Problem recording using a bullet/helmet camera

[tarbaby]

I bought an A2 so I could mainly use it as a recorder for my C4S Sony 480 bullet/helmet camera.

I have tested it in my home for a few minutes and it works fine on the maximum audio and visual recording settings. However when I have tried to use the set up recently whilst mountain biking I have run into a problem.

I started recording with no problem with the A2 in my padded backpack but when I came to the end of a run and checked the A2 and tried to stop recording - it wouldn't!?

I repeated pressed the stop recording button but it wouldn't. It was if the A2 had crashed and couldn't cope with processing the recording, no matter how long I left it.

I've had no problems recording a full DVD movie on the maximum settings so I'm completely confused.

Any ideas anybody?

[centus]

I've had this happen while recording from an RC plane (using a small camera with a transmitter/receiver combo), had the exact same behavior happen as you described.

A while ago there was a thread that claimed this was happening due to recording to the point where the HDD is full, but in a few of the times it happened, the disk wasn't even close to being full...

I guess this is a bug that happens sometimes, probably one of those that happens on the worst occasion possible... :(

[hyroler777]

I have same problem.It usually only happens if I record in high resolution[640x480]Its not because hard drive is full because I have 25gb free and it still does it.

[centus]

It just happened to me again last night, I was trying to record a 60 minutes video tape from my VCR to the A2, I tried it at both 640x480 1Mbps and 800Kbps and in both cases after about 28 minutes, it froze...
I'll try the lower res and see what happens tonight...

[nox]

i have exactly the same problem. has anybody found a solution yet???

[sushy1937]

I would try to find the reason following two paths:

1. Run a checkdisk on your FAT32 A2 drive. I wouldn't be surprised if you found errors.

2. Upgrade to latest firmware.

I DO record files greater than 1.5 GB (via timer recording) without any problems.

Good luck,
S.

[nox]

i ran checkdisk, firmware is most actual. bulletcam still freezes the A2. recording from av-out of a dvd-player works without any problems.... grrrrrrrrrrrrr [no]

[actionjack]

Well I could be wrong but I think I am right. I posted this a while ago. I bought my A2 SOLEY for the purpose of recording helmet cam footage. Like you I tested mine in my house. I even ran around carrying the whole rig. But, once I mounted it on my sled it would record very briefly and then lock up. It would create a filename but once reset that file did not exist. I believe the jarring action of my snowmobile or you mountain biking is parking the hard drive. The A2 is useless as a helmet cam recording device. My rig is packed in a bag on my handlebars but I even tried putting in an inside pocket of my jacket but got the same results. Even when I'm just trying to record from my camcorder or the TV, in the house, I sometimes get the recording freeze.

BTW VIO just release the holy grail of helmet cam recorder setups but it is a little pricey at~$900. The POV-1. Flash based recorder with WIRELESS remote!

[Lastb0isct]

Well I could be wrong but I think I am right. I posted this a while ago. I bought my A2 SOLEY for the purpose of recording helmet cam footage. Like you I tested mine in my house. I even ran around carrying the whole rig. But, once I mounted it on my sled it would record very briefly and then lock up. It would create a filename but once reset that file did not exist. I believe the jarring action of my snowmobile or you mountain biking is parking the hard drive. The A2 is useless as a helmet cam recording device. My rig is packed in a bag on my handlebars but I even tried putting in an inside pocket of my jacket but got the same results. Even when I'm just trying to record from my camcorder or the TV, in the house, I sometimes get the recording freeze.

BTW VIO just release the holy grail of helmet cam recorder setups but it is a little pricey at~$900. The POV-1. Flash based recorder with WIRELESS remote!

Exactly what i was going to say. if you're having problems i would suggest getting the D2 rather than the A2 because flash based players don't have G-force problems. The harddrive is definately locking up due to excessive shock...

[nox]

okay, but it even freezes @home on the table with the bullet-cam....

[actionjack]

Yeah mine does that now too. Sometimes the recording timer goes 10 seconds sometimes 30 seconds but then the timer stops and I have to reboot it and the file does not exist. The thing is a POS. I even just udated to 1.91 firmware but it still does it. I guess I'll try to reformat but I'll bet it still does it. Gotta get a flash recorder for the helmet cam, until then I'll deal with my Canon Elura 50 which is also a POS but works most of the time.

[actionjack]

Here's what us helmet cam guys are looking for...if you can afford it.
http://helmetcameracentral.com/2007/08/21/the-holy-grail-of-helmet-cams-the-new-vio-pov1-integrated-video-system/

Since I already have a helmet cam I may try a Sanyo Xacti camera which is flash based, has video line in and 720x480.

D2 is a waste of time at 320x240. I want to see my action vids on my HDTV.

[actionjack]

After experimenting with a SSD PVR and finding that even at a higher bit rate the A2 does a better job recording, I am going to give the helmet cam recording another try on the A2. I wish they would update the firmware for the remote to be useful during recording.

[nox]

i figured out that @ the lower bitrate it works with the bullet cam, it does not freeze, only @ high bitrate. really strange!!! [confused]

[actionjack]

I resolved my recording (other than helmet cam) issues by reformatting so I devised a new more shock and vibration resistant mount. Gave it a try today on a quad. No go, record timer got to 47s but A2 was non responsive to controls. Back to needing to reformat to make it record again. That was last time I'll try to record helmet cam on a rec vehicle with the A2. Do not buy an A2 recording helmet cam action.

[Sunny]

Hi,
I also had the same problem when I have my A2 recorded from VCR and TV about year ago.
So I try all the combinations on 640X480 1Mb setting, and found out audio is the major reason that freeze my A2
I don't know this setting apply to other people or not, but I did try on two A2, they all came out the same result.
1. Check disk & Defragmentation is necessary for keeping your a2 space clean, a2's system info isn't very reliable.
2. Under the Setup-Recorder- Video setting, change the Audio Channel to Mono
3. When connect to TV or VCR, only connect one audio output, even you have two channel (my case is L white color)
you can try by recording a short video on each one of them, and play it back, see which channel is the best, don't be fool by listening to live recording, they are loud and clear, but when it play back is another story.
Under this setting, I can record whatever I want without any problems.
For long recording. A2 will automatic cut the file when it reaches 2G (close to 1:50-2 hours recording time),
If you record until the battery run out, the video files you can't see or play on a2, but you can transfer them to computer and play with some limitations, so for some important programs, I always record them with the charger.
Hope this can help Good luck,

[actionjack]

okay, but it even freezes @home on the table with the bullet-cam....
I think you can resolve this by reformatting and reinstalling the firmware but the problem will re-surface once you cause the HDD to park again due to vibration while recording.

[mxman84]

I know this is an old forum string, but I too have been using the A2 to record helmetcam video. Per above, the lockup issue is also problematic occassionally. However 90% of the time mine tends to work ok at the 640x480, but not always on the 1Mb option. This is a guess on my part, but could it be locking up because of the fast motion video it's trying to compress such as racing motocross?
That wouldn't explain the lockup on the living room recording session though..

I've recorded slow moving 4 wheeler trail riding with it often and it's never locked up. Could also explain why recording at the lowest resolutions seems to be more stable, as it's not trying to compress so much. ? Just my thoughts. if you want to see any of my video recordings they're on my website at www.skidlidvideo.com