Navig8r Car Crash Cam Review

[mistajoel]

I know there is several threads about these already, but I thought it'd be handy if I posted an actual review, for future souls like me doing a search on them.

Bought one of these today

Its a Navig8r Car Crash Cam

Works fantastic for what I need. Put a micro SD card in it, mount it on your windscreen (just like you would a GPS) and plug it into you cigarette socket.

Turn the key, it wakes up, starts recording. I records in 2 minute clips (think you can choose 2, 5 or 15). When you turn the key off, it stops recording after 10 secs or so (presumably for the times when you stall your car or something), then shuts itself down.

When the SD card is full, it simply overwrites the oldest file.

I plan to use it as a witness in case of an accident, or driving complaints, (i have people ring my company every now and then with complaints about my driving ) or just a simple trip log.

The video quality is good, the sound is passable, the simplicity of operation is just fantastic. plug it and forget about it till a problem

for $68 i think it would pay for itself pretty easily. plus, it'll be great for 4wding tracks and such.

[land864]

Joel

Any battery capacity in it or does it require Acc on power. Could an auto electrician hard wire it. Can you download the video. After some moron just tailgated me down Bulleen road when I was doing 70kmh (75 kmh shown on speedo which is 5kmh over at 75kmh) in a 70kmh zone , I was thinking it would be good to have one at the rear also. Does it have a kmh show up on the video also.
Are you legally obligated to have some signage that advises other drivers that you are taping them?

Pete

[Disco Muppet]

Are you legally obligated to have some signage that advises other drivers that you are taping them?

Thread on the whirlpool forum about similar things
Seems the sort answer is no, and dash cams are legal.
Might not be able to be used in court, as apparently then you're required to have notified them, but perhaps some of the more legal savvy aulrovians can comment
http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/1881793
Hope this helps.
Cheers
Muppet

[Tombie]

Recording in a public area is not against the law.

When / If you get down to interacting on camera (so drivers are standing arguing etc) then you are required to notify of the recording device..

Keep in mind - You'd want to make sure you aren't then overpowered and your camera stolen

[woody]

Forgive my ignorance if I'm wrong, but I believe that if you are part of the conversation/altercation then you may record it without notifying the other party. This was explained to me by a Police Officer who regularly uses video and voice recorders. He also said that it is admissible in court so long as it listed as evidence before the hearing.

woody

[mistajoel]

Joel

Any battery capacity in it or does it require Acc on power. Could an auto electrician hard wire it. Can you download the video. After some moron just tailgated me down Bulleen road when I was doing 70kmh (75 kmh shown on speedo which is 5kmh over at 75kmh) in a 70kmh zone , I was thinking it would be good to have one at the rear also. Does it have a kmh show up on the video also.
Are you legally obligated to have some signage that advises other drivers that you are taping them?

Pete

Yes it does have a battery in it, can't be huge though, its a very light unit, but it does run for quite a while unplugged.

Pretty sure anyone that has done a little wiring would be able to hard wire it, the cord it came with is pretty long (i guess 3 or 4m?), but it would be advisable to wire it to the acc circut, so it turns on and off automatically with the key.

Yep, you can download the video via a USB lead, or you could get the appropriate adapter for the micro SD card (often sold with the cards) and do it that way.

No speed indications (is a time stamp on the footage) but I thought about putting in on the sunroof where it could see the dash too...

Can't comment on legal obligations sorry, but other people seem to know what they're on about

[Bushie]

In NSW it would be covered under the Surveillance devices act 2007

Martyn

[Tank]

In NSW it is illegal to mount any object "which in the view of a Police officer will obstruct your view", there was a story on one of the Current Affair shows showing police booking drivers for having anything other than a rear vision mirror above or on the dash. Don't forget it is up to the policeman to decide if the camera (whatever) is blocking your view, no arguements he/she has the final word, Regards Frank.

[Disco Muppet]

In NSW it is illegal to mount any object "which in the view of a Police officer will obstruct your view", there was a story on one of the Current Affair shows showing police booking drivers for having anything other than a rear vision mirror above or on the dash. Don't forget it is up to the policeman to decide if the camera (whatever) is blocking your view, no arguements he/she has the final word, Regards Frank.

I was under the impression that it could be considered illegal if they obscured your road view i.e if you put up a GPS and it blocks your view of part of the bonnet but not the road then it's okay.
Probably likely to be up to the officer as to what they'll ping you for.

[Tombie]

In NSW it is illegal to mount any object "which in the view of a Police officer will obstruct your view", there was a story on one of the Current Affair shows showing police booking drivers for having anything other than a rear vision mirror above or on the dash. Don't forget it is up to the policeman to decide if the camera (whatever) is blocking your view, no arguments he/she has the final word, Regards Frank.

Not quite

When they are having a bad day, and are a little 'tired and emotional' and are trying things like this on...

Time to whip out the mobile, switch on the camera - advise the actions are being recorded and get them to justify their stance.
And make sure the position of the device being challenged is clearly visible in the footage you record.

I've been defected on the side of the road years ago in a "Chrysler by Chrysler" Coupe for, and I quote "You've got no front springs in mate"

No amount of explaining the construction of the C by C front end was good enough for this fellow.

Nor could we convince him it was at minimum legal ride height (we even had the data sheet in the glove box - had been through it all before).

Simple enough to say - Recorded conversation on tape (had a dictation unit in car for such common harassment) and drove direct to Holden Hill Police Station...

Defect removed, apologies given, complaint form filed...

Yes, they have certain powers, but must utilise discretion when applying them..

Same applies for any object "which in the view of a Police officer will obstruct your view"

Or excessive noise from exhaust... You'll be wanting to have the full test equipment, and procedure before you try to get me on that one!