Komodo Antenna Boost Options?!?

[Ketch Rossi]

Edit/Updated:

I guess Critical Communication Protocol testing is about done

Foxeer 5.8Ghz RP-SMA Female Lollipops & Pagoda do outperform the stock antenna by over 10db's at times as much as 13db's.
Now it's a matter of deciding of how much they outperform each other and which fits better the needs... And also looks

Both are also just tall enough to stick their head out from top of camera for an unobstructed 360 Degree signal.

Let's see how they work out!

Thanks for your input everyone.

 

[Mike P.]

You mean like this?:

https://www.cined.com/accsoon-cineeye-2s-extends-wireless-control-for-red-komodo/

 

[Ketch Rossi]

You mean like this?:

https://www.cined.com/accsoon-cineeye-2s-extends-wireless-control-for-red-komodo/

No Mike,
Just a bigger/stronger one to replace the one on the Komodo.

 

[Craig Lees]

Really depends. I’ve played around with a fair few antenna bodging doing wireless tX / broadcast. Factor in line of sight / how high you can mount the tx antennae and go from there. If not line of sight, mushroom antennae are great.

Various options here:

https://www.rfsolutions.co.uk/antennas-c8/2-5m-t441

Not sure if you can simply unscrew the Komodo antenna like a router but if you can, try swapping it with a bigger & better dual gain one & see if it makes a difference? If not, you’ll have to replace the inside part. You can do this with DSMC2 (though it voids the warranty) but there are other options from wooden camera et all too requiring less video bodging.

Craig Lees
UK

 

[Thomas B.]

No expert advice here, but according to this insta post, you can improve transmission by using a long range (fpv drone gear) antenna. Worth a try as they don't cost a fortune, IMO.

 

[Aaron Almquist]

I would look into something like a Teradek Link. I use this with my Cube 655 to extend its range. I’ve also tested it with my Canon R5 in infrastructure mode to relay the signal from my camera to my phone connected thru the Link. It’s rock solid.

 

[Ketch Rossi]

Really depends. I’ve played around with a fair few antenna bodging doing wireless tX / broadcast. Factor in line of sight / how high you can mount the tx antennae and go from there. If not line of sight, mushroom antennae are great.

Various options here:

https://www.rfsolutions.co.uk/antennas-c8/2-5m-t441

Not sure if you can simply unscrew the Komodo antenna like a router but if you can, try swapping it with a bigger & better dual gain one & see if it makes a difference? If not, you’ll have to replace the inside part. You can do this with DSMC2 (though it voids the warranty) but there are other options from wooden camera et all too requiring less video bodging.

Craig Lees
UK

Yes Craig,
You can, and in al honesty the signal its pretty good, but just wanted to improve it as much as possible, just a little stronger bigger then the one it comes with.
Not doing anything internally, I'll look those up.

I would look into something like a Teradek Link. I use this with my Cube 655 to extend its range. I’ve also tested it with my Canon R5 in infrastructure mode to relay the signal from my camera to my phone connected thru the Link. It’s rock solid.

Not looking to add anything to the body Aaron,
Just swapping the Antenna.

Will use Wireless Video Transmitters if I decide to go that route for Monitoring, but don't want to bulk up the base set up for Wi-Fi transmission.

No expert advice here, but according to this insta post, you can improve transmission by using a long range (fpv drone gear) antenna. Worth a try as they don't cost a fortune, IMO.

I did look in to them Thomas,
Actually it's one of the model I emailed Jarred about it

Might be my best option after all.

 

[Aaron Almquist]

That’s the beauty of using an external router like the Teradek Link (or even your home router) you don’t add anything to the camera build. The internal WiFi on the Komodo and all cameras for that matter don’t have the power to push out a strong signal. But if you connect the camera to a strong wifi you solve that problem.

 

[Ketch Rossi]

That’s the beauty of using an external router like the Teradek Link (or even your home router) you don’t add anything to the camera build. The internal WiFi on the Komodo and all cameras for that matter don’t have the power to push out a strong signal. But if you connect the camera to a strong wifi you solve that problem.

I know Aaron,
However in this case we'll be in a remote Area with NO Internet. So this is why I am looking to fortify the signal off the Komodo trough a larger stronger Antenna, without adding bulk or weight or any cables to the Komodo.

 

[Björn Benckert]

What will you be using the singnal for? If video viewing on phones then the vaxis Atom for Komodo is a great option, 3 phones with less lag then the signal direct from camera. But no guy to control the camera.

Best picture to phone I find Dji raveneye to have, great little box for the price but needs a hdmi feed, which I can get from the vaxis or other ski to hdmi but not directly from camera.

 

[Ketch Rossi]

What will you be using the singnal for? If video viewing on phones then the vaxis Atom for Komodo is a great option, 3 phones with less lag then the signal direct from camera. But no guy to control the camera.

Best picture to phone I find Dji raveneye to have, great little box for the price but needs a hdmi feed, which I can get from the vaxis or other ski to hdmi but not directly from camera.

I don't want to add anything to it Björn.
I went ahed and ordered the Lollipops 5.8G Antennas.

I might need to add Wireless Video for Monitors for FF etc. but not now.

 

[Trishul Thejasvi]

Disappointed with the signal strength from the Komodo but also now completely addicted to myself and others on set being able to monitor on their phone, I ordered the Crystal Swift 800 Pro, it was the only affordable option I could find that streamed to devices, had an SDI loop, a variety of power options and dumb little thing, but has the black/red color motif. After reading on here that the Komodo antennae was removable (duh!) I immediately switched it out to one of the antennae from the Swift and there was an instant improvement, have yet to use in the field, but wish I knew this sooner before buying the Swift. Though it’s a very handy little system. Also props to the Raveneye, which for the price is pretty amazing, but only one device, which is a huge let down.

PS anyone considering the Swift, try order through B&H or Adorama, otherwise you will have to rely on your reseller to provide you customer support, and you NEED the firmware update for it to work on devices, and it’s not available online. Quirks of low budget gear.

Sorry if this was somewhat of a thread hijack as OP has solved the issue, but just FYI for anyone that stumbles on this thread.

And to the OP make sure your lollipops are female, recently made that mistake

 

[Ketch Rossi]

Disappointed with the signal strength from the Komodo but also now completely addicted to myself and others on set being able to monitor on their phone, I ordered the Crystal Swift 800 Pro, it was the only affordable option I could find that streamed to devices, had an SDI loop, a variety of power options and dumb little thing, but has the black/red color motif. After reading on here that the Komodo antennae was removable (duh!) I immediately switched it out to one of the antennae from the Swift and there was an instant improvement, have yet to use in the field, but wish I knew this sooner before buying the Swift. Though it’s a very handy little system. Also props to the Raveneye, which for the price is pretty amazing, but only one device, which is a huge let down.

PS anyone considering the Swift, try order through B&H or Adorama, otherwise you will have to rely on your reseller to provide you customer support, and you NEED the firmware update for it to work on devices, and it’s not available online. Quirks of low budget gear.

Sorry if this was somewhat of a thread hijack as OP has solved the issue, but just FYI for anyone that stumbles on this thread.

And to the OP make sure your lollipops are female, recently made that mistake ��

I'm good with the signal off the Komodo,
But for this project I need it a little stronger so the Lollipops will help.

 

[Christoffer Glans]

I tried just screwing off the antenna on my router and put it on my Komodo and it worked well. But there's always stuttering and freezing regardless of infrastructure, antenna, Ad-Hoc etc.
I'm not sure how to really improve on those things since they seem related to software issues in camera and in Red Control. Hopefully, those things will be improved in future firmware updates and they're affecting the performance of the Komodo Link as well.

Here's an example of the Link performance which is only worsened in live streaming mode.

 

[Ketch Rossi]

I tried just screwing off the antenna on my router and put it on my Komodo and it worked well. But there's always stuttering and freezing regardless of infrastructure, antenna, Ad-Hoc etc.
I'm not sure how to really improve on those things since they seem related to software issues in camera and in Red Control. Hopefully, those things will be improved in future firmware updates and they're affecting the performance of the Komodo Link as well.

Here's an example of the Link performance which is only worsened in live streaming mode.

For my needs the signal will only be used to Start/Stop all cameras contemporarily, so I really am not looking at Monitoring.
I hope the Lollipops will do just that.

I just need a good signal camera from the camera, but I am also testing various options that do not add bulk to the camera build up.

I want to keep it as compact as possible while fully complying to my needs for this specific project.

 

[Craig Lees]

Hi Ketch,

Let us know how it goes! Good luck.

Craig Lees
UK

 

[Ketch Rossi]

Hi Ketch,

Let us know how it goes! Good luck.

Craig Lees
UK

Will do Craig.

 

[Christoffer Glans]

For my needs the signal will only be used to Start/Stop all cameras contemporarily, so I really am not looking at Monitoring.
I hope the Lollipops will do just that.

I just need a good signal camera from the camera, but I am also testing various options that do not add bulk to the camera build up.

I want to keep it as compact as possible while fully complying to my needs for this specific project.

Putting a router antenna on the camera did improve signal strength and it is pretty low-key anyway since any monitor or such on top will have the same height or above the antenna. But the lollipop antenna seems like a better choice. Interested to know if the lollipop style antenna is preferable to any other? I guess it's a star-shaped shape inside the cylinder which I guess would mean optimal signal "capture" and "transmission", but antenna tech isn't something I'm an expert at.

The other part is the phone strength. I've seen that my iPhone 11 Max has a worse signal strength than my Hydrogen, but is there any kind of third-party antenna to use with phones to boost their signal? For me, it's all about boosting a stable video signal so if Red ever improves the stutter and freezes that can be seen on the Link and wireless, getting a good wireless signal that doesn't interrupt is key. If I could turn my Hydrogen into a SmallHD/Teradek kind of wireless monitor, that would be a nice way to revive it as a director's monitor.

 

[Vance Colvig]

The Komodo manual says if you want video streaming the best is 5G. If you want long range for camera control the best is 2G. Many router antennas are dual band, but not all.

 

[Christoffer Glans]

The Komodo manual says if you want video streaming the best is 5G. If you want long range for camera control the best is 2G. Many router antennas are dual band, but not all.

You mean that the lollipop antenna might only be for 5Ghz and not work with 2.8Ghz?