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

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

On Oct 21, 12:16 am, § <td... at (no spam) foadspammer.com> wrote:
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.

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.

djcordes wrote:
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

On Oct 21, 11:21 am, § <td... at (no spam) foadspammer.com> wrote:
djcordes wrote:
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.

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).

lektric.... at (no spam) gmail.com wrote:
On Oct 21, 11:21 am, § <td... at (no spam) foadspammer.com> wrote:
djcordes wrote:
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.

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).

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-Came...

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.

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&ssPag....

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

On Oct 22, 12:24 am, § <td... at (no spam) foadspammer.com> wrote:
lektric.... at (no spam) gmail.com wrote:
On Oct 21, 11:21 am, § <td... at (no spam) foadspammer.com> wrote:
djcordes wrote:
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.
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).
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-Came...

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.

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&ssPag....

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
Have you gotten yours yet? Have you tried it out? In a rocket? I

On Oct 22, 11:31 pm, § <td... at (no spam) foadspammer.com> wrote:

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&ssPag...

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.


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.