[BobNovas]

How the heck do you figure out if gopro video is running? When it's suction cupped to the windshield and you can't see the leds and it's too loud to hear the beeps? I lost video of Angela's run cause I turned the gopro on for her, and she thought she turned it on but actually turned if off. It needs better feedback!

[HoodPin]

Originally Posted by BobNovas

How the heck do you figure out if gopro video is running? When it's suction cupped to the windshield and you can't see the leds and it's too loud to hear the beeps? I lost video of Angela's run cause I turned the gopro on for her, and she thought she turned it on but actually turned if off. It needs better feedback!

If its a GoPro3, it can be operated with a wireless remote, as well as a WiFi app on a Droid phone. But I agree, the earlier models do have some usability issues. With the WiFi app, you can even preview what the camera is viewing, which can greatly simplify setting it up in the car.

[Trak Ratt]

Originally Posted by BobNovas

How the heck do you figure out if gopro video is running? When it's suction cupped to the windshield and you can't see the leds and it's too loud to hear the beeps? I lost video of Angela's run cause I turned the gopro on for her, and she thought she turned it on but actually turned if off. It needs better feedback!

Small mirror (like a dentis mirror) she prolly has one for work. We were looking at the remotes at wg. No indicators on them either.

[vranko]

Originally Posted by HoodPin

If its a GoPro3, it can be operated with a wireless remote, as well as a WiFi app on a Droid phone. But I agree, the earlier models do have some usability issues. With the WiFi app, you can even preview what the camera is viewing, which can greatly simplify setting it up in the car.

Wow does the WiFi suck battery though! Both on the camera and the remote. Remote only lasts a few hours I reverted back to the manual method last weekend. I finally got around to hooking up a permanent USB connection in the car to the GoPro so I don't need to recharge the battery. I've run out of battery so many time during runs in the past.

[Trak Ratt]

Originally Posted by vranko

?.. I finally got around to hooking up a permanent USB connection in the car to the GoPro so I don't need to recharge the battery. I've run out of battery so many time during runs in the past.

I like to hear more about this.

[Dr K]

Not the answer to your question but something to consider. I was losing video constantly, and after a run would have about 50% of the session spread across 12 separate short clips. Tried changing SD card, no help. Lost video last year of my Mid-Ohio incident so the other guy (whom I think did it on purpose) did not get a 13/13. I'm running a Contour on car power using their adaptor, but with the battery charged, too. Turns out that the vibration in the car was enough to loosen the adaptor in cigarette lighter just enough to stop (and in rare cases corrupt) the video. I ran power wires (fused and on a switch) directly to the adaptor, did a really ghetto connection (between races), and it worked perfectly generating a nice, long 3+ GB file.

Lesson - in a race car, make certain power connections are VERY solid.

[Carrera51]

Bob:
The red light on the face of the camera will blink on and off when recording. Which model Go Pro do you have?

[vranko]

Originally Posted by Trak Ratt

I like to hear more about this.

Be happy to show you anytime. Fairly simple actually. I moved my cigarette ligher to the switch panel I made and am just using a dual-USB, stubby, lighter adapter. I then ran a 10 foot USB cable to the camera. I switched to the GoPro Frame Mount since it has an open USB port on the side. I thought about opening a hole in the case it came with but I didn't want to ruin it for outside/wet usage.

If I had had more time I would have bypassed the cigarette ligher plug, broke apart the adaptor and ran the USB power directly to the camera. I would have added a power switch so I could charge the camera when I wanted (if car was on or off). Right now I just unplug the USB cable. May make these changes later when time permits.

I know there's some bespoke pre-GoPro Hero 3 adaptors that have power and camera on-off switches that one can mount. I haven't seen anyone hack the Hero 3 yet to support this.

And, BTW, sorry to hear about your run-in with the bushes. The picks of you and the misses looked great though!

[Trak Ratt]

And thank you fo stepping up and running tech at the SC last weekend

[APKhaos]

Oen of the problems with generic sports cameras is exactly that - verifying that they have power, are on, and are recording.
A red flashing light is only useful if you can see it when strapped in, and in most cases when the camera is mounted close to the screen facing forward, or on a roll cage over the driver's shoulder, you cant see it.

There are cameras that do work well in this situation:
- The POV models have a remote controller with a mini screen and power/recording leds that is small enough to mount on the console beside the driver.



- The Replay XD1080 remote accessory gives you power on/off, record start/stop, and led confirmation of power and recording status.

http://replayxd.com/product/xd1080-h...-stop-4-meter/

I think Contour has a decent remote start switch too. There will be others, but this is a good start.