SmartyCam malfunctions - Freezing and GPS failure

SmartyCam malfunctions - Freezing and GPS failure

Author
Discussion

JG SR3

Original Poster:

7 posts

61 months

Saturday 6th July 2019
quotequote all
Hi All

We are experiencing regularly the following two issues:

1 - Weather related SmartyCam malfunctions, we're located in Australia/Victoria
2 - Car start/stop/start SmartyCam malfunctions (freeze of GPS failure)

Setup/hardware
- Radical SR3 RS (2012)
- MXL1 Dashboard
- AiM SmartyCam GP HD Rev 2.2 with Bullet Camera (84 degrees)
- AiM GPS 08 Car


Number 1: failure circumstances
- Weather > 32oC
- Weather < 2oC

Randomly in either of these weather conditions the SmartyCam may lock up and freeze or the GPS will stop working and the SmartyCam will record video with no GPS data.
The SmartyCam requires a HARD restart to get it going again.
Typically with a restart the data on the card is corrupted.
If the weather is between these ranges it typically functions OK, except as noted below.


Number 2: failure circumstances
- Turn power on
- SmartyCam starts
- All OK
- Start engine
- All OK
- Stop engine, car power remains on
- All OK
- Start engine
- SmartyCam stops recording GPS data or freezes

I would suggest 5 ouf of 10 times this sequence results in failure.

Resulting in:
- SmartyCam not showing lap times on video or
- No GPS data

Potential thoughts/resolutions:
- Radical starts on 24v then returns to 12v, maybe spiking the SmartyCam?
- Power SmartyCam via different circuit?
- Put power filter/UPS before SmartyCam?


Cheers
Jon

MK3 Dan

253 posts

144 months

Saturday 6th July 2019
quotequote all
Hi Jon,

The 24V starting will not be your problem, 24V is supplied to the starter motor only when starting the car. The rest of the car stays at 12V.

I could potentially see over heating being an issue but the lower temp one is interesting, lets face most of the car in the UK only run in conditions below 20°!

Have you tried checking/carrying out any updates that are available?

Have you also tried another memory card?

splitpin

2,740 posts

197 months

Saturday 6th July 2019
quotequote all
Have you contacted AIM in NSW?

JG SR3

Original Poster:

7 posts

61 months

Sunday 7th July 2019
quotequote all
Thanks for the replies. I'll double check the software version on the devices (it is happening on two identical cars) to make we're running the latest version. We haven't contacted AiM NSW yet, that will be my next step. Typically I find we get the best intel from people who use these systems...

JayK12

2,321 posts

201 months

Friday 2nd August 2019
quotequote all
JG SR3 said:
Thanks for the replies. I'll double check the software version on the devices (it is happening on two identical cars) to make we're running the latest version. We haven't contacted AiM NSW yet, that will be my next step. Typically I find we get the best intel from people who use these systems...
Did you get this resolved? I just removed my AIM SmartyCam GPS if you need it?

JG SR3

Original Poster:

7 posts

61 months

Friday 28th February 2020
quotequote all
Hi all

We updated all software for the SmartyCam and MXL dash, this has made a difference and took a couple of hours to complete. Still, occasionally we have an issue if we have a stall (say after a spin) and start the car without doing a complete power-cylce we may loose GPS...

Cheers
Jon