Hi,
I am holding back on getting a A129 Duo + 3 wire hard wire kit as I understand that a newer version of the 3 wire hardware kit is due for release.
I would be very happy to do an early detailed test and review of the operation of new HK3 hardwire kit when it is ready.
Regards Terry
Given that the original post was almost three years ago, has there been any progress with a new hardwire kit to fix the issues?
I've been using the A129 Pro Duo without any issues at all while using the hardwire kit ever since the A129 Pro was originally released. However, the ribbon cable connector inside the camera for the GPS/Power unit appears to have gotten brittle and broke on me while I was putting a fresh supply of thermal past on the heatsink recently, so I ordered a new A129 Pro to replace it. After getting the new one and putting it in my vehicle, I discovered this odd high pitch sound mentioned above would develope after about 15 minutes of operation (kind of sounds like a field of crickets at night) which is both audible to the ear as well as on the recordings. Very annoying to say the least.
I didn't have this problem with my original A129 Pro, so I tried troubleshooting it with the help of Viofo and it was ultimately returned after Viofo decided it was an internal issue with the camera. After ordered and receiving another new A129 Pro to replace the one I sent back, the same problem exists, Ugh! What are the odds that I would get another defective camera?
In order to determine if the noise is caused by the hardwire kit, I unplugged the hardwire kit from the GPS unit and plugged the cigarette lighter USB cord into the GPS unit instead. To my surprise, the noise doesn't occur at all with the cigarette lighter USB power supply, and it has crystal clear audio at all times.
I wonder if the problem with the A129 Pro hardwire kit is possibly caused by changed/modified components inside the Viofo front camera, as I have noticed there are some internal changes between the one I just received and my original A129 Pro.
I'm going to do another experiment on Monday; I'm going to plug the hardwire kit back into the GPS unit and also plug the cigarette lighter USB cord directly into the camera in combination with each other. My theory is, if the hardwire kit is causing electrical noise in the current, for whatever reason, the cigarette lighter power source may eliminate that noise in the current and stabilize the supply while also continuing to allow parking mode to operate when the vehicle (cigarette lighter USB) is turned off.
As an electrical engineer, what are your thoughts on this and/or on any other corrective measures to correct this issue?
What component in the hardwire kit circuitry is causing this noise??
Why doesn't this noise occur in my original A129 Pro with the same hardwire kit, but it does occur in all of the new A129 Pro camera's I've received this year???
I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Randy