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

cormie · 13-06-2017 03:16PM

What problems were you having with it and how is it better now?

vectra · 13-06-2017 07:29PM

cormie wrote: »

What problems were you having with it and how is it better now?

Freezing.... Stopping recording.. Overheating issues.
Since I found what appears to be the best firmware..Touch wood all is well.

AndyBoBandy · 13-06-2017 08:19PM

vectra wrote: »

I have the ambarella 0803 mini cam
After a few weeks meddling with updated firmware, and going over and back with settings I got it where it is almost flawless now.
I must have it 4 years or thereabouts.

I am now on the lookout for another one for a family member,
I think I will certainly go with the Mini 0805, while it is not the latest, It is reported as being the Most relaible.

I'd love to get another original 0801, mine has been flawless for 3.5 years, it was replaced by an 0806 which became unreliable after about 1.5 years, which in turn was replaced by the DDPAI M6, but from day 1 the mini 0801 has never skipped a beat on the front or back window.

vectra · 13-06-2017 08:43PM

AndyBoBandy wrote: »

I'd love to get another original 0801, mine has been flawless for 3.5 years, it was replaced by an 0806 which became unreliable after about 1.5 years, which in turn was replaced by the DDPAI M6, but from day 1 the mini 0801 has never skipped a beat on the front or back window.

I have a feeling I saw the 0801 for sale somewhere.

I would go for the 0805.

davycc · 18-06-2017 02:29AM

Adverts is acting up for me so selling my classic daily driver tax and nct , current pics

https://www.donedeal.ie/vintagecars-for-sale/e34-wagon-daily-driver-project-518i/15810453

ironclaw · 18-06-2017 04:33PM

2006 Audi A3 (TFSI / 3DR / Quattro / 200BHP)

MDRmNjhjZDI3MDY5ZDdmNTYxMDc3MDQwMTEzYjAwOTmWi741AV85ijwVYBrmmgAFaHR0cDovL3MzLWV1LXdlc3QtMS5hbWF6b25hd3MuY29tL2RvbmVkZWFsLmllLXBob3Rvcy9waG90b183Mzk0MDU2MXx8fDYwMHg2MDB8fHx8fHx8fA==.jpeg

MDRmNjhjZDI3MDY5ZDdmNTYxMDc3MDQwMTEzYjAwOTmWi741AV85ijwVYBrmmgAFaHR0cDovL3MzLWV1LXdlc3QtMS5hbWF6b25hd3MuY29tL2RvbmVkZWFsLmllLXBob3Rvcy9waG90b183Mzk0MDU2MXx8fDYwMHg2MDB8fHx8fHx8fA==.jpeg

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/2006-audi-a3-tfsi-quattro/15528152

Open to offers, I'm emigrating with work in mid-July so if you want it, make me an offer and I'll likely take it. More details available if needed, PM me.

clint_silver · 19-06-2017 09:41PM

clint_silver wrote: »

I got the the maxtek 1080 (model 77433) from aldi thats been there for last few weeks.
http://www.quesh.co.uk/data/images/products/77433UG.pdf

My first dash cam. awwww.

For anyone else looking, just go to youtube theres a ton of reviews for all makes and models for anyones budget. For c 50 quid I was happy with the reviews. After a couple days recordings, happy with the video however theres a constant crackling noise when car is on a bumpy ride, ie, it records audio fine when stopped or moving slowly on a smooth road.

anyone ever heard that before? Only checked the video this evening and heard it

Aaaannnd after 1 week, its randomly turning itself off and now wont charge off the car charger. Back to aldi for me money back. Pity. I kind of liked it.

davycc · 20-06-2017 02:44AM

My shiny new ad thanks duke
https://www.donedeal.ie/vintagecars-for-sale/e34-wagon-daily-driver-project-518i-nct-amp-tax/15810453

adam88 · 20-06-2017 10:27PM

Rang skoda about getting a dash cam fitted to my 171 skoda. I had Halfords lined up to fit it but a lad in work was banging on about warranty being voided. What skoda said, is unless a qualified auto electrician fitted it and could provide paperwork to back up his quals, my warranty would be voided.

I queried this with Halfords and they said they couldn't provide this paperwork. Deeper digging showed the guys inside are rarely auto electricians.

Skoda main dealers will do it but I don't think they'd be as tidy as Halfords who are used to concealing the wires etc

josip · 20-06-2017 10:37PM

adam88 wrote: »

Rang skoda about getting a dash cam fitted to my 171 skoda. I had Halfords lined up to fit it but a lad in work was banging on about warranty being voided. What skoda said, is unless a qualified auto electrician fitted it and could provide paperwork to back up his quals, my warranty would be voided.

I queried this with Halfords and they said they couldn't provide this paperwork. Deeper digging showed the guys inside are rarely auto electricians.

Skoda main dealers will do it but I don't think they'd be as tidy as Halfords who are used to concealing the wires etc

I hardwired it in myself to our 151 Škoda just after I got it.
I never thought to ask if it affected the warranty.
It's been serviced many times since and they never mentioned it, it's very useful for looking at the level of activity around the car during servicing and what kind of a test drive they took it for before returning it to me.
If there was ever an electrical problem under warranty, I'd just unplug it from the fusebox before sending it to the garage.

Donkey OTae · 21-06-2017 03:19PM

I’m wondering if anyone may be able to help please?

I have a problem with my DVR only recording (once) for approx 20-22 seconds (33mbs) and then shutting itself down.

I have the Aliexpress DVR Novatek 96658 IMX 322 ; when I bought it it was powered using the fuxebox method but I thought that “might” have been the cause of the problem so I got a device that powers it using the OBD in the car but the same problem still happens.

I turn the car key, the device powers up. I can see the flashing blue light (making itself available to connect to using WiFi). The green light then runs for around 10 seconds.

On my phone I very quickly connect to it over Wifi and for about 3 seconds can see what the camera is viewing but only around 20-22 seconds is ever recorded and the DVR shuts itself down.

I’m wondering is the 20 seconds recorded in “Collision” mode? From reading a lot of forums & things I can see most DVR’s have that option.

The problem is the manual is hopeless “Chinglish” and because the phone can only connect for 3 seconds, it doesn’t give me time to get into the settings on the DVR (using the phone) and see if anything is set incorrectly.

I’ve tried using the hard reset button but that seems to leave it with the same settings (if it is even resetting).

Does anyone have this or similar DVR and have experience with this weird 20 second (33mbs) thing.

Is there something that needs to be done with the buttons when they’re in blue or green flashing mode?

I have spent HOURS on it at this stage; any help would be greatly appreciated.

eddie28 · 21-06-2017 06:24PM

http://www.adverts.ie/12688430
Car driving perfect
Looking for quick sale

Irish Stones · 24-06-2017 09:57PM

AndyBoBandy wrote: »

I'd love to get another original 0801, mine has been flawless for 3.5 years, it was replaced by an 0806 which became unreliable after about 1.5 years, which in turn was replaced by the DDPAI M6, but from day 1 the mini 0801 has never skipped a beat on the front or back window.

I thought that the mini0801 was a perfect cam.
Mine has died all of a sudden a few days ago. I was driving and realized that the blinking LED wasn't blinking anymore. I touched the cam and felt it was really hot, so I unplugged it, but it got even hotter, I feared it was going to catch fire! My first thought was to throw it out of the window to save the car. About ten minutes later it was very warm, not hot anymore, I thought it was safe.
Absolutely unreliable. What if I hadn't realized? Would it have melted?

josip · 24-06-2017 10:10PM

Irish Stones wrote: »

I thought that the mini0801 was a perfect cam.
Mine has died all of a sudden a few days ago. I was driving and realized that the blinking LED wasn't blinking anymore. I touched the cam and felt it was really hot, so I unplugged it, but it got even hotter, I feared it was going to catch fire! My first thought was to throw it out of the window to save the car. About ten minutes later it was very warm, not hot anymore, I thought it was safe.
Absolutely unreliable. What if I hadn't realized? Would it have melted?

Was it exposed to direct sunshine and were you in Italy at the time?
You might need to consider a mini shade for the cam or try to install it close to the rearview mirror so that the dark part of the windscreen there gives it some protection

Falcon L · 25-06-2017 09:07AM

These cameras usually contain a LI-PO battery which can fail, and the battery can get very hot or even catch fire! They are the weakest part of the dash cam as they degrade with age. But, they can easily be replaced and this can often bring a misbehaving camera back to life.

Some newer cameras contain a capacitor instead of a battery, these are much safer and more reliable.

Irish Stones · 25-06-2017 09:31AM

josip wrote: »

Was it exposed to direct sunshine and were you in Italy at the time?
You might need to consider a mini shade for the cam or try to install it close to the rearview mirror so that the dark part of the windscreen there gives it some protection

Interesting that you asked me whether I was in Italy.
No, I wasn't, I was on holiday in Ireland and I was travelling through north Donegal on a fresh day.
The camera was fitted next to the rearview mirror and partly protected by the shaded area on top of the windscreen.

Irish Stones · 25-06-2017 09:35AM

Falcon L wrote: »

These cameras usually contain a LI-PO battery which can fail, and the battery can get very hot or even catch fire! They are the weakest part of the dash cam as they degrade with age. But, they can easily be replaced and this can often bring a misbehaving camera back to life.

Some newer cameras contain a capacitor instead of a battery, these are much safer and more reliable.

The battery is the culprit in my opinion too. When they fail that become a hazard. As a matter of fact the cam wouldn't stay on for more than 10 seconds when I turned on in my hands, unplugged.
So you say the device can be opened, I will look for some videos that show how to do that, I haven't seen any catch or screw or else.
Thanks!

blade1 · 25-06-2017 09:53AM

Funny ye should mention batteries.
Just last night a friend asked me to look at a genuine sj4000 that I had given him as a present.
It was constantly switching on and off and none of the buttons were working.

A quick look showed the whole front of the can was bulging out because the battery had swollen inside in it.

I took the battery out its working fine again without it.

One of the reasons I went for a non battery type cam myself for my own car.
I reckon a lot of those battery's are rubbish anyway.
Perhaps safer without them I think.

Falcon L · 25-06-2017 09:55AM

Irish Stones wrote: »

The battery is the culprit in my opinion too. When they fail that become a hazard. As a matter of fact the cam wouldn't stay on for more than 10 seconds when I turned on in my hands, unplugged.
So you say the device can be opened, I will look for some videos that show how to do that, I haven't seen any catch or screw or else.
Thanks!

On mine, a G1WH, the back and front snap together. I replaced the battery, with a bigger capacity one, and flashed new firmware. My camera is now better than it was when I bought it about 3 years ago.

Irish Stones · 25-06-2017 09:57AM

Falcon L wrote: »

On mine, a G1WH, the back and front snap together. I replaced the battery, with a bigger capacity one, and flashed new firmware. My camera is now better than it was when I bought it about 3 years ago.

I'll have a better look at the plastic body of the cam, though I think it could harder than that.

Falcon L · 25-06-2017 09:59AM

blade1 wrote: »

Funny ye should mention batteries.
Just last night a friend asked me to look at a genuine sj4000 that I had given him as a present.
It was constantly switching on and off and none of the buttons were working.

A quick look showed the whole front of the can was bulging out because the battery had swollen inside in it.

I took the battery out its working fine again without it.

One of the reasons I went for a non battery type cam myself for my own car.
I reckon a lot of those battery's are rubbish anyway.
Perhaps safer without them I think.

The battery is needed to finish the last file and close down safely after you turn the ignition off. Without a battery, you get corrupted files. Sod's law will corrupt the very file you need and leave boring files in rude health.

In the capacitor models, the capacitor does the same thing as a battery.

Irish Stones · 25-06-2017 10:04AM

Falcon L wrote: »

The battery is needed to finish the last file and close down safely after you turn the ignition off. Without a battery, you get corrupted files. Sod's law will corrupt the very file you need and leave boring files in rude health. In the capacitor models, the capacitor does the same thing as a battery.

In some models the battery is needed to use the cam outside the car in case of an accident. Should an accident occur you can unhook the cam and take photos and videos of the scene around and use them to complete the claim. In the mini0801 model a healthy battery gives you up to an hour of unplugged use.

Falcon L · 25-06-2017 10:52AM

Irish Stones wrote: »

In some models the battery is needed to use the cam outside the car in case of an accident. Should an accident occur you can unhook the cam and take photos and videos of the scene around and use them to complete the claim. In the mini0801 model a healthy battery gives you up to an hour of unplugged use.

Yup, true. That's why I put a bigger capacity battery in my camera when I was replacing the old one. I've never needed to use the camera outside the car, but it's nice to have the option.

privateBeavis · 25-06-2017 11:32AM

Just installed BlackVue DR650S and hard wired with Power magic pro. Not sure I'll be leaving the parking mode on all the time, maybe just the odd time depending on where I'm parking!
I just wrapped the power cables around the fuse legs but might get fuse taps so they have their own fuses.

.. now to capture some footage!

clint_silver · 25-06-2017 04:46PM

clint_silver wrote: »

Aaaannnd after 1 week, its randomly turning itself off and now wont charge off the car charger. Back to aldi for me money back. Pity. I kind of liked it.

turns out it was it was the charger cable from the lighter socket to the cam, brought it back to Aldi, swapped it no problem, new one worked straight away.

this was the 1080 maxtek.

Hal1 · 25-06-2017 08:40PM

privateBeavis wrote: »

I just wrapped the power cables around the fuse legs but might get fuse taps so they have their own fuses.

How long do you fancy keeping your car :eek:.

blade1 · 25-06-2017 10:50PM

Hal1 wrote: »

How long do you fancy keeping your car :eek:.

Until he gets a burning desire for a new one!:D

weadick · 27-06-2017 12:47AM

VW Golf mk4 TDi

Just spent a lot of money on it for the NCT and a full service.

http://touch.adverts.ie/car/volkswagen/golf/vw-golf-gt-tdi/11104394

tk123 · 27-06-2017 11:19AM

Does anyone have sensors boxed in under their rearview mirror - where do you have your cam? I got a Blackvue 430 2CH for my new car .. but I'm not sure where to put it?! The last 2 cars I had the old BW 380 neatly behind the mirror. Either side of the mirror and it won't be centred which is what I'd prefer, stuck to the housing I know will be a PITA with it falling off (I had a boot liner with velcro strips in the old car that would never stay stuck no matter how much tar remover I put on to try and strip the silicone!!). And under the mirror it's seems to low. I've heard of people swapping the cams around and putting the smaller rear one up front?

grogi · 27-06-2017 12:03PM

tk123 wrote: »

Does anyone have sensors boxed in under their rearview mirror - where do you have your cam? I got a Blackvue 430 2CH for my new car .. but I'm not sure where to put it?! The last 2 cars I had the old BW 380 neatly behind the mirror. Either side of the mirror and it won't be centred which is what I'd prefer, stuck to the housing I know will be a PITA with it falling off (I had a boot liner with velcro strips in the old car that would never stay stuck no matter how much tar remover I put on to try and strip the silicone!!). And under the mirror it's seems to low. I've heard of people swapping the cams around and putting the smaller rear one up front?

left side of the mirror. The mirror hides it from your vision anyway.

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

Comments