Video · Practical guide

PTZOptics Gen 2: tracing SDI video, 3G converters and firmware

A PTZ camera appears on one path but goes black or flickers on another. Map both paths before changing settings: camera, cable, converter and receiver. The full model name of each device tells you which controls affect the signal you are actually watching.

Identify the camera, firmware and SDI path

Use those details for a specific check: locate the control in the signal diagram and see which output it changes. Before changing frame rate, cable or equipment, check the chain's documented format and compatibility.

A/B: find the control on the right device output

The Blackmagic Converters manual, July 2024, pp. 13–14 describes SDI to HDMI 3G settings for HDMI levels, audio and LUTs. Pages 20 and 26 place 3G SDI Output on HDMI to SDI 3G and BiDirectional SDI/HDMI 3G. The ATEM Production Studio manual, December 2024, p. 65 also describes A/B as an SDI output format. None of these controls select the format sent by the PTZ camera.

Read the device name detected by Converters Setup and note its internal software version. If the advice you were given names a menu you cannot find, compare the model and conversion direction first. Changing HDMI levels or importing a LUT is not the same as changing A/B.

To test the selector on a BiDirectional 3G, identify its SDI OUT and the receiver connected there. Compare the signal before and after the change, keeping other settings the same. If the problem is at HDMI OUT, that comparison does not establish a fix for the HDMI output.

A/B: find the control on the right device output
Device or control checked	Where it acts	What to record
Micro SDI to HDMI 3G — Setup/LUTs	HDMI levels, audio and LUTs; this section does not present an A/B selector.	Detected model, version and actual menu.
Micro HDMI to SDI 3G — 3G SDI Output	SDI output, Level A or Level B.	Receiver and SDI output used.
Micro BiDirectional SDI/HDMI 3G — 3G SDI Output	SDI output; Level B is the documented default.	Input(s), output observed and starting value.
ATEM 2 M/E Production Studio 4K — Set 3G SDI Output Level	SDI output; it does not select the frame rate or level sent by a camera.	Destination of that output; manual for the exact model.

SDI is present, but the HDMI destination has no picture

For the Micro Converter SDI to HDMI 3G, page 13 distinguishes the white power LED from the indicator next to SDI IN. If the latter flashes, the manual describes an SDI input present with no HDMI output detected. Trace HDMI OUT, its cable and receiver; record the LED state and visible result. A lit indicator does not verify the content or stability of the picture.

For the BiDirectional 3G, pp. 25 and 28 check which inputs are connected: HDMI OUT detects the SDI signal; without it, HDMI OUT may show the HDMI IN loop. If HDMI IN is also connected, its video and audio leave through SDI OUT. To compare one camera over SDI, identify both connections and verify the source of each picture.

Test off air with footage that lets you recognize the camera and see movement. If a TV works but the capture device fails, keep the converter output unchanged and compare the destinations. Identify the received format and the capture model's capabilities before readjusting the camera.

Restoring video at a lower frame rate narrows the search

A lower frame rate that works gives you a usable combination for further investigation. On its own, it does not prove cable damage, A/B incompatibility or a firmware fault. Record resolution, progressive or interlaced scan, and exact frame rate on both paths; “HD” is not enough.

Prepare an off-air comparison. Keep the camera and receiver, and test another cable run documented for the format; then, if appropriate, compare another converter using that same run. Note length and joins. Do not change the cable, firmware and converter in one attempt if you need to know which change restored the picture.

Event acceptance calls for checking every camera and destination at the agreed format. If only a TV has recovered, capture, recording or streaming still need testing. Agree on a rehearsal duration that fits the program and record dropouts, flicker and the rollback state; no measured stability period is claimed here.

Restoring video at a lower frame rate narrows the search
Proposed comparison	Keep constant or record	What to observe
Same output to another compatible receiver	Source, format and previous cable run.	Picture, received format and stability at each destination.
Another cable or run	Source, converter, receiver and format.	Whether the fault changes; length and joins of both runs.
Another identified converter	Source, format, cable and receiver.	Model/version, ports and change in symptoms.
An agreed alternative format	Signal path; record the old and new formats.	Which sources and destinations work; what remains unresolved.

Gen 2 firmware and resolution dial: identify the unit first

The official SDI/NDI G2 page, “Choose the Correct Firmware” distinguishes PoE from Non-PoE by a SoC number starting with 6 or 7, respectively. It warns that the wrong file can damage the camera. Record the model, SoC and other displayed versions; if the selection does not match your unit, ask the manufacturer before updating.

The 30X notes dated May 6, 2025 and 12X/20X notes dated May 20, 2025 list v6.3.45 for 30X and v6.3.72/v6.3.29 for 12X/20X. They describe other changes, but do not show that they solve the 2021 SDI case. These are documented versions, not versions verified on the event cameras.

Links to the manufacturer's 30x Gen 2 manual and its Hive copy returned 404 when the Spanish source guide was reviewed. The dial table, Dial Priority and behavior of the installed version remain unverified. The MOVE 4K documentation has its own table; do not apply it to Gen 2. Record the observed format and find the manual for your unit before changing dial positions.

If an update is chosen, separately plan the post-update checks of picture, control and presets under that model's procedure. Keep the previous settings and a record of the selected file.

Record the test so you can continue

Use the PTZ Gen 2 and 3G converter worksheet. Keep manufacturer settings separate from your test results. Note the variable changed, the sample observed and the next step.

If you need to convert resolution or frame rate, the MD-HX and MD-LX guide distinguishes conversion from scaling.

Once the signal is back, resume shot rehearsal with the conference PTZ guide. Share the paths and open questions when asking about video processing.

Frequently asked questions

Is a firmware update enough to restore SDI on a PTZOptics 30x Gen 2?

Record the symptom and change one variable per test. If you change firmware and converter together, you cannot tell which change produced the result.

Does changing 3G SDI Output on an ATEM fix the PTZ's input level?

That control changes a switcher output. Locate its destination in the diagram before testing. The Production Studio 4K manual describes it as an output; it is not used here to select the camera's transmitted format or as a confirmed repair for the Television Studio HD case.

Why can't I find A/B in the Micro SDI to HDMI 3G Setup menu?

Check the detected model. Its manual section covers HDMI levels, audio and LUTs, while HDMI to SDI 3G and BiDirectional 3G have 3G SDI Output. Do not substitute an HDMI-level or LUT change for the missing control.

What does a flashing SDI indicator on the Micro SDI to HDMI 3G mean?

The manual describes an SDI signal present with no HDMI output detected. Check HDMI OUT, cable and receiver, and record whether continuous video appears. Distinguish that indicator from the white power LED. The LED helps locate the fault, but the destination's picture still needs checking.

If SDI IN and HDMI IN are both connected to a BiDirectional 3G, do both outputs show the PTZ?

Record both sources. With HDMI IN connected, its content leaves via SDI OUT; HDMI OUT detects SDI IN and may show the HDMI loop when SDI is absent. Use a recognizable picture to verify its origin before concluding that the PTZ has returned.

If 1080p29.97 works but 59.94 fails, is the cable necessarily faulty?

That result narrows the search but does not prove a cause. Keep the signal path and observed formats recorded, then compare cable, converter or destination separately.

Can I use any firmware file labeled PTZOptics Gen 2?

Check the model and PoE/Non-PoE variant against the unit and official page. Changelog versions do not identify what was installed in the case or guarantee an SDI fix. If the details do not establish a compatible file, leave the update pending and ask the manufacturer.

Which dial position should I use for 1080p59.94 on a 30x Gen 2?

This still requires the exact manual: both official links found returned 404 when the Spanish source guide was reviewed. Identify model, firmware and received format before proposing a position or Dial Priority. Use Gen 2 documentation for that camera; the MOVE 4K table has a different scope.