Help: I need to build a remote control device

I want to build a simple remote control device that would send a constant
audio pulse, say 5 to 10 meters away.
I want to be able to remotely control a super 8 movie camera.
Thanks

 

Why audio? What interface to the camera? How simple?

Ken

 

Hi Danny, I think that you have come to a good place to get some help,
HOWEVER, I think that some more info would be helpful. Constant audio
pulse? Is it "constant" or is it "pulsed" or maybe it's a pulse of
infinite duration?
Also what do you want the pulse to do? Turn on the camera?, Turn off
the camera? or have the camera run while the "pulse" is present?
What about driving people nuts while the pulse is on? Is it not
possible to use I/R or maybe R/F?
Perhaps if you re-post you may get lots more suggestions.

Cheer's Ian.

 

Hi Danny, I think that you have come to a good place to get some help,

Thanks Ian

Ok... this is what I know.

I have a Super8 movie camera which has a small hole on the side, which
aparantly accepts a remote control lead to start the camera, just like as if
you pressed the trigger on the camera itself. Most super 8 cameras have
these plugs, and most manufacturers (canon, sankyo, chinon, etc) also used
to sell an accessory with the camera. The accessories are usually filters,
flash units, light units, etc... but one company also used to sell a remote
control device, which in effect mimicked the same cable-type remote control
(ie: a little on/off switch, with a very long cable (> 3 meters) that had a
small mono-like audio plug (the smallest) and one was able to plug that into
the camera and basically start it or stop it. That's all it could do.

What I am after is a remote control device to do the same thing, but WITHOUT
the cable!

The way it would have to work is for a CONSTANT signal (now this is the
clincher because I don't know what frequency or strength it would have to
be) to be sent to the camera via remote.

Perhaps it's not a soung signal at all, but an actual electrical connection!
Yes that's it.

What I need is something that I can remotely send a signal to a battery box
of some sort which would be connected to the camera. All I would do is turn
a switch on, which would send a "signal" to the battery box effectively
turning IT on and of course that would power the camera.

Of course, for this to work, the camera would have to be turned on, and have
the trigger switch LOCKED ON, so all I would need is the power to be turned
on and away she starts filming!

Why do I need it to be remote controlled?

Because I want it to film me surfing some waves from a distance - so oh
yeah... a water - proof unit would also be ideal.

Up to the challenge, anyone?

 

I have a Sony Video 8 camera about 10 years old now and it can start/stop
playing or recording via an infrared signal from my remote control, plus it
has the usual FF/RW Play/Pause Zoon In/Out. The distance is quite long, it
can work from one side of my house to the other. That remote came with the
camera. Only thing it won't do is power the camera on/off.

Do you want to be able to power the camera on/off
or
Start and Stop recording/playing

 

The OP was talking about a super 8 (film) movie camera, not a video
camera. One suggestion is to use an RF type remote control (like a
garage door opener or car lock/alarm) with a set of relay contacts at
the camera end and a waterproof key-fob at the surfing end.