VIOFO A119S Modified Firmware MODs Archive

[gse]

Yes, I'm glad to participate in this matter, but my knowledge is far from programming, I'm more versed in the collection and analysis, there are no experts like you here,
@BCHobbyist just started to delve into these questions, if you still came to the rescue, it's great.

 

[Caerus]

Here are some stock Beta 4.02 (with the boosted bitrate to 25.6Mbps) night videos. I think we should also make sure that any improvements done to the daytime video also improve night, or at least don't negatively affect it. Testing out a free Mega account as my google drive is starting to get full.

Settings: 1080p@30fps + CPL + EV 0 + WDR Off + Frequency 60Hz + Sharpness Soft

Same Corydon/Osborne streets:
https://mega.nz/#!jnQwlAwK!e3_WzrvZr30C_5YpmUz1WyF0DsgHrWqxUJ57TqWm_Y0
https://mega.nz/#!2rx0GQqT!zLHo9SFbnKiXKLhXVevIWUKbYkdmfgzgTxWLsvslp-U

It does appear to use any available light source to brighten the picture relatively well. Any building lights, vehicles on the sides, etc., do help to illuminate the picture of those areas, so the left and right edges do get a decent boost. But there is so much noise over everything. Overall detail is affected badly. The picture isn't too bad as long as you're not moving, or going very slowly, but once you're at any amount of speed, the noise is terrible and the picture falls apart. The image also isn't that much brighter than what 1.01 7Hb is capable of, and video is clear in comparison, both at standstill and when moving.

Is this an exposure and gamma issue? Can a MOD even be done to address this at all?

Here are the night videos from 1.01 7Hb Corydon/Osborne streets for comparison: (some probably have downloaded these already)
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1OsI9YoCW74NqP6e6VGXuyhD0UJirnQ-2
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1JGT7b7SRG1MlZ2F8wh-kxcWcLxrfW2xI

Look at the difference! The Beta 4.02 does occasionally get a brighter picture, and the left and right sides are lit a little better with the same light sources, but I think the trade off of introducing so much noise to everything isn't worth it. 1.01 might be a little bit darker, but remains clear, especially in the most important part, which is right in front of your car.

Here are a couple more Beta 4.02 night videos. You can see the picture is a mess when you're moving. Light sources do brighten the picture, but it is still so noisy.
https://mega.nz/#!DjwGnKBA!zQBE2EQ7hv5QaeWnAcsLtrQ86wOFZW4emitkj7Tgarw
https://mega.nz/#!er4kiIxK!tlrPyw3PYxh5U9-wMKQv2K5CzKTgacpXz4EwWGhRw2E

What did they think was so wrong with the settings of 1.01 that it needed to be overhauled completely?

 

[Koganiz]

FWA119S_MOD-6Nb_v4.02+26Mbps+Sharp204080+Edge178+Sat+1
Settings: 1080p@60fps + CPL + EV 0 + WDR Off + Frequency 60Hz + Sharpness Soft 20

It looks over saturated and over sharped.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/mnzadjfqx...Sharp204080+Edge178+Sat+1 - SHARP 20.MP4?dl=0

 

[BCHobbyist]

This curve has not tried to change?

0000
08001000180020002800300038004000
48005000580060006800700078008000
880090009800A000A800B000B800C000
C800D000D800E000E800F000F8000001
08011001180120012801300138014001
48015001580160016801700178018001
880190019801A001A801B001B801C001
C801D001D801E001E801F001F8010002
08021002180220022802300238024002
48025002580260026802700278028002
880290029802A002A802B002B802C002
C802D002D802E002E802F002F8020003
08031003180320032803300338034003
48035003580360036803700378038003
880390039803A003A803B003B803C003
C803D003D803E003E803F003F803FF03
FF03

As you know all Novatek DVRs use similar firmware structure allowing comparison between different DVR models and even Brands. Unknown to many here I frequently use other unpacked firmware for devices I do not own to guide the modifications for A119S. Once these data tables are accepted as useful on A119S with our very active Beta Testing Team I apply it to all VIOFO DVRs. Currently I've located 6 large Sharpness tables and 2 very small. Of them many have separate settings for night and day. These require extra testing and was about to ask the Team here to aid me when VIOFO injected the v4.02 Beta for testing. All other large scale Sharpness and remaining Image Quality testing has been put on hold while the Team helps VIOFO with the v4.02 Beta insanity.
Priority is now to balance the new Sharpness Soft / Normal / Strong levels.
have identified v4.02 default table as:
00000000000000008080808080808080BEBEC8F5F5D2BEBE8080808080808080
My current 6M & 6N modified firmware adjusted this small table to: 20 / 40 / 60 and await the Beta Team to confirm this data table is correctly being adjusted:
2040602040602040602040602040602040602040602040602040602040602040

 

[BCHobbyist]

FWA119S_MOD-6Nb_v4.02+26Mbps+Sharp204080+Edge178+Sat+1
Settings: 1080p@60fps + CPL + EV 0 + WDR Off + Frequency 60Hz + Sharpness Soft 20

It looks over saturated and over sharped.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/mnzadjfqx5ir8y7/FWA119S_MOD-6Nb_v4.02+26Mbps+Sharp204080+Edge178+Sat+1 - SHARP 20.MP4?dl=0

Ageed but Don't laugh !!!
I may have reversed the LOW and HIGH values, please compare both, my defense is unspeakable but if proven correct I may reveal where I took the 20/60/80 data table from.
update:
Viewed that footage 10 times and possible Sharpness = Low 20 could be acceptable if Edge Detection is reduced.
Request @Koganiz to download and install the replacement MOD-6Nc with lower Edge Detection, I forgot to lower Saturation.

 

[Caerus]

Ageed but Don't laugh !!!
I may have reversed the LOW and HIGH values, please compare both, my defense is unspeakable but if proven correct I may reveal where I took the 20/60/80 data table from.

FWA119S_MOD-6Na_v4.02+26Mbps+SharpFix
Here's a clip from the MOD with just the sharpness adjustments done.

All of my usual settings + sharpness 20
https://mega.nz/#!fuYi1CiT!GU5f-HNMY3uOCE2nJh4Y1_9W-QFkXQ2sY5RGgXUiuEY

Have a look at the firetruck, and the license plate of the car in front of me has very little shimmering/flickering, and it occurs much farther away. It is much more usable now. Depending on taste it could drop down further, but this level could maybe be the medium setting.

 

[Falsificator]

BCHobbyist, I am interested in the parameters of the three curves.
You can experiment with these parameters when there is free time...
Offsets in FWA119S@00000000.rbn
Curves #1...6: 0061DBA0 (large tables)
Curve#7: 00639F88
Curve#8: 0063A08C
Curve#9: 0063A190 (short table)

 

[lukasz.pl]

Here are some clips from FWA119S_MOD-6Nb_v4.02+26Mbps+Sharp204080+Edge178+Sat+1.
1080p@30fps, wdr off, cpl on, ev 0, sharpness strong.

I've noticed that from time to time (mostly when the light conditions change) there is a noticeable change in sharpness (noise reduction algorithm?).

1) at around 44sec:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NpK7D1k194dgJd-mEPQhRhdhb9fKNrxY/view?usp=sharing

2) at around 24sec:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VgpM7xByR3C6Jweyn4pLwquihNDouGb2/view?usp=sharing

3) at around 15 sec:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hu9BHFKusXIFsNwGGKL1Y8Nf8qEBhFgS/view?usp=sharing

4) beginning and then 41sec and 53sec:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KWDM8BuezD750Ox1yK6c7KLeK92E420I/view?usp=sharing

 

[BCHobbyist]

FWA119S_MOD-6Na_v4.02+26Mbps+SharpFix
Here's a clip from the MOD with just the sharpness adjustments done.

All of my usual settings + sharpness 20
https://mega.nz/#!fuYi1CiT!GU5f-HNMY3uOCE2nJh4Y1_9W-QFkXQ2sY5RGgXUiuEY

Have a look at the firetruck, and the license plate of the car in front of me has very little shimmering/flickering, and it occurs much farther away. It is much more usable now. Depending on taste it could drop down further, but this level could maybe be the medium setting.

Excellent footage using 6Nb and over head wires & Firetruck to test Sharp Low 20. Suggest all your future footage require following Firetrucks. Look at the outline of ladders on top of truck, that is more Edge Detection than Sharpness, possibly both could use reduction slightly.
Suggest @Caerus also load 6Nc to confirm only reduced Edge Detection values improve object definition for this MOD.
A few pages back I stated VIOFO had created the original Sharpness Table values seemingly too high then we hacked them to improve IQ. These v4.02 MODs all use VIOFO's orignal well balanced main Sharpness table. We will adjust them eventually but this footage demonstrates leaving them alone still creates very good quality.
I agree with @Caerus 's observations that Low 20 could become Med 20. What I really need to determine is how high should HIGH level be set?
MOD-6Nb = Sharp High 80
MOD-6Nc = Sharp High 60
send in your observations to reduce this wild range of Sharpness, enjoy the Wacky Weekend MODs you are about to see baking on my 486DX40 super computer with monochrome monitor.

 

[BCHobbyist]

BCHobbyist, I am interested in the parameters of the three curves.
You can experiment with these parameters when there is free time...
Offsets in FWA119S@00000000.rbn
Curve#1: 00639F88
Curve#2: 0063A08C
Curve#3: 0063A190 (short table)

Appreciate your offerings and help. The tables you isolated are at the end of partition#0 in a region I've not explored. It does look like a highly important position in overall structure in v4.02 looks very interesting indeed, now I'm distracted again. Just to allow others to get a sense or this discovery... this area shown as tiny bar graphs on left is between two large firmware data structures common at the end of partition#0 and ignored up until today. "What evil lurks in the hearts of man, @Falsificator knows"

Spoiler: Data Structure

 

[BCHobbyist]

Here are some clips from FWA119S_MOD-6Nb_v4.02+26Mbps+Sharp204080+Edge178+Sat+1.
1080p@30fps, wdr off, cpl on, ev 0, sharpness strong.

I've noticed that from time to time (mostly when the light conditions change) there is a noticeable change in sharpness (noise reduction algorithm?).

1) at around 44sec:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NpK7D1k194dgJd-mEPQhRhdhb9fKNrxY/view?usp=sharing

2) at around 24sec:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VgpM7xByR3C6Jweyn4pLwquihNDouGb2/view?usp=sharing

3) at around 15 sec:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hu9BHFKusXIFsNwGGKL1Y8Nf8qEBhFgS/view?usp=sharing

4) beginning and then 41sec and 53sec:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KWDM8BuezD750Ox1yK6c7KLeK92E420I/view?usp=sharing

Great observations, I've also noticed similar is other footage. Was going to suggest you review your official V4.02 footage for confirmation its also present but I believe its also shown in v2.61, in that case its an auto correction algorithm possibly related to Sharpness or high Edge Detection. Usually this type of IQ issue can be identified if its related to MODs as we test versions with & without them loaded. Let me know if it continues and if it has in past, good eyes, very helpful!

 

[lukasz.pl]

Great observations, I've also noticed similar is other footage. Was going to suggest you review your official V4.02 footage for confirmation its also present but I believe its also shown in v2.61, in that case its an auto correction algorithm possibly related to Sharpness or high Edge Detection. Usually this type of IQ issue can be identified if its related to MODs as we test versions with & without them loaded. Let me know if it continues and if it has in past, good eyes, very helpful!

Haven't noticed it before, that was the first time, but I'll keep an eye on it.

Wysłane z mojego SM-G950F przy użyciu Tapatalka

 

[BCHobbyist]

Custom Logo Tips
Currently when anyone changes A119S startup Logo the new Logo must be the same 5.12KB file size or smaller to fit in the space VIOFO's logo occupied within the firmware. This current procedure to change Logos works but if you later replace your smaller file size Logo with another of same size it will no longer fit since the space reserved in firmware for graphic has changed to fit second logo. Creating smaller and smaller JPEG files to overwrite previous shouldn't be used, just create a new MOD from official firmware. At this time there isn't a way to enlarge the 5.12KB graphic space, but it would be very helpful if VIOFO released a 10KB version of their own Logo so we can use the extra space after we remove it....
update:
Now that I've typed this out one simple verification occurs to be, why not locate the Data Table containing the VIOFO Logo (easy) and insert 00hex values until its doubled in size and verify firmware will load.
This idea failed, must wait for VIOFO to start using larger Logo files.
If VIOFO 's Logo was similar size used in other brand DVRs which use 22.1KB that allows much more creativity by End User for Custom Logo.

 

[Falsificator]

Sometimes it is more convenient to search for values in DEC format.

 

[BlackCloud]

Agreed, the ribbon cable isn't the easiest thing to reconnect. I suggested for one reason, on clips from that original Lens and new Ribbon cable there is a floating rainbow but not shown on new DVR. The rainbow could be from sunlight thru CPL or tinted windshield or even cleaner left on glass but if so should appear in both side-by-side Cams. Just an idea to check the ribbon was straight and all the way in the clip.
The new slightly lower camera angle is better. Now you can test the new Beta v4.02 two settings at a time.

Ok that rainbow thing is not new it has been there for very long time. Not sure what it is but usually only there when heading toward the sun. My guess is some sort of prism effect with this particular lens. It seems to be there with or without the CPL there. This screen shot is from well before any modifications began.

 

[BlackCloud]

This clip really shows me the Flaw in the Lens Left Side Focus! The gas Station on the left is really fuzzy while the white cargo van and mustang on the right are alot clearer.
I know this is not the fault of the firmware but an ongoing issue with this camera it was also tilted down a click from where I previously had it and it shows more interior on the windshield and dash and hood.

I'll probably revert this cam back to official release firmware for further comparisons. Comparisons can hardly be apples to apples here with the flaws of this cam and the entirely different lens on the new camera. Also I only have the one CPL filter and having one with and one without seems to skew the results a bit as well and in my vehicle the CPL is a must.

This is the Old Cam NO CPL Mod 5e firmware
1080p60
WDR=Off
Ev=0
60hz

Forgot to add the Clip of the New Camera from same time!

 

[Koganiz]

Ageed but Don't laugh !!!
I may have reversed the LOW and HIGH values, please compare both, my defense is unspeakable but if proven correct I may reveal where I took the 20/60/80 data table from.
update:
Viewed that footage 10 times and possible Sharpness = Low 20 could be acceptable if Edge Detection is reduced.
Request @Koganiz to download and install the replacement MOD-6Nc with lower Edge Detection, I forgot to lower Saturation.

May be it's my eyes, but I don't see much difference

FWA119S_MOD-6Nb_v4.02+26Mbps+Sharp204080+Edge178+Sat+1
Settings: 1080p@60fps + CPL + EV 0 + WDR Off + Frequency 60Hz + Sharpness 20
https://www.dropbox.com/s/mnzadjfqx5ir8y7/FWA119S_MOD-6Nb_v4.02+26Mbps+Sharp204080+Edge178+Sat+1 - SHARP 20.MP4?dl=0

Settings: 1080p@60fps + CPL + EV 0 + WDR Off + Frequency 60Hz + Sharpness 80
https://www.dropbox.com/s/a8b7xtkxw73mdzi/FWA119S_MOD-6Nb_v4.02+26Mbps+Sharp204080+Edge178+Sat+1 - SHARP 80.MP4?dl=0

I'll try the MOD-6Nc.

 

[Koganiz]

Here is the MOD-6Nc footage taken with sharpness 20 and 60 on the same route almost at the same time.
The difference is obvious, sharpness 60 is too much, 20 looks much better (I might want it even lower).

Settings: 1080p@60fps + CPL + EV 0 + WDR Off + Frequency 60Hz + Sharpness 20
https://www.dropbox.com/s/t6zeh32rbxrfo1k/MOD-6Nc_SHARP_20.MP4?dl=0

Settings: 1080p@60fps + CPL + EV 0 + WDR Off + Frequency 60Hz + Sharpness 60
https://www.dropbox.com/s/lbryowafijzyu2p/MOD-6Nc_SHARP_60.MP4?dl=0

 

[BCHobbyist]

The time, effort and teamwork displayed in this thread is outstanding! Everyone involved deserves a salary raise plus Bonus! If your name hasn't been shown in video Acknowledgements let me know.
All that's missing is a catchy NAME
DCTeam = DashCam Team

 

[BCHobbyist]

May be it's my eyes, but I don't see much difference

FWA119S_MOD-6Nb_v4.02+26Mbps+Sharp204080+Edge178+Sat+1
Settings: 1080p@60fps + CPL + EV 0 + WDR Off + Frequency 60Hz + Sharpness 20
https://www.dropbox.com/s/mnzadjfqx5ir8y7/FWA119S_MOD-6Nb_v4.02+26Mbps+Sharp204080+Edge178+Sat+1 - SHARP 20.MP4?dl=0

Settings: 1080p@60fps + CPL + EV 0 + WDR Off + Frequency 60Hz + Sharpness 80
https://www.dropbox.com/s/a8b7xtkxw73mdzi/FWA119S_MOD-6Nb_v4.02+26Mbps+Sharp204080+Edge178+Sat+1 - SHARP 80.MP4?dl=0

I'll try the MOD-6Nc.

Thanks for the 6Nb footage, your footage demonstrates the HIGH 80 setting is useless (bad value) probably out of range or basically means use previous setting, that is an important discovery.