VideoWave Analogue (1.4GHz & 5.8GHz) FAQs

You can carry out a number of basic checks that apply to all models, then below, there is some model specific information.

Note: Before installation, it is always best to carry out a functional test on the bench to ensure everything is working correctly. It will be far easier to solve any problems at this stage rather than from a cherry picker on-site.

Before powering the units, make sure an antenna is connected or the radio may be damaged. Once powered you should see the red ‘ON’ LED indicating that the unit has powered up. If not check the power supply wiring and check the power supply with a DVM for the correct voltage.

Check all other wiring and connectors, especially the antenna connector. If the unit is mounted externally, all connectors should be sealed with self amalgamating tape after installation. If this installation has been in for a while, check that the antenna connector is still watertight. Any moisture ingress will degrade the performance.

Check the orientation of the antenna to make sure they are fitted correctly and the TX and RX are the same orientation i.e. both vertically polarised. It may be necessary to adjust the direction of the antenna to obtain maximum signal strength.

The operation of the analogue VideoWave units is basically quite simple, but there are a number of things to check.

Once powered, you should see the red LED light on the bottom of the transmitter (this is on the bottom of the black aluminium case), which indicates power ‘ON’. You will need to remove the lid of the IP67 enclosure to see this LED.

If you then connect the video cable from your camera to the transmitter, the LED should change to green. If it fails to turn green, then there is no valid 1V p.p video signal from the camera or there is a fault with the unit. Check your camera by connecting the video cable direct to a monitor.

On the receiver, the LED will be red when first powered, but will turn green when it receives a valid signal. The green LED indicates that a signal is being received at a strong enough level for a reasonable picture. Whilst viewing the monitor, you may need to adjust the antenna alignment to obtain optimum results.

If the picture quality is poor or there is ghosting or lines, this may be interference. Try switching the transmitter off. With the receiver connected to the monitor, you should see a black screen with static (like snow). If there are any ghost images or rolling lines, this indicates interference. Try moving the antenna to another angle or different location until it becomes clear.

Interference Is not very common at 1394MHz, but unfortunately if there is interference, you can’t change channel. There is only one channel available at 1394MHz.

Other antennas are available to increase the signal strength. See the product section on the website or look in the user manual.

The operation of the analogue VideoWave units is basically quite simple, but there are a number of things to check.

You will need to remove the lid to see the LED indicators. With the unit powered, the 7 segment display should light. This indicates that the unit is correctly powered, but also indicates the channel selected. Obviously your pair of units should be on the same channel. The channel is changed using the push button below the display.

Connect the camera to the video input on the transmitter and connect the receiver output to a monitor. The receiver is fitted with a 6 LED bar graph for signal strength indication. If you are testing these units on the bench, you should see full signal strength. In the field, adjust the antenna position to obtain maximum signal strength. The orange LED is the threshold point, where the signal is only just strong enough. Aim for at least 1 green LED for correct operation.

If you suspect interference, switch off the transmitter and watch the signal strength meter on the receiver. There should be no activity on the LEDs. You should also see no ghosting or lines on the monitor. If there is interference, change channels until you find a clear channel.

If the signal strength is too low, other antennas are available. See the product section on the website or your user manual.

The telemetry control is provided by our RM9600 radio modem, fitted within the VideoWave box on the SED models. This uses the RS485 port on the modem.

It is important to set the modem correctly for your specific controller type. To assist, we have produced a series of application notes covering most of the common protocols – see the downloads section.

If your particular model is not covered, obtain the baud rate, parity, bits and stop bit, from the controllers manual and set the modem accordingly. Details of setting the modem can be found in the user guide supplied.

If you still have problems, check the RS485 twisted pair connections. It is very common for these to be connected with the wrong polarity. Change the twisted pair over at each end in turn, so that you try all combinations. 

Another common error is baud rate settings. For example, some customers use Pelco ‘D’, which normally operates at 2400baud, but on some controllers it can run at 4800 or even 9600.

If you suspect a problem with the modem, check the FAQs section for the RM9600, where you can find details of a few basic checks.

This is always a difficult question to answer because there are so many variables including, local terrain, height of antennas, antenna type, line-of-sight, nearby buildings etc. The following therefore is only a guide.

To get the best results and the greatest distance, you require a direct clear line-of-sight. This is not quite as simple as it sounds, so see the line-of-sight page for a full explanation.

The other golden rule is that generally, the higher the antenna, the better. This is because the ground or any buildings etc. will reflect signals that also arrive at the receiver. These reflections will be delayed from the direct signal and may cancel the wanted signal reducing performance.

The following table gives a guide to the distances with various antennas, assuming a clear line-of-sight.

This question is impossible to answer.

For a VideoWave system to work correctly and to obtain best results, you must have a clear line-of-sight. See the answer above. If there is no line-of-sight, then it depends on the nature of the obstruction and this may vary from site to site.

As an example, a metal clad building or steel reinforced walls will almost certainly block the signal completely. A standard brick wall will probably drop the signal by at least 50%, but this is dependent on the type of brick, wall thickness and the angle the radio signal strikes the wall. Passing through a building with a number of walls will reduce the signal by a significant amount.

Trees are another problem, although they are often discounted by installers. They will affect the signal, but the affect will be variable, depending on density of foliage (from winter to summer) and the attenuation will be worse if the leaves are wet. Trees blowing in the wind can also cause multi-path signals resulting in ghosting on the image.

For all of the above situations, we advise carrying out a site survey to test the feasibility before proceeding.  Remember though, that trees will develop leaves in the summer and they may grow taller.

There are a number of possible causes. There could obviously be a fault with one of the units. It is however fairly unusual for a fault to cause deterioration. Normally, a component failure causes the unit to stop working completely.

It could be water ingress. Check all the connectors, especially the antenna connection. Although it may look sealed, water can gradually seep into the connector and this will cause a loss of performance. Remove the connector and check. If it is dry and not corroded, reconnect and re-seal.

Check that there is nothing in the line-of-sight. Conditions on site may have changed since the initial installation. A new building may have been constructed in or near the signal path, causing reflections. Trees or other foliage may have grown or be covered in dense leaves (they may have been bare twigs during the initial installation).

Check for interference as another user may have started operating within radio range.

If a faulty unit is suspected, carry out some of the checks described above and if necessary, return the unit for repair.