Dashcam recommendations

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tlo

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558
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nottingham
I run a Navman MiVUE630 - which costs about 1/2 of the one you're looking at. I'm really impressed with it. It has the various features like event recording and shock sensors blah blah - but I've never read up on how to use/configure them. Its also got the GPS tracker - which was really useful when I got stuck as when I got home, I tapped the coords into google maps to find out exactly where it was :) Its tiny - basically the size of the 2" screen. Having the screen is useful - at least you know its on and recording! It also has the GPS calculated speed displayed which is intesting to compare to the dash! Can be a bit off putting though. It sticks to the screen on that "black bit" by the mirror and even on my L Series with tryes pumped to 39psi the picture is steady. Don't forget you also have to buy a memory card that adds to the price.

I didn't get it as a security device or for evidence on a crash etc - I got it mainly to record trips. So most of the time its not turned on and the memory card is not even in it (so can't get nicked!). The spec of the cam you're looking at has a massively high definition - if you record at that definition it will fill even a big memory card in no time. That may be fine as a security device, but not much good for recording trips. If you want to record trips, I'd make sure you can record at a lower definition. Also if you are editing videos, that definition will take a lot of crunching on your computer. However, you can always convert higher to a lower - but not the other way! I'm not sure exactly how much I can get on my 64gb card - I know I can get 5 hours at least and the MiVUE630 says it records at "1080P Full HD" - not sure if I've got it on that setting though - I'll check.

I took the passenger sun visor and door trim off and ran the power lead up the passenger A pillar and over the roof lining.

These are some videos from it...







 
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No point in paying a premium for Wi-Fi on a dash cam. Just get one of the well known brands that do the minimum you need. ;)
 
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Thank you as always lads
@GG ty for the videos I just want to used it as a dash cam not for recording trips re the first clip you don't half drive fast over there:D I wont tell any one you got stuck:p
@Nodge the reason I picked the first one was because it is small and hidden out of the way the wifi is a good way to make sure it is the road I am recording:p with it not having a screen .As for the second one it is the cheapest one I can find that records the rear one as well , I do not need or want the bells or whistles but at the end of the day the video has to be good . Its no good god forbid being in a shunt but not being able to tell if you have been hit by a micra or a disco , slight exaggeration I know but you get the point
 
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I have a couple of mini dash cams, which were about £30 each. They do what I need, without paying for frills that I don't need. They are small enough to be hidden from view by the rear view mirror.
 
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I bought mine of Ali-express. The front is a 'Mini806' very easy to use and I've set it to record in 3 minute clips... Only down is the file format is Traffic Stream [TS] which for me on my Mac's is a rigermarol to translate. I've a rear camera too. It's a different make and doesn't like the micro SD card always says it's full... : ( Just bought a replacement for the front - a mini 826. has an internal battery, can connect via the OBD port for ignition off operation... UV filter, and a GPS receiver... The current 806 will replace the troublesome rear camera. Main reason is to record trips but they have been useful to show companies how their drivers behave on the roads!
 
Even the Nextbase dash cams which are "the best according to WHICH" are only 20 quid more than the links you send. I wouldn't go cheap as over time they will just rattle themselves to death. Screws fall out, they drop off the dash etc etc. Size doesn't really matter, they usually fit fully behind your rear view mirror so you wont see them at all.

You also want one which comes off easily for secure storage, some of them are a pain in the backside.....

Last but not least get the kit which lets you plumb it into your fuse box... its easier and saves cig lighter for tom/tom or what have you.

I would always buy from Amazon, we had one for my wifes car and after 10 months the screws dropped out and the thing dropped to the floor (suction pad still on the window) and broke one of the cameras.

Amazon instantly refunded...
 
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I have one front and back and also a sticker in the back window I get vehicles coming up close and the must see the stick which says camera's on board and they back off my insurance does not recognise cameras yet but the say they are looking into it some insurers do give a discount for having them
 
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Thank you all it has given me lots to think about ,one other question the black "part" (for lack of a better term) behind the rear view mirror will a sat nav stick to that ? I am thinking more of the sticky pad than the suction cup ?I like the first one because it is small and imo most of it will be behind the rear view mirror were as a lot of the others are not
 
Thank you all it has given me lots to think about ,one other question the black "part" (for lack of a better term) behind the rear view mirror will a sat nav stick to that ? I am thinking more of the sticky pad than the suction cup ?I like the first one because it is small and imo most of it will be behind the rear view mirror were as a lot of the others are not
When you say the black part ? if its flat glass yes.... My wifes Volvo has quite a black ring around the rv mirror I dunno what it is but it sticks fine.... If its some plastic shroud type thing over sensors it wont stick to it.
 
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When you say the black part ? if its flat glass yes.... My wifes Volvo has quite a black ring around the rv mirror I dunno what it is but it sticks fine.... If its some plastic shroud type thing over sensors it wont stick to it.
We hired a Volvo XC60 in the states - it had a huge moulding around the rear view mirror - it was really off putting. Car was nice but that moulding was a real PITA.
 
yes it is, its just the black colour behind the rear view mirror ty
Most if not all newish cars have the black dot "perforated affect" now on the windscreen, unfortunately the vacuum suction dash cam mount doesn't adhere to it, the unit will have to be fixed below it onto the flat glass, which may unfortunately place some dash cameras below the interior mirror.
 
At least on the Freelander the black part is not perforated , the dash cam I am looking at has a m3 sticky mount so I will find out soon if it sticks
 
I must get a dashcam, the footage of this lunchtime would have got me a few views on yooutoob
My little merc has gone up in my estimations, definately passes the moose test
The moose in this case the total pillock that pulled out of a side road 20ft in front of me......:eek:
 
Not if it restricts vision, no need to remove a dash cam that's on the windscreen but tucked behind the interior mirror.
That is exactly were I want to fit it hence the question and why I want a small dash cam to be able to fit and forget
 
At least on the Freelander the black part is not perforated , the dash cam I am looking at has a m3 sticky mount so I will find out soon if it sticks
I did say vacuum, there is a difference to DST... double sided tape to you... which will stick to the black perforation effect that that u have on you windscreen.
Just make sure you have the correct position before u press the mount onto the screen, the DST stuff used is a 'one fix' only.
 
That is exactly were I want to fit it hence the question and why I want a small dash cam to be able to fit and forget
Just look at the specs on the size of the camera, for an example, the ones that Halfords sell are small and will fit behind the mirror but then look a the picture of the item and u will see the length of the mount which is quit long and will drop the camera below the mirror although the bracket is fitted up along the mirror arm.

I'm now on my 4th camera over four years fitted, into two cars with batteries failing, one was 1080p with a screen ,brilliant picture so small and concealed by the mirror @£48.00 (eBay) but a year later the battery failed so wouldn't switch on.
I'm now running with two GW1*** variants which tuck up behind the mirror but now one keeps switching on/off intermittently... I can't blame that on the memory card as that been replace three times...:(
Finding a small camera that can be positioned behind the mirror is a minefield, no probs if you happy to position it like a sat nav on the windscreen.
 
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