Dash cam suggestions and recommendations?

[Stuart02]

Has anyone got a dash cam they're happy with that tucks away somewhere neatly in the front of their car?
Had an idiot motorcyclist terrorise us yesterday afternoon, the wife and kids are quite traumatised and she wants a dash cam now...
Thanks in advance

[Pedro_The_Swift]

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/communications-car-audio-electronics/226795-installing-blackvue-dual-channel-dashcam-into-d4.html

[irondoc]

I put a motorcycle one on:

World's Best Dedicated Motorcycle Camera System - Biker Camera, Bike Video cam, Full HD Motorcycle Video, Tachyoninc.com - Tachyon Action Cameras (http://www.tachyoninc.com/bikercam.html)

It is velcro'd (?) to the dashmat. I will try and send a pic. I didn't need a screen, GPS, etc, just a recording.

Cheers
Lucas

[Mick_Marsh]

I've got the older version of this:
BlackVue DR3500-FHD Dash Camera | Auto BlackBox Australia (http://www.autoblackbox.com.au/blackvue-dash-cams/blackvue-dr3500-fhd/)

Mine doesn't have wifi but has GPS. It logs location, speed and has an accelerometer. All key features to look out for.
Where mine lets me down is in resolution (it's a 720P version I think), night vision and rear vision. It also pixilates when lighting conditions change rapidly i.e. driving along tree lined country roads.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w406/mick_marsh_AULRO/th_xmr-988.mp4

I'm wanting to give this model a go:
BlackVue DR650GW-2CH Dash Camera | BlackVue DR650 2CH | Auto BlackBox Australia (http://www.autoblackbox.com.au/blackvue-dash-cams/blackvue-dr650gw-2ch/)

I think there are a lot of good dash cams out at the moment. I bought some for $20 ea off ebay. They are just a camera and only accept a small SD card that only lasts a couple of hours before it's full. They suit the intended purpose.
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w406/mick_marsh_AULRO/th_SUNP0084.mp4
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w406/mick_marsh_AULRO/th_SUNP0011.mp4

Think about what you want it for and the features you will need.

For my daily drive, I list the features I require as:
High resolution
speed logging
location logging
rear view
night vision

For me, the DR650GW is a compromise as it does not have night vision

[BMKal]

My son & I are both running the Blackvue cameras as in Bytemark's thread linked to by Pedro. I only have the forward facing camera in my Disco - the young bloke has both front & rear facing cameras in his Amarok. We are both very pleased with them. Previously had a Panasonic dash camera - it was nowhere near as good as the Blackvue.

One thing to be aware of though - if you wire the camera/s up to permanent power supply and only have one battery in the vehicle - and if you leave the vehicle unused for a couple of weeks or so (young bloke leaves his ute while working out on a minesite for two weeks at a time) - it will flatten the car battery. ;)

The cameras go into "parking mode" once the vehicle has been stopped for a period of time and draws less power until "activated" by motion in the field of view - but it is still drawing some power nonetheless.

I now have mine connected to permanent power, but I have three batteries in my Disco through a Traxide system, so no issues with leaving the camera powered on all the time in mine.

[Plane Fixer]

Just had a Blackvue fitted. Does what I want and is good quality. Mine is only the single channel DR 650.

[~Rich~]

I bought the Vicovation Marcus 4 for the highest quality picture I could get:
VICOVATION:::Vico-Marcus 4 Premium Pack (http://www.vicovation.com/product.asp?IDno=23&lang=eng)

It doesn't have a rear camera just a front facing one, the Marcus 5 does though.
VICOVATION:::Vico-Marcus 5 (http://www.vicovation.com/product.asp?IDno=24&lang=eng)

I bought the cam, U/V filter & gps mouse from Dashcams Australia:
https://dashcamsaustralia.com.au/

[ozscott]

I really like the SJ Cam. Think GoPro with built in screen and same specs but cheaper. Has a traffic cam mode and works sell by starting recording with ignition power on and recording 10 min segments over the top of the oldest footage. Of course you can remove it in a few seconds put on the waterproof case and do sports stuff. Runs all the same accessories as a Go Pro.

Cheers

[~Rich~]

BTW - make sure you inform your car insurance company you have fitted a dashcam.
I got a $250 discount because I had one fitted. ;)

[Stuart02]

Thanks so much for all the great suggestions and insights. The Blackvue is obviously hugely popular.

Ironically we've ended up with the first thing my wife could lay hands on, on a Sunday morning at the shopping centre - the Navman Mivue580.

It seems to be doing what it says on the box. Good camera. Doesn't automatically go into parking mode. Worst part is the mount which won't stick to the black stuff next to the mirror, and even if it did wouldn't allow the camera to slide in from rear cos of the mirror. So it's very visible inside and out of the car, one of my pet hates. Never mind. Wife's happy and that's a huge pro!

Is there a how-to somewhere here on hardwiring into the fuse box or something so I can have my cigarette lighter back? I was thinking of wiring a cigarette socket so i could use the Navman power supply (5V 1A) and switch or borrow it easily down the line.

Thanks again guys

Sent from my SM-G900I using AULRO mobile app

[VK3GJM]

Fitted the Blackvue DR650gw single channel. Very pleased with it's performance. Get yourself a couple of 64G MicroSD sticks and reformat and rotate them once per month.

Ensure you also get the power magic pro.

[Guppy]

Hi All,

I bought these 2 - cheap and do the trick, have had them for 2 years in the cars

https://www.kogan.com/au/buy/hd-dash-cam-video-recorder/

NEW 1080 HD Portable Dash DVR In Car Video Camera - Night Vision Vehicle Recorder - Accident Cam - Online Shopping @ Shopping Square.COM.AU Online Bargain & Discount Shopping Square (http://www.shoppingsquare.com.au/p_402674_NEW_1080_HD_Portable_Dash_DVR_In_Car_Vide o_Camera__Night_Vision_Vehicle_Recorder__Accident_ Cam)

The Kogan one seems to have a few more features

Guppy

[BMKal]

Is there a how-to somewhere here on hardwiring into the fuse box or something so I can have my cigarette lighter back? I was thinking of wiring a cigarette socket so i could use the Navman power supply (5V 1A) and switch or borrow it easily down the line.

Thanks again guys

Sent from my SM-G900I using AULRO mobile app

I'm in the process of making / hooking up a fuse box under the dash to allow me to run all of my accessories etc without using the cigarette lighter sockets. Some of the fuses will have permanent power (for dash-cam, phone cradle and a camping / reversing light), and the other fuses will have "ignition switched" power (for sat-nav, radar detector, tyre pressure monitor etc).

Fuse box and relay panel that I have made up is below.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/05/683.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

I have a Traxide dual battery system in the D4, so power for this panel will come from the auxiliary battery circuit and not the cranking battery. The relay is triggered by an "ignition switched" source, and switches the power to 5 of the fuse positions in the box with the ignition. I've also included a bus-bar for connecting all earth wires to - having to find a separate earth point each time you wire up an accessory is a pain in the butt. :p

If you don't want to do anything as elaborate as this and simply want to find power for a single accessory such as dash-cam, simply go out and buy a Narva "Add-A-Circuit" fuse piggy-back holder, and plug into an appropriate position in your existing fuse box. Take your power to the dash-cam from the wire this provides. Then all you will need to do is find a separate earth. Link to Narva product below.

Add-A-Circuit - Products - Narva (http://www.narva.com.au/products/browse/add-a-circuit)

[cjc_td5]

I have a Narva Fuse Block sitting down in the lower dash (just above the brake pedal) that is wired to my second battery. I run my UHF, one of the cigarette lighter sockets and a few other bits and bobs off it.

Fuse Blocks - Products - Narva (http://www.narva.com.au/products/browse/fuse-blocks)

Cheers,
Chris

[Stuart02]

I'm in the process of making / hooking up a fuse box under the dash to allow me to run all of my accessories etc without using the cigarette lighter sockets. Some of the fuses will have permanent power (for dash-cam, phone cradle and a camping / reversing light), and the other fuses will have "ignition switched" power (for sat-nav, radar detector, tyre pressure monitor etc).

Fuse box and relay panel that I have made up is below.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/05/683.jpg (http://postimage.org/)

I have a Traxide dual battery system in the D4, so power for this panel will come from the auxiliary battery circuit and not the cranking battery. The relay is triggered by an "ignition switched" source, and switches the power to 5 of the fuse positions in the box with the ignition. I've also included a bus-bar for connecting all earth wires to - having to find a separate earth point each time you wire up an accessory is a pain in the butt. :p

If you don't want to do anything as elaborate as this and simply want to find power for a single accessory such as dash-cam, simply go out and buy a Narva "Add-A-Circuit" fuse piggy-back holder, and plug into an appropriate position in your existing fuse box. Take your power to the dash-cam from the wire this provides. Then all you will need to do is find a separate earth. Link to Narva product below.

Add-A-Circuit - Products - Narva (http://www.narva.com.au/products/browse/add-a-circuit)

I'm officially impressed. I can see I should resist being lazy and future-proof. I do want to get a UHF and TPMS at some point. Thanks for the pic!

[Stuart02]

I have a Narva Fuse Block sitting down in the lower dash (just above the brake pedal) that is wired to my second battery. I run my UHF, one of the cigarette lighter sockets and a few other bits and bobs off it.

Fuse Blocks - Products - Narva (http://www.narva.com.au/products/browse/fuse-blocks)

Cheers,
Chris

I've got a second battery so that makes sense. Is the fuse block sitting next to the HVAC somewhere and were you able to attach it to something? Where did you get through the firewall?

Thanks

[stallie]

A year is a long time in electronics so I thought I'd dig up this thread...

I'm looking for a middle of the road dash cam for each or our cars. Any suggestions of good - or ones to avoid on the market now?

[Tote]

5 years is an even longer time - any current thoughts, I'll start my googling at Blackvue and see where that takes me. 18 yo daughter got terrorised by an idiot in an Isuzu ute this morning on the Barton Hwy after a similar incident yesterday afternoon and a dashcam might be a good idea I think.

Regards,
Tote

[Arch]

5 years is an even longer time - any current thoughts, I'll start my googling at Blackvue and see where that takes me. 18 yo daughter got terrorised by an idiot in an Isuzu ute this morning on the Barton Hwy after a similar incident yesterday afternoon and a dashcam might be a good idea I think.

Regards,
Tote

Sorry to hear that. In my experience, fronting up to the police with the video on your phone (and a spare SD card) is a very effective way of getting them to act.

[Tombie]

I’ve just upgraded my BlackVue DR900S-2CH to the X model - allowed me to remove the LVD and just have it hard wired.

Very happy with their performance.

Both our vehicles have them fitted. Captured some very interesting events!