By site editor Dan Chung:
Teradek have been busy this week, not content with launching their new Link system they have today announced the Bolt – a brand new HD transmitter and receiver system using Wireless SDI Pro technology.
A HD signal sent wirelessly from a Bolt transmitter to receiver has virtually no latency and can handle 1080p60 4:2:2 up to 300ft. The Bolt is small and well featured with 3G-SDI input, SDI loop-through and internal battery or external power options. Construction is said to be very solid as it is milled from aluminium.
This is a different technology to the WiFi used in the company’s Cube transmitters, Cube is good for situations where you need to stream video online, stream to iOS devices or record proxy files in real time (on-board with an SD card or wirelessly to a hard drive connected to your network). However when streaming video Cube does have a slight delay and this is where Bolt comes in.
Bolt is low latency and designed for those who need a wireless zero delay view of what the camera is outputting – such as an AC or the operator of a remotely placed camera. I would personally use this for my Steadicam work. Most competing systems that are currently on the market are either much bigger or only offer HDMI, not HD-SDI connections.
The output of the Bolt receiver can also be fed into a Cube for onward transmission via internet or monitoring via iPhones and iPads.
Here is the full press release from Teradek:
IRVINE, CA, September 5, 2012 – Teradek, the world leader in compact HD H.264 video encoders and accompanying transmission systems, today announced the Teradek Bolt™, the newest addition to their award-winning line of wireless video transmission systems. Bolt is a Wireless SDI Pro™ transmitter and receiver set that transmits zero delay uncompressed HD video at full 1080p60 4:2:2 fidelity.
“We’re very excited about the potential Bolt brings to large and small productions alike,” said Nicol Verheem, CEO of Teradek. “While our Cube encoder is very popular and changed the landscape for video assist and Internet streaming, there has always been a small niche that we didn’t serve; those that truly need zero delay systems such as the 1st ACs. We designed Bolt to be the most compact and affordable zero latency HD-SDI transmitter available so that users can benefit from untethered shooting of up to 300 feet.”
Bolt is made up of a compact milled T6061 aluminum transmitter and an equally small receiver made of durable ABS plastic. The transmitter comes with a 3G-SDI input, an HD-SDI loop-through, numerous 1/4″ 20 holes for mounting, internal Li-Ion battery, and a Lemo DC input for long term power from any 6-18V battery or DC supply. The receiver offers dual 3G-SDI outputs, allowing simultaneous monitoring as well as connecting to other Teradek systems.
Bolt can transmit uncompressed full HD video at up to 300ft and can coexist with other wireless networks by dynamically adjusting the frequency bands used in real time. Each transmitter can feed video to up to 256 receivers simultaneously without any degradation in video quality. Users can output the video from a Bolt receiver into a Teradek Cube for additional workflow enhancements such as proxy recording, Internet streaming, and monitoring on iPads and iPhones.
Bolt is expected to ship in early Q4 2012 for $1,990 and will be showcased along with the Company’s other products at the International Broadcasting Convention (IBC), from September 7-11, 20012 at Stand 9.C25.
