Mobius support thread and Tech Guide (post all problems/help requests here) Read posts #1-8 first

[Ziquillito]

Hello again.

I received the two mobius and the two micro SD cards.
I used SDFormatter and h2testw. It's all right.

Now I want to format with guiformat.

What size should I select in allocation unit size?

Quick format on or off?

Thank you

 

[TonyM]

Hello again.

I received the two mobius and the two micro SD cards.
I used SDFormatter and h2testw. It's all right.

Now I want to format with guiformat.

What size should I select in allocation unit size?

Quick format on or off?

Thank you

I recommend that you format the card in-camera using mSetup

 

[Ziquillito]

I recommend that you format the card in-camera using mSetup

H2testw has left files on my SD card. I had planned to format with guiformat to FAT32 and then reformat the card into the camera with msetup.

Would this procedure be correct?

 

[jokiin]

you can delete whatever h2testw leaves behind no problem, you can format in the camera, no need to format with GUIformat and then format in the camera

 

[Ziquillito]

thanks!

I've formatted with mSetup

I'm testing with the camera.

Without disassembling the camera, how can I check that the lens is well focused?

the mobius lens is factory focused?

 

[Dashmellow]

Without disassembling the camera, how can I check that the lens is well focused?

Connect the camera to your computer with a suitable USB cable and put the camera in "web cam mode". Point the camera at objects at various distances and see how it looks to you on your screen.

If you find that you need to focus the camera use the same method for focusing the lens. Personally, I use a three meter USB cable and point the camera out my office window to focus while looking at the computer screen.

Most web cam software will accommodate an external camera and should "see" the Mobius as an option once you set it to web cam mode. See the Mobius owner's manual if you need instructions on how to do that.

 

[Ziquillito]

Connect the camera to your computer with a suitable USB cable and put the camera in "web cam mode". Point the camera at objects at various distances and see how it looks to you on your screen.

If you find that you need to focus the camera use the same method for focusing the lens. Personally, I use a three meter USB cable and point the camera out my office window to focus while looking at the computer screen.

Most web cam software will accommodate an external camera and should "see" the Mobius as an option once you set it to web cam mode. See the Mobius owner's manual if you need instructions on how to do that.

I recorded this video with AMCap at 1280x720. Can I have your opinion?
Lens c2 and updated to 2.41.

I notice that mobius less than 1 foot is observed somewhat blurry, in the video you can observe the letters.

At more than 20 meters the sharpness could be better, but, I do not know if it is the resolution (1280x720) or the bad approach.

You who have more experience sure you can help me

Thank you

 

[Dashmellow]

I recorded this video with AMCap at 1280x720. Can I have your opinion?
Lens c2 and updated to 2.41.

I notice that mobius less than 1 foot is observed somewhat blurry, in the video you can observe the letters.

At more than 20 meters the sharpness could be better, but, I do not know if it is the resolution (1280x720) or the bad approach.

You who have more experience sure you can help me

Thank you

I think it looks OK but I can see where you might want to "tweak" the focus to be more optimal for how you use the camera. For example, if you wish to have farther away objects more in focus such as cars ahead of you in traffic you could move the optimal point of focus slightly farther away from where the lens is set now. The C2 lens is excellent but like most dash cam lenses it doesn't have the deep depth of field that some other lenses might. Each lens has what is called the hyperfocal distance. This is the point of focus that provides the optimal depth of field for your lens and your use of that lens. The depth of field is the range the lens can focus on simultaneously from the nearest object to the farthest object. The idea is to move that range closer or farther to meet your requirements.

Here is a graphic I made which I previously posted to another thread that may help you. The graphic refers to a variable focus lens from the thread Mobius 5MP Varifocal Zoom 6-22mm ƒ/1.6 but the concept is exactly the same for focusing any dash cam lens including fixed focus M12 lenses like the C2.

FYI: The resolution has no effect on the focus of the lens.

 

[Ziquillito]

I think it looks OK but I can see where you might want to "tweak" the focus to be more optimal for how you use the camera. For example, if you wish to have farther away objects more in focus such as cars ahead of you in traffic you could move the optimal point of focus slightly farther away from where the lens is set now. The C2 lens is excellent but like most dash cam lenses it doesn't have the deep depth of field that some other lenses might. Each lens has what is called the hyperfocal distance. This is the point of focus that provides the optimal depth of field for your lens and your use of that lens. The depth of field is the range the lens can focus on simultaneously from the nearest object to the farthest object. The idea is to move that range closer or farther to meet your requirements.

Here is a graphic I made which I previously posted to another thread that may help you. The graphic refers to a variable focus lens from the thread Mobius 5MP Varifocal Zoom 6-22mm ƒ/1.6 but the concept is exactly the same for focusing any dash cam lens.

FYI: The resolution has no effect on the focus of the lens.

View attachment 54716

Dashmellow, I have no words to tell you how grateful I am for your help.

I don't want to open the camera to adjust the focus because I'm afraid to break something.

I have 2 mobius to ride on the handlebars and saddle of my road bike for safety. I don't want beautiful landscapes or spectacular sunsets. The only goal for which you buy mobius is to identify license plates for dangerous drivers. I just want the license plates to look as clearly as possible.

If you consider that the right approach I will not touch anything else.

I only have two more doubts.

1- How can I protect the lens from the possible impact of some stone, gravel, insect?
2- In mSetup, advanced image options, I have not touched the settings, everything is in normal and by car. Should I leave it at that? Any adjustments that can improve the identification of license plates on sunny days, clouds - sun and clouds?

Thank you

 

[Dashmellow]

Dashmellow, I have no words to tell you how grateful I am for your help

You're welcome!

I don't want to open the camera to adjust the focus because I'm afraid to break something.

It's not really difficult and you probably won't break anything. Basically, it is two screws on the camera housing and then you loosen the little hex screw on the lens and then focus and re-tighten.

See: https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showpost.php?p=25170910&postcount=4

1- How can I protect the lens from the possible impact of some stone, gravel, insect?

Yes, the issue of wind blown sand and road grit has been discussed time and again here on the forum. You would need to come up with a DIY approach since as far as I know there is no protective filter on the market these days for the Mobius.

A few of us have come up with methods to attach a polarizer to a Mobius using an extra lens cap. You could do something similar but instead use a clear filter in place of a polarizer.

Here is one I did for a Mobius Maxi. @TonyM and @Harsh and a few other members here have done their own versions but I don't have time to search for them because I need to get back to work but maybe they can post some examples?

Anyway, if you carefully cut a hole in a spare lens cap and glue a filter to it you can make a protective filter for your camera. You could even use an inexpensive polarizer instead of clear glass and replace it when it gets too dinged from wind blown road particles.

 

[Harsh]

Mobius Telephoto Dashcam

Yeah, it's what I guess you'd call, "Up close and personal!":smuggrin: Using a telephoto lens this way is very interesting actually, but the problem I think is that if anything should ever happen that you have to report to the authorities, you might find yourself having to explain to someone...

dashcamtalk.com

 

[Ziquillito]

Mobius Telephoto Dashcam

Yeah, it's what I guess you'd call, "Up close and personal!":smuggrin: Using a telephoto lens this way is very interesting actually, but the problem I think is that if anything should ever happen that you have to report to the authorities, you might find yourself having to explain to someone...

dashcamtalk.com

I've been reading the topic that mentions @Harsh. The cpl filter improves the image substantially but for comments it also adds motion blur. On a bike where there is a big speed difference with the vehicles and you only have 5 or 6 frames to see the license plate this I do not know if it would be highly recommended.

I don't know what results Cpl can give with the wide-angle C2 lens.

So you have been able to experiment with cpl what is your opinion regarding this?

Plan B would stick a transparent glass 2mm thick. Possible reflexes?

Merry Christmas

Enviado desde mi Moto G (5) mediante Tapatalk

 

[kamkar]

A CPL in itself do not add motion blur, but as it do stop some light it can make the camera use a slower exposure, and that will introduce more motion blur.

When i use ND filters on my action camera it is always in fully manual mode, otherwise if left in automatic the camera will just move ISO around and so make the install of the ND filter useless.
In regard when people use ND filters it is to get a more cinematic look to the footage, which is motion blur.

 

[Dashmellow]

I've been reading the topic that mentions @Harsh. The cpl filter improves the image substantially but for comments it also adds motion blur. On a bike where there is a big speed difference with the vehicles and you only have 5 or 6 frames to see the license plate this I do not know if it would be highly recommended.

I don't know what results Cpl can give with the wide-angle C2 lens.

So you have been able to experiment with cpl what is your opinion regarding this?

Plan B would stick a transparent glass 2mm thick. Possible reflexes?

Merry Christmas

Enviado desde mi Moto G (5) mediante Tapatalk

You can buy a small UV or clear filter that could be mounted exactly like in the photo above or in @Harsh's link. They can be found on eBay and elsewhere online.

A small piece of clear glass, even a square piece with the cut lens cap glued to it should work fine as well.

One thing you may need to do is to make sure that whatever method you use is secure enough not to fall off the camera. There would likely be a lot of shocks and vibrations on a bike that you probably would never have to worry about with the same filter attached to a camera inside a car.

 

[Roger]

The biggest problem is that the camera does not record video properly. I've set my camera to record both audio and video. In the files that it saves the audio is fine, but the video is just a still shot that is kept across all recorded files for the duration of the driving. It's like the camera starts to shoot video, manages to store some frames and then the recording somehow brakes (or maybe the sensor; I don't know) leaving the rest of the videos having only that last frame printed on them. I tested it in webcam mode and a similar behavior happened: it started to display some video, but then the picture froze and didn't change. I disconnected it and tried again, but nothing happened.

Hello & please forgive me for reactivating such an old thread. I have not been on this forum for a long time & apologize for that too. Reason for my absence is that I have a Mobius which has performed so flawlessly that I've almost forgot about it. I'm Roger, 77 years old, reside in Paradise, Newfoundland & Labrador and I have had several Mobius cameras & love them. I can't remember what my forum name was but I did contribute for quite awhile and enjoyed every minute of it. Not even sure what I have now but I think it's a Mobius 2 with a "C" lens - I'm sure about the lens. The camera have work perfectly up until today. I've played with it, connected it to my computer reset the parameters & tried a few things to get it working again. Current reality that prompts my visit here today is that the camera "appears normal" when it's in the car - comes to life when I open car door, red light on rear is blinking, light underneath starts with the quick blue then turns to the blinking amber which is the normal process. We went for a long drive & the camera stayed on and appeared to be functioning as normal & expected. Upon arriving home I took the camera to my computer to view the results. There were a fair number of 5 minute clips and the audio was perfect. BUT, there was no video. ALL five minute frames showed only the very first image, which was a "still shot" of the front of our condo building.
I'd like to fix the problem (if I can) & would welcome any advice/suggestions that some may have to offer.
IF /IF it's seen better days (like me) & time to be retired (like me), that's fine - it has served me very well & I'd be only too happy to buy another one & reinstall it in my vehicle as a safety measure. My need for it "may" be even more needed as I age and my reflexes gradually slow down....
So, if no reasonably easy fix / solution, could some one kindly direct me to a trusted source to buy a new one - many thanks.
P.S. if anyone on the forum remembers who I am / was (user name) I'd love to get reacquainted with myself. Cheers = Roger (is how I usually signed off my posts).....

 

[Necromancer]

Hello & please forgive me for reactivating such an old thread. I have not been on this forum for a long time & apologize for that too. Reason for my absence is that I have a Mobius which has performed so flawlessly that I've almost forgot about it. I'm Roger, 77 years old, reside in Paradise, Newfoundland & Labrador and I have had several Mobius cameras & love them. I can't remember what my forum name was but I did contribute for quite awhile and enjoyed every minute of it. Not even sure what I have now but I think it's a Mobius 2 with a "C" lens - I'm sure about the lens. The camera have work perfectly up until today. I've played with it, connected it to my computer reset the parameters & tried a few things to get it working again. Current reality that prompts my visit here today is that the camera "appears normal" when it's in the car - comes to life when I open car door, red light on rear is blinking, light underneath starts with the quick blue then turns to the blinking amber which is the normal process. We went for a long drive & the camera stayed on and appeared to be functioning as normal & expected. Upon arriving home I took the camera to my computer to view the results. There were a fair number of 5 minute clips and the audio was perfect. BUT, there was no video. ALL five minute frames showed only the very first image, which was a "still shot" of the front of our condo building.
I'd like to fix the problem (if I can) & would welcome any advice/suggestions that some may have to offer.
IF /IF it's seen better days (like me) & time to be retired (like me), that's fine - it has served me very well & I'd be only too happy to buy another one & reinstall it in my vehicle as a safety measure. My need for it "may" be even more needed as I age and my reflexes gradually slow down....
So, if no reasonably easy fix / solution, could some one kindly direct me to a trusted source to buy a new one - many thanks.
P.S. if anyone on the forum remembers who I am / was (user name) I'd love to get reacquainted with myself. Cheers = Roger (is how I usually signed off my posts).....

I've yet to run into this myself so i can't speak from experience.
But troubleshooting it from webcam mode seems the easiest to see instant results.
Try to hit the reset button, sometimes it works.
Try to disconnect and reconnect the lens ribbon from PCB.
IF it still persist, and you have another mobius camera on your hands, try to swap the lens. If it fixed after swapping - its a problem with the lens module. If its not fixed - its problem with the PCB.
If it runs on battery - try swap/capacitor connected to USB power. faulty battery may cause loads of issues.

 

[Roger]

I've yet to run into this myself so i can't speak from experience.
But troubleshooting it from webcam mode seems the easiest to see instant results.
Try to hit the reset button, sometimes it works.
Try to disconnect and reconnect the lens ribbon from PCB.
IF it still persist, and you have another mobius camera on your hands, try to swap the lens. If it fixed after swapping - its a problem with the lens module. If its not fixed - its problem with the PCB.
If it runs on battery - try swap/capacitor connected to USB power. faulty battery may cause loads of issues.

Thanks kindly for the reply & suggestions. I will try the reset button & see if that helps. Unfortunately, the other suggestions are not within my limited ability to do some of those things now. I no longer have a second mobius because I had it hard wired into a car that I've since sold. I don't even know if I have a battery or a capacitor. I just found a box of spare parts that I had for various mounting options & in that box is what appears to be a new battery along with a precision screwdriver to fit for removing the screws. I'm "thinking" (given the presence of what looks like a new battery) that either I bought a spare or swapped it out for a capacitor at some point. I will take it apart for a look see & will report back. It also appears that I bought one of my 2 cameras in later 2015. This one (with the C lens) was the second purchase & probably still in 2015. That being said, it might make a bunch of sense to buy a new one - they're not all that expensive (in relative terms). Not sure at this point which camera I have but would like to get an identical replacement as it has worked so perfectly for so many years. I do know for sure that it has a C lens - it sticks outside the case - I'm assuming that it's a C2. The small light above the heat-sinks is rectangular as opposed to a circle or oval. Any help with identification of this camera would be greatly appreciated. Cheers = Roger
)

 

[Dashmellow]

@Roger, if you could post a photo of your camera, especially with the front of the lens facing forward it would help identify which model you have.

BTW, there is no need to apologize for "bumping" an old thread, especially for a venerable old camera like the Mobius which is still offered for sale and still in use by many.

 

[Roger]

Thank you kindly Dashmellow. I've read thru a number of posts trying to reacquaint myself with the forum & I'm a fan of "search" first before posting a new thread or bumping an old one. I do indeed recall your past assistance to "many" fellow members & I sincerely appreciate your response & offer.
Since I last replied, I've had a go at it. My camera has only 2 screws at the front behind the lens - not the 4 that I recall in posts 1-8. Upon opening it I see that the battery "appears" to be swollen (compared to the one that I found in my box). So I pulled it and (after some frustration with my eyesight & hands) I managed to install the other one (new ?). I did a reset with a small Allen key that I think came with the camera and perhaps intended for adjusting the focus on the lens - memory is not what it used to be !! I tried plugging it into my computer but it's not recognized at this time as a removable drive. I had this problem before and usually after several attempts it will work. I thought perhaps the battery would need charging, so I plugged it into a USB block used for my phone. The light on the top is a steady color green - it did flash blue initially & quickly turned to green. I can easily take a picture of the camera with either my iPhone or a "real" camera BUT I have no idea how to put it into a post......
Fortunately, I have never had a real "need" for the camera from an accident perspective - 60+ years of driving without an "at fault" accident !!
BUT, having it there does give one a sense of security. Additionally & lately, our local Law Enforcement agencies do from time-to-time ask folks if they have any "dash cam video" to assist with an investigation.
Sorry, I digress & ramble too much....Cheers = Roger

 

[Dashmellow]

The green light means that the battery is charging. When it goes out the battery is fully charged.

Make sure you have a memory card in the camera when it is plugged into the computer, otherwise it will not show up as a removable volume. Also, make sure you use a USB cable that has a data connection. Some USB cables only provide for charging but no data connection with the computer. That is often the explanation when some members report that the green light illuminates but the camera doesn't appear as a removable drive.

You mentioned you may have a Mobius 2 camera and we need to clarify if that is the case.

I think it's a Mobius 2 with a "C" lens

Just to be clear which camera you have, does it look like this one below? This a Mobius 1 camera with a C2 lens.

Or does your camera look like this one? This is a Mobius 2 camera.

Note the difference in the appearance of these two lenses. The C2 lens is on the left and the original "C" lens is on the right.