Dash Cameras

Author
Discussion

rich888

2,610 posts

198 months

Saturday 18th October 2014
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Shaw Tarse said:
0803 ordered, will see what it's like. If I like it, may get a second one for rear view & have them properly installed...
Take a little time to read up on the comments I made previously regarding the setup and SD cards needed following some grief a friend of mine had with an 0803 which came down to the micro SD card not being up to the job of receiving the data. No need to go mad with anything over 32GB because the firmware currently formats in FAT32 and doesn't see anything above 32GB. I would recommend that you buy a class 10 micro SD card, set the dashcam to FINE and 1080p. And remember to format it using the FORMAT option in the menu options once you have fitted it - please note it's no good formatting it in any other device except the dash cam that it's fitted in.

Best advice is watch the TechMoan video which provides far more useful information than the rubbish Cringlish instruction manual. Am sure I posted a link to the YouTube video in one of my earlier posts.

M4cruiser

3,546 posts

149 months

Sunday 19th October 2014
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jfbrin said:
I bought three 0801 dash cams from eBay but not sure if it was uk PO box but Chinese origin.

They all appear to work fine having hard wired them in the cars but every time I try to download the videos, i have problems. My ipad doesnt recognise the "format"? My ipad mini does but using a different dongle attachment. But when the files are loaded onto the ipad mini, they are just blank files.
JB
I'd agree with the above response, i.e. re-format the card in the 0801 itself (make sure it's a Sandisk Class 6), and try again, re-set up the unit from the menu to have microphone off and shy away from the claimed "best" quality setting.
The 0801 is let's face it a budget unit (I just got another one for under £70 including a 32Gb memory card), but I think it's a great balance between cost, quality and ease of fitting unobtrusively.
It just needs a little time to set it up and understand all the options. And as you say the battery life is only about 10 minutes, but if fully charged that's enough to go through the menus once.



Accelebrate

5,244 posts

214 months

Sunday 19th October 2014
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Bit of a wrong turn...

http://youtu.be/lh1DSl6YxQc


baccalad said:
What dash cam are you using?
It's a Mobius.

Cliftonite

8,406 posts

137 months

Sunday 19th October 2014
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Accelebrate said:
Bit of a wrong turn...

http://youtu.be/lh1DSl6YxQc


.
Quite understandable for a furriner, though, what with the bus lane arrangement and faded box markings.

One recovered rather well, though, doncher think?

smile


jfbrin

415 posts

171 months

Sunday 19th October 2014
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rich888 said:
Sorry to hear you're suffering grief with this dash cam, and assuming you've not bought a dud or a fake unit, it does sound like you may have a corrupted micro SD card, so next time you refit it, format the card using the 'Format' option in the menu options. Have a feeling that you corrupted the files when you deleted them because that's what happened when I did the same.

Ought to mention there is no need to delete the video files from the card because the older files will automatically be overwritten.

All I do is eject the micro SD card from the dashcam, put it into the SD adapter, then place in the SD card slot in my MacBook and either drag the files onto the desktop which copies them rather than deleting them, or use Google Picasa to copy the files. Although I use a MacBook I find the Google Picasa image software much easier and more intuitive than iPhoto.

The video files are stored as .mov files which can be replayed using Quicktime, VLC, or Picasa or various other video packages - I think the default using a Mac is QuickTime but you can select 'Open With' and select a different application. Can't comment on Windows because I don't use one apart from at work.

Is interesting that you mention that you copied the files to your iPad because I've never tried that, how do you copy files onto an iPad? Having said that, and bearing in mind the limited space on my 16GB iPad, I'm damn sure I would fill the space up far too quickly - are you sure you've not ran out of space?

Ought to mention there is no point in buying an SD card any bigger than 32GB because the FAT32 formatting currently limits it to less than 25GB. Any micro SD cards bigger than that will not be able to use the additional space - are there any programmers reading this that might be able to tweak the firmware settings to enable this to happen?

I've been using a Kingston 32GB class 4 micro SD card which has worked flawlessly, but recently tested a SanDisk 128GB class 10 micro SD card which also worked flawlessly, though was only able to record 24.77GB onto it, so the rest of the space was unused which was a great shame because I wanted to record a weeks worth of video footage! once again, are there any programmers reading this that might be able to tweak the firmware settings to enable this to happen?

For info, I purchased my 0801 mid September, so think it might have the updated firmware to resolve a few problems users were having on earlier models.

Am thoroughly pleased with the 0801 camera and the video quality and it's ben 100% reliable to date.

One recommendation when you receive the dash cam is please ensure you stick it in the correct position first time, because the 3M adhesive pads used do stick extremely well.

Incidentally, If you ever want to remove a dashcam mount, then view the TechMoan video on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1bOM8IJOfI
Thanks Rich and cruiser.
I tried to format the sd card as you suggested and eventually stumbled on how to do it. Ironically, the full playback option was on the camera so i could actually view the files in playback mode on the camera but they were not recognised on my ipad or notebook. Microsoft warned that "there is a problem with the ......". But as I am computer illiterate, I could not work out how to get around the problem.
Anyway, I have formatted the card deleting everything so will see where we go from here.

I use an adaptor to copy photos onto the ipad but as you say, room is very limited. Will have to ask Santa for a something more powerful for Christmas like an air book or equivalent.

Many thanks

Accelebrate

5,244 posts

214 months

Monday 20th October 2014
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Cliftonite said:
Quite understandable for a furriner, though, what with the bus lane arrangement and faded box markings.

One recovered rather well, though, doncher think?

smile
I'd agree with that smile

masermartin

1,629 posts

176 months

Monday 20th October 2014
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rich888 said:
masermartin said:
0803 doesn't need a class 10, in fact it also (apparently) won't work with a 10. Mine works well with the class 6 Samsung cards I have
That's not entirely true. A colleague of mine purchased a 0803 unit and fitted a class 6 Samsung micro SD card with the settings of 1080P, S.FINE, and 5 minutes record time, the card couldn't cope with the amount of data the camera was recording and ended up losing 50% of the footage. He tried again with a faster Sandisc 32Gb class 10 Ultra Extreme and all video was then recorded. If you change the settings to 1080P, FINE, 3 minutes record time it works fine with the class 6 Samsung SD card.
Ah - that's coincidentally exactly the settings I use, anything more is unnecessary IMO. The numberplates are clearly visible in freeze frames. I remember reading at the time I bought it that the C10 cards were problematic for this device, which is why I bought a couple of C6's.

BobSaunders

3,027 posts

154 months

Monday 20th October 2014
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Hi, Does anyone have any photos of dash cameras mounted in cars around the rear view mirror? I cant seem to find any taken from outside the car showing it.

I am worried about permanently mounting a dash camera front and rear in the car and people thinking it is a sat-nav or similar and simply breaking in for the hell of it.

Thanks.

richarda0109

313 posts

164 months

Monday 20th October 2014
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Hi

I want to purchase a couple of 0803 dash cameras. What is the best place to get them from. If ebay can you give me the supplier name. Thanks.

Rgds
Richard

feef

5,206 posts

182 months

Monday 20th October 2014
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BobSaunders said:
Hi, Does anyone have any photos of dash cameras mounted in cars around the rear view mirror? I cant seem to find any taken from outside the car showing it.

I am worried about permanently mounting a dash camera front and rear in the car and people thinking it is a sat-nav or similar and simply breaking in for the hell of it.

Thanks.
Hard to see from the sky's reflection.


Rick101

6,959 posts

149 months

Monday 20th October 2014
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richarda0109 said:
Hi

I want to purchase a couple of 0803 dash cameras. What is the best place to get them from. If ebay can you give me the supplier name. Thanks.

Rgds
Richard
I recently bought from a very helpful chap. Has an ebay shop though kind enough to let me pick up from his home on a Saturday morning.
Not the cheapest, but came fully set up and you have geographical landline number should you have any issues.
No personal connection, would definitely recommend using him. Couldn't do enough for me.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/351171371538?_trksid=p20...

Edited by Rick101 on Monday 20th October 11:53

liner33

10,640 posts

201 months

Monday 20th October 2014
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Blackvue 400hd in mine




rich888

2,610 posts

198 months

Monday 20th October 2014
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richarda0109 said:
Hi

I want to purchase a couple of 0803 dash cameras. What is the best place to get them from. If ebay can you give me the supplier name. Thanks.

Rgds
Richard
I purchased an 0801 model from Amazon which cost just under £45 including a 16GB memory card and delivery. The delivery time was very fast. Link is: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00IKEVSOU

If you would prefer to buy from ebay then I have it on good authority that this ebay seller offers excellent service and backup of the 0801 and 0803 dash cams, and they are based in Leicestershire so rather easier to deal with than flying over to China. Ought to mention they are closed for the Half Term Holiday period till Tuesday 28th October.

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/COMBI-LTD/Car-Camera-/_i....

EDIT:

One further suggestion is to watch the TechMoan video reviews on YouTube which also provides excellent information on how to set the dash cams up because the supplied instruction manuals are in Engrish so not the best!

Mini 0801 review is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdPHXv8Hzj8
Mini 0803 review is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LWOq62cY6U

Edited by rich888 on Monday 20th October 12:21

masermartin

1,629 posts

176 months

Monday 20th October 2014
quotequote all
richarda0109 said:
Hi

I want to purchase a couple of 0803 dash cameras. What is the best place to get them from. If ebay can you give me the supplier name. Thanks.

Rgds
Richard
Got mine from here:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/E-PRANCE-Ambarella-A7LA50D...

Cliftonite

8,406 posts

137 months

Monday 20th October 2014
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masermartin said:
And mine from here (UK seller) :

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-MK2-Mini-0803-GPS-08...


rich888

2,610 posts

198 months

Monday 20th October 2014
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And I post this because I do wish I had bought a dash cam sooner to catch those moments on video that do deserve to be posted onto LiveLeak or YouTube.

Two instances come to mind over the past two years...

Driving home from work at approx 50mph I notice a bright banana yellow Rover accelerating hard up behind me and just before a dip in the road which is well known for catching drivers out when cars emerge in the opposite direction, well he was going for it and overtook me at brake-neck speed, it was what happened next that was quite amusing because as he drew alongside my drivers door thrashing the living daylights out of it the inevitable happened and his engine went bang because a massive thick smoke cloud appeared from his exhaust pipe as he wailed past. He had plenty of momentum to go past me and I had to stop in the road for a few seconds because I couldn't see for the oily smoke. Anyway, once the cloud had dispersed I continued along the road for about a mile until I spotted the car parked up in the local garage. I dread to think how much that had cost him...

But by far the best award ever for a missed dash cam opportunity has to be the police car incident I witnessed which was something you would expect to see on one of the police stop videos...

OK then, this happened about a year ago when I was travelling along a minor road, and approaching a tee-junction at a main set of traffic lights onto a dual carriage-way. There are 3 lanes, one filters left which is the lane I am in, and two other lanes for straight ahead and right. There is a great big queue because the traffic light sequencing is awful so everyone is stuck waiting for the lights to change. At this point a police estate car comes hurtling up from behind at high speed with his blue lights on. He reaches the back of the queue and breaks heavily and continues to flash his lights because he's obviously in a right hurry, but no one in any of the lanes can move forward or sideways because the traffic lights are on red. Now at this point most sane police officers would consider carefully driving onto the other side of the road which is empty with the blue lights on to miss the queue of traffic, but not this driver who mounted the very high kerb and accelerated along the narrow pavement, and it all looked very exciting until he reached the top of the road whereupon he was confronted with a long set of pedestrian barriers which blocked his path, well he looked a right plonker at this point and was forced to reverse back down the road. What was even more embarrassing was the fact that the pedestrian barriers started some way from the junction so the driver at the front of the queue had no idea what was going on and just sat there oblivious as to what was going on... I just wish that I had fitted the dash cams to have recorded this drama because I've never seen anything like it.

Having done a search on YouTube for 'Russian Dash cams' is probably what finally made my mind up to purchase a dash cam because there are some right shockingly poor examples of driving that have been recorded and some examples you cannot believe if it hadn't been for the fact the incident was recorded on camera.

My worry is that it would seem that with very few traffic coppers out and about on UK roads, the standards of driving in the UK are going to continue to fall whilst the politicians and councils continue to focus on petty speeding rather than poor driving.

iplod999

368 posts

143 months

Tuesday 21st October 2014
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What do we recommend for motorcycle riders?

I was thinking of a GoPro from Santa this year.

feef

5,206 posts

182 months

Tuesday 21st October 2014
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iplod999 said:
What do we recommend for motorcycle riders?

I was thinking of a GoPro from Santa this year.
I prefer the Drift. It's more discrete and doesn't stick out as much from your helmet. If it's for mounting on the bike, that's less important. The Drift also has a screen built in as standard which means you could, if needs be, play back an incident on the scene. Both the Drift and GoPro have apps that allow you to do the same, but it's quicker to just press play on the device. I also like the waterproof remote control with mode display for the Drift. It's a bit more robust than the GoPro remote and as it doesn't use WiFi it affects battery life less.

Both the Gopro and the Drift have a dash-cam setting which records loops that overwrite the earliest files so you never 'run out' of memory on the card.

I've got both a GoPro and a Drift. I've used the Contour and was supplied with an iON the Action by SportPursuit to document my racing last year. Out of them all, I prefer the Drift most.

IATM

3,778 posts

146 months

Tuesday 21st October 2014
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Does anyone else feel the whole dash camera thing is just a step too far. How many cameras are we going to have to "protect" ourself?

CCTV I can understand on a business premises or maybe even house. At a push on main streets in city centres but we have them EVERYWHERE now.

Its went a bit too far really considering they can be hacked into so easily.

We have idiots now using it to film people picking their nose while they drive.

The more I see this the more I move further into the countryside.

Pesty

42,655 posts

255 months

Tuesday 21st October 2014
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IATM said:
Does anyone else feel the whole dash camera thing is just a step too far. How many cameras are we going to have to "protect" ourself?

CCTV I can understand on a business premises or maybe even house. At a push on main streets in city centres but we have them EVERYWHERE now.

Its went a bit too far really considering they can be hacked into so easily.

We have idiots now using it to film people picking their nose while they drive.

The more I see this the more I move further into the countryside.
no. its eminently sensible. Idiots? nice, filming people picking their noses? there is only one idiot here with a post like that. (why is it increasing on ph that people have to insult random strangers.) because you dont see a point people are idiots.

my other half was reversed into on purpose in Birmingham. the occupant told his insurers that she drove into the back of him.

it took months to sort out and we were very lucky to get evidence from a security camera near by.

I drive 25k miles for work i come across some right numpties as we all do. one of these days one is going to cause a crash and lie. they just do these days.

just fit it and forget it until needed. ( also comes in handy for other reasons too)



Edited by Pesty on Tuesday 21st October 10:22