Starting Sony DSR-50 and DSR-DU1 in record mode with a timer?

I am assembling a system to automatically capture images from a
camera. Since the environment where the system is installed will be
pretty rough, I am planning to connect the camera to the DSR-50 and
daisy chain the DSR-DU1 to it. Actually this is my system setup:

Horita (GPS-based sync)
GPS-MTG
|
|
v composite IEEE1394
camera --------> DSR-50 ---------> DSR-DU1
^
|
Horita ------------
GPS-MSG

(GPS-Based Time Code)

What I want to accomplish is GPS-time code labeled images to tape and
disk. This system needs to start recording automatically when a
trigger event is received. The trigger event will provide power the
the entire system but what I am getting concerned about is start of
the recording on the two DSRs. Start of recording on the two devices
does not need to be simultaneous, but I want to make sure record mode
is started without having to press any buttons or configuring the
devices.

I never used these machines and tried to get some info from Sony and I
have done my homework on google, but I have come out empty. I was
thinking to try to interface on the 26-pin connector and use the
camera trigger (which pins?) to start recording or use the foot switch
connector on the DSR-50. But what about the DSR-DU1? I see that it
is dockable, so I assume there is a way to start recording from camera
as well, but could not find any info on this.

Thank you for your time.

Paolo Bellutta

 

The DU1 is designed to be triggered from the camcorder just like a VTR would
be from the 26 pin connector or so Sony says. The connection between it and
the camera, the firewire cable, carries the record trigger. I think it also
has a pre-trigger recording capability of 8 seconds or so IIRC.