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Aimee G
Star Contributor
USA
575 Posts |
 Posted - 05/29/2008 : 07:42:37 AM
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I'm getting ready (Lord willing) to start looking for my own video shopping equipment. I thought I'd ask for suggestions for where I should look and what I should look for.
I've only used one type of equipment so far... the ARCHOS 504 and a button camera. This setup has worked fine for me and I'm comfortable with using it, but I'm also open to any other suggestions. Whatever I get, I'd like it to last a long time.
Thanks! |
Aimee |
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MargieG
Valued Contributor
Maryland
USA
124 Posts |
Posted - 05/29/2008 : 08:58:01 AM
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| Aimee - I have seen this equipment offered at Amazon.com . If you search for "button camera" all of the equipment comes up. I can't recommend equipment because I have only done a few video shops and they were all for the same company. |
Margie
MSPA Gold Certifed since 2004 |
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Cilla
Star Contributor
MD
USA
1408 Posts |
Posted - 05/29/2008 : 1:18:48 PM
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Aimee,
I bought a barely used Archos 504 on Ebay for a great price. The button cam set-up sells seperately and seems to be mostly a "buy it now" priced item.
Cilla |
Cilla
MSPA Gold Certified 2005
IMSC Certified 2009 |
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Debbo
Star Contributor
Charlotte, NC
USA
267 Posts |
Posted - 06/02/2008 : 4:20:02 PM
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| I just bought a second Archos 504, new on Ebay for $190 including the travel adapter. This appears to be the best source of supply at the moment. Amazon's prices have increased substantially in the past month or so. The companies for whom you shop can provide good contacts for button cams, no doubt. |
Debra
MSPA Shopper of the Year 2009
Video shopping in the Carolinas and throughout the US |
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Cilla
Star Contributor
MD
USA
1408 Posts |
Posted - 06/03/2008 : 05:28:57 AM
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Okay, Deb, I'll bite. Why would you need two Archos 504s? Are you taping both fore and aft? 
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Cilla
MSPA Gold Certified 2005
IMSC Certified 2009 |
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Aimee G
Star Contributor
USA
575 Posts |
Posted - 06/04/2008 : 07:50:09 AM
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I'm curious too. I'd like to have a second and third battery, but why the whole unit?
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Aimee |
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Aimee G
Star Contributor
USA
575 Posts |
Posted - 06/14/2008 : 12:32:50 AM
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| So is the ARCHOS 504 definitely the best way to go? There are so many ARCHOS units to choose from. If there's a better one available, I want to go ahead and get it to begin with. But the physical size of the 504 is about as big as I would want to go. I can't see it being any bigger and staying hidden. Does anyone use anything besides the 504? |
Aimee |
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Cilla
Star Contributor
MD
USA
1408 Posts |
Posted - 06/14/2008 : 05:16:28 AM
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Aimee, The Shadow Agency uses a really small unit called the "something" 500. I have used it and it is quite user-friendly for recording. however, it used 2 or 4 gig media cards which then have to be labeled and express mailed back. I really prefer being able to email my videos to the MSC when I can.
That said, I just had a bad experience with my Archos 504. Two recording sessions turned out to be in "protected" format. That means that although the audio is available on any replay device, the video will only replay on the device that recorded it. I spent some time on the phone with a V-shop trainer and then with the Archos technical support people (free service and absolutely wonderful). I was told that this sort of thing happens "occasionally". The best bet is to totally purge the memory of the device often and, also, to sign on and download sortware updates (free) regularly. This is especially needed when you first get your unit, as it may have been on the shelf for a while. There is no "on/off" toggle for protected or unprotected recording, so the whole thing is a fluke. 
The good news is that I will be paid for the shop, since the audio portion covers all of the topics required by the client.  |
Cilla
MSPA Gold Certified 2005
IMSC Certified 2009 |
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Aimee G
Star Contributor
USA
575 Posts |
Posted - 06/14/2008 : 09:36:40 AM
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I definitely don't want to have to be mailing anything in. Thanks for the heads up about the ARCHOS.... maybe they should consider a toggle for turning that feature on an off! That sounds like a pretty big design flaw. And what an unpleasant surprise after thinking your shop went well! I'm glad they were accepted. I had some technical issues myself this week... on three out of eight shops! I was mortified, because I've had a really long string of shops that went perfectly. I hear it happens to everyone, but what a rude awakening! Fortunately, my shops only lost video toward the end of the shop but the audio continued, so they were accepted too.
Is your ARCHOS the 40gig or the 80gig? |
Aimee |
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Cilla
Star Contributor
MD
USA
1408 Posts |
Posted - 06/14/2008 : 11:25:45 AM
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Aimee,
Mine is the 40 gb. That's more than adequate and can be found at a much lower price that the 80 gb, usually.
There is no setting for "protected." That's what so mysterious.
Sorry to hear that the video gods zapped you this week. But, you are sooooooo right. It happens to all of us. My snafu this week was not only my first shop for a new company, but, also, that MSC's first shop for their new client. So, of course, I was supposed to provide at "10" rated product, to impress the client right? 
Oh, one (hmmm, make that two) other thing(s) to watch out for with the Archos. It will be shipped to you without the "Y" mono AV connector. You have to go to Radio Shack for that. Their version looks different from the one you were sent for your SLC shops, BTW. Best to take the rig, including your button cam, with you when you go so that you can be certain that all the plugs are the right sizes. AND, to save time and money and hearache, go to www.vio-pov.com, click on "accessories, and order the Vio-sport 12 volt rechargeable battery so that you won't have to mess with AA battery 8-packs! The Vio-sport is about $55 plus (outrageous) shipping charges, but worth every penny. The loss of one video fee due to an AA battery slipping out of place will more than pay for the Vio-sport. (Been there, done that, have the zero shop score to prove it!  ) |
Cilla
MSPA Gold Certified 2005
IMSC Certified 2009 |
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Cilla
Star Contributor
MD
USA
1408 Posts |
Posted - 06/17/2008 : 05:28:39 AM
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I now understand the need for a second Archos unit. Mine decided to malfunction by not permitting a video to be viewed on any device except the one on which it was recorded. That can be fixed, but while it is being fixed, I may have to postpone another shopping assignment. When you have your own equipment the MSCs expect you to be able to perform, on schedule. 
So, Aimee, you and I may be bidding against one another on Ebay.  |
Cilla
MSPA Gold Certified 2005
IMSC Certified 2009 |
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Aimee G
Star Contributor
USA
575 Posts |
Posted - 06/17/2008 : 06:19:08 AM
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Bid freely,Cilla! Mine is already ordered and on its way to me. I can hardly wait.
So what's up with your 504? I thought the protected status was just a one (or two) time fluke? Did it end up malfunctioning altogether? How common is that? Enquiring minds want to know!
Maybe a backup setup is a good idea. |
Aimee |
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Cilla
Star Contributor
MD
USA
1408 Posts |
Posted - 06/17/2008 : 08:48:24 AM
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Aimee,
If you need help getting the right bits and pieces to complete your kit, just give me a shout. I certainly needed a consultant when I got mine   |
Cilla
MSPA Gold Certified 2005
IMSC Certified 2009 |
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Colleen P
Member
Altamonte Springs, FL
USA
40 Posts |
Posted - 06/17/2008 : 4:22:06 PM
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I have seen video from the "something 500" and because it records on the memory card, the resolution is not DVD quality as it is on the ARCHOS which is hard drive recorded. It also tends to pixelate (??) when moving about and "refocusing". We have rejected shops because sometimes the video and audio threads don't match up and are significantly delayed. (That's why I personally went with the ARCHOS).
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Aimee G
Star Contributor
USA
575 Posts |
Posted - 06/18/2008 : 05:42:06 AM
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Cilla, I may be calling on you! My camera is being ordered by someone else and when it comes, it's supposed to have everything I need... no trips to radio shack for mysterious missing pieces. That sounds a little too good to be true, but we'll see!
Gee, I'm glad I didn't go with the "something 500"! |
Aimee |
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Cilla
Star Contributor
MD
USA
1408 Posts |
Posted - 06/18/2008 : 1:30:31 PM
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My Archos 504 is in for repairs so I cannot check this out myself.
Can it be set to time/date stamp the video? If so, how? Or does it do that automatically and dummy me just never noticed? 
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Cilla
MSPA Gold Certified 2005
IMSC Certified 2009 |
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Aimee G
Star Contributor
USA
575 Posts |
Posted - 06/18/2008 : 1:58:28 PM
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I know that the one I used date stamped, but I could never find where it time stamped. I hope it does because for some reason it's the hardest thing for me to remember to note exactly what time I start a shop... I guess too busy making sure everything is working correctly. The funny thing is, that all of a sudden the date stamp started showing up as wildly inaccurate. I noticed that there was a video in there from 2006... but when I opened the video to see if I should delete it, it was one of mine!
And my new one isn't coming today. When I checked the tracking, I discovered the seller hasn't given it to UPS yet. I guess the delivery date was based on him getting it to them right away or something. Very disappointing. |
Aimee |
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Cilla
Star Contributor
MD
USA
1408 Posts |
Posted - 06/18/2008 : 2:22:56 PM
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Amy,
You can reset the date and time in the secondary menu. On the menu button, if you press one side you get the primary menu; press the other side and you get the secondary menu.
Question is, do both the date and time display on screen on playback? |
Cilla
MSPA Gold Certified 2005
IMSC Certified 2009 |
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Cilla
Star Contributor
MD
USA
1408 Posts |
Posted - 07/01/2008 : 12:39:20 PM
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I discovered an important troubleshooting technique today.  If your Archos fails to boot from a well-charged battery pack, here is what to do:
1. Remove the battery pack and set it aside.
2. Look at the now-exposed back of the Archos. The big silver slab is the hard drive. At one end there is some exposed green material with 2 tiny screws into it. Next to one of the screws is a tiny gold button.
3. Press that button and hold it in for 45 seconds before you release it.
4. Reinstall the battery pack.
5. You Archos unit should now boot up as usual.
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Cilla
MSPA Gold Certified 2005
IMSC Certified 2009 |
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Aimee G
Star Contributor
USA
575 Posts |
Posted - 07/17/2008 : 8:00:11 PM
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Archos 504 users... can you help me?
When you lock your Archos, are you still able to turn the volume up and down? On my new Archos, the lock does not lock the volume at all. I discovered this because of the ear-splitting feedback screech that I got the other day while stuffing the Archos into my fanny pack. Sure enough, the volume button had been pressed (evidently several times) during the stuffing procedure and had turned the Archos microphone volume right on up! Yikes. I'm so worried this will happen during a shop. I'm wondering if there is something wrong with my Archos. I don't think the one I had while training did this... not that I ever checked, but it certainly never happened inadvertently either.
Meanwhile, I thought if it turns up during a shop, I'll just say it's my pacemaker acting up... but then I thought with my luck, they might call an ambulance. On second thought, I think I'll just say it's my colostomy bag giving me a warning that it's full... surely they won't do anything to hinder my departure with THAT outrageous excuse! |
Aimee |
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Debbo
Star Contributor
Charlotte, NC
USA
267 Posts |
Posted - 07/17/2008 : 9:07:02 PM
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Aimee, I love the colostomy bag line ... Yeccch!!
I have just tested both of my Archoses ... Archii?? When they are locked, none of the buttons are operable.
BTW ... I lost a shop on Monday. Went through my normal pre-shop drill, everything was dandy. Got back into the car after the shop, and was most dismayed to pull an absolutely stone-cold Archos out of my pocket. Not only did it fail to record the shop, there was no record whatsoever of my initial aim-checking, intro stuff. I couldn't even turn the unit on again until I had removed the battery and replaced it. On to today. Important shop, new client for the MSC. Went in, agent was busy with a paying customer, arranged a time to come back. Returned, spotted agent in the street, still with customer ... zipped past and parked a few blocks away. Pulled out the Archos, to stop and start again, only to find that it was cold and dead. Luckily, I numbered the battery packs -- No. 4 was the same one that let me down on Monday. Weird -- it charges normally, looks fine ... and operates well when it feels like it. What a pest! How many more variables are we likely to discover???
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Debra
MSPA Shopper of the Year 2009
Video shopping in the Carolinas and throughout the US |
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Topic |
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Video Shopping Equipment