What is the best Dash-Cam set-up? (and NOT Thinkview)

[15 Phantom S6]

I just recently purchased the Thinkview QA100 Elite for my TT (was going to purchase another one to use on the S6) and I like the set-up a lot, but I’m really upset that the default recording length of each video is 1 minute and it cannot be changed. I contacted Thinkview and they confirmed this limitation.

So my 1 hour commute to work nets me 60+ files of recordings and over 100 files daily for round-trip. I find this ridiculous and I would have never of purchased it had I known. They don’t mention it anywhere on the product page which I think is misleading.

That being said, what is the best 2 channel set-up that has a parking mode and longer than 1 minute video recordings? The rear camera must also be able to be installed without interference to the electronic rear sunshade.

I want to go with Blackvue, but I keep seeing complaints of overheating and some say it has poor recording clarity at night. Not sure if they’ve solved those problems or not with the 900 series they have out now. Any downsides to Blackvue??

[Nosferatu]

I have a Thinkware F770 in the R8 and a Blackvue DR900S-2CH in the RS7. They both record one minute files. Both were IMO the best cameras at the time for when I bought the vehicles. The Blackvue does 4K front and 1080p rear and wirelessly connects to my NAS in the house and uploads the videos off of it (custom script to do that). Thinkware I have to manually pull it out of the car to read.

The thinkware video has me cursing in it so just watch with audio off if that's an issue.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUg0nFtTc7Q

Blackvue DR900S-2CH (when I just bought the RS7)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4IpHf8QRHw

[15 Phantom S6]

Thanks!!

My understanding is the Blackvue can be configured to record any length of time, not ONLY one minute files, is this true?

How is the quality of the night recordings and is your rear window tinted? Has your Blackvue ever had the overheating issue?

[ry0t05]

Man, I've had the Thinkware F800 pulled up on my computer for awhile now ready to buy it. Surprised to hear you hate it so much given the overwhelming amount of positive reviews on blackboxmycar

[15 Phantom S6]

Man, I've had the Thinkware F800 pulled up on my computer for awhile now ready to buy it. Surprised to hear you hate it so much given the overwhelming amount of positive reviews on blackboxmycar

I don't hate it, I actually like it, I just don't like the fact that I'm producing over 100 video files a day. When I want to review the video for something I saw while driving, I'm sifting through 100+ videos to find it.. Compound that with a few days worth of videos and it becomes annoying.. I'd rather pull up one or two videos and fast forward to the point in time I'm looking for..

Maybe if my drives were 30 minutes or less it may be more manageable, but I do 3+ hours of driving some days, that's 180 files..

Not the primary reason I purchased it, but I also envisioned using this at the track too. It would be nice to have a 15 minute session on one recording. IMO, Thinkview should have made the length of video user configurable..

But back on track from the folks that have experience, any other good/great dash-cam set-ups and anything annoying with the Blackvue series?

[Nosferatu]

Thanks!!

My understanding is the Blackvue can be configured to record any length of time, not ONLY one minute files, is this true?

How is the quality of the night recordings and is your rear window tinted? Has your Blackvue ever had the overheating issue?

To address some of the things you said...

1.) Honestly I haven't looked into it for the file clip length. You can always stitch the files together. I'm sure you can make a custom script to automate this on the computer if you really had to. It's easier to save a certain event with the files clipped at one minute a piece.

2.) As for night recordings I'll take a look tonight. I'm working overnight at work and was planning on taking the RS7 in. It'll sit outdoors all night. I'll pull the footage then and post a clip or two on here.

3.) Lastly, yes my back windows are tinted. Here's the thread for my install (learned a thing or two and positioned the front camera to a different location due to the thread.
https://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php/867845-Dash-and-Radar-Install-on-RS7-(Pictures-Inside)

4.) You said you want to use this for track usage. It's a dash camera not an action camera. While the Blackvue is likely better than my Thinkware (primarily because this is an older unit) but a GoPro will surpass any dash camera for that kind of usage.

[bpd]

I have the Blackvue 750S and I like the 1 min file system. Have to remember, each file is about 100mb. So if you want to download or upload a larger file, it will take longer. Small files are easier to locate your incident. When playing back a file via wifi to your phone or via network, you get lots of buffering. I think that is the reasoning for short file system. Now I understand the 900S is now compatible to 5ghz wifi. So that will help speed up down/uploads.

[Nhuthien12]

How about vantrue x4 or garmin I had both and they are working good so far. Vantrue x4 come with 4k and 3 minutes each videos. Garmin recoding whole time.


Sent from my iPhone using Audizine (http://r.tapatalk.com/byo?rid=87676)

[kebabman]

I ordered an Audi UTR through my local dealer, they’re fitting it next week will let you guys know what it’s like.

[Qwery718]

I have a Thinkware F770 in the R8 and a Blackvue DR900S-2CH in the RS7. They both record one minute files. Both were IMO the best cameras at the time for when I bought the vehicles. The Blackvue does 4K front and 1080p rear and wirelessly connects to my NAS in the house and uploads the videos off of it (custom script to do that). Thinkware I have to manually pull it out of the car to read.

The thinkware video has me cursing in it so just watch with audio off if that's an issue.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUg0nFtTc7Q

Blackvue DR900S-2CH (when I just bought the RS7)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4IpHf8QRHw

The top video is the most florida shit lmao. I see that at least twice a day, a bunch of retards out here with cereal box licenses.

[DoItAllGarage]

I have the thinkware F770 and it's been great. Watched the video of a dealership driving my car like it was stolen and how stupid customers are [emoji31]. Another must have for me, red-light cam warning. I like the awareness, just like my radar detector. I don't drive crazy, just like the heads up. I recently got the Q800 Pro. Don't have any feedback on it yet.

[subterFUSE]

Blackvue is what I use.

Also, make sure you get a setup that will keep recording when the car is parked (not just when driving). Both times my camera saved me the car was parked. 1 burglary, and 1 side-swipe-hit-and-run while parallel parked. Both times I was able to give video to police and I prevailed.

[Nosferatu]

The top video is the most florida shit lmao. I see that at least twice a day, a bunch of retards out here with cereal box licenses.

Her maneuver was absolutely retarded but if she would have just stayed in the middle lane she would have been fine. Even better, there was NO ONE behind me in any of the other lanes so she could have waited until I passed the intersection. It was an older woman (with the handicap on that plate). Of course without a dash camera if I hit her I would be at fault because I'm the younger guy with an exotic car. I must have been speeding and at fault...[headbang] This is why I have dash cameras in all my cars.

[mkinn]

I ordered an Audi UTR through my local dealer, they’re fitting it next week will let you guys know what it’s like.

I would like to see where they mount the cameras and how well they hide the wires. I am considering ordering the Audi UTR too.

[RedS-line]

B1W for 50 bucks with a sony sensor. its a reddit bestbuy from people who are really into dashcams. its all you need

[15 Phantom S6]

I just got in the Blackvue DR900-2CH IR model (bought the additional cable to use the IR camera in the back window) with hard wired parking mode for my Golf. Going to compare it against the Thinkview I have for my TT.. The shop I bought the Thinkview from also thinks the 1 minute restriction is a silly one and should be end user defined so they are willing to swap it out for a Blackvue if I like my Blackvue better.

I would love to hear from the guys with the Audi UTR on how good or bad it is and if there is a limitation of file size/length.. Also curious how clean the install is and where they install the rear camera for folks with the electronic window shade..

[baldy]

I have the F800Pro with the rear camera mounted to my tinted rear window (right at the top to clear the shade). Daytime recording is crisp, night is really good as well but has slight artifacts visible. One slight gripe (which almost cost me a deductible for a hit and run on my driver side while I was parked), is that in parking mode it seems the frames are slightly blurry or soft. Piece of advice if this happens to you on any cam: take screen shots of a few frames and then overlay them in photoshop to make out the full plate number if you can't otherwise.

All in all it's a decent setup, however the app is hit and miss depending on the update (last update I couldn't view more than 1 video before the app would freeze and crash). Also, it will work 128gb cards (I bought a generic sandisk one from blackboxmycar).

On another note, I found a detailed video about the Audi UTR: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MekNLfs16EA

[Gunmeister]

Got any picts of your f800 pro rear camera install? Did you do it your yourself? I have the front camera. I feel stupid not to even think about mounting it to that window lol.
I have the F800Pro with the rear camera mounted to my tinted rear window (right at the top to clear the shade). Daytime recording is crisp, night is really good as well but has slight artifacts visible. One slight gripe (which almost cost me a deductible for a hit and run on my driver side while I was parked), is that in parking mode it seems the frames are slightly blurry or soft. Piece of advice if this happens to you on any cam: take screen shots of a few frames and then overlay them in photoshop to make out the full plate number if you can't otherwise.

All in all it's a decent setup, however the app is hit and miss depending on the update (last update I couldn't view more than 1 video before the app would freeze and crash). Also, it will work 128gb cards (I bought a generic sandisk one from blackboxmycar).

On another note, I found a detailed video about the Audi UTR: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MekNLfs16EA

2016 A6 TDI*|*Mugello Blue, Pearl Effect Exterior | Alabastar White Interior | Audi Exclusive Line | Eucalyptus Natural Wood Decorative Inlays | Prestige Package | Comfort Seating Package | Driver Assistance Package | S Line Sport Package | 20" Black Optic Package | Cold Weather Package | 18% Ceramic Film Windows | 70% Ceramic Film Windshield | Thinkware F800 Pro Dash Cam | Audi All Weather Mats*| Auto Hold Activated | ESCORT Radar Max 360c*| 1 of 1 for 2016

[kebabman]

I just got in the Blackvue DR900-2CH IR model (bought the additional cable to use the IR camera in the back window) with hard wired parking mode for my Golf. Going to compare it against the Thinkview I have for my TT.. The shop I bought the Thinkview from also thinks the 1 minute restriction is a silly one and should be end user defined so they are willing to swap it out for a Blackvue if I like my Blackvue better.

I would love to hear from the guys with the Audi UTR on how good or bad it is and if there is a limitation of file size/length.. Also curious how clean the install is and where they install the rear camera for folks with the electronic window shade..

Had a UTR installed in my RS7, not much feedback on the video quality yet other than it seems adequate (1080p @ 60f/s) and the app works fine, although it is annoying that videos “downloaded” to your phone are stuck in the app, to get them available to email etc you need to take the memory card out and plug it into a computer. They should fix that in the app because no reason it shouldn’t save them to the camera roll. Hopefully they update the app to fix that.

As for the physical device and install it’s super tidy and OEM looking, and the radar detectors front and rear seem to work very well in parking mode, so it gets a thumbs up from that perspective.

Overall I’d say it’s a decent option if you want that 100% OEM look.

https://i.imgur.com/n6WXFUi.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/S0tz38c.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/gz0jkRN.jpg

[mkinn]

Are both cameras mounted on the glass?
I got a quote from my dealer and they said it will take 4 hours to install. Accessories not included were the harness, tube and 2 housings.

[kebabman]

Are both cameras mounted on the glass?
I got a quote from my dealer and they said it will take 4 hours to install. Accessories not included were the harness, tube and 2 housings.

Yes, both mounted to the glass. I bought the UTR kit (about $480) + and additional car specific harness for $30, they quoted me 2.5hrs but it took them 4hrs to install (the headliner has to be dropped). I used the $150 coupon from here to get a discount off the labor.