Hello guest, if you read this it means you are not registered. Click here to register in a few simple steps, you will enjoy all features of our Forum.
This forum uses cookies
This forum makes use of cookies to store your login information if you are registered, and your last visit if you are not. Cookies are small text documents stored on your computer; the cookies set by this forum can only be used on this website and pose no security risk. Cookies on this forum also track the specific topics you have read and when you last read them. Please confirm whether you accept or reject these cookies being set.

A cookie will be stored in your browser regardless of choice to prevent you being asked this question again. You will be able to change your cookie settings at any time using the link in the footer.

Thread Rating:
  • 0 Vote(s) - 0 Average
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
FatShark DVR Firmware Update - Fixes Dropped Frames
#1
Some time ago, FatShark in conjunction with immersionRC released a v1.2 firmware update for the DVR on the their goggles that fixed an issue with black frames sometimes appearing in the DVR footage when used with the rapidFIRE module. The underlying cause was specified as being something to do with the DVR sometimes switching between PAL and NTSC mode during DVR recording due to the type of signal coming from the rapidFIRE module. The fix apparently locks the mode when the DVR is switched on / recording is started so the mode won't try to dynamically switch itself from PAL to NTSC or vice versa while recording is in progress.

I always update firmware on my equipment as soon as I can after a new stable version is released but because I don't run the rapidFIRE module and because this was being marketed as a fix for the rapidFIRE issue, I didn't see any point in updating the firmware or want to take the risk in case it introduced another issue. There was also no original stock firmware available for download anywhere so I wouldn't have been able to go back to the original version if I needed to.

However, in a new video just released by Lee (link at the bottom of this post), he states that the fix also prevents dropped frames in the DVR feed. I had no idea this was the case and it's not specified anywhere in the firmware release notes. I think this may therefore be a lucky side effect of the rapidFIRE issue fix and is something that will be really useful to owners of FatShark goggles even if they don't use a rapidFIRE module.

Dropped DVR frames have always been a PITA if you're trying to sync up DVR footage with HD cam footage because the DVR footage is always shorter due to the inevitable dropped frames. This means that over a time period, the DVR footage goes out of sync with the HD footage resulting in you having to split the DVR footage and then add in additional still frames to try and force it to stay in sync with the HD footage.

And on top of the above, the original stock v1.1 firmware is also now available which means in the case of any issues, you have the option of going back to the old version again.

I will now be updating the firmware on mine later on today Smile

I find it a bit odd that firmware updates for a FatShark product are only available on the immersionRC website but the firmware files are available for download at the link below.

https://www.immersionrc.com/fatshark-dvr-updates

EDIT: The firmware is compatible with all FatShark DVR module on the Dominator HD2, HD3, SE, HDO, T2, V3 and Attitude V4. Some others need the FSV3303 replacement DVR unit in order to do the upgrade. See the PDF file in the firmware ZIP file.

[Image: xVTslaGl.jpg]

[-] The following 3 users Like SnowLeopardFPV's post:
  • kaitylynn, Oscar, KonradS
Reply
Login to remove this ad | Register Here
#2
I just realised that this firmware update isn't just for the HDO goggles. It is also for all other FatShark goggles that use the FSV3303 & FSV3305 DVR modules. I've edited the title to exclude an explicit reference to "HDO" goggles and I've also amended the original post to include a paragraph and image stating compatible models.
Reply
#3
Back in the days (probably about 1-2yrs ago) when Blackbox log were a big things, it wasn't recommended to use DVR footage because of drop frames.

Thanks for the update. (all puns intended)
Reply
#4
(17-Mar-2019, 05:14 PM)voodoo614 Wrote: Back in the days (probably about 1-2yrs ago) when Blackbox log were a big things, it wasn't recommended to use DVR footage because of drop frames.

I can't actually believe it's taken them so long to fix the dropped frame issue that everyone had been crying out to be fixed for so long, and then not even publicise that the fix applied for the rapidFIRE module also fixes that long running problem as well. It's quite bizarre.

I've since found out that it's apparently the immersionRC developers who write and maintain the DVR code for FatShark which explains why immersionRC have taken charge of publishing the FatShark goggles firmware their own website. I'm still surprised there's not even a single mention of it on the FatShark website blog though.
Reply
#5
(17-Mar-2019, 09:07 PM)SnowLeopardFPV Wrote: I can't actually believe it's taken them so long to fix the dropped frame issue that everyone had been crying out to be fixed for so long, and then not even publicise that the fix applied for the rapidFIRE module also fixes that long running problem as well. It's quite bizarre.

I've since found out that it's apparently the immersionRC developers who write and maintain the DVR code for FatShark which explains why immersionRC have taken charge of publishing the FatShark goggles firmware their own website. I'm still surprised there's not even a single mention of it on the FatShark website blog though.

People have been crying for an on/off switch forever. My point is, I am not at all surprised. Fatshark has always been a slow mover.
Reply
#6
Gal Kremer just posted the comparison video below showing the difference between the stock v1.1 firmware and the new v1.2a firmware.

By the end of the video you can see that the stock v1.1 firmware on the left is slightly ahead of the new v1.2 firmware on the right due to the dropped frames in the stock version. So this proves the frame drop fix has worked Big Grin

Well done FatShark / immersionRC for finally sorting out this long standing issue Thumbs Up

Reply
#7
So by the sound of it, fixing the frame drop issue wasn't really their intention? But it was fixed by accident? Big Grin hehe
Well done Fatshark...
Don't be a LOS'er, be an FPV'er :)  My Gear - Facebook - Instagram - Twitter
Reply
#8
(19-Mar-2019, 10:31 PM)Oscar Wrote: Well done Fatshark...

or... ImmersionRC? Big Grin
Find me on Youtube and Instagram. I currently fly: DRC Aura, NOX5R, Minimalist 112 and drive a scrap RC car
Reply
#9
Yesterday I took a few flights with the new v1.2a DVR firmware and something I found when i got back was that the 2nd recording I did of seven flights was completely black & white. This has never happened before. It seems to be more than a coincidence that this happened after I did a DVR firmware upgrade.

I'm also not sure why it's only black & white on just one of the seven recordings. It may be a different sequence of events I went through like powering on the quad first then powering on the goggles, or vice versa that contributed to this, but I can't remember if I did anything differently for that particular flight.

My camera is set to output NTSC but my OSD settings in Betaflight are on "Auto" which they always have been and this has never previously been a problem. I will force the OSD to "NTSC" and see if I get any more black & white DVR footage, but it's just something to be aware of in case anyone else experiences the same issue.

I'll post back once I'm confident that forcing the OSD format fixes the issue, or if I still get any black & white recordings.
Reply
#10
I just thought I post back with an update about the black & white DVR recording issue that I reported in my previous post. Since I forced the Betaflight OSD setting to use the NTSC format (same as my camera is producing) I've not had any more black & white DVR footage and I've done quite a few flights since that problem. Whether that is the real fix or not I can't say for sure but it seems to have solved my issue (for now) Smile
Reply
#11
Well, out of 4 DVR recordings this morning, one of them (the first one) turned out to be black & white, so the forcing of the format to NTSC in the Betaflight OSD didn't resolve that issue. Like before, I don't remember if I did anything different on the first flight than I did for the subsequent flights with regards to the order I powered things up.

It's a bit annoying because that first flight was probably one of the best of the four and typically I also forgot to to switch on my HD cam so the B&W DVR is the only footage I have of that flight.

B&W DVR recordings have only ever happened since the new v1.2a firmware was loaded so I guess a bug for that got introduced along with the rapidFIRE and frame dropping fix which is causing the black & white output. The picture in the screens of the goggles was in glorious colour the whole time, as it's previously always been.

Just something to be aware of if you rely on DVR recordings to be in colour for uploading to YouTube etc.
[-] The following 1 user Likes SnowLeopardFPV's post:
  • rossmoney
Reply
#12
(12-Apr-2019, 12:16 PM)SnowLeopardFPV Wrote: Well, out of 4 DVR recordings this morning, one of them (the first one) turned out to be black & white, so the forcing of the format to NTSC in the Betaflight OSD didn't resolve that issue. Like before, I don't remember if I did anything different on the first flight than I did for the subsequent flights with regards to the order I powered things up.

It's a bit annoying because that first flight was probably one of the best of the four and typically I also forgot to to switch on my HD cam so the B&W DVR is the only footage I have of that flight.

B&W DVR recordings have only ever happened since the new v1.2a firmware was loaded so I guess a bug for that got introduced along with the rapidFIRE and frame dropping fix which is causing the black & white output. The picture in the screens of the goggles was in glorious colour the whole time, as it's previously always been.

Just something to be aware of if you rely on DVR recordings to be in colour for uploading to YouTube etc.

any updates with the black and white DVR after the update? 
hoping to upgrade the firmware on my HDO/rapidfire's some point soon...
Reply
#13
(05-Jun-2019, 06:04 AM)rossmoney Wrote: any updates with the black and white DVR after the update? 
hoping to upgrade the firmware on my HDO/rapidfire's some point soon...

No change unfortunately.

I went out early on Saturday just gone and flew my 5". No problems with any of the recorded DVR. All files were in colour.

Then straight after I went to the park and flew 10 packs on my whoop. The first 5 DVR recordings turned out to be black & white and the last 5 were colour.

So this on a different quad proves that it is something to do with the goggles. The feed on my screen is always in colour. It's only the DVR that sometimes comes out B&W.

I never used to get this issue until after I upgraded to the v1.2a DVR firmware, and I still can't work out what sequence of events might cause it or if it's just random.

I'm thinking about raising a support call with FatShark.

It would certainly be good to know if anyone else is experiencing the same issue.
Reply
#14
(05-Jun-2019, 08:24 AM)SnowLeopardFPV Wrote: I'm thinking about raising a support call with FatShark.

I've now submitted a request for support with FatShark so I'll wait and see what they have to say. I'll report back once I get a response.
[-] The following 1 user Likes SnowLeopardFPV's post:
  • rossmoney
Reply
#15
(05-Jun-2019, 08:24 AM)SnowLeopardFPV Wrote: No change unfortunately.

I went out early on Saturday just gone and flew my 5". No problems with any of the recorded DVR. All files were in colour.

Then straight after I went to the park and flew 10 packs on my whoop. The first 5 DVR recordings turned out to be black & white and the last 5 were colour.

So this on a different quad proves that it is something to do with the goggles. The feed on my screen is always in colour. It's only the DVR that sometimes comes out B&W.

I never used to get this issue until after I upgraded to the v1.2a DVR firmware, and I still can't work out what sequence of events might cause it or if it's just random.

I'm thinking about raising a support call with FatShark.

It would certainly be good to know if anyone else is experiencing the same issue.

Dear friend,

I have the same problem with black and white images. Perform the DVR update to version 1.2a and the problem continues. Could it be that my DVR would already have version 1.2a pre-installed? My goggles are purchased in November 2018.
Reply


Possibly Related Threads...
Thread Author Replies Views Last Post
  Burned MOSFET on Fatshark HDO2 necbot 8 440 13-Mar-2024, 05:03 PM
Last Post: husafreak
  Announcement TBS Fusion 2.34 (Beta) Firmware Released SnowLeopardFPV 10 4,824 06-Mar-2024, 01:27 AM
Last Post: SnowLeopardFPV
  News New Achilles Plus Firmware Update - v2.10 SnowLeopardFPV 16 7,707 11-Jan-2024, 11:48 PM
Last Post: SnowLeopardFPV
  Help Fatshark hdo2 turns off at 7.8v konfuzuyyus 16 583 27-Nov-2023, 01:28 PM
Last Post: SnowLeopardFPV
  Discussion Fatshark Dominator questions 4 Inch Pistons 12 781 15-Nov-2023, 05:14 AM
Last Post: mstc


Login to remove this ad | Register Here