Dash Cam - Which features are necessary?

[drew4392]

I've been reading a lot of helpful threads. These seem to be relatively inexpensive to buy and install, so what the heck.

Which features do you think are necessary?


GPS for speed capturing? The only thing I can think of is if Audi Service or Valet takes the car for a joyride... you'll want to know how fast they were going.

Rear facing? Does this capture the driver/passengers? Or, is there a secondary cam pointing out the back window? I've seen the latter.

WiFi? Seems like a helpful feature, and there are a couple out there with it. But... for those rare times, I think pulling the SD card isn't a big deal.



Thanks!

[lapisia]

Parking mode is definitely necessary.

[QuattroRocket]

Love my Blackvue 500hd cam ! Wifi, gps, time and speed stamps and mobile apps for viewing !

[BirdmanQ5]

Thing that has come in most handy is WiFi capability for a mobile app. Whenever I think something might be fishy, I can quickly look at the past footage rather than having to dismantle the camera and hook it up to a computer. You can also watch live what your camera sees for either easy setup (key for installation) or challenging yourself when driving by watching the screen instead (kidding).

[drew4392]

Parking mode is definitely necessary.

Good point. Didn't think about that.

Thinking out loud here... but is viewing angle an issue? Meaning, if something happens too far to either side... or the rear... we're just SOL, right?

[sa_seahawker]

Love my Blackvue 500hd cam ! Wifi, gps, time and speed stamps and mobile apps for viewing !

No Mac/iPhone support or apps? [down]

[drob23]

Any advice regarding hard wiring, maybe go into passenger side fuse box? How about power usage and battery discharge control (someone here complained about a dead battery after less than 1 yr)? Foresee any game changing features coming out on a new dash camera in the not to distant future, enough to wait a month or two (I know that's how things are with consumer electronics)?

[drew4392]

Any advice regarding hard wiring, maybe go into passenger side fuse box? How about power usage and battery discharge control (someone here complained about a dead battery after less than 1 yr)? Foresee any game changing features coming out on a new dash camera in the not to distant future, enough to wait a month or two (I know that's how things are with consumer electronics)?

Can't we hard wire into rear-view mirror power source? That way we don't need a long wire to the fuse box.

Possible?

I have to read more on the DIYs people posted on here.

[BirdmanQ5]

Can't we hard wire into rear-view mirror power source? That way we don't need a long wire to the fuse box.

Possible?

I have to read more on the DIYs people posted on here.

Super easy to wire up with the magic pro kit and BlackVue. Just mount the camera where you want, tuck the cable into the headliner then run along the rubber seal for the door into the fuse box, cigarette plug will make it all the way there. Then wire your magic pro into fuse box (follow instructions) and neatly put the box in the glovebox, tie everything together neatly.


No Mac/iPhone support or apps? [down]

Yeah, BlackVue App for iOS devices (not ipad resolution though)


Good point. Didn't think about that.

Thinking out loud here... but is viewing angle an issue? Meaning, if something happens too far to either side... or the rear... we're just SOL, right?

The viewing angle is pretty extreme on the 500. You can see someone walking toward your car from 4 houses in either direction when you're parked nose out.

[drob23]

Can't we hard wire into rear-view mirror power source? That way we don't need a long wire to the fuse box.

Possible?

I have to read more on the DIYs people posted on here.

I have my escort going into the driver-side fusebox. Just push the wire into the headliner/A-pillar for a super clean install. Was just assuming that some kind of "smart" power regulator might be needed, like this (http://www.amazon.com/electronics/dp/B008B8ERIO) from the other thread. This thing would probably need some real estate...

Really just interested to hear what people here have done, I prefer not to re-invent the wheel [:D]

[S4 00 2.7]

Love my Blackvue 500hd cam ! Wifi, gps, time and speed stamps and mobile apps for viewing !

This sounds like what I want.

[sa_seahawker]

Anyone have feedback on dash temps?

Spec sheet says its good up to 70 deg C (158 deg F) but that doesn't seem to be high enough. I was wondering if anyone has the Blackvue in a southern or southwestern state.

[infinkc]

Im waiting for the blackvue 550 2 channel version. I can get one right now but it still has the Korean FW on it. Hopefully they will release the english version soon. The cost is the same as the current one.

https://www.facebook.com/BlackvueUK

[B8_Jim]

Any advice regarding hard wiring, maybe go into passenger side fuse box? How about power usage and battery discharge control (someone here complained about a dead battery after less than 1 yr)? Foresee any game changing features coming out on a new dash camera in the not to distant future, enough to wait a month or two (I know that's how things are with consumer electronics)?

In my opinion, the current voltage sensing shut-off solutions will drain your battery to nearly dead before shutting off the camera, so they are pretty dicey. I did some research on battery voltages vs remaining charge and it seemed to me that for anything but pretty cold temps - none of the avail ones will allow shut-off at a high enough voltage to prevent pretty deep cycling of total charge.

I'm planning to use my power-magic pro to just run some fixed time length instead of voltage. But right now I just have mine hooked into a switched power source.

[achilleas101]

I have my escort going into the driver-side fusebox. Just push the wire into the headliner/A-pillar for a super clean install. Was just assuming that some kind of "smart" power regulator might be needed, like this (http://www.amazon.com/electronics/dp/B008B8ERIO) from the other thread. This thing would probably need some real estate...

Really just interested to hear what people here have done, I prefer not to re-invent the wheel [:D]
yeah, that's what's used with the blackvue to allow it to work in park mode without draining the battery, and works well. i use it with my Blackvue DR500hd. the actual box is tiny and fits near the hood release. what takes up real estate is the female cigarette lighter adapter, and that's tucked in the fuse box. Thing about the parking mode is this: the 16GB micro SD card can only fit about 6 hours worth of video, so you should get a larger one if you plan on using it for overnight parking mode recording.

as for must have features, GPS i think is key, so you can use it as a defense in the case of an accident, or even a ticket (if you were mis-ticketed). You can prove how fast you were going in case that's in dispute, and it maps out your route as well in case you need to illustrate what happened before the incident.

wifi has potential, but on mine it does't seem to work well. i can only use it watch live footage, otherwise it keeps giving me an error that the signal strength isn't good enough, even if i have my phone in the car right near the freakin camera.

[drew4392]

In my opinion, the current voltage sensing shut-off solutions will drain your battery to nearly dead before shutting off the camera, so they are pretty dicey. I did some research on battery voltages vs remaining charge and it seemed to me that for anything but pretty cold temps - none of the avail ones will allow shut-off at a high enough voltage to prevent pretty deep cycling of total charge.

I'm planning to use my power-magic pro to just run some fixed time length instead of voltage. But right now I just have mine hooked into a switched power source.


Is there a way to wire it so it isn't "hot" and doesn't remain powered the whole time? Meaning, the cam only goes on when the car goes on.

I know this won't allow for the parking mode, but if there isn't a solution available to protect your battery, then I don't want to risk it.

[drob23]

Is there a way to wire it so it isn't "hot" and doesn't remain powered the whole time? Meaning, the cam only goes on when the car goes on.

I know this won't allow for the parking mode, but if there isn't a solution available to protect your battery, then I don't want to risk it.

Yea, you just have to find a fuse that's wired this way. I piggyback onto the soundakator fuse (but the soundaktor fuse is gone ha!) for my escort, so it dies when I cut the engine. Point is, you want your dash cam running while you're parked. Ideally, the cam would go into "low power" parking mode, but I can see where this could get dicey and would prefer for an external regulator to handle this chore.

[QuattroRocket]

No Mac/iPhone support or apps? [down]

They have an iphone app !


Yea, you just have to find a fuse that's wired this way. I piggyback onto the soundakator fuse (but the soundaktor fuse is gone ha!) for my escort, so it dies when I cut the engine. Point is, you want your dash cam running while you're parked. Ideally, the cam would go into "low power" parking mode, but I can see where this could get dicey and would prefer for an external regulator to handle this chore.

Ask and ye shall recieve ... Power Magic Pro (http://www.amazon.ca/electronics/dp/B008B8ERIO)

[BirdmanQ5]

Yea, you just have to find a fuse that's wired this way. I piggyback onto the soundakator fuse (but the soundaktor fuse is gone ha!) for my escort, so it dies when I cut the engine. Point is, you want your dash cam running while you're parked. Ideally, the cam would go into "low power" parking mode, but I can see where this could get dicey and would prefer for an external regulator to handle this chore.

With Power Magic Pro you can have all of this. Have settings to run all the time or when the car is off, turn it off to have it run only when the car is running, or disconnect the plug from the camera to shut off completely. Simple as pie

[SE-Chris]

Where do you buy the damn BlackVue? Am I retarded or something? Looking on site, reseller sites, and everywhere and no prices listed...

[Canvasoso]

Where do you buy the damn BlackVue? Am I retarded or something? Looking on site, reseller sites, and everywhere and no prices listed...

http://www.amazon.com/BlackVue-Wi-Fi-DR500GW-HD-Black-Recorder/dp/B00B4E9764

[SE-Chris]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA1R20US6842&nm_mc=KNC-GoogleMKP&cm_mmc=KNC-GoogleMKP-_-pla-_-Car+Video-_-9SIA1R20US6842

Why are prices different everywhere? And why don't they have an official / authorized seller? Seems like ghetto random people are selling this thing =(

[drob23]

With Power Magic Pro you can have all of this. Have settings to run all the time or when the car is off, turn it off to have it run only when the car is running, or disconnect the plug from the camera to shut off completely. Simple as pie

Cool, glad to hear it's worked well for so many here. Do you have a DIY or pics? Would be nice to see someone's installation. Thanks!

[ihkskim]

i hardwired my blackvue to passenger. makes much more sense than drivers because the way you have to mount the camera in these cars. also there are alot of empty slots to use when tapping.