Dashcams!
- Thread starter lamboman
- Start date
I have my dashcam powered from the OBD socket.
The OBD and fusebox are in the exact same location in my car else that's a good idea.
I can use some fuse taps to go straight into a fuse in there... Just need to locate a permanent live and a switched live which I will do tomorrow when I visit my brother who has the multimeter etc (and he is good with vehicle electrics.
3M VHB Round Double-Sided Adhesive Pads – 4pcs Each of 8cm and 2.3cm Sticky Mounting Tape for Phone Holder, Car Magnetic Mount on Dashboard and Windshield, with 4 Adhesion Promoter : Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools
3M VHB Round Double-Sided Adhesive Pads – 4pcs Each of 8cm and 2.3cm Sticky Mounting Tape for Phone Holder, Car Magnetic Mount on Dashboard and Windshield, with 4 Adhesion Promoter : Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools
www.amazon.co.uk
Make sure you get proper 3M ones, those chinese things will keep falling off.
I really wanted dashcam's that looked OEM - ended up going with fitcamx, and it's been awesome.
It took me five mins to fit the front one in my polestar, and an hour for the back one as I had to remove the trim - all connected to a block that was already behind my mirror, so no cables visible anywhere.
Gets a big recommendation for me if anyone is looking.
It took me five mins to fit the front one in my polestar, and an hour for the back one as I had to remove the trim - all connected to a block that was already behind my mirror, so no cables visible anywhere.
Gets a big recommendation for me if anyone is looking.
Just got myself a fitcamx clone for my Cupra Born, better sony camera and only £60
Haven't had chance to fit it yet but it's on my to do list for next week.
Looks identical to the fitcamx but with a 4k Sony lens
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Sounds like a bargain....
You want at least triple cameras: front, rear, and driver. The last prevents accusations of you being on your phone or not wearing your seatbelt.
Arrived from China for my BYD Seal, this is probably the smallest and easiest dashcam I've ever installed, (free) microSD for scale 
.
Installed it, rebooted the system and it detected the camera and installed the dashcam software automatically. I'll check it's daytime and night time quality.
.Installed it, rebooted the system and it detected the camera and installed the dashcam software automatically. I'll check it's daytime and night time quality.
A couple of members of family have decided that they want Dashcams for xmas with rear view cameras. Fine... I know I'll be tasked with installing the things so I want to make my life easier. Are there any good cams that have both the front and rear/internal cameras on the same unit?
Ideally around £100 would be nice too.
Cheers.
Ideally around £100 would be nice too.
Cheers.
Got my Viofo A229 Pro all installed last week. Took me about an hour to install front and back cameras routing the wires and also installing the Hardwire kit with all the cables tucked neatly away.
Actually pretty straightforward to do and, once Perm Live and Acc fuses were identified, putting in a couple of fuse taps
Actually pretty straightforward to do and, once Perm Live and Acc fuses were identified, putting in a couple of fuse taps
So I have a bespoke E46 dashcam that integrates directly into my rain sensor housing and powers from there too, it's set and forget and allows wireless access to footage from phone, 1440p 30fps clean footage that is usable with good audio. I like it, does the job nicely.
I have also received as of late the Vantrue Nexus N4 Pro S which is a 3-channel dashcam kit, gave it to my brother and the quality is even cleaner with good audio and features. Although you would expect it for the RRP vs my car's £60 single channel job.
I now have the Thinkware Arc900 which is 2 channels and comes with a rather sleek but large touchscreen which I will install in my car for testing. So far the package seems great although you get more gubbins with the Vantrue. I may use this over my bespoke one as it uses the same starvis2 sensors as the Vantrue and is a sleeker design that doesn't look sticky-outy on the windscreen.
Vantrue's HW kit is optional extra, Arc900 comes with it, though I have dual 12v outlets in the glovebox anyway so won't be needing them. The rear camera with the Vantrue can be installed on the outside or inside as it's IPX rated, Arc900 rear cam is interior only.
So a few differences, will post test footage of bespoke vs Arc900 probably this evening once I have night footage too.
I have also received as of late the Vantrue Nexus N4 Pro S which is a 3-channel dashcam kit, gave it to my brother and the quality is even cleaner with good audio and features. Although you would expect it for the RRP vs my car's £60 single channel job.
I now have the Thinkware Arc900 which is 2 channels and comes with a rather sleek but large touchscreen which I will install in my car for testing. So far the package seems great although you get more gubbins with the Vantrue. I may use this over my bespoke one as it uses the same starvis2 sensors as the Vantrue and is a sleeker design that doesn't look sticky-outy on the windscreen.
Vantrue's HW kit is optional extra, Arc900 comes with it, though I have dual 12v outlets in the glovebox anyway so won't be needing them. The rear camera with the Vantrue can be installed on the outside or inside as it's IPX rated, Arc900 rear cam is interior only.
So a few differences, will post test footage of bespoke vs Arc900 probably this evening once I have night footage too.
@GuruJockStrap coming here from your thread, I can vouch for Viofo too that @VincentHanna recommended. I've had a slightly different one, A129 Pro Duo, installed for a few years in one of our cars. Was a bit cheaper than the A139, I suspect as my one comes with a 4K front camera but 1080p rear camera, and I believe the A139 comes with an interior camera too? Still excellent quality.
It's been golden ever since. Footage is easy to access via the mobile app, or via the memory card on a PC. Excellent quality and visibility at nighttime, especially reading number plates, etc.
I think Viofo have discontinued those two models though, but still worth a look at their newer ones.
It's been golden ever since. Footage is easy to access via the mobile app, or via the memory card on a PC. Excellent quality and visibility at nighttime, especially reading number plates, etc.
I think Viofo have discontinued those two models though, but still worth a look at their newer ones.
Forgot to update here, day/night observations with the Think ware Arc900, as well as the rear camera.
The HDR mode is only possible at 4K 30fps, 60fps is only available at 1440p and in 60fps you cannot enable HDR, only Super Night mode which enhances the image at night, you cannot have HDR and Super Night mode at the same time which is kinda annoying as the STARVIS 2 sensor is supposed to be able to support both at once going by marketing.
Either way, HDR mode day or night is the best option to choose anyway as it helps control highlight exposure balance.
Daytime roundabout approach (4k 30 Super Night Mode):
Night roundabout approach (4K 30 HDR):
(yeah that was a patch of ice on the roundabout which DSC corrected)
Rear cam at night (1440p 30 HDR):
Collision detect mode (1440p 60 normal mode) - Lowest sensitivity, still bongs and stores an "event" on hard suspension cars going over simple bumps
The HDR mode is only possible at 4K 30fps, 60fps is only available at 1440p and in 60fps you cannot enable HDR, only Super Night mode which enhances the image at night, you cannot have HDR and Super Night mode at the same time which is kinda annoying as the STARVIS 2 sensor is supposed to be able to support both at once going by marketing.
Either way, HDR mode day or night is the best option to choose anyway as it helps control highlight exposure balance.
Daytime roundabout approach (4k 30 Super Night Mode):
Night roundabout approach (4K 30 HDR):
Rear cam at night (1440p 30 HDR):
Collision detect mode (1440p 60 normal mode) - Lowest sensitivity, still bongs and stores an "event" on hard suspension cars going over simple bumps