YowCH & Grace

The Vigi MT-12 car video camera is dying after 3+ years, the internal battery is not holding charge, hence the last video file is not able to be saved on the SD card. Normally, that is the most critical file, hence it is time to change.

After a little internet search, we decided on a 1/2-HD camera (cheaper) but with wider view angle and clearer images under low light. We got the Thinkware Clair2 for $328 and installed it at the Shell Station of Bukit Timah Road near KK Hospital.

The camera is small and sleek, but it comes with 3M double sided tape mount rather than suction mount, so it is now stuck to the windscreen film. It actually has 24 hour recording function including saving 20 secs of videos before and after shocks to the car (parking surveillance) but we didn’t opt to have that.

Here are some images of videos from the cam:
Normal day time driving:

100% crop of the above:

Normal night time driving:

100% crop of the above:

Night time on a dark road with dim street lights and headlights off:

Night time comparing with and without headlights on:

Overall, the Clair2 is very nice compared to the older standard definition Vigi MT-12.

Tags: General by yowch
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With a $50 voucher from a 3M road-show, YowCH took the Isis to TTS Carcare (they are also Fiat’s service centre) at Sin Ming and paid $230 ($280 before voucher) for an overall polish and grooming.

The car was cleaned and polished outside and inside, including engine compartment. The external was given paint protection, too.

Super shiny now, looks new apart from the dents and scratches!

Tags: General by yowch
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Sadly, the terrapin with the white spots on the shell died (the one floating upside down).

Perhaps this guy basked in the lights too much.

Tags: General by yowch
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The rains returned to Singapore, and our new tyres (Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2) clings very well to the wet road. Feels good and safe.

Tags: General by yowch
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After 16.5 months and running about 32500km, the Michelin Pilot Sport 3 tyres were worn-out. Grip on road has improved, but certainly not wet handling as hydroplaning happens even on very shallow water. Thank God the months of May to June are dry months, allowing the tyres to be stretched further.

Today, YowCH and Joseph went to Arrow Tyres and changed to Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2 225-45-R17 at $185 each. These are made in Germany late 2012.

The initial feel is very good stability, sharp turning response, and not as hard or bumpy as the Pilot Sport 3. Rather quiet, too, compared to the Michelins. Will test it out on water lodged roads someday, but given the deep grooves, it should be great.

At the same time, Gene also changed her tyres to Firestone TZ700 185-70-R14 at $105 each. These will be better wet weather grip for long runs on the North-south Highway.

Tags: General by yowch
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We bought a second-hand unit of the Fujifilm F200 EXR at $100.00 to replace ours which has died on 21 April 2013 after 38,000 shots. This camera is useful to us as we have the underwater casing for it.

And black is nicer than our previous unit which was gold.

Tags: General by yowch
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We had a large pomegranate, “石榴”, “buah delima” after dinner. It was about 5 inches (125mm) across and tasted sweet-sour with some bitter aftertaste (like dry wine or grape skin).

Tags: General by yowch
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We bought a second-hand Fujifilm F550EXR pocket camera from a Clubsnap guy to replace the workhorse F200EXR which has sensor or electronic failure just recently on 21 April 2013. The F200 was bought on 4 Oct 2009 and in 3.5 years, took about 38000 shots. But we’ll also get a replacement F200, too, as our underwater case is only for this model.

The F550 is not the best thing in the market now, but it comes with GPS, and at release, was selling at $420.00. This second-hand unit is in super good condition, as the previous owner said that it was used only 5 times and took a few hundred photos only.

Tags: General by yowch
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At 85,000km, we sent the Isis for the 11th servicing at Ricardo. Quite a number of parts were changed.

Here you see the engine cover opened, and the auto-transmission cover (bottom of car) opened:

This round, apart from engine lubricant (Redline 5W30) and filter, we also changed the auto-transmission fluid, filter and gasket (for cover), the fan-belt (started cracking), the spark-plugs and the battery (Amaron, the last piece lasted 2.5 years with no sign of weakening, but let’s not risk it). A few days before, YowCH changed the aircon and engine air-intake filters (brandless low-cost ones).

Tags: General by yowch
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First posting for 2013.

On 31 Dec 2012, we bought a replacement camcorder for our Canon HV30. The HV30 is about 4 years old only, but the flip-screen ribbon-wire has snapped and Canon refuses to replace/repair saying it is end-of-line model. In any case, looks like MiniDV tapes are getting oudated, too. So we bought a new full-HD Canon HF-M56 for a little less than $1000. Uses SD cards, performs very similar to the HV30, and it is lighter. The only problem is that there is no mini-jack mic-input. The next model, HF-M52 has mic input and more built-in memory (32GB against 8GB) but costs $200.00 more, so better not pay to have a mic input which we rarely use.

Samples below are all auto-exposure, auto-white-balance and no digital filters.

Joseph has started his Kindergarten earlier (in December 2012) and the new school uniforms (formal and sports) has recently changed. Here he is in his new uniforms on 2 Jan 2013.

Tags: General, Joseph by yowch
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