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GoPro Hero 7 Compatibility

Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2019 1:10 pm
by Mark-McG
Hi there,

I have been using and loving the lap timer. I want to go a step further and record using a GoPro with the timer.

I was considering the latest hero 7 for the smoothest footage but I notice that the app only mentions the hero 6. Can anyone confirm if the 7 does or does not work?

Thanks, Mark

Re: GoPro Hero 7 Compatibility

Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2019 9:56 am
by Harry
I received multiple confirmations it is working using the HERO 6 setting. I have not received a report on problems.

- Harry

Re: GoPro Hero 7 Compatibility

Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2019 1:13 pm
by PitrsRS
Hi, I tried GoPro 6 mode with 7 Black camera and I have some issues. Phone looks like connected to the GP, but HLT dont see it. I must turn off and on wifi on phone, then I hear some beeps from camera but its still disconected

Re: GoPro Hero 7 Compatibility

Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2019 2:44 pm
by Harry
This is most probably around the issues we face with all action cam connections - i.e. not HERO 7 specific.

Please see Video Documentation on www.gps-laptimer.de/documentation for a step by step description.

The most frequent issues are about keeping the WiFi connection between smartphone and action cam (smartphones tend to drop connection because it does not provide Internet access), and access conflicts with GoPro's own app. The later needs to be killed to allow LapTimer access the HERO.

- Harry

Re: GoPro Hero 7 Compatibility

Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2019 1:08 pm
by PitrsRS
And what about Bluetooth connection to maintain connectivity between app and camera? Because if I´m right, even if camera is off, and connection is enabled, then camera keeping BT alive for wake up and after woke up turn on wifi

Re: GoPro Hero 7 Compatibility

Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2019 2:27 pm
by Harry
Yes, that's what I name "GoPro Over-Engineering". They use BT to sleep and wake up the cam's WiFi to safe battery. The odd thing for the user is, that WiFi may drop without notice in case the app is not talking to the cam. It will still show WiFi is active, but actually isn't. That's the reason I recommend to run the steps from enabling GoPro WiFi / join the network / enable external video recording in one sequence. Once LapTimer has external video recording enabled (Race ‣ Timer ‣ Video), it will constantly send "keep alive" messages. This is making sure the connection isn't lost.

GoPro's Bluetooth interface is not documented publicly. They had a 3rd party program which allowed access, but it has been closed 2 years ago. That's the reason WiFi is the only communication used for remote controlling.

- Harry

Re: GoPro Hero 7 Compatibility

Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2019 9:20 pm
by PitrsRS
I never thought that I´ll say it but "golden GoPro3" I never had problems like this on it :/

Re: GoPro Hero 7 Compatibility

Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2019 9:43 pm
by PitrsRS
I dont get it. I see in app connected camera. After that, when I click on "Start" app start recording. Until this point it looks OK. BUT. When I click on "STOP", counter is stopped, but camera recording is still going. It records maybe 10-20s more and than camera will stop recording.

After that, when I hit "START" again, app start counting, but camera will do nothing. I tried it several times and everytime its the same :( So I clicked on "STOP" and after maybe 1 minute later camera itself started recording for few seconds. It looks like some big LAG in communication.

Can it be a problem with combination of Android and GoPro?

Re: GoPro Hero 7 Compatibility

Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2019 9:55 pm
by Harry
PitrsRS wrote: Mon Feb 11, 2019 9:20 pm I never thought that I´ll say it but "golden GoPro3" I never had problems like this on it :/
Indeed, it had no Bluetooth. Instead it had separate WiFi and cam modules (in one case). The WiFi could be power on while the cam could be turned on and off to not use battery.

Harry

Re: GoPro Hero 7 Compatibility

Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2019 10:46 pm
by PitrsRS
Hi Harry, any thoughts about my last post about problems with communication? :?