My camera came with both a watertight and an open back.
I bought a add-on battery when I bought the camera and it also came with both backs.
The only thing I don't have is the bare frame, and I don't know what that is used for - leaving the bare lens so exposed as it does. (I've already bought a spare lens for my case)
I am getting a lot of wind noise, and all I've tried is the waterproof case. I will be sure to heed your warning about battery temp. For the Hero3 the external mic plugs into the side of the camera using either a HDMI or a mini-USB. The camera has both ports. And those ports are quite deep in the camera case. I would have to get a 2nd one and modify it to accept a plug.
It also uses MicroSD cards instead of the full size ones. I have one 64gb card and two 32gb cards. I hope that is enough for the trip.
I have two additional internal batteries besides the original and an add-on-back battery.
The two batteries came with a charger that is 110/220v and also has a cigarette socket adapter.
I have 12v coming into my tank bag via the groovy Powerlet stuff that is out there. Charging stuff while on the road should not be a problem.
I used my mini-USB-to-RCA plug adapter to hook the camera up to my [analog] T.V. set. It works great as a real-time camera. Just don't forget to turn down the volume on the T.V. first!
I can also easily watch raw video from the camera to the T.V., but there is no fast-forwarding or anything. But if Ken's T.V. has RCA input, I will be able to rivet rally-goers to their chairs with my hours and hours of video!
The Hero3s all have Wi-Fi capability. I think you have to buy a special back for yours?
The 3s can either be remote controlled by GoPros remote, or by a free application for my Ipod. That Ipod is getting handier all the time! Too bad I keep dropping it and cracking the glass.
The Wi-Fi is not real practical, IMO, as you have to turn it off after setting up your shot and previewing it with the Ipod.
And while the Ipod can start & stop shooting (and any of the other adjustments you want to make), it cannot turn off the Wi-Fi on the camera - that has to be done with the button on the camera, which is very hard to press.
If you don't turn off the Wi-Fi, battery time is severely limited.
On my camera, FOV (wide, med, narrow) is a separate setting from the resolution (1080, 960, 720 & WVGA), so I guess one can have the wide, fisheye effect with a lower resolution, if one so desires.
That's all for now, I think.
Man, who would have thought we would be talking about this stuff with friends half-way around the globe when we were back in middle school when Neil Armstrong was fighting that damned computer on the first moon landing!
Imagine that!
) led me to placing it between my shoulder blades under my jacket.