goalscrounger
Moderator
Seriously considering getting a dashcam for my car. Anyone on here already got one and can give me some pointers for the kind of features I do (and don't) need please?
Dashcams
- Thread starter goalscrounger
- Start date
guisborough_rob
Moderator
Im thinking the same, Mike. Would appreciate guidance and recommendations.
italianjob
Well-known member
Be wary of models that might need a subscription - depends on how you want to view your footage.
I'm happy with a standalone cam with an SD card for continuous video recording. You get the footage off via Bluetooth/WiFi link to your phone.
I'm happy with a standalone cam with an SD card for continuous video recording. You get the footage off via Bluetooth/WiFi link to your phone.
Craggyjohn
Well-known member
I've got a Nextbase dashcam. Comes on when the car starts. Some are on all the time and sense the car being hit when parked. I've wired mine into a spare 12v socket. Came with a kit to hard wire into fuse box. Easy to down load video clips onto pc. Can also save a screenshot of the video when paused
Norman_Conquest
Well-known member
After reading your post about being tailgated, I thought we could use one of those for our trips to France.
Many French drivers seem to feel the need to overtake when they see a British license plate, regardless of your speed or whether it’s safe to do so.
RedAsABeetroot
Well-known member
Do they view fowards and backwards or do you need a second unit at the rear? If so how do you connect them?
Craggyjohn
Well-known member
You can get a separate camera that sticks to the rear window and connects to main camera via blue tooth. Or plug a small rear facing camera into the end of the main camera
Craggyjohn
Well-known member
The cable pushes up under the roof lining and under the rubber door seal
I've got a Nextbase dual camera setup in my car. the wire to the rear window affects DAB signal (antenna is on the rear windscreen). This can be improved with Ferrite cores, but as soon as i put the car in reverse the DAB loses signal (it didn't do that before). Also my Stop/Start is very twitchy and stops and starts regularly and this reboots the dashcam which is annoying to the point i manually disable it when i get in the car (this may be related to the fuse its been piggy backed on to). I was looking into a fix involving a 5V power booster/smoother with an inline battery (meant for powering firesticks from the low power USB output from a TV usb socket) but its not 100% there yet.
@RedAsABeetroot Nextbase do various options for rear view cameras, there is a wired camera that sticks on the rear window and 2 types of rear view cameras(one that views the occupants of the car and one with more zoom to look out of the back window more) that attach to the windscreen camera itself via a connector, however its on the right hand side so it would be better for left hand drive cars.
@RedAsABeetroot Nextbase do various options for rear view cameras, there is a wired camera that sticks on the rear window and 2 types of rear view cameras(one that views the occupants of the car and one with more zoom to look out of the back window more) that attach to the windscreen camera itself via a connector, however its on the right hand side so it would be better for left hand drive cars.
goalscrounger
Moderator
My car has a GB sticker, which I suspect makes me more of a target for road rage than I perhaps might otherwise be (although I do worry that some local Chicagoans think it stands for Green Bay, and in that case I could understand the hostility if they think I'm a Packers fan
). Having said that, the second brake check incident was in our other car, which doesn't have anything identifying it as a foreigner driving it, so maybe not?
BobUpnDown
Well-known member
Fitcamx.com I bought front & rear for my golf fits like an OEM in the rain sensor - 4k front HD rear.. good price & had local installer fit it as didn't fancy air bags going off when panels removed fitting rear camera..
italianjob
Well-known member
I fancied fitting one myself but didn't realise that when you remove the interior trim panel to access the fuses it causes an airbag error!
italianjob
Well-known member
You really need hardwired, battery power will last 5 minutes and how would it be charged?
BobUpnDown
Well-known member
I didn't run the full wire into fuse box - runs off the existing rain sensor power via dual splitter cable..
Dybuk
Well-known member
I was hoping it would last a few hours and I'd take it out on a night to charge. My lad is about to take his test and I want it for the car he will use. We're unlikely to keep that car for long (it's old but insurance is cheap for him) so don't want expense of fitting if I can help it.
Alzi
Well-known member
Got a couple of Red Tiger dash cams from EBay which seem good and were easy to hard wire into our cars (front and back cams)
Don’t go with Halfords etc it’s extortionate especially if you include the fitting. Quick you tube video and it should be easy enough for most to do themselves.
Don’t go with Halfords etc it’s extortionate especially if you include the fitting. Quick you tube video and it should be easy enough for most to do themselves.
Brian Marwood
Well-known member
Can they be used as evidence against you if you are speeding? Asking for a friend.
dooderooni
Well-known member
I have a front facing dashcam hard wired into my android head unit.
If you are a diy'er then they are easy enough to fit and hide the cables. If you're not comfortable with popping off body panels, tapping into the fusebox etc then there are plenty of options that will just plug into a cigarette/accessory socket.
If you are a diy'er then they are easy enough to fit and hide the cables. If you're not comfortable with popping off body panels, tapping into the fusebox etc then there are plenty of options that will just plug into a cigarette/accessory socket.