eye-fi works !! untethered automatic upload jpg's

[generic]

Ok, the eye-fi card seems to be working. Had to upgrade the browser (hated that) to run the config program on the card. But upload seems quick, convenient and so far pretty reliable. Seems I had to lengthen the meter-on timer cause that's when it transmits. But un-tethered shooting in a large room or hall seems possible.

For use in the field (if one wants to upload continuously) it looks like a router must be used to fake a network. It configures by giving it the available wifi/router name. Says it does not configure ad-hoc for direct to computer. So of course now I'm looking for a miniture (at least small) router that I can plug into a laptop to dummy up a network.

This thing automatically uploads to a photo site of your choice(bout 20 of them), rather the on computer software does, including smugmug, fotzi, flickr, etc, if desired or only to the computer of choice. The software is now installed on 3 computers including the laptop and upload is to whichever I'm using. It does allow config for multiple networks (meaning routers), so I figure I can configure all 6 wi-fi routers in the building and wander the halls freely.

More coming over days or as I learn it. I'm curious about the range. I'm told to expect a hundred feet from SD with possibly less in a CF adapter but that a previous reporting user said no less distance was noticed.

Looks like freestyle shooting in a studio or hall without tether is the major advantage with the fact that the memory card is always big enough since it can be erased and filled again, ....... and again.

Bad news for raw shooters though. I'm told that at the moment at least it only transmits jpg's so raw would remain on the card for manual upload. This may be fixed with a firmware upgrade at some point though.

But right now I'm happy with it cause it did not cost five hundred bucks.

gene

[DocNo]

Cool - in one article they hinted they were working on RAW support - I'll be watching!

Originally Posted by generic

So of course now I'm looking for a miniture (at least small) router that I can plug into a laptop to dummy up a network.

Refurb Apple Airport Express. I haven't seen anything smaller...

[generic]

What I want as much as 'raw support' is a stand alone card management utility. While the configuration works ok I dont particularly like the idea that I must be online to use the configuration site to add networks or change a targeted computer.

gene

[Mr. Pickles]

I think the CF version will be capable of transferring RAW. No telling what RAW formats it will transfer. Hopefully all and any file the camera will take.

Maybe they will redo the SD version to also do RAW. Who knows.

[generic]

That would be nice. I had hoped they would come out with a CF version already. I'm also hoping that a firmware update will allow raw in this one (sd in a cf adapter). I hafta think it's a software uprade after all. I think I'll try and see what effect (if any) there is to shooting raw on the card. Yesterday I shot a hundred pics or so of some skateboarders. Kinda wanted to see if the normal use of the card made any difference. I didnt see any diff except of course transfer is slower than when directly from a card reader. I'll have to verify that though. When your watching them come to the screen natuarally it would seem slower

gene

[Mr. Pickles]

I would think that the software needs to change so that RAW files are uploaded to the computer only. Not many sites will take a RAW files...?

[generic]

The utiility is where that distinction is made. Gives the option to upload to a photo site/or not. And the option to upload to a network.

If they allow the raw then I would expect that to also have that selection avail.

If nothing else I hope someone simply writes a more comprehensive standalone utility.
It appears that their first thought was to offer a photo 'service' with which one would purchase the card. Maybe didnt pan out so now it's sold outright and offers upload to quite a few well known photo sites. With giving up on the utility being a last leg of proprietary hold out

Most of us have pretty solid internet access so it shouldnt normally be a problem but it seems irksome (suspicious to pull your utility up and it call up the browser to connect to a sight. It's only for configuring the card to see a network of choice and might not seem like a big deal to them. However, I dont like the thought of wondering if they'll be there when I have a new computer(or laptop) to set up.

gene

[DocNo]

Originally Posted by generic

The utiility is where that distinction is made. Gives the option to upload to a photo site/or not. And the option to upload to a network.

So, you don't have to have an internet connection after all - the only review I saw on it made it sound like the only option was to upload to a web site, and then download - which seemed a bit daft.

[generic]

Yes at least initially you have to have a net connection. The configuration utility is on the drive as an application but when you execute it it opens the browser and requires you to log in. It may just be accessing the card itself but without the connection it will not open.

First use opened the browser and and required log in.
A network is chosen where it displayed router names of available wireless networks.
A network(router name) was selected.
After confirming the default dir to upload to and NOT choosing to upload to a photosite and saving those selections I logged off.
Closed the browser.
At this point the camera began uploading to the computer 'through' my wifi network.
I'm fairly sure that at this point I would no longer have needed internet access but just network access through the wifi to my machine (which it id'd as the server.

Ok, I've confirmed that the internet connection is required for initial setup only so the internet connection can be tested, configured etc. After that uploading is done with or without a live internet connection.
To do this the router is plugged directly into the computer (my laptop) and the router powered from my inverter in my van. The eye-fi card then recognises the router as 'the network' and the laptop as the server or target computer to upload to without further internet need.

It's said that you can configure as many networks as needed. I'm going to find that out because I have several routers in house and of course the one that will be portable.

gene

gene