D800 DIY wireless, fast, reliable, $39 - Last Chance

If you'd like a wireless image transfer and control to a Windows-based computer, laptop or tablet that is very fast, reliable and doesn't even require WiFi network connectivity, now might be you last opportunity. The wireless USB 2 transmitter/receiver I've been using for the past few years from Cables Unlimited have been MIA - the company that made it went bankrupt and seems the end of the line for that product with no other sources. The company below seems to have bought up the remaining stock at fire sale prices ($28.89 USD):

http://www.quickship.com/cables-unlimited-usb-wireless2-wi-fi-adapter

Basically you toss the AC adapter that connect transmitter and replace it with one of these cute little battery powered DC power adapters for $6.50 USD (exact model required due the the needed matching power adapter end - its a tight fit but you can use something small to widen it ever so slightly if necessary):

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000JD39X8/ref=oh_o04_s00_i00_details

Once you get the transmitter/receiver pair, install the software driver, plug both of them into USB ports in to the same computer (that pairs them up on the same channel), then attach the transmitter to the USB 3.0 input on the D800 using a short USB 3 cable like this one for $3.19 USD:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002HZYBZ6/ref=oh_details_o02_s00_i00

You can then shoot unteathered direct from the D800 (or any other Camera with a USB port) and it sends the images straight to the desktop, tower, laptop or tablet hard drive very fast (480Mbps - about 3-4 times faster than 802.11n with no WiFi network needed and virtually no waiting to connect or drops. Works up to 30 foot distance at full speed.

If you have/get Nikon Camera Control Pro 2 you can fully remote control the camera and images can display part or full screen after each shot.

I buried my transmitter and battery pack inside a nice handle mount flash - I just sawed off the flash head of an old Sunpak 511 flash (broken ones available on eBay for $10 USD - the 511 is good because it had the screw off battery holder in base which is where you can stuff the transmitter). The now headless flash handle and its sturdy bracket also doubles as the perfect handle for carrying the entire camera around all day and can be used with or without add on battery grips.

So, for $40-$50 you get a reliable, high speed, network free wireless solution (Nikon CCP 2 extra) that is much faster and convenient than the $800 + Nikon solution for the D4 when used at short distances.

I used this with my D300 for a long time and works great with my new D800 (with the D300 I had to put the USB in MTP mode). In the studio the receiver is connected to my studio tower; in the field I connect it to my ASUS EP-121 Windows tablet or Thinkpad laptop. Works GREAT!

Get those that USB solution now while you still can - once they are sold out I don't ever expect to see then again anytime soon.

Regards,
Mike

I'm a bit confused. Do I have to buy 2 of the USB devices for $29 each? And if so how is the total solution cost $40-50? I'm interested in this but want to make sure exactly what I would need to buy.
--
Mike Dawson

A very clever idea, and if it worked as seamlessly as a wireless USB cable without the cable, I'd buy a set. However, my laptop is a MacBook, which as far as I can tell this set does not work with.

Correct. It doesn't have mac drivers unfortunately - only Win drivers.

Mike

Good question. It usually comes as kit with the transmitter and receiver. I just ordered one from that site and I will be able to confirm by Thursday that it has both; I have never seen it for sale as separate components in the past but am not certain. I'll update here on Thursday.

Regards,
Mike

Correction, the one I posted is the older version and I'm not sure has the both the transmitter and receiver (it usually does but I can't be certain); the correct one is here:

http://www.everydaylowprice.com/cables-unlimited-usb-wr2000-wireless-usb-kit-with-transmitter-receiver-6266.html

But even that place won't ship to my region it says :-(

Regards,
Mike

More info: Apparently, you'd need one of these kits to have the pair to make a complete solution:

http://www.cables4computer.com/...ith_Transmitter_and_Receiver_with_Base.html

Which might or might not still be in stock. The original link only gets you the add on dongle after yo already have the kit that provide both the transmitter and receiver pair (they are not transceivers - buying two won't get you a solution).

The one above is only the slower USB1 speed and not the faster USB2 version (WR-USB2000) product:

http://www.cables4computer.com/...ith_Transmitter_and_Receiver_with_Base.html

Which again might or might not still be in stock.

M.

hi there, got very interested on your post with the wireless transmission. Need further clarification please, appreciate it much. I opened up the first link here and got to the website with cables unlimited for both the transmitter and transceiver. And then for the two other links which the pages no longer exist because items are out of stock. I am confused (not hard) to what I really need now. Isn't the transmitter and transceiver all that I need? As the two other links show up empty I don't know what I am looking for, could you describe it please - perhaps we can find it somewhere else?

Thanks in advance...

Michael Firstlight said:

More info: Apparently, you'd need one of these kits to have the pair to make a complete solution:

http://www.cables4computer.com/...ith_Transmitter_and_Receiver_with_Base.html

Which might or might not still be in stock. The original link only gets you the add on dongle after yo already have the kit that provide both the transmitter and receiver pair (they are not transceivers - buying two won't get you a solution).

The one above is only the slower USB1 speed and not the faster USB2 version (WR-USB2000) product:

http://www.cables4computer.com/...ith_Transmitter_and_Receiver_with_Base.html

Which again might or might not still be in stock.

M.

Click to expand...

thanks for the heads up!

The Energizer Cel2Mot power connector does not fit snaller dia.
Steve Provisor

Mine does; I did have to take a small nail and widen it ever so slightly and it makes a very nice snug fit afterwards.

Mike

Mike,

Which version of windows are you using this combo on?

Please say Windows 7

Thanks

This product looks similar in capability. In fact, the actual transmitters and receivers look very similar to the Cables Unlimited product. Would this work?

http://www.amazon.com/IOGEAR-Wireless-Computer-GUWAVKIT2-Gray/dp/B0047E3GJM/ref=sr_1_8?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1344122500&sr=1-8&keywords=usb+transmitter+receiver+kit

It costs more but for the money you also get an adapter for your display device - monitor, projector, etc. It's still way cheaper than the Nikon adapter.
--
Mike Dawson

Actually, I think I see the problem with this device. The piece that plugs into the projector/monitor would be tossed away, but that would leave you no way to power the dongle. You need the dongle base to be able to plug in the power source.
--
Mike Dawson

Might can be accomplished!

I had a set of wireless USB form cables unlimited. I used the D300s and Adobe lightroom ver 3 upgraded to 3.6. I use windows 7 64 bit. I had to download a driver before it worked. The specs call for XP and Vista. It take about 7 sec to transfer a D300s NEF file to the PC. I have the Ultra speed unit only one side so I could not test it. How long will the lithium battery last?
Regards,
Steve Provisor

The model being sold via your link... did you get to try it and confirm that it works with the newer model?

Afraid its DOA. If we can find some company that sells a wireless USB2.0 or USB3.0 transmitter/receiver product we can recreate this solution easily....I just don't know of any - odd that there isn't a USB3.0 based one yet - would be ideal for connecting lots of devices wirelessly at far higher speeds and directly without any 802.11 network.




Regards,

Mike

There are USB based transmitters and receivers used in wireless laptop-to-HDTV transmission. They may only be USB2.0 but would that work?

Hummm, I have one of those. A StreamHD unit. It connects via HDMI at the TV. I never tried it - I wonder if anyone else has? I guess I could try if and see what happens by connecting the transmitter dngle to camera and the receiver to the HDMI input port on the computer instead of how I have it connected now (USB transmitter on the computer and receiver base (powered) to the HDMI input of the TV). Maybe that is wishful thinking, but yes, the SteamHD unit is a wireless USB transmitter/receiver and it would be wonderful if it did because the receiver wouldn't require a DC power source at the camera, but I am betting it won't work - we'll see, but it won't hurt to experiment.





Regards,

Mike