I have been experimenting with on-board video!

[Kmot]

A couple years ago I bought a couple of those remote cameras powered by a 9V battery that is connected to a transmitter which sends the signal to a receiver which is connected via RCA cables to a camcorder. Picture quality sucked and so did the audio. Also it had very poor color rendition and was subject to lots of interference and blacking or snowing out. I tried two different versions and never was satisfied with either. I bought the $100 dollar versions. I know there were some that cost $300 or $400 but I never tried those figuring that was too much for a dedicated r/c only camera.

Recently, a couple new products have been introduced. The mountain bikers and snowboarders have a desire to film their exploits and so a couple cameras came out marketed towards them. Oregon Scientific (http://www2.oregonscientific.com/shop/product.asp?cid=6&scid=14&pid=560) and Digital Blue (http://www.playdigitalblue.com/products/helmet_cam/main) each have a "helmet" camera out. They are low end, low cost, 15FPS and not a lot of extra features. But, they do allow you to take video of your "Xtreme" outdoor activities.

I purchased the Tony Hawk helmet cam for use as a dedicated r/c camcorder. It is small, uses a SD card, and I thought it might prove to be satisfactory. It has no monitor. You cannot see what you videotaped (no tape actually) until you upload it to your computer. I tried it on a few trips around the house and it worked. I tried it on a boat in my pool, and it stopped taking video although the audio continued for a few seconds more. It was totally sealed in a plastic baggie and taped off so it did not get wet. I am not sure but I am guessing the magnetic flux from the motor may have interupted it. In any case, it was a disappointment but I thought it had potential and kept trying it. I used it on another boat, this time it worked a lot longer, about 3 minutes before it decided to lose the video and record only audio for another half minute. I was able to upload the video and after that the camera malfunctioned. It is no longer recognized by my computer. I uninstalled the software, and reinstalled it. Still no good. So after about 8 times of use and a total of about 6 minutes of video it has completely malfunctioned. It's too bad really because the video was certainly far better than those other remote systems I had tried. That's the bad news. And my advice is to not waste your money on a Tony Hawk helmet cam made by Digital Blue.

Now the good news. There was also a camera made for the extreme outdoor sportsman, by Samsung. A well established and recognized electronics manufacturer. The first generation was introduced last year and received much praise. The second generation just arrived recently and that is the one I came across. It is a full fledged mini-DV camcorder with the ability to mount an external camera. This is where it gets interesting. You can safely tuck away the camcorder, and leave the external camera out in the elements. The one I just got and have been experimenting with is the SC-X210L (http://www.samsung.com/Products/Camcorder/DigitalMemory/SC_X210LXAA.asp) with 1GB of internal memory. It is smaller than a pack of cig's and very light. I will be able to mount this inside my r/c planes as well as boats and on r/c trucks, etc. It is going to be a lot of fun to use.

At last, I have realized my dream of an onboard camera system that takes quality video. And as a plus, this is a normal camcorder that can be used for any other camcorder purpose. So, with that loooooooooooooooooooooooooong introduction over...... :D

Here is a 5 minute video shot from onboard my Villain EX boat. In my swimming pool. :eek:

Small File Version: Click here to watch Villain-EX-in-Pool (http://media.putfile.com/Villain-EX-in-Pool) Click on the "Original" size window.

Edit: Removed the YouTube version at they horribly pixelated it!


This is just to demonstrate the camera. I am looking forward to getting on the lake to take many other types of video.

[t00fatt]

Sweet Boat, and even better video system. Glad you found something you like. I can't wait to see some more videos.

[Kmot]

Thanks t00f! :)

[Phill McCracken]

Firstly kmot,welcome to the world of on board vids :D now if i can only convince fleetmaster to have go at it ;)

Secondly, Great vid,MY GOD :eek: what engines are in that thing? Makes my big woody suddenly seem slow, it looks like a elaborate system in there and doesn`t it move HOLY CRAP !:eek:

[Kmot]

LOL :D Thanks!

The engines are the stock Traxxas Marine Titans. The difference is I exchanged props with the Graupner units sold by Offshore Electrics. I changed the connectors to Power Poles (less resitance, more voltage), running 14 cells instead of 12, and added the water cooling for longevity. And spent some time getting the outdrive setup properly. On the open water it is fast. In the pool I can only crack the throttle wide open for a split second. I have gotten pretty good at it. My grand daughter likes it when I do a quick turnaround and the boat throws a rooster tail of water on her as she sits on the pool deck. :p

[Massey]

Kmot, how wet did the little camera get? and was it in a baggy or something like that? That was too cool I would love to see that on my hydro at speed on the local lake.

Massey

[Umi_Ryuzuki]

Very nicely shot, If it has an RF remote, you can play engine sounds and horns using the MP3 feature... :)

When are we getting deck view shots from the dam?

[u163665]

Tom,

That's some great video! Neat camera. Like most I am looking forward to seeing more, more, more.

Do you dare to take that camera system to Legg Lake? I think it will be fun to watch other boats from your boat's perspective. (Or the occasionally duck hunt, etc.)

[Kmot]

how wet did the little camera get? and was it in a baggy or something like that?

The external camera is "weatherproof" according to Samsung. What that means, I think, is that it can get splashed and be okay. Although it is not supposed to get submerged.

The external camera itself only got a few drops of water on it. It was fully exposed, no baggie. The camcorder, however, was in a zip locked baggie and then it was folded and taped and pretty much splash proof.

When are we getting deck view shots from the dam?

Soon. Very soon. ;)

I think it will be fun to watch other boats from your boat's perspective.

My idea, exactly. In fact, I had planned on taking video of your Donzi from the 'boats perspective'. I have a plan I need to discuss with you.

[Ghost 2501]

WHOOPS Duplicate post!

[Ghost 2501]

Kmot, you just need to have some skiers in tow now :D

btw, did the water in the pool, especially the chlorine cause any problems?

[empirebuilder]

Skiers, I was thinking the exact same thing. Great video, looks exactly like some video I have of waterskiing.

Can't wait to see some video from the dam, passing by other boats will look outstanding I am sure.

Next you can start filming your own water born action movie!

[t00fatt]

Hmm skiers? Do they make them or would kmot need to make one? I think that would look so great.

[empirebuilder]

I've never seen a kit for them, but I am thinking with the right amount of time and balancing one could build a skier that would stay upright when pulled by a boat. That would add to the challenge of running as you would have to tightly control speed to not pull the skier over forward.

Or perhaps start with tubing, might be easier to keep afloat!

[Kmot]

Yeah, the logisitics of keeping a skier upright would be monumental. However, a float tuber would be quite doable! Hmmmmmm............ :cool:

[Umi_Ryuzuki]

I had a skier for a while, It's still around in a box somewhere.
The trick is double skis with over size skegs, and that the boat actually pulls form just behind the tip of the skis, not from the ski handle. If you pull high, the skier just falls over. So I ran the "rope" from the ski handle down to the tip of the skis (or a cross bar between them) and then to the boat. The skis should be spread a part and tipped in to make a sort of "v" hull.

[Kmot]

I was thinking along the lines of something like this: :D