To all you on-board video experts
 

Looking to make the leap into recording some on-board video. Have had loooonnnngg look around in many places, including rfconcepts and others.

No problem putting on a bullet camera or two, but stowing the Camcorder is problematic. There is simply no room on the race bike! So, the only two options, I can come up with are:
[list=1][*]Solid state video MPEG-4 recorder such as made by Archos or Mustek (pictured below).

[*]Wireless transmitter to a VCR in the pits.
[/list=1]

The advantage of the wireless kit is that it accomodates up to 4 cameras with timed switching between them. Plus, people could watch the on-board video live in the pits. This kit is VERY small.

The solid state recorders, although the Archos is hard drive based, is also small enough.

Either kit is fairly reasonably price around 100 or so quid, excluding the bullet cams.

Does anyone have any experience with any of the above? Or thoughs?

I don't really want to buy another camcorder.

Not sure the wireless will have the range will it? Might also get a lot of radio interference. Don't know anything about the solid-state recorders but may well look into one myself now that you mention them, it's a pretty good idea and I already have a bullet cam.

Yes, the range of the wireless stuff is definitely an issue. You can get "high power" ones that go about a mile, but they are "not licensed" for use in the UK.;)

Cheapest I can find the Archos AV120 with the Video Input thingy is £226 inc.

Look to the States and Ebay.

Can you give details on the bullet cam?


I have been thinking about this solid-state recorders as well...in the sense for Safety and insurance claims for bikers...

Meaning, we can record our ride download and enjoy again and again, but we can also use it as evidence in an accident...

...as the MCN recerntly reported many times the police only have the word of the car driver in the case of serious bike to car accidents...

I actually envision that we could get insurance discounts for having such cameras and being able to prove that accidents are not just the fault of speeding bikers....but prove we are responsible versus the idiot drivers that claim not to see us and then hit us...

What do you guys think...? And your advice on bullet camera is appreciated?

I got my bullet cam from Phil at http://www.highviewelectronics.co.uk/
He used to be a member on here ages ago but not been around for a long while.

MIgs,

I can second the professionalism of Phillip Mace at Highview....

Felix,

Not had any experience of the two items you mention. Might be worth giving Philip a call at Highview as he has tried and tested many different systems specifically for motorcycle environments and will have overcome quite a few of the issues such as cordless/wireless, interference, picture quality, size etc, etc.

His number is on the URL link Desmondo posted above.

See you soon.

Gc

Felix, not sure I could be bothered to buy from the US. Apart from the possible import duty slapped on top, you've also got to worry about power convertors etc. Just found the AV120 and DVR attachment for £200 at Amazon.

Oh Felix you sod. Just when I've done enough spending already, you go and come up with this idea :mad:

There's just so many things I'd be able to use this for, I'm trying to resist the spending urge. MP3 playback, Video recording, file transfer from home to work and vice versa, taking films to mates houses etc.

Sooorrryyy!:P

The only reason I buy from the States is when I can "hand-carry" the items.;)

Oi Jamie, I'm off to the states next month if you want me to bring some kit back.

A work colleague has just come back from the states and brought another colleague back a 20Mb iPod for £179. His travelling pal got stopped at customs as they wanted to know why he needed three iPods himself...

Oh but Ant, that would mean waiting a whole month :(
And I was soooo close to just ordering one. Thing is, how much cheaper will it really be? I mean by the time I sort out power cables and adaptors etc?

The AC adaptor is most likely universal voltage like most laptop adaptors, meaning you only need a plug adaptor (£0.50). Even if it's not, you can get a new power supply for under £10.

the cheapest I found so far was $239. That's about £130!

If you get, Desmondo, let me know how well it works with a bullet cam. If it works well, I'll be doing the same thing. Although, the wireless would be coooool.

[Edited on 5-8-2004 by Felix]

Damn it, couldn't hold out any longer so just placed my order :D
Looks like I'm the guinea pig, I'll let you know how I get on Felix. But to be honest, if it doesn't work as well as I hope I still won't be too dissapointed as I'll have so many other uses for it.

Have you checked the capture resolution of the Archos? Most of them only capture at 320X240 so quality won't be all that.

It does only do 320x240 but that should still be fine for a few muck about vids on the comp. I don't need any broadcast quality stuff, just a few snippets here and there from trackdays etc for a bit of fun.

Most interested in how get on, Desmondo. Let us know.

Hi all,
Yes Guido i am back, been some time away from this site but now i have a duke again thought i should catch up on what has been happening.
I shall be working with Felix on the new wireless system which we have just been testing out and decided to bring it all forward for the race day at Donnington and hopefully have live footage from Felix bike back to the DSC pits for viewing, fingers all crossed !!!!!
Regards Phill OBBC :o

Hi Phill, great to see you back on the board. Anyone needing to buy stuff should have a chat with Phill - I bought mine from him and it works superbly and his technical advice and after sale help was excellent.

Will Derby Pheonix allow camera? Doubt it very much. Need to ask/get it scrutineered? Or just put it on after scrutineering, but you're risking your ACU licence if you get caught.

Why not come to the Rockingham DSC only trackday - much better audience and a better chance of a few sales for you Phill

WeeJohnyB

WeeJohnyB

Hi WeeJohnyB,
Yes mate i am back, Felix is looking into the situation as we speek so hopefully all will be ok and above board, Thanks for your comments last post, and will catch up with you soon, poss Rockingham tell me more !!!
Regards Phill

My Archos turned up this morning :D

Won't have a chance to try any filming until I get home tonight but I don't care if it works well or not anyway, it's just so damn handy. Already stuck on some pics to show mates and also put on some large files that I needed to take home. We don't need a CD burner here at work so getting them home was a pain. Add to that the MP3 playback and video playback and it's a great little unit.

Build quality looks OK and the large rubberised corners should help with vibration whilst under the seat of the bike along with some kind of extra padding in a bag for more protection. I won't be able to test onboard footage until TA3, unless I pop over to Antonye's one night and we run a trial :)

Fag!

Bollox to ya then :D
First test will be at TA3 :p

As long as you *only* test it on the bike, then I'm sure it will be ok.
No funny business though...

OMG :o Flanker was right!!! What else did you have in mind? I'm starting to worry :frog:

You suggested it first!

OK peeps, I stuck the bullet cam on my pushbike handle bars last night and went out for a spin. Had the battery pack in one pocket and the Archos in the other and the whole thing worked perfectly all night.

There's 3 files here so you can take a look at the quality http://www.desmo.plus.com/video/
sample2.avi is a totally untouched copy of the file. This is the exact quality you get.
sample2small.avi has been compressed slighty just to reduce file size.
samplesmall.avi has is a longer bit of film of my mates trials bikes. Has also been compressed quite heavily but the quality is still pretty good.

None of the clips have sounds as I didn't bother taking the mic out with me. Overall I'm pretty pleased with it all and it'll be more than good enough to grab some trackday footage :)

Desmondo,

Is there a prize for spotting location of vid. If so my guess is London Road going down to the Flitch Way.

Well done son, sure is the Flitchway. Got caked in mud due to the heavy rain over the last few days. Then stopped off in Rayne to see my mates on the trials bikes.

I've just bought a sony mini dv cam off ebay, has an AV in to plug in a bullet cam, and it only cost 300 quid - has nightvision too for all those midnight runs, will post some footage as soon as I get a clear screen :sing:

Its this one :D

A bonus using a cam on track is you can get your laptimes (accurate to 1/25s) by using a reference point eg start/finish line, and you can als o work out where you can make time :D

[Edited on 18-8-2004 by DJ Tera]

Nice one DJ, looks like we should all be picking up quite a bit of track footage then :D

That's not bad at all!

It's also good for portable porn. Or PortaPorn as I like to call it. :D

That's pretty impressive quality. Even at 200% magnification. Hmmm....I'll wait until I've seen the results from the wireless system that Phillip Mace is going to trial on my bike at the DSC Racing Day at Donington.

Portaporn! Classic!:lol:

Would like to take a look at the wireless stuff on the day Felix, I love all the gadgety stuff :D
I'll also bring along the Archos for you to take a look at.

See you there, mate!