I had picked up another method of powering the GoPro since the solution I used during my road trip stopped working. The former solution powered the camera through the 30 pin connector on the back that was meant for some of the optional backs such as an extra battery. I think it stopped working after I updated the firmware on the camera. I still had the waterproof case that I had modified to allow me to plug in a mini-USB cable and that has been working but the case is, obviously, no longer waterproof. I found another option that has a circuit in the form factor of the GoPro battery and door. It snaps in place of the battery and has a 6' USB cable. Since I still had the back with the waterproof gland from the 30-pin adapter, I cut the 6' USB cable, ran it through the waterproof gland and re-soldered the cable back together and covered the splice with shrink tubing.
I took it out for a test ride this morning (see PBC #30) and it sort of works. Whenever there was a lot of vibration from ice on the road, the camera shut off. The remote would lose connectivity but will continue to happily report the last status that it had. I was also trying a new camera location with the monopod fixed vertically to the rear rack. I'm not sure I care for the new location and it could be contributing to the vibration problem as it's less stable.
Here is PBC #30. Another below 0°F ride. After about 20 miles, I was thinking that the heated gear wasn't working again. But since it was both the liner and the gloves, I finally figured out that I had forgotten to plug them in when I put on the riding gear. After stopping to plug them in, no problem and toasty warm again. I ended up riding about 65 miles before stopping at College Coffeehouse.
The higher the mast, the more vibration I've found. I've settled on using a tripod lashed to the cargo rack on top of the spare tire until something better comes along.
Ya know, they make these pricey hand-held mounts for GoPro's that seem to eliminate a lot of vibration, wonder how one would do on the rig?
I've played with some of the steadycam-like mounts and without damping, the camera would be swinging all over the place. They do a great job when hand held but I'm not sure how it would work when attached to a vehicle.
Last year, I did all of the PBC videos with the batteries. My experience in warm weather is no problem. The batteries will last for over an hour of recording. But in the winter, there were times when they lasted less than 3 minutes and I'd have to swap batteries in the middle of a very short ride.
Yes, the camera stopped because a connection somewhere worked loose.
The higher the mast, the more vibration I've found. I've settled on using a tripod lashed to the cargo rack on top of the spare tire until something better comes along.
ReplyDeleteYa know, they make these pricey hand-held mounts for GoPro's that seem to eliminate a lot of vibration, wonder how one would do on the rig?
I've played with some of the steadycam-like mounts and without damping, the camera would be swinging all over the place. They do a great job when hand held but I'm not sure how it would work when attached to a vehicle.
DeletePowering the GoPro from a cable is on my list. I will Google the accessories you're using.
ReplyDeleteI guess the camera stopped because the connection worked loose and it lost power, right?
I really like that perspective and the vibration is not in the least a problem. If anything I feel it complements the video.
Nice work!
Last year, I did all of the PBC videos with the batteries. My experience in warm weather is no problem. The batteries will last for over an hour of recording. But in the winter, there were times when they lasted less than 3 minutes and I'd have to swap batteries in the middle of a very short ride.
DeleteYes, the camera stopped because a connection somewhere worked loose.