VIOFO A129 non-IR 1080p Modified Firmware MODs Archive

[TonyM]

Asking for help testing A129 modified Sharpness values for Soft / Normal / Strong (Low/Med/High).
MOD-4Ra is lower sharpness level 60, should it drop lower?? Overall range is 40-80 where 80 is official v1.42 level.

Didn't MOD-5E have sharpness at 34?

 

[TonyM]

Asking for help testing A129 modified Sharpness values for Soft / Normal / Strong (Low/Med/High).
MOD-4Ra is lower sharpness level 60, should it drop lower?? Overall range is 40-80 where 80 is official v1.42 level.

FWA129_MOD-4Ra_v1.42+24Mbps+Sharp60+Edge158+DCTEAM.bin

Comparison between MOD-4Ra and official v1.42

MOD-4Ra sharpness looks more natural than v1.42 (see brickwork and trees)
Static scene number plate legibility is better (less over-sharpening)
Driving scene number plate legibility is about the same
Better highlight detail (see white sign in car park)

I think it's worth trying sharpness a bit lower to see what effect it has.

 

[BCHobbyist]

Created new A129Duo - Beta versions 4Ra , 4Rb , 4Rc
Feedback, footage and parked photos needed for each of these Sharpness levels. Comparisons for all lighting, road, speed and city conditions. These Sharpness levels will be applied to next VIOFO official firmware release.
For maximum Bit Rate set High then use 60fps disable Wifi and disconnect rear camera. Require verification Parking Mode works in all three modes even if you don't own the newest 3-hardwire kit.
Thanks for your time and support to improve image quality of A129 for all End Users.

FWA129_MOD-4Ra_v1.42+24Mbps+Sharp85+Edge150+DCTEAM.bin
- changed Sharpness from 128 to 85 to set Low/Soft value.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
FWA129_MOD-4Rb_v1.42+24Mbps+Sharp101+Edge150+DCTEAM.bin
- changed Sharpness from 128 to 101 to set Med/Normal value.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
FWA129_MOD-4Rc_v1.42+24Mbps+Sharp117+Edge150+DCTEAM.bin
- changed Sharpness from 128 to 117 to set High/Strong value.

Download > https://drive.google.com/open?id=1uCysvfp6NvSH3uSqXRN059DHu8Z7rlJf

 

[BCHobbyist]

Comparison between MOD-4Ra and official v1.42

MOD-4Ra sharpness looks more natural than v1.42 (see brickwork and trees)
Static scene number plate legibility is better (less over-sharpening)
Driving scene number plate legibility is about the same
Better highlight detail (see white sign in car park)

I think it's worth trying sharpness a bit lower to see what effect it has.

Great 4Ra comparisons, using your photos noticed my Edge Detection value casts slight halo over objects, therefore removed 4Ra (Edge158) replaced with Edge150, also agree Sharp96 isn't the 'soft' level, changed to 85.

 

[BCHobbyist]

Didn't MOD-5E have sharpness at 34?

A few weeks ago while tweaking Sharpness tables for A119S noticed a much easier method to adjust Sharpness over 6 to 8 tables at once. I've now abandoned the original Sharp40 Hack which does have great effect for an easier and End User controlled method VIOFO is about to release. Its the new MENU setting option = Sharpness Soft / Normal / Strong.
VIOFO's software engineer adjusts multiple sharpness tables directly which has the most control, but involves too much time on my side. Found a more hacker friendly method to adjust those values using another DVR brand's firmware tables.

 

[roadkill401]

I am wondering if you can mod the sound recording down to a much lower bitrate to offset computation on video. Thinking that you'd want to hear what is being said inside the car in an accident, but the difference between 16khz and 32khz for legibility is nominal. It would be great if there was offered perhaps a 22khz as well. Would this offload some computation and heat from the CPU for if you were trying to get the best video at the expense of audio?

 

[BCHobbyist]

I am wondering if you can mod the sound recording down to a much lower bitrate to offset computation on video. Thinking that you'd want to hear what is being said inside the car in an accident, but the difference between 16khz and 32khz for legibility is nominal. It would be great if there was offered perhaps a 22khz as well. Would this offload some computation and heat from the CPU for if you were trying to get the best video at the expense of audio?

Interesting idea, do you want your modified Audio Quality applied to A129 v1.42 official firmware, or combined with another MOD above?
11025 Hz
16000 Hz
22050 Hz
32000 Hz <== default
44100 Hz
Many consumers disable the MIC for privacy reasons. This idea to lower sound quality is reasonable and worth testing. Will create 16kHz version on default v1.42 now = MOD-R16

Update:
Created new A129Duo - Beta versions R16 , R22
You are correct @roadkill401 the change from 32kHz to 16kHz results in audio stream change from 96kb/s to 64kb/s, slightly less load on the chipset.
FWA129_MOD-R16_v1.42+Audio16+DCTEAM.bin
Download > https://drive.google.com/open?id=1-ZvWfWFmaUbiia2r1XA7Vivt14HmIpMp

FWA129_MOD-R22_v1.42+Audio22+DCTEAM.bin
Download > https://drive.google.com/open?id=1ucVDhv7Dopl4ggF67C_PJpq7ailbZtu1

Hope to see some of your 401 footage (nothing sensational just regular chaos) using my A129 MODs, plan to create another World Tour compilation for A129 owners.

 

[roadkill401]

It would be good to get it combined with some of the mods above like

- FWA129_MOD-4Ra_v1.42+24Mbps+Sharp85+Edge150+DCTEAM.bin

I didn't realize there was a 1.42 release out. I am currently sending my doa A129 back to amazon and they said they should be sending me a replacement unit in the next couple of days. It won't be unitl the weekend before I can even start to look at replacing the A119 that I currently have with the newer A129. I bought the newer version more to show my sister visiting from the UK as she is a driving instructor and am in shock she doesn't have a dash cam already installed in the car.

I don't know if the linked files above have any of the other upgrade mods done to improve picture quality. Being in Ontario Canada, I look at it as I likely would have a two configuration setup. Flash the higher bitrate for the winter time as we have really cold temps to aid us with keeping the chips and everything cool inside the dashcam during those months. And from experience, it's winter time when it seems that most of the other drivers on the road tend to get brain freeze and lose all ability or rationality when driving. I am not sure what it is like out in Vancouver.

 

[TonyM]

FWA129_MOD-4Ra_v1.42+24Mbps+Sharp85+Edge150
and
FWA129_MOD-4Rc_v1.42+24Mbps+Sharp117+Edge150

1080p60, 24.6Mbps

MOD-4Ra

MOD-4Rc

I think Sharpness 85 (4Ra) is plenty sharp enough.

MOD-4Ra was recorded on my pre-production A129, and has a warmer colour that I prefer. I did not notice such a difference in white balance in the comparisons that I recorded last week, so I do not think it is a hardware difference such as a different lens.

 

[TonyM]

My retail A129 running MOD-4Rc went into parking mode (5fps timelapse) after 30 seconds of being stationary. The pre-production unit did not. Perhaps a slight hardware difference? Anyway, parking mode works on the retail unit.

 

[DarthMaul]

You obviously forget your history!

We drive on the correct side of the road in the UK, like most of your Dutch (ex) colonies still do. It is you that choose to still obey your Emperor Napoleon and drive on the wrong side! Napoleon wanted everyone to drive on the wrong side because he was left handed so used his sword in the wrong hand so when on horseback he had an advantage if he forced everyone else to ride on the wrong side and thus have to use their swords not in the sword hand!


https://www.worldstandards.eu/cars/driving-on-the-left/

If you hold the sword with right hand, why do you force people to shift gears with the left hand? 🙂

 

[BCHobbyist]

It would be good to get it combined with some of the mods above like

- FWA129_MOD-4Ra_v1.42+24Mbps+Sharp85+Edge150+DCTEAM.bin

I didn't realize there was a 1.42 release out. I am currently sending my doa A129 back to amazon and they said they should be sending me a replacement unit in the next couple of days. It won't be unitl the weekend before I can even start to look at replacing the A119 that I currently have with the newer A129. I bought the newer version more to show my sister visiting from the UK as she is a driving instructor and am in shock she doesn't have a dash cam already installed in the car.

I don't know if the linked files above have any of the other upgrade mods done to improve picture quality. Being in Ontario Canada, I look at it as I likely would have a two configuration setup. Flash the higher bitrate for the winter time as we have really cold temps to aid us with keeping the chips and everything cool inside the dashcam during those months. And from experience, it's winter time when it seems that most of the other drivers on the road tend to get brain freeze and lose all ability or rationality when driving. I am not sure what it is like out in Vancouver.

Everyone driving a vehicle anywhere in the world should use a Dash Cam even if its only on a suction mount. Agreed our Canadian winters allow for maximum Bit Rates and will continue my efforts to unlock VIOFO's bit rate limits, 27Mbps does improve the video quality noticeably in all DVR models.
I lived in Toronto and Vancouver and insanity begins in early winter and reaches peak chaos during and after snow/ice storms. I always avoided driving the Metro Toronto 401 & 403 Highways and British Columbia Coquihalla Mountain Highways at that time of year. Plan to have 3 DVRs recording this winter to capture the insanity. Hope your replacement A129 from Amazon arrived soon, we need your regions test footage.

 

[Nigel]

If you hold the sword with right hand, why do you force people to shift gears with the left hand? 🙂

Because if you force them to use their right hand then they need to remove their steering hand from the steering wheel and use their other hand for steering instead, which in turn requires that they use the wrong side of their brain for steering, which can result in crashes!

Even though fewer countries drive on the left, major countries such as the United Kingdom and Australia drive on this side. In countries like the United States and Germany where people drive on the right there tends to be a greater number of vehicle accidents and fatal crashes. In fact, over the course of 100 million miles driven, there are 85 road fatalities per million inhabitants in Germany and 111 fatalities in the United States compared to 50 and 38 in Australia and the UK respectively.

https://www.hcalawyers.com.au/blog/...-are-right-to-be-driving-on-left-infographic/

However, a more profound aspect to this lies in the functional asymmetry in our brains: brain functions seem to be unevenly distributed between our left and right hemispheres with a specific distribution that is even found in most left handers. The preference we have, to use one hand or the other for this task or that, derives from this asymmetry, but is by no means its only consequence.

Now it seems that the left hemisphere is strictly aware only of the right half of our field of view, whereas the right hemisphere is aware of the entire field (even though it specifically controls the left eye). So, for example, if you are driving on the left it is the left hemisphere that is aware of oncoming traffic; if you are driving on the right, it is the right hemisphere that performs this role.

https://www.ricardopinto.com/2012/10/22/why-driving-on-the-left-may-be-safer/

 

[BCHobbyist]

FWA129_MOD-4Ra_v1.42+24Mbps+Sharp85+Edge150
and
FWA129_MOD-4Rc_v1.42+24Mbps+Sharp117+Edge150

1080p60, 24.6Mbps

MOD-4Ra

MOD-4Rc

I think Sharpness 85 (4Ra) is plenty sharp enough.

MOD-4Ra was recorded on my pre-production A129, and has a warmer colour that I prefer. I did not notice such a difference in white balance in the comparisons that I recorded last week, so I do not think it is a hardware difference such as a different lens.

Excellent A129 4R Low / High comparison! Agreed 4Ra Sharp 85 seems just soft enough to be Low level. The 4Rc Sharp 117 is actually a mistake on my part, it works best if 'even' numbered, regardless its very good but not reaching the HIGH level, may push it to 118 or 120, want to test it? Need more feedback from owners & reviewers before next range possibly Low 82 / Med 100 / High 120.

 

[jokiin]

My retail A129 running MOD-4Rc went into parking mode (5fps timelapse) after 30 seconds of being stationary. The pre-production unit did not. Perhaps a slight hardware difference? Anyway, parking mode works on the retail unit.

there is some difference, there's a post somewhere here where that was pointed out to @Harsh he might recall where it was

 

[Harsh]

Here. Puzzled why Tony's PP unit works fine with newer firmwares.

Bill sent me a partial blueprint pic as they don't have any PP units in their possession anymore but I was unable to make out where the parts are located.

Here's the pic, if anyone's interested in deciphering the location

 

[jokiin]

Here. Puzzled why Tony's PP unit works fine with newer firmwares.

might depend when it was made, this kind of change is an ongoing thing through the development process, you may have a different version to the one he has

 

[BCHobbyist]

Created new A129Duo - Beta versions 4Rd
Requested Audio quality reduction on latest 4Ra v1.42 Beta for those interested.

FWA129_MOD-4Rd_v1.42+24Mbps+Sharp85+Edge150+Audio16+DCTEAM.bin
- new Parking Mode Beta for 3-wire-kit.
- reduced Recorded Audio quality from 32kHz 96kbs to 16kHz 64kbs.

Download > https://drive.google.com/open?id=1oBhxf8KSJYbdMnpMc8DqJWtCpfQl2N6A

 

[TonyM]

More sample video from the R4a and R4c FW mods.

Settings:
1080p 60fps 24Mbps

MOD-R4a (Sharp85)

182MB original file : https://mega.nz/#!zsIkgapC!QQZRn6ohukLYwf5XBm4btTkhMGlI1PngtuPyDElmwEA

MOD-R4c (Sharp117)

182MB original file : https://mega.nz/#!CgYinYpZ!JpPeyhzKjXi7easue_vfDygRA0vMUJjejcVm4u_CXzk

Sample frames:

 

[BCHobbyist]

More sample video from the R4a and R4c FW mods.

Settings:
1080p 60fps 24Mbps

MOD-R4a (Sharp85)

182MB original file : https://mega.nz/#!zsIkgapC!QQZRn6ohukLYwf5XBm4btTkhMGlI1PngtuPyDElmwEA

MOD-R4c (Sharp117)

182MB original file : https://mega.nz/#!CgYinYpZ!JpPeyhzKjXi7easue_vfDygRA0vMUJjejcVm4u_CXzk

Sample frames:

Great comparison of Sharp 85 - Sharp 117, they are very close, difference most noticeable on back of white van, Sharp 85 isn't soft enough for Low and possibly 117 is too High.
Both show halo effect, must decrease Edge Detection from 150 to 148 or 146. Test suggests range 85-101-117 be changed to Sharp Low 70 / Med 80 / High 90 + Edge 146 , comments?