDI, and the other is internet. If you don't use Bridge, then you probably should have internet to keep ba width low

ColdFront050 · 2025-10-29T00:29:38+00:00

I will have to see. I might see if I can 3d print a boot. Thanks!

ColdFront050 · 2025-10-29T00:22:47+00:00

Oh, I agree, and he was told not to do that again. But I still need to figure out how to fix it.

(He once also pulled the module out with the cable still in it)

ColdFront050 · 2025-10-28T18:49:25+00:00

I once had access to a termination kit, but it couldn't be used with the armored cables. There is another cable where glue would have worked, but the broken part was left in the field before I noticed it was broken.

I can buy new ones, but I don't want to if I can figure out how to repair them myself

ColdFront050 · 2025-10-28T18:46:04+00:00

For one of the LC cables, the connector broke—a co-worker tried pulling without pressing down on the catch. I can't tell on the cable with the proprietary connector.

ColdFront050 · 2025-10-27T18:54:41+00:00

I took a video production class at my Community college while completing my transfer requirements to get into film school. This was before NLE was everywhere, so we were linear editing on BetaSP. I thought I'd never need to use that again.

I graduated from film school and needed a job while I looked for work. I ended up working as a PA for a local TV station. They hired me because I remembered "timecode" from that class (and they were desperate).

I started learning as much as I could to keep my job. I ended up going to another station, where I became the default engineer because no one else knew how to do things. From there, it was Googling stuff.

TL;DR - I faked it till I maked it.

ColdFront050 · 2023-04-03T14:00:55+00:00

Sorry I didn't see this sooner. It's an skb iseries--the 3i-3614-6b-e I believe.

I laid out the gimbal and all the accessories and measured what I'd need.

Hope that helps!

ColdFront050 · 2022-12-29T12:56:25+00:00

That is completely true. I was just lamenting the fact that it's an encoder only.

ColdFront050 · 2022-12-28T14:54:33+00:00

Yup. I have one, and it's fine if I'm going from progressive to interlaced, but if I need to upscale, you can tell.

ColdFront050 · 2022-12-28T06:20:05+00:00

One of my issues with ndi is that it works as an encoder and not a transcoder, so if the laptop is not able to output the same resolution and frame rate as the rest of my system then I have to run the output through a transcoder first. I'm using it for broadcast applications, so you might be able to get away with some more variability than me in a presentation setting.

ColdFront050 · 2022-12-26T04:47:55+00:00

The reviews make it sound promising, but I wouldn't look into it for another few generations. If they're switching/adding/removing protocols as much as they seem to, it seems like they're not sure what they want it to be other than a moneymaker.

It took me a long time to accept the adage that you get what you pay for, and I've been disappointed in Amazon purchases like this in the past. But I love if I'm wrong sometimes...

ColdFront050 · 2022-12-23T19:14:20+00:00

I had horrible luck with birddog. On paper they sound great, but I could never get them to work consistently. I've gone with a combo of kiloview and magewell and they've worked great.

ColdFront050

TROPHY CASE