Dash Cameras

[Baz Tench]

I'm thinking about getting one for when I get my new Transit Connect van from work after Christmas.

I've just been reading a few reviews on Amazon and it seems that the heated screen in the van could cause a problem. Apparently some cams tend to focus on the heating elements in the screen rather than the road ahead.

Has anyone got a heated windscreen, but has a dash cam that isn't affected by it?

[All that jazz]

Baz Tench said:

I'm thinking about getting one for when I get my new Transit Connect van from work after Christmas.

I've just been reading a few reviews on Amazon and it seems that the heated screen in the van could cause a problem. Apparently some cams tend to focus on the heating elements in the screen rather than the road ahead.

Has anyone got a heated windscreen, but has a dash cam that isn't affected by it?

You do realise that the wires are not mains cable thickness, right? My Mobius has no problem seeing what's going on out of the heated windscreen of my Focus ST and there is no evidence of the wires in the video. I think they are talking ste.

[Baz Tench]

All that jazz said:

You do realise that the wires are not mains cable thickness, right? My Mobius has no problem seeing what's going on out of the heated windscreen of my Focus ST and there is no evidence of the wires in the video. I think they are talking ste.

Yes I'm aware of that, it would be a pretty ste windscreen if that was the case! I want to get a good one (around the £100 mark). I don't want to fork out that kind of cash if it's no good with that screen.

[Targarama]

My wife's Fiesta has a Ford Heated front screen. No issues whatsoever, completely invisible. Mini 0805 camera.

Perhaps if the camera lens is pushed up very close to the glass some may have an issue? On my wife's car the lens is around 5 cm from the screen, maybe a bit more.

[liner33]

Baz Tench said:

I'm thinking about getting one for when I get my new Transit Connect van from work after Christmas.

I've just been reading a few reviews on Amazon and it seems that the heated screen in the van could cause a problem. Apparently some cams tend to focus on the heating elements in the screen rather than the road ahead.

Has anyone got a heated windscreen, but has a dash cam that isn't affected by it?

It can cause issues getting GPS lock, I have a Blackvue in my Jag and it has at no time focused on the wires

[Baz Tench]

Thanks for clearing that up. I'm new to the world of dash cams and I think it must have been a problem unique to the one I was looking at.

[untakenname]

Did a stealth install whilst retrofitting an autodim mirror to my RX8 recently



I put some black vinyl on the windscreen first with a circular cutout for the camera lens, it's really hard to see even if you're looking for it.

[mybrainhurts]

Warning....police report dash cams are getting nicked from cars in my neck of the woods.

[hyphen]

Theft of the unit was actually one of my top concerns when reading up to buy one, have decided to go for a wedge type one as they seem to be the most stealthy as I need it recording when parking too. Otherwise would have got the DDPai magnetic/other easy to remove one.

[Pesty]

mybrainhurts said:

Warning....police report dash cams are getting nicked from cars in my neck of the woods.

Which is?

[Pesty]

untakenname said:

Did a stealth install whilst retrofitting an autodim mirror to my RX8 recently


I put some black vinyl on the windscreen first with a circular cutout for the camera lens, it's really hard to see even if you're looking for it.

Very neat

[mybrainhurts]

Pesty said:

mybrainhurts said:

Warning....police report dash cams are getting nicked from cars in my neck of the woods.

Which is?

Around Sheffield, not sure which district, but might be Beighton or a nearby area.

[Funk]

defblade said:

djdest said:

I'm very impressed with the techmoan favourite, this could be the one I get

http://www.techmoan.com/blog/2016/6/23/dashcam-rev...

As I have to park in a car park apparently full of careless utter gits, and I'm about to swap my dented old E39 for a rather less old, currently straight and very shiny black car of love, I've ordered one of these to replace my wedge. It's the park guard mode that sold it, in case you couldn't guess

I've just replaced my E36 328i with a much newer and shinier E46 330Ci. Took the opportunity to replace the old 0803 which has done a pretty good job with the Ddpai M6+.

Need to find where I'm going to power it from, does the park mode need a battery backup as I'm wary of leaving it on permanent live?

[defblade]

Funk said:

I've just replaced my E36 328i with a much newer and shinier E46 330Ci. Took the opportunity to replace the old 0803 which has done a pretty good job with the Ddpai M6+.

Need to find where I'm going to power it from, does the park mode need a battery backup as I'm wary of leaving it on permanent live?

I've bought, but not yet fitted (I only want to take things apart the once, so it's waiting until my stereo goes in), the hardwire kit for it, which claims to have low voltage detection. So if parked for a long time, the camera should stop recording, but you'll still be able to start your car. I'd tap in to the permanent live to stereo, BTW.

In the meantime, I've got a handy little lithium battery boost/starter pack which I plug the camera into at work, lasts about 30 hours between charges. And once the camera is wired in permanently, the booster pack will still be around in case the cut off doesn't work...

[hyphen]

I've decided to get either the A119 or the StreetGuardian equivalent. both are being superseded with new models in the coming month or so, this should mean a decent price drop on the discontinued.

[Funk]

defblade said:

Funk said:

I've just replaced my E36 328i with a much newer and shinier E46 330Ci. Took the opportunity to replace the old 0803 which has done a pretty good job with the Ddpai M6+.

Need to find where I'm going to power it from, does the park mode need a battery backup as I'm wary of leaving it on permanent live?

I've bought, but not yet fitted (I only want to take things apart the once, so it's waiting until my stereo goes in), the hardwire kit for it, which claims to have low voltage detection. So if parked for a long time, the camera should stop recording, but you'll still be able to start your car. I'd tap in to the permanent live to stereo, BTW.

In the meantime, I've got a handy little lithium battery boost/starter pack which I plug the camera into at work, lasts about 30 hours between charges. And once the camera is wired in permanently, the booster pack will still be around in case the cut off doesn't work...

The hardwire kit sounds ideal, especially if it does indeed have low-voltage detection and shut-off.

Some digging reveals there is a perm live feed up by the mirror, usually for garage door openers. However, they're more common in the US so not sure whether UK cars will have the wiring there. Need to get in and have a look.

Edit: Last week I bought a polarising lens from taxi-products on eBay the other day and it turned up fine; if anyone's looking for DDpai-related items they seem to be a UK-based company given the speed of delivery - their prices are the same as the Chinese sellers. I've just ordered the hardwire kit from them, should be here early next week.

Edited by Funk on Thursday 8th December 11:43

[JumboBeef]

I'm going to take a hammer to my 0806.

I've had nothing but trouble, has it replaced twice and also tried new cards in it. Yet it only records when it wants and often switches off for no reason.

Yesterday, an accident happened right in front of the car at a junction. Four people hurt, one air lifted. Police needed witnesses and were very interested when I told them about the Web cam. But the fecking thing had switched itself off.

Useless. Don't ever buy one.

[Funk]

JumboBeef said:

I'm going to take a hammer to my 0806.

I've had nothing but trouble, has it replaced twice and also tried new cards in it. Yet it only records when it wants and often switches off for no reason.

Yesterday, an accident happened right in front of the car at a junction. Four people hurt, one air lifted. Police needed witnesses and were very interested when I told them about the Web cam. But the fecking thing had switched itself off.

Useless. Don't ever buy one.

The 0805/6 did seem to be a bit iffy. I had the 0803 and bought an 0805 when they came out - the picture wasn't as good (I think I posted about it way back in this topic) and I ended up sending it back and sticking with the 0803 until now. A friend of mine bought an 0805 which was temperamental, sent it back for an exchange and - touch wood - the replacement has been fine.

However, the game's moved on a lot and newer devices from the likes of DDpai, Transcend et al are better for the money.

[Cliftonite]

Has anyone yet had experience of the Mini 0903, please?

http://www.combi.org.uk/products/131/NEW-Mini-0903...

[Spare tyre]

Baz Tench said:

I'm thinking about getting one for when I get my new Transit Connect van from work after Christmas.

I've just been reading a few reviews on Amazon and it seems that the heated screen in the van could cause a problem. Apparently some cams tend to focus on the heating elements in the screen rather than the road ahead.

Has anyone got a heated windscreen, but has a dash cam that isn't affected by it?

Had a few different cams on our old 04 plate fiesta with heated screen

No issues