First video rocket

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§ - 21 Oct 2009 06:16 GMT

Flew this last weekend at the oct monthly Tripoli North Branch MN
launch. However the shock cord got stuck on the chute harness causing a
small(but repairable) zipper. All in all I'm happy with the results.
Vidcam was a hacked CVS disposable unit.

http://www.youtube.com/user/tdstr666#p/a/u/0/ikACcjo3pd0

Ted Novak
TRA#5512

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lektric.dan@gmail.com - 21 Oct 2009 14:25 GMT

> Flew this last weekend at the oct monthly Tripoli North Branch MN
> launch. However the shock cord got stuck on the chute harness causing a
> small(but repairable) zipper. All in all I'm happy with the results.
> Vidcam was a hacked CVS disposable unit.
>
> http://www.youtube.com/user/tdstr666#p/a/u/0/ikACcjo3pd0

Looks good, but your URL is goobered up somewhat, it leads to a
Youtube signin. Tell me about the camcorder. Is it a recent purchase
from CVS? What model, and how did you hack it? I've been wanting to
do this for a long time, but never found a camcorder I could hack. I
bought one from CVS but it seems it is "unhackable" (at least so
far). I also found one at Radio Shack that was cheap enough to crash
without causing too much tears.

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§ - 21 Oct 2009 17:18 GMT

>> Flew this last weekend at the oct monthly Tripoli North Branch MN
>> launch. However the shock cord got stuck on the chute harness causing a
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> far). I also found one at Radio Shack that was cheap enough to crash
> without causing too much tears.

Here is the corrected link;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikACcjo3pd0

You might want to check out the forums on Rocketry Planet. I know
Darrel was successful in hacking a modern day CVS vidcam. I got my
vidcams four years ago when they were quite easy to hack.

Ted Novak
TRA#5512

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djcordes - 21 Oct 2009 14:38 GMT

Hi Ted,

Would it be possible to see some pics of the unit and a write up on how
you "hacked" this unit? Amazing results.

Dan

> Flew this last weekend at the oct monthly Tripoli North Branch MN launch.
> However the shock cord got stuck on the chute harness causing a small(but
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> Ted Novak
> TRA#5512

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§ - 21 Oct 2009 17:21 GMT

> Hi Ted,
>
> Would it be possible to see some pics of the unit and a write up on how
> you "hacked" this unit? Amazing results.

It's not that difficult at all to hack them. If you google 'CVS video
hack' you'll find plenty of detailed links on the process.

http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2005/08/how_to_cvs_video_camera_h.html

I'll post some pics this week on ABMR.

Ted Novak
TRA#5512

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lektric.dan@gmail.com - 21 Oct 2009 21:31 GMT

> > Hi Ted,
>
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> Ted Novak
> TRA#5512

The makezine blog you point to was posted in 2005 and will not work
with contemporary cameras. I've got one I have tried every way
possible to hack. I've built USB cables and downloaded and patche all
of the software. The current cameras are not usable (hackable).

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§ - 22 Oct 2009 06:24 GMT

>>> Hi Ted,
>>> Would it be possible to see some pics of the unit and a write up on how
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> possible to hack. I've built USB cables and downloaded and patche all
> of the software. The current cameras are not usable (hackable).

In a previous post I mentioned checking the RP forums IIRC Darrel was
able to crack the newer version of the recorder.

The CVS camera isn't the only option. This has promise at half the cost;

http://cgi.ebay.com/8GB-Spy-Cam-Key-Chain-Video-Recorder-640x480-Camera-USB_W0QQ
itemZ200396093946QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item2ea889b9fa

Ted Novak
TRA#5512

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lektric.dan@gmail.com - 23 Oct 2009 05:26 GMT

> lektric....@gmail.com wrote:
> >>> Hi Ted,
[quoted text clipped - 21 lines]
> Ted Novak
> TRA#5512

I gave up trying to hack the CVS camcorder and went back to my
original idea of using a transmitter/receiver pair, and a laptop to
record with. Then by chance I found a digital camcorder at Radio
Shach for less that $50. I don't remember the brand or part number.
OK, that was me being lazy; I remembered I had put the manual in a
drawer in the desk. It's a Digital Concepts (Sakar) model. Can't
find model number. It uses up to 4F SD cards (I used microSD) for up
to 6 hours recording (the batteries will die before that). It records
in .asf file mode. I haven't launched it yet, but has done OK on
recording stuff on the ground (the digital-only zoom *sucks*). You
might still be able to find these on closeout at Radio Shack.

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§ - 23 Oct 2009 06:31 GMT

> I gave up trying to hack the CVS camcorder and went back to my
> original idea of using a transmitter/receiver pair, and a laptop to
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> recording stuff on the ground (the digital-only zoom *sucks*). You
> might still be able to find these on closeout at Radio Shack.

I haven't checked out the RS stuff but I just score one of these for 16
bones;

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270474009469&ssPageName=ADME:
B:EOIBSA:US:1123

It needs a micro sd card but it records at 720*480. Be fun to play with
but I can already tell it needs a external power source for rocketry video.

Ted Novak
TRA#5512

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lektric.dan@gmail.com - 23 Oct 2009 14:31 GMT

> I haven't checked out the RS stuff but I just score one of these for 16
> bones;
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> Ted Novak
> TRA#5512

Sweet! I don't have a paypal account (required), but a friend does.
Hard to go wrong at that price. I'll have to see about getting one
this weekend. Thanks for the tip!

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lektric.dan@gmail.com - 06 Nov 2009 02:19 GMT

> I haven't checked out the RS stuff but I just score one of these for 16
> bones;
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> Ted Novak
> TRA#5512

Have you gotten yours yet? Have you tried it out? In a rocket? I
just got one and started playing with it. I've got several micro SD
cards so I grabbed one and stuck it in. The instructions are
confusing to say the least. There are 4 buttons on the unit, 2 of
which are dummies, and this is not explained. Looks like it records
OK. I think I'll make several "spacer" sections to hold the camera in
the nose for various rockets. I'd hate to lose this little toy, but
at the price, I won't cry too much.

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§ - 10 Nov 2009 20:49 GMT

>> I haven't checked out the RS stuff but I just score one of these for 16
>> bones;
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
> the nose for various rockets. I'd hate to lose this little toy, but
> at the price, I won't cry too much.

Actually I just finished testing it out not more than 5 minutes ago on a
toy rc car. Yes, the instructions are deplorable but rather humorous.
However the video quality is excellent!

I mainly got this vidcam just to test it out but I already know that
it'll be perfect for modrocs. I'll still be using the cvs vidcam for my
mid-powered rockets and hope to get a hidef vidcam for hpr use.

Ted Novak
TRA#5512

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sailzboatz - 24 Oct 2009 22:48 GMT

>> lektric....@gmail.com wrote:
>>>>> Hi Ted,
[quoted text clipped - 29 lines]
> recording stuff on the ground (the digital-only zoom *sucks*). You
> might still be able to find these on closeout at Radio Shack.

I got one of those 4gb spy pen cameras from amazon.com for $30. it fits
in a bt-20 tube and I modified a shuttle express nosecone for it, it
fits like it was made to go in there. on ascent the video is upside down
but that's easy to fix. I've shot three different launches with good
results every time. Very convenient, plugs right into your USB port.
Only thing that sux is the software for changing the time stamp is all
in question marks or Chinese.

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Model Forum / General / Rockets / November 2009

First video rocket