Mounting Bike Cam and Digital Recorder

[KevTM]

So i got one of those hi-res Sony bullet cams and an Archos AV420 Digital Video Recorder.

I quickly set it up, camera powered off battery on bike, cam velcro'd to front of bike, wires routed under seat and put the DVR under the seat also.. anyway..

I can't get a recording when i leave the DVR under the seat i think due to vibrations, once i got a corrupted file, most other times it just turns off for some reason I've tried putting the DVR in my pocket and it's worked twice (out of 4 times), twice it switched off again. I don't know whether it's vibrations or buttons being pressed..

So i'm wondering what's the best method of storing DVR's under the seat to keep vibes to the minimum? between a couple of sponges, foam, gel? The camera i can mount no probs really but i want to find a discrete place for it in case i get stopped by the law!

Anyone got any experience with these specific/similar items or any ideas on how to get vibrations to the minimum?

cheers.

(got 2 alright vids today, not speeding but a couple of bikes passed by at a good old trot!)

[Bendy]

I'd be tempted to put it in a rucksack, use yourself as the shock absorber.

I've read a few things where people have tried a HD based recorder with very little luck due to the vibes, one of the reasons I'm sticking to tape for now.

[DisabledRider]

If u wanna go down the hdd route, seagate now make a hdd tat can stand alsorts of vibrations...

[KevTM]

thanks for the replies.

i really wanted to keep the whole system within the bike to save 'plugging' myself in every mount/dismount. I'll try the rucksack idea anyway to identify whether it is pure vibrations that's causing the unit to go off or not.

I'm not sure if i can change the HD but it does have a Hitachi drive in it and they seem pretty proud of the fact as there's a big red Hitachi sticker on the back of the unit.

any more ideas from the clever clogs?

[Silver]

I've got the RF Concepts hi-res "Sony" bullet cam (the one I assume you're talking about) and I have it linked up to a Sony MiniDV camcorder under the seat. Only once has it turned itself off (and that was probably my fault for just chucking it all under the seat in a hurry!). Normally it's absolutely fine, I just wrap it in an old towl to stop it banging around and damaging something.

[KevTM]

thanks Silver,

do you mean the camera powers itself off or the MiniDV recorder? The camera itself is always fine so i'm happy with that but i didn't think the DVR would go off due to too much vibrations..

i've emailed ARCHOS about the "powering off" issue and a few other questions i wanted answers to..

[Silver]

It was the camera, but I don't think that's a fair comparison as it was probably my fault for hurrying. I did have the batteries fall out of the power supply for the camera once, so now I tape them in with duct tape, problem solved.

I've done three track days with the camera now and got well over three hours of footage with little problem. It's a great camera, so I'm suspecting your DV recorder. I don't know anything about the Archos ones though I'm afraid - I doubt vibrations would cause the bullet cam any problems.

[KevTM]

the bullet cam is aok. i power mine from the battery on the bike so i don't have ny connection issues or another bulky set of batteries under the seat and it's totally fine, you may want to try that. Definitely going to use a voltage regulator on it though if i can get one that's 12v in - 12v out (or some other method anyway)

It's the DVR that's cutting out/powering off but i don't quite know why yet. Need to dampen the vibrations anyway as i don't want to ruin my HDD and i suspect that's the primary problem anyway.. it can only be that!

ingenious ideas are required lads, tell me your vibration dampening ideas

[instigator]

Let me know when she's up and running and we can go and test it on a decent road...

Tank bag maybe? I put my old DV camcorder in one of them and didn't suffer whatsoever...mind you, it's easily nickable up there if you happen to dismount and bugger off.

[Bendy]

[KevTM]

well i've got an Oxford seat bag thing that straps around the pillion seat so at worst i suppose i can use that and wrap the DVR in various dampening materials, towels, foam, bubble wrap etc.. saying that though i'd still rather have it under the seat for convenience.

Will definitely give you a shout when it's installed properly some decent weather coming in now, too.. today was absolutely roasting!

[WishayKillie]

Does anybody have a link as to where you can get these bullet cams.

I've got a Sony DCR-HC40 (Mini DV) camcorder, would a bulled cam just plug in??
____________________
Current; 10' Aprilia Dorsoduro 750.
Previous; 05 Triumph Daytona 600, 08' Ducati 1098s.
"Needs a check-up, fae the neck up!"

[KevTM]

https://www.rfconcepts.co.uk/helmet_cameras.htm

^ bullet cams!

don't know if it'll plug into your MiniDV, Silver's prob your man for that.

[Silver]

[WishayKillie]

I'll check when I get home. I've got a funy feeling it's only outputs that are on mine i.e. Firewire and USB dont think it's got a AV point (bollocks )

F**K it I'll just Ducktape it to the tank

Cheers for the replies (bloody quick for 1AM )
____________________
Current; 10' Aprilia Dorsoduro 750.
Previous; 05 Triumph Daytona 600, 08' Ducati 1098s.
"Needs a check-up, fae the neck up!"

[KevTM]

[CBRnick]

[Bendy]

No, he'll be wanting AV in as the bullet cam is analogue.

It defeating the object is presumably one of the reasons that very few DV cams have an AV in socket.

[KevTM]

yeah the bullet cam is your usual composite video signal.. i.e. analogue.


I've managed to make up a little mount for the camera to screw onto between the headlight and the horn. It's as discrete as i can get it (bloody difficult with a naked bike). Routed the wire to the front, too, so all the camera work is done.

I would start messing about with the underseat part, i.e. larger tray, foam, buble wrap etc but as usual it's pissing down (usual carry on after a glorious day yesterday ).

Updated the firmware on the DVR as well to get rid of any bugs. Apparently the older firmware (the one i had) used to turn off occassionally when recording audio so hopefully that's related and it's been sorted now.

Anyway, going to keep my eye on the rain, argh!!

[KevTM]

right well i tried various stuff today, foam under the seat, still crap; luggage bag, towels, foam, bubble wrap, more foam and bubble wrap, still crap; tried mounting it vertically, no difference, upside down, no difference.. so after a bit of a depressing time of it all i put it in my top pocket and viola, works all the time

Only problem is my bodged connector needs redone (done it in a hurry last time) so i'll do that properly. My microphone i got in the camera kit is too loud, major distortion, so i'll need to stick a variable resistor inline with it.. 1k? 10k?

then i'll get a 5v regulator and power the DVR from the bike as well as i'm not confident the battery will last a long time recording.

*phew*.. so, top pocket it is!

[Silver]