Responses and comments to Lucie's thread

[parptoot]

Great stuff, keep 'em coming!:thumbsup:

[jahwerx]

VideoVBOX units work with SD or SDHC hardware.

The maximum size SD card you can currently use in the VVB or VVB Lite is 32GB, simply because this is the biggest card with SDHC hardware.

16MB – 2GB have SD hardware
4GB – 32GB have SDHC hardware
64MB – 2TB have SDXC hardware

We recommend SanDisk and Kingston as good makes of SD card to use.:thumbsup:

Too bad I can't use my 64GB SDXC card from my camera :(

However, this length of data collection is important to us, since we are going to be running a 24 hour race, and I was wondering if the SD card was "hot swappable" with the unit running? or does the VVB need to be turned off so data is not lost when switching SD cards? thanks!

Also, is there a visual indication to the driver when the storage capacity is getting full? Thanks in advance!

[Mike Broadbent]

Too bad I can't use my 64GB SDXC card from my camera :(

No, sorry we don't support SDXC. If we do extend to this then obviously we'll let you know.



However, this length of data collection is important to us, since we are going to be running a 24 hour race, and I was wondering if the SD card was "hot swappable" with the unit running? or does the VVB need to be turned off so data is not lost when switching SD cards? thanks!

MOST definitely not, if it is recording - you will corrupt the data, possibly for good. However you can swap media with the unit turned on as long as it isn't recording.



Also, is there a visual indication to the driver when the storage capacity is getting full? Thanks in advance!

Are you using a Pro or a Lite? On a Pro the memory indicator LEDs light up as the card becomes full. On a Lite there's no memory indication.

Remember that a 32gb card will give you about 15 hours of video :)

[jahwerx]

Mike,

Thanks for the quick reply. It sounds like 2 32GB cards, and we would be good to go for the duration. The team is evaluating our options for in-car video now, so we don't own a product yet (we used a driftbox during our last race). The Pro package offer you are running is a contender!

Thanks again!


No, sorry we don't support SDXC. If we do extend to this then obviously we'll let you know.



MOST definitely not, if it is recording - you will corrupt the data, possibly for good. However you can swap media with the unit turned on as long as it isn't recording.



Are you using a Pro or a Lite? On a Pro the memory indicator LEDs light up as the card becomes full. On a Lite there's no memory indication.

Remember that a 32gb card will give you about 15 hours of video :)

[Steve]

^

Or you could just get an external 2.5 HDD in caddy...

http://www.freecom.com/objects/00007370.jpg

http://www.freecom.com/ecProduct_detail.asp?OID=7370&ID=3506&catID=8020&sCatID=1146257&ssCatID=1146260

Just format it as FAT32 and you can have hours of logging!!!

[Mike Broadbent]

I've locked Lucie's Hints and Tips and moved all the responses in here - that way Lucie's thread can remain as one useful reference rather than having to trawl through it.

So if you have your own hints/comments, post them here :thumbsup:

[jimlau]

However, this length of data collection is important to us, since we are going to be running a 24 hour race, and I was wondering if the SD card was "hot swappable" with the unit running? or does the VVB need to be turned off so data is not lost when switching SD cards? thanks!

When I did Video VBOX support for a 24-hour Race, I tried to swap cards about every 4-6 hours. I ran 16GB SD cards so they could go up to about 8 hours. With the standard "Log when moving" mode, by the time the car would get into the pits and stop for a driver change or whatever, I could reach in and check that the VVBOX had stopped logging (and if it hadn't yet I could manually stop it), pull the old card, insert the fresh one and be out of there. I got this process down to about 10 seconds.

With semi-frequent data/video collection, you can see if a camera has been knocked loose or review earlier footage of racing incidents while the car is back out on track recording more, so I would say it's a good way to go.

[unuomodaltritempi]

Hi everyone I'm new to the forum ...
I also have planned a 25 hours (Fun Cup at Spa), I believe that the solution in the race to replace the SD is always risky, better to have auronomia registration for the entire race. I would be focused on a hard disc anti-shock external usb type:

http://www.transcendusa.com/products/ModDetail.asp?ModNo=284&LangNo=0&Func1No=&Func2No=

the cost is acceptable 60/70 € (320 GB), while a USB stick costs about 150 to 128 although it is smaller.
My only question is how to behave on the hard disk while recording and the machine vibrates and take branches from all sides, or even worse in case of accidents .... has anyone been able to test a HD?

[Mike Broadbent]

Hi everyone I'm new to the forum ...
I also have planned a 25 hours (Fun Cup at Spa), I believe that the solution in the race to replace the SD is always risky, better to have auronomia registration for the entire race. I would be focused on a hard disc anti-shock external usb type:

http://www.transcendusa.com/products/ModDetail.asp?ModNo=284&LangNo=0&Func1No=&Func2No=

the cost is acceptable 60/70 € (320 GB), while a USB stick costs about 150 to 128 although it is smaller.
My only question is how to behave on the hard disk while recording and the machine vibrates and take branches from all sides, or even worse in case of accidents .... has anyone been able to test a HD?
Well we've tested on the bench and logged over an entire weekend onto one of our external USB hard drives. No problems, but then that's hardly a race-car environment...

Two things come to mind: I personally wouldn't use an external HD in a race situation - anything with moving parts in that kind of environment is asking for trouble, and solid state would be a better idea.

Also, if you're using a Video VBOX Lite with an external hard drive, the tank circuit doesn't work - the hard drive draws too much current.

Solid state media is advisable, and there really isn't any problem with swapping it over during driver changes, so I think that Jim's suggestion is the best bet :thumbsup:

[Jon P]

A 64GB or 128GB USB memory stick would be a nice option if you can afford it. Low power, no moving parts, no swapping media for many hours.

A SATA SSD in a USB-SATA adapter caddy might work well too - but even more expensive, at the moment.

[kong]

Hi,

Thanks for the useful advise about how to position the camera to get the right exposure.

My issue is that I was trying to get one camera behind the driver to take both the steering works and the outside view and another camera pointing down taking the foot work.

So by your explaination, I will try to position the camera so the interior view is minimum.

So it means there is no way to lock the camera exposure?

Thanks!

[dwz8]

We used 2 VBOXs in 2 cars at the recent 24h race at the Nurburgring.
We had 16 GB and 32 GB SDHC cards, which we swapped from time to time. Although the recording time could be more than half of such a race, I would never take the risk to let the VBOX record unattended for such a long time. From time to time recording stops for unknown reasons, which is what you can cure by restarting after a card exchange.

Swapping cards sounds easy, however, in practice it isn't always that way. If the car stops, recording will stop after 2 or 3 seconds, which usually works fine. That would be the perfect time for the swap. However, before anybody can get to the VBOX, about 10 people are tearing at the car for a tire change, fuelling and other unnecessary tasks, which typically causes the VBOX to start recording again.

So you can't wait for it to stop because there is too much movement around the car. If you stop recording manually, you leave automatic mode, which means the VBOX won't start again after the pit stop unless manually started.
We have solved the problem by disconnecting power supply to the VBOX when the car comes to a halt, wait for the recording to shut down, and the do the swap. After power-up the VBOX will be in auto mode again.

Perhaps somebody has a better idea.

[Mike Broadbent]

Potentially you could use an on/off logging switch with a USB drive. If placed close to the driver, he can then manually turn off the recording, remove the drive and then the incoming driver inserts his USB media and starts recording again.

Alternatively you could start and stop recording via a wheel speed or RPM instead, from CAN or a Micro Input Module.

[dwz8]

Alternatively you could start and stop recording via a wheel speed or RPM instead, from CAN or a Micro Input Module.
That sounds like a viable alternative, since the engine won't run during a pit stop, of course.
Is there any documentation on how to use RPM to start the recording?

Thanks for the hint!

[Mike Broadbent]

That sounds like a viable alternative, since the engine won't run during a pit stop, of course.
Is there any documentation on how to use RPM to start the recording?

Thanks for the hint!
You'll find the options for this in the Logging fields in the setup software, and it's all described in the manual of course :thumbsup:

[dwz8]

You'll find the options for this in the Logging fields in the setup software, and it's all described in the manual of course :thumbsup:

found it, thanks!

[dwz8]

So I found it, however I can't get it to work.

I am using CAN channels in a lot of places without problems.
They all show up in the list:
http://www.dwz8.de/fun/withcan.png

If I try to control recording there are no channels:
http://www.dwz8.de/fun/nocan.png

Is there anything else I need to do?

[Lucie]

So I found it, however I can't get it to work.

I am using CAN channels in a lot of places without problems.
They all show up in the list:
http://www.dwz8.de/fun/withcan.png

If I try to control recording there are no channels:
http://www.dwz8.de/fun/nocan.png

Is there anything else I need to do?

Can you send the scene file through to support@racelogic.co.uk? We can then have a good look at what may be the problem :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[dwz8]

Can you send the scene file through to support@racelogic.co.uk? We can then have a good look at what may be the problem :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

will do asap.

[spyderman]

Suggestions for VBox Lite:
- Design a couple of lugs into the case to make it easier to use cable ties to fix it to the roll cage.
- Use accelerometers instead of GPS to measure G - they must be dirt cheap these days.

[Mike Broadbent]

Suggestions for VBox Lite:
- Design a couple of lugs into the case to make it easier to use cable ties to fix it to the roll cage.
- Use accelerometers instead of GPS to measure G - they must be dirt cheap these days.
Lugs would have been handy, agreed, but would've made it more expensive. Not sure why you think that accelerometers are a better solution for measuring G force though..? GPS is just as accurate and doesn't drift.

[spyderman]

Lugs would have been handy, agreed, but would've made it more expensive. Not sure why you think that accelerometers are a better solution for measuring G force though..? GPS is just as accurate and doesn't drift.
Purely from the rare instances where bridges or trees interrupt the GPS signal sufficiently to cause data inaccuracies or glitches.