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Comment by IanDrake | Hacker News Reader

I've had the SoloShot 2 for almost a year now. I use it for surfing, but just got a small racing dinghy (RS Aero) and will probably use it for that too.

The device paired with the recommended camera works fantastic. If you're using it to review your technique, I think it's better than a go-pro.

My only complaint is that the arm band isn't really ideal for surfing. Before I ever used it, I emailed solo shot saying that it would easily fall off and was assured their user base didn't have a problem. Sure enough it fell off on a closeout barrel the first time I used it. That's a $150 replacement part.

I've since customized the arm band so that it can't come off. Let me know if you have any questions about the unit.

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Shouldn't the camera let you track exactly where it is so you can find it?

The transmitter is normally on your arm (above water) to keep a signal with the base. As soon as it goes underwater the signal is lost.

They asked me if I had a floaty on it. So I asked them which floaty? The one you didn't include with the product, or the one you don't sell on your website?

Floaties are quite readily available aftermarket. Most boating / marine / rec stores.

Or on this newfangled thing called "The Internet" via "electronic commerce": http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&field-keywords=key%20float&i...

I just checked it out! That Internet thing is pretty cool!

However, I saw nothing in your hypertext link that would easily attach to the armband and not interfere with my stroke.

SoloShot should sell a floaty or provide one of those new-fangled affiliate links I hear the kids talking about these days to a compatible 3rd party floaty.

Surfing, right, we're not talking marathon swimming or similar?

Having stuff dangle off your arm is a PITA, I'll allow. But some way for attaching _something_ buoyant to the strap (not sure what it looks like my apologies), might be possible.

The drink -- she claims many toys....

Indeed. Ended up putting a button whole in the arm band and putting a button on my wetsuit.

Tracking might not work when it's ten feet underwater..

Less actually.

It will loose tracking on a duck dive and on wipe outs. It even has 'barrel mode' so that the camera will keep tracking on your vector should the signal cut out while you're shielded by the wave lip. Haven't had much use for that feature :(

Maybe you could have a feature that alerts authorities/friends if your tracking device is not detected for X time. In case you get sucked out to sea, eaten by a shark, etc.

In general, I've thought about how many deaths have been captured on film now between GoPros and the like. What a strange and awful thing to leave behind for your loved ones.

How precise is the tracking? Could you use it to track a close-up of a face reliably, or is it not that good?

You can't zoom to frame just your face. As I recall, the tightest zoom setting would be your body + 5-10 feet of surrounding area. In a walking test that worked well.

I wouldn't use that mode for live action sports through, since you'd want context in frame anyway. Even in the middle zoom mode, I found myself reacting to something off screen and though I should have gone wider.

Aren't you afraid of theft or loss of the equipment?

Yes and no.

Under normal circumstances there's no one on the beach that would take it because I'm surfing on the Outer Beach (4x4 by special permit required or boat)[1].

Outside of summer, there's pretty much no one at any beach to take it, especially in the winter.

Of course anytime a friend is one the beach with our stuff I don't have to worry.

However, I don't take it on surf trips to Costa Rica or California. A GoPro is much easier to pack anyway.

[1] https://www.google.com/maps/place/Orleans+Parks+%26+Beaches/...

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