Dash Cameras

Author
Discussion

Ryan.

278 posts

138 months

Monday 17th August 2015
quotequote all
Yea it's the mount that comes with the camera. I had similar concerns but you do just forget it's there, even more so with setting the screen to turn off after 1 minute.

africanant

19 posts

205 months

Monday 17th August 2015
quotequote all
With some Amazon vouchers burning a hole in my pocket I ended up buying the Transcend DP200 too. I was also a bit concerned about the size and how visible it would be from the inside and outside.

As part of the install, using some satin black vinyl wrap stuff, I completely blacked out the front, so no visible text and chrome lens surround, well worth doing if you can. (Daft idea making it chrome!) Annoyingly I wanted to use the suction mount but had to use the supplied mount as the suction one wouldn't stick to the dotty bit behind the mirror.

It's now placed almost directly in front of the rear view mirror and unless you're looking for it, you don't really notice it like I thought you would, even from outside the car. I suspect it also helps in my case that the interior of my car is fairly dark too.

Back to the camera, the quality is pretty good as has been said. I thought having wifi and a decent screen would be useful, but can't say I've used them at all since installed, so in hindsight I'm wondering if I should've gone for the more discreet Mobius.

Sir Bagalot

6,463 posts

180 months

Monday 17th August 2015
quotequote all
My 0806 started playing up.

Would start up and just go to static picture.

After a reset would be fine and then in a middle of a journey would simply reset itself.

Now won't even power on so will be going back

anonymous-user

53 months

Tuesday 18th August 2015
quotequote all
Sir Bagalot said:
My 0806 started playing up.
Early ones are supposed to be very unreliable. frown

Apparently they're now on the 3rd revision of the 806 and are on top of the issues but using customers as beta testers is rather sucky.

_dobbo_

14,321 posts

247 months

Tuesday 18th August 2015
quotequote all
CoolHands said:
I wish they (all) would make a lense that is on its own connected with a wire to the main body which could be mounted separately. I can't understand why they don't do this.
The K1S does this, with front and rear cameras, bit more discrete.

Sir Bagalot

6,463 posts

180 months

Tuesday 18th August 2015
quotequote all
charltjr said:
Sir Bagalot said:
My 0806 started playing up.
Early ones are supposed to be very unreliable. frown

Apparently they're now on the 3rd revision of the 806 and are on top of the issues but using customers as beta testers is rather sucky.
Mine is 3rd revision.....

shandyboy

472 posts

153 months

Tuesday 18th August 2015
quotequote all
africanant said:
With some Amazon vouchers burning a hole in my pocket I ended up buying the Transcend DP200 too. I was also a bit concerned about the size and how visible it would be from the inside and outside.

As part of the install, using some satin black vinyl wrap stuff, I completely blacked out the front, so no visible text and chrome lens surround, well worth doing if you can. (Daft idea making it chrome!) Annoyingly I wanted to use the suction mount but had to use the supplied mount as the suction one wouldn't stick to the dotty bit behind the mirror.
I've just fit a Transcend DP200 in the other-half's car and was surprised how big it was - I was expecting something easy to hide but it's pretty bloody big - the shiny plastic chrome bits don't help either - what were they thinking?! I think I might have to copy your vinyl covering idea. I'm used to my 0806 (sort of reliable so far, touch wood!) so the Transcend looks huge in comparison.

Ahimoth

230 posts

112 months

Tuesday 18th August 2015
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Mine is pretty obvious, but no-one seems to notice it or pay attention.

anonymous-user

53 months

Tuesday 18th August 2015
quotequote all
Sir Bagalot said:
Mine is 3rd revision.....
Bugger frown

Ryan.

278 posts

138 months

Tuesday 18th August 2015
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Africanant,

Could you post a picture of your wrapped DP200? Think a few of us may give that a go!

Alex L

2,575 posts

253 months

Tuesday 18th August 2015
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I've had a DP200 for over a year and just bought the new DP220 for my other half's car.

Thankfully in my 3 series there's a cigarette lighter socket under the glove box so could disappear the wiring by tucking it inside the trim.

I never bother taking it out of the car and it's performed faultlessly.


sidekickdmr

5,065 posts

205 months

Wednesday 19th August 2015
quotequote all
Im thinking about purchasing my first dashcam, but have some quite specific requirements (apart from the obvious good quality pic type stuff) and wondered if something existed?

The main thing I want is constant recording, either something that runs off battery when the power is cut, or something I can hard wire in to the constant live with a low power draw. Reason for this is carpark dings etc when the car is left, fed up of paying to repair my car for other peoples mistakes.

Secondly I would like it if there was a front and rear camera on the same single module, I know the rear cam will mainly record my mug and the inside of the car, but may also catch someone rear ending me, or again carpark dings out of the bask/side windows.

lastly, something small and discreet that can be mounted in the top of the screen.

Happy to spend on a decent one that ticks all of the above but even happier with a bargain!

Thanks smile

arcticfire

1,827 posts

118 months

Wednesday 19th August 2015
quotequote all
Power Magic Pro and add-a-circuits for an always on, non evasive installation which also protects your battery from going flat.

GrumpyTwig

3,354 posts

156 months

Wednesday 19th August 2015
quotequote all
sidekickdmr said:
Im thinking about purchasing my first dashcam, but have some quite specific requirements (apart from the obvious good quality pic type stuff) and wondered if something existed?

The main thing I want is constant recording, either something that runs off battery when the power is cut, or something I can hard wire in to the constant live with a low power draw. Reason for this is carpark dings etc when the car is left, fed up of paying to repair my car for other peoples mistakes.

Secondly I would like it if there was a front and rear camera on the same single module, I know the rear cam will mainly record my mug and the inside of the car, but may also catch someone rear ending me, or again carpark dings out of the bask/side windows.

lastly, something small and discreet that can be mounted in the top of the screen.

Happy to spend on a decent one that ticks all of the above but even happier with a bargain!

Thanks smile
Maybe one of these? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lt7lhKSwWcI

Usually rear cameras look out the back window though, rather than look back into the cabin.

smashie

685 posts

150 months

Saturday 22nd August 2015
quotequote all
It's time for me to get a new dash cam. After many years of unneeded service the Roadhawk I have in my car has started playing up (randomly rebooting).
I have had a read through some of this thread and Google searches and it hasn't left me any the wiser as to what to get.
At the moment I have the Roadhawk HD on my short list as the original one worked well until recently. It is also discreet enough and fits nicely behind the rear view mirror. My other option is the BlackVue DR600GW/DR6500GW however the reports of overheating kind of put me off.
There seems to be a lot of talk of the mini 805/806, but these are bigger than I am after and I don't need a screen. I am after fit and forget. The mobius, whilst discreet, seems to be a bit cheap and is primarily an action cam. I am a believer in that you get what you pay for. What other cameras would you recommend?

Thanks.

GrumpyTwig

3,354 posts

156 months

Saturday 22nd August 2015
quotequote all
Strange to dismiss the Mobius, they've worked (admittedly only on a sample of 2) without fail for over a year. They might have the name and previously been seen more as an 'action' camera but they have such a vast array of settings (http://www.mytempfiles.info/mobius/pickies/Mobius_004.jpg) they can and have for me at least been very set and forget.

All that jazz

7,632 posts

145 months

Saturday 22nd August 2015
quotequote all
smashie said:
It's time for me to get a new dash cam. After many years of unneeded service the Roadhawk I have in my car has started playing up (randomly rebooting).
I have had a read through some of this thread and Google searches and it hasn't left me any the wiser as to what to get.
At the moment I have the Roadhawk HD on my short list as the original one worked well until recently. It is also discreet enough and fits nicely behind the rear view mirror. My other option is the BlackVue DR600GW/DR6500GW however the reports of overheating kind of put me off.
There seems to be a lot of talk of the mini 805/806, but these are bigger than I am after and I don't need a screen. I am after fit and forget. The mobius, whilst discreet, seems to be a bit cheap and is primarily an action cam. I am a believer in that you get what you pay for. What other cameras would you recommend?

Thanks.
I find your comments rather amusing. You believe in "you get what you pay for" so have spent a small fortune on a Roadhawk (which are renowned to be over-priced unreliable tat) and then knock the comparatively cheap Mobius which perfectly suits your needs and has excellent reliability with equally excellent support from the manufacturer in the (rare) event of any issues.

I think you should go for either a BlackVue DR400 or DR500. Both fit your requirements for being most expensive along with the Roadhawk yes :

dashcamtalk said:
DR400: Overheating problem, disappointing night quality & some cameras are out of focus.

DR500: WiFi is great but bitrate causes pixelation in some settings.
Definitely avoid the Mobius. Very cheap so most certainly unreliable. wobble

rich888

2,610 posts

198 months

Saturday 22nd August 2015
quotequote all
The Mobius has to be one of the best action/dash cams on the market in terms of video quality and reliability. It's also one of the cheapest due to the manufacturer refusing to waste money on advertising and posh packaging, instead spending the money on the camera and lens. You can also buy direct from the manufacturer on ebay if you wish. This is what I did.

I've purchased several dash cams over the past few years, some have cost many hundreds of pounds more and the video quality and general reliability has been pretty poor [just don't think of Blackvue], the 0801 has to be one of the best in terms of video quality in the daytime that I've used, the 0806 has been a little better, but early versions of the 0806 have proved to be somewhat unreliable. The Mobius has been pretty much flawless, and the video quality is nearly as good as the 0806, but it's substantially cheaper and is far more user friendly in terms of changing components like the battery and lens, is a DIY enthusiasts dream. It also accepts larger 64GB and 128GB cards though you need to format them FAT32.

smashie

685 posts

150 months

Sunday 23rd August 2015
quotequote all
Mobius and 806 ordered. Will see which fits better when I get them and the one I don't use I'll give to the Mrs.

rich888

2,610 posts

198 months

Sunday 23rd August 2015
quotequote all
smashie said:
Mobius and 806 ordered. Will see which fits better when I get them and the one I don't use I'll give to the Mrs.
You won't be disappointed with either of them, though it might be a good idea to download the Mobius GUI software to enable you to make changes to the settings:

The latest Windows software for the Mobius ActionCam can be downloaded here: http://www.mytempfiles.info/mobius/

Mobius Manager for the Mac can be downloaded from: http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20...

If you're not sure what or how to do this I highly recommend you watch the YouTube videos uploaded by Techmoan for not only using the Mobius but also the Mini 0806 which certainly saved me hours of mucking about with the settings.

Link to the Techmoan video review of the Mobius action cam is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wmIyD1fM4M

Link to the Techmoan video review of the 0806 is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MG7kU0rwEwU

If you want to further improve the quality of the 0806 video footage then fit a CPL filter to reduce reflections off the windscreen and install the firmware update created by Nigel which increases the bitrate, link is: http://mini0806.com/update.html and make sure you look down and download the version created by Nigel on 05-04-2015.

The biggest grief with using dash cams seems to be when using fake SD cards so please ensure you buy from a reliable source, I'm using both 64GB and 128GB cards formatted FAT32 which provide several days recording time before the oldest video files are overwritten.