Dash cams, what to get and where to get it (Q&A only)

PrettyBoy

I'm looking for a dash cam that with motion detection that has the ability to record when parked. Reason for this is if my car is vandalised/damaged when parked I'd hopefully be able to capture faces/licence plates.

Can anyone recommend a model?

Woodpecker1

PrettyBoy wrote: »

I'm looking for a dash cam that with motion detection that has the ability to record when parked. Reason for this is if my car is vandalised/damaged when parked I'd hopefully be able to capture faces/licence plates.

Can anyone recommend a model?

The model I recommend has motion detection and is quite good in the dark . It is from china though. God only knows how long it will last.

Silvera

Woodpecker1 wrote: »

The model I recommend has motion detection and is quite good in the dark . It is from china though. God only knows how long it will last.

According to this (excellent!) review website, the dashcam you mention doesnt have 'parking mode'? ....what exactly does 'parking mode' mean?

http://dashcamtalk.com/g1w/

I'm seriously considering buying this version of the dashcam you bought Woodpecker1...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/310830749213

Woodpecker1

Silvera wrote: »

According to this (excellent!) review website, the dashcam you mention doesnt have 'parking mode'? ....what exactly does 'parking mode' mean?

http://dashcamtalk.com/g1w/

I'm seriously considering buying this version of the dashcam you bought Woodpecker1...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/310830749213

I got stung with a fake one the first time I bought.

But I sold it on and bought the correct G1w. I recommend using the seller I posted. He was also linked on techmans youtube page. The seller is selling the real deal.

Red Nissan

Silvera wrote: »

....what exactly does 'parking mode' mean?

Once wired up correctly it will run keeping a watch on the vehicle whilst parked. Conditions apply.

Normal mode of operation is the device is wired to the car battery, through the cigar lighter [usually] and only operates with mains power on.

If under these conditions one were to force the power to stay on, one's car battery would flatten in an hour or two.

Cameras that support parking mode can stay on via their own internal power for about two hours, or use motion detection to only come on if motion is detected.

Also these can be wired to the engine through a device that prevents the car battery going too low to start, four hours I think is what that gives. ot a second battery can be installed in the car and the wired to that and it switches to mains as the engine runs.

Nino Brown

Red Nissan wrote: »

Once wired up correctly it will run keeping a watch on the vehicle whilst parked. Conditions apply.

Normal mode of operation is the device is wired to the car battery, through the cigar lighter [usually] and only operates with mains power on.

If under these conditions one were to force the power to stay on, one's car battery would flatten in an hour or two.

Cameras that support parking mode can stay on via their own internal power for about two hours, or use motion detection to only come on if motion is detected.

Also these can be wired to the engine through a device that prevents the car battery going too low to start, four hours I think is what that gives. ot a second battery can be installed in the car and the wired to that and it switches to mains as the engine runs.

A dash cam won't run down a battery in a few hours. I've left mine on for days, and never had a problem. They draw very little juice.

Red Nissan

Nino Brown wrote: »

A dash cam won't run down a battery in a few hours. I've left mine on for days, and never had a problem. They draw very little juice.

I can't obviously comment on any particular cam, it is industry advise to protect from a flat battery.

My Transit never seems to drain a battery, but my Nissan does.

sentient_6

My dashcam will completely drain my battery in a couple of hours.

Nino Brown

sentient_6 wrote: »

My dashcam will completely drain my battery in a couple of hours.

Fair enough. What camera is that?

sentient_6

Nino Brown wrote: »

Fair enough. What camera is that?

Smartcam 2

Nino Brown

sentient_6 wrote: »

Smartcam 2

They only draw 400mA, your battery should last a few days on a full charge and still have enough juice to start the car.
I guess it just depends on the age of the battery.

sentient_6

Nino Brown wrote: »

They only draw 400mA, your battery should last a few days on a full charge and still have enough juice to start the car.
I guess it just depends on the age of the battery.

True, its the original battery still in a 06. Has yet to fail me yet! beside leaving the key in acc with the camera plug in of course.......

frogstar

Any thoughts on this?? It's posted in bargain alerts


http://www.memoryc.com/home-hobby/car-video-recorders/transcend-16gb-drivepro-200-car-video-recorder-wifi.html?utm_campaign=20140403&utm_content=7156847975&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Emailvision

Dord

I was reading up on one of the dashcam forums, and it seems the Mini 0801 replacement is due out very soon. It's called the Mini 0803.

The specs and video quality look very good. I think I'm gonna bite the bullet on it when it's available.

Here's the spec sheet (w/ some pics included). http://spec.megcn.com/X34%20%28mini%200803%29%20spec.pdf

It's got a better chip and sensors.

Damien360

Dord wrote: »

I was reading up on one of the dashcam forums, and it seems the Mini 0801 replacement is due out very soon. It's called the Mini 0803.

The specs and video quality look very good. I think I'm gonna bite the bullet on it when it's available.

Here's the spec sheet (w/ some pics included). http://spec.megcn.com/X34%20%28mini%200803%29%20spec.pdf

It's got a better chip and sensors.

Based on specs, the video resolution is higher 1296 vs 1080p but the CMOS sensor is lower grade 3.5megapixel vs 5m in 0801.

The nighttime quality in 0801 is very poor, and unusable in my car at night. I cannot imagine the 0803 is any better.

Also, my 0801 is buggy. When the card fills it switches off which is fair enough, but the time and date default back to 2013. Recording during night time can cause it to give up and the blue light comes on solid. The data file corrupts and the camera is unusable.

Very good during the day but if I had to replace it, I would'nt buy another.

Irish Stones

I recently purchased a Mini 801 from an ebay seller that is marked as 100% reliable. They sold me a kit with the dash cam, a 16GB memory card and the GPS mount. It was a very quick delivery.
I tested it and I'm not completely satisfied. The quality of the images is good, but the video clips are jerky and it seems like the car speed isn't constant. The car goes slow, then visibly speeds up, then goes slow again and so on, and of course it's not what's going on, I was driving at a steady speed during the test. And this happens for the whole duration of the test, a couple of hours, so it's unlikely that it was my fault.
Has anybody of you had a similar experience with this device?
I sent an email to the seller, I hope they can solve the problem...

gman2k

Irish Stones wrote: »

I recently purchased a Mini 801 from an ebay seller that is marked as 100% reliable. They sold me a kit with the dash cam, a 16GB memory card and the GPS mount. It was a very quick delivery.
I tested it and I'm not completely satisfied. The quality of the images is good, but the video clips are jerky and it seems like the car speed isn't constant. The car goes slow, then visibly speeds up, then goes slow again and so on, and of course it's not what's going on, I was driving at a steady speed during the test. And this happens for the whole duration of the test, a couple of hours, so it's unlikely that it was my fault.
Has anybody of you had a similar experience with this device?
I sent an email to the seller, I hope they can solve the problem...

Is that playback issue via a pc?
What's it like on the cam screen? And have you tried a Hdmi out to a TV?
Who was the seller?

Irish Stones

gman2k wrote: »

Is that playback issue via a pc?
What's it like on the cam screen? And have you tried a Hdmi out to a TV?
Who was the seller?

Hi Gman2k, you have been quicker than my edit button
I was going to edit my previous post to update you about how I solved the problem.
The seller just told me to use the official video player provided with the dash cam, I was using the Windows default player, it's my fault. I was in a hurry and when I clicked the video files to view them the default player opened the files. Then the panic overwhelmed me
With the official player everything is alright. VLC Media Player is also good, but of course doesn't show all the other info, like the position on the map and other data.
Anyway, to reply your questions, yes, the issue was via my PC. The cam screen was perfect, and I haven't tried other systems like TV's or else.
The seller is combi-uk.
Thank you for your attention!

Silvera

I started using my new dash cam yesterday and it is interfering with my radio?

When I plug it into the cigarette lighter my radio channels go silent..one or two channels kind-of work. As soon as I plug it out the radio channels come back again?!

Any ideas what the problem/solution is guys??

Richard88

Hi lads.

Thinking of buying a mini 0801 dash cam. Have seen them on amazon for £52, which seems to be the best price i have found.

Is this a good price or would you recommend anything better which is around the same price range?

I would intend on getting it hard wired so there's no plugs...etc. I would have to bring it to an auto electrician as I know little about this.
What would an average cost for this be?

Woodpecker1

Silvera wrote: »

I started using my new dash cam yesterday and it is interfering with my radio?

When I plug it into the cigarette lighter my radio channels go silent..one or two channels kind-of work. As soon as I plug it out the radio channels come back again?!

Any ideas what the problem/solution is guys??

Try a better power adapter .
If I remember right from the days of CB radio, its usually the power source that causes these problems. I used an inline choke to cure it back then..

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/DURITE-IN-LINE-CAR-RADIO-CHOKE-INTERFERENCE-SUPPRESSOR-WITH-INLINE-FUSES-/301126733001

Damien360

Richard88 wrote: »

Hi lads.

Thinking of buying a mini 0801 dash cam. Have seen them on amazon for £52, which seems to be the best price i have found.

Is this a good price or would you recommend anything better which is around the same price range?

I would intend on getting it hard wired so there's no plugs...etc. I would have to bring it to an auto electrician as I know little about this.
What would an average cost for this be?

I have one.

0801 is useless at night.
It struggles in strong direct sunlight, other than that it is good during the day.
It randomly stops recording.
When the sd card fills, it stops, fair enough but it often gets corrupted and sets the date and time back to default.
It does the same if you try night recording.
The lighter socket power is just long enough to go from camera mounted high to window, down the door seal, under steering wheel and over to lighter socket, so you should be able to avoid anything fancier.

I use mine every day but if it died, I would buy something else. Cheap and decent for daylight only.

Richard88

Damien360 wrote: »

I have one.

0801 is useless at night.
It struggles in strong direct sunlight, other than that it is good during the day.
It randomly stops recording.
When the sd card fills, it stops, fair enough but it often gets corrupted and sets the date and time back to default.
It does the same if you try night recording.
The lighter socket power is just long enough to go from camera mounted high to window, down the door seal, under steering wheel and over to lighter socket, so you should be able to avoid anything fancier.

I use mine every day but if it died, I would buy something else. Cheap and decent for daylight only.

Cheers.

And the reviews were pretty good!

Voodoomelon

I'd agree, the quality is good to very good during the day but useless at night. I also bought a high speed, high capacity, top end Sandisk card and it's not bloody compatible.

I also had problems with the camera just turning off by itself after briefly showing a card error (with the card it shipped with), seems to have stopped for now.

Damien360

Voodoomelon wrote: »

I'd agree, the quality is good to very good during the day but useless at night. I also bought a high speed, high capacity, top end Sandisk card and it's not bloody compatible.

I also had problems with the camera just turning off by itself after briefly showing a card error (with the card it shipped with), seems to have stopped for now.

I had same with class 10 card. Switched it to recommended class 6 Sandisk 32gb and the card error does not occur but I still get card corruption every so often (full shutdown). A quick format and I am away again but you cannot 100% rely on it.

Voodoomelon

Glad to hear it's not just mine, it's annoying it's not 100% reliable alright. I used my Roadhawk for three years solid and it never failed me. I guess there was a reason they were €250 and these new ones are a third of the price.

Would you have a link to the class of card that's compatible? I remember reading somewhere that only Samsung and another brand are 100% compatible.

Silvera

Woodpecker1 wrote: »

Try a better power adapter .
If I remember right from the days of CB radio, its usually the power source that causes these problems. I used an inline choke to cure it back then..

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/DURITE-IN-LINE-CAR-RADIO-CHOKE-INTERFERENCE-SUPPRESSOR-WITH-INLINE-FUSES-/301126733001

I fixed it...it was the double-adaper (Lidl sourced) which I was using that was causing the problem. Everything is ok when I plug in the dash cam directly into the cigarette lighter. Cheers.

Did you hard-wire your dash cam btw?
Easy to do...or better left to a specialist?

vibe666

Still very happy with my mobius, great quality, set and forget and works every time. Also handy for recording pretty much whatever you fancy by just grabbing it out of the car and bringing with, or strapping to a bike, RC plane/chopper/quad.

Woodpecker1

Silvera wrote: »

I fixed it...it was the double-adaper (Lidl sourced) which I was using that was causing the problem. Everything is ok when I plug in the dash cam directly into the cigarette lighter. Cheers.

Did you hard-wire your dash cam btw?
Easy to do...or better left to a specialist?

Not really a specialist job. If you are not that way inclined, I bet you have a mate who could do a decent job on it. Easy as wiring a car stereo .

Silvera

Woodpecker1 wrote: »

Not really a specialist job. If you are not that way inclined, I bet you have a mate who could do a decent job on it. Easy as wiring a car stereo .

Oh I'd have no problem doing it myself.
Whats the procedure?

Cheers!:)