Bullet cam interference in TVRs
Discussion
Hi everyone
Myself and another TVR owning mate recently purchased Mini DVR HD bullet cam kits from Dogcam.
We're off on a euro jaunt including some tracktime at Spa and the Nurburgring next week so we both decided to try our kits out last weekend and sadly both of us had the same problems
Firstly the image is flickering badly and all the audio is recording is a loud buzz which gets louder as the rev's rise. The problems do not appear in our other cars.
Dogcam have been extremely helpful and both units are on their way back to them for a firmware upgrade which they say will fix the problems. But we're not so sure and because we're setting off next Wednesday we're keen to have some other ideas in our back pockets to try early next week in case the firmware fix doesn't work - by the time we get the units back we'll not have long before we head off...
Searching google reveals info on suppression / capacitors / etc.
I've got an S2 and the other car is a Chim so different components, etc. Is the issue caused by the way the TVRs are built or do you think we have both been unlucky with dodgy units?
Has anyone else had similar problems or have ideas on how to fix them?
Cheers in advance
L'rs (& Mr Plow)
Myself and another TVR owning mate recently purchased Mini DVR HD bullet cam kits from Dogcam.
We're off on a euro jaunt including some tracktime at Spa and the Nurburgring next week so we both decided to try our kits out last weekend and sadly both of us had the same problems
Firstly the image is flickering badly and all the audio is recording is a loud buzz which gets louder as the rev's rise. The problems do not appear in our other cars. Dogcam have been extremely helpful and both units are on their way back to them for a firmware upgrade which they say will fix the problems. But we're not so sure and because we're setting off next Wednesday we're keen to have some other ideas in our back pockets to try early next week in case the firmware fix doesn't work - by the time we get the units back we'll not have long before we head off...
Searching google reveals info on suppression / capacitors / etc.
I've got an S2 and the other car is a Chim so different components, etc. Is the issue caused by the way the TVRs are built or do you think we have both been unlucky with dodgy units?
Has anyone else had similar problems or have ideas on how to fix them?
Cheers in advance
L'rs (& Mr Plow)
Hi Guys,
Your friend's camera turned up today but we couldn't really find anything wrong with it, We've replaced his camera and recorder and updated it with the latest firmware as a matter of course and that should be back with him tomorrow. It is possible that RF from the engine is causing interference but we've not had that from any other car we've put them in, including a lot of rally spec vehicles.
Hopefully your friend will be able to test this tomorrow and if the problem persists then there is still time to look at an alternative solution before your trip.
Cheers,
Mark
Your friend's camera turned up today but we couldn't really find anything wrong with it, We've replaced his camera and recorder and updated it with the latest firmware as a matter of course and that should be back with him tomorrow. It is possible that RF from the engine is causing interference but we've not had that from any other car we've put them in, including a lot of rally spec vehicles.
Hopefully your friend will be able to test this tomorrow and if the problem persists then there is still time to look at an alternative solution before your trip.
Cheers,
Mark
B7ECS plugs tend to be specced for RV8 tivs; they are non-resistive and I have certainly had to change to resistive alternatives to avoid EMI issues as my leads/shrouds were not sufficiently suppressive (affecting neighbours' TV reception in my case - it is not uncommon for some aftermarket ECUs to suffer resets as a consequence too).
Maybe try BR7ES or the resistive iridium equivalent if the cars have the B7ECS plugs fitted (there is no direct resistive equivalent but I run BR8ECS with no issues although they are theoretically going to be more prone to cold fouling)
Maybe try BR7ES or the resistive iridium equivalent if the cars have the B7ECS plugs fitted (there is no direct resistive equivalent but I run BR8ECS with no issues although they are theoretically going to be more prone to cold fouling)
Sorry can't upload it at the moment but it's not shake. A copy has been sent to the guys at Dogcam and they said it looked like either a fault in the recording device (which they've since confirmed it isn't) or something updated firmware should resolve. They've offered excellent support, can't fault them at all, and while we've no reason not to trust them we're keen to get some other options ready in case we still have problems after the firmware upgrade 
At £300 I'd hardly say the kit I've got is at the "budget" end of the market I've never used your set up before so its a bit difficult to suggest any solutions
However I have used GoPro 2 Hero's, Contour HD's and VIO POV HD's on TVR's and none of the them have had problems like you're having.
The biggest problem I seem to have is camera shake/wobble which can only be sorted by using heavy duty clamps (gopro 2 is OK with its supplied clamp but its a bit restrictive in set up).
Sound wise the only way to get good audio is to use an external mic, the GoPRo 2 internal mic is by far the worst and to be honest they shouldn't have even bothered with it.
I would suggest going for a different system as I really can't see how a firmware update will make any difference, it sounds more like a hardware problem (possibly the cable between the camera and recorder not having enough shielding).
I haven't tried using these cameras on a RV8 TVR yet but will give it a go on the Chimaera tomorrow and see what happens.
Here's a quick video of a VIO POV HD on a Cerbera http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ui6CSHFCNI
However I have used GoPro 2 Hero's, Contour HD's and VIO POV HD's on TVR's and none of the them have had problems like you're having.
The biggest problem I seem to have is camera shake/wobble which can only be sorted by using heavy duty clamps (gopro 2 is OK with its supplied clamp but its a bit restrictive in set up).
Sound wise the only way to get good audio is to use an external mic, the GoPRo 2 internal mic is by far the worst and to be honest they shouldn't have even bothered with it.
I would suggest going for a different system as I really can't see how a firmware update will make any difference, it sounds more like a hardware problem (possibly the cable between the camera and recorder not having enough shielding).
I haven't tried using these cameras on a RV8 TVR yet but will give it a go on the Chimaera tomorrow and see what happens.
Here's a quick video of a VIO POV HD on a Cerbera http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ui6CSHFCNI
Not quite a thread hijack... I have just installed a rally intercom in the chim and get a quiet buzzing in the headsets that rises and falls with revs. I am going to fit a supressor on the 12V lead Link to see if it goes away.
But as yours also does it on battery I guess your fix may not be quite so simple.
But as yours also does it on battery I guess your fix may not be quite so simple.
I have the Mini HD DVR motorsport set up as the OP has bought.I have had a few initial problems that dog cam sorted out.here is a video i recorded on sunday,see what you think to quality etc....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNliKbsiu38
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNliKbsiu38
Enjoyed that. 
pwd95 said:
Nice one Perry!Them pesky caterfields come out of nowhere in the bends!
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