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Help!! smarty cam problems

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Old 05-02-2015, 03:39 PM
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CharleyH
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Default Help!! smarty cam problems

I am at the track and I can't get my Smarty cam GP (connected to a Pisa dash) to work. The last time I went to the track I didn't get video because my memory card was full.... i just added a new larger video card. I tested it when my car was in the garage and everything worked . Now at the track I am just getting line s down the screen. Do I need to reformat the card or something?

Thanks for the help.

Charley
Old 05-02-2015, 03:44 PM
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Reformat is first step, lines on the screen can be alternator noise coming through power to the unit, too.
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Old 05-02-2015, 03:56 PM
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CharleyH
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Thanks peter. How do I reformat? Can I do it with just my computer without internet?
Old 05-02-2015, 04:08 PM
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Originally Posted by CharleyH
Thanks peter. How do I reformat? Can I do it with just my computer without internet?
No need to be on the Internet to reformat the card.
Remove card from camera and stick in computer.
Assuming Windows:
Navigate to My Computer
Click on the drive that has the card in it and instruct it to format.
DON'T reformat your hard drive by mistake
Remove card and reinsert into camera.
Old 05-02-2015, 05:34 PM
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Right click on the card, select Format.
Old 05-02-2015, 05:34 PM
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CharleyH
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Thanks. I reformatted the disk but I am having the same problem. Very strange.
Old 05-02-2015, 10:53 PM
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Weird. Do you have another card to try? Also, how does the screen on the GP look? Does it look normal or have the lines?
Old 05-03-2015, 01:39 PM
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CharleyH
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Here is a picture of what the lines look like.



For some reason the camera just freezes and I get these lines. The only things I changed since the camera was working was that I moved the microphone further back toward the exhaust. And I added a larger memory card.

I disconnected the microphone, but it didn't help.

I purchased the memory card from Best Buy, and it is a64GB SanDisk Pixtor that has a 80mb/ second speed.

I am going to try the old disk again to see if that helps.

Any ideas are appriciated .... This is very disappointing, I beat my personal best lap time at this track by 6 seconds and I don't have any video of it...
Old 05-03-2015, 05:04 PM
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Check the pins on any cables that you disconnected to make sure none are bent or broken. I haven't seen this before. You might want to call AiM direct to see if they have seen it before. (800) 718-9090
Old 05-03-2015, 08:00 PM
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I have seen it before. Arrange to send it to AiM Sports in Lake Elsinore. They'll fix it or replace it. These cameras are very complex and powerful. Let them take a look. There has been an EMI issue.
Old 05-04-2015, 02:34 PM
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I talked to Aim this morning and they believe that it is a bad card (Affected by heat or vibration)... I hope they are right. I will be very disappointed if I get back to the track and can't get video for the third strait event.... Although the first event where I had issues was entirely my fault ... Full memory card

Charley
Old 05-04-2015, 05:58 PM
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Hmmm. Bad card would make the preview screen have lines? That's a new one...

Bad cards make additional .FOF files with an error log.
Old 05-04-2015, 06:12 PM
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Originally Posted by CharleyH
I talked to Aim this morning and they believe that it is a bad card (Affected by heat or vibration)... I hope they are right. I will be very disappointed if I get back to the track and can't get video for the third strait event.... Although the first event where I had issues was entirely my fault ... Full memory card

Charley
Originally Posted by ProCoach
Hmmm. Bad card would make the preview screen have lines? That's a new one...

Bad cards make additional .FOF files with an error log.
I agree with Peter, it sounds odd that the memory card would mess up the preview screen. Can you check a different card before your next event?
Old 05-04-2015, 08:42 PM
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CharleyH
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Thanks for the responses.... I thought that sounded strange also. I called Aim back and talked to someone else that sounded more knowledgeable. He had me send him the log file and he is going to investigate. He also asked me to Check the cable going to the bullet cam to make sure it isn't near any power or high voltage. He also said to make sure the bullet cable isn't coiled, because apparently that can cause issues.

Thanks for the help,
Charley

Last edited by CharleyH; 05-05-2015 at 05:40 PM.
Old 05-05-2015, 05:45 PM
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After analyzing the Log file AiM believes the issue is with the main unit (I guess it is called the key pad, i.e. The item pictured in my earlier post). I mailed it to them today so they can troubleshoot and repair or replace.

Thanks for all of the help,
Charley


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