I have never seen someone make an unintentional found-footage horror film with **out of all things** a Barbie branded video camera before. 10/10, would like to watch a sequel.
No moving parts, no magnetic elements, only solid state. I'm more impressed that the video tape still works and outputs a pretty acceptable image considering the fact that it may have spent the last 20+ years literally anywhere.
@@KkkKkk-re9il i see a bunch of capacitors in the camera's circuit board.... wasn't this camera made around the time of the so-called 'Capacitor Plague' ?
It would be so cool if the original owner see this video and gets a copy of the video. I have a daughter, she's 4 years old, and I feel like she keeps growing and growing, and I already miss her being a baby. Childhood goes so fast and it only creates so few memories. Maybe I'm just being nostalgic, but hey, that's what this channel's about!
Same here. Maybe someone of that family will stumble upon this video and will want to get a copy of the tapes recordings for safe keepings. And im pretty sure The 8-Bit guy would be more than happy to do that.
Some more info on that Barbie remote control: That remote did indeed come with the Barbie Videocam Wireless Video Camera and it's model number is the "Remote Control BE-278. It's a universal remote control designed to allow you to control the VCR (or TV/VCR combo) that this camera is hooked up to for recording. Yes, one could have used the original remote that came with the VCR or some other universal remote you already had but having a Barbie branded universal remote added to the fun for the child who owned this camera. It doesn't actually control the camera in any way, on;y a TV or VCR (or TV/VCR Combo) though the camera does appear to have a fake IR receiver on the back of the unit (The red piece of plastic you pointed out), much like the fake rotating antenna on the receiver, it only controls a TV and VCR (or TV/VCR Combo). There have been a number of Barbie branded TV's, DVD players, and TV/DVD combo units aimed at kids that have been manufactured over the years though it' doesn't appear the remote control that came with the Barbie VidieoCam kit was intended to control any of these specifically (I think it's just a simplified universal remote). Here is what I found on Barbie branded TV and DVD player products in my brief research: * Barbie TV/DVD Combo - Model No. TVDVD1BB, appears to have been sold in Spain (220v), though it's not clear if it was sold in a 120v model or sold elsewhere in Europe. * Barbie Bloom Tube - an analog TV (13") with a flower motif cutout attached to the top the top bezel. * Barbie Bloom DVD Player - Supposedly rare DVD player model with an unusually shaped flower themed case (The DVD door looks like a flower and there's butterfly on top of unit). * Barbie Portable Dvd Player for Kids (LCD Flip-up screen) - Model No. bbepd003 (2012) 7" screen - One of those common but cheap 7" LCD flip-up screen portable DVD players sold under many different names in the late 2000's and early 2010's, some included a TV tuner but not this one. * Barbie 7" Portable DVD player (LCD Flip-up screen) - DVT-P3310 - made by Tectoy - Similar to the above model but with a slightly different design on the case and sold in Brazil. * Barbie HD Ready 1080i LCD TV/DVD player (Side slot-loading DVD player) - Tell Corp. - Sold in 15" (HD-1308D), 19" (HD-1908D). and 22" (HD-2208D) models. - All used a side slot-loading DVD player as was common in LCD TV/DVD combo units of the time and in the Apple iMac G5 and Intel Core2Duo models. * Barbie 18.5" LCD TV w/ DVD Player (side slot-loader) - Model No. BBHTC180 - Similar to the above Tell Corp. slot-loading LCD TV/DVD combo unit but slightly different case decoration (no flowers along side and bottom bezels), include speakers on bottom bezel. Appears to be white-label OEM model manufactured for Mattel by whoknows. Note: Neither Metal or anyone else ever sold an actual Barbie branded TV/VCR combo, only the TV/DVD combo type.
I'm chiming in to confirm. Back in the early 2000s, I had a nearly identical universal remote... minus the pink powdercoat, of course. It must have been the sort of thing where anybody could call up a factory in Shenzhen China and have thousands of them stamped out with their own branding.
Also about the info about the Nintendo DS, it is blue, most likely it was the Nintendogs bundle as they were really popular at the time. as the bundle came out in late 2005. This recording may also be from 2006.
Adult guy trying out a child's toy from 20 years ago and wonders about vertical alignment of the built-in antenna. Yeah, that mostly sums up why I love this channel.
And yes, the antennas are pretty much guaranteed to never be lined up for a good shot. Vertical polarization would have been much more effective, I think.
@@tomwilson2112 As long as both polarizations match on both antennas, it doesn't really matter. What becomes an issue is when one is vertical, and the other is horizontal (or vice versa)
@@Suctess Not really. They occupy the same spectrum; filters only work to block signals from other frequencies or bands that happen to be interfering due to spurs, harmonics, or other side effects of RF transmission. When two things are meant to use the same frequency, the only way to block one from the other is physical isolation.
Except that horizontal antennas are also directional - you get the best signal when the two antennas are not just parallel, but their sides face each other. In this setup, when the base station is behind the camera or in front of the camera, it's going to get the least signal. So you not only have to think about distance, but also direction.
That camera is very impressive for what's essentially just a toy. We take having a decent camera for granted now, with everyone have a smartphone in their pockets. There was a time where having a camera instantly made you the coolest kid on the block however. I'm hoping that the people on the tape get recognized and found, or stumble upon this video themselves. They'll probably want the footage off that tape. Those are childhood memories now.
The receiver and 2.4GHz Wi-Fi interference brought back memories for me. In the mid to late 2010s, at the previous flat I lived in, I had a similar system but as a dedicated transmitter and receiver combo, and it was a little more advanced as it had a directional antenna and IR repeater. I used mine to wirelessly transmit the composite video signal from the pay TV box in the living room to my TV in the bedroom so I could watch its DVR recordings. However, the remote for that provider's boxes used a strange frequency that wouldn't work with cheap IR repeaters, so I had to walk outside to control the box and walk back into my bedroom (nearby) to watch my DVR recordings of Wander Over Yonder or whatever show it may be. However, when I wanted to use the composite video out on the box, I had to switch the output video resolution from 1080i to PAL. It was still an upgrade over what I used in the late 2000s in the flat I lived in before that, which was a long coaxial cable from the RF out on an older pay TV box into a TV I had in what used to be my sister's shared bedroom (which I used as a study).
I hope the family sees this and can relive a bit of their old memories. I wonder if the family reached out would David give them the full digitized footage? Seems like it might be tricky to verify they are who they say they are.
I would recommend the signed boxed edition, the production quality is so good - reminds me of a big box game from the late 80s... Back when $35 was a huge spend for a single game :) Lol I just received PETSCII Robots and Planet X3 Amiga and C64 versions, absolutely superb. The artworks are amazing and soundtrack are even available on casette and vinyl! I am going to review them all soon but fyi this stuff is so cool, I love it! Nice one David.
Only David Murray can turn a 2001 Barbie Cam into a technical presentation that captured my attention when I was almost about to skip it! Also the fast jerky movement while the camera quickly adjusted its exposure time is darn good for a 2001 "toy"!
Can't wait to see all the indie bands record music videos on these kinds of things. It baffling to hear things i grew up with like these cameras or the Playstation 2 be called vintage nowadays, but i guess that's now people your age must have felt in the 2000s.
Whoever design this is a freaking genius. I believe if this technology were further developed, we might have pure wireless camcorder. Wow, this thing is freaking amazing!
I would say this has a more 90's low end camcorder vibe, but then again you can always just get an older Logitech USB 2.0 webcam that only does 480p max that does not need drivers on a modern system(at least on Linux) for the same vibe.
I have a Philips webcam that is 480p and UVC/driverless, both for modern Linux distros and Windows 10/11. The image is pretty good, but this 90's vibe is intense 😆
That fet minutes of recording via the camera and making it as the end segment of the video, just gives this content that little bit of extra love and charm. Fantastic video as always mate!
I hope you saved the video and tried to get it to the people in it, I bet they would be glad to have it back. That would be a awesome addition to the next video, you giving them a usb stick with the footage on (if they consent to participate of course). I lost some reel to reel tapes of my mom and would be verry happy to find them again, so I can imagine how they might react.
I've got an old camcorder from the early 2000's made by Sony. It uses a 16:9 aspect ratio, though it does use 8mm cassette tapes. This model even appeared in Sony's 2021 animated film The Mitchells vs. The Machines, so naturally I've got something in common with the movie's protagonist. In fact, it's a lot more than just a nostalgic artifact, but that's a story for another time.
get an analog FPV camera with transmitter and some kind of receiver or dvr module. The quality would be about the same. Almost all of those cameras has wide lenses. though they can be swapped.
Nice video! I remember walking through Toys R Us in the late 90s and admiring all of the technological advances in toys, seeing things like the Tyco camera and noting that they were insanely cheap compared to their "adult" competitors.
This reminds me of when I was watching 10 Shake while on holiday in Australia and seeing adverts for various V-tech products including a digital camera for children.
I often recall beautiful memories in my mind to forget some of the pitfalls I am facing at the moment. The memories are even more beautiful when you find a large community that shares your memories and interests. Thank you for adding more episodes that connect us to the past.
I imagine the robustness of having screws hold down the battery cover is more a product of safety requirements or concerns (anti kid eating/choking on batteries) than anything else, though breakage prevention would be tangentially addressed nonetheless.
I seem to recall that the late 90s was about the right time for everything to have warning stickers on it - a precursor to the anti-right to repair era?
@@the_kombinator no safety requirements are a negative cost. Without regulations we wouldn't have them. Anti right to repair is extremely capitalistic because it means the consumer has to keep giving money to wealthy freeloaders, instead of only once. Without regulations, everything would be anti right to repair. Regulations are the reason why electronics have to accept inputs they're not designed for.
@@adampope5107 Yeah but now the regulations are headed for "don't even think about opening that, your kids will die." Absurd. My not-that-old glasstop oven has a wiring diagram glued to the back panel. My (admittedly much older summer) car came with the tools you need to repair lik 90% of the maintenance items, which are outlined in the manual (not the shop manual, mind you.) Now? Take it to the dealer. Completely crushes innovation, in the name of "safety".
@@the_kombinator that's not what the regulations do. Right to repair IS regulation. Anti right to repair legislation prevents regulation by allowing companies to do what they want, which is stop you from repairing your devices.
This thing came out while I was in high school or thereabouts. I worked at an electronics store in 2004 and could have sold a camcorder or digital camera to their parents that same year.
I loved how you did the studio walk-around and some updates with the camcorder at the tale end of the video. Makes me want to fire up my old Aiptek HD (different model than the one you featured).
The quality for that is really good, especially for the price and the fact that it is a toy. Also, that pink vhs tape.. Why didn't we have colored vhs tape shells? That would have been fun to color coordinate the tape with whatever you were recording.
6:01 Not Only Wi-Fi will interfere, also LTE Signals as b2 and b66 works on those frequencies... for the time that was sold, l2100 wasnt licensed yes for Cell Phone use
I remember using a 2,4 GHz video transmitter and receiver in the late 1990s or early 2000s and it worked pretty good untill Wi-fi networks became common and it became unusable.
@@cmdraftbrn Yeah the 2.4Ghz band has been very crowded for a very long time with thing like cordless house phones, but I remember when I got my first WiFi router in 08(when my town finally got faster than dial-up internet from the cable company)which was a 2.4Ghz Belkin with a single tiny antenna, and every time someone was in the kitchen using the microwave the wireless signal would cut out no matter the settings. Thankfully these days we have better WiFi even on 2.4Ghz that helps eliminate that somewhat, and wireless speeds that are as fast wired speeds if not faster in many places with things like T-MO at home 5G(I have it, and pull down 500 Mbps+ and push 150 Mbps+ up).
I had this camera as a kid, it was one of my biggest toys at a time when we didn't have much. As someone now in their mid/late twenties seeing this again and watching the footage, I am feeling many emotions. Thanks for the video 💖🥲
Excellent! Every day a new 8-but guy drops is a wonderful day! The value for this item is pretty legit. I still had a combo TV/VCR into the late 2000's. So this could have had a decent useful life.
Leave it to David to make something as simple as a Barbie toy video camera an entertaining video. Loved it, hope you make a video about those new solar panels going up! Made my day to see a new upload!
Awright! You know your birthday feels complete when a new video of the 8-Bit Guy comes out right on your birthday! Thanks David, and don't stop producing great content. 😊
Actually, around 2004 they were still making these types of cameras. For my ninth birthday that year, I got a Spider-Man 2 camera which was the exact same camera as the Barbie one.
Omg. I was friends with this girl in 1st grade and she had this camera. We had fun seeing how far the wireless signal goes. And I remember stealing the VHS tape from her because I thought she was cute and wanted to watch it after she said no cause she filmed herself with it lol. For a kid's toy it was fascinating at that time period to see a wireless camera
8-bit guy is the perfect example that it's not youtubes fault that your not getting views, granted the 8-bit guy has been doing youtube for years, but he has continued making great content no matter what it is he's making a video about.
@@youtubeaccount697 it contains images of minors without their or their parents consent (even though this is after the event, they are minors in this video). AFAIK this is illegal in California and other parts of the world. At the very least, seeing ones self as a child (or the other members of this family), appear approx 20 years later on a random video on the Internet, which has a global audience could be against their wishes. It is highly unlikely that they knowingly distributed the video with this artifact still on it, and even less likely that it would be picked up by a RUclipsr to share their private family time. I feel this is a gross violation of their privacy.
I had this toy when it first came out! I was 6 years old in 2001. I'm 29 now but I still remember the commercial for it lol. I had a lot of fun with this thing growing up. Cool video, very nostalgic for me 👍🏽
The *Tyco camera* had a funny "feature", it could see things maaayn~ it could see things. I was able to record a lightning strike. It showed a "Wire" moving up from the metal pole and eventually it connected and the strike occurred, it was a Ground to Cloud connection. It could also record the infrared light (of remote controls at least) Too bad most things look like the lens was covered with Vaseline though, lol LED lights can create distortion depending on what you're using.
I used my tyco videocam to test methods of making my plate obscured to ir cameras when i was 18 😂 turns out chalkboard paint and matte white paint replacing the reflective green and white on my plate made it easier to see on an ir camera at night 🤣 what did work, but was blatantly obvious, was putting an acrylic plate cover on and having a ring of really bright infrared leds around the edge on the inside. You could see the tips of them past the black border, but it did over expose the first and last two digits to the point it was unreadable no matter what brightness setting you had the camera on streetlights helped make it more obscured, but i wasnt sure if the traffic light speed cams ran in daylight mode under street lights or not, soo i abandoned the project 😂 was still fun trying to come up with ways to avoid a speeding ticket 🤣 turns out that if you go fast enough it doesnt get you (or at least the ones where i used to drive fast didnt) its probably all way different now though haha
Love it. The 8-Bit Barbie Guy by Aqua remix: Verse 1: I'm an 8-bit guy, in a 16-bit world I love to play, and make games unfurled Commander X16, my computer of choice I code all day, and I rejoice Chorus: He's an 8-bit guy, in a 16-bit world Creating games, that'll make you twirl PETSCII Robots, his latest delight And Planet X16, is out of sight Verse 2: He loves to code, in BASIC and more His passion for games, we can't ignore He'll teach you tricks, to make your games shine And his retro style, is simply divine Chorus: He's an 8-bit guy, in a 16-bit world Creating games, that'll make you twirl PETSCII Robots, his latest delight And Planet X16, is out of sight Bridge: You can't deny, his love for the past His games will last, and always outlast He's an 8-bit guy, in a 16-bit world A retro gaming master, that can't be unfurled Chorus: He's an 8-bit guy, in a 16-bit world Creating games, that'll make you twirl PETSCII Robots, his latest delight And Planet X16, is out of sight Outro: He's the 8-Bit Guy, and we all adore His retro gaming style, we can't ignore.
I am shocked how good the footage looks considering it was a toy. I would have loved this thing as a kid, did they also make a Hot Wheels version like the PC? This thing totally looks moddable, a couple of external antennas, a rechargeable battery pack and you could even upgrade the camera, but I kinda like the way it looks now.
Old cameras have such a charm to them! Recently dug up a mid 2000s digital camera my parents had. That was the one I used for a school project back in 2018. Playing back the clips from that project felt so nostalgic, unlike videos from the same year recorded in newer hd cameras. The overly saturated, grainy, low resolution image makes it feel like old memories which look less sharp as time goes by
2:17 - I traded my Sega Saturn and games with a friend for the Tyco camcorder 😂 Recording myself on a VHS tape blew my mind! Best trade ever! (At the time 😂). The long tethered cable made it really hard to film outside though, so I just filmed my neighbors going to the shop through my living room window
2:15 The Tyco cam! My dad worked for Tyco (which was later bought by Mattel) and he brought home one of those for me and my sister to play with. Good times.
damn. need to get me one of those. The video quality is absolutely perfect for a lo-fi look, and with the built in transmitter it's super compact. Great for live visuals for some concerts or events.
There's something über cool about seeing you and the set in glorious VHS camcorder quality. Makes me want to see more modern sights and sounds through this thing.
Just a note about the screw access to the batteries - it's actually a regulatory requirement in many jurisdictions that batteries on toys are only removable with the aid of a tool, to avoid kids taking them out on their own.
What quality from the 70s/80s!!! There are people who spend hundreds of dollars on an Adobe Premiere plugin. It was enough to have Barbie's camcoder. Cool!!!
Love the whimsy mixed with seriousness of this video. Amazing! Can hardly wait to get my X16 as soon as it's out! Cheers! Keep up the great and intriguing work. You rock Mr. 8 Bit!
You know what really pisses me off is that a cheesy *wireless* barbie cam from 2001 still has a much better image than the ridiculously expensive USB webcams of the era, and a SHITLOAD faster to boot. Goes to show how bad we got ripped off for real PC hardware back then. I can't be the only person thinking about our 2001 webcams & digital cams that certainly weren't even wireless
@@JavaJack59 I don't think the 1.0 standard even came anywhere close to its rated throughput, I know it's CPU intensive but frack.. USB in both higher end standalone cards and built-in just barely worked as anything more than convenient keyboard and mouse ports, coz you weren't about to get any decent data transfer with anything else certainly not any imaging device. I vividly remember having a serial Logitech cam that made better stills and video than the $250 USB one I bought to replace it. And don't forget the irritating USB crashing
Oh! My little sister had this cam recorder, but it didn't look as it looks on the video. It might be because we live in Europe, and maybe it was marketed differently. Also, I think my parents bought this thing in like, 2005? It was probably still being sold during all of the 2000s, which way explain the DS
Good idea! Obviously these days anybody can just apply "old VHS tape" filters to digital video, but you can't beat the real deal. Haha, 20 years ago, who'da thought we'd be yearning for that?
the video quality along with the inteference makes this a perfect horror cam 😂
@@isingthebodyelectric1041 Don't give Blumhouse more ideas
yessss absolutely
Backrooms anyone?
Exactly my thoughts. Worth getting one of these for that purpose alone.
They're probably going for $1k+ now on ebay
I have never seen someone make an unintentional found-footage horror film with **out of all things** a Barbie branded video camera before. 10/10, would like to watch a sequel.
Why only sequel? We need more parts that f&f got!
I was thinking "Wow, after this video there's going to be a huge secondary market of people buying the Barbie camera to make analog horror projects"
tbh, when i saw the interference that the barbie cam was making , i was like "omg, that's pefect for a horror film"
@@baneq105 😊awesome
It would make some spectacular horror movies.
Any neighbours who saw you walking down the drive using a Barbie Camcorder must be thinking that you have finally lost it 🙂
The mad scientist thing didn't?
I’m sure they came to that conclusion long, long ago.
Nah, he used to put out computer parts covered in white cream and wrapped in cling film, this is tame compared to that.
The fact that this camera toy works perfectly after 22 years is incredible
No moving parts, no magnetic elements, only solid state. I'm more impressed that the video tape still works and outputs a pretty acceptable image considering the fact that it may have spent the last 20+ years literally anywhere.
@@KkkKkk-re9il i see a bunch of capacitors in the camera's circuit board.... wasn't this camera made around the time of the so-called 'Capacitor Plague' ?
@@carmatic I think so! I guess this one fell through the net. I had a similar cam that capacitors were shot only about 8 years later!
@@KkkKkk-re9il you’re right, that video tape after so many years, is incredible that works. It’s a miracle 😂
And VCR tape around 18 years old .... many pople hate VHS, cassette and so on .... hey, they made up to theses days. Good luck with DVDs
It would be so cool if the original owner see this video and gets a copy of the video. I have a daughter, she's 4 years old, and I feel like she keeps growing and growing, and I already miss her being a baby. Childhood goes so fast and it only creates so few memories. Maybe I'm just being nostalgic, but hey, that's what this channel's about!
I have a 2 year old and immediately thought the same thing as you, I wish the tape could be sent to that family 😭
Same here. Maybe someone of that family will stumble upon this video and will want to get a copy of the tapes recordings for safe keepings. And im pretty sure The 8-Bit guy would be more than happy to do that.
Man, chances are someone is going to be crying hard! Haha.
I thought the same. Hope we can find them
@@BenHeckHacks Yep. Just post a couple of stills from the video along with the explanation and someone will know something about it in a short time.
Finally, now we can have the Barbie 8-Bit Guy Witch Project!
I can only agree.
Vastly underrated comment.
And then there's a bit of footage at the end of some girl with their heads spinning around and then the video cuts out completely and staticky horror
The fact that 2001 is considered ""Vintage"" now makes me want to cry.
Well yeah it's 20+ years ago at this point
@@HipixOFFICIAL don't remind me 😭
you're not alone
Thanks for reminding me I’m not a kid anymore
@@Creeperboy099 I'm sorry 😭
Some more info on that Barbie remote control: That remote did indeed come with the Barbie Videocam Wireless Video Camera and it's model number is the "Remote Control BE-278. It's a universal remote control designed to allow you to control the VCR (or TV/VCR combo) that this camera is hooked up to for recording. Yes, one could have used the original remote that came with the VCR or some other universal remote you already had but having a Barbie branded universal remote added to the fun for the child who owned this camera. It doesn't actually control the camera in any way, on;y a TV or VCR (or TV/VCR Combo) though the camera does appear to have a fake IR receiver on the back of the unit (The red piece of plastic you pointed out), much like the fake rotating antenna on the receiver, it only controls a TV and VCR (or TV/VCR Combo).
There have been a number of Barbie branded TV's, DVD players, and TV/DVD combo units aimed at kids that have been manufactured over the years though it' doesn't appear the remote control that came with the Barbie VidieoCam kit was intended to control any of these specifically (I think it's just a simplified universal remote). Here is what I found on Barbie branded TV and DVD player products in my brief research:
* Barbie TV/DVD Combo - Model No. TVDVD1BB, appears to have been sold in Spain (220v), though it's not clear if it was sold in a 120v model or sold elsewhere in Europe.
* Barbie Bloom Tube - an analog TV (13") with a flower motif cutout attached to the top the top bezel.
* Barbie Bloom DVD Player - Supposedly rare DVD player model with an unusually shaped flower themed case (The DVD door looks like a flower and there's butterfly on top of unit).
* Barbie Portable Dvd Player for Kids (LCD Flip-up screen) - Model No. bbepd003 (2012) 7" screen - One of those common but cheap 7" LCD flip-up screen portable DVD players sold under many different names in the late 2000's and early 2010's, some included a TV tuner but not this one.
* Barbie 7" Portable DVD player (LCD Flip-up screen) - DVT-P3310 - made by Tectoy - Similar to the above model but with a slightly different design on the case and sold in Brazil.
* Barbie HD Ready 1080i LCD TV/DVD player (Side slot-loading DVD player) - Tell Corp. - Sold in 15" (HD-1308D), 19" (HD-1908D). and 22" (HD-2208D) models. - All used a side slot-loading DVD player as was common in LCD TV/DVD combo units of the time and in the Apple iMac G5 and Intel Core2Duo models.
* Barbie 18.5" LCD TV w/ DVD Player (side slot-loader) - Model No. BBHTC180 - Similar to the above Tell Corp. slot-loading LCD TV/DVD combo unit but slightly different case decoration (no flowers along side and bottom bezels), include speakers on bottom bezel. Appears to be white-label OEM model manufactured for Mattel by whoknows.
Note: Neither Metal or anyone else ever sold an actual Barbie branded TV/VCR combo, only the TV/DVD combo type.
I'm chiming in to confirm. Back in the early 2000s, I had a nearly identical universal remote... minus the pink powdercoat, of course. It must have been the sort of thing where anybody could call up a factory in Shenzhen China and have thousands of them stamped out with their own branding.
Also about the info about the Nintendo DS, it is blue, most likely it was the Nintendogs bundle as they were really popular at the time. as the bundle came out in late 2005.
This recording may also be from 2006.
Adult guy trying out a child's toy from 20 years ago and wonders about vertical alignment of the built-in antenna.
Yeah, that mostly sums up why I love this channel.
And yes, the antennas are pretty much guaranteed to never be lined up for a good shot. Vertical polarization would have been much more effective, I think.
@@tomwilson2112 As long as both polarizations match on both antennas, it doesn't really matter. What becomes an issue is when one is vertical, and the other is horizontal (or vice versa)
And I am wondering if you could fit a WiFi filter circuit.
@@Suctess Not really. They occupy the same spectrum; filters only work to block signals from other frequencies or bands that happen to be interfering due to spurs, harmonics, or other side effects of RF transmission. When two things are meant to use the same frequency, the only way to block one from the other is physical isolation.
Except that horizontal antennas are also directional - you get the best signal when the two antennas are not just parallel, but their sides face each other.
In this setup, when the base station is behind the camera or in front of the camera, it's going to get the least signal. So you not only have to think about distance, but also direction.
That camera is very impressive for what's essentially just a toy. We take having a decent camera for granted now, with everyone have a smartphone in their pockets. There was a time where having a camera instantly made you the coolest kid on the block however.
I'm hoping that the people on the tape get recognized and found, or stumble upon this video themselves. They'll probably want the footage off that tape. Those are childhood memories now.
This is one of the few places where you can see a grown man play with Barbie and not have it be creepy
And watch home video of a little girl he doesn't know, lol
You can always resort to defacing the Barbie decor.
The receiver and 2.4GHz Wi-Fi interference brought back memories for me.
In the mid to late 2010s, at the previous flat I lived in, I had a similar system but as a dedicated transmitter and receiver combo, and it was a little more advanced as it had a directional antenna and IR repeater. I used mine to wirelessly transmit the composite video signal from the pay TV box in the living room to my TV in the bedroom so I could watch its DVR recordings. However, the remote for that provider's boxes used a strange frequency that wouldn't work with cheap IR repeaters, so I had to walk outside to control the box and walk back into my bedroom (nearby) to watch my DVR recordings of Wander Over Yonder or whatever show it may be. However, when I wanted to use the composite video out on the box, I had to switch the output video resolution from 1080i to PAL.
It was still an upgrade over what I used in the late 2000s in the flat I lived in before that, which was a long coaxial cable from the RF out on an older pay TV box into a TV I had in what used to be my sister's shared bedroom (which I used as a study).
neighbours see a grown man in his garden playing with a pink Barbie camcorder. 😂
"That's just Dave... being Dave."
He lives next to his parents; they must be so proud.
@@Okurka. they were the ones that bought the camera for him :D
I hope the family sees this and can relive a bit of their old memories. I wonder if the family reached out would David give them the full digitized footage? Seems like it might be tricky to verify they are who they say they are.
There's something nice and nostalgic about seeing old video footage and then using the same equipment to make modern videos.
The camera quality was pretty great for the time. And the fact that you got footage from someone in the 2000’s is the cherry on top
> footage from someone in the 2000's
There were millions of us! Millions!
The microphone was obviously very lo-fi, but in an extremely pleasant way. It sounded nice.
it looks like all sci-fi transmissions from distant planet.
Watching that footage on a standard definition TV at the time must have looked pretty good.
@@nnnnnn3647 it’s a shame it’s basically unusable now because of that.
Thanks David! It makes my day when a new episode of 8-Bit Guy gets released. Double bonus I get to order PETSCII Robots for MS-DOS!
I would recommend the signed boxed edition, the production quality is so good - reminds me of a big box game from the late 80s... Back when $35 was a huge spend for a single game :) Lol I just received PETSCII Robots and Planet X3 Amiga and C64 versions, absolutely superb.
The artworks are amazing and soundtrack are even available on casette and vinyl! I am going to review them all soon but fyi this stuff is so cool, I love it! Nice one David.
4:40 this is the perfect camera for a scary found-footage movie!
Haha! Yes!
True
seeing the little kids playing with it on that tape was adorable
bro predicted the movie
I was JUST complaining to my barber yesterday that it's been more than a month since a new 8 bit guy video
The quality of this camera does give the 1990's vibes
A horror one at that
This camera (coupled with the interference) would be perfect for Ghost Hunting and/or Found Footage Videos
yeah I was flabbergasted that it was from the 2000s
The 1990s cameras were hundreds of dollars. This was just old technology cheap.
@@KairuHakubi Why? Yes, it's from 2001, but it's a toy, you know.
Only David Murray can turn a 2001 Barbie Cam into a technical presentation that captured my attention when I was almost about to skip it! Also the fast jerky movement while the camera quickly adjusted its exposure time is darn good for a 2001 "toy"!
Can't wait to see all the indie bands record music videos on these kinds of things. It baffling to hear things i grew up with like these cameras or the Playstation 2 be called vintage nowadays, but i guess that's now people your age must have felt in the 2000s.
PS2 is 23 years old. That's as old as Atari 2600 was when PS2 launched in 2000.
The recorded video was so wholesome to see. A glimpse into someone's life when they were really happy :)
Hopefully they are still happy.
@@PotatoeSnow That makes me kinda sad too tbh
As a Barbie collector this is double the fun
You should get the Barbie Gameboy Pocket
@@Pepperroni_McRoni probably crazy expensive
I hope you are a 7 year old girl.
but she's got a new hat
Whoever design this is a freaking genius. I believe if this technology were further developed, we might have pure wireless camcorder. Wow, this thing is freaking amazing!
This would make a really cool and fun webcam for Zoom calls, with that 80's vibe. I'm impressed.
You'd have to have the PC connected through Ethernet and disable wifi tho lol
@@TheXppp1 You could directly tap the video signal with a little modding. Your WiFi would still be free to to its job.
I would say this has a more 90's low end camcorder vibe, but then again you can always just get an older Logitech USB 2.0 webcam that only does 480p max that does not need drivers on a modern system(at least on Linux) for the same vibe.
Zoom calls with a barbie cam? Cool
I have a Philips webcam that is 480p and UVC/driverless, both for modern Linux distros and Windows 10/11. The image is pretty good, but this 90's vibe is intense 😆
That fet minutes of recording via the camera and making it as the end segment of the video, just gives this content that little bit of extra love and charm. Fantastic video as always mate!
It has a very soft and pleasant picture quality, not like the compressed digital mess I was expecting.
It's analog.
@@Okurka. Not once on RUclips
@@lajya01 Try comprehensive reading.
I hope you saved the video and tried to get it to the people in it, I bet they would be glad to have it back. That would be a awesome addition to the next video, you giving them a usb stick with the footage on (if they consent to participate of course). I lost some reel to reel tapes of my mom and would be verry happy to find them again, so I can imagine how they might react.
Dude, I kind of want this camera now. That film grain, the vingetting, that weird color distortion 😩👌 sooo aesthetic!!!
One would need quite the stack of effects plugins to reach that with modern tech. Also the audio that matches the video quality is womderf 🤣
Any time 8-Bit or Adrian features niche products on their channel, Ebay is cleaned out within a week. Who knew, NABU and now this?
I've got an old camcorder from the early 2000's made by Sony. It uses a 16:9 aspect ratio, though it does use 8mm cassette tapes. This model even appeared in Sony's 2021 animated film The Mitchells vs. The Machines, so naturally I've got something in common with the movie's protagonist. In fact, it's a lot more than just a nostalgic artifact, but that's a story for another time.
Yesss I wish these kinds of cameras would resurface in limited mainstream use like vinyl records and record players 😫
get an analog FPV camera with transmitter and some kind of receiver or dvr module. The quality would be about the same. Almost all of those cameras has wide lenses. though they can be swapped.
You should use this camera onwards.
The retro feel is amazing!
Nice video! I remember walking through Toys R Us in the late 90s and admiring all of the technological advances in toys, seeing things like the Tyco camera and noting that they were insanely cheap compared to their "adult" competitors.
This reminds me of when I was watching 10 Shake while on holiday in Australia and seeing adverts for various V-tech products including a digital camera for children.
I often recall beautiful memories in my mind to forget some of the pitfalls I am facing at the moment. The memories are even more beautiful when you find a large community that shares your memories and interests. Thank you for adding more episodes that connect us to the past.
The video quality is so amazingly vintage! Love it!
David always finds a way to incorporate PETSCII Robots into each and every video. haha
It's like he made this video just to plug the game.
It kept me on edge. I'm not very good at the game. ;)
ABC: Always Be Closing
@@PhillyMotoXTS “First prize is a Cadillac Eldorado. Second prize is a set of steak knives. Third prize is you're fired.”
Put that coffee down! Coffee is for closers
Tune in next week for Part 2:Dave's princess party !
Love the old footage aesthetic it's very comforting reminding me of my days in elementary school, I don't really get the horror .
Wow, this gives a really big childhood vibe!
I imagine the robustness of having screws hold down the battery cover is more a product of safety requirements or concerns (anti kid eating/choking on batteries) than anything else, though breakage prevention would be tangentially addressed nonetheless.
I seem to recall that the late 90s was about the right time for everything to have warning stickers on it - a precursor to the anti-right to repair era?
@@the_kombinator no safety requirements are a negative cost. Without regulations we wouldn't have them.
Anti right to repair is extremely capitalistic because it means the consumer has to keep giving money to wealthy freeloaders, instead of only once. Without regulations, everything would be anti right to repair. Regulations are the reason why electronics have to accept inputs they're not designed for.
@@adampope5107 Yeah but now the regulations are headed for "don't even think about opening that, your kids will die." Absurd. My not-that-old glasstop oven has a wiring diagram glued to the back panel. My (admittedly much older summer) car came with the tools you need to repair lik 90% of the maintenance items, which are outlined in the manual (not the shop manual, mind you.) Now? Take it to the dealer.
Completely crushes innovation, in the name of "safety".
@@the_kombinator that's not what the regulations do. Right to repair IS regulation. Anti right to repair legislation prevents regulation by allowing companies to do what they want, which is stop you from repairing your devices.
Yes, basically all kids' electronics had screws on the battery cover, for just that reason. That's been true for quite a while, now.
This thing came out while I was in high school or thereabouts. I worked at an electronics store in 2004 and could have sold a camcorder or digital camera to their parents that same year.
I loved how you did the studio walk-around and some updates with the camcorder at the tale end of the video. Makes me want to fire up my old Aiptek HD (different model than the one you featured).
The quality for that is really good, especially for the price and the fact that it is a toy.
Also, that pink vhs tape.. Why didn't we have colored vhs tape shells? That would have been fun to color coordinate the tape with whatever you were recording.
They were somewhat rare, but some tapes did come in other colors. The most common was probably the VeggieTales tapes in lime green.
I own a copy of Monsters Inc on VHS and it used a blue case.
@@joshwilliams7692 many nickelodeon movies were in orange VHSs.
Love the episode's light format and can't wait to watch the Commander X16 update. Cheers!
Can't wait for the X16 to get released at the expected $50 price.
@@Okurka. Ouch! That's a poke in the eye... but a deserved one perhaps. 😉
Just started watching your channel, fascinated by your electronics restoration videos! Keep making new content, thanks for continuing these!
OMG I had this as a kid!!!! It was my first camcorder, and I never thought I'd see one again :)
Please shoot a whole show with this !
I wonder if the remote was included so you could control the VCR from a distance. It does look like a semi-universal remote of sorts.
Yeah, that's a universal remote (note the Code Search button.) So it was meant to control whatever TV/VCR combo you happened to have.
I thought there were hidden remote controlled features in the camera, like an early version of later camgirl setups.
The best way to get channel updates, is via the lens of a Barbie camera... fantastic!
Holy cow I love that intro sting. It makes me happy every time.
6:01 Not Only Wi-Fi will interfere, also LTE Signals as b2 and b66 works on those frequencies... for the time that was sold, l2100 wasnt licensed yes for Cell Phone use
Never thought I'd see a pink VHS tape
I remember using a 2,4 GHz video transmitter and receiver in the late 1990s or early 2000s and it worked pretty good untill Wi-fi networks became common and it became unusable.
cellphones, wi-fi routers, wireless phones, mircowaves, and a half dozen other things that operated on that range
@@cmdraftbrn Yeah the 2.4Ghz band has been very crowded for a very long time with thing like cordless house phones, but I remember when I got my first WiFi router in 08(when my town finally got faster than dial-up internet from the cable company)which was a 2.4Ghz Belkin with a single tiny antenna, and every time someone was in the kitchen using the microwave the wireless signal would cut out no matter the settings. Thankfully these days we have better WiFi even on 2.4Ghz that helps eliminate that somewhat, and wireless speeds that are as fast wired speeds if not faster in many places with things like T-MO at home 5G(I have it, and pull down 500 Mbps+ and push 150 Mbps+ up).
Frequency would've been used by cordless phones at the time.
Don’t forget microwave ovens also use 2.4Ghz to cook your food. That probably made the picture unwatchable.
@@jeffreykoerber6595 Yes, the microwave caused major interference and sometimes even killed the signal.
I had this camera as a kid, it was one of my biggest toys at a time when we didn't have much. As someone now in their mid/late twenties seeing this again and watching the footage, I am feeling many emotions.
Thanks for the video 💖🥲
also I was kind of scared the footage was going to be of me somehow
Excellent! Every day a new 8-but guy drops is a wonderful day!
The value for this item is pretty legit. I still had a combo TV/VCR into the late 2000's. So this could have had a decent useful life.
yeah, i still had a tv vcr combo up until 2013 so thats around 12 years of value
Leave it to David to make something as simple as a Barbie toy video camera an entertaining video. Loved it, hope you make a video about those new solar panels going up! Made my day to see a new upload!
Awright! You know your birthday feels complete when a new video of the 8-Bit Guy comes out right on your birthday! Thanks David, and don't stop producing great content. 😊
Happy birthday good sir!
happy birthday :)
Happy birthday! 🎉
Happy birthday!
Thank you all! 😁
Actually, around 2004 they were still making these types of cameras. For my ninth birthday that year, I got a Spider-Man 2 camera which was the exact same camera as the Barbie one.
I'm new here, I love your video intro!!! ❤
Also I want that camcorder so bad 😅
Omg. I was friends with this girl in 1st grade and she had this camera. We had fun seeing how far the wireless signal goes. And I remember stealing the VHS tape from her because I thought she was cute and wanted to watch it after she said no cause she filmed herself with it lol. For a kid's toy it was fascinating at that time period to see a wireless camera
Remember her name? Try to show her this video
The end clip using the toy camera was amazing, great video 🎉
imagine stealing your sister's barbie cam and making your rc car into an fpv explorer in 2001
That home video was so wholesome.
Very nostalgic feeling.
8-bit guy is the perfect example that it's not youtubes fault that your not getting views, granted the 8-bit guy has been doing youtube for years, but he has continued making great content no matter what it is he's making a video about.
Great video David! I enjoy these vintage camera videos! I remember the Tyco Video Cam you reviewed a while back.
4:09 if you showed me this clip and told me it was the back rooms I would believe you.
4:00 Barbie Cam: great for creating low budget horror movies!! 😂😂
Imagine how surprising it would be for the people in the recording to see this video
I would be mildly horrified
I think they are probably speaking to their lawyers to see if they have a case right about now...
@@AlsGeekLab why?
@@youtubeaccount697 it contains images of minors without their or their parents consent (even though this is after the event, they are minors in this video). AFAIK this is illegal in California and other parts of the world. At the very least, seeing ones self as a child (or the other members of this family), appear approx 20 years later on a random video on the Internet, which has a global audience could be against their wishes. It is highly unlikely that they knowingly distributed the video with this artifact still on it, and even less likely that it would be picked up by a RUclipsr to share their private family time. I feel this is a gross violation of their privacy.
That's kind of ridiculous. I mean, exactly what would they claim are the damages? How did this hurt them? I would think they'd be pleased to see it.
Most period accurate announcement of Pesky Robots ever
Good too see you’re spending your time wisely making Barbie videos versus making X-16 viable
I had this toy when it first came out! I was 6 years old in 2001. I'm 29 now but I still remember the commercial for it lol. I had a lot of fun with this thing growing up. Cool video, very nostalgic for me 👍🏽
The *Tyco camera* had a funny "feature", it could see things maaayn~ it could see things. I was able to record a lightning strike. It showed a "Wire" moving up from the metal pole and eventually it connected and the strike occurred, it was a Ground to Cloud connection. It could also record the infrared light (of remote controls at least) Too bad most things look like the lens was covered with Vaseline though, lol
LED lights can create distortion depending on what you're using.
Most cameras could. That's why the quality cameras have an IR filter to block it.
I used my tyco videocam to test methods of making my plate obscured to ir cameras when i was 18 😂 turns out chalkboard paint and matte white paint replacing the reflective green and white on my plate made it easier to see on an ir camera at night 🤣 what did work, but was blatantly obvious, was putting an acrylic plate cover on and having a ring of really bright infrared leds around the edge on the inside. You could see the tips of them past the black border, but it did over expose the first and last two digits to the point it was unreadable no matter what brightness setting you had the camera on streetlights helped make it more obscured, but i wasnt sure if the traffic light speed cams ran in daylight mode under street lights or not, soo i abandoned the project 😂 was still fun trying to come up with ways to avoid a speeding ticket 🤣 turns out that if you go fast enough it doesnt get you (or at least the ones where i used to drive fast didnt) its probably all way different now though haha
Love it. The 8-Bit Barbie Guy by Aqua remix:
Verse 1:
I'm an 8-bit guy, in a 16-bit world
I love to play, and make games unfurled
Commander X16, my computer of choice
I code all day, and I rejoice
Chorus:
He's an 8-bit guy, in a 16-bit world
Creating games, that'll make you twirl
PETSCII Robots, his latest delight
And Planet X16, is out of sight
Verse 2:
He loves to code, in BASIC and more
His passion for games, we can't ignore
He'll teach you tricks, to make your games shine
And his retro style, is simply divine
Chorus:
He's an 8-bit guy, in a 16-bit world
Creating games, that'll make you twirl
PETSCII Robots, his latest delight
And Planet X16, is out of sight
Bridge:
You can't deny, his love for the past
His games will last, and always outlast
He's an 8-bit guy, in a 16-bit world
A retro gaming master, that can't be unfurled
Chorus:
He's an 8-bit guy, in a 16-bit world
Creating games, that'll make you twirl
PETSCII Robots, his latest delight
And Planet X16, is out of sight
Outro:
He's the 8-Bit Guy, and we all adore
His retro gaming style, we can't ignore.
nice job!
I recognize ChatGPT's touch :) Just a guess, don't be offended if you spent hours writing this
Every episode is high quality, and I never miss a single one. You’re the best, David!
I am shocked how good the footage looks considering it was a toy. I would have loved this thing as a kid, did they also make a Hot Wheels version like the PC?
This thing totally looks moddable, a couple of external antennas, a rechargeable battery pack and you could even upgrade the camera, but I kinda like the way it looks now.
I'm honestly shocked how good the mic was! Totally not was I was expecting from that plasticy looking thing.
8-bit YTP is gonna have a feild day with this 😂☠️😂
Terrible Person too lmao
I wonder if the people who recorded on this VHS will ever see this
Old cameras have such a charm to them! Recently dug up a mid 2000s digital camera my parents had. That was the one I used for a school project back in 2018. Playing back the clips from that project felt so nostalgic, unlike videos from the same year recorded in newer hd cameras. The overly saturated, grainy, low resolution image makes it feel like old memories which look less sharp as time goes by
2:17 - I traded my Sega Saturn and games with a friend for the Tyco camcorder 😂 Recording myself on a VHS tape blew my mind! Best trade ever! (At the time 😂).
The long tethered cable made it really hard to film outside though, so I just filmed my neighbors going to the shop through my living room window
2:15 The Tyco cam! My dad worked for Tyco (which was later bought by Mattel) and he brought home one of those for me and my sister to play with. Good times.
Usually you can check the fcc ID to get information regarding RF for various devices. Thanks for the great videos!
damn. need to get me one of those. The video quality is absolutely perfect for a lo-fi look, and with the built in transmitter it's super compact. Great for live visuals for some concerts or events.
Great episode, man! Such a fun little camera, and a relic of an in-between time often forgotten.
There's something über cool about seeing you and the set in glorious VHS camcorder quality. Makes me want to see more modern sights and sounds through this thing.
Just a note about the screw access to the batteries - it's actually a regulatory requirement in many jurisdictions that batteries on toys are only removable with the aid of a tool, to avoid kids taking them out on their own.
babe, wake up. the 8-bit guy has uploaded a video.
Most interesting thing in this video are the hints of the subjects for new upcoming videos. Can’t wait to see more of your solar panel projects.
I hope RUclips will not start recommending me videos about Barbie after seeing this one 😅
Something about a grown man and his Barbie is really not sitting well with me.
This was the last we saw of the 8-bit Guy before he went missing and his Ken doll was reported at the Toys-R-Us.
😭 I knew this day would come, when the 8 Bit Goy would review early 2000’s tech and call it “retro tech”. Dam I feel old. 😂
What quality from the 70s/80s!!!
There are people who spend hundreds of dollars on an Adobe Premiere plugin. It was enough to have Barbie's camcoder. Cool!!!
seems like a good device to produce analog horror
Gemini Home Entertainment presents: Toys For Girls
🎶 I’m an 8-Bit Guy, in a 8-Bit world 🎶
Love the whimsy mixed with seriousness of this video. Amazing! Can hardly wait to get my X16 as soon as it's out! Cheers! Keep up the great and intriguing work. You rock Mr. 8 Bit!
You know what really pisses me off is that a cheesy *wireless* barbie cam from 2001 still has a much better image than the ridiculously expensive USB webcams of the era, and a SHITLOAD faster to boot. Goes to show how bad we got ripped off for real PC hardware back then. I can't be the only person thinking about our 2001 webcams & digital cams that certainly weren't even wireless
USB 1.0 throughput would have been a factor back then. But yeah.
@@JavaJack59 I don't think the 1.0 standard even came anywhere close to its rated throughput, I know it's CPU intensive but frack.. USB in both higher end standalone cards and built-in just barely worked as anything more than convenient keyboard and mouse ports, coz you weren't about to get any decent data transfer with anything else certainly not any imaging device. I vividly remember having a serial Logitech cam that made better stills and video than the $250 USB one I bought to replace it. And don't forget the irritating USB crashing
Right when he pointed out the Nintendo DS on the table, I pulled mine out and got really, really concerned for a second 🤣
Wow that was perfect
Oh! My little sister had this cam recorder, but it didn't look as it looks on the video. It might be because we live in Europe, and maybe it was marketed differently. Also, I think my parents bought this thing in like, 2005? It was probably still being sold during all of the 2000s, which way explain the DS
Those fake antennas are more common than you think, my $150 model airplane transmitter even has one.
I'm thinking of getting one of these things now because all the analog interference and artifacts it outputs appeals to me aesthetically.
Good idea! Obviously these days anybody can just apply "old VHS tape" filters to digital video, but you can't beat the real deal. Haha, 20 years ago, who'da thought we'd be yearning for that?