Wireless capture on a shoestring- an update

I’ve really wanted to go unteathered in my studio for a long time but am still not willing to spend $800 for the Nikon WT-4a transmitter (which really isn’t fully unteathered ever since they made the WT-4a into a tethered belt pack versus the prior wireless camera-base attachment of the WT-3a). I also have both an EyeFi Gen 1 card as well as the newer EyeFi 8GB X2 card for comparison purposes. While the EyeFi X2 is better than the first generation EyeFi it remains difficult to setup and configure, still too slow for capturing full size JPEG Large not to mention NEFs or both JPEG Large + NEFs that I prefer to capture. Moreover, it still involves the complexity of a network to set up and use (though I have used it in AdHoc mode - slightly faster but still no cigar).

Just for fun I recently revisited an updated method for creating a wireless home-grown transmitter for my camera based on wireless USB (WUSB) technology. I tried it last year after reading someone's blog who had created a similar rig, but that attempt wasn’t ideal due to the flaky pairing of the WUSB transmitter/receiver pair at the time. However, this week I got my hands on a updated version of the USB 2.0 Cables Unlimited wireless USB transmitter/receiver set from CompUSA/TigerDirect ($50); the newer version of the Cables Unlimited wireless USB transmitter/receiver no longer requires manual pairing and seems faster and far more reliable than the older model it replaces.

I connected the Cables Unlimited wireless USB 2.0 transmitter to the USB connector of my Nikon D300 with a simple flat USB cable; it can transmit full resolution NEF+JPEG (Large) pairs to my laptop up to 30 feet away (5 meters) near instantly (WAYYYY faster than the EyeFi X2 8GB SD card I also own). I use Nikon Camera Control 2 (not required – I can save directly to disk, but I like how Capture displays the latest image automatically after each shot) – this setup works GREAT.

Here is what it looks like:

I still use an Eveready Energi-to-go portable cell phone charger to power the transmitter at the camera; it replaces the transmitter’s AC power adapter – I had to get the one for Motorola phones as its connector fits where the AC power adapter usually plugs into the transmitter power port and also provides the 5v DC needed to power the USB transmitter. I shoved the transmitter stick up into the base of an old broken Sunpack 522 handle mount flash grip (I cut off the head of the broken flash and corked the top) - that gave me both a place to bury the transmitter and attach the battery charger securely off-camera - this gave me a wonderful heavy-duty rubberized camera handle grip and sturdy bracket as part of the deal.

Not bad for a total of about $75-80 - and it BLOWS AWAY the Nikon WT-4a in speed not to mention the obscene price difference. I believe the major speed difference is due to the wireless USB 2.0 transmission rate of 480 Mbps with no network involved or required (the best an 802.11n Ad Hoc can theoretically do is 300Mbps direct AdHoc and only at full speed when at much closer distances). I should add that the WUSB solution is FAR more reliable that my X2 EyeFi – it never drops a frame nor has the notorious delays and hiccups.

Why Nikon doesn't offer something like this in a motor drive/grip-like attachment for a fraction of the cost of the WT-4a is beyond me - it would be much faster, much simpler, and much less expensive, thought admittedly only good for shorter distances like a studio or if you’ve got a laptop nearby. Ideally they'd make in iPhone/iPad app to pair with it wirelessly.

And speaking of iPhone - now if I can only figure out a way to connect the USB transmitter to my iPhone which also has a USB-attachable hotspot feature for connecting to another computer - then I’d have the ideal mobile wireless mobile solution (yes, I did use the EyeFi X2 with my iPhone’s combination hotspot/WiFi capability and ShutterSnatch and yes – it does work, but WUSB would just be the ultimate!)

Regards,
Mike