coss1600

Hey guys

need a little help. I got this new to me smartycam. No matter what memory card I throw at it. It just tells me no card detected or it needs to be formatted? Any idea as to what is happening? Thanks

Matt Romanowski

Did you try formatting the card in the camera?

ProCoach

Yes.

The camera requests you format the card if it is over 32 GB in size.

You can either use the best 32 GB cards available (crucial for reliable operation) or follow the directions on the screen if the camera to allow it to format the 64 GB or larger card you’re trying to use to work.

Also, Micro SD cards in adapters are NOT recommended. Please use full size cards and not more than 128 GB cards for high capacity, reliable operation.

A 32 GB card will last about 7 hours on the highest quality recording.

Matt Romanowski

Reports on 128 mb cards are that they can be problematic. I personally use and recommend 32 and 64 mb cards for price, reliability, and capacity.

ProCoach

I recommend and use only 32 GB cards from Sandisk and other top brands.

No need to format EVER, and less chance of a bad sector corrupting the whole card.

Don’t forget that cards “age” in this harsh environment. I replace them after six or eight weekends.

Cheap insurance.

coss1600

I have been testing with a full 8gb card. It asked me to format and then won’t read it? Before I go out and buy a full 32gb card. You guys sure there are no other issues? All my big cards are on micro adaptrr

ProCoach

What do you mean; "won't read it?" Is it locked? Does your reader have an issue with your computer? Does your reader intermittently read the card?

If all hardware is well, it sounds like your 8 GB card is not formatted as delivered new. In a Windows computer, you can right click on the SD card and select Format, following the default prompts for file allocation system and max file size. That is what I would do next.

All SD cards 32 GB or below come natively formatted in FAT32. Larger cards (SDHC and SDXC, high-capacity and extended-capacity) don't. Most video recording devices are SDHC coompatibility.

https://kb.sandisk.com/app/answers/d...#compatibility

When most SDXC cards (64 GB or greater) are introduced to a SmartyCam, it's required to format the card before use. A lot of people stick the card in and then don't follow the button prompts, then are upset because they have no video. Only needs to be done once.

Your issues with the 8GB card could also me Mac OS related, if you're using that. In video logging systems where you pull the information off the card or delete it, you are NOT clearing the card.

Until the Trash in Mac OS is emptied WHILE THE CARD IS STILL MOUNTED, the space on the card is reserved for file reclamation. In Finder, it will show nothing on the card, but the card won't accept any more information. Empty the Trash while mounted, eject the card and you're good to go!

I've sold a thousand SmartyCam HD's in the last nine years and assisted half a dozen folks with theirs yesterday at VIR. This is not hard. It does work correctly and reliably up to 128 GB cards.

But, to be mission critical in club and pro racing, I always use the highest quality, retail packaged, name brand cards, fresh every three to six months and I never use larger than 32 GB cards.

coss1600

I have been formatting my cards on both my MAC and Windows, in both exFat, Fat32 format. All the cards get the message initially that it needs to be formatted, I then get a message saying no card in the slot after. Is fat32 what I need to use? I don't have any regular cards that are 32GB, all my bigger cards are microSD.

ProCoach

Send the camera in. Some issue with the card holder contacts or there is something corrupted on the board.

In a thousand cameras, I haven’t seen this.

ProCoach

FAT32 is the format expected.

coss1600

I just ordered a new 32GB card, let me give it one last shot and see if it works

coss1600

Every newly formatted card I put in the camera says read only. It then ask me to format it. I format it and it can’t read it

ProCoach

Are you using an adapter for all of them?

Matt Romanowski

A silly question - sometimes the read/write switch is really loose and can get bumped back inserting the card. It isn't write protected when you insert it, correct?

Also, you say new to you. It is used? Did it work for the previous owner?

coss1600

No I have tried both