GoPro GPS Speed Record Activation

Gloersen

maybe most GoPro users already are aware of the GoPro Labs beta firmware utility.
but if not, among the features, is to set the camera to REC start/stop based on GPS speed (like Wakeye).
It's a huge convenience, creates clips easily viewed/edited, and with external power supply (batt pack), it can just be left on for the entire session. I've yet to have an overheat shutdown even in 90F plus weather for several hours.

Link to firmware:
How to Install GoPro Labs Firmware

To set the camera for desired settings a webpage is accessed to create a QR Code; save the QR Code pic on a cellphone, turn on GoPro, point the lens at the QR code with viewfinder, presto; the camera settings are in effect.

QR Code creator webpage link:
QR Control Customizer

Example:


Here the GPS is set to record on at 43kph/record off at 37kph:




Of course GoPro has very good image stabilization with hypersmooth.

sample, but also to encourage @swbca to post video. There's all sorts of wrong and bad with this skiing, but as an aging, post-Achilles blow-out, and consequential LFF to RFF convert, still a lot to learn.

Mastercrafter

Thank you for sharing this!

LK_skier

I've contacted GOPro to try and get this feature for years - thats awesome!! thanks for sharing. So you must have your QR code available when you want to use it.... I'll save it to my phone pics

cacman

Does that work with all gopros or just 9. Is there any reason to get a 9 over the 8.

Gloersen

@cacman - GoPro HERO8 is great.

Zman

The Hero9 has voice activation. So, I guess the driver could just say, "gopro start recording", "gopro stop" - until you set up this GPS control.
Does the Hero8 have voice activation as well?

503Kento

I tried using the voice control on my 7 but it’s easy to forget and it can’t hear you over the wind and motor. The speed trigger is waaaayyy better.

UWSkier

Does GoPro support zooming worth a dang these days? I know in the past, it looked like an ant skiing at anything beyond 38 off.

503Kento

Digital zoom only which is a bit of a limitation. When used with a tracker (ski-doc) it’s hard to set the right value to get all of the turn. Once you find the value, there is no way to save it as default.

Cnewbert

@503Kento my GoPro 9 saves the last used digital zoom setting.

Cnewbert

@UWSkier our GoPro 9 can do up to 2x digital zoom. However, there is a bit of lag with the tracking on a SkiDoc, in part because of the bow in the line, so 2x is likely to be too much zoom as the skier will ski out of frame at apex unless they are not getting very high on the boat and/or skiing on longer rope lengths.

503Kento

@cnewbert that’s great, I’ve only got a 7…maybe time for an upgrade

scuppers

@Gloersen sent you a PM

KRoundy

Thank you so much for this! I tried it this weekend and it worked great. I need a bigger, or more, SD card(s) and more batteries now.

cacman

What are you using to watch video after you record it. Software phone computer

503Kento

If I’m still skiing when I want to look at the video I use GoPro Quick and my phone or iPad. Once home, I move the videos to my local PC. For my ski partners, I edit all the passes together and post them to a google drive for their review.

KRoundy

@503Kento Wow. Can you come ski with me and do that editing? 😁 Seriously, what do you use to do that?

503Kento

@KRoundy absolutely, when should I show up 😉

I just use the video editor supplied with Windows.

MichaelWiebe

@Gloersen Dumb question: Is this speed activation available for a Hero 3+?
Maybe it’s time to upgrade……
The Hero 10 is just out, with all new software, which begs the question if it already has speed activation available.
Thanks in advance.

Gloersen

@MichaelWiebe - don't believe so on Hero 3+ (see 15 posts above).

Not sure if Hero 10 (basically better cpu) includes QR code lab firmware, should be easy install though, assuming compatible.

Maxsend

GoPro Labs just released and posted firmware for the new HERO10 Black.
https://community.gopro.com/t5/en/GoPro-Labs-Information/ta-p/603173

The list of compatible cameras includes:

• HERO10 Black v1.10.70 | October 2021
  
• HERO9 Black v1.60.70 | June 2021
  
• MAX v2.00.71 | January 2021
  
• HERO8 Black v2.50.71 | January 2021
  
• HERO7 Black v1.90.71 | January 2021
  
• HERO5 Session v2.51.72 | May 2021
  

Maxsend

To create QR Codes on the go, try this mobile app - QRControl.

iOS
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/qrcontrol/id1518134202

Android
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.miscdata.qrcontrol

MichaelWiebe

@Cnewbert What are your Hero 9 settings, for resolution, FPS, lens, hypersmooth, zoom, and anything else. I'm assuming you have best practice settings which we can take over.

We're using the Ski-Doc Orbit; I believe you are too.
Thanks in advance.

Cnewbert

@MichaelWiebe I use 1.4x zoom, 1080 resolution, 60 FPS, Linear + HL lens, HyperSmooth High, Standard Bit Rate. I think that covers it. We use our GoPro solely for learning purposes. So I haven't experimented with 2.7K or 4K or any other resolution settings and High bit rate to optimize image quality. The settings above give more than adequate image quality for us to study. I'd like a tighter image but I ski out of frame if using a higher zoom ratio owing to the camera tracking lag. Yes, we use the SkiDoc Orbit.

MichaelWiebe

I've got the speed control working on our new GoPro 9. Works great.
I've also got the QR control app, to create the codes on the boat. Works great too.
One problem is the zoom..... the app doesn't have a setting for zoom, so I do it on the camera or with the Quik app on my phone. But once we do one pass, the zoom defaults back to 1.0.

Any solutions? Thanks in advance.

MichaelWiebe

Has anyone figured out how to use the zoom with the GPS speed activation?
It would be great to have the zoom working with the auto on-off GPS speed activation.
Thanks in advance.

503Kento

I have a hero 7 and once the zoom is set it stays. I wish I could set it in the QR code though.

Maxsend

@MichaelWiebe @503Kento
Give this a try. I work at GoPro and got this info from the guy who developed the QR code system. Unfortunately, I'm currently alpine skiing and unable to test the optimal lens and zoom level. If you find a perfect setting/syntax, pls post back to this thread. Thx

-------------------------------------------

To control the lens and zoom level when using QR codes, add the following syntax into the ‘additional/added commend’ field in the QR code generator.

fW0 = wide lens with min level zoom
fW50 = wide lens with medium level zoom
fW99 = wide lens with max level zoom

fL0 = linear lens with min level zoom
fL50 = linear lens with medium level zoom
fL99 = linear lens with max level zoom

You can adjust the zoom level by entering numbers between 0 -99

503Kento

@Maxsend thanks, I’ll give it a try.

MichaelWiebe

@Maxsend Thanks so much. That is awesome. I'm in Florida for Christmas, and will give it a try. Super.
The below is what I'll try for 1.2 zoom to start. And I'll report back with results.
Happy holidays!

503Kento

@Maxsend does not seem to work on my Hero7