AndyMan 7 #1 October 7, 2003 The last few weeks I've been having a consistent problem where my pc120BT will not turn on at altitude. The symptoms are that the cam-eye shows blue (standbye), but will not go into record mode when I press either the cam-eye button or the button on the camera. I've yet to see any errors on the camera, simply because I haven't looked. Everything seems to work well on the ground, and during climb, but invariably just before exit it won't turn on. Initially I blamed the cam-eye, but now believe it might be the camera. I've just had the motherboard replaced for other unrelated reasons, and the problem persists. My latest theory is that the cold temperature at altitude is causing moisture to condense within the unit. All reports of moisture problem I've seen happens on the ground, though. Has anybody gone through similar symptoms? _Am__ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Deuce 1 #2 October 7, 2003 I have the same camera, and knock on wood, haven't had any problems. I use a Cameye II also. JP Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 4 #3 October 7, 2003 So, this happens when you're in the plane on jumprun? At the time this happens, do you (have you) noticed any condensation on the lens of the camera? Does stuff, "feel" kind of wet and humid?quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AndyMan 7 #4 October 8, 2003 Quote So, this happens when you're in the plane on jumprun? Yes. I've only had the problem on jumprun. Once the camera goes into this mode, it'll stay in this mode until power-cycled. Power-cycling at altitude does not seem to help. Attempts to power-cycle and start the camera on the step have been futile. Attempts to power-cycle and start the camera afterwards on the ground have been succesfull. Various tests during the climb have all been fine. I'm not sure exactly when it dies, but most attempts to turn it on after the door is open, flaps are down, air speed is decreased result in failure. If I get it to turn on, it will stay on. QuoteAt the time this happens, do you (have you) noticed any condensation on the lens of the camera? Does stuff, "feel" kind of wet and humid? I've not noticed any condensation on the outside of the camera. But then it's firmly attached to my head usually when it happens, so it'd be hard to tell. I've yet to waste a jump ticket just to inspect my camera at jumprun. I will take a right-seat ride this weekend, to try and figure out whats going on... I figure temerature at altitude is just below freezing this time of year. Nobody's seen behaviour like this? _Am__ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jumpnfun2 0 #5 October 9, 2003 QuoteQuoteThe last few weeks I've been having a consistent problem where my pc120BT will not turn on at altitude. The symptoms are that the cam-eye shows blue (standbye), but will not go into record mode when I press either the cam-eye button or the button on the camera. I've yet to see any errors on the camera, simply because I haven't looked. Everything seems to work well on the ground, and during climb, but invariably just before exit it won't turn on. Initially I blamed the cam-eye, but now believe it might be the camera. I've just had the motherboard replaced for other unrelated reasons, and the problem persists. My latest theory is that the cold temperature at altitude is causing moisture to condense within the unit. All reports of moisture problem I've seen happens on the ground, though. Has anybody gone through similar symptoms? _Am I jump a TRV315 (Digital 8) and to date have had no problems. Knock on wood. I also use a CameyeII. Last Thursday I did 3 tandems vids back to back. The temp. at 'tude was 7 degrees. I was sitting with my back to the heater in the C182. The temp. change on exit was extreme. I froze, my camera behaved like a champ. I had a small haze circle in the center of my wide angle (.06) until I deployed. It cleared immediately. On Friday, Sat., & Sunday the temp at 'tude was around 18-20 degrees. Still no problems. I did have twice that the light (Cameye) started flashing blue after landing. Both landings were soft & on my feet. Both times I had a new tape and a full battery. I use all digital tapes (Sony). No D-box or condom. The helmet is an old Protec. I had to eject the tape and re-insert it to get the problem resolved. Just turning it off & back on didn't help. Other camera flyers at my DZ have had problems. Not all, but a few. All jump PC1....or the mini TRV's. Most use either a D-box or condom. Like I said, knock on wood. I may have just been lucky. My husband's TRV11 had some major issues with shutting off/zooming in at will during FF last summer. Worked fine on the ground. Worked fine in the plane. Once out in the air, it zoomed in/shut off. There was a chip that had to be replaced right above the tripod screw attachment on the bottom of the camera. The tape door also had a small metal piece that was bent causing the tape door to not fully shut. Once in FF, the air being introduced into the tape compartment caused the camera to shut off. Initially we also thought of the Cameye, but that was not the case. My Cameye lost the protective cover about 6 weeks ago. All the cool electronic chips & stuff have been exposed to the elements until last week when they sent me a new cover. No problems at all. It could be the temp. change, condensation due to moisture or temp. change, or just who knows what. Good luck:)~ Sue E Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites HSPScott 0 #6 October 9, 2003 I jump a TRV38. For moisture, I put my camera in a heating blanket on while on the ground. I know that you said you really don't see any moisture on the lens. I would try using the camera without the Cameye. There may be something wrong with it in the colder climate. Or, there may be something wrong with your lanc connector. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites AndyMan 7 #7 October 9, 2003 Quote I jump a TRV38. For moisture, I put my camera in a heating blanket on while on the ground. I know that you said you really don't see any moisture on the lens. I would try using the camera without the Cameye. There may be something wrong with it in the colder climate. Or, there may be something wrong with your lanc connector. The other thing going on is that when I don't jump the camera, it gets put away in a aluminum case. I wonder if it doesn't dry out properly because I keep it locked up all the time. This week it's sitting out on my counter... maybe that will help. Thanks for everyones thoughts... hopefully I'll figure it out this weekend. _Am__ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites AndyMan 7 #8 October 13, 2003 Quotehopefully I'll figure it out this weekend. Well, I'm still not sure whats going on. I normally store the camera in a relatively air-tight container. I had theorized that this contributed to a build-up of moisture, which condensed in the cold air at altitude. This last week I left the camera out, letting it dry out. Saturday, it worked fine. Sunday it worked fine until my last load. It worked fine at 8K, at 10K, and even at 12K. Once the door opened, it wouldn't turn on. I quickly power-cycled it, and instantly turned it to record, and it stayed in record throughout the dive. It did not fail when I had it off my head on jump-run to see an error message. I did fail when it was on my head and I couldn't see what was going wrong. So... I learned little, except for the fact that because it worked fine on saturday after having been dried out for a week, I feel my theory of moisture condensing at altitude is credible.__ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites AndyMan 7 #9 October 27, 2003 The final update is that I tried a Camera condom this last weekend, and it solved everything. Temperatures were mid-40's and humid at ground, and were below-freezing at alttitude. I didn't have any problems at all with the Camera Condom installed. Moisture - it's not just a problem on the ground anymore. _Am__ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Join the conversation You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible. Reply to this topic... × Pasted as rich text. 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HSPScott 0 #6 October 9, 2003 I jump a TRV38. For moisture, I put my camera in a heating blanket on while on the ground. I know that you said you really don't see any moisture on the lens. I would try using the camera without the Cameye. There may be something wrong with it in the colder climate. Or, there may be something wrong with your lanc connector. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AndyMan 7 #7 October 9, 2003 Quote I jump a TRV38. For moisture, I put my camera in a heating blanket on while on the ground. I know that you said you really don't see any moisture on the lens. I would try using the camera without the Cameye. There may be something wrong with it in the colder climate. Or, there may be something wrong with your lanc connector. The other thing going on is that when I don't jump the camera, it gets put away in a aluminum case. I wonder if it doesn't dry out properly because I keep it locked up all the time. This week it's sitting out on my counter... maybe that will help. Thanks for everyones thoughts... hopefully I'll figure it out this weekend. _Am__ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AndyMan 7 #8 October 13, 2003 Quotehopefully I'll figure it out this weekend. Well, I'm still not sure whats going on. I normally store the camera in a relatively air-tight container. I had theorized that this contributed to a build-up of moisture, which condensed in the cold air at altitude. This last week I left the camera out, letting it dry out. Saturday, it worked fine. Sunday it worked fine until my last load. It worked fine at 8K, at 10K, and even at 12K. Once the door opened, it wouldn't turn on. I quickly power-cycled it, and instantly turned it to record, and it stayed in record throughout the dive. It did not fail when I had it off my head on jump-run to see an error message. I did fail when it was on my head and I couldn't see what was going wrong. So... I learned little, except for the fact that because it worked fine on saturday after having been dried out for a week, I feel my theory of moisture condensing at altitude is credible.__ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AndyMan 7 #9 October 27, 2003 The final update is that I tried a Camera condom this last weekend, and it solved everything. Temperatures were mid-40's and humid at ground, and were below-freezing at alttitude. I didn't have any problems at all with the Camera Condom installed. Moisture - it's not just a problem on the ground anymore. _Am__ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
