Can a CC-LINK system carry video?

No. CC-LINK systems carry Sony camera control protocol and IP data only. They carry no video signal of any kind. If you need to transmit an HD-SDI or HDMI video feed wirelessly, you need a FLEX system. This is a fundamental design difference between the two ranges, not a configuration choice.

Does AES encryption on the CC-S700 protect the video feed?

The CC-S700 carries no video, so there is no video feed to protect. AES encryption on the CC-S700 and CC-LINK COMBO protects the Sony camera-control and status data transmitted between the controller and the camera. Encrypted video transmission requires a FLEX system.

What is the range difference between CC-LINK and FLEX systems?

CC-LINK systems are rated up to 1 km line-of-sight. FLEX systems are rated up to 600 metres line-of-sight. Real-world range depends on the RF environment, antenna positioning, obstructions and local interference. Plan around a conservative range estimate and test your specific setup on location before relying on it for a live broadcast.

If I need wireless video AND Sony camera control, what should I hire?

The FLEX S700 at £200 per day carries both HD-SDI video and Sony 700 series camera control on a single wireless link up to 600 metres. If you also need IP data bridging alongside video and control, the FLEX Fusion at £225 per day handles all three functions simultaneously.

What is the difference between FLEX IP and FLEX S700?

FLEX IP carries HD-SDI video and IP data but no camera control protocol. FLEX S700 carries HD-SDI video and Sony 700 camera control but no IP data channel. Choose FLEX IP when you need data alongside video; choose FLEX S700 when you need to shade a Sony camera wirelessly. For all three functions simultaneously, FLEX Fusion covers them in a single system.

Can I use CC-LINK and FLEX systems together on the same production?

Yes. A common setup is a FLEX system returning wireless video to the OB truck while a CC-LINK COMBO handles production network traffic and RCP commands. Since CC-LINK and FLEX systems operate in different frequency configurations, they can coexist with proper RF planning.

CC-LINK vs FLEX Wireless Broadcast System

CC-LINK and FLEX are WaveHire's two core wireless broadcast ranges, and they serve fundamentally different functions. CC-LINK systems carry Sony camera control and IP data. They carry no video. FLEX systems carry HD-SDI video and can additionally carry camera control, IP data, or both. This guide explains the difference clearly so you can make the right hire decision before kit leaves our facility.

The Question That Decides Everything

The most common mistake people make when hiring professional wireless broadcast equipment is treating CC-LINK and FLEX as interchangeable options at different price points. They are not. They solve different problems, and hiring the wrong one does not mean you have a cheaper version of the right thing; it means you have equipment that cannot do the job at all.

Understanding which system your production needs comes down to one question: does your wireless link need to carry video?

What CC-LINK Systems Carry

CC-LINK is WaveHire's wireless camera control and IP data range. The three systems in this range (CC-LINK IP, CC-S700 and CC-LINK COMBO) each carry different combinations of camera control and network data, but none of them carry video. That is not a limitation; it is what they are designed to do.

CC-LINK IP

£100/day

The CC-LINK IP is a wireless IP data bridge. It creates a 150 Mbps wireless network link between two points up to 1 km apart over dual LAN connections. Productions use it to extend Ethernet over distances where running cable is impractical: sending metadata, RCP commands, tally data or production network traffic without a physical cable. At £100 per day, it is the most cost-effective way to bridge a production network wirelessly.

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CC-S700

£125/day

The CC-S700 is built specifically for Sony 700 series camera control protocol. It gives a shader or vision mixer full remote control of a Sony camera (iris, black level, colour, white balance) over a wireless link up to 1 km. The 6-pin LEMO connector matches the camera control interface directly, and 128-bit AES encryption protects the camera-control and status data in transit. At £125 per day, it is the hire choice when the only requirement is Sony camera control with no video component.

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CC-LINK COMBO

£135/day

The CC-LINK COMBO combines both functions (Sony 700 protocol camera control and 150 Mbps IP data) on a single wireless link at £135 per day. For productions running both an RCP and a production network over the same wireless path, COMBO is more cost-effective and simpler to manage than running two separate links.

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What FLEX Systems Carry

FLEX is WaveHire's broadcast live range. These systems carry HD-SDI video as their primary function, with additional capabilities depending on the specific model. All FLEX systems deliver sub-1 ms system latency and operate up to 600 metres, using dual-band 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz with V-Mount or Anton Bauer battery compatibility.

FLEX IP

£175/day

The FLEX IP carries HD-SDI video and IP data simultaneously. It outputs two HD-SDI feeds plus HDMI and maintains a 150 Mbps data channel alongside the video link. At £175 per day, it handles productions that need wireless video transmission combined with a network data bridge: a camera returning both picture and production network traffic on one wireless link.

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FLEX S700

£200/day

The FLEX S700 carries HD-SDI video and Sony camera control. Where the CC-S700 gives you control without video, the FLEX S700 gives you both on one link. RS422 data is carried alongside the HD-SDI output, and 128-bit AES encryption protects the camera-control data. At £200 per day, this is the hire choice for productions requiring wireless video return and the ability to shade the camera remotely.

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FLEX Fusion

£225/day

The FLEX Fusion is the most capable system in the range. It carries HD video, IP data and Sony camera control simultaneously on a single wireless link. At £225 per day, Fusion is the choice when a production needs everything (video back to the OB truck, RCP control of the camera, and production network traffic) without running multiple wireless systems to achieve it.

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How to Make the Decision

Start with the video question. If your wireless link needs to carry a picture, you need a FLEX system. CC-LINK will not provide a video feed regardless of configuration.

If you do not need wireless video (you are extending a production network, providing remote camera control to a shader at an RCP, or bridging data between two points), a CC-LINK system is the more cost-effective and often simpler choice.

Where it gets more nuanced is when a production needs wireless video and Sony camera control. FLEX S700 provides both in a single system. But some productions run a separate VITA system for video monitoring and a CC-S700 for camera control. That means two wireless links rather than one, which adds RF management complexity but gives operators independent control over each function. There is no single correct answer; it depends on your crew structure, your RF environment and your operational workflow on the day.

Range, Frequencies and Practical Considerations

CC-LINK systems operate up to 1 km line-of-sight and across 2.4 GHz and 900 MHz bands. FLEX systems operate up to 600 metres line-of-sight across dual-band 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz. Real-world range in a complex RF environment (inside a building, around corners, through reflective surfaces) will typically be shorter than the rated line-of-sight figures for any wireless system.

If you are unsure which system fits a specific production, the team at WaveHire is available to advise before you confirm a booking.

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CC-LINK vs FLEX: Which Wireless System Does Your Production Actually Need?