How Wired RCP Camera Control Works
Remote control panels, whether a Sony RCP-1500, an RCP-3500, a CyanView Cy-RCP, or a SKAARHOJ RCP Pro, send camera control commands to a broadcast camera over a physical cable connection. On a conventional studio or OB setup, the RCP sits in a shading position (at the production desk, in the OB truck, or beside the vision mixer) and a control cable runs directly to the camera or through the studio patch.
The cable carries a continuous bidirectional data stream: iris, gain, white balance, black level, paint controls, tally, status data, and in some configurations lens control. The camera responds to commands in real time, allowing the shader to make adjustments that appear immediately on the picture.
The problem arises when the camera cannot be connected by cable: a Steadicam rig, a roving handheld camera on a live event, a camera positioned in a studio gallery or on a sports venue gantry where a cable run is not practical. In those situations, the options have traditionally been to accept a cable limitation on the shot or to do without remote camera control.
A wireless link between the RCP and the camera replaces the cable with a radio data connection that passes the same control commands and status data over the air, giving the shader full remote control of a camera that cannot physically be cabled.
Sony 700 Protocol vs IP-Based RCP Control: Understanding the Difference
The control connection between a Sony RCP and a Sony broadcast camera uses one of two communication methods, depending on the camera and RCP model.
Sony 700 Protocol
Sony’s 700 protocol is the traditional wired camera-control standard, used across a range of Sony broadcast cameras and compatible RCP panels including the RCP-1500, RCP-1501, RCP-1530, RCP-3500, RCP-3501, RCP-3100, RCP-1000, and RCP-1001, as well as the MSU-3000 and MSU-3500 master setup units. The protocol runs over a specific Sony serial interface and carries camera control and status data in a format native to these systems.
To make a Sony 700 protocol connection wireless, the wireless link needs to carry the specific serial protocol natively. WaveHire’s CC-S700 and FLEX S700 units are designed for exactly this. They accept the Sony 700 protocol control connection and pass it over a wireless link to a compatible receiver at the camera end, restoring the same serial connection the camera expects without requiring any modification to the RCP or the camera.
IP-Based RCP Control
Newer Sony cameras and some third-party RCP systems including CyanView and SKAARHOJ use IP-based control over standard Ethernet. The RCP sends control commands as IP data to the camera over a network connection, and the camera responds over the same network.
CyanView’s Cy-RCP and IP-based solutions are designed around Ethernet control from the ground up, using standard network protocols to communicate with compatible cameras. SKAARHOJ panels including the RCP Pro, RCPv2, and RCP Pro ARRI use Ethernet-based control and can integrate with multiple camera types over IP.
To make an IP-based control connection wireless, the wireless link needs to carry standard Ethernet data transparently between the RCP and the camera. WaveHire’s CC-LINK IP and FLEX IP units carry IP data over a wireless link between two Ethernet ports, passing the control traffic as if a network cable connected the two ends. This is a transparent bridge: the RCP and camera see a standard network connection, with no modification required to the control software on either side.
WaveHire Products for Wireless Camera Control
WaveHire’s FLEX and CC-LINK ranges are the products designed for wireless camera control and IP data applications. Each model is suited to different combinations of control protocol and production requirement.
CC-LINK IP: Wireless IP Data Bridge
The CC-LINK IP carries IP data wirelessly between two RJ45 Ethernet ports, up to 1 km line-of-sight, at up to 150 Mbps with WPA2 security. It is the appropriate product for any IP-based RCP control workflow: CyanView, SKAARHOJ, or Sony cameras with Ethernet-based remote control. The link is transparent to the network, so no configuration changes are required on the control equipment. Available to hire from WaveHire at £100 per day or £300 per week.
CC-S700: Wireless Sony 700 Protocol Camera Control
The CC-S700 carries the Sony 700 protocol camera-control connection wirelessly, using a 6-pin LEMO connector as found on Sony camera-control systems. It covers up to 1 km line-of-sight and operates on 2.4 GHz and 900 MHz, with AES encryption on the control data. This is the appropriate product for Sony RCP-1500, RCP-3500, RCP-1000, MSU-3000, and compatible Sony camera-control workflows where the camera uses the Sony 700 serial protocol. Available to hire at £125 per day or £375 per week.
CC-LINK COMBO: Sony Control and IP Data on One Link
The CC-LINK COMBO carries both Sony 700 protocol camera control and IP data simultaneously on a single wireless link, up to 1 km line-of-sight. This is the appropriate product for productions that need both a Sony control connection and an IP data connection over the same wireless link, for example a production using a Sony RCP for camera control and simultaneously passing network data for telemetry, tally, or production software. Available to hire at £135 per day or £400 per week.
FLEX S700: HD Video and Sony Camera Control
The FLEX S700 carries HD-SDI video and Sony 700 protocol camera control simultaneously on a single wireless link, up to 600 m line-of-sight. Sub-1 ms latency on the video. This is the appropriate product where both wireless video and wireless Sony camera control are needed on the same link, for example a roving ENG camera where the OB truck needs both the picture and camera control without two separate wireless systems. RS422 serial connectivity and 128-bit AES encryption on the control path. Available to hire at £200 per day or £600 per week.
FLEX IP: HD Video and IP Data
The FLEX IP carries HD-SDI video and IP data simultaneously, up to 600 m line-of-sight. Sub-1 ms video latency, 150 Mbps data rate, WPA2. Suitable for productions combining wireless video with IP-based camera control or other IP data requirements. Available to hire at £175 per day or £525 per week.
FLEX Fusion: HD Video, Sony Control, and IP Data
The FLEX Fusion carries HD-SDI video, Sony 700 protocol camera control, and IP data simultaneously on a single wireless link, the most complete solution in the range for productions requiring all three simultaneously. Up to 600 m line-of-sight, sub-1 ms video latency, 150 Mbps data, WPA2. Available to hire at £225 per day or £675 per week.
Frequency Options: 868 MHz, 900 MHz, and 2.4 GHz
The CC-S700 and FLEX S700 operate on both 2.4 GHz and 900 MHz. In congested RF environments (large OB venues, stadiums, and live events with dense wireless infrastructure) the 900 MHz option can provide additional range and penetration through structures compared to 2.4 GHz, particularly useful for camera control where reliability of the data connection is critical.
The 868 MHz band is available on specific FLEX configurations depending on the region and unit specification. Confirm the available frequency options with WaveHire at the time of booking, particularly for productions in frequency-sensitive environments or where a specific band is required for RF coordination reasons.
The CC-LINK IP and FLEX IP products use dedicated radio hardware suited to their IP data bandwidth requirements rather than the narrower-band 900 MHz / 868 MHz options.
Practical Applications
Wireless RCP on Steadicam
A Steadicam camera cannot be cabled to an RCP for the duration of a take. With a CC-S700 or FLEX S700 mounted on the Steadicam rig, the shader can retain full control of iris, gain, and paint as the operator moves freely through the set. The 1 km rated range of the CC-S700 covers any realistic Steadicam operating distance.
Wireless Camera Control for Outside Broadcast
On a live OB production, camera positions are frequently at distances where cable runs are impractical or where the cable creates a trip hazard or limits the camera’s positioning. A CC-LINK IP positioned at the OB truck with a second unit at the camera provides a wireless Ethernet bridge for IP-based RCP control. On Sony 700 protocol workflows, the CC-S700 provides the same wireless control connection at up to 1 km.
Wireless Sony RCP for Sports and Stadium Shooting
Sports broadcasts often require camera positions at pitch-side, on gantries, or in positions separated from the OB vehicle by significant distances or structural obstructions. The FLEX S700 or CC-S700 carries the camera control link wirelessly while the VITA PRO System or another wireless video solution handles the video feed on a separate link.
Wireless ARRI and Third-Party Camera Control via SKAARHOJ
SKAARHOJ panels including the RCP Pro ARRI use Ethernet-based control protocols for compatible cameras. A CC-LINK IP wireless Ethernet bridge makes the SKAARHOJ control connection wireless on any production where a physical Ethernet run is not practical. Confirm specific compatibility and protocol requirements with WaveHire before booking, as exact interoperability depends on the camera and SKAARHOJ configuration in use.
CyanView IP-Based Remote Control
CyanView’s Cy-RCP and IP-based solutions communicate over standard Ethernet, making them suitable for use with a CC-LINK IP wireless bridge. The wireless link replaces the Ethernet cable between the CyanView controller and the camera without requiring any changes to the CyanView configuration. As with all IP-based configurations, confirm the specific camera and controller compatibility with WaveHire before booking.
Combining Wireless Video and Wireless Camera Control
Many productions need both wireless video and wireless camera control simultaneously. WaveHire’s FLEX series handles both on a single wireless link for productions with Sony 700 protocol or IP-based control alongside HD-SDI video. For monitoring-only wireless video combined with a separate camera control link, the VITA series can be used alongside a CC-LINK or FLEX unit as two independent wireless systems, each managed separately by the RF coordinator.
Discuss your specific combination requirements with WaveHire when booking. The appropriate product depends on the protocol, required range, frequency environment, and whether consolidating video and data on one link or running them separately best suits the production. To discuss your setup, contact our team or check the prices.
