Record up to 7 Hours of continuous Video!

Preface

Before I start, I want to make it clear that I only have very basic electronics knowledge and soldering skills. I have never soldered SMD before, and I hope I never need to do it again! I know what passive components are and I understand the basics of a simple transistor. That's it.

As such, I cannot guarantee that my method is correct. So, if I have done anything seriously electronically wrong, please do tell me. I have recorded about 40 hours of video and the modified GumPack works perfectly (I dare to say, much better than the original). During 3 days I recorded non-stop, 6-7 hours, of video to a 32GB SD card using an external USB battery pack. If the internal battery is flat when you start, it will be completely recharged by the time the recording is finished! If the external battery pack runs out of juice during the recording, you will lose up to an hour (4GB) of video. Even if the battery is fully charged, it won't take over. Using the external USB battery pack you will be able to record even if the power switch is OFF. When recharging, there is no indication when the charge is completed. You can recharge in the On or Off position. Charging for 2 hours seems enough.

If you also want to get rid of the very annoying timestamp on these cameras, then please click here.

Newsflash January 2011: A Brand New type of camera, the #11, is now available. The video quality is amazing and is true High Definition Video. Unfortunately it only exists as a keychain (808) model so far, so please pester the seller, who is also the manufacturer and designer of this gem, if you want a H.264 GumPack model. I believe he will produce the GumPack model if there is enough demand for it - so please ask him! The more people ask for the GumPack HD, the more likely it is that they will produce it!

The seller supplies firmware to use the camera without the timestamp! Firmware update is an easy process, unlike the #3. The manufacturer also sells a so called "Emergency battery charger" which will let you charge the internal battery AND record at the same time. You can contact the seller directly at hotbid365@gmail.com. The seller is very helpful and has technical knowledge about these cameras. You can also view the HD H.264 camera in the seller's ebay store: http://stores.ebay.com/power-gps. Don't be misslead by cheaper offers from other sellers for fake HD cameras. These are NOT H.264 or HD 720P cameras!

The Layout

If the layout of your GumPack #3 camera looks exactly like the photo below, then this project is for you. If it doesn't, then you will have to locate the correct track to cut yourself.

After studying the available circuit diagrams for the Anyka models, it was obvious that there are two branches from the USB socket. The charging circuit appears to be completely isolated from the other USB stuff. I figured that the SunPlus models use a similar design. I followed the +5V tracks on my GumPack from the USB socket. The track goes almost immediately to the reverse side. Here the track is divided into two "sides". On one side there are resistors and capacitors (the charger circuitry), on the other side there are three diodes and then the track goes to the front side again. This is the track to cut. I initially attempted to remove a diode, but since my SMD soldering skills are Zero, I almost bodged up on this.

The Project

There are two parts to this project. In the first part, I will show you how you can record on your GumPack #3 using an external USB battery pack. Using this method, you can no longer use the camera as a USB device. This means that you will have to read the SD card in a card reader. If you are very careful, you can do the first part without removing the battery, but it is safer and easier if you remove it.

The second part requires pretty good soldering skills but goes a step further. Since I don't need the photo modus, I will show you how to modify the Photo-Video switch to switch between USB mode and External Battery Mode. I have not tested the webcam mode and I really don't care if this works or not because I don't think that anyone needs it. The new switch positions are: Video position = USB External Battery mode, Photo position = Normal USB mode

Tools Needed

Part 1. Preparing the GumPack

Make sure that the SD card is inserted, then test the GumPack.

Part 2. Modifying the Switch

This part requires pretty good SMD soldering skills.

Findings

Using a 32GB micro SD card I can record about 7 hours of continuous video, broken up into 4GB chunks. The total time appears to depend on the lighting conditions and movement.

The USB powerpack pictured at the top of the page is specified as 2400mAh. If it is fully charged and the internal battery is also fully charged it is possible to record until the 32GB SD card is full. I purchased this battery pack about a year ago on eBay. I prefer to use the much more powerful (4400mAh), albeit heavier (150g, 5.29oz), battery pack from Just Mobile which is ironically called the Gum Pro.

Useful sites

These sites provide other excellent information on these cameras

http://www.chucklohr.com/808/

http://www.pluc.fr/2010/02/tear-down-and-hacking-around-gumpack-camera/

I have provided another How-To article here if you wish to get rid of that very annoying timestamp on these, otherwise, excellent cameras.

Thank you for reading.

Isoprop

Last updated: 26th August 2010