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WTCS-1
Wireless time code slate in slim, lightweight and durable design

Overview

New BETSO WTCS-1 wireless time code slate with writing sheet backlight is carefully designed to meet rising demands on displayed information capability, overall product durability and lightweight and "plug and play" functionality. BETSO WTCS-1 is Wi-Fi enabled device with super bright graphical LED display and

implemented cooperation with iOS MovieSlate 8 application thanks which it is capable to display metadata on WTCS-1 display. BETSO WTCS-1 has also our latest RF transceiver module for wireless transmission of time code and status information. And of course a lot of more cool features to make your work easier.

CNC milled wooden arms

Ultra bright 1" graphic LED display with anti-glare surface

Illuminated front face

Intuitive menu based settings

Internal highly accurate temperature compensated oscillator

Bright blue leds for clap indication

Implemented WiFi and long range radio transceivers for advanced functionality

Main features

RF network

RF transmission

Our whole new concept of wireless transmission of time code and status information is ideal for simple on stage workflow control. Each device connected to the network will be continuously jammed from transmitter and on each device you can observe status information of all other devices in the network.

The operating range is up to 500m within the line of sight. The RF protocol incorporates frequency hopping spread spectrum technology approach which ensures robust functionality even in the environment with high RF noise.

When unit set as receiver is out of the RF range, it keeps generating synced timecode.

All Timecode Formats

The WTCS-1 can receive, precisely jam or start to generate new time codes of all existing SMPTE time code formats.

Display

1" Super-bright graphical LED display with Anti-glare Surface

Ambient light independent time code readouts are guaranteed thanks to a large, 1-inch high, super-bright graphical LED display with a special anti-glare surface that avoids sun reflection. Its brightness can be easily adjusted in ten modes to meet actual light conditions or can be set automatically in relation to actual ambient light conditions thanks to integrated sensor.

Writing sheet backlight and anti-scratch protection

For easy writing sheet information readout BETSO WTCS-1 has implemented it's adjustable backlight. The brightness of the backlight can be set in three steps of brightness intensity or completely turned off.

BETSO WTCS-1 comes with applied writing sheet protector, which furthermore protects already very robust mechanical construction. In the case of accidental damage of the writing sheet protector it is matter of few seconds to install the new one.

Ultra Highly Accurate TCXO

Embedded high precision temperature compansated crystal oscillator TCXO with frequency accuracy off 0.2 ppm is the fundamental piece of hardware for stable and accurate timecode generator.

The superior quality of TCXO is best suited for changing environmental conditions where temperatures vary a lot during the day. Even in extreme weather conditions, the WTCS-1 will keep timecodes in sync.

WTCS-1 weight and dimensions

Solid and Precise Mechanical Construction with Reduced Weight and Decent Dimensions

During the development phase, special focus was kept on the infield daily use. Therefore the main body is made from very stiff anodized aluminium alloy using CNC milling and laser cutting technologies. This was the only way to get a very robust, but still as small and as lightweight a device as possible.

The highest in quality demands were also put on the details which led to stiff wood utilization in the arms of the slate, sealing on the battery door and high quality writing sheets with optional protection labels (accessory).

MovieSlate 8 cooperation over WiFi

The new BETSO WTCS-1 digital smart slate can sync timecode, user bits, slate data and user-selectable credits information over it's built-in WiFi network directly to MovieSlate 8 application.

When connected with MovieSlate 8 application, it can be selected how long to display each piece of data, and on which events to show credits - Sticks Open/Clap, Shot End

Between more than 60 available credits information which can be synced with BETSO WTCS-1 are: Roll, Scene, Take, Prod, Dir, Dp, Title, Slate, Date, Cam, FPS, ISO Speed, Lens, Filters, HDR, Sound Media, Sound Filename and much more.

Powering

Powering

The BETSO WTCS-1 digital smart slate is powered by six AA batteries, which are able to power the device for up to 100 hours of continuous time code generation. This outstanding performance is achieved by very careful design of power management circuitry and the use of very efficient LED display.

In the case of battery discharge the BETSO WTCS-1 has inbuilt backup battery, which can keep time code generating for next 3 hours, so there is plenty of time for safe battery replacement without loosing the time code sync.




SIX
AA size
batteries

100+
hours of battery
run-time

ALL
batt. chemistry
supported

Video

Technical specifications

Display Graphical 1“ high, white LED display with adjustable brightness
Dimensions (h x w x d) 230 x 185 x 24 mm (9.0" x 7.3" x 0.9")
Weight (w/o batteries) approx. 760g (1.68 lb)
Mechanical construction CNC milled, anodized aluminium alloy and stiff wood
Powering 6x AA battery (alkaline or lithium) / 6x accu (NiMH, NiCd)
External powering 6 - 15 V DC
Current consumption approx. 30 - 1000 mA *
approx. 4 mA in stand-by mode (arms of the slate closed)
Battery life Up to 100 hours **
SMPTE TC formats 23,976 fps - 30 fps including DF and NDF (also 2x multiples: 23.976 fps - 60 fps supported)
Input TC sensitivity 0.2 - 10 V (p-p)
Frequency range 902 - 928 MHz (USA/Canada)
863 - 870 MHz (Europe)
922.4 - 928.0 MHz (Japan)
Number of channels 5
RF output power 10mW (10dBm)
Operating range up to 500m ***

* depends on the brightness of LED display

** with the lowest display brightness

*** within the line of sight

Advanced features

RF transmission RF transmission of time code and device status information
GPS calibration Factory GPS based calibration of TCXO with better than 0,1ppm accuracy result
Jamming calibration Jamming calibration feature to copy master's TCXO precision
Cross jamming Cross jamming allowes timecode sync between two different framerates
Auto ON Automatic power ON function after active time code detection
Smart arm LED Can flash during each zero frame of each second and also in the frame of clapping
Backlight Backlight of writing area of the slate
Display orientation Allows to set 180° display rotation for upside down WTCS-1 LED display readout including automatic display rotation
Ambient light sensor Display brightness can be adjusted automatically according to actual ambient light conditions
TC offset Time code offset adjustment from -10.0 to 10.0 frames with 0.1 frame step
UB settings Variable user bits settings including preset value, jammed user bits, live external timecode insertion or real time date and time insertion
Real Time Clock Real time clock option for user bits settings including combinations of year, month, day, hour, minute and second
GPS time TC Starts to generate exact UTC time code synchronized all over the world
USB ready USB connector available for future firmware upgrades

Downloads

User manual
User manual EN 23.02.2020 416.55 KB Downloads