Blackmagic Forum

Looking at the WiFi Antenna design I'm not surprised I managed to break one of them on a shoot yesterday. Luckily it's only 20 bucks to replace. However, this makes me curious as to whether we can get away with alternatives.

I've put my Hollyland Cosmo Antenna on it they work. And, the best part is they are flexible in their design so less easy to break. More durable.

Would love to hear Blackmagic thoughts on using other WiFi Antenna for the UCine. And, put in a suggestion for more durable Antennae in the future. Ones that are flexible and bendable. These need to endure the beating they will take on set with other gear rigged around them.

timbutt2 wrote:Would love to hear Blackmagic thoughts on using other WiFi Antenna for the UCine.

The manual says to use "official" BMD antennas, but antennas are antennas. As long as they're cut for the correct wavelengths, the right connector connector, and the correct polarity then they're gonna work. The ones on their site look like RP-SMA but they also look like renders, so caveat emptor. Digi-Key, Mouser, or most tech part suppliers worth their salt should be able to sell you cases of them for a lot less than $19.

Yeah, just make sure they're in the same operating range. I'd personally just buy a bunch from Amazon and try them all out and return the ones that you don't need. I'm a fan of 'low profile' antennae.

I tested the broken Antenna by the way and it still works. Haha. But yeah, I may buy some extras to be safe.

Overall, I really want Blackmagic to make some flexible antennas in the future because I think those are better design than the design they used. The design they used is easier to knock and break. Flexible works better for the rigors of on set use.

I'll try to remember to bring that up with Stephanie at SIGGRAPH. Though it looks like I won't get to go as press this time; Red Shark apparently doesn't have enough money for freelancers at the moment