Firmware change request: Support for SD cards > 128 GB

[viofu]

I just tried the SanDisk Ultra 200GB (A1) and it does not work ("Memory error"). You can get it running by creating a 128 GB primary partition on it and formatting this with fat32 (mkfs.vfat).
This indicates that the limitation is purely in software as other devices have no problem using the same card with the full capacity (also formatted as fat32).

Viofo: Would be nice to have support for bigger cards so that I can record longer trips without having to swap SD cards.

If I can help with adapting the firmware let me know, I can code C/C++/Java and would be happy to alpha/beta-test as well.

fsck.vfat -v /dev/sdb1 output:

128GB partition - WORKING:
System ID "mkfs.fat"
Media byte 0xf8 (hard disk)
512 bytes per logical sector
32768 bytes per cluster
64 reserved sectors
First FAT starts at byte 32768 (sector 64)
2 FATs, 32 bit entries
16777216 bytes per FAT (= 32768 sectors)
Root directory start at cluster 2 (arbitrary size)
Data area starts at byte 33587200 (sector 65600)
4193279 data clusters (137405366272 bytes)
63 sectors/track, 255 heads
2048 hidden sectors
268435456 sectors total

183.4 GB partition - NOT WORKING:
System ID "mkfs.fat"
Media byte 0xf8 (hard disk)
512 bytes per logical sector
32768 bytes per cluster
64 reserved sectors
First FAT starts at byte 32768 (sector 64)
2 FATs, 32 bit entries
24051712 bytes per FAT (= 46976 sectors)
Root directory start at cluster 2 (arbitrary size)
Data area starts at byte 48136192 (sector 94016)
6006371 data clusters (196816764928 bytes)
1 sectors/track, 4 heads
2048 hidden sectors
384501760 sectors total

 

[IAmATeaf]

Quite surprised that a quite new model would have this size limit to be honest.

 

[kamkar]

Yeah assuming what i assume is inside it of hardware i am surprised too.
I would assume you can fit at least 10 hours of driving on a 128Gb card in the V3, that's a pretty long drive.

 

[CaptureYourAction]

The A119V3 supports up to 256GB cards.

 

[viofu]

Uh, oh. Can you name a 256 GB card that you had working? Can it be formatted in the cam?

Btw: the manual also states 128 GB is max (page 3).

 

[CaptureYourAction]

SanDisk High Endurance 256GB. Yes, it can be formatted in the camera. 256GB is also stated in the listing on the Viofo site. Manual needs to be updated.

VIOFO A119 V3 Car Dash Camera with Sony Starvis IMX335 sensor

VIOFO A119 V3 2K Car Dash Camera, Best Budget Dash Cam 2020, Reviewed by CarCamCentral.

www.viofo.com

 

[StinkyCheese]

Uh, oh. Can you name a 256 GB card that you had working? Can it be formatted in the cam?

Btw: the manual also states 128 GB is max (page 3).

I use a Sandisk Extreme Plus 256GB and a Samsung 256GB no problems.

Also somewhere on the Viofo page it says 256 supported. Same for the V2 even.

 

[themyst]

Confirmed 256GB Samsung EVO (Red) card works just fine in my V3.

 

[Kremmen]

I agree. The historic reason for published max card sizes was based on the format limitations.

Nextbase published 32GB max but I ran far larger cards without issue by formatting them to FAT32 with a PC tool then reformatting in the dashcam, never failed.

I think it's a case of trial and error.