Cheap solution to missing LANC... at DVinfo.net

Taky Cheung · May 23rd, 2007, 10:00 PM

I read some posts about using a TOSLink optical cable to "route" the remote control signal to the front of the camera. I ordered a 3" TOSlink cable for $2.5, mounted the remote control to the tripod handle, wired the cable around the center pole, taped the other end to the front of the tripod. IT WORKS!!!!

Ajit Bikram · May 23rd, 2007, 10:27 PM

Can you please let me know where you got them from? I cannot get for the price you mentioned!
thanks
Ajit B.

Taky Cheung · May 23rd, 2007, 10:43 PM

I bougnht the cable from here

http://www.firefold.com/ProductInfo....ctid=TOSLINK-3

Mike Dulay · May 24th, 2007, 03:33 AM

Nice! I wish the remote had more functions, but this works well enough.

Ajit Bikram · May 24th, 2007, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taky Cheung

I bougnht the cable from here

http://www.firefold.com/ProductInfo....ctid=TOSLINK-3

Thanks!! I am going to order now!

Harold Schreiber · May 24th, 2007, 09:23 AM

Hi Folks,

Check my post and photos in the "Remote Lens Controllers" section under "Want to Rig up your Infrared Remote ??"

I've been using this set up for many years, with all 4 of my Sony Cams set up this way.

My stuff is set up "plug and play".

Harold

Chris Barcellos · May 24th, 2007, 11:07 AM

Thanks for the tip guys, I'm on it....

DJ Lewis · May 24th, 2007, 01:47 PM

clever! nice find!

Duane Steiner · May 24th, 2007, 02:10 PM

Great idea and find. Just order one. Thanks.

Ray Bell · May 24th, 2007, 02:13 PM

Here is Harolds solution...

http://dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.ph...nfrared+Remote

I also like the way he mounted the remote to the cable...

This might work very well outfitting this in a underwater housing...

If you can get he housing control buttons to align with the remote control
buttons..

Harold Schreiber · May 24th, 2007, 02:18 PM

Hi Ray,

That's why I call it "Plug and Play". I have a TosLink connector attached to each of my 4 Cams, and to each of my 4 Remotes (3 on removeable cradles).

Then I can leave the fiber-optic cables attached to my Tri-Pods and just plug everything in when I set up.

Harold

Luis A. Diaz · May 24th, 2007, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taky Cheung

I read some posts about using a TOSLink optical cable to "route" the remote control signal to the front of the camera. I ordered a 3" TOSlink cable for $2.5, mounted the remote control to the tripod handle, wired the cable around the center pole, taped the other end to the front of the tripod. IT WORKS!!!!

Hi Taky....very clever idea. What functions can you activate with this rig up.?? Will it work with any Toslink??
Thanks,
Luis

Taky Cheung · May 24th, 2007, 02:28 PM

As you can see here, I am not the first one who come up this idea. I read many posts on the internet about re-routing IR signal through a TOS optical cable.

I believe any regular TOSlink cable will work. Whatever functions you have on your remote control will work too.

Randall Allen · May 24th, 2007, 04:14 PM

Looking at a slightly different application here....will the cable pick up IR without being right in front of the remote. I noticed on Takey's second pick that the cable end seems to be 90 degrees to the IR sensor on the camera.

The reason I ask is that in my living room the cable box sits in a entertainment center while the TV is on a different wall in the corner. If you sit close enough the cable box will pick up the remote but farther back and the angle is too great. If I take a TOSlink and mount it on the corner of the entertainment center where it is exposed to more of the room will it pick up the remote from accross the room?

Randy

Mike Dulay · May 24th, 2007, 05:37 PM

Randal, probably not the way you imagine. The toslink captures a narrow portion of the beam from the remote and allows some play to it. But you still have to aim the LED pretty much directly into the cable to capture enough of the signal to pass on to the sensor. It also can't be too far from the cable. One possible solution to your problem is to reflect it on something.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/missilemike/491779741/

May 23rd, 2007, 10:00 PM	#1
Taky Cheung Inner Circle Join Date: May 2007 Location: Los Angeles, USA Posts: 2,114	Cheap solution to missing LANC... I read some posts about using a TOSLink optical cable to "route" the remote control signal to the front of the camera. I ordered a 3" TOSlink cable for $2.5, mounted the remote control to the tripod handle, wired the cable around the center pole, taped the other end to the front of the tripod. IT WORKS!!!!

May 24th, 2007, 03:33 AM	#4
Mike Dulay Major Player Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Somerville, NJ Posts: 304	Nice! I wish the remote had more functions, but this works well enough. __________________ DIY, 35mm, HV20: http://www.primitivebuteffective.net

May 24th, 2007, 11:07 AM	#7
Chris Barcellos Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Elk Grove CA Posts: 6,838	Thanks for the tip guys, I'm on it.... __________________ Chris J. Barcellos

May 24th, 2007, 04:14 PM	#14
Randall Allen Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 192	at a distance..... Looking at a slightly different application here....will the cable pick up IR without being right in front of the remote. I noticed on Takey's second pick that the cable end seems to be 90 degrees to the IR sensor on the camera. The reason I ask is that in my living room the cable box sits in a entertainment center while the TV is on a different wall in the corner. If you sit close enough the cable box will pick up the remote but farther back and the angle is too great. If I take a TOSlink and mount it on the corner of the entertainment center where it is exposed to more of the room will it pick up the remote from accross the room? Randy

May 24th, 2007, 05:37 PM	#15
Mike Dulay Major Player Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Somerville, NJ Posts: 304	Randal, probably not the way you imagine. The toslink captures a narrow portion of the beam from the remote and allows some play to it. But you still have to aim the LED pretty much directly into the cable to capture enough of the signal to pass on to the sensor. It also can't be too far from the cable. One possible solution to your problem is to reflect it on something. http://www.flickr.com/photos/missilemike/491779741/ __________________ DIY, 35mm, HV20: http://www.primitivebuteffective.net Last edited by Mike Dulay; May 24th, 2007 at 05:48 PM. Reason: clarify

May 23rd, 2007, 10:27 PM	#2
Ajit Bikram Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 71	Can you please let me know where you got them from? I cannot get for the price you mentioned! thanks Ajit B.

May 23rd, 2007, 10:43 PM	#3
Taky Cheung Inner Circle Join Date: May 2007 Location: Los Angeles, USA Posts: 2,114	I bougnht the cable from here http://www.firefold.com/ProductInfo....ctid=TOSLINK-3

May 24th, 2007, 09:23 AM	#6
Harold Schreiber Major Player Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Olathe, Kansas Posts: 309	Hi Folks, Check my post and photos in the "Remote Lens Controllers" section under "Want to Rig up your Infrared Remote ??" I've been using this set up for many years, with all 4 of my Sony Cams set up this way. My stuff is set up "plug and play". Harold

May 24th, 2007, 01:47 PM	#8
DJ Lewis Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 97	clever! nice find!

May 24th, 2007, 02:10 PM	#9
Duane Steiner Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: CA Posts: 195	Great idea and find. Just order one. Thanks.

May 24th, 2007, 02:13 PM	#10
Ray Bell Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 1,414	Here is Harolds solution... http://dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.ph...nfrared+Remote I also like the way he mounted the remote to the cable... This might work very well outfitting this in a underwater housing... If you can get he housing control buttons to align with the remote control buttons..

May 24th, 2007, 02:18 PM	#11
Harold Schreiber Major Player Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Olathe, Kansas Posts: 309	Hi Ray, That's why I call it "Plug and Play". I have a TosLink connector attached to each of my 4 Cams, and to each of my 4 Remotes (3 on removeable cradles). Then I can leave the fiber-optic cables attached to my Tri-Pods and just plug everything in when I set up. Harold

May 24th, 2007, 02:28 PM	#13
Taky Cheung Inner Circle Join Date: May 2007 Location: Los Angeles, USA Posts: 2,114	As you can see here, I am not the first one who come up this idea. I read many posts on the internet about re-routing IR signal through a TOS optical cable. I believe any regular TOSlink cable will work. Whatever functions you have on your remote control will work too.