/dist/images/branding/favicon

FreeFly HDMI | SD Converter

Discussion in 'Electronics' started by Tabb Firchau, Jul 26, 2012.

  1. David Pearce

    David Pearce New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 30, 2012
    Messages:
    16
    Likes Received:
    0
    Because that would be way too simple Tim...:) Thank you very much for the reply. I'll certainly give that a try. I think both my 5D and D90 both have A/V outs. I'm also going to guess that those signals are analog, right? If that's the case, you've solved my problem. I just assumed that it would need conversion. Here's something strange. I attached my GoPro to the HDMI converter and the signal was perfect through the downlink. Back to the D90 and 5D it was the same No signal, NTSC out message with the banded color screen that I posted above. I guess that rules out a defective FF Converter board.
     
  2. Andy Johnson-Laird

    Andy Johnson-Laird Administrator
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Jul 31, 2012
    Messages:
    10,383
    Likes Received:
    1,164
    Hi David:
    Go idea to try the Go Pro. But it really doesn't answer the original question -- which is rather unsatisfying isn't it? The implication is that if you get good video from the D90 and 5D into your monitor, then there is a fundamental incompatibility when you feed that same HDMI into the HDMI converter -- and that doesn't make any sense either.

    Hmmm. Puzzling. Just a shot in the dark -- are you running PAL or NTSC? I'm not sure what I'll do with the answer...I'm grasping at techo-straws....If you do happen to find out the answer please be sure to post it otherwise I'm going to be lying awake at night...

    Andy.
     
  3. David Pearce

    David Pearce New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 30, 2012
    Messages:
    16
    Likes Received:
    0
    Ok, so I spent a good deal of time splicing into the composite video cable for both DSLR's today. I'm using a Fatshark/ IRC 5.8Ghz video transmitter and I soldered the video signal wire to the video in on the TX and grounded it using the braided copper shield wire surrounding the signal wire. Everything works perfectly with this setup on both cameras.

    I've never been so frustrated as I have been with the FF Converter. Between the converter, modifly mount, and additional cable, I've spent $200 bucks for something that does not work. Very disappointing. It's the only product so far from FF that I feel this way about. It's too bad too because it is a clean setup on my 3 axis radian gimbal. I'm not sure what to do about it at this point.

    Andy/ I'm using NTSC. I have a pretty strong knowledge of the FPV side of things as I've been doing that for a long while. I've ruled everything out but the incompatibly of these two cameras. I'm going to try my AF100 tomorrow. We'll see if I get any better results.
     
  4. Andy Johnson-Laird

    Andy Johnson-Laird Administrator
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Jul 31, 2012
    Messages:
    10,383
    Likes Received:
    1,164
    Hi David: I can understand your frustrations! Let me see if I can get Tabb to step in here. He's got far more experience with the HDMI converter board than I have and might be able to resolve this.

    Andy.
     
  5. David Pearce

    David Pearce New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 30, 2012
    Messages:
    16
    Likes Received:
    0
    Ok. Thanks for your help Andy. Much appreciated.
     
  6. Tabb Firchau

    Tabb Firchau Administrator
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Jun 28, 2012
    Messages:
    911
    Likes Received:
    472
    Hi David,

    Sorry for the frustration! This HDMI 'should' work fine out of the box with the 5D. Can you take a photo of your setup....maybe I can spot an issue.

    just to confirm the obvious:

    1. you are providing 5v
    2. you have the video signal grounded
    3. you do not have the PAL jumper installed

    Our aim is to reduce frustration! Makes me cringe when I read about you wasting hours trying to sort this out!

    Best,

    Tabb
     
  7. David Pearce

    David Pearce New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 30, 2012
    Messages:
    16
    Likes Received:
    0
    Hi Tabb,

    Please see my answers above. I've also included some pictures. Also, as mentioned above, the A/V in and out work fine.

    Things I know:
    1. Both DSLR's work fine passing a signal using a mini HDMI to regular HDMI on a monitor
    2. All video downlink equipment works fine
    3. Wiring harness for converter to vtx checks out using multimeter and A/V analog out
    4. Using NTSC on all equipment
    5. GoPro Hero2 works fine through the FF converter
    6. A/V out using the camera included A/V cable works fine (bypassing the FF Converter)
    7. Red light on FF converter is on and constant
    Let me know what you think?
    Thanks!
    David
     
  8. David Pearce

    David Pearce New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 30, 2012
    Messages:
    16
    Likes Received:
    0
    Here are some pics.
     

    Attached Files:

  9. David Pearce

    David Pearce New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 30, 2012
    Messages:
    16
    Likes Received:
    0
    So I completely rewired my setup for the A/v out on the 5D. A/v out does not work to my monitor. So now I have not FF Converter signal and no a/v out. Any setting suggestions on the camera itself that anyone is aware of? Is it possible that the camera does not have enough signal to push out an A/v signal?
     
  10. Tim Joy

    Tim Joy Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 2, 2012
    Messages:
    405
    Likes Received:
    72
    Something is wrong, as many have been doing this for ages.

    So plugging the actual A/V out cable directly to your monitor does not work?
    I say, "actual" because even though it fits, a hacked USB able will not work. It must be a canon A/V cable.

    Have you ever gotten a signal from your downlink? If not, it must either be on the wrong channel, or not working. I had one that never worked until I discovered a misaligned soldering job on the Tx.
     
  11. Tim Joy

    Tim Joy Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 2, 2012
    Messages:
    405
    Likes Received:
    72
    Is the camera's screen turning off as you plug in the A/V out? If not, then it's not sending the signal.
     
  12. David Pearce

    David Pearce New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 30, 2012
    Messages:
    16
    Likes Received:
    0
    So here's a quick update on my converter issue. I've now tried 4 more different cameras with the same result. I'm pretty sure there's something wrong with the incoming signal on the FF board. I'm not sure wether to contact Quadrocopter or someone else for that issue.

    As for the AV out, I solved the problem. I somehow had a cable that came with my original 5D that I used for the wiring harness to my vtx. I bought a new AV out cable for my 5D MarkII, wired it up and it works like a charm. You would not be able to tell the difference between the two cable other than the new MarkII cable is slightly smaller gauge and has a little larger plastic fuse compartment by the tip.
     
  13. Andy Johnson-Laird

    Andy Johnson-Laird Administrator
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Jul 31, 2012
    Messages:
    10,383
    Likes Received:
    1,164
    It does sound like you've done everything that you can reasonably do, David. Did you get it from QC? If so, I think it's probably time to call them.

    Andy.
     
  14. David Pearce

    David Pearce New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 30, 2012
    Messages:
    16
    Likes Received:
    0
    Ok. Thanks for the help everyone. I'll call QC. I'll let them know that we vetted it out on the FF forum to the best of our ability.
     
  15. Andy Johnson-Laird

    Andy Johnson-Laird Administrator
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Jul 31, 2012
    Messages:
    10,383
    Likes Received:
    1,164
    Feel free to mention my name but be sure to follow it up quickly with "No, no, don't hang up....." <evil grin>

    Andy.
     
  16. Gary Haynes

    Gary Haynes Administrator
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Jul 6, 2012
    Messages:
    5,211
    Likes Received:
    460
    Colin

    Just saw your post. What you are seeing is the same thing I had when trying to run my NEX7 through the previous larger HDMI board with the SmartOSD. You could probably fine tune it in the SmartOSD software/board but then would have problems with your normal flying FPV. I gave up. I have the SmartOSD overlay on the FPV and totally bypass that with the NEX7 so I get just the NEX7 feed. Using a DPCAV board for switching.
     
  17. Gary Haynes

    Gary Haynes Administrator
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Jul 6, 2012
    Messages:
    5,211
    Likes Received:
    460
    A quick question for the group. I got my FF HDMI board today and am not getting any feed out of the FF board. I've tried my NEX7 and a another older Canon that only does playback. Both work with a direct connect to an HDMI monitor. Manually hooked up the FF board to my Iftron, 5 volt power to the FF board and nothing happens on my wireless monitor. Hook up an FPV camera and all is good.

    So the question. Are there any indicator led's on the FF board other than the red power led that should be lighting up?
     
  18. Andy Johnson-Laird

    Andy Johnson-Laird Administrator
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Jul 31, 2012
    Messages:
    10,383
    Likes Received:
    1,164
    Gary: Just a shot in the dark but is the jumper on the FF HDMI converter? If so, remove it, as it's only necessary for PAL, not NTSC.
    Also, when you hook up the output of the FF HDMI board do you see the PLUGE pattern? (Yeah, it's really called that, it stands for Plcture Line Up Generation Equipment) -- that is, the vertical bars of color? You should at least see that even if the FF HDMI board is not seeing any input.

    Now see if you can weave the word "pluge" into an everyday sentence! ;)

    Andy.
     
  19. Gary Haynes

    Gary Haynes Administrator
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Jul 6, 2012
    Messages:
    5,211
    Likes Received:
    460
    Andy No the jumper is not installed. And no PLUGE. Just tried a direct hookup to my Pyle 9" monitor and nada, nothing, no pluge. Is there only the power light on the board? Sounds like a DOA board. Bummer when you do expedited shipping....
     
  20. Andy Johnson-Laird

    Andy Johnson-Laird Administrator
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Jul 31, 2012
    Messages:
    10,383
    Likes Received:
    1,164
    How frustrating. Yeah, I've only ever seen the red LED on meaning the board's got power.
    As you say, it would have to happen when you've paid for expedited shipping....it certainly sounds like DOA.
    But you did get pluge into the posting twice. :)

    Andy.
     

Share This Page