Bullet DVR video recorder: for Speedy, not Rex Racer

Got Trixie at your side and Racer-X breathing down your neck? Hot, you'll need this then, the $749 Bullet DVR. Just bolt the solid state MPEG-4 recorder to your Mach 5 to capture lap times, jetting, gearing, suspension, and fuel consumption data for later playback in front of Mifune Motors' board of directors. Go speed racer, go!

[Via The Red Ferret Journal]

[rotero @ Nov 9th 2007 9:03AM]

Nice.

[Richard @ Nov 9th 2007 9:27AM]

What... no sterotyping homophobic comments this morning, Tom?

Pig.

[Thomas Ricker @ Nov 9th 2007 9:53AM]

@dick (or is Pig your signature?),

Please reference said comments in the 600,000 words I've posted here. Really, just one. I won't even make you support your pluralization.

Thomas

[Richard @ Nov 9th 2007 10:00AM]

Wow, are you really that dense, or have you been hiding under a rock since yesterday?

http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/08/asus-2g-surf-eee-pc-a-taste-of-spring-in-january/

[Thomas Ricker @ Nov 9th 2007 10:14AM]

@dick,

You really are thin-skinned if you think that's homophobic. Not to mention daft for confusing a stereotype with homophobia. I'm done with you.

Thomas

[Mike @ Nov 9th 2007 10:20AM]

I think he has a point. Gotta problem with pastel colours or something? And what exactly was that 'hitch up your skirts for a diddle' comment supposed to mean.

Looks like someone needs a holiday.

[Richard @ Nov 9th 2007 10:23AM]

That's the best you can do, Tommy?
Give it up, you pig.

Try and deny it all you'd like.
But I'll tell you what, my "friend"... I'll see you at the NYC meetup, and feel free to call me "dick" in person.

[Richard @ Nov 9th 2007 10:25AM]

@Mike

Not to mention the implication that all gay men are flamboyant "flamers" who "clap clap bounce bounce" when they're excited.

[Reader @ Nov 9th 2007 11:07AM]

Wowwwww that comment was "homophobic"? Jesus, I think I'm just going to hide in my basement until the world goes back to normal...

[Midknight @ Nov 9th 2007 3:39PM]

Flamers like you three are what make weblogs lose visitors. I have nothing against you, Tom, but maybe insulting the seemingly brainless person who calls himself "Pig" is exactly what he wants you to do?

I would recommend that you all stop acting like a group of six year olds.

Thanks

PS: what relation does this article have to anything Engadget related? Correct me f I'm wrong, but this a $749 digital video recorder, correct?

[chris rose @ Nov 9th 2007 9:31AM]

Hey guys you missed the most important spec! this is actually an MPEG-2 video recorder... But MPEG-4 DiVx is also supported!

[Taurim @ Nov 9th 2007 10:10AM]

It lacks a color screen to adjust the bullet cam and it is limited to 6Mbps bandwidth when recording. MPEG2 only recording ?

This recorder is better : http://www.dogcamsport.co.uk/me1-digital-bullet-camera-recorder.htm

720x576 @ 25 fps 8000kb/s MP4 recording and a little color screen to check what you are recording.

[mike @ Nov 9th 2007 10:23AM]

I think the chasecam PDR100's probably a better option. Support for PAL and NTSC, and a lot cheaper.

[Taurim @ Nov 9th 2007 11:29AM]

The PDR100 is nice but does not have a color screen to adjust the camera.

I currently use the PVR500R (track days with my car). 720x576 @ 25 fps MPEG4 4000kbps recording. It's not too expensive (350 €).

Very nice but it is a hard drive video recorder which does not like vibrations. It works OK in a track day (mildly tuned everyday car) car but it does not work at all in a race car.

http://www.dogcamsport.co.uk/hard-disk-video-recorder.htm

[chris rose @ Nov 9th 2007 10:59AM]

well if you don't mind being limited to mpeg-4 and it suits you, that's ok. Personally i don't mind trading a little bit of bitrate to have the mpeg-2 feature built-in. But the selling point for me is the laptimer kit, which is not available from others mentioned here.

[applefreak @ Nov 9th 2007 11:37AM]

"go speedracer, go speedracer,go"
:) my Dad loves that show

[Steven Wentzel @ Nov 9th 2007 11:48AM]

Anyone else bothered by the fact that DVR stands for Digital Video Recorder, thus "DVR Video Recorder" is basically saying "Digigal Video Recorder Video Recorder"?

[Steven Wentzel @ Nov 9th 2007 12:35PM]

Wow, I feel stupid.

Should read "Digital Video Recorder Video Recorder"

I went all Quagmire there for a moment.

[Mark @ Nov 9th 2007 12:21PM]

"Sandisk Ultra II [CF] cards only"?

And why the PC Card adaptor for the CF anyway? Looks like they're just repackaging something like the Stack DVR only a lot cheaper.

[Mark @ Nov 9th 2007 12:26PM]

So much for embedding a link- Stack DVR:
http://www.stackltd.com/dvrharsh.html

[chris rose @ Nov 9th 2007 1:48PM]

Last i checked the Stack DVR cost over 3k... so this one's 1/4 the price!

[Nick @ Nov 9th 2007 2:03PM]

Chasecam rocks...

Chasecam is cheaper.
Chasecam has internal & external power.
Chasecam has optional PiP support.
Chasecam has all the accessories (camera, mounting bracket, etc) available now.
Chasecam has built in microphone.

Yes, chasecam do not have a screen, but you're not looking at then when you're DRIVING! They do have a video out option.

Oh, they're CHEAPER.

[BigRedFed @ Nov 9th 2007 2:35PM]

@dick = retard
Really.. I hope tom just calls you retard because that is all your are. Perhaps if you weren't so disgusted with and/or scared of yourself, you wouldn't see homophobia in everyone's comments.

[Richard @ Nov 9th 2007 2:55PM]

Scared of myself?

You blockhead: I'm straight.

[BigRedFed @ Nov 9th 2007 2:58PM]

If you say so.

[Gringo @ Nov 9th 2007 9:50PM]

Yo Nick! You should get your facts straight before spamming us with your chasecam propaganda!

[Gringo @ Nov 9th 2007 9:59PM]

Bullet DVR has internal (rechargeable) li-ion battery
Bullet DVR can also run on external power
Bullet DVR can also do lap timing
Bullet DVR has a built-in microphone

I was going to get me a chasecam but after checking closely, both products offer similar features but the lap timer option has got me sold on the Bullet DVR. Anyone who does lapping at the local track will agree it's worth its gold.

oh and don't fool yourself with the price, Chasecam is only cheaper because they offer a version without battery or cables or any accessories, which come bundled with the other guys package.

[techthumper @ Nov 13th 2007 4:43AM]

Quick one on the bullet DVR. Its a remake-rebadge of a similar product. It costs roughly $280 from there. The MPEG 2 codec is a CSW file, so it wont work direct off the card. It needs to be converetd to an AVI by the included software. Other wise its a cracking piece of kit. The MPEG4 codec is very well implemented, and at 6000kbps, the difference between the Mpeg2 and Mpeg 4 quality is negligible. This will do any format, PAL or NTSC. Various other accessories for this include an ON/OFF remote which can be wired or @415Mhz wireless and ofcourse the Laptimer kit. The cards supported so far are upto 8GB. Also this DVR supports standard LANC in. SO if anyone has an old sony camcorder with a LANC controller, eat your heart out. Also note that wrt MPEg4 encoding bitrates above 4000-5000kbps will deliver no noticable difference if the codec has been implemented properly. Also note that MPEg4 is only defined as a stream and decoder, encoder implementations are upto individual manufacturers. So a MPEG4 implementation by one manufacturer might be totally different to another. Always check the quality yourself before buying it.
Regarding playback etc. Well the chasecam, which I have used as well, is a good piece of kit. But you have to go through a lot of menus etc to get playback to work. Not ideal when yu are driving a car.
Anyone want more info on this let me know. We are resellers for this kit (not the bullet cam, the original stuff from the OEM).

[Casey @ Nov 20th 2007 9:09PM]

As for the ChaseCam / Bullet DVR comparison, I thought I'd add few overlooked points.

Internal battery time:

ChaseCam (4AA Lithium or NiMH): 2.5 hours
BulletDVR (Internal rechargeable battery): 1 hour

(That'll be a big difference for some.)

Bit Rate:

ChaseCam: Up to 8MB/sec
Bullet DVR: Up to 6MB/sec

Compact Flash Card Capacity:

ChaseCam: Up to 16GB (Works with most CF cards)
BulletDVR: Up to 8GB (Only Sandisk Extreme II)

Cost (Recorder only):

ChaseCam: $525
BulletDVR: $749

Both have additional data options. ChaseCam has G-Force overlay (additional $125) and integration with Traqmate, AIM David, CDS, and MoTeC. BulletDVR has lap timing (additional $150).

The BulletDVR might be a good option, if it weren't priced so far above the other units on the market. Most solid state recorders offer full packages for $800-900 and the BulletDVR is beyond that price range. Also, they don't offer cameras and mounts for motorsports so you can't purchase all of your items at once.

ChaseCam also has loop recording, which allows you to record over old video. And field upgrades which allow everyone to update to the newest software features. Loop recording is mostly useful for security measures, but field upgrades are pretty nice for everyone.

BulletDVR does allow you to record in either mpeg4 or mpeg2, but I don't know anyone who wouldn't just use one or the other. If you're a Mac guy who likes the lower quality of mpeg4 for the ease of use, buy an even cheaper mpeg4 recorder. Otherwise, the ability to record in mpeg4 doesn't add much, since you won't use it.

Neither unit has an LCD for camera angling.

That's just what I saw from a rundown of their specs.

[SparkyMark @ Nov 28th 2007 3:21AM]

Where can i get the oem version of this?

Cheers

[Ian B @ Dec 11th 2007 12:08PM]

I'd be interested in where to get the OEM version of BulletDVR as well please.

[klavdy @ Feb 2nd 2008 10:49PM]

WWW.ZOWIETEK.COM

That's the OEM