Problems using my S5 as a video camera on the bike

[DBM_imp]

I recently upgraded my cell phone from a Galaxy S5 to a Note 8. I have been using my old S5 as a music player and off line GPS with Google maps. It is working great. Yesterday on my ride l tried to use it as a video recorder as l rode my Black Beauty through some local twisties. I was having problems with some unknow electronic interfearence causing the video to pulsate with waves across the screen. I tried changing camera position, turning off other apps, unplugging the USB power, etc, but nothing worked to solve my issue. This phone has recorded countless hours of perfect video footage over the last few years in my hand. Anybody had this problem? I can post a link to the footage if needed. This was not just vibration, it was sometime else l have never seen. Looking for help to solve this issue. Thx

[SportsterDoc]

You may want to ask thedroidguy.com

[Lord Popgun]

You might, and I say might, be getting interference from the bike’s serial data bus if the phone is mounted by the meter panel. Or maybe ECU leakage or some such. Unless its external interference.

On the Navy base in Norfolk there are LOTS of areas that mess up phones or kill cell reception. Lots of RF of various sorts on a Navy base.

Probably should what Sportsterdoc says...

[GoldOxide_imp]

I am wondering if the phone was - by fluke - sensitive to spark ignition interference? This the first time using the phone while riding the CB? Maybe I misunderstood, but did the problem persist after you walked away from the CB?

[DBM_imp]

I am wondering if the phone was - by fluke - sensitive to spark ignition interference? This the first time using the phone while riding the CB? Maybe I misunderstood, but did the problem persist after you walked away from the CB?

As stated above, lve been using the S5 as a off line GPS and music player on the bike with no issues. It was when l tried to use the video recorder that l had problems.

[max]

GoldOxide makes a very important point DBM, we don't know on what position of the bike if any you used the phone.
Give it some thought, could you see it in the phone's screen whilst recording or was it only visible when the video was played back and is it still happening when the bike is switched off?

If you can see it whilst recording it may be a good idea to see where on the bike is it worst and how far away it stops , remember you are the only one of us that has seen this, so for a more conclusive result you would want to help us find your answer.

By the way are you still enjoying the cb?

[DBM_imp]

I am thoughly enjoying my black beauty. It is my dream bike bone stock. A few minor adjustments and all is well. 3k miles so far. My buddies are doing their best to keep me in sight on the local twisties. Could not be happier. Oh, by the way, l paid 5,999.00 new

[SportsterDoc]

I am wondering if the phone was - by fluke - sensitive to spark ignition interference? This the first time using the phone while riding the CB? Maybe I misunderstood, but did the problem persist after you walked away from the CB?

Good thought, although popgun's concern about the serial data bus may be more likely since standard spark plugs are resistor (LMAR8A-9S 6817).

However, any arcing from a loose spark plug cap could be an issue. Does not explain why it only affects video.

[GoldOxide_imp]

I am wondering if the phone was - by fluke - sensitive to spark ignition interference? This the first time using the phone while riding the CB? Maybe I misunderstood, but did the problem persist after you walked away from the CB?

Good thought, although popgun's concern about the serial data bus may be more likely since standard spark plugs are resistor (LMAR8A-9S 6817).

However, any arcing from a loose spark plug cap could be an issue. Does not explain why it only affects video.

Good thought, although popgun's concern about the serial data bus may be more likely since standard spark plugs are resistor (LMAR8A-9S 6817).

However, any arcing from a loose spark plug cap could be an issue. Does not explain why it only affects video.
I agree with a possible loose spark connection or questionable lead wire under the tank. However, I can't see any serial data bus creating interference with video. High-speed serial links are supposed to be shielded, but even still, the shielding is there to protect the serial link data, not the other way around.

In regards to the video driver and/or screen module: It could be possible that over time an "antenna" has formed (e.g. something come loose, something lightly shorting inside) in the phone circuitry related to the video that is picking up on interference and corrupting scan data. Of course, you will need to determine if it is being recorded that way, in which case it is not a video problem but a camera or write storage problem (e.g. micro SD card connector does not like the CB subtle vibration?). Is the playback okay on another device and/or away from the bike?

[egleaves_imp]

DBM, I experienced something similar several months back. This was with an iPhone, but turned out to be a hardware issue that might still affect other brands.

First, I was playing around with an app that claims to turn your smart phone video camera into a dash cam. Without going into all the details, it was a fine app but I determined it wasn’t going to work on my bike because the video feed would show a wavy image like you describe and it seemed rpm sensitive. Higher revs would increase the distortion. I tried different mounting positions but nothing helped. Long story short...not useful.

Days later I was out on a ride and stopped to take a photo with my phone. I couldn’t get the camera to focus and I could actually hear the camera mechanism whining and grinding like it wasn't sure what to do next. I went ahead and snapped a picture and got this:




The distortion is similar to what the video feed was producing. From that point forward I could rarely get my camera to focus on anything unless is was a closeup shot. Neat effect, though.