Dash Cam

[pingpal6]

Anyone got any knowledge of dash cams. Are they a toy or worth considering? Your thoughts would be appreciated

 

[coordinated]

Our van has a Blackvue camera on the front windscreen and one on the rear.

I originally got one to avoid the sort of "no witness to the accident" insurance scenario. But they actually give a lot of peace of mind when your van's parked on the road or in a car park too. I added the rear one when our rear bumper got scratched. So far, they've caught a graffiti vandal on video (no lasting damage done to the van, fortunately) and now the police have HD evidence

They're a bit battery-hungry, so they're run off the leisure batteries – and I make sure the van's charged at least once a fortnight. They also run a bit hot (this has the useful side effect that they camera will warm the windscreen just enough to heat a tunnel through if it's covered in snow in winter!).

They're not perfect, but they're quite configurable (there's a PC and now a Mac client to do this). And the software's quite smart – you just plug the mini SD card into your computer and the application will show you exactly where you were on a Google map, and your speed etc. I guess you could even use them to make a time-lapse video of your journey too.

If you're coming to COTF, I'm happy to discuss in more detail...

The original HD400 is now half price, though if I was getting one now I'd be tempted by the 500 as it comes with wifi (so I guess you could use it as reversing camera with an iPhone/iPad/Android device as the screen!)

Best wishes,
Steve

 

[smgcowfoldparts]

I have a Blackvue which has been pretty good. Thankfully haven't had to use it, but peace of mind.

cheers

 

[CaliforniaDAN]

If anyone uses the BBC Iplayer check out the One show from last night. It shows a horrible accident where a driver moves into the oncoming lane, fails to see a pedestrian crossing the road, hits him and carries on. After checking that the man was not seriously injured, the driver with a dash cam on board catches up with the offending driver and records the driver on video denying any accident took place!

This piece shows the value of a dash cam.

 

[pingpal6]

Saw the program last night, shocking!! that's why I asked the question regarding the dash cam, also the fact someone ran into the van in February and didn't even report the accident. Its turned out o.k. the van has been repaired beautifully by Specialist Cars in Kirkcaldy and the 3rd party insurance has admitted liability, so NCB protected and excess returned. More concerned how it may effect my and my wives insurance renewal. I always carry a camera when travelling and it has come in useful on a few occasions , so a dash cam is a serious consideration.

 

[Californiaman]

These dash cams are very big in Russia apparently where the roads are very busy and insurance claims are problematic. I know this because a lot of the footage of the recent meteor strike over there was recorded on dash cams! So they must be useful. I will have a look at the one Steve recommends too!

 

[Andy]

Another one is Roadhawk which gets good write ups & has been fitted in trucks by insurance company's to help tackle the 'crash for cash' scam.

http://www.roadhawk.co.uk/

 

[HistoryBob]

Our van has a Blackvue camera on the front windscreen and one on the rear.

I originally got one to avoid the sort of "no witness to the accident" insurance scenario. But they actually give a lot of peace of mind when your van's parked on the road or in a car park too. I added the rear one when our rear bumper got scratched. So far, they've caught a graffiti vandal on video (no lasting damage done to the van, fortunately) and now the police have HD evidence

They're a bit battery-hungry, so they're run off the leisure batteries – and I make sure the van's charged at least once a fortnight. They also run a bit hot (this has the useful side effect that they camera will warm the windscreen just enough to heat a tunnel through if it's covered in snow in winter!).

They're not perfect, but they're quite configurable (there's a PC and now a Mac client to do this). And the software's quite smart – you just plug the mini SD card into your computer and the application will show you exactly where you were on a Google map, and your speed etc. I guess you could even use them to make a time-lapse video of your journey too.

If you're coming to COTF, I'm happy to discuss in more detail...

The original HD400 is now half price, though if I was getting one now I'd be tempted by the 500 as it comes with wifi (so I guess you could use it as reversing camera with an iPhone/iPad/Android device as the screen!)

Best wishes,
Steve

Steve I just picked up a DR500GW-HD. Trying to muddle my way through the instructions. Can I take you up on your offer of help at COTF please? Bye the way it doesn't WIFI connect to the iPad as yet. I was told the application software is in at Apple for approval.
Bob

 

[coordinated]

Steve I just picked up a DR500GW-HD. Trying to muddle my way through the instructions. Can I take you up on your offer of help at COTF please? Bye the way it doesn't WIFI connect to the iPad as yet. I was told the application software is in at Apple for approval.
Bob

Hi, Bob

Sure – happy to help

Do you happen to have a laptop you can bring to COTF (with enough battery for an hour or so, as we won't be on hook-up!)...?

Let me know if not, and I'll see if I can persuade my ancient MacBook to play nicely!

Linda and I should hopefully be there before 6 tomorrow, so there should be loads of time over the weekend to play with the cameras...

Best wishes,
Steve

 

[HistoryBob]

Hi Steve
Thanks for the offer. I've managed to get the camera working in the Cali (not fixed to screen yet). However I can't get the files onto my iMac. WIFI works to iPhone.
I don't have a lap top so if you could bring yours I'd be grateful.
Have Fun
Bob

 

[coordinated]

Hi Steve
Thanks for the offer. I've managed to get the camera working in the Cali (not fixed to screen yet). However I can't get the files onto my iMac. WIFI works to iPhone.
I don't have a lap top so if you could bring yours I'd be grateful.

Will do - have just installed the BlackVue app on the MacBook.

By the way, did you mean that you couldn't download the iPad app, or that you had but it didn't work?
It looks like its an iPhone only app at present (so it works on the iPad but only when zoomed up) – and it looks pretty horrid, but I'd like to see whether we can get it working so have installed it on my iPad too.

Hope you have a better journey tomorrow – see you on the farm!

Steve

 

[HistoryBob]

i couldn't get it to download to the iPad
Bob

 

[HistoryBob]

Steve
I've managed to down the iPhone app to my iPad and it works ok I think. Quality is pretty good to be honest. My wifi connector is running low on juice. Need a 13amp socket to charge it. Any ideas?
Bob

 

[KJ-88]

Haven't heard of these before now. Going to give it a google as it sounds like a good idea. August last year we parked our Cali in central Edinburgh when we were there for the fringe (stayed in hotel)... In the morning the van bonnet was covered in loads of dents. No CCTV covered it... £500 later it was repaired. One of these cameras could have been helpful!

 

[marzmarz]

Our van has a Blackvue camera on the front windscreen and one on the rear.

I originally got one to avoid the sort of "no witness to the accident" insurance scenario. But they actually give a lot of peace of mind when your van's parked on the road or in a car park too. I added the rear one when our rear bumper got scratched. So far, they've caught a graffiti vandal on video (no lasting damage done to the van, fortunately) and now the police have HD evidence

They're a bit battery-hungry, so they're run off the leisure batteries – and I make sure the van's charged at least once a fortnight. They also run a bit hot (this has the useful side effect that they camera will warm the windscreen just enough to heat a tunnel through if it's covered in snow in winter!).

They're not perfect, but they're quite configurable (there's a PC and now a Mac client to do this). And the software's quite smart – you just plug the mini SD card into your computer and the application will show you exactly where you were on a Google map, and your speed etc. I guess you could even use them to make a time-lapse video of your journey too.

If you're coming to COTF, I'm happy to discuss in more detail...

The original HD400 is now half price, though if I was getting one now I'd be tempted by the 500 as it comes with wifi (so I guess you could use it as reversing camera with an iPhone/iPad/Android device as the screen!)

Best wishes,
Steve

Steve,
I'm a newby on this forum. I'm from the Netherlands and I've got a Cali comfort 2008. I'm considering to buy a dashcam. I would like to connect the cam by hard-wiring connection. But I'm want to connect the hard-wire with a tap wire fuse in the fusebox that only draws current when the ignition is on. So that the camera starts, when I switch on the key.

Can you help me how to start with this challenge? ;-)
Greetings,
Marijn

 

[HappyGus]

Our van has a Blackvue camera on the front windscreen and one on the rear.

I originally got one to avoid the sort of "no witness to the accident" insurance scenario. But they actually give a lot of peace of mind when your van's parked on the road or in a car park too. I added the rear one when our rear bumper got scratched. So far, they've caught a graffiti vandal on video (no lasting damage done to the van, fortunately) and now the police have HD evidence

They're a bit battery-hungry, so they're run off the leisure batteries – and I make sure the van's charged at least once a fortnight. They also run a bit hot (this has the useful side effect that they camera will warm the windscreen just enough to heat a tunnel through if it's covered in snow in winter!).

They're not perfect, but they're quite configurable (there's a PC and now a Mac client to do this). And the software's quite smart – you just plug the mini SD card into your computer and the application will show you exactly where you were on a Google map, and your speed etc. I guess you could even use them to make a time-lapse video of your journey too.

If you're coming to COTF, I'm happy to discuss in more detail...

The original HD400 is now half price, though if I was getting one now I'd be tempted by the 500 as it comes with wifi (so I guess you could use it as reversing camera with an iPhone/iPad/Android device as the screen!)

Best wishes,
Steve

Sorry, it's kind of an old project, but I'm curious: For the front camera, I've a 12V plug on the dashboard, so it's ok, but on the back:

How do you power it?
How do you install it without blocking the blind of the cali?

 

[TripleBee]

I am on my second front dashcam.
Now I have an AZDome 4K dashcam.
Only front, no rear.
Bought it for filming nice scenery while on vacation, but also for all those jackasses on the road.