Just installed the new Lectro SR dual channel Unislot receiver into my HDX-900. So far, I can't get both channels from the receiver into camera channels 1 and 2.
The receiver is seeing two channels, but the camera only seems to want combine both wireless channels to channel 1 and 2.
My gut tells me that perhaps the second channel in the Unislot is not activated or enabled, although I can't find a menu item for this. The schematic in the owners manual cryptically says that the channel 2 pins in the Unislot D connector are "not used."
Hmmm....
Perhaps someone from Panasonic or another HDX user can shed some light on this mystery...
Re: HDX-900 Unislot by John Cummings on May 8, 2008 at 4:33:09 pm
Just off the phone with Lectrosonics, and they indicated that the 2 channel functionality might be enabled via a firmware update. I have contacted Panasonic, but have not received a call back yet.
All of the cameras are single channel. Lectrosonics has been talking with the factory, but there is no gaurantee that a software upgrade with bring two channel capability to the unislot. If it were easy it would have been done by now.
If I were to make a bet on which cameras it could happen with, I would say the 2000 and the 3000, but I am not a betting person, so I only bet on sure things. This is not one of them.
Best,
Jan
Jan Crittenden Livingston
Product Manager, HPX500, HVX200, DVX100
Panasonic Broadcast & TV Systems
Re: HDX-900 Unislot by Ken Summerall on May 8, 2008 at 9:04:44 pm
[John Cummings]"I'm sure other Panasonic owners would like to know the deal before they drop a lot of cash on dual channel receivers."
John,
The Lectrosonic guys showed me an adapter for cameras that only had one channel in the unislot. It is a piece that installs at the top, between the very top piece with the controls and the body. It had a small connector at a 90 degree angle, out of that connector you connected a cable that had either a lemo or mini-xlr on one end and xlr on the other. It was a little goofy looking and I am almost positive that it was a prototype, but it might be worth a call to Lectrosonics.
Re: HDX-900 Unislot by John Cummings on May 9, 2008 at 7:34:08 am
Yea, I talked with the Lectro guys about that. It's a whole new receiver, not a retrofit. And it won't ship for awhile.
You're right, it is goofy...kinda like this whole unislot situation. It gets even worse with sony, who of course only wants to sell sony slot receivers.
Too bad nobody is sharing any clear product information so buyers can make informed decisions. Lectro should post a compatibility matrix, but they didn't...my audio dealer should have known better, but he didn't...and panasonic shouldn't have two channel pins in a connector with only one channel enabled, but that's what they did. Now, it sounds like the fix (if there is one) may only go to the P2 models.
That would make me feel all warm and fuzzy about panasonic and my two-month old camera.
I assume this unislot is licensed by ikegami, but apparently there's no standards involved. And the slot pin configurations vary by manufacturer. There's no "uni" anything here.
Right now, my unislots are a great place to warm up my pop-tarts...
I can full understand your annoyance. And I would like to add to color the situation in, that there is only one receiver that has two channels and that is the one made by Lectrosonics. The other two that I am aware of are only single channel and those have been available the longest, say 6 years on the Sennheiser and 5 years on the Azden. Lectrosonics came up with the 2 channel receiver after your camera was off the R & D table. The salesperson that sold you the camera should have known or if they didn't know they should have asked Panasonic, or at least look in the Ops manual. I know it is disappointing to think you have something all figured out and have that not be true.
Wish it were different, and who know maybe those extra connectors reall do go somewhere, time will tell.
Best regards,
Jan
Jan Crittenden Livingston
Product Manager, HPX500, HVX200, DVX100
Panasonic Broadcast & TV Systems
Re: HDX-900 Unislot by Ken Summerall on May 9, 2008 at 2:23:04 pm
John,
I totally understand your frustration and you have not been ugly about this at all. I'm sure that your are really more angry about it than you are showing. FWIW, just to fuel the fire, the Lectro guy that I spoke to was the guy that developed the receiver and he thought that it would work with everything but a Sony. Seems like the ball got dropped all around. The nice thing here is that Jan has made some folks aware of this, and I'd be almost willing to bet that if there is a fix, they will make it happen.
I really hope so because my next camera is likely to be a full sized P2 and I would love to be able to have two channels in the slot so that I can use my Lectro units in the field.
Re: HDX-900 Unislot by John Cummings on May 10, 2008 at 6:47:04 pm
"the Lectro guy that I spoke to was the guy that developed the receiver and he thought that it would work with everything but a Sony..."
He thought?
Ken, I find it extremely hard to believe that the people at Lectrosonics do not actually test these products using real cameras to see if they actually work before they put them into production, and then ship them to dealers, who then sell them to unwitting nitwits like myself. But it does make one wonder what cameras the SR actually does work in...
"I'm sure that your are really more angry about it than you are showing."
You are very perceptive, Ken.
Now quit trying to get me all riled up again.
BTW, I'm not mad at Jan. But her cohorts at Panasonic support never did return my call.
Re: HDX-900 Unislot by George Griswold on May 11, 2008 at 9:47:57 am
John,
Sorry to hear about your receiver situation. They should refund your money.
I have a service manual for the HDX-900 an according to the schematics for the slot only ONE channel is wired from the socket. I considered the Lectro with thoughts of wiring the second channel internally, but at the end of the day there is no place to route it to. No firmware solution possible without the wires being there.
The Lectro is a great product and a great concept and even used externally is better than two 401s.
George
George Griswold
www.videonow.info
New Orleans, Louisiana
Re: HDX-900 Unislot by John Cummings on May 11, 2008 at 2:05:15 pm
Hi George-
There is a big difference between the second channel pins being "not enabled or not used" and the pins being "not wired."
If "not wired" is indeed the case, obviously no firmware update will fix that.
Yes, you're right, using the SR mounted outboard will still be somewhat better than hanging a couple of 401's off the side of the camera, and that's what I'll probably do.
I own two cameras (a HDW Sony and an HDX Panasonic) that accept slot receivers. The attraction for me was to have one receiver that I could use with either, for links. What a wonderful concept.
The reality is that the dual channel Lectrosonics SR does not work, as advertised, with either camera.
I say shame on Lectrosonics (and their dealers) for either:
Not adequately testing this product,
and/or failing to disclose the SR's incompatibilities to customers in the SR product data sheets.
