Dash Cams

Duplicated post

Sorry duplicated post again, broadband playing up and unresponsive browser .

Will try and get one from Lidl I think!

Skylark2.0 said:

If one had a go-pro presumably this could just be used instead?

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Not sure GoPro does anything but straight recording, but any recording is better than no recording...

I have a Drift Ghost-S "action camera" and this does have various modes (optionally involving the supplied remote control or smartphone app) including 'take a picture' whilst continuing to record (in case of anything 'interesting' on my cycle commutes)* and an in-car DVR mode, which records continuous video in sections of a user-selected duration (1m, 3m, 5m & 10m) and overwrites old footage when the SD card is full, although there is no 'tagging' facility in this mode, I guess if you do need the footage it will be withing the last few intervals recorded... The camera can be set to start recording when power is applied, or manually by the user. There is an internal battery which lasts up to 3.5 hours and the SD capacity is rated to 64GB, but there is no GPS (like the Garmin Virb) or G-sensor. Image quality is excellent though with 160 degree view optics and the lens can rotate almost all the way around to easily correct for any positioning issues you have.

Of course, being self-powered and waterproof, these can double up for activities when you do eventually park up All the mounts are very good quality (though pricey) using 3M-branded adhesive patches or high-quality suctions cups. The bar mount is pretty clunky though.

*There is also a 'tagging' mode, which saves a period of footage of x minutes before, during and after the tag is set, where x is 10s, 30s, 1m, 2m or 5m (so up to 15 minutes footage can be saved) but I find the 'photo capture' mode a better bet when cycling as I don't have the need to loop over old recordings and I'd rather have potential required footage than lose it as I can download after each day.

For a 'fit and forget' solution I have just bought a RoadHawk DC-2 which by comparison to the Drift and to other vehicle cams is pretty noddy. Whilst the IQ is excellent and it does have GPS and G-sensor, it has no screen, the GPS/speed data is not overlaid on the footage and there are limited settings, including only one time interval (1 minute) if you want to use loop-recording mode. You also have to remove the SD card to get the footage off, rather than plugging a laptop in, for example (which might dictate your mounting location). The dedicated viewing software (which you need to play back with if you want to see the GPS/G data) makes use of a free plugin with watermarked overlay (cheapskates!) and if you play full-screen (rather than the tiny default viewer size) you lose the GPS/G dashboard display entirely! The footage can be played in any movie viewer though, it isn't that proprietary. Still, it will just stay in the car looping incessantly until any of that footage is required and it is reported as a very reliable unit.

dod4luce said:

I have the same model dash cam, and I am really pleased with it, and captured many idiots along the way. When watching back, it reminds me of how many shocking drivers there are on our roads. Great camera. Not tested nightime vision, but dusk it was fine, and daytime playback it very clear, and perfect on pause to read no.plates. They are also just a fun device to remember holiday destinations! I love mine.

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Thanks for the comments, but which model have you got, Nextbase or Phillips?

motacyclist said:

Thanks for the comments, but which model have you got, Nextbase or Phillips?

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The Nextbase! The "Which" award winner.

dod4luce said:

The Nextbase! The "Which" award winner.

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OK wasn't sure on that. Must mention, for the benefit of anyone trying to decide, that the playback software that comes with this device is pretty slick and apart from obviously showing the video, also shows the speed in digital and analogue formats, the location in another pane (on google maps); and some other graphics which I hope never to need to activate, showing (I presume) direction of any impact. Will upload a screenshot if anyone is interested.

Hi all
Just wondering if anyone has a dash cam in the rear window as well as the front of the Cali, it may be helpful when parked up i:e spare wheel theft or bump in the rear when parked up.

timber said:

Hi all
Just wondering if anyone has a dash cam in the rear window as well as the front of the Cali, it may be helpful when parked up i:e spare wheel theft or bump in the rear when parked up.

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Good idea, but have never tried it myself. You would need two dash cams, what with the cable being hidden it would be irritating to have to keep relocating the cable each time you wanted to dash cam the rear. If that make sense!

I wish I had a rear cam yesterday when a juggernaut was following literally 1m from my back bumper I could have got him done!

As well as a rear cam you really need one each side but you can go on and on. Maybe when the one I've got now becomes obsolete I'll move it too the back and put the new one in the front.

Bad news, those trucks. Never really sure why trucks and anything else for that matter need to drive so close. In an emegency they would never stop in time if one had to perfrom an emergency stop. I usually slow right down to pee them off a bit more, or touch the brakes so they see the brake lights, that usually makes them sit back!

dod4luce said:

Bad news, those trucks. Never really sure why trucks and anything else for that matter need to drive so close. In an emegency they would never stop in time if one had to perfrom an emergency stop. I usually slow right down to pee them off a bit more, or touch the brakes so they see the brake lights, that usually makes them sit back!

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I usually flick on the back fog lights which are very bright. They usually need to stop to change their armour....

Skylark2.0 said:

I usually flick on the back fog lights which are very bright. They usually need to stop to change their armour....

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Fine for the night drive

I have just bought a 402G dash cam from Halfords. I could not get the cd to work at all.
How does one fix the suction pad to the windscreen?????? to get it high enough it would be on the hatched area, is that the aerial ?Is that permitted

You will need an area of plain glass as large as your suction cup. Any 'paint' in that area will cause the vacuum to fail and your 'cup (and camera) will runneth over the floor.

Not sure on the specific design of your mount, but in general you place the suction cup on [a plain area of] the windscreen, press a button or some such over the middle of the suction cup (from behind) to expel the air, then move a lever to draw the centre of the suction cup away from the windscreen to create the necessary suction to stick.

timber said:

I have just bought a 402G dash cam from Halfords. I could not get the cd to work at all.
How does one fix the suction pad to the windscreen?????? to get it high enough it would be on the hatched area, is that the aerial ?Is that permitted

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I have mine just on the edge of the speckled area, partly on it. If it's an aerial it should make no difference.

The speckled area itself, from what I have been unreliably told, is for fitting things like telepass, it is clear, no tints etc.. My Telepass is on the other side of the mirror, the passenger side, to where I have my dash cam mounted and I have no problems whatsoever.

timber said:

I have just bought a 402G dash cam from Halfords. I could not get the cd to work at all.
How does one fix the suction pad to the windscreen?????? to get it high enough it would be on the hatched area, is that the aerial ?Is that permitted

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I put mine here, just to the passenger side and lead the cable to the 12v socket behind the passenger seat as per earlier post. You need to get it on the plain glass as it won't stick properly to the shaded area.


You need to let us know if it's a PC or a Mac you are installing the CD on?

Simultaneous post from Jen, so you have a choice!

I dont think I used the CD, you can get the software you need on their website. http://www.nextbase.co.uk/product/in-car-cameras-series/in-car/in-car-cam-402-g-professional/ and scroll down to where it says
NBDVR402G - Driving Recorder Player for Windows (V1.0)
NBDVR402G - Driving Recorder Player for Mac (V1.1) and choose for either windows or mac whichever computer you have. I stick my suction cup on the hatched area or thereabouts. Not had a problem at all!

that link you have to click where it says downloads, before the scrolling down.

GrannyJen said:

The speckled area itself, from what I have been unreliably told, is for fitting things like telepass, it is clear, no tints etc.

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Do you mean the speckled area behind the mirror? I think that's done to fill in the gap between the two sun visors and stop the sun dazzling ...

Thanks for the replies re: fitting the dash cam. I will fit it behind the mirror but with the suction pad just below the hatched area.
If I have too far towards the passenger side, higher up, it will impede my co-drivers view,
Once again what a great site this is, I am on my second Cali now and I really do think that the four motion is a must for exploring those out of the way places and not getting stuck and now with the dash cam I can see the stupid things I do !!!!

And the stupid things other people do!!!

dod4luce said:

And the stupid things other people do!!!

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Yep I agree there.!!!!!!!!! However it makes life interesting My next question is:- how do I get a play back on the tv. I have tried the HDMI cable, and no joy My 2 P.C.s are both on windows XP Professional so I don't think it will play back on them probably too old a system. I wll try a reformat of the sd card.

When I get the replacement NextBase 402G from Amazon tomorrow I will tell you what capers that I have had with it for two days before I returned it to Halfords at Stamford
Dick