How to Mount a Phone for Telemetry Video
A secure mount matters most when you want vehicle-relative motion telemetry — the pitch, roll, and G-force readings on the Classic or Adventure HUDs. A phone that slides or vibrates produces smeared footage and noisy readings; a stable, well-oriented mount lets VelocityCam calibrate cleanly and keep the HUD steady. If you want GPS-based performance metrics without a fixed mount, the Handheld HUD is built for that instead.
Pick a mount for the environment
Match the mount to the vehicle. Windshield or dash mounts work in cars. Motorcycles and off-road vehicles need mounts explicitly rated for vibration. Marine setups need mounts intended for on-water use and, ideally, an accessible protected position.
- The mount must hold the phone through the roughest expected motion
- Cable routing should not tug on the phone or block the camera
- The camera lens should be unobstructed and clean
Orientation matters
VelocityCam calibrates pitch and roll to the mounted orientation at record start. That means the mount does not have to be perfectly level — but it does need to stay put. If the mount shifts mid-session, the gauges won't match what the vehicle is actually doing.
Portrait, landscape, or reverse portrait
VelocityCam supports full-sensor orientation, including reverse portrait for upside-down windshield mounts. Choose the orientation that gives you the framing you want; recording locks the screen and orientation from that point on.
Managing heat and battery
Long recording sessions generate heat, and sunlight through a windshield adds more. Prefer mount positions with some airflow, keep the phone within its operating temperature range, and consider a battery bank if the session is long.
FAQs
Does the mount need to be level?
No. Record-start calibration references the mounted orientation as level. The important thing is that the mount does not shift during the session.
Will vibration hurt the readings?
The G-force reading is stabilized to keep the ball readable through normal vibration, but extreme rattling will still show up. A vibration-tolerant mount helps both the video and the telemetry.