multi camera setup for rocket launches

multi camera setup for rocket launches - update

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Tater Schuld - 21 Jan 2006 01:33 GMT

just had a camcorder delivered from Ebay for $20. seller thought unit would
not work.

hooked it up and got it to show a picture thru the AV cables to the TV,
running off the charger/ac power supply. picture quality is lousy but i did
not fiddle a lot with the controls.

came in a metal padded case that is probably worth the price alone.

also came with a proprietary video title dohickey that i already got on
ebay, maybe I'll get my money back?

should be getting the wired mini spycam next week. see if it has better
color thatn the 1970's camcorder.

that will make a total of 3 cameras, including a junky (but working)
camcorder i already own. got the inverter last week, the TV for monitor use
is sitting at another members house anlong with a 4th dead camcorder(but
good enough to record).

now to pick up a 4 way AV switch (ebay again) and i should be in luck. might
have some video to work with this spring......

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Tater Schuld - 21 Jan 2006 20:24 GMT

even better yet, the minicam cam today.

such a dinky little cheap thing gave me some doubts, but I was sorta of
surprised.

BTW the auction is at
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5780170013

the camera is small, the case is metal not plastic, and the picture quality
was better than i expected. the camcorder listed below has quite a bit of
color washout, and this mini cam doesnt.

power supply is 6-12volts, so I can set up a link off the 12v system rather
than blowing 9 volts every launch.

i'll have to set up some video from both the old camcorder and the minicam,
and put side by side comparisions on the net.

I noticed some resolution issues, but i cannot recall if they were worse
than the camcorders.

further testing will determine wether i get 3 more.

> just had a camcorder delivered from Ebay for $20. seller thought unit
> would not work.
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
> now to pick up a 4 way AV switch (ebay again) and i should be in luck.
> might have some video to work with this spring......

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bob352 - 24 Jan 2006 14:10 GMT

Very Cool!!! Ya gotta love the price, too. Makes me wanna see if one
could be adapted w/ a transmitter for onboard use. Good luck with your
project, and be sure to post results when you're done.]:>{

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Tater Schuld - 25 Jan 2006 00:19 GMT

> Very Cool!!! Ya gotta love the price, too. Makes me wanna see if one
> could be adapted w/ a transmitter for onboard use. Good luck with your
> project, and be sure to post results when you're done.]:>{

yeah, considering $20 is throwaway money justabout. glad I got the older cam
tho. for just the case.

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Tater Schuld - 26 Jan 2006 03:47 GMT

jst did a bit more teting and have some issues.

seems that the minicam does not like fluoroescent lights, nor noisy computer
systems. did a video capture using a usb belkin unit, and got unacceptable
noise. noise was not present when i attached unit to TV, so I assume that it
could be a number of things (weak battery, shoddy cables, shoddy computer)
also a bit of white has on the picture, same source?

did the same thing to the camcorder, and everything looked fine, with poor
color rendition.

might need to rig up some 12V power to the camera, get some shielded cables
and try again.

still looks promising enough to get another three of them. imagine the video
I could get by sticking one behind a 1/4 inch glass at the blast deflector!

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bob352 - 26 Jan 2006 14:01 GMT

Tater-
Try the cables first. I used to experiment with recording off the TV,
and you'd be surprised how many times the RCA jacks are the culprit.
Often, cheaper ones come with poor-quality insulators, and that can be
a common allowance of mechanical 'noise'. As a plus, it's also the
cheapest place to start. Good luck, keep us posted!
Bob 352

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Model Forum / General / Rockets / January 2006

multi camera setup for rocket launches - update