"Chewing gum" dv cam - firmware settings? - Page 2

dghutt · Sep 25, 2009, 01:19 PM

I've been unsuccessful too.

On mine the file needs to be called "userconfig.txt" rather than time.txt, but all it does is update the time to whatever I've specified. I tried changing the punctuation between numbers in the text string (eg. colons or dashes instead of periods), I tried an empty text file (it defaulted to January 1, 1980 at midnight), a text file with just an "N", and putting a dash before the "N" -- all no go.

Any other ideas?

Dave

cass_flyer · Sep 25, 2009, 04:12 PM

Frustration abounds here - have tried so many different time formats,
different file names (time.txt, userconfig.txt, etc) that I am totally
convinced there is NO WAY to set the time. COntacted E-bay seller
who basically gave the same instructions as the user manual.
Am I forever locked into having all my vids show 2007.05.28 ......????

For a $20 device I am still impressed, but jeeeezzz !!

quailbird · Sep 25, 2009, 04:22 PM

Me too! It doesn't bother me!

cass_flyer · Sep 25, 2009, 05:13 PM

It just goes to show ya' - given enough beer and enough time,
a solution can be found for almost anything......

First off, I have 2 laptops - one running Vista, one (8 yrs old)
running ME. (I have hated Vista ever since I got the thing...and
all my attempts thus far have been with the Vista box....)

I booted up my win-ME laptop, then connected the camera -
with the camera OFF. Open up 'My Computer", and you see
the camera as drive (whatever). Right-click on the drive and
select 'format'. I did a FULL format, not a quick one.
Then create the 'time.txt' file, the format I used was
2009.09.25 15.30.00 Y

(I think that without formatting, if the directory 'REC" exists
it doesn't bother looking for "time.txt" ??? Just a guess on my part.)

Note the space between the date and time, also I noted that
past noon you have to use 'military time", IE 2:00 PM is 14,00.

Save the file, exit, and use the 'safely eject hardware' option to
insure the system is done writing to the device.

Disconnect it from the 'puter, then record a short video - when you
start the camera up, you will notice a longer delay in startup time -
I assume it's because it's actually reading in your time.txt file.
Also, when you later view the cameras' files, the time.txt file
is GONE!

Download the short vid - it should contain the date you specified.

I hope this helps someone out there.....from reading all the posts,
it seems there are different ways to set the time, maybe based
on when/where the device was made, etc.

And now I need another beer........

guyg · Sep 25, 2009, 05:44 PM

Cass .
Hope you are still ON YOUR FEET
After some beers.
NOW..NEXT STEP IS DELETE THE DATE/ TIME CLOCK
How do you do that?
TX..Drive safe man
Guy

the-cat007 · Sep 25, 2009, 06:38 PM

Quote:

NOW..NEXT STEP IS DELETE THE DATE/ TIME CLOCK
How do you do that?

Just change the letter Y to N .

2009.09.25 15.30.00 N

guyg · Sep 25, 2009, 06:57 PM

TX ALLOT
I WILL TRY THAT AND LET YOU KNOW
................................................
Have fun ..Keep up on your legs...
Drive safe home....

Guy

Dave Barrow · Sep 25, 2009, 07:26 PM

Tried everything suggested here, still no luck.

Guess I'll just have to live with it. I used the string with Y and corrected the date/time, figures that would work.

philba · Sep 25, 2009, 07:34 PM

Just a thought - how are people creating that file? if it's word or other, it may be in the wrong format. I'd use notepad and make sure it's in a text format.

jackerbes · Sep 25, 2009, 08:04 PM

Hi ya, philba!

Here is what worked for me.

"..How do you set the date and time on these things?..."

Used Notepad, made a text file with this line in it:

2009.09.25 21.39.00

Note the space after the date, just pressed Enter at end of line and saved it, that is yyyy.mm.dd.hh.mm.ss if you had not figured it out, use the 24 hour clock for times after noon.

Save that file to the root of the memory card as "time.txt".

Disconnect from the PC, power up the camera, and it should read the file. The file will be gone after it reads it and a test photo will confirm it's working.

I put in a time that was a few minutes ahead and then disconnected and powered up about one second before the time in the file and it was right on the money.

If the text file reads

2009.09.25 21.39.00 N

it sets the time and does not put it on the video or photos or films (you can see it on the files still)

putting in 2009.09.25 21.39.00 Y will turn it back on again as far as it being on the videos.

This was with the chewing gum pack camera from eBay, $19.95 with shipping and I had it 7 days later from China to Maine.

The seller responds to emails quickly and in polite and coherent English.

On that gum stick camera a 4 GB card (max you can use I think) will give you a fully charged battery one continuous recording time of just under two hours in length. It saves one file at 50 minutes and the second when the battery gets low so you get two, one hour or so each, avi file recordings. It takes a *long* time to copy them from the memory card to the PC, like about an hour or more each. I need a new laptop...

Jack

the-cat007 · Sep 25, 2009, 08:59 PM

you can buy it from me without all this problems .
the time will not show up .
My camera supports up to 16GB memory card.

and yeah you right... its a small issue..BUT read the post !!
you can have peace of mind.

Link below:
RC Mini Camera ..FREE SHIPPING

dghutt · Sep 25, 2009, 10:51 PM

Thanks for adding those tips Jack, but still no luck here. I have no trouble setting the correct date (using "userconfig.txt" as the file name, not "time.txt"), but I can't get rid of the date stamp. The N and Y switches do not work. Dave

jackerbes · Sep 26, 2009, 07:56 AM

gdhutt,

Don't understand it, must be the way you are holding your mouth.

the-cat007,

You are abusing your privileges here by using this forum for advertising. That is not what the rcgroups.com forums are about. There is a place for posting items for sale and this is not it. One more time and I'll report you to the moderators.

For all that do not know it, the-cat007 wants $60 for the same camera I bought for $19.95. I got mine it seven days from China, it work perfect.

Jack

the-cat007 · Sep 26, 2009, 12:42 PM

dear jack,
thanks for your advertising..... you do it not me !!!!!

if you have any problem with any of the rcgroups members you can use Privet Massage .

Let's finish this dialog here, and if you have something to tell me you're welcome to do it privately.

so please ......Let's not talk slander.
lets keep the Post/Forum clean .

-in my opinion its just a service ...

!!!!!!!!!!

P.S
jack and "For all that do not know it", i wants $47.58 FREE SHIPPING for the camera .

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now let's get back to the topic ....

Later I going to upload some videos
How i did it "Do not show time" setup.
I'm using in Linux,
but the idea will be the same for all OS.

thanks and regards,
have a nice weekend .

guyg · Sep 26, 2009, 01:35 PM

HI...the cat....
HI..Take it easy..Dring Some MILK.....

Did you saw the Classic cars i took AP today....
Be good
Guy

Sep 25, 2009, 04:12 PM	#17
cass_flyer Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 2	NFW to set time that I can find.... Frustration abounds here - have tried so many different time formats, different file names (time.txt, userconfig.txt, etc) that I am totally convinced there is NO WAY to set the time. COntacted E-bay seller who basically gave the same instructions as the user manual. Am I forever locked into having all my vids show 2007.05.28 ......???? For a $20 device I am still impressed, but jeeeezzz !!

Sep 25, 2009, 05:13 PM	#19
cass_flyer Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 2	Found The Solution - - - It just goes to show ya' - given enough beer and enough time, a solution can be found for almost anything...... First off, I have 2 laptops - one running Vista, one (8 yrs old) running ME. (I have hated Vista ever since I got the thing...and all my attempts thus far have been with the Vista box....) I booted up my win-ME laptop, then connected the camera - with the camera OFF. Open up 'My Computer", and you see the camera as drive (whatever). Right-click on the drive and select 'format'. I did a FULL format, not a quick one. Then create the 'time.txt' file, the format I used was 2009.09.25 15.30.00 Y (I think that without formatting, if the directory 'REC" exists it doesn't bother looking for "time.txt" ??? Just a guess on my part.) Note the space between the date and time, also I noted that past noon you have to use 'military time", IE 2:00 PM is 14,00. Save the file, exit, and use the 'safely eject hardware' option to insure the system is done writing to the device. Disconnect it from the 'puter, then record a short video - when you start the camera up, you will notice a longer delay in startup time - I assume it's because it's actually reading in your time.txt file. Also, when you later view the cameras' files, the time.txt file is GONE! Download the short vid - it should contain the date you specified. I hope this helps someone out there.....from reading all the posts, it seems there are different ways to set the time, maybe based on when/where the device was made, etc. And now I need another beer........

Sep 25, 2009, 08:04 PM	#25
jackerbes Jack Join Date: May 2008 Location: Ellsworth,ME, USA Posts: 3,604	Hi ya, philba! Here is what worked for me. "..How do you set the date and time on these things?..." Used Notepad, made a text file with this line in it: 2009.09.25 21.39.00 Note the space after the date, just pressed Enter at end of line and saved it, that is yyyy.mm.dd.hh.mm.ss if you had not figured it out, use the 24 hour clock for times after noon. Save that file to the root of the memory card as "time.txt". Disconnect from the PC, power up the camera, and it should read the file. The file will be gone after it reads it and a test photo will confirm it's working. I put in a time that was a few minutes ahead and then disconnected and powered up about one second before the time in the file and it was right on the money. If the text file reads 2009.09.25 21.39.00 N it sets the time and does not put it on the video or photos or films (you can see it on the files still) putting in 2009.09.25 21.39.00 Y will turn it back on again as far as it being on the videos. This was with the chewing gum pack camera from eBay, $19.95 with shipping and I had it 7 days later from China to Maine. The seller responds to emails quickly and in polite and coherent English. On that gum stick camera a 4 GB card (max you can use I think) will give you a fully charged battery one continuous recording time of just under two hours in length. It saves one file at 50 minutes and the second when the battery gets low so you get two, one hour or so each, avi file recordings. It takes a long time to copy them from the memory card to the PC, like about an hour or more each. I need a new laptop... Jack Last edited by jackerbes; Sep 28, 2009 at 08:26 AM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Mini-HowTo "Chewing-gum" cam video optimization	Bowman813	Aerial Photography	6	May 28, 2009 09:47 AM
Mini-Review FCO2 / "chewing-gum" cam comparison	Bowman813	Aerial Photography	6	May 27, 2009 10:48 AM
DV-Cam on 4m ASH26	jschrader	Aerial Photography	2	Jul 06, 2004 03:48 PM
Aiptek digicam, Aweful quality...Been there done that!!! DV CAM is the only way.	countmonk	Aerial Photography	13	Nov 14, 2002 11:15 AM
Panasonic's 3.6oz. DV-Cam	pfm	Aerial Photography	1	Nov 13, 2002 11:24 AM

Sep 25, 2009, 01:19 PM	#16
dghutt Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Halifax, NS, Canada Posts: 94	I've been unsuccessful too. On mine the file needs to be called "userconfig.txt" rather than time.txt, but all it does is update the time to whatever I've specified. I tried changing the punctuation between numbers in the text string (eg. colons or dashes instead of periods), I tried an empty text file (it defaulted to January 1, 1980 at midnight), a text file with just an "N", and putting a dash before the "N" -- all no go. Any other ideas? Dave

Sep 25, 2009, 04:22 PM	#18
quailbird Registered User Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Rich Hill Missouri 64779 Posts: 5,643	Me too! It doesn't bother me!

Sep 25, 2009, 05:44 PM	#20
guyg TEL-AVIV ISRAEL Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Ness- Ziona Posts: 2,014	Cass . Hope you are still ON YOUR FEET After some beers. NOW..NEXT STEP IS DELETE THE DATE/ TIME CLOCK How do you do that? TX..Drive safe man Guy

Sep 25, 2009, 06:57 PM	#22
guyg TEL-AVIV ISRAEL Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Ness- Ziona Posts: 2,014	TX ALLOT I WILL TRY THAT AND LET YOU KNOW ................................................ Have fun ..Keep up on your legs... Drive safe home.... Guy

Sep 25, 2009, 07:26 PM	#23
Dave Barrow Registered User Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Ky Posts: 1,011	Tried everything suggested here, still no luck. Guess I'll just have to live with it. I used the string with Y and corrected the date/time, figures that would work.

Sep 25, 2009, 07:34 PM	#24
philba Prop Buster Extraordinaire Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Seattle Posts: 298	Just a thought - how are people creating that file? if it's word or other, it may be in the wrong format. I'd use notepad and make sure it's in a text format.

Sep 25, 2009, 08:59 PM	#26
the-cat007 the best cat in town. :) Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 133	you can buy it from me without all this problems . the time will not show up . My camera supports up to 16GB memory card. and yeah you right... its a small issue..BUT read the post !! you can have peace of mind. Link below: RC Mini Camera ..FREE SHIPPING

Sep 25, 2009, 10:51 PM	#27
dghutt Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Halifax, NS, Canada Posts: 94	Thanks for adding those tips Jack, but still no luck here. I have no trouble setting the correct date (using "userconfig.txt" as the file name, not "time.txt"), but I can't get rid of the date stamp. The N and Y switches do not work. Dave

Sep 26, 2009, 07:56 AM	#28
jackerbes Jack Join Date: May 2008 Location: Ellsworth,ME, USA Posts: 3,604	gdhutt, Don't understand it, must be the way you are holding your mouth. the-cat007, You are abusing your privileges here by using this forum for advertising. That is not what the rcgroups.com forums are about. There is a place for posting items for sale and this is not it. One more time and I'll report you to the moderators. For all that do not know it, the-cat007 wants $60 for the same camera I bought for $19.95. I got mine it seven days from China, it work perfect. Jack

Sep 26, 2009, 12:42 PM	#29
the-cat007 the best cat in town. :) Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 133	dear jack, thanks for your advertising..... you do it not me !!!!! if you have any problem with any of the rcgroups members you can use Privet Massage . Let's finish this dialog here, and if you have something to tell me you're welcome to do it privately. so please ......Let's not talk slander. lets keep the Post/Forum clean . -in my opinion its just a service ... !!!!!!!!!! P.S jack and "For all that do not know it", i wants $47.58 FREE SHIPPING for the camera . ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Now let's get back to the topic .... Later I going to upload some videos How i did it "Do not show time" setup. I'm using in Linux, but the idea will be the same for all OS. thanks and regards, have a nice weekend .

Sep 26, 2009, 01:35 PM	#30
guyg TEL-AVIV ISRAEL Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Ness- Ziona Posts: 2,014	HI...the cat.... HI..Take it easy..Dring Some MILK..... Did you saw the Classic cars i took AP today.... Be good Guy