Which dash cam??

[1TUFFUTE]

Bummer guys....think it was only 4days for mine!
So how is everyone installing it? Are you hardwiring it to a allready existing power source in the head liner? Or are you just using the dash plug and running the cables from there?

[DJR David]

I just used the dash plug, but only because I'm not sure how much longer we will keep this car

[PridenJoy]

Originally Posted by PridenJoy

Same here. Bought mine on 17/5 and still not recieved. It's only coming from NSW FFS.

Arrived today. Looks good but operating manual is useless, mentions nothing about how the rear camera works. Also it says you can change recording time for 1, 2, 3 or five minutes, how do you get it to continuously record?

[Professor Farnsworth]

that will likely mean it records constantly but separates the files into 1 2 3 or 5 minute lengths

i've set my blackvue to maximum which in its case is 3 minutes.

[DJR David]

I actually found the ebay link video to be quite helpful setting it up

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/181274407...84.m1439.l2649


Both cameras run ALL the time that power is on. What is recording does not reflect which camera/s is on display on the screen

[PridenJoy]

Originally Posted by DJR David

I actually found the ebay link video to be quite helpful setting it up

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/181274407...84.m1439.l2649


Both cameras run ALL the time that power is on. What is recording does not reflect which camera/s is on display on the screen

That video is actually quite helpful. Thanks.

[1TUFFUTE]

Yes I've found so far it records two separate video files for each camera....despite having the option of displaying both or single camera views on the little screen.
And I think if you take it off the 2, 3 or 5 min recording.....and put it on continuous......it will be far harder to find or use the recordings if ever needed.
Putting the videos on a 5 min loop makes perfect sense now!


Anyone know how the motion sensor works?

[JC]

How's everyone's cameras going? I still get the odd bad video file (seems to be the last one of the day though - ie when I turn off), but otherwise it's going great. Just have to remember to turn sound off - while I like the engine noise, I hate hearing my own voice (which happens when I'm talking to my kids in the car, singing in the car, answering calls on bluetooth, or yelling at other drivers!).

1TuffUte - motion sensor relies on having power - the inbuilt battery power is not enough, IMO, and the slightest movement sets it off, so it would pretty much always be recording.

[Blem]

My $75 dbl camera is still sitting in the box.
Just waiting to find the time to fit it, then buy 2 more for our other vehicles
BARGAIN ...if it works

[Silver Ghia]

Mine seems to be going OK, except I had to reformat the sd card last night as some of the forward camera files couldn't be read. Haven't tried it since yet.

Also the rear cam playback has the image back to front when playing back, plan to try pressing the record button as it says in the instructions, to reverse the image. There is also a grid showing in the rear cam, like they have on some reversing cameras, but that's not too much of a problem. I noticed the rear cam also has files missing, maybe the reformatting might help this.

But its good as a cheapie introduction camera, I can see most of the forward facing video and is clear, and the sound is not too bad.

[devoGT]

Originally Posted by JC

How's everyone's cameras going? I still get the odd bad video file (seems to be the last one of the day though - ie when I turn off), but otherwise it's going great.

I would try and get that fixed as the last file is usually the most important, especially if the accident causes the camera to lose power.

It sounds like the battery may be faulty, as the camera relies on the battery to save the last video file. That is the problem with battery based dash cams, when the battery finally packs it in it doesn't save the last video file and effectively becomes useless. That is why I recommended the capacitor type dash cam that I linked on page 3 of the thread.

[Silver Ghia]

Originally Posted by Silver Ghia

Also the rear cam playback has the image back to front when playing back, plan to try pressing the record button as it says in the instructions, to reverse the image.

Tried this today and it just turns the front camera image upside down. Googled to find out how as surely there is a way, but haven't found it yet.

But my last file before switching off each time seems OK. I have it switching off a minute after switching off the ignition like I think you have JC. Perhaps you can try changing that to switching off at the same time, in case it is the battery thats causing it.

[JC]

Originally Posted by Silver Ghia

Tried this today and it just turns the front camera image upside down. Googled to find out how as surely there is a way, but haven't found it yet.

But my last file before switching off each time seems OK. I have it switching off a minute after switching off the ignition like I think you have JC. Perhaps you can try changing that to switching off at the same time, in case it is the battery thats causing it.

If the image is back to front, did you mount the camera upside down?

I think I may have ejected the card before it finished which may be why it stuffed the file. I'll do a check once per week, I think.

[Silver Ghia]

Originally Posted by JC

If the image is back to front, did you mount the camera upside down?

I think I may have ejected the card before it finished which may be why it stuffed the file. I'll do a check once per week, I think.

The image in the screen is as if its like a reversing camera, and its recording that image. The image is not upside down.

JC, with yours is the rear camera image in the screen as if you are looking out of the rear window, or if you are looking in the rear vision mirror?

[whynot]

I bought a Navig8r Car Crash Cam Full HD from Office Works for $74, plus a 16GB micro SD.

For $74 it works well. It is easy as to mount it behind the rear view mirror and poke the wiring under the plastic trim along the roof and A pillar. Yes, you can read number plates of closer vehicles in full HD, but at that rate it goes through 16GB in about 45 minutes. There is a surprising number of "hot pixels" which is particularly noticeable in video taken at night. It copes OK with late afternoon sun.

The internal mic can be switched off and the screen set to go blank after a few minutes. Video is reasonably stable. After playing with it for a little bit, I have dropped the resolution down to 720P and this increases the recording time to around 90 minutes.

[devoGT]

Originally Posted by whynot

but at that rate it goes through 16GB in about 45 minutes.

The Navig8r Car Crash Cam Full HD records in AVI file format, hence the big files and reduced recording time, the Navigr8rWD which retails for about $135 records in H.264 which are significantly smaller files and you get a lot more recording time.

I get about 8hrs of video on 32GB micro SD card before it gets full.

[_Ben]

I'm pretty keen on THIS one here. Apparently using the voucher code DCOA gives you free shipping + some gift.

[devoGT]

Originally Posted by _Ben

I'm pretty keen on THIS one here. Apparently using the voucher code DCOA gives you free shipping + some gift.

It is a great dashcam, at the $160 price point probably the best you could get.

see review http://www.techmoan.com/blog/2014/6/...-a-screen.html

& another review http://dashcamtalk.com/mini-0803/

[mechanic]

The little black dots around the BF windscreens are for what purpose?
If I want to mount a dash cam in front of my rear view mirror these dots prevent the use of a suction mount which means a square of sticky stuff on the glass.
Anyone else had this situation and come up with a solution?

[hedgehobb]

Originally Posted by devoGT

as the camera relies on the battery to save the last video file.

Thanks man, now I understand what is happening to the corrupt files. The same thing happening to my Sony Nex 3 camera, if I am recording and turn off the camera, corrupt file. Instead, I have to press "Stop" THEN shut off the camera to not get corrupt files.

Lucky I've become more mellow recently because the thought did cross my mind to take the dash cam and shove it up sideways of the place where I bought it, and now I would have felt bad haha

[devoGT]

Originally Posted by mechanic

The little black dots around the BF windscreens are for what purpose?
If I want to mount a dash cam in front of my rear view mirror these dots prevent the use of a suction mount which means a square of sticky stuff on the glass.
Anyone else had this situation and come up with a solution?

It should still stick to the textured surface, mine does. If not, get some 3M velcro strips or an adhesive mount like this

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/like/1713...=true&lpid=107

http://www.canadadashcam.com/product...unt-360-rotate

[mechanic]

Thanks. I'll be getting my cam shortly and will try it.

[blackiwi]

Been running the Pittasoft BlackVue DR550GW-HD dash cam for a good 6months so far.

2-channels, simultaneously records front and rear.
FHD 1080p front wide angled camera and HD720p rear camera.

Great unit. Very discreet. GPS street mapped. Speed if required (mine turned off) and motion sensored side panel on the camera to activate/deactivate internal microphone to record cabin talk.

Always interesting to listen to what the people doing work on your car say.

Detailed pics of the unit here:

http://the-gadgeteer.com/2013/08/29/...sh-cam-review/

[JC]

Originally Posted by Silver Ghia

The image in the screen is as if its like a reversing camera, and its recording that image. The image is not upside down.

JC, with yours is the rear camera image in the screen as if you are looking out of the rear window, or if you are looking in the rear vision mirror?

Same image as if I was looking out the back window. Isn't that the same either way?

[Silver Ghia]

Originally Posted by JC

Same image as if I was looking out the back window. Isn't that the same either way?

Must be a different rear camera they supplied me, mine is as if I'm looking into the rear vision mirror, so it looks like I'm driving on the wrong side of the road. Also has these coloured lines near the bottom like some rear cameras have. I have searched the internet to find a way to change the image around, but to no avail.

I checked the files again tonight and all the forward camera files seem to work. The rear files, a few dont open, but I think thats what to expect with a cheapie camera system. Overall I'm sort of happy with it.

[devoGT]

Originally Posted by Silver Ghia

Must be a different rear camera they supplied me, mine is as if I'm looking into the rear vision mirror, so it looks like I'm driving on the wrong side of the road. Also has these coloured lines near the bottom like some rear cameras have. I have searched the internet to find a way to change the image around, but to no avail.

I checked the files again tonight and all the forward camera files seem to work. The rear files, a few dont open, but I think thats what to expect with a cheapie camera system. Overall I'm sort of happy with it.

Below is a review of your cam from Dashcam Talk, it states that some of them have rear video which is a mirror image. There apparently is no way to flip the image in the dash cam.

http://dashcamtalk.com/i1000-f70/

[Silver Ghia]

Originally Posted by devoGT

Below is a review of your cam from Dashcam Talk, it states that some of them have rear video which is a mirror image. There apparently is no way to flip the image in the dash cam.

http://dashcamtalk.com/i1000-f70/

That confirms it then. Thanks for that devoGT.

Looks like I'll need to upgrade sometime.