John,
I was considering
buying a new video camera, which I could use for
results... and was wondering what you were using.
Thanks
Ken Hart
____________________________________________________________________
Hi Ken,
The system that I
have pieced together is by far the most cost effective way to go for local to
regional level events.
It's based around
a simple camcorder but instead of using videotape I pump the video feed
directly into a TIVO digital recorder.
Go to
www.ecost.com and purchase the cheapest Quasar ($180?) camcorder (it's actually
a Panasonic).
http://www.ecost.com/ecost/ecce/shop/detail.asp?dpno=957175
The special thing
about this camcorder is that it has 1/10,000 second
shutter speed. That is
the key to crisp pictures and most camcorders don't do this.
And don't get
caught up in the digital camcorder stuff, just pump the video into a TIVO.
http://www.ecost.com/ecost/ecce/shop/detail.asp?dpno=959774
This TIVO will
act as a "digital VCR" and so you can play back your recorder video
frame by frame with no tape distortion.
The item above is
a factory reconditioned unit for $219. Don't be put off by the reconditioned thing,
it simply means
someone bought a TIVO, couldn't figure out how to use it, then returned it.
When that happens
they can't resell it as new. This is a bonus for you.
Next, go to
www.Ritzcamera.com and find a "polarizing filter lens" for the
camcorder.
I think it's 49mm but don't hold me to that. It will cost like 20
bucks.
Put this on the
front of your camera and it will cut the sun glare from the numbers.
Add a cheap
13" TV and you're set.
I actually utilize
two full kits with one focused on the near side of the road and one on the far
side but one kit will do in most instances.
All of this sells
for under $500. Then once you see how awesome this works send me all the money
you saved ;-)
Later,
John
_______________________________________________________________________
----- Original
Message -----
From: "Hart,
Ken" <KHart@clarian.com>
To: "'John
Frey'" <johndfrey@mediaone.net>
Sent: Friday,
June 08, 2001 9:49 AM
Subject: RE:
Photo Timing,
This certainly
seems simple and cheap enough...
I already own a
1/10,000 hi-8 camera...
I have a question
on the TIVO.
If I buy one, do
I need to "subscribe" to the $10/month service?
If I do not, will
it just run, kind of like a normal VCR?
Ken
-----Original Message-----
From: John Frey
[mailto:johndfrey@mediaone.net]
Sent: Wednesday,
June 06, 2001 4:34 PM
To: Hart, Ken
Subject: Re:
Photo Timing,
That camera
should work just fine.
Just hook the
video feed directly into the TIVO with either A/V cords or S-video.
You don't need to
subscribe to the TIVO service, you can use it like a
"digital vcr".
It is a pain to
do the set-up the first time.
You do need to go
through the full process, which may take 1-3 hours. Let me know if you have any
problems.
John
______________________________________________________________________
----- Original
Message -----
From: "Hart,
Ken" KHart@clarian.com
Sent: June 11,
2001 9:14 PM
Subject: RE:
Photo Timing,
John,
Thanks for the feedback.
My TIVO arrived yesterday... ecost was FAST!
I am going to
tinker with it this weekend,
then try it as the
2nd camera next week for the world police and fire games
I did the setup.
It was long, just as you said....
Unfortunately, I
cannot get it to read from ther camcorder.
I tried the
following:
1) set up with
local cable.
then attached
camera with RCA cables.
when I go to live tv, channel 3, the TIVO is expecting my local cable channel
3, so it complains.
I tried S-cable,
it was same as above.
I am currently
trying to set up as local antenna, which has no channel 3.
What is the
trick, to get it to access the camera?
Since the default
settings are: antenna, cable, satellite,
etc… and no reference is made to video input?
Ken
___________________________________________________________________
Ken,
No problem, I
told you it was finicky though!
Hit the tivo button then go into the settings page (I think that's
what it is called).
From there choose
the "connection to recorder" page. I bet right now it is expecting an
rf cable; change the setting
to either a/v or s-video.
Also, tell it you
are connecting to a cable box. This will allow the input to come in on channel
3 or 4.
When it asks for
which model of cable box, put in anything you want, since you will not be using
the TIVO remote to control the cable box.
Let me know if
you have any problems.
John
______________________________________________________________________
John,
I used the TIVO this weekend at Tour of
Mike Hewitt was there with his new trendy photo timing setup, a
digital camcorder, connectected with firewire to a mac laptop.
I don't know if you remember Mike, a referee from Louisville/New
Albany.
> I remember
Mike. I hope he isn't too bummed to see you can actually do a more effect job
for well under a $1000. Oh well.
The TV was definitely the way to go, It
was brighter, visible in daylight by multiple people.
Thay way you
could have a group of people decide who was "THAT
Guy".
> Yeah, use a TV with one of those pop-up tents and you should
be able to see fine.
I got a 10x10 tent that
fits in my truck for $130 shipped from www.rei.com .
Mike had the advantage that the trackball let you move around the
video more quickly,
but was harder
to see, and had less detail. By the end of the day, we were all only using the
TIVO.
Ø
You will get used to using the TIVO remote. It's
finicky but not too bad.
Ø
The advantage I have is that my camcorder runs a
clock on the screen, which gets recorded along with the video.
Ø
That way you know exactly where you are in the
recording.
As this was the first race I scored with the TIVO, I
developed a method over time, and hope it is similar to yours...
With 1 lap to go (about 2 mins
from finish), I start recording.
I let field finish, then
hit the backup button to get the front of the field,
I then Stop (Freezeframe) the TIVO, and hit the frame advance button to
slowly move through the riders.
That's pretty much what I do. If you forget to record you can
still back up and review the data for 30 minutes.
After that it gets "scrolled" out of the short-term
memory.
You can also manually set the record time to auto start at a
pre-set time and to record for more than 30 minutes.
If you simply hit record it will only record for 30 minutes then
it shuts off.
The difficulties I had included.
1) everytime
I start things on the TIVO, it complains that the shedule
database is "out of date" and will run in "reduced mode"
2) not quite sure how
to "stop" recording. I manage to stop it, but am unsure as to
how I did it.
3) while moving
through frozen frames, the forward arrow seemed to move 1 frame at a time,
but the
"Back" arrow seem to move perhaps 1 second (maybe 30 frames) in a
single click.
>Those are things you need to get used to. You can set the on
screen details to disappear more quickly. Also, to stop recording you hit
record twice.
Later,
John