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WRS units with the new software are identified by a yellow washer under the antenna
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In our continued effort to improve our product's performance, we have developed a technically new communications protocol for the ARRI Wireless Remote System (WRS). As more and more wireless devices crowd the airwaves, this update will make the WRS transmission substantially more resistant to interference, especially from video transmitters.
The transmission of data by the ARRI WRS is based on our own ARRI Wireless Networking Protocol. Interference sometimes comes from wireless video transmitters and other wireless devices. A careful analysis of the most common video transmitters has led to new insights into minimizing interference.
The latest software update offers better interference resistance by modifying the size and frequency of the data packets for a higher total system data rate and allows even better and smoother motor control even when data packets are lost.
WRS units with the new software are identified by a yellow washer under the antenna. The update will thus be called the "yellow software." All components of the WRS will be shipped with yellow software installed. The ARRIFLEX 416 camera will only be available with yellow software. For further information, contact your local ARRI Service Center.
Please note that the yellow software is not compatible with the blue or green software. When updating, all components of the WRS should be updated simultaneously.
Yellow on the Set
Focus Puller Dave Cozens has used the yellow washer software from day one. He reports: "I was working with DoP Remi Adefarasin on the feature film Fred Claus (with Vince Vaughn, Paul Giamatti, Miranda Richardson, Kevin Spacey and Kathy Bates) in Chicago, and we were one of the first crews to use the yellow software, and in my opinion it worked brilliantly.
The new system worked absolutely faultless, even in tough situations. For instance, we had a setup with a Cablecam, where the remote head was wirelessly controlled, where the video assist was wireless and we were using the ARRI Wireless Remote System to control the lens and we also used the Wireless Remote Control (WRC-1) at the same time. Everything worked perfectly together, there was no interference at all! The ARRI wireless system is just a fantastic piece of equipment, I use it all the time and all parts of it. I use the Lens Data System to see the lens info on the LDD-FP screen, and I hook the Cine Tape Measure up to it, so it can show me the measured distances on the display.
When we got the first prototypes of the yellow software, we were shooting in a cathedral. So I hooked the system up, and then I walked out of the cathedral while continually turning the focus knob. I had someone from the inside tell me what the lens was doing, and the focus moved perfectly for more than 300 yards (275 meters or 900 feet) distance.
In Chicago we worked with US assistants. So I took out the ARRI system, which we had brought from London, and I said to the first AC 'This is great, you are going to love this.' He just made a face. At the end of the show, he took me aside and said: 'Mate, you were right, that system is fantastic, I am very impressed.'"
Wireless Remote System Main Features
- Robust transmission (yellow software)
- Feature-rich
- Full remote control of lens and camera
- Lens Data System provides lens info on LDD-FP display
- Wireless speed and depth of field ramps
- Modular
- Custom configure for each shooting situation
- Simple snap-on connection
- Automatic & smart identification of components
- Multi-unit capability
- Three hand-units can communicate with one camera
- Multiple cameras, each with three hand units are possible on one set
- Compatible with film and video cameras
- Camera-side transmitter and motor drivers are built-into
- ARRICAMs with Lens Data Box
- ARRIFLEX 435 Xtreme
- ARRIFLEX 416 Plus
- UMC-3 (for all other film and video cameras)
Marc Shipman-Mueller |
