Paralinx has announced the Tomahawk2, their latest next-generation wireless video monitoring solution for cinematic production. The original Tomahawk system was released back in 2014, and it has become a common sight on many sets.
The new Tomahawk 2 is now 60% smaller and 50% of the weight of the original. Paralinx have also incorporated a host of useful new features and several improvements from the original Tomahawk:
Transmitter:
● Compatibility with Teradek Bolt 2000, Teradek Bolt Sidekick1 & original Tomahawk*
● Dual Video input capability: HDMI or 3G SDI with video loop-through
● Wider power input voltage: 7-28V DC
● Improved video processing on PsF Video
● Improved handling of timecode, start-stop flags and metadata pass-through
Receiver:
● Compatibility with Teradek Bolt 2000, Teradek Bolt Sidekick1 & original Tomahawk*
● Physical volume decreased by over 60% and weight by 50%
● Rugged and lightweight machined-aluminum enclosure
● On-screen display interactive menu allows for streamlined workflow:
○ Link Rx and Tx on-set without a computer or infrared sensor dongle
○ Manually select legal 5Ghz channels on-the-fly without using a computer
○ Display device status
○ Output signal pattern for video pipeline troubleshooting
Accessories:
● Ultra-compact battery plates with pass-through power for mounting on a monitor or camera
● Lightweight mounting bracket for Tx & Rx
The Tomahawk2 has a range of up to 2000 feet (600m) and maintains a <1ms latency glass-to-glass. Both the transmitter and receiver feature 2-Pin power connectors and the transmitter feature a wide 6-28V input voltage range (the receiver has 7-17V input). The Tomahawk2 system features both 3G-SDI input (with loop-out) & HDMI input on the transmitter, and a 3G-SDI output on the receiver.
It transmits Full-HD video up to 1080p/60 4:2:2 and is capable of sending it to up to 4 receivers simultaneously. The transmitter weighs approximately 7.3oz/208g (without antennas) and the receiver weighs only 8.9oz/252g (without antennas).
Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of the Tomahawk2 is that Paralinx have unlocked compatibility with the entire existing fleet of Teradek Bolt 2000 and Sidekick 1, as well as the original Tomahawk. This gives the system massive amounts of flexibility as you can now interchange components with other wireless video monitoring solutions that are compatible. Perhaps the only thing not in the Tomahawk2 is 4K transmission – something that we may have to wait a generation or two more. Anyway, I suspect that for the moment most users would be happier having more reliable HD transmissions than before, instead of 4K.
The Paralinx Tomahawk2 System is available for US$7,499.95 for one transmitter and receiver pair. Additional receivers can be purchased for US$3,699.95 each. Battery plates, antennas, mounting brackets, power cables, and custom cases are all available as accessories.
