Mini DVR?

[MK1G4V]

I'm looking for a cheap Mini DVR to record live feed of my flights..
Can I used something like this CCTV model?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4-CH-Channel-H-264-Home-Network-Mini-CCTV-DVR-P2P-Security-Video-Recorder-LP-/251600397237?pt=UK_CCTV&hash=item3a948d63b5

I know it doesn't have any memory on board that's fine. It has what look like bnc connectors can I simply make a dinn to bnc lead for the video input?

Cheers!

[Martink1974]

I use an archos 504 and dvr dock , there cheap 2nd hand on ebay and perfect for the job in my opinion , some people have moved onto small Chinese recorders but archos for the win

lots of other options but ill allways use these , I have bought a few

[bigMouse]

I would be cautious about spending money on any dvr without first seeing some good feedback from fpv forums!

There is an awful lot of mediocre junk dvr's out there for sale!

Archos certainly isn't tops (it cant record mild HD 820lines) but it is cheap and compact, will record video (and sound if necessary) from your camera, and seems to be very reliable! I have one!

Think rmrc or somebody does a dedicated dvr, arguably slightly easier to use, dearer, no monitor screen, don't think that one will record 800 lines either...

Think fpv video is in transition atm. many flyers are demanding hd flight systems, and it will arrive eventually (at a price). There are now some nice low hd cams around, fatshark is still struggling to produce low grade hd system, we need a very portable hd vcr etc etc.

[MK1G4V]

I can pick up an archos 605 with dvr docking station a load of cables and a fancy remote for 50 holes, Seems reasonable.

Sorry to be idiot again but what do you mean by 800/820lines mate?

[bigMouse]

It's just the number of horizontal lines used to scan the image in the camera, more lines the higher resolution. old tv was 405 lines, was replaced by 625, then with the arrival of so-called full HD TV 1920 X 1080.

Vaguely speaking, currently the low end of HD would be 1280 × 720 but it depends from what perspective your looking at it I suppose...

[MK1G4V]

Oh right I see what you mean. well Ill be using a couple of 600tvl cams for live feed Since there not HD I guess It wouldn't matter for me too much. I really just wanted to record Live feed with OSD ect to put on top of the HD mobius footage PIP mode In bottom right corner or something when Editing final videos since I might be switching cams to belly cam, wing cam ect..

Ill grab an archos or something along those lines for now.. I realise like you say the transition in FPV and HD stuff with more people demanding it so Fingers crossed for the future!

Cheers mate!

[Tecnic]

The absolute best you can get is a camcorder with A/V input for very pure video with virtually no compression at all
All of the older Canon models where the model number ends with "i" will do it e.g. 500 doesn't 500i does

Of course that means you'll also need a firewire capture card/slot in your PC

[Martink1974]

The absolute best you can get is a camcorder with A/V input for very pure video with virtually no compression at all

I couldn't agree with this more I have used a camcorder years back and it worked fantastic, though bulky (well one I had was , im sure there are some that arnt 2 bad)

as for the lines thing , most vtx only tx 576 lines , some only do 480 so arcos is fine, other options ive used is a pc/laptop and good capture card to record this is gr8 quality after a little fiddling

as for the other recorders if I ever see a recorder that gives a noticeably better picture than an archos I would buy one , I was looking at these a while back

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00GC3Z6GM/ref=as_sl_pc_tf_lc?tag=hauppauge0c-21&camp=1406&creative=6394&linkCode=as1&creativeASIN=B00GC3Z6GM&adid=13AG4430SSZ8G6E60Z4D&&ref-refURL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hauppauge.co.uk%2Fsite%2Fproducts%2Fdata_hdpvr_rocket.html

was thinking of trying one might work amazing for fpv cant get much simpler than a red button

but don't no if it will record through static

[MK1G4V]

That looks sweet well for a big red button haha But this raises a good point for me.. Is the archos good for recording with static then?  I'm going to guess It is as its a popular choice but confirmation would be Great, I haven't bought one yet. I'm looking at the 605 model if there's any difference?

[bigMouse]

HD PVR Rocket records video at up to 1080p and can record from either HDMI (without HDCP protection) or Component Video

I'm a bit puzzled about use in the so called  "stand alone mode". can't see it recording 1080 hd through usb socket, even usb3 isn't up to that!

Unfortunately the manual excels in saying next to nothing about specs! My guess is that the way we would use it, stand alone mode, composite video in, your looking at low hd to no hd

The second choice of offers the dvr and a compatible usb2 drive Mmmm can't see that recording in HD.

Of course, now we need someone to buy it and try it!

[Martink1974]

I have seen one work m8 mate got one for his xbox one , I think it records in h264 and usb2 stick works fine was not even a class do one 4 if my memory serves me , I will say the quality was bob on, ive asked him if I can borrow it for fpv test one day and he agreed but never got round to it , only remember it if im honest when I was thinking of alternatives on this thread as it was one id thought of previously. will try and get hold of it so I can test it from quality I saw then these are questions

1.will it record through static?
2.does it record in as good quality from analog source ?

[bigMouse]

Yea see if it records from the Sony 960H CCD Effio-V 800TVL (think you have one!) directly and through vtx/vRx.
If it does that then I'll get one!

[Martink1974]

Yea see if it records from the Sony 960H CCD Effio-V 800TVL (think you have one!) directly and through vtx/vRx.
If it does that then I'll get one!

Both my minis have this cam on , it had gps issues but did not think everybody had video issue

Are people still having problems with this ?

My archos records from this cam fine , agreed it seemed to produce slightly diff peak to peak signal but nothing that could not be worked around maybe will have to check the peak to peak where it comes out of my reciever.

What issues do you get bm

[bigMouse]

The common issue was B&W, maybe a bit of picture tearing! That was via LM 500mW vtx, LM vRx. Was going to look into it deeper but never got around to it! If I remember rightly, think vRx output to tv was fine which would have removed any blame from the LM vtx/vRx like bandwidth problems. Archos appeared not to resolve the quantity of information fed to it, or as you say video voltage levels not quite right, sync pulses being distorted maybe.

[Martink1974]

I do recall mark trying one and having archos probs before . I use a lm500 vtx with them also and in house I use a cheap chinese reciever when building stuff and in van I use lawmate recievers and an archos 504 and not had any problems , my feeds go from lm reciever into oracle diversity and then into a power box v2 by immersion rc , this might be why I don't have any problems , when I got it I had to take top off and tune pot inside to make it 1v peak to peak but since then I've not had any issues. In there blurb they say it corrects out of spec signals, but might be why I have no issues with archos