924Board.org

[924RACR]

This is only really semi-OT, as it's for my racecar! I'm looking into the next step with my video setup - are there any boardmembers out there with A/V experience, or experience with security TV systems, etc, that can help provide guidance?

I already have the one camera setup; works OK, but it's biggest/only limitation is the resolution of the video recording - only 320x240. OK for internet display, but that's about it.

I want to add a second camera to capture the view out the rear. I am happy with the video signal incoming, and plan to get a second camera duplicating what I have - the main question is recording device.

I have the choice of simply replicating my current setup by adding a second DVR; I have the Audiovox PVR1000:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002DG0MM/sr=8-1/qid=1141179264/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-9782024-0119154?%5Fencoding=UTF8

Amazon likewise sells a Mustek version, same thing basically, for $105 currently - not a bad deal.

OTOH, if I could get a higher-res DVR, that'd be better - use the current one for rear video, and the better/newer one for the front. A solid-state DVR is preferred, since recording to a flash card is more durable against the harsh environment in a racecar.

Another thing that'd be brought up by having a higher-res recorder is the potential to use a splitter for PIP; otherwise I'll be taking the two videos and splicing them together after the fact.

Supercircuits.com does have some impressively cheap 4-channel (quad) DVRs:
http://www.supercircuits.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=299

I'm not sure if that'd even really be what would work well for me, but they do note they're popular with law enforcement... not really sure if they record 4 completely separate video signals, or just multiplex them internally.

Anyone out there able to comment on any of this?
_________________
Vaughan Scott
Webmeister
'79 924 #77 SCCA H Prod racecar
'82 931 Plat. Silver
#25 Hidari Firefly P2 sports prototype

[Khal]

No help on the actual products. But when I was out at Queensland Raceway one time, there were a group of Cobra replicas running.

One of them had two cameras onboard. One in the centre of the roll bar and one hanging off the door. Thing is, the cameras were tiny! They weren't much bigger than your thumb!

But the picture quality was amazing! As soon as he got back in the pits, he could plug the recording unit into a portable DVD player and play it back...

It was a really nifty setup. I'd love to know what they were. Has anyone seen something similar before?
_________________
'80 924 Turbo

[924RACR]

I have lipstick/bullet cameras, but yes, they sell 'em even smaller. Just look for any security/surveillance products; Supercircuits.com has such cameras, just look for any CCD camera.
_________________
Vaughan Scott
Webmeister
'79 924 #77 SCCA H Prod racecar
'82 931 Plat. Silver
#25 Hidari Firefly P2 sports prototype

[Smoothie]

"quad processing" refers to taking the images of up to 4 different cameras and displaying them all at the same time on one screen, one image in each corner - mainly useful for security. I'd guess you'd want a full screen image with switching between cameras to show one full screen image at a time out the back or out the front. Definitely can be done with a manual pushbutton switcher and pretty sure there are switchers that'll also switch from one camera to the next and back automatically. Best for in car recording though, I'd think would be to record everything from all cameras, then be able to re-record later from that to tape or whatever, with the capability of manually switching between full screen views while re-recording.
The other consideration is what type of media is best for the harsh environment - solid state, hard drive or tape. Among those, solid state should be the best performer with all the shock and vibration, but then which is better between HD and tape isn't as obvious. -But with tape, shocks will only cause brief disruptions of the image, while with HD you could have a head crash and destroy everything including the drive itself.
_________________
"..it's made in Germany. You know the Germans always make good stuff."


'82 924T, US version, dark green metallic, 5 speed Audi 016G gearbox

[924RACR]

Yeah, I'm not too fond of the idea of only capturing the frontal view 1/4 size; I'd much rather do it PIP or split-screen (top/bottom), and it'd be easier if that took place realtime (rather than having to synch the video after the fact). OTOH, with full recording of both images, I could switch to a complete view at my leisure as well, or PIP if appropriate - just a matter of having good editing SW.

I really need to get my wife processing my video; she's the Communications Major, she's far more capable of editing well than I am.

It would seem that there are some HD-based recorders out there that are hardened against a rought environment; it's also possible to pad the thing in a foam box, when it has a remote control, to protect it against damage from vibration/impact. Heat could also become a concern, unfortunately, in some locations in the car (but could likewise be protected against with proper planning).
_________________
Vaughan Scott
Webmeister
'79 924 #77 SCCA H Prod racecar
'82 931 Plat. Silver
#25 Hidari Firefly P2 sports prototype

[Smoothie]

I would have guessed that "multiplexing" in reference to video recording would mean that the full output from all cameras is recorded at the same time, but all I've been able to find on it says that multiplexing means combining video, audio and subtitles together, and conversely, "de-multiplexing" or "de-mux" means seperating video, audio and subtitles back out to seperate files. In any case, I think that any of the multi-channel DVRs would record all inputs, allowing you to play back later viewing any one channel at a time with switching capability between channels or to view all at the same time with the "quad processing" feature. -But they don't go into enough detail on their operation in those product listings to say for sure.
_________________
"..it's made in Germany. You know the Germans always make good stuff."


'82 924T, US version, dark green metallic, 5 speed Audi 016G gearbox

[924RACR]

Here's what I think I'm going to use for a new DVR:
http://www.neurosaudio.com/store/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=DigitalInnovationsCatalog&product%5Fid=4030200&keyword=psp&searchcat=products%20&cookie%5Ftest=1

Use this to record front view at higher res than before, and use the old DVR for the rearview camera...
_________________
Vaughan Scott
Webmeister
'79 924 #77 SCCA H Prod racecar
'82 931 Plat. Silver
#25 Hidari Firefly P2 sports prototype