Learn me about Dashcams

[Brian Stirling]

OK, I've been thinking about getting a dashcam but don't know much about the various models out there. It seems in addition to recording video some/many also have built in GPS to record exact time and location etc. The other thing some have is G sensors to detect accidents so that the video/data cam be marked and/or protected.

OK, so looking around I see a model from Cobra, the 840, that would be around $125 USD that records 1080P video at 30 fps and also has GPS and G sensors.

I wonder about the G sensor thing as it can detect an accident but you'd want video from at least a few seconds before that and preferably 30 seconds or even more before and I don't see anywhere just how much before the G event it records and saves -- anyone know about this feature on the 840? What about other dashcams?

Also, on the GPS ... are these units configurable to permit displaying the following: lat/lon, GPS speed, GPS elevation, date/time. From the videos I've seen it looks like lat/lon and date/time but I don't see speed or elevation.

What kind of tools/software do they have to extract things like G values and speeds with respect to time. Also, how big of a uSD card can you use (64GB, 128GB?)

Ignoring the Cobra 840 for a moment, what other brands/models have this level of functionality.


Brian

 

[HybridSquirrel]

Are you worried about insurance fraud? Does your insurance offer a discount for having a dash cam? Are you concerned that if you're speeding and a cop pulls you over he is going to shoot you without cause? Do you live in Russia?

If you answered NO to any of those questions, you don't need a dash cam.

 

[shabby]

$50 https://dashcamtalk.com/g1w/

 

[ThatsABigOne]

$50 https://dashcamtalk.com/g1w/

This.

I got mine 8 months ago and it has been working great ever since. There is no need to pay hundreds for a dash camera.

 

[Jimzz]

$50 https://dashcamtalk.com/g1w/

Yep best bang for the buck. I would get the G1W-C model but the others are good as well.

 

[Brian Stirling]

Saw a YouTube video about this and I guess having GPS info might actually be a problem if you're in an accident and you were going even a little over the speed limit.

It also appears that the value of the G sensors might not be that great either. Apparently the way most of these dashcams work is that they record lots of short clips of a few minutes each and when the G sensor detects something it locks the file being recorded at that time so if you drive on bad roads you could wind up with the whole uSD card filled up with protected files leaving no room to record new video. Also, if the G event was detected right at the start of a new file it might not have anything before the event locked.

Seems there is still some work to do.


Brian

 

[olds]

Yep best bang for the buck. I would get the G1W-C model but the others are good as well.

Can you tell us why?

 

[Jimzz]

Can you tell us why?

The C stands for capacitor. The others use a small battery. The problem is the battery's will run hot and can cause reliability issues, esp in the summer of course. Let alone after a year or so they will not last to long.

The Cap models do not run as hot but still have enough power to record a couple seconds to shut down and save the last file.

 

[olds]

Thank you.

 

[malbojah]

If your curious about real world video from a G1W, here's a couple of mine

Daytime
http://youtu.be/NSr7cT_Tde0

Night time
http://youtu.be/fC_oulrmQQk?t=8s

Night time in damp weather
http://youtu.be/uHiljUrDsG8

 

[Brian Stirling]

I've decided to get the mini 0806 when it becomes available. They have started shipping just a couple days ago but I'd guess it will be a couple weeks before it's redily available in the USA and prices go down to normal.

I'll get the GPS module/base and maybe the CPL.

I'll start looking for the best location to get power but I think the vanity mirror light in the sun shade, which is switched with the ignition after a time delay, would limit the wiring issue.


Brian