sonyslave Posted May 29, 2015 Report Share Posted May 29, 2015 does not make it easier. I proposed long time ago the idea to be able to change level by holding arrow up or down... another solution will be more sturdy potentiometer... After a drop that damaged the pot I removed it completely and jumped the pot terminals on the board so full signal is always being passed. I never used the pot in my applications anyway, I like the ERX2 better without the pot, it is too weak and susceptible to damage imo. The action on the pot always felt cheap as well. I don't use ERX for ifb or handing off to scripty so no pot needed, the menu based controls work fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Spaeth Posted May 29, 2015 Report Share Posted May 29, 2015 As one of not-so-few Nomad&ERX owners who don't have an IFB100 I'd like to ask if there is a chance to make the update process possible from the Nomad, without an IFB. That would make a lot of sense since the Nomad & ERX combination is quite popular and it is not easy for everyone all over the world to get hold of an IFB100. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
realsnd Posted May 29, 2015 Report Share Posted May 29, 2015 Same problem here: erx+nomad=no erx upgrade Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Solid Goldberger Posted May 29, 2015 Report Share Posted May 29, 2015 I will check on this tomorrow. Glenn Thanks in advance! If I had my way, the LED by the power switch would also be a low-battery indicator. Perhaps a blink from green to red every second or so (or red to green as the case may be) if it's beginning to get low (like in the last hour of battery life?). E. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Norflus Posted May 29, 2015 Report Share Posted May 29, 2015 is a chance to make the update process possible from the Nomad, without an IFB. Unfortunally there is not - if it was technically possible it would have already been enabled. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wandering Ear Posted May 29, 2015 Report Share Posted May 29, 2015 +1 on battery metering. I installed and ran the new software for a couple hours yesterday and all seemed to run as expected. The calibration happened automatically in the background without me noticing. I have done any prolonged sync tests yet, but so far it looks good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McL Posted May 29, 2015 Report Share Posted May 29, 2015 So far so good here too. Thanks Zax Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pindrop Posted May 29, 2015 Report Share Posted May 29, 2015 Seems to be working well for me too, likewise no prolonged sync test, but calibration for each ERX is showing different values. Who'd have thought that an ERX's timecode was even capable of calibration? Thought that kind of sophistication was only possible with top end timecode specialists equipment. Who'd have thought the Nomad was capable of Touch and Oasis with a control screen. Seems Zaxcom are capable of wrangling a great deal more from our existing investment, which is very nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RadoStefanov Posted May 29, 2015 Report Share Posted May 29, 2015 now if we can calibrate the Nomad to an accurate Time Code device it will save me some extra steps in the morning Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ze Frias Posted May 29, 2015 Report Share Posted May 29, 2015 (edited) Okay, please bear with me, as this post may be a bit long. Last night I updated two of my ERXs to firmware v2.0, with the intent of testing out today their accuracy over long periods of time when ZaxNet is not a factor (read turned off or out of range). While this test is by no means “scientific” or translatable as fact, I made them within certain controlled parameters to give me at least some accurate readings from which I can make the deductions made at the bottom of this post. Here’s what I did: - I updated two ERXs to v2.0. I went through the Extended Menu to ensure that they were in the same group code and frequency, and that auto-calibrate was “on”.- TC calibration value was “0” for both ERXs at the beginning of this test.- Turned the ERXs off.- The Nomad was the timecode master source. Timecode was set to free-run using TOD, and frame rate was set to 23.976.- Nomad ZaxNet was set to TX, the same group code and frequency as the ERXs.- Turned the ERXs on.- I fed one of the ERXs back into the Nomad’s TC input, and using the Nomad’s TC Reader / Generator screen, I could compare the TC of both the internal generator in the Nomad, and that coming from the ERX.- I added a -1.0 TC delay to the ERXs to compensate for the delay visible in Nomad screen. Now both Reader and Generator read the same TC value.- I left the ERXs running for about 15 minutes to “calibrate”.- After the calibration was done (after 15 minutes, as there is no visual confirmation that calibration is done), each ERX displayed a unique TC calibration value. ERX #1 had “-306” and ERX #2 had “275”.- At this point, Nomad’s ZaxNet was set to “off”, and all three devices were left running independently and continuously. I took pictures of the Nomad’s TC Reader / Generator screen every hour, to verify that the ERXs did in fact show no drift from the Nomad. Here were my results:0hr: Right after calibration, all devices displayed the same TC value.1hr: All devices displayed same TC value.2hr: Both ERXs displayed +1 frame drift from Nomad’s TC value.3hr: Both ERXs displayed +1 frame drift from Nomad’s TC value.4hr: Both ERXs displayed +2 frame drift from Nomad’s TC value.5hr: Both ERXs displayed +2 frame drift from Nomad’s TC value.6hr: Both ERXs displayed +3 frame drift from Nomad’s TC value. In my test, it seems as though the new calibration feature did not correct the drift that ERXs have when not in ZaxNet range, and that they were in fact running faster than the Nomad’s Generator. It actually seems to be exactly the same as always. In my experience, ERXs drifted at a rate of about 1 frame every two hours. I’m unsure if I did something wrong, but I’m positive I followed the manual to the letter. Currently, the Nomad and the ERXs are still running, as I want to figure out what the drift is at the 10 hour mark. Stray observations:- At this moment it is pure speculation since I did not have the proper tools to measure them accurately, but it seems, at least to the naked eye, that both ERXs were relatively accurate to each other. They displayed the exact same drift from the Nomad at the noted times.- I will test again on my next day off (probably tomorrow or monday) with my Betso SBOX-1N, which has a TC offset feature that allows me to measure TC offsets more accurately.- I do love the new Extended Menu shortcut, as well as the fact that you can manually set a timecode value on the ERX. Now if only I can get the calibration feature to work as advertised… unsure emoticon IMAGES Setting up: Pre-calibration (ERX = READER TC / Nomad = GEN TC): Post-calibration (TC Calibration Values): Post-calibration / ZaxNet turned off - 0hr (ERX = READER TC / Nomad = GEN TC): 1hr post-calibration (ERX = READER TC / Nomad = GEN TC): 2hr post-calibration (ERX = READER TC / Nomad = GEN TC): 3hr post-calibration (ERX = READER TC / Nomad = GEN TC): 4hr post-calibration (ERX = READER TC / Nomad = GEN TC): 5hr post-calibration (ERX = READER TC / Nomad = GEN TC): 6hr post-calibration (ERX = READER TC / Nomad = GEN TC): Edited May 29, 2015 by josefrias Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cwsound Posted May 29, 2015 Report Share Posted May 29, 2015 So many things wrong with that test I don't know where to start :-/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ze Frias Posted May 29, 2015 Report Share Posted May 29, 2015 So many things wrong with that test I don't know where to start :-/ Please, let me know. I wish to find the error(s) in my test. I chose the method shown because I just wanted to get a sense of how accurate the ERX was against the Nomad after time, not really to accurately measure any drifts or offsets. After a few hours I started noticing the ERX was running faster than the Nomad, and that's where I started getting a bit worried. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glen Deakin Posted May 29, 2015 Report Share Posted May 29, 2015 Well he did say it was no means scientific Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Posted May 30, 2015 Report Share Posted May 30, 2015 Glenn, Howie, and the whole Zax gang. This is a great advance. I just updated and calibrated my ERXs and they both seem to be set and ready to go. For the record - my scores were -80 and -266 And highfive for the menu shortcut. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Radlauer Posted May 30, 2015 Report Share Posted May 30, 2015 (edited) Using what he has available I would say he did the best that he could. Regardless of what is wrong with his test...It does show forward drift..the only thing I can think of in regards of result would be latency between nomad and ERX. Probably 100ths of miliseconds for encode and decode of data packets. I haven't done the update yet, but I plan on it. I think its cool none the less. Its nice to see advancement in products already owned. Edited May 30, 2015 by mradlauer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnpaul215 Posted May 30, 2015 Report Share Posted May 30, 2015 Is there any lag in the ERX display, as opposed to the output signal? I never heard that mentioned. Connecting slates in slaved mode to the Nomad and ERX and then taking pictures might be a way to get something without full testing equipment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Constantin Posted May 30, 2015 Report Share Posted May 30, 2015 Point is, whatever José did worked for the first two hours. Everything was in sync. Then there was drift of some sort. Could have been the Nomad or the ERXs or a mixture of both. But there was drift. Is it repeatable, though? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RadoStefanov Posted May 30, 2015 Report Share Posted May 30, 2015 Apparently the result is similar to what I got before. My BCam did not drift but my ACam was ahead by 1 frame. So far not really a great upgrade. Will test more next week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RadoStefanov Posted May 30, 2015 Report Share Posted May 30, 2015 Actually before the ERXs were drifting kinda simultaneously. So if A cam is off the Bcam was off by the same amount. I preffer it the way it was before. My editor has the same opinion. i will check more next week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RadoStefanov Posted May 30, 2015 Report Share Posted May 30, 2015 I am getting some very strange results in a scene were ERX were jamming to my Nomad Zaxnet.ACam Not in sync even when in range. I wonder if the calibration is to blame... Not good gentlemen... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Arnold Posted May 30, 2015 Report Share Posted May 30, 2015 Hmmm...seems that the new software has teething problems. I hope it gets sorted - I'm very excited by these new developments. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Blankenship Posted May 30, 2015 Report Share Posted May 30, 2015 I told Glenn I'd do a writeup about my beta testing experiences with 2.0. Forgive any redundancy with anything that has already been discussed. ------------------------------------ First of all, while the intent of the ERX was to maintain perfect time code due to occasionally jamming to a Zaxnet source, a few users expressed a desire to use their ERX units as stand alone time code devices. Well, now you can. Also added in the 2.0 software is a shortcut into the EXTENDED MENU (press the TIME CODE button rapidly three times) and now there's even a way to manually set the time code. After beta testing this software, and running some time code tests, I'm happy to report that it seems to be working well. The bottom line, once calibrated, over a six hour period, time code seems to stay well within a half frame, or better, of the device it was calibrated to -- mostly better. I've run tests two different ways: 1) Calibrated from the sound cart via a Denecke GR-2, feeding a Deva, which in turn feeds an IFB100. I ran an initial test with just one unit and found it to have a maximum deviation of less than a half frame in six hours. The next day I ran a test with two ERXs and the results of another six hour test revealed unit one to be within .25 frames of its starting calibration (which was -.07 frames -- that's 7/100 of a frame), and unit two deviated only .38 frames. 2) Calibrated from a Nomad. Over a six hour period, in reference to the Nomad, unit one was within .22 frames, unit two within .24 frames, unit three within .20 frames, and a fourth unit was within .06 frames. So, in this test, in reference to the Nomad, over a six hour period, the worst case deviation was better than a quarter of a frame. Awesome! A nifty thing about ERX calibration is that it can be automatic each time you turn on Zaxnet and your ERXs (it takes about eleven or twelve minutes), or, once calibrated, you can turn off TC AUTO CAL and the unit will store the TC CALIBRATION number it arrived at. You can even enter your own calibration number if you wish. The version 2.0 software is available via http://zaxcom.com/support/updates/ This is both an unexpected, and very welcome, update. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassmagnetic Posted May 30, 2015 Report Share Posted May 30, 2015 John are those results, in relation to the Nomad, using your own personally tweaked/tuned TC Nomad, or an "off the shelf" factory calibrated Nomad? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RadoStefanov Posted May 30, 2015 Report Share Posted May 30, 2015 (edited) John are those results, in relation to the Nomad, using your own personally tweaked/tuned TC Nomad, or an "off the shelf" factory calibrated Nomad? My findings were with Nomad internal TC and not Nomad fed from mozegear which is my usual setup. Edited May 30, 2015 by RadoStefanov Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tong0615 Posted May 30, 2015 Report Share Posted May 30, 2015 Just updated my ERXs to 2.00, What you see in the picture, is my ERX just 15cm away from Nomad, getting TC from Zaxnet and feeding the TC back into Nomad TC in, there is 1 frame drift.. how could this happen? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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