Multicam issues

[tomprout]

Hi,

I just updated Multicam and HLT applications to version 20.0 and I noticed that multicam does not work anymore.
I have a master IPhone 5S and 3 old Iphones (2 x IPhone 4S + 1 IPhone 4). Master can connect to a slave IPhone for a few seconds then I get a disconnection. I was able to have a connection to 2 of my 3 slaves for few seconds. I never saw my 3 slaves connected at the same time.

Thanks

[Harry]

Yes, this is some communication from the beta:

Migrated MultiCam app communication from GameKit to MultiPeerConnectivity; ...; oddly MultiPeerConnectivity does not work a lot better than the outdated GameKit library; similar issues when connecting to multiple devices, and a common WiFi connection is still required...

Oddly, Apple created a mess here. Firstly, they added the requirement for a common WiFi connection to both GameKit and MultiPeerConnectivity (and didn't fix it for several releases now) and furthermore the old GameKit interface used by LapTimer v19 is deprecated now. So the current solution is kind of the best can do with Apple's technologies but actually needs to be replaced completely. I'm tempted to use BT Low Energy as it looks like the most reliable and open solution available. I would introduce two issues however: throughput is very limited and the life preview in Video View would probably not be available any more. And it would change the line of MultiCam devices to those featuring BT LE. For iOS, this is 4S and later. On the other hand, it would add the option to use Android phones on top... Transfer of footage would need a change too, I'd go for a convenient fully integrated WiFi connection here.

- Harry

[tomprout]

Hello,

Thanks for the information. Where can I track this issue? I would like to know as soon as you find a workaround... Thanks!

[Harry]

Please subscribe to the Announcements subforum here on the forum, or like LapTimer's Facebook page. I announce new features to both channels.

- Harry

[gplracerx]

Is this why when I try to use Multicam with an iPhone 4s as master, a GoPro Hero3 and an iPhone 4 running Multicam, it says no cameras are connected? The iPhone 4 Multicam is connected to the GoPro WiFi network. If I turn off the iPhone, the GoPro works, or at least seems to. However, I started recording video early, and when the lap finished, the GoPro was still recording, but I couldn't find a button to stop recording. Cancelling the lap didn't help. I had to stop the GoPro manually.

[Harry]

I need to recheck this. I doubt it is related to the additional MultiCam app - at least app-wize. But knowing about the issues with the underlying network framework, it is not impossible there are some side effects.

Harry

[Harry]

Update: I missed you probably used a Stop trigger (no Stop/Go)? This is the reason you do not get a Cancel or Stop button - these operations are bound to data recording. The video continued however, because it has been started manually... A quick fix would be to stop the video in case a lap is finished by a Stop trigger - even when started in mixed mode. Another one would be to add a new button to Timer View "Stop Video"... This however looks pretty overcomplicated to me... In case you record both internal and external videos, you should be able to stop the recording in Video View by the ways. But this path is closed for external only operation...

- Harry

[gplracerx]

OK. So I'll continue to use internal and external with the internal set to low resolution.

Could I set the finish to Stop/Go without a conflict with the Go at start?

[Harry]

You will get a warning when changing the finish trigger to stop/go (two starts) but otherwise it should work. Use Cancel once you have stopped again. This will purge the incomplete section starting at the finish line.

As it is a special use case, I have added the todo to 20.1 - not one of the bug fix releases.

- Harry

[gplracerx]

I was able to get a master without video to connect to both a GoPro Hero 3 and an iPhone 4 running Multicam. But it was kind of hit or miss. You had to add things in the right order. I'm still not sure that I have a reproducible procedure, but at least it worked a couple of times.