How are recording your FPV flights

[LHTPlane]

Hi guys,
I finally got my FPV easystar and worked out all the bugs, I have a couple of flights under my belt but I'm having a hard time finding something to capture the video on.
What do you recomend, I have an RCA and AV.

Thanks.

[Funjet2008]

any recorder on rx !!!!
archos, camcorder, etc.....
http://www.nghobbies.com/cart/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=285

[LHTPlane]

Thanks for the responce,
All the camcorders I looked at don't have any kind of imput.
Would the HDD-SD-DVR record from a AV without any other devices ? .

[Funjet2008]

HDD-SD-DVR is a recorder, you dont need other device. just connect it in your recever

[LHTPlane]

Thank you so much, I will order one today.

[eander315]

The Aiptek MPVR +CB is another popular, relatively low-cost choice. Search for it on this forum to find more info.

[Funjet2008]

ya, Aiptek is a good choice too
DZO-Z53 DZO-V58N DZO-V58 DZO-V38

[LHTPlane]

I have a Aiptek HD + , for some reason after about 30 seconds of recording through the AV imput it quits and freezes.It have tried a few cables but it still does it.
I ordered the HDD-SD-DVR , I will update this post once try it .

Thanks again.

[Daemon]

As has been discussed a hundred times in other threads, the A-HD family
is not useful as a recorder because it stops any time it sees noise.
The Aiptek MPVR+CB does not have that problem.

ian

[David22]

ya mine when it sees no signal goes to a garbage bin

[eander315]

Maybe we should add a small list of proven recording devices to the "What to buy" list.

[Funjet2008]

http://www.nghobbies.com/cart/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=285
;)

[Daemon]

Strange that the samples on that page are meant to show
the quality (thus you'd expect them to be raw samples straight from
the device), cept the specs say it records at 640x480
while the sample files are 720x480. In other words, there seems to
be no way to actually evaluate the recording quality/bitrate etc.

ian

[skunkworks2006]

love my old Sony tvr handicam. I also have the Aiptek A-HD+

[David22]

I think i have the pv 500 or something like that

the best ones are the ones that are sent to the red garbage bin
I don't think they are recoverable?
Too bad they are the crazy ones.
when my servos started to twitch that was kind of cool
but a simple landing can ruin it all

[Gussy]

I use an Asus EEEPC 1000H, it's the expensive option but also serves as a viewing screen for onlookers, plus something to view telemetry on/moving maps on if your into that.

[Ginger Adam]

I was given two broken Canon MV700i camcorders and use these. They record AV or DVin source to miniDV tape. They use the same batteries as my pro Canon DSLR, so I always have some charged and ready. Battery life (using a standard BP511 battery) is enough to fill a miniDV tape, but is noticably less on a cold day.

There is a common fault on the MV700i whereby the lens/video element fails, but the camcorder still works 100% as a recorder. You can view/review the footage on the viewfinder or flip-out screen.

For Import/Edit - most modern PCs seem to have a firewire port, if not you can get a cheap PCI firewire port and install.

Adam

[David22]

ya mine does not like to really cold, freezes up, but works after awhile, or if I take the battery out and put it back in
It has a screen to view but i use that to only make sure it is recording
all viewing is done when I get home on the computer

[LHTPlane]

I just recieved the HDD-SD-DVR, I guess I didn't read it well enough but I really want one with a screen so I know whats happening.
I guess I will sell this and get something else.

[Funjet2008]

you can see my video (record in HD) with JazzHD188
http://trois-rivieres.over-blog.com/pages/Video-963442.html

[Carlyle Harper]

I'm now using a Sony first generation hard drive camcorder, DCR-SR100. It has been discontinued by Sony, but can still occasionally be found on ebay for about $300 used. A lot cheaper than when they were new. It has the AV inputs you need, but also makes great home movies.

Edit: On standard record the bitrate is about 7.3 from what I've calculated and about 9.6 on high quality. I use standard mode and think it has better quality than the little IFDVR I used to use.

[ApolloTech]

I use an AV 500 by Archos. It is very easy to use and to record with and can be had from Ebay etc for less than 100 American Dollars.

Scott

[LHTPlane]

I will look out for a AV500.
In the mean time, Anyone want a new HDD-SD-DVR ? Pm me.

[Crash9]

I think I've tried everything for recording (vmate,Aiptek,USB live,HD REC) but the Sony Digital8 Handycam seems to be the best in quality IMO with Digital8 tape. Models that have video inputs that i've used with great results. DCR-Trv 120, 140,340 and 350. I got them used on eBay for about $100-$250.





:)

[Mr.Pibb]

I have to agree Crash9. I just purchased a vmate to give it a shot. It was HORRIBLE until I updated the firmware, then it was just not great. Not compared to my Digital8 recordings. There's just something more "fluid" with the digital 8 recordings. Even re-compressing them with another new codec at a high bit rate, they lose some of the fluidity of motion once they move from DV format to something else. It's a shame, especially since storage space isn't as much of an issue lately, that we've settled on compression schemes that really lose some of the flow of standard DV video...

[HeliEye]

I have the Archos AV500.. it's not bad, but doesn't come close to a PC with a dedicated 4 channel video grabber PCI card.
It has onboard hardware compression, with 4 processors, compression type H264. Resolution: 720x576 (PAL) 25 FPS per channel.
It can playback and record at the same time ;-)
We use these in my work, so I was a bit lucky ;-)

A PC? I here you say, this is a custom 12V portable unit, mini ITX format mobo, 1GB mem, 160GB HDD, 12V SLA battery, fits in a Pelicase.
As soon as I get it all tidy in the case, I'll post a pic..

Steve

[n3m1s1s]

archos 605 wifi with dock and remote

archos 504 with travel dvr adaptor

and a hdd PVR from ebay seem to be doing ok at the moment

[Jensst]

I have an Archos AV500 and nghobbies HDD-DVR (not SD). I like the Archos' simplicity due to its integrated lipo batt. The HDD-DVR has a noticeable higher recording quality/bitrate. I just don't like that its AVI output files are interlaced.

Jens

[bob loblaw]

You're going to laugh- but for now, I'm using a 4 head VCR. At whatever remote spot I pick on a given day there's an old 19" tube tv and a vcr running off a power inverter. Hey, those 4 head units were top of the line in their day! :)

[Fishbone4u]

I just ordered one myself.

Don't you think part of the quality issue can be traced back to the speed of the SD card you are recording on? Not all SD cards are created equal! They have different "classes" or read / write speeds.



I have to agree Crash9. I just purchased a vmate to give it a shot. It was HORRIBLE until I updated the firmware, then it was just not great. Not compared to my Digital8 recordings. There's just something more "fluid" with the digital 8 recordings. Even re-compressing them with another new codec at a high bit rate, they lose some of the fluidity of motion once they move from DV format to something else. It's a shame, especially since storage space isn't as much of an issue lately, that we've settled on compression schemes that really lose some of the flow of standard DV video...

[LHTPlane]

I got a AV500 from Ebay with all the extras for $150, I think this will do the trick for what I'm looking for.

[Mr.Pibb]

I was using a class 6 SDHC card. I set the bitrate to the best quality (you don't actually set the bitrate, you set the format/quality). Actually, the quality is probably OK, I just am used to DV quality which is a step above most of these formats. I also was disappointed that when the quality was set to hight the video output no longer passed through the video signal. I was hoping it would make a good video buffer...



I just ordered one myself.

Don't you think part of the quality issue can be traced back to the speed of the SD card you are recording on? Not all SD cards are created equal! They have different "classes" or read / write speeds.