RE: Dash cam duo tested

[Turbojuice]

RemarkLima said:

Turbojuice said:

RemarkLima said:

What I'm missing with Dashcams is why they have screens on them? Surely, the point is that you can hook them up / plug the memory card into a PC and view the footage?

Seems to add a lot of bulk and cost for little benefit??

Yeah i never understood this either. Slightly useful for first time setup i guess? Apart from that, waste of time, space, money etc...

I went with a mobius since it was by far the smallest device out there, and came in a "dashcam kit" which included the mount, cable, 12v plug and critically came with a supercapacitor instead of a battery. All these "mainstream" dashcams like the nextbase stuff look good on paper, but with frequent charging and some boiling summer days the battery in it is going to take a battering. Can't imagine them lasting long at all.

Now the mobius 2 is out and has vast improvements over the first one i'd thoroughly recommend that for someone who just wants something simple.

Thanks - that seems interesting - I guess the trick is also to avoid all the gubbins on the rear view mirror now as well, mine car is 7 years old but has rain sensors (not an issue as stuck to the windscreen), full beam sensors (more of an issue as a camera on the rear view mirror) and it's something I'd imagine is getting worse!

Indeed, and the vast majority of these mainstream devices are pretty huge. Seen plenty of them through the rear windows of other cars whilst sitting in traffic, a lot of which have been mounted below the mirror because that's the only place where it would fit but it looks crap and must be distracting. Whereas i've had people in the passenger seat of my car who have not noticed the camera right there, and from my view it is completed covered by the mirror.

Kingofthelea said:

I too am waiting for a proper solution. Small camera in the window front and back with no pointless screen, gubbins with the SD card out of view / in the glovebox and hard wired to the car. Does such a thing exist?

Not heard of that sort of solution but it's entirely possible on paper of course. Dual SD card hub thing connected to the two cameras via two USB cables. Hardwire kits exist and often come as part of a pack with various dashcams.

There's also this which is an option for the mobius.

[Rich_W]

The Mad Monk said:

What about this one?

https://tinyurl.com/n9w8y5e

Techmoan says - the cheapest dashcam that's worth buying.

Another shout out for Techmoan. He's the reason I have an 0801 in the car. And from his reviews I'm heading towards the Viofo A119 for my old man this christmas*. The new 080 series are apparently hit n miss with regards to reliability

*(Mainly because I can foresee some scammer trying it on if they see an older guy driving)

[VanquishRider]

Gareth79 said:

Ron99 said:

And Mobius 1 is still one of the most reliable cams available today, with acceptable video quality and obscuring far less of a driver's field of view.
On the subject of obscuring view, lots of people seem unaware of windscreen laws and police look the other way, but >1cm objects on the windscreen in front of the driver and >4cm elsewhere are an MoT fail (therefore unroadworthy car) which could give lawyers and insurers some fun to haggle over and some rope to hang you by.

It's a grey area. A vehicle that would fail an MOT isn't *always* illegal to use on the road, and many failures don't make a vehicle "unroadworthy".

From what I can see, the windscreen rules apply to passing the test, not what is legal to drive. eg. a 10cm crack along the bottom of the screen is legal to drive all year, but it won't pass the MOT. Likewise a dash cam behind the rear view mirror, out of the swept area and driver's view would fail the MOT but not necessarily be illegal. The wording of C&U reg. 30 is:

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1986/1078/part/...
"VISION - View to the front - 30. [...] (3) All glass or other transparent material fitted to a motor vehicle shall be maintained in such condition that it does not obscure the vision of the driver while the vehicle is being driven on a road. "

I imagine there is case law and perhaps other legislation, but a plain reading of that would suggest that it's not illegal to have something mounted on the windscreen so long as it doesn't obscure the driver's vision.

Utter rubbish. That would mean that the old tax disc holder would of meant we all would fail the MOT. And the rear view mirror itself would cause a failure as that is certainly over 4CM

[lost in espace]

The Mad Monk said:

What about this one?

https://tinyurl.com/n9w8y5e

Techmoan says - the cheapest dashcam that's worth buying.

I have a few of these, the odd glitch but great.

[Ron99]

RemarkLima said:

What I'm missing with Dashcams is why they have screens on them? Surely, the point is that you can hook them up / plug the memory card into a PC and view the footage?

Seems to add a lot of bulk and cost for little benefit??

Screens make life a lot easier when it needs changes to the settings (format memory card, mute audio, change clip length, add/remove GPS stamp, adjust internal clock GMT-BST changes in spring and autumn).
However that's only a few times per year and a screen-less cam can be dismounted and taken into the house for connection to a PC for adjustment.

[Ron99]

Gareth79 said:

It's a grey area. A vehicle that would fail an MOT isn't *always* illegal to use on the road, and many failures don't make a vehicle "unroadworthy".

My next door neighbour's car was failed for having a National Trust sticker next to the A-pillar on the driver's side.
The same neighbour was also failed the following year for leaving a satnav stuck to the windscreen.

I'm not going to post their reg number on a public forum, but the online MoT says:

Reason(s) for failure
•Windscreen has a sticker or other obstruction encroaching into the swept area by more than 40mm outside zone 'A' (8.3.1e)

[Ron99]

VanquishRider said:

Utter rubbish. That would mean that the old tax disc holder would of meant we all would fail the MOT. And the rear view mirror itself would cause a failure as that is certainly over 4CM

If it's a part of the car (e.g. the huge sensor/mirror blocks) or a legal requirement (tax holder) that is exempt. Everything else isn't, technically speaking.

[Valgar]

While we're on the subject , I would overwhelmingly advise getting a dash cam, mine already saved me once, after an accident the person at fault claimed some utter bullst, thanks to the dash cam I was able to disprove it and all was well.

As for placement, I tuck mine behind the mirror, I can't see it while driving and neither do my clients.

I use the wonderfully Chinese Viofo A119, it's been absolutely faultless and produces a super clear picture.

[zeeboy]

It would make more sense to test the Nextbase (£110) against the G1W (£32), to see if the Nextbase is worth spending almost four times as much on.

I'm on my second EPrance G1W (the first one lasted very well) and I'm more than happy with it.

Edited by zeeboy on Wednesday 20th December 19:53

[legless]

I picked up the Nextbase 412GW, along with a free carry case and SD card, for £69+VAT at my local Costco a couple of months ago.

Hard to argue at that price.

[zeeboy]

legless said:

I picked up the Nextbase 412GW, along with a free carry case and SD card, for £69+VAT at my local Costco a couple of months ago.

Hard to argue at that price.

As you paid about £83 and a G1W + sd card is about £40 I'd be happy to discuss it!

[Zad]

Techmoan did another dashcam review recently: The Xiaoyi Yi Ultra 2.7K

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYkd1uwG8fg

[Gareth79]

Ron99 said:

VanquishRider said:

Utter rubbish. That would mean that the old tax disc holder would of meant we all would fail the MOT. And the rear view mirror itself would cause a failure as that is certainly over 4CM

If it's a part of the car (e.g. the huge sensor/mirror blocks) or a legal requirement (tax holder) that is exempt. Everything else isn't, technically speaking.

Just what I was about to post. The handbook makes it clear:
https://www.mot-testing.service.gov.uk/documents/m...

"Original vehicle design characteristics are to be accepted."

"‘Official’ stickers that are not readily removable, such as vehicle licences, parking and access permits, are only a reason for rejection if they seriously restrict the driver’s view. ‘Official’ stickers should be taken to be any sticker that is used in connection with ‘road enforcement’, ‘security’ or ‘crime prevention’ matters."

When it comes to C&U regulations, a disc/sticker would only fall foul if it obstructs the view, even if it would be an MOT fail.

[Ron99]

Zad said:

Techmoan did another dashcam review recently: The Xiaoyi Yi Ultra 2.7K

Reviews only tell you how good it seems to be when new.
Reviewers never report back after three years of hard use.

Dashcams have to work faultlessly for long mileage in all kinds of temperature extremes which is a big ask and tests their robustness.

And it's not just the reliability of dashcams that matters; many people seem unaware that the micro sd memory cards are consumables which only last for a limited number of overwrite cycles before they start causing problems.

Unfortunately, most people don't periodically conduct spot-checks on their cams to ensure that things are working because the 'record' light can be flashing but that doesn't mean the card is saving video footage.
A memory card should be regularly checked for the presence and readability of the first, middle and last file of a journey.
Many people only find their cam wasn't working after they need to view important footage but by then it's too late.

[mybrainhurts]

Why didn't you test the latest Thinkware?

[bongtom]

zeeboy said:

It would make more sense to test the Nextbase (£110) against the G1W (£32), to see if the Nextbase is worth spending almost four times as much on.

I'm on my second EPrance G1W (the first one lasted very well) and I'm more than happy with it.

Edited by zeeboy on Wednesday 20th December 19:53

The older G1W is the one to have as it has a better chip (Novatek) and the majority of the ones for sale don’t have it. Check.

I had a RH1 roadhawk and it was working great when I sold it 8 years later. No screen but it was small.

[davidn]

I have the A118 or 'The Wedge' as Techmoan calls it, cost less than £40 and has been perfect since installed in September 2014, pretty good image quality day and night and would have another if it ever dies.