That Tekkeon TekCharge looks like it is perfectly packaged! And since the Energi-to-Go units only produce 600ma (3w) at 5v and have shown no problem operating the dongle, the 700ma (3.5w) at 5v of the TekCharge should be more than adequate! Moreover, those specs from Cable Unlimited's website are obviously quoting 1w maximum draw.
That Tekkeon TekCharge looks like it is perfectly packaged! And since the Energi-to-Go units only produce 600ma (3w) at 5v and have shown no problem operating the dongle, the 700ma (3.5w) at 5v of the TekCharge should be more than adequate! Moreover, those specs from Cable Unlimited's website are obviously quoting 1w maximum draw.
Good find!
Turned out a I have a fashion show in OC this Sunday. TekCharge should come tomorrow, so I should be able to ready everything and get a nice trial by fire this very weekend. Hope it'll help me to boost some on-site sales.
BTW, it will be in Costa Mesa, so if anybody wanna come and see my photobooth and this USB thing in action - let me know..
UPDATE:
ordered Wirelss USB kit.
$39 from Amazon, free shipping.
Impossible to pass:-)
Will report how it does when I get it working... <object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" width="0" height="0">
I thought I posted this last night, but aparently I got distracted and forgot to submit it... Anyway...
My two-bit plot to avoid paying $$$ for the slow and PITA-to-setup official WFT solution looks like a success. The Wireless USB adapter set (thanks again Henry for the advice!) and the Tekkeon TekCharge unit seem like a total winner!
NOTE: the following SOOC images were taken in a very dark room at ISO 25K. Hence the noise.
#1: This is the "client" part. WUSB "base", with the dongle in place, connected to a TekCharge unit (the cable and a huge collection of tips came with the power pack). The second cord (3ft USB-to-mini USB) actually goes to the camera itself, the one was used to take this picture...
The size of the power pack is literally the size of the 4 AA batteries (black part) plus maybe 25% more for the electonics. Considering it also works as a charger for your rechargeables, has standad and mini USB outlets and a nice ON/OFF switch - it's hard to beat convenience/price wise.
#2: This is a server part: my M6400 laptop running Windows 7 RC and EOS Utility showing the previous image just transferred wirelessly seconds ago.
Transfer was nearly instantaneous, no difference from using USB cable.
You can see the WUSB dongle on the left.
A word of advice: do not let your camera go into Sleep mode. If you do, you would have to activate the connection back at the EOS utility. Luckily, in its preferences you can tell it to always keep the camera awake (when connected), so it's no biggie.
I didn't test any distance/speed thresholds. For now all I can say it works under normal situation - provided you have a place in your jacket/camera bag to tuck in the client-side units.
HTH
This post was made with the assistance of Star*Explorer
tried it
I bought one for my 5D Mk2....after trying to set it up (took a long, long time) and getting transfer rates close to Pony Express speed I returned it...
Wirelss USB: Trial by Fire
I'll cut to the chase to save you some reading time..
Works fine at close proximity (studio).
Public events: you better put yourself on 30ft leash and pray no one crosses the line of sight. So unless you can arrange for your laptop being close to you at all times, you better off to some other solution.
Details
I went to Costa Mesa Hilton today to shoot a fashion show. At previous shows I already used my laptop + 27" screen to lure the public to the photo booth. On the screen there as an looped slideshow from the prior similar events. My hopes were to use WUSB solution to display freshly taken images.
Unfortnately, I could not arrange for my booth (and laptop) being close enough for me while I was shooting catwalk. And at the distances that were OK to shoot - I wholeheartdely admit, I was pushing 30ft limit - the signal was lost at random. And while it was picking up back, the Canon EOS Utility didn't like it much and required human intervention. All in all, after a few first tries I decided to "just shoot" and explore the technological limits at some other time.
HTH
EDIT: some setup pics from the show, just for the heck of it...
#1: Whole picture
#2: Closeup on HQ (with my assistant behind the laptop):
You're pretty brave trying to use it in a large setting like that, I hope things didn't go too wrong for you when it disconnected.
I've used mine to teach a Flash workshop, but I knew I'd be near the tablet that was connected to the projector. I've also tested it in the field and in-studio, (20-25 feet is as far as I want to get at most if I get much further I won't be able to see the previews myself) but I'd never try pushing the distance, the High bandwidth of WUSB is not really designed for range, its more for bandwidth. For what you were attempting you really need the WFT, its built with robustness that can't be done with WUSB since we can recode the firmware of the body to do retransmission, integrity checks etc. The nikon software is a little more easy going about disconnects, you might have to shoot a couple off to get it synced again, but i've had it reconnect for me.
If I were doing what you attempted, I'd do a few things a little differently.
I'd get the PC side dongle as high and close to the epicenter of where I was working. Nothing wrong with a longish USB cable if I can tape it down make it so that its totally out of the way. I'd have the dongle on a lightstand so that its higher up and out of the way. I think this would help reliability a good deal for your line of sight issue, additionally if you can get it in the center of your working area that would give you a 60 foot diameter to work in.
If I know this range still might not cut it, then I'd consider going to a netbook relay type situation whereby the netbook is in a pack that I can put close enough stay in camera range, then have the netbook use WiFi to copy the files over to the main pc that you're trying to display the images from. This is a bit kludgey in implementation though, so if I had to do this more then once I'd probably look at buying the OEM wireless transmitter and sucking it up that its going to cost nearly a grand.
You're pretty brave trying to use it in a large setting like that, I hope things didn't go too wrong for you when it disconnected.
I've used mine to teach a Flash workshop, but I knew I'd be near the tablet that was connected to the projector. I've also tested it in the field and in-studio, (20-25 feet is as far as I want to get at most if I get much further I won't be able to see the previews myself) but I'd never try pushing the distance, the High bandwidth of WUSB is not really designed for range, its more for bandwidth. For what you were attempting you really need the WFT, its built with robustness that can't be done with WUSB since we can recode the firmware of the body to do retransmission, integrity checks etc. The nikon software is a little more easy going about disconnects, you might have to shoot a couple off to get it synced again, but i've had it reconnect for me.
If I were doing what you attempted, I'd do a few things a little differently.
I'd get the PC side dongle as high and close to the epicenter of where I was working. Nothing wrong with a longish USB cable if I can tape it down make it so that its totally out of the way. I'd have the dongle on a lightstand so that its higher up and out of the way. I think this would help reliability a good deal for your line of sight issue, additionally if you can get it in the center of your working area that would give you a 60 foot diameter to work in.
If I know this range still might not cut it, then I'd consider going to a netbook relay type situation whereby the netbook is in a pack that I can put close enough stay in camera range, then have the netbook use WiFi to copy the files over to the main pc that you're trying to display the images from. This is a bit kludgey in implementation though, so if I had to do this more then once I'd probably look at buying the OEM wireless transmitter and sucking it up that its going to cost nearly a grand.
Thank you for the detailed reply!
Your ideas are very solid ones.
In fact, I have been analyzing this in the back my brain last night and I realized that what I should have done is break the setup in two: have photobooth where it was (is has to be in a close proximity to the power outlets and off the traffic paths to avoid crowd knoking down the lights, etc.) yet put the display table closer to the shooting point. It may not always be possible, but it actually was in this case. Photobooth itself doesn't have many perceived valueables in it (except PWs, which can be taped/chained to make snatching difficult), so it can be left unattended for longer times.
And I even came to the idea of using the lightstand to raise the dongle, although I was thinking of the camera side and not HQ side. Combining both ideas (i.e. elevate both dongles) can work even better...
We'll see how it works out! I haven't lost all hopes yet.
Hmm, good question. I saw the word adapter and got all screwed up.
Initially I was thinking of a repeater, like when I lived in the Rockies that we used to bounce our radiophone signals off of to get over the ridge line and into the valley. Or to get a hold of someone on one of the other mountains.
That'll show me for trying to think of something. Now if you would all excuse me, I'm gonna go plant my head firmly back up my butt where it belongs.
Hmm, good question. I saw the word adapter and got all screwed up.
Initially I was thinking of a repeater, like when I lived in the Rockies that we used to bounce our radiophone signals off of to get over the ridge line and into the valley. Or to get a hold of someone on one of the other mountains.
That'll show me for trying to think of something. Now if you would all excuse me, I'm gonna go plant my head firmly back up my butt where it belongs.
Repeater/amplifier is a good idea actually, I simply don't now if such thing exists for WUSB...
Repeater/amplifier is a good idea actually, I simply don't now if such thing exists for WUSB...
Scanned a paper in a journal about this a few years ago; someone thing have been commercial released by now.
I did some quick searches and found two things, but I don't know anything about them.
wireless usb extender -- never heard of the storefront or the manufacotor and haven't looked at the spec yet.
another store - don't know anything about them either, but they're listed items in terms of watts. If anything, you can give them a call and chat because they're carrying various components.
Scanned a paper in a journal about this a few years ago; someone thing have been commercial released by now.
I did some quick searches and found two things, but I don't know anything about them.
wireless usb extender -- never heard of the storefront or the manufacotor and haven't looked at the spec yet.
another store - don't know anything about them either, but they're listed items in terms of watts. If anything, you can give them a call and chat because they're carrying various components.
Thank a lot April!
I guess such things do exist... Definitely worth checking!
I don't have a problem of having larger unit next to the camera in a fashion-show type scenario. You can't move much during the runs anyway. So a more bulcky yet powerful hence more reaching device may be a good solution...
Yeah, I saw those extenders on Amazon but thought the cost would have had made it a bit prohibitive.
I didn't stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night and by no means am I well versed in these matters, but there's got to be a simpler way to bridge/relay/boost the signal to get the distance required.
Yeah, I saw those extenders on Amazon but thought the cost would have had made it a bit prohibitive.
I agree, CableUnlimited adapter is a bit more affirdable. Yet even at asking price it's 2..3 times cheaper and way more effective than original WFT solution...
I didn't stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night and by no means am I well versed in these matters, but there's got to be a simpler way to bridge/relay/boost the signal to get the distance required.
It would take some experimenting, I am sure, but if you can get the camera to work with a WiFi USB dongle ... that would be far, far cheaper than Canon's WFT grip!
I would be very interested if someone starts experimenting with it!
It would take some experimenting, I am sure, but if you can get the camera to work with a WiFi USB dongle ... that would be far, far cheaper than Canon's WFT grip!
I would be very interested if someone starts experimenting with it!
I'm not sure if this is gonna work..
The thing is, on a laptop side it can be pretty much anything, since it can use tons of various protocols: bluetooth, wifi, ethernet, usb, even x25 over phone line for pete's sake (good luck transferring 5D2 raws over 56kbps though:-).
It's the camera, however, that ONLY understands USB. Canon grip is essentially a device to convert USB traffic into WiFi one.
OK, we'll play moar:-)
I'm not sure if this is gonna work..
The thing is, on a laptop side it can be pretty much anything, since it can use tons of various protocols: bluetooth, wifi, ethernet, usb, even x25 over phone line for pete's sake (good luck transferring 5D2 raws over 56kbps though:-).
It's the camera, however, that ONLY understands USB. Canon grip is essentially a device to convert USB traffic into WiFi one.
OK, we'll play moar:-)
Agreed wholeheartedly ... and the only WiFi "device" dongle I personally know of is the one HP makes. But I'm not about to spend any more money just to experiment! Within 15-20 feet in a studio, the Cables Unlimited kludge works nicely for me, eliminating a trailing USB cord.
It would be nice, though, if one of those Hong Kong suppliers came out with an inexpensive generic extended distance WiFi-using WFT dongle pair at a reasonable cost for usb-equipped cameras! Over $800 for Canon's WFT grip is a bit more than I need!
An old thread I know, but how has this been working for you? Could you list the products needed to get my Canon 50D to transfer to my laptop please? Your set up looks like a winner but in my research to avoid buying Canon file Transmitter it is very complicated. A simple list of requirements would be great.
I haven't used it since. I'm sure over the last 3 years something else hit the market, but I haven't done any research. For SD-accepting cameras (5D3 and 1D-series) Eye-Fi Pro seems like a nice inexpensive decision (local hotspot, raw support, etc.), but your 50D would require an adapter and they do NOT recommend using that.
I guess some new research is in order.
I will use this in a tourist resort making souvenir pictures and I will stay very close-by to my printer set-up so I think I will go with the camera tethered to my laptop in my backpack. I would like to use a USB transmitter/receiver linking to my desktop which runs my dye-sub printer. I believe using Photo Mechanic will allow the incoming pictures to be sent for print instantly, which means I can show the print to the customer before they disappear. What is your experience using the USB set-up like this?
I will use this in a tourist resort making souvenir pictures and I will stay very close-by to my printer set-up so I think I will go with the camera tethered to my laptop in my backpack. I would like to use a USB transmitter/receiver linking to my desktop which runs my dye-sub printer. I believe using Photo Mechanic will allow the incoming pictures to be sent for print instantly, which means I can show the print to the customer before they disappear. What is your experience using the USB set-up like this?
I think you need an assistant. All touristy places are swarming with petty thieves, and leaving anything untethered would grow legs before you take the first pic.
This setup is a bit cumbersome. The only advantage is that you don't run the cord, so chances of someone stepping on it are zero. Essentially it allows you to physically separate "shooting location" from "processing/printing location" - provided they are relatively close and have an unobstructed line of sight. I don't know how long the batteries would last, though. I only used it for a fashion show that lasted a few hours. I don't think they would hold the whole day (unless you turn it off when non-shooting - and then, of course, you can forget to turn it on).
From where I stand, it looks like a bit too much of a hassle for your particular scenario.
The power is sorted. We will have electricity going to the sales desk. Do you know, when having a laptop in a backpack using a USB transmitter, will it transmit data as it is covered in the bag? Or, will it work, by extending the cable and keeping it outside the bag?
Also, what are the transmission times for 1mb file?
It is a good alternative to go for the Canon transmitter instead? Will this speed up the transfer and will it eliminate the need for the laptop in the backpack?
The power is sorted. We will have electricity going to the sales desk. Do you know, when having a laptop in a backpack using a USB transmitter, will it transmit data as it is covered in the bag? Or, will it work, by extending the cable and keeping it outside the bag?
Also, what are the transmission times for 1mb file?
It is a good alternative to go for the Canon transmitter instead? Will this speed up the transfer and will it eliminate the need for the laptop in the backpack?
You might wanna extend the receiver outside the bag. Again, line of sight is paramount.
Speed is *the same* as USB 2.0
It's helluva cheaper. But, I'd be first to admit, more cumbersome.
Without going into a long dicussion about this solution, let me just say this: it requires WiFi presense. You may not be so lucky to always get one, and more often than not you WON'T get one.
With the reported capabilities, though, wouldn't it be worth bringing your own? Is bringing your own router not an option? I know it would be more gear to carry and set up etc etc. Just trying to understand. With the sporting events that I have covered, this would have been a possibility.
V, Just V.
Nikon D700, 24-70 f2.8, 70-200 f2.8, 70-300 VR, SB800, SB600
Alienbee B800x2, B400x2, Silver PLMx2
With the reported capabilities, though, wouldn't it be worth bringing your own? Is bringing your own router not an option? I know it would be more gear to carry and set up etc etc. Just trying to understand. With the sporting events that I have covered, this would have been a possibility.
What's the point of bringing a router if there are no ethernet sockets? Imagine a hotel ballroom. You can get (lousy) wifi there for $300..500/day (that was my case), but there is no ethernet.
And I haven't seen those on a school football field either... :-(
Of course, these days you can create a wifi hotspot out of you smartphone or tablet device. That can be a viable option.
Comments
That Tekkeon TekCharge looks like it is perfectly packaged! And since the Energi-to-Go units only produce 600ma (3w) at 5v and have shown no problem operating the dongle, the 700ma (3.5w) at 5v of the TekCharge should be more than adequate! Moreover, those specs from Cable Unlimited's website are obviously quoting 1w maximum draw.
Good find!
Nam et ipsa scientia potestas est.
Turned out a I have a fashion show in OC this Sunday. TekCharge should come tomorrow, so I should be able to ready everything and get a nice trial by fire this very weekend. Hope it'll help me to boost some on-site sales.
BTW, it will be in Costa Mesa, so if anybody wanna come and see my photobooth and this USB thing in action - let me know..
My two-bit plot to avoid paying $$$ for the slow and PITA-to-setup official WFT solution looks like a success. The Wireless USB adapter set (thanks again Henry for the advice!) and the Tekkeon TekCharge unit seem like a total winner!
NOTE: the following SOOC images were taken in a very dark room at ISO 25K. Hence the noise.
#1: This is the "client" part. WUSB "base", with the dongle in place, connected to a TekCharge unit (the cable and a huge collection of tips came with the power pack). The second cord (3ft USB-to-mini USB) actually goes to the camera itself, the one was used to take this picture...
The size of the power pack is literally the size of the 4 AA batteries (black part) plus maybe 25% more for the electonics. Considering it also works as a charger for your rechargeables, has standad and mini USB outlets and a nice ON/OFF switch - it's hard to beat convenience/price wise.
#2: This is a server part: my M6400 laptop running Windows 7 RC and EOS Utility showing the previous image just transferred wirelessly seconds ago.
Transfer was nearly instantaneous, no difference from using USB cable.
You can see the WUSB dongle on the left.
A word of advice: do not let your camera go into Sleep mode. If you do, you would have to activate the connection back at the EOS utility. Luckily, in its preferences you can tell it to always keep the camera awake (when connected), so it's no biggie.
I didn't test any distance/speed thresholds. For now all I can say it works under normal situation - provided you have a place in your jacket/camera bag to tuck in the client-side units.
HTH
This post was made with the assistance of Star*Explorer
I bought one for my 5D Mk2....after trying to set it up (took a long, long time) and getting transfer rates close to Pony Express speed I returned it...
Good idea who's time may yet come..
Just think of it as the next challenge Nik, fashioning/encasing it all into a grip so it can be left on the body at all times.
That should keep you busy for another week or so.
5D2/1D MkII N/40D and a couple bits of glass.
I'll cut to the chase to save you some reading time..
Works fine at close proximity (studio).
Public events: you better put yourself on 30ft leash and pray no one crosses the line of sight.
Details
I went to Costa Mesa Hilton today to shoot a fashion show. At previous shows I already used my laptop + 27" screen to lure the public to the photo booth. On the screen there as an looped slideshow from the prior similar events. My hopes were to use WUSB solution to display freshly taken images.
Unfortnately, I could not arrange for my booth (and laptop) being close enough for me while I was shooting catwalk. And at the distances that were OK to shoot - I wholeheartdely admit, I was pushing 30ft limit - the signal was lost at random. And while it was picking up back, the Canon EOS Utility didn't like it much and required human intervention. All in all, after a few first tries I decided to "just shoot" and explore the technological limits at some other time.
HTH
EDIT: some setup pics from the show, just for the heck of it...
#1: Whole picture
#2: Closeup on HQ (with my assistant behind the laptop):
I've used mine to teach a Flash workshop, but I knew I'd be near the tablet that was connected to the projector. I've also tested it in the field and in-studio, (20-25 feet is as far as I want to get at most if I get much further I won't be able to see the previews myself) but I'd never try pushing the distance, the High bandwidth of WUSB is not really designed for range, its more for bandwidth. For what you were attempting you really need the WFT, its built with robustness that can't be done with WUSB since we can recode the firmware of the body to do retransmission, integrity checks etc. The nikon software is a little more easy going about disconnects, you might have to shoot a couple off to get it synced again, but i've had it reconnect for me.
If I were doing what you attempted, I'd do a few things a little differently.
I'd get the PC side dongle as high and close to the epicenter of where I was working. Nothing wrong with a longish USB cable if I can tape it down make it so that its totally out of the way. I'd have the dongle on a lightstand so that its higher up and out of the way. I think this would help reliability a good deal for your line of sight issue, additionally if you can get it in the center of your working area that would give you a 60 foot diameter to work in.
If I know this range still might not cut it, then I'd consider going to a netbook relay type situation whereby the netbook is in a pack that I can put close enough stay in camera range, then have the netbook use WiFi to copy the files over to the main pc that you're trying to display the images from. This is a bit kludgey in implementation though, so if I had to do this more then once I'd probably look at buying the OEM wireless transmitter and sucking it up that its going to cost nearly a grand.
Thank you for the detailed reply!
Your ideas are very solid ones.
In fact, I have been analyzing this in the back my brain last night and I realized that what I should have done is break the setup in two: have photobooth where it was (is has to be in a close proximity to the power outlets and off the traffic paths to avoid crowd knoking down the lights, etc.) yet put the display table closer to the shooting point. It may not always be possible, but it actually was in this case. Photobooth itself doesn't have many perceived valueables in it (except PWs, which can be taped/chained to make snatching difficult), so it can be left unattended for longer times.
And I even came to the idea of using the lightstand to raise the dongle, although I was thinking of the camera side and not HQ side. Combining both ideas (i.e. elevate both dongles) can work even better...
We'll see how it works out! I haven't lost all hopes yet.
Hawking Hi-Gain USB Wireless-N Adapter
5D2/1D MkII N/40D and a couple bits of glass.
Initially I was thinking of a repeater, like when I lived in the Rockies that we used to bounce our radiophone signals off of to get over the ridge line and into the valley. Or to get a hold of someone on one of the other mountains.
That'll show me for trying to think of something. Now if you would all excuse me, I'm gonna go plant my head firmly back up my butt where it belongs.
5D2/1D MkII N/40D and a couple bits of glass.
I did some quick searches and found two things, but I don't know anything about them.
wireless usb extender -- never heard of the storefront or the manufacotor and haven't looked at the spec yet.
another store - don't know anything about them either, but they're listed items in terms of watts. If anything, you can give them a call and chat because they're carrying various components.
I guess such things do exist... Definitely worth checking!
I don't have a problem of having larger unit next to the camera in a fashion-show type scenario. You can't move much during the runs anyway. So a more bulcky yet powerful hence more reaching device may be a good solution...
I didn't stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night and by no means am I well versed in these matters, but there's got to be a simpler way to bridge/relay/boost the signal to get the distance required.
5D2/1D MkII N/40D and a couple bits of glass.
Let's hope so:-)!
It's a USB dongle wireless access point (WAP), which means you can set your laptop to share network connections with up to 31 other devices. B&H Photo lists it for US$46 at http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/555059-REG/Synet_MW_P54SS_Windy31_Wireless_Broadband_Router.html
I saw where at least one individual has configured it to communicate with the EyeFi: http://forums.eye.fi/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=775
It would take some experimenting, I am sure, but if you can get the camera to work with a WiFi USB dongle ... that would be far, far cheaper than Canon's WFT grip!
I would be very interested if someone starts experimenting with it!
Nam et ipsa scientia potestas est.
I'm not sure if this is gonna work..
The thing is, on a laptop side it can be pretty much anything, since it can use tons of various protocols: bluetooth, wifi, ethernet, usb, even x25 over phone line for pete's sake (good luck transferring 5D2 raws over 56kbps though:-).
It's the camera, however, that ONLY understands USB. Canon grip is essentially a device to convert USB traffic into WiFi one.
OK, we'll play moar:-)
Agreed wholeheartedly ... and the only WiFi "device" dongle I personally know of is the one HP makes. But I'm not about to spend any more money just to experiment! Within 15-20 feet in a studio, the Cables Unlimited kludge works nicely for me, eliminating a trailing USB cord.
It would be nice, though, if one of those Hong Kong suppliers came out with an inexpensive generic extended distance WiFi-using WFT dongle pair at a reasonable cost for usb-equipped cameras! Over $800 for Canon's WFT grip is a bit more than I need!
Nam et ipsa scientia potestas est.
I guess some new research is in order.
I think you need an assistant. All touristy places are swarming with petty thieves, and leaving anything untethered would grow legs before you take the first pic.
This setup is a bit cumbersome. The only advantage is that you don't run the cord, so chances of someone stepping on it are zero. Essentially it allows you to physically separate "shooting location" from "processing/printing location" - provided they are relatively close and have an unobstructed line of sight. I don't know how long the batteries would last, though. I only used it for a fashion show that lasted a few hours. I don't think they would hold the whole day (unless you turn it off when non-shooting - and then, of course, you can forget to turn it on).
From where I stand, it looks like a bit too much of a hassle for your particular scenario.
Also, what are the transmission times for 1mb file?
It is a good alternative to go for the Canon transmitter instead? Will this speed up the transfer and will it eliminate the need for the laptop in the backpack?
You might wanna extend the receiver outside the bag. Again, line of sight is paramount.
Speed is *the same* as USB 2.0
It's helluva cheaper. But, I'd be first to admit, more cumbersome.
http://www.flickr.com/groups/diyphotographynet/discuss/72157625174713209/
Maybe it could be modified for Canon?
Nikon D700, 24-70 f2.8, 70-200 f2.8, 70-300 VR, SB800, SB600
Alienbee B800x2, B400x2, Silver PLMx2
Without going into a long dicussion about this solution, let me just say this: it requires WiFi presense. You may not be so lucky to always get one, and more often than not you WON'T get one.
Nikon D700, 24-70 f2.8, 70-200 f2.8, 70-300 VR, SB800, SB600
Alienbee B800x2, B400x2, Silver PLMx2
What's the point of bringing a router if there are no ethernet sockets? Imagine a hotel ballroom. You can get (lousy) wifi there for $300..500/day (that was my case), but there is no ethernet.
And I haven't seen those on a school football field either... :-(
Of course, these days you can create a wifi hotspot out of you smartphone or tablet device. That can be a viable option.