Drift Ghost XL

Last modified by Leon Poon on 2021/04/15 10:17

upc 710535815474.

First run on a new device

From fully charged battery until auto-off, just leaving it in the living room filming a ticking LED clock. Firmware version 2026 (per the number displayed on the device). Timestamping on video image is switched ON. 1080p 30fps.

Sandisk 128gb (Red text on black) micro sdcard formatted in device just prior to starting test. Disk usage at the end of the test:

$ df -h /mnt/disk
Filesystem      Size  Used Avail Use% Mounted on
/dev/sda1       120G   58G   63G  48% /mnt/disk

ffmpeg -i output:

303M 2021-04-13 23:25:42.000000000 +0800 VID00001.MP4 Duration: 00:03:20.43, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 12678 kb/s
156M 2021-04-13 23:27:30.000000000 +0800 VID00002.MP4 Duration: 00:01:37.36, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 13386 kb/s
216M 2021-04-13 23:30:04.000000000 +0800 VID00003.MP4 Duration: 00:02:24.64, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 12469 kb/s
 84M 2021-04-13 23:31:13.000000000 +0800 VID00004.MP4 Duration: 00:00:57.76, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 12061 kb/s
 96M 2021-04-13 23:32:24.000000000 +0800 VID00005.MP4 Duration: 00:01:02.20, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 12837 kb/s
 68M 2021-04-13 23:33:14.000000000 +0800 VID00006.MP4 Duration: 00:00:39.67, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 14171 kb/s
120M 2021-04-13 23:34:43.000000000 +0800 VID00007.MP4 Duration: 00:01:19.11, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 12632 kb/s
107M 2021-04-13 23:36:04.000000000 +0800 VID00008.MP4 Duration: 00:01:11.20, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 12605 kb/s
 93M 2021-04-13 23:37:08.000000000 +0800 VID00009.MP4 Duration: 00:00:53.39, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 14605 kb/s
184M 2021-04-13 23:39:17.000000000 +0800 VID00010.MP4 Duration: 00:01:58.65, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 12969 kb/s
 62M 2021-04-13 23:40:12.000000000 +0800 VID00011.MP4 Duration: 00:00:44.81, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 11589 kb/s
 63M 2021-04-13 23:41:01.000000000 +0800 VID00012.MP4 Duration: 00:00:39.21, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 13440 kb/s
140M 2021-04-13 23:42:39.000000000 +0800 VID00013.MP4 Duration: 00:01:28.66, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 13195 kb/s
 60M 2021-04-13 23:43:27.000000000 +0800 VID00014.MP4 Duration: 00:00:38.47, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 12949 kb/s
128M 2021-04-13 23:44:52.000000000 +0800 VID00015.MP4 Duration: 00:01:15.58, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 14166 kb/s
 91M 2021-04-13 23:45:58.000000000 +0800 VID00016.MP4 Duration: 00:00:55.86, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 13648 kb/s
160M 2021-04-13 23:47:48.000000000 +0800 VID00017.MP4 Duration: 00:01:39.27, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 13439 kb/s
 88M 2021-04-13 23:48:56.000000000 +0800 VID00018.MP4 Duration: 00:00:58.46, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 12492 kb/s
 76M 2021-04-13 23:49:55.000000000 +0800 VID00019.MP4 Duration: 00:00:49.32, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 12785 kb/s
 72M 2021-04-13 23:50:45.000000000 +0800 VID00020.MP4 Duration: 00:00:40.17, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 14893 kb/s
260M 2021-04-13 23:53:42.000000000 +0800 VID00021.MP4 Duration: 00:02:46.73, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 13031 kb/s
100M 2021-04-13 23:54:54.000000000 +0800 VID00022.MP4 Duration: 00:01:01.26, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 13563 kb/s
 80M 2021-04-13 23:55:51.000000000 +0800 VID00023.MP4 Duration: 00:00:46.35, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 14384 kb/s
3.3G 2021-04-14 00:25:47.000000000 +0800 VID00024.MP4 Duration: 00:29:50.59, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 15807 kb/s
3.3G 2021-04-14 00:55:37.000000000 +0800 VID00025.MP4 Duration: 00:29:50.59, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 15507 kb/s
3.0G 2021-04-14 01:25:28.000000000 +0800 VID00026.MP4 Duration: 00:29:50.59, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 14235 kb/s
3.1G 2021-04-14 01:55:19.000000000 +0800 VID00027.MP4 Duration: 00:29:50.59, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 14476 kb/s
3.1G 2021-04-14 02:25:09.000000000 +0800 VID00028.MP4 Duration: 00:29:50.59, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 14428 kb/s
3.2G 2021-04-14 02:55:00.000000000 +0800 VID00029.MP4 Duration: 00:29:50.59, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 14898 kb/s
3.3G 2021-04-14 03:24:50.000000000 +0800 VID00030.MP4 Duration: 00:29:50.59, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 15728 kb/s
3.4G 2021-04-14 03:54:41.000000000 +0800 VID00031.MP4 Duration: 00:29:50.59, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 16120 kb/s
3.3G 2021-04-14 04:24:31.000000000 +0800 VID00032.MP4 Duration: 00:29:50.59, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 15661 kb/s
3.1G 2021-04-14 04:54:22.000000000 +0800 VID00033.MP4 Duration: 00:29:50.59, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 14679 kb/s
3.1G 2021-04-14 05:24:12.000000000 +0800 VID00034.MP4 Duration: 00:29:50.59, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 14589 kb/s
3.1G 2021-04-14 05:54:03.000000000 +0800 VID00035.MP4 Duration: 00:29:50.59, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 14789 kb/s
3.3G 2021-04-14 06:23:53.000000000 +0800 VID00036.MP4 Duration: 00:29:50.59, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 15400 kb/s
3.4G 2021-04-14 06:53:44.000000000 +0800 VID00037.MP4 Duration: 00:29:50.59, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 15929 kb/s
3.4G 2021-04-14 07:23:34.000000000 +0800 VID00038.MP4 Duration: 00:29:50.59, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 16120 kb/s
3.4G 2021-04-14 07:53:25.000000000 +0800 VID00039.MP4 Duration: 00:29:50.59, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 16120 kb/s

Total duration 08h57m33.

Input #0, mov,mp4,m4a,3gp,3g2,mj2, from 'VID00039.MP4':
  Metadata:
    major_brand     : avc1
    minor_version   : 0
    compatible_brands: avc1isom
    creation_time   : 2021-04-14T07:23:25.000000Z
  Duration: 00:29:50.59, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 16120 kb/s
    Stream #0:0(eng): Video: h264 (Main) (avc1 / 0x31637661), yuv420p(tv, bt709), 1920x1080, 15987 kb/s, 29.97 fps, 29.97 tbr, 30k tbn, 59.94 tbc (default)
    Metadata:
      creation_time   : 2021-04-14T07:23:25.000000Z
      handler_name    :  Ambarella AVC
      encoder         : Ambarella AVC encoder
    Stream #0:1(eng): Audio: aac (LC) (mp4a / 0x6134706D), 48000 Hz, mono, fltp, 128 kb/s (default)
    Metadata:
      creation_time   : 2021-04-14T07:23:25.000000Z
      handler_name    :  Ambarella AAC

There is also a 3.4G 2021-04-14 08:21 VID00040.MP4 that cannot be played by VLC. Still, Linux file command identify it as VID00040.MP4: ISO Media, MPEG v4 system, 3GPP JVT AVC [ISO 14496-12:2005]. ffmpeg says:

[mov,mp4,m4a,3gp,3g2,mj2 @ 0x55cff13c1600] moov atom not found
VID00040.MP4: Invalid data found when processing input

Second Run

Also from full battery. However charging was complete by early noon and recording start only in evening.

432M 2021-04-14 19:43:15.000000000 +0800 VID00041.MP4 Duration: 00:03:08.02, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 19238 kb/s
 60M 2021-04-14 19:43:56.000000000 +0800 VID00042.MP4 Duration: 00:00:30.60, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 16179 kb/s
 72M 2021-04-14 19:44:43.000000000 +0800 VID00043.MP4 Duration: 00:00:36.97, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 16166 kb/s
 55M 2021-04-14 19:45:21.000000000 +0800 VID00044.MP4 Duration: 00:00:28.50, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 16176 kb/s
 56M 2021-04-14 19:45:59.000000000 +0800 VID00045.MP4 Duration: 00:00:28.53, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 16176 kb/s
 56M 2021-04-14 19:46:38.000000000 +0800 VID00046.MP4 Duration: 00:00:28.70, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 16167 kb/s
 56M 2021-04-14 19:47:17.000000000 +0800 VID00047.MP4 Duration: 00:00:28.76, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 16161 kb/s
 60M 2021-04-14 19:47:57.000000000 +0800 VID00048.MP4 Duration: 00:00:30.60, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 16177 kb/s
 53M 2021-04-14 19:48:35.000000000 +0800 VID00049.MP4 Duration: 00:00:27.13, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 16202 kb/s
 52M 2021-04-14 19:49:12.000000000 +0800 VID00050.MP4 Duration: 00:00:26.76, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 16207 kb/s
 56M 2021-04-14 19:49:50.000000000 +0800 VID00051.MP4 Duration: 00:00:28.60, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 16152 kb/s
 61M 2021-04-14 19:50:32.000000000 +0800 VID00052.MP4 Duration: 00:00:31.30, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 16180 kb/s
 51M 2021-04-14 19:51:08.000000000 +0800 VID00053.MP4 Duration: 00:00:26.43, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 16161 kb/s
8.7M 2021-04-14 19:51:17.000000000 +0800 VID00054.MP4 Duration: 00:00:04.30, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 16792 kb/s
-- restarted recording: --
246M 2021-04-14 20:04:45.000000000 +0800 VID00055.MP4 Duration: 00:01:41.77, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 20205 kb/s
 52M 2021-04-14 20:05:19.000000000 +0800 VID00056.MP4 Duration: 00:00:23.66, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 18264 kb/s
 40M 2021-04-14 20:05:47.000000000 +0800 VID00057.MP4 Duration: 00:00:18.35, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 18265 kb/s
 35M 2021-04-14 20:06:12.000000000 +0800 VID00058.MP4 Duration: 00:00:15.05, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 19256 kb/s
 31M 2021-04-14 20:06:35.000000000 +0800 VID00059.MP4 Duration: 00:00:12.35, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 20431 kb/s
5.1M 2021-04-14 20:06:42.000000000 +0800 VID00060.MP4 Duration: 00:00:02.17, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 19523 kb/s

A few minutes after starting at 7:43pm, it began to beep every few seconds. The recording was stopped and reviewed. There are approximately 10s gap between each file. My guess is that the camera has issue writing to the sd card and gave up after buffering 10sec of output, hence dropping the buffered video content and started writing to new file.

Another recording was started at 8:04pm with a more drastic result, since I had set the bitrate to high rather than the default medium.

Upon reviewing the files from the first run, the same issue is observed.

(Durations 00h08m06 and 00h01m59)

I went to flash the firmware. It was actually downgraded from 2026 to version 2015.

Third Run (different firmware version)

There is no recharge between 2nd and 3rd run. (I remove SDcard from device, rather than connecting the device to the computer via USB). The firmware downgrade erased all my settings so I had to switch on timestamping again. I left bitrate at medium.

3.7G 2021-04-14 20:48:35.000000000 +0800 VID00061.MP4 Duration: 00:27:11.50, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 19286 kb/s
3.7G 2021-04-14 21:15:45.000000000 +0800 VID00062.MP4 Duration: 00:27:09.36, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 19317 kb/s
3.7G 2021-04-14 21:42:54.000000000 +0800 VID00063.MP4 Duration: 00:27:09.36, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 19316 kb/s
3.7G 2021-04-14 22:10:04.000000000 +0800 VID00064.MP4 Duration: 00:27:09.36, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 19317 kb/s
3.7G 2021-04-14 22:37:13.000000000 +0800 VID00065.MP4 Duration: 00:27:09.36, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 19317 kb/s
3.7G 2021-04-14 23:04:22.000000000 +0800 VID00066.MP4 Duration: 00:27:09.36, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 19316 kb/s
3.7G 2021-04-14 23:31:32.000000000 +0800 VID00067.MP4 Duration: 00:27:09.36, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 19317 kb/s
3.7G 2021-04-15 00:01:11.000000000 +0800 VID00068.MP4 Duration: 00:29:39.91, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 17681 kb/s
3.2G 2021-04-15 00:31:02.000000000 +0800 VID00069.MP4 Duration: 00:29:50.59, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 15210 kb/s
2.9G 2021-04-15 01:00:52.000000000 +0800 VID00070.MP4 Duration: 00:29:50.59, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 13573 kb/s
2.9G 2021-04-15 01:30:43.000000000 +0800 VID00071.MP4 Duration: 00:29:50.59, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 13753 kb/s
2.9G 2021-04-15 02:00:34.000000000 +0800 VID00072.MP4 Duration: 00:29:50.59, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 13442 kb/s
2.8G 2021-04-15 02:30:24.000000000 +0800 VID00073.MP4 Duration: 00:29:50.59, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 13351 kb/s
3.0G 2021-04-15 03:00:15.000000000 +0800 VID00074.MP4 Duration: 00:29:50.59, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 13948 kb/s
3.3G 2021-04-15 03:30:05.000000000 +0800 VID00075.MP4 Duration: 00:29:50.59, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 15446 kb/s
3.5G 2021-04-15 03:59:56.000000000 +0800 VID00076.MP4 Duration: 00:29:50.59, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 16648 kb/s
3.2G 2021-04-15 04:29:46.000000000 +0800 VID00077.MP4 Duration: 00:29:50.59, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 15037 kb/s

(Also: unplayable 3.1G 2021-04-15 04:59:13.000000000 +0800 VID00078.MP4)

$ df -h .
Filesystem      Size  Used Avail Use% Mounted on
/dev/sda1       120G  119G 1023M 100% /mnt/disk

Things are much more stable and there are no time gaps between each video. However we need to do a few more runs to ensure this firmware solved the problem.

Total duration for this battery = 00h08m06 + 00h01m59 + 8h11m01 = 8h21m06, including fiddling with settings/sdcard/firmware in-between.