2.5" LCD Monitor (for GoPro) review

THIS REVIEW PRIMARILY DEALS WITH USING THIS MONITOR WITH GOPRO CAMERAS.  OTHER CAMERAS HAVE DIFFERENT VIDEO-OUT CONNECTORS, AND THE SUGGESTED CONNECTOR ADVICE MAY NOT APPLY.

This inexpensive, lightweight generic CCTV monitor, has a 2.5" color active matrix LCD display that makes framing video easy even in bright sunlight. This monitor is sold by different retailers, with various connections for different camcorders, and at a huge range of different prices.  It retails anywhere from $255.95 (B&H Photo) to as low as $49.95 on eBay including shipping, direct from Asia.


It is powered by an internal 3.7 V battery giving you 4 to 6 hours of view time, that reportedly needs only 45 minutes to recharge. It has dials to adjust brightness and color on the side, above an on/off switch, and an LED light to indicate on/off and charging.   The monitor is not waterproof. 

The diagonal screen size is 2.5 inches, with a 4:3 TFT screen ratio.  The resolution is 480*230 and both PALand NTSC compatible.  The video input signal is 1.OVp 75 ohm.

Originally designed to help CCTV security camera installers to adjust the aim and focus of cameras, these also makes a nice, inexpensive monitor for action cam shooting. These monitors even come with simple wrist mounting strap, but the strap system is pretty lightweight, and the Velcro will almost certainly need adjusting to actually work as a wrist mount.  The monitor also has a small, removable, folding, wire stand for table display.

The monitor is 5/8" thick, 3 3/8 X 2 1/2" and It weighs only a few ounces, being largely made of plastic.  It is not particularly robust, and won't take much abuse, in my estimation.  Just be a little careful, and it should prove an otherwise pretty good piece of kit for the low price.

Don't expect HD.  The picture quality is only fair.  I just wanted something to help me frame shots, and that's what this monitor does for me.  But I'm happy to report that with the GoPro attached, it also displays the mode you are shooting in: video, video, stills, etc.  It shows a red recording light, and also indicates the mode you are shooting in - r1 through r5, plus a running clock timer of the film event.


No more film runs, only to find out later that you had inadvertently advanced the menu to find yourself shooting stills.  Or find that the camera wasn't turned on at all. 


The monitor also shows a battery level indicator.  (Of the monitor only, unfortunately).  But when the camera is out of juice, it flashes NO POWER and the screen goes blank. 


Another useful bonus: When you enter the SET menu, the display is in perfectly comprehensible English.  It will say, for example, not jus bL0, but Blinking Light OFF (bL0) or, Resolution: 720p - 60fps - r3.

This is now a standard feature on HD2, that is so welcome, that I'm sure some people upgraded from the HD1 just to have it, instead of having to deal with the frustrating, coded, short-form abbreviations of the original versions.  This is great.

CAVEAT EMPTOR - NOTICE: There appear to be two versions available on eBay that differ only in their respective AV-in cabling.


One has a standard 2.5 mini-plug jack, and the other, (shown below) some kind of odd ball, possibly unique, micro-jack system that looks like a very small, micro-sized BNC connector. (Shown below). I recommend the 2.5 mini-plug system given the choice.

For comparison, here is a 3.5 mini plug, a GoPro 2.5 mini plug, and one of these micro-sized, mini-BNCs.  Below, is one eBay seller's micro BNC on a cable with a regular BNC (male) on the other end.

Mini-plug AV-in cabled monitors are sold by several eBay sellers, including Ragecams, and Buyincoins.  Ragecams charges twice as much, for what seems to be the same monitor, but does also include a couple of extra connectors, to interface with the BNC male and BNC female ends.
  

Because these monitors were intended for CCTV use, both versions have BNC connectors on the ends of their AV-in cabling.  Usually BNC female, but possibly both male and female.  You will need an inexpensive BNC male to RCA connector, to mate with the standard RCA video out cables from whatever camera you you plan to use.  Shown here is a BNC female, to RCA female connector, bought on ebay for $1.99 incl. shipping. This will allow  you to use your GoPro video out cables with this monitor.  

The big advantage to the monitor with the 2.5mm AV-in plug, is that you can opt to use only an inexpensive, and  lightweight patch cable with 2.5mm plugs on both ends.  This will eliminate the need for the heavy BNC bypass, and the relatively long, and heavy AV out cables that GoPro provides.  You can't do this with the other style of monitor with the unique, micro-sized BNC connector, so my recommendation is that you be sure of which of the two, seemingly otherwise identical monitors, you intend to buy.

Otherwise, you'll end up with something like what's shown below, an OEM original, GoPro mini-plug to RCA cable, attached RCA to BNC connection, leading to Micro-BNC cable.  Everything works, but what you have is long, heavy, and unwieldy.

On the other hand, if you have, or end up with the micro-BNC cabled version, it isn't the end of the world, it just means that you can't wire the thing up with a light-weight mini-plug patch cable direct to your camera.  You can still reduce weight by substituting a short, lightweight 2.5 mini-plug to RCA male cable (if you can find one) to interface with the BNC/RCA connector shown above.  This will be significantly lighter than using the long, bulky cables GoPro provides.


As it happens, the smallest, lightest, 4-pin mini-plug to RCA cable I could find was this one"2.5mm TRS plug to RCA female adaptor" (sic)  $2.88 from from eBay seller flyjoy2009.  You will need a different BNC to RCA adapter, however, you need a BNC male to RCA male.

One of the big advantages of this monitor, is its own internal power source.  These monitors use a  readily available, rechargeable, lithium-polymer  BP-6M cell phone battery, with a capacity of 1000mAh and a standard voltage of 3.7 V, with a recharging voltage of 4.2 V.


Generic BP-6M batteries are are available on eBay for as low as $3.99 including shipping.  OEM Nokia BP-6M batteries can be had on eBay for $4.99.  And desktop chargers to keep your spares topped up can be picked up for $5.99.  A battery charger will save wear and tear on the camera while you're charging. The camera is pretty delicate, and the DC power in connectors will wear out on you pretty quickly.


In my next post, I'll describe the helmet mounting system I use for hands-free viewing of this monitor while flying PPG (Powered Paragliders).

If you have any doubts about the input on the monitor you are looking at, you might try to contact the seller to confirm.  It's caveat emptor with Asian eBay purchases.  It usually costs more to return an item than it does to buy another.

You are looking for the connection like the one that is shown above with the buyincoins logo superimposed over it.  Watch out for pictured cables like one below, from seller globalsucceed01, (and a few others), which appears to be a mini plug to RCA male, and supposedly included with it, seen in the adjacent picture, an RCA female - BNC connector to make it work with a CCTV.   It's not. The connection as pictured would be fine, but its not what you'll get.  They substitute the mini-BNC rig-up instead.

If you want improved daylight efficiency, this eBay item works great.  Listed as: "Digital Camera 3.0" Screen Hood Pop Up Shade Protector", it perfectly covers the screen, and shades the viewscreen from all four sides.  $9.78 plus shipping.  It comes with two self-stick magnetis srips, that the screen clips into and holds it in place.  

A PERFECT FIT

The monitor will display the GoPro HD Hero (Original) settings menu  

in detailed, plain English.  No more code.  Instead of SET you will see, (above)

SETTINGS MENU

ENTER:

Press shutter button

iPhone camera/GoPro mount interface

This project will allow you to use your iPhone as a helmet camera using the GoPro helmet mount as a mounting system.

Here is a link to the youtube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leJv4hBYe80&feature=channel

If you don’t already have a GoPro mount on your helmet, you can get one, and everything you’ll need for this project, (apart from a few easily obtainable “found” parts) in the so-called, “Grab Bag of Mounts” available from Amazon.com for about $17.00, or from any GoPro dealer.

GoPro makes a very efficient sport camera, but there may be times when you will be glad of an auxiliary camera option for your helmet: such as, those times when you may be low on battery, or out of memory.

Or you may want a redundant back-up for the shoot, with another camera recording option, or, you may simply have forgotten to bring your GoPro along.

Chances are, you WILL have your iPhone along with you on most of these occasions, however, so pack this easy mount project along with your regular sports gear, or in the glove box of your car, and you’ll always be ready to film.

Necessary parts from the Grab Bag include the curved-surface, adhesive helmet mount, which may already be attached to your helmet. You’ll also need a quick release buckle, a Thumb Knob with nut and bolt, an extender called a “Pivot Arm Assembly” and a couple of metric M5 bolts and acorn nuts.

I cut an angled piece of thin steel from a computer component, (this CD drive) sized 3 X 2.5 inches, with a 5/8” lip and then used contact cement to cover the inside surface with thin plastic cut from a DVD case which will later allow me to countersink my mounting bolts.

The plastic can be cut with any razor knife, but I used a Dremel style tool to cut out the steel. It was pretty easy, to get a fairly straight edge with such a small piece. Then I used some steel wool, to polish the outside face, in a kind of swirly pattern, just for looks.

The pivot arm is going to be used at right angles to the way it is normally used for GoPro applications. I drilled a hole through the metal to attach the M5 bolt to a GoPro acorn nut.You’ll have to cut, file, or Dremel a few mm off the length to get it to fit. The thread length should be about 8mm.

Here’s the fiddly bit. The arm may swivel with only one attachment point, so I wanted two. What I did, was to fill the gaps on both sides with J-B Weld, and waited till it dried rock solid.Then I drilled another hole through the arm and the steel stand, and added another M5 bolt and an acorn lock nut from Home Depot. The thread length was about 12mm. I used a small washer here too, again, just for looks.

I used a ½” drill bit to countersink the bolts, so I have a perfectly flat back plate.

I used a hard shell iPhone case and hook-sided Velcro to attach the phone.

3M Velcro is super strong, but I secured the Loop-side to the mount with 1/8” rivets, so it wont’ ever peel up. The snaps also give the project a cool industrial look.

You can get a handful of snap fasteners and a setting tool, for a couple of bucks, or ask a shoe repair person to do the job for you.

You can either use an inexpensive iPhone case and permanently attach it to the mount, I used rivets for this example.

If you don’t have a Dremel, or just want a simplified, but still functional version, I made a prototype out of a VHS tape case. I added two extra layers of VHS case plastic to fortify the basic angled shape, and a single drill hole mount.

The arm assembly is stabilized by a couple of bits of plastic, contact cemented to the mount plastic, to help hold it in place.

This mount variation is neither as robust, nor as interesting looking as the steel version, but will do in a pinch for low-intensity sporting applications.

I wouldn’t use either mount for crash worthy sports like mountain biking, without some thought to reinforcing the mounts, or else having an expectation that the iPhone probably wont survive a crash regardless.

If you decide to go the Velcro route, it is advisable to fix the snaps through the Velcro to the mount, as even the best contact Cement won’t reliably hold the

Velcro to the polyurethane indefinitely. This type of plastic is notoriously hard to pretty much all types of glue. It laughs at Gorilla glue, 5-minute epoxy, J-B Weld… just about everything.Contact cement works okay, but not for a permanent bond subject to repeated pulling. I use BARGE All purpose cement, available from Shoe Makers supply stores.

This mount, is designed to hold my iPhone on an extendable monopod. The monopod I use has a standard quick release plate such as is found on many tripods.

Unfortunately, these plates seem to be all slightly different and not interchangeable.

Adapter mounts can be easily created out of plastic cut from VHS tapes, cemented together with contact cement like a little step pyramid of a size identical to the original mount, and filed, sanded, or ground into an angled sided block to fit. Go here for detailed instruction on tripod quick-release plate, GoPro interface. 

I made custom mounts for both my monopod and my tripod, to quickly transition from Gopro, to DVcam, to iPhone, with minimum hassle.

Emergency Line Cutter

Useful for emergency release from a line entanglement, or a scenario where you need to cutaway from your harness or wing to prevent injury: such as getting dragged by a wing into hazards like vehicular traffic, or into water, or over a cliff, or through rough terrain.

Other potential problems might include water immersion, or a conflict between your wing and your reserve chute.

A nice selection of PPG line cutters can be found here at ParaGear.com:

http://www.paragear.com/templates/parachutes.asp?group=510&level=1

Useful kit, but purpose designed knives and cutters for the skydiving/PPG/PG industry are priced at a premium, despite most of these tools being essentially the same as those made for other purposes.

They are also sold in specialty scuba stores as line cutters, at specialty rates, because of the limited nature of specialty markets.

The price comes down considerably, however, when sold in the Business/Industrial community as band or strap cutters, or for tools to strip the plastic wrap off of sealed pallets of shipped goods.

Selling them to fire and police personell as seatbelt cutters brings the volume up, and the price down, but specialty designed seatbelt cutters tend to have narrow mouth openings, and will only grab one or two lines at once, and make slower work of cutting away a paraglider, or reserve chute.

Despite working in EMS/Fire Rescue, I've never been fond of the all metal bladed hook knives, because I've never been convinced that a steel blade will outperform a clean, unused razor.

If a user succumbs to the temptation to test cut even one line sample with his expensive Gerbing or BenchMade hook knife, he will have degraded its potential usability in a future emergency, as these knives can't be sharpened by their owners. I heard that Gerbings will resharpen their blades for free, if you mail them in, but the number of lines that a newly sharpened knife of this type will cut is limited. It's also true that the number of lines that a razor will cut is limited too, but I'm betting the razor will out cut a steel hook like the one below.

I know some people will disagree. My view is purely a personal prejudice, and based only on the experience of one Swift Water Rescue Tech I spoke to who had trouble cutting some 8mm hemp rope.

The best, and cheapest substitute I've found is this one, fur worker's tool called a tail skinnner.

It has all the features of a PPG line cutter witht the added advantage of a wide mouth to catch a large number of lines into the razor area. Confirm the length of the tool you that purchase, as some of these tools are quite small, in the 3.5" range for example, and may not be ideal for people who wearing gloves, or with large hands.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/HD-Tail-Zipper-traps-trapping-fur-handling-hunt-/290513644532?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item43a3f66bf4#ht_500wt_1180

Gopro tips and techniques

A lot of this info was sourced from internet user's groups including the Gopro user's forum site http://goprouser.freeforums.org/index.php and from the Facebook GoPro discussion forum: http://www.facebook.com/board.php?uid=50043151918

GoPro direct number 415-738-2480 SF Bay Area Pacific time. Or toll free 888-600-4659

GoPro HD manual here: http://www.camforpro.com/GoPro/Support/HD_HERO_en_instructions_v01.pdf

If you are a new user - Very good how-to videos from Eyeofmine a GoPro distributer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaBByvLlIzw&feature=related

Average recording times from GoPro::

1080p: 12 min/GB
960p: 14 min/GB
720p: 16min/GB @30fps;

720p: 11 min/GB @ 60fps

Average capacity for 32GB of memory:

r1 - 8h 09min at 60fps (WVGA)

r2 - 8h 09min at 30fps (720p)

r3 - 4h 21 min at 60fps; [720p]

r4 - 5h 26min at 30fps; [960p]

r5 - 4h 21min at 30fps [1080p]

The battery will be the limiting factor as obviously the battery (2.5 hrs) will be exhausted long before a 32 GB card is full.

R1. lowest setting WVGA (Wide VGA format ) @ 60fps - 16:9 format 800 x 480 Good for long play medium quality. surveillance home/car etc (with external power pack or battery) Youtube posting at 480p.

R2. High quality Static or Low Motion shots in full 170 degree wide angle (Cam not moving much)

R3. High Quality High Motion, half the "jello" wobble (flickering) of all the other modes, full 170 degrees, smooth playback on TV, useful to retain smooth slow-motion in post processing.(.5 or .3 is best)

R4. Useful where a Tall Field of View is desirable (like mounted on a surf board looking at you standing up) The r4 setting corresponds to 4-3 format. (old school TV screen) r3 - r5 are more like 16 - 9. (movie screen format))

R5. Full 1080p resolution, ideal if you want to crop and zoom sections of the frame, only 120 degree wide angle. Lots of jello effect, unless camera is stationary mounted, or isolated from vibration by positioning, foam, etc. Huge files. Many computers, especially laptops have problems storing and editing the HD.

Most people recommend r3 for fluid motion filming. Biking, races, etc. but I've been shooting in r2 because paramotors move sort of slowly, and a helmet mounted camera is somewhat isolated from vibrations compared to a track bike. Also, I edit in imovie, and the latest imovie (11) still doesn't support 60fps. It drops it to 30 anyway, so I figure why not shoot in 30?

One argument for r3 is that r3 makes for great slow motion, and imovie can cope. There is also a fix for dealing with 60fps in Final Cut, and imovie if your editing skills are up to it, however, see MAC TIPS for software upgrades.

TIPS.Use good quality SD cards. Gopro recommends Kingston and Patriot cards in class 4 or higher.

Spare batteries are inexpensive - averaging about 25 dollars. So why not have a spare?

GENERAL

Turning on the camera. It takes a second to activate, so many people hold the button too long. Just give one quick push of the power button and hold your breath. Don't hold down the button and wait till you hear beeps, or you may turn on some other function other than camera, as an accidental second push, or a glitch, may cause the camera to advance to a different setting mode. This is pretty easy to do.

Turning the camera off. Do hold power button firmly until you hear beeps.

The use of an SD card reader is strongly advised for the protection of your media as opposed to direct computer transfer via USB from your camera. Card readers also speed up image transfer by as much as 4 times. SD card readers are inexpensive (as low as ten dollars) and are a manufacturers recommended item both to prevent lost media, and for camera longevity.

Consider:

-You are saving wear and tear on the USB port on the camera.

-When using the camera as a card reader, the transfer is using battery power, and only a finite number of battery recharges are possible. Also, when battery levels get too low, transfer can be interrupted.

-Few pro's would ever connect any DSLR direct to computer via USB. It's considered a bit of a tech no-no.

-Some computers don't always read the USB linkage of the GoPro as a card reader, and data corruption has occurred in transfer.

The use of an external WALL or CAR CHARGER is recommended rather than using your PC to charge the Gopro. You can charge, the unit from your PC but it is not as safe as a dedicated wall charger. Also a wall charger charges twice as fast needing only two hours for a full charge compared to four hours on a CPU. The GoPro Forum site administrator says if he had to give ONE piece of advice to GoPro users this would be it: "An Iphone (not ipod) charger is perfect using a standard USB mini to to full size USB cable (like the cable for portable hard drives) so is any other 5v/1A charger as well as car cigar plug USB chargers. My GoPros NEVER go near my PC full stop."

Card readers and battery chargers are both really quite inexpensive. Special battery only chargers are available to charge the battery alone, either by wall or by car, and this allows you to use the camera while your spare is being juiced. This also saves wear and tear on your mini-usb plug on the camera itself.

This guy is under 20 bucks from RPM Gear. http://www.rpmgear.com/featured-products/gopro-hd-wall-charger.html

This ebay guy at $29 is both wall and car chargeable: http://cgi.ebay.com/BATTERY-CAR-AUTO-CHARGER-GOPRO-HD-GO-PRO-HERO-1080P-/300561672951?pt=Batteries_Chargers&hash=item45fadf2af7

Hey, and this guy seems to work too! http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... K:MEWAX:IT

It's only $5.98 including shipping from ebay. It is for slightly larger batteries, but the 3-pin connectors fit okay. One report says to charge it for a while longer, past the full light indicator.

I just ordered one. I'll post my experience with it as soon as Canada Post is back in business after their current labour disruptions still ongoing as of July, 2011/

Update: Okay, so far so good. It appears to be the same gizmo as the RPM Gear above, priced at $18.95, and by RageCams for $34.95. Just in black instead of white as in the site photo. (But they say color may vary.) The main thing is, the specs are the same, output at 350 mA.

It has a USB output, so evidently you can charge another device at the same time (even another GoPro) using the same wall plug.

These devices are 2-pin, and not 3-pin, but nevertheless still charge up fine using the bottom (+) and the middle (-) contact slot. Just ignore the top contact slot on the battery. Someone said the third (top) contact is also negative, but whatever, the battery still charges.

Users of these devices suggest leaving the battery in the charger for a "little" (unspecified) longer after the light goes blue, to maximize charge.

The units described in the RPM site say the charger has an intelligent chip to prevent overcharging.

Then if you haven't already done so, pick up a USB car charger and you're ready for anything. USB chargers are only a couple of bucks on ebay, or splurge for this guy, at $9.99 shipped, http://cgi.ebay.com/Griffin-PowerJolt-Dual-USB-Car-Charger-iPhone-4-3GS-/330563176863?pt=PDA_Accessories&hash=item4cf719c99f#ht_3523wt_907

which is by Griffen Technologies and Apple approved. It will charge your GoPro and another USB device at the same time.

Apple iPhone chargers work perfectly, as does the Apple clone charger that I got from China via ebay. I've even seen them at the local dollar store.

Lens care and fogging issues:

-The proprietary anti-fog strips that GoPro sells, are pretty expensive, and tiny bits of commercial chamois like Sham-Wow also work. The GoPro forum has a number of people who find slipping a couple of grains of dry rice into the case works also. While I have concerns about nearly microscopic flakes of rice dust being a problem, these users say it works okay.

-Apply RAINEX to front of lens, (a single drop and polish carefully) You might have to take unscrew the five screws to do a perfect job of it, but that only lakes a minute or so to take apart and reassemble. (Watch which way the gasket faces when you take the lens out.)

"Cat Crap" Lens cleaner gets high marks from users for this purpose as well. These products fill the microscopic 'pores' in the glass surface making a smoother surface which water is less prone to bond. Anti-fog can be rubbed on the inside surface of the lens and case, but ensure the product is suitable for glass when applying it to the lens. Some anti-fogs are not recommended for polycarbonate. Weak dishwasher soap will also work, (an old scuba trick) but needs frequent reapplications.

-In high humidity areas, The Gopro Forum moderator suggests drilling a 5mm hole in top of case, and epoxy a bit of GORTEX over the hole. Cam now 'breathes', but remains nominally water resistant.

-Bubble lens of case is made of glass. Case is polycarbonate.

-Storage/and travel: Solution to lower the moisture content of the case and the camera to a stable level.

Put the Gopro camera in a sealed plastic bag or air tight container with a desiccant pack and store it permanently that way. Place the housing only in cloth bag (an old sunglass bag is good and allows case to breathe) with desiccant pack inside the case and closed fully. Store and transport it that way. Keep both out of direct sun until ready to assemble and use. When you arrive at the filming location, quickly place the GoPro in the case and close it, being careful not to have sweaty or wet fingers.

-If desiccant is not available, some people enclose the camera with a cloth bag containing rice to absorb moisture.

-Desiccant sacs can be re-dried in an oven, and reused multiple times.

-For cold weather, cool the case to ambient temperature for 5 to 10 minutes, and use fog strips.

The camera can get hot, especially when using the waterproof housing in hotter temperatures. Overheat can be the cause of some data corruption, and is hard on the camera. The non-waterproof housing vents heat better, is less fog prone, and the sound is better.

SOUND

The sound ports are at the back so the operator's speaking voice will be louder than the subjects.

USING MAC

Firmware up to date? Go here for tutorial help: http://pointofviewcameras.com/gopro-hd-firmware-upgrade

imovie will not recognize 60fps so will drop it down to 30.

Fixes available for imovie or final cut - http://contour.com/stories/60fps-into-slow-motion-using-imovie-09

-Empty trash, or the card may not be erased

http://www.squared5.com/

Also streamclip is recommended by both gopro and mac

This page helps http://www.pashnit.com/forum/showthread.php?t=25628

ifishfix action works is available to remove the curved effect of the wide angle, with 98% fidelity

Some interesting developments involving goPro lately.

Not every one likes the 170 degree appearance of the GoPro HD. It makes close ups of faces look funny, and sometimes you get noticeably curved edges on horizons or otherwise straight lines.

Some of this curving can be fixed in post, using the free download software above, but the radio control FLV RC aircraft crowd found a physical mod using a 6mm lens from Sunex that gives a more natural, non-fisheye look, if you want that.

Ragecams, a helmet cam distributor, now sells a few different lenses that can be home-modded into the camera, or they swap out the lens for you for a small fee. Their most popular lens is a 2.3mm lens with a fairly wide (I think it is about 120 degrees) field of view. They also have 3.6MM, 6MM, 8MM, 9MM, 12MM and 16MM and the field of view gets narrower as the size increases.

Tentative reviews seem to favor the Ragecam mods, in part because most of the above lenses fit into the stock waterproof housing, without any further modification to the case. It looks to be a bit of a chore to remove and replace a lens, and not something you’d want to do away from a clean bench and a light, but the lenses can be switched around, and back and forth.

The lenses average about 75 bucks from Ragecams, or on their ebay site.

GoPro says they have no plans to change the HD and allow for factory installed alternate lenses of other sizes apart from their standard HD lens, but I’m betting they will start doing so before long, if Ragecams starts selling mass quantities of their lens packages.

There is also talk of a remote viewable LCD mod in the works, and also a remote microphone using the back port on the cam. (If not from GoPro, then from aftermarket developers as the home mod guys are already tinkering with them.)

iphone apps for PPG

ALTISPEED, 0.89 Euros  (A little over a buck or so.)
Thats it.  Altitude and airspeed but in nicc, big, easy to read numbers.

VIRTUAL WINDMETER $0.99

http://goingapps.com/default.aspx

Works by measuring the volume of wind on your iphone microphone.

Hold the phone into the wind for a few seconds, press GET WIND, and you'll get an average read over that period.

The final reading is the average of the period. (The application is upside-down so you can read the meter w

hile pointing the microphone into the wind.)

Wind Meter supports multiple units of measure including Miles Per Hour, Knots, Kilometers Per Hour, Beaufort, Feet Per Second, and Meters Per Second.

IVARIOMETER Free and upgrade at $2.99

http://www.iphoneappreview.com/ivariometer.html

iVariometer shows your position and track you during the flight. iVariometer assist you with a lot of various information – your current altitude, speed, vertical speed, flight time and direction.

• Flight and any other trip GPS assistance.
• Altitude, distance, speed and vertical speed meter (with an experimental accelerometer support).
• Magnetic(iphone 3Gs) or GPS-based compass.
• A route trace on a Google map.
• Device trip parameters monitoring (mileage, flying time).
• Flights record and playback.

MOTIONX GPS $2.99

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/motionx-gps/id299949744?mt=8

Map storage feature is far better than it used to be. Using the app for an easy way to get offline map access where there are no cell towers. Shows street maps, contour, or satellite view.

Track Recorder.

Compass - features GPS heading, Speed Over Ground, Waypoint distance, Time to waypoint, Direction of travel and actual direction to waypoint (If selected)

VIRTUAL BACKTRACKER $0.99
http://download.cnet.com/BackTrack/3000-12940_4-75033263.html

If you are familiar with the product backtracker, (at around 50 bucks) you might dig this app.

It's perfect for PPG. And just dead simple. It only has two buttons - set your waypoint - and where is the waypoint. That and a big, line of sight directional arrow pointing where you want to go. It also tells your distance. Great for PPG. If you fly in unfamiliar country, and you suddenly find yourself at a loss t say where your LZ is, this app will point to it, and give you the distance. No scrolling, no thinking, no fuss.

RESCUE LOCATOR/CONTACT $2.99

www.rescue-app.com

I haven't bought this, or checked it out, but it might be worth looking into, if you haven't invested in a real Personal Locator Beacon like the FASTFIND. (Which some people who fly alone should. See my review of FASTFIND VS SPOT)

SKYKOGGER $5.99

http://www.skywind.eu/SkyLogger/EN/index.htmlSkyLogger obtains the geodetic positions of the pilot during the flight and stores the data. Furthermore, the pilot is able to see during the flight the elapsed time, the distance to the take-off as well as the current ground speed and climb rate. A compass rose is indicating the current flight direction.

GENERALLY USEFUL AND PPG APPROPRIATE

VOICE TO TEXT
http://www.nfinityinc.com/quickvoiceip.html

While I've never tried it from the air, it would probably work. This quick voice app will act as a digital tape recorder. Then you can click on an email address, and it will send them a text transcript of the message, as well as an attachment with the voice. Not instant, it can take ten minutes or more to fulfill, but no typing with your thumbs.

VIRTUAL FLASHLIGHT
http://appshopper.com/utilities/iflashlight

Turns the LED light built into the camera into a quite powerful flashlight with a strobe option as well. Burns battery power, but useful.

FIRST AID/CPR FORM THE AMERICAN HEART ASSC. $3.99

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pocket-first-aid-cpr-from/id294351164?mt=8

If your first aid isn't up to scratch, or rusty, you can always use the phone to call 911, and read the appropriate pages to help out. First aid is better delayed a minute or two, than not applied at all. And the life you save may be mine.

STOPWATCH

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/bigstopwatch/id301615836?mt=8

Easy app, and free.

MOBILE KNOT GUIDE

http://www.appsafari.com/games/6890/knots/ FREE

Replacing a line? Have another look at your double sheet bend. An easy knot unless you do it "backwards" and then its pretty much useless.

MOBILE ALARM CLOCK

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/alarm-clock-free/id332064280?mt=8 FREE

Hey. It's a clock. It's useful, and it's free.

NOT SO GREAT

LEARN CLOUDS - WEATHER PATTERNS $1.99

http://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/clouds-and-weather/id363799763?mt=8 Help teach yourself weather patterns

Pretty basic. Not much info, and few pictures.

MAGNIFICATION VIEWER $1.99

http://www.imagnifyapplication.com/home/default.html

Meh. Uses the camera to show 4X magnification view on screen. Okay in a pinch to read a menu, but its a pretty blurry, soft focus 4X magnification considering the resolution capable on an iphone4.