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Dash cams - advice and recommendations please?

Byronic

Byronic

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There have been a few mentions of these useful items recently but a bit scattered through other threads - so why not start a specific thread to bring together the collective wisdom of AGF?

Triggered also by a very frustrating visit to my local Halfords resulting in my still not having a Dash cam fitted.
(Yes, of course, what did I expect???)

My requirements are these - if possible, or as near as......
Firstly, absolutely non negotiable, screen must turn off automatically - or very easily even for a geriatric techno-numpty - so that there is never any glare at all in the cabin!
(I would prefer to avoid those which link only to your mobile - my old phone suits me well but has limited capacity)
Secondly, Front and Rear views - 360 degree would be wonderful.
Preferably not horrifically expensive but definitely not cheap and nasty.

I will almost certainly need to get it installed, too.
Will have to find a local auto electrician or whatever....

Any suggestions very welcome.
 
Ive got the NEXTBASE 522GW with the Rear Window Camera and I had it fitted by RS (Nextbase fitter)........they hide all the cables and you can choose if you want to switch it on or automatic....Ive had automatic........A memory card stores the action and you can download it in chunks (3 min max I think)....mines does 1 min so theres lots of bits to download......The camera is stuck to the window (i guess it can be removed) and the rear view is stuck in the back window........the camera shows the action with the back window at the same time in a box........Its got lots of other bits such as calling 999 if you crash.
 
bi6als said:
Ive got the NEXTBASE 522GW with the Rear Window Camera and I had it fitted by RS (Nextbase fitter)........they hide all the cables and you can choose if you want to switch it on or automatic....Ive had automatic........A memory card stores the action and you can download it in chunks (3 min max I think)....mines does 1 min so theres lots of bits to download......The camera is stuck to the window (i guess it can be removed) and the rear view is stuck in the back window........the camera shows the action with the back window at the same time in a box........Its got lots of other bits such as calling 999 if you crash.
Click to expand...

Brilliant, thank you!

How long have you had it?
Any issues?
I just looked on Amazon and some of the Reviews suggest unreliability.
 
Blackview and Nextbase 522 gw here
They have both been lost in the tip (sorry little bedroom) since we decorated so not put in this car as of yet.
Get a decent fast class 10 card and forget it till you need it.
In the middle of a hot sunny day (in the 3 days of summer we get!) my Nextbase got hot and shut down and Nextbase replaced it)
They need ideally to be hardwired to a constant live then if some scumbag reverses into your car you have them.
The Nextbase IMO has the edge because the software is easier to use on your computer or phone but is slow.
 
I've been thinking of getting one too and have been looking at nextbase.
If you look online almost every make will have some negative reviews!
If you get one from Halfords, they fit as well, about £60 - £80 I think which I did not think was too bad.
I'm still looking but will probably get one in next couple of months.
Nextbase do one that has both front and rear camera in the one unit, so no need for two separate units and more wiring.
I looked at Blackview (blackvue) and they were bloody expensive!
Cheers
 
pjgtech said:
I've been thinking of getting one too and have been looking at nextbase.
If you look online almost every make will have some negative reviews!
If you get one from Halfords, they fit as well, about £60 - £80 I think which I did not think was too bad.
I'm still looking but will probably get one in next couple of months.
Nextbase do one that has both front and rear camera in the one unit, so no need for two separate units and more wiring.
I looked at Blackview (blackvue) and they were bloody expensive!
Cheers
Click to expand...
The problem with that one is that the rear view is from your rear view mirror so anything in the car can block it.........its more of an in car view that a rear view
 
bi6als said:
The problem with that one is that the rear view is from your rear view mirror so anything in the car can block it.........its more of an in car view that a rear view
Click to expand...
So it picks up everything you do as well, picking your nose and wiping it on the passenger seat etc.
There are now rear cameras that bluetooth to the front or even a cheap one for the rear and turn off the display
 
I’ve had two of these delivered for the gf’s daughter’s cars (along with the hardwire multi connector kit for parked feed).

Not sure about switching the display off but will update after I install them at the weekend.

Seems most dual cam setups default from 4k to 2.5k front cam when a rear camera is installed - this one remains at 4k. This one also has 5ghz WiFi for downloading from the unit directly (or just remove the sd card).

Will let you know if they were a reasonable buy after I’ve got them live 🫰🏻🙏
 
I have had several of the cheaper units from ebay etc, including the giant size rear view mirror types. But for the last five years I have used a Thinkware unit. Great quality pics that you can download to a laptop or phone, a small front camera that sticks to the windscreen & carries the memory card and an even smaller rear screen camera. They can be hard wired or used with the 12v plug, and my model (the u1000) also picks up speed cameras with the built in GPS. Not cheap, but you get what you pay for!
 
After some herbert pulled out on us a few weeks ago and reading the post on here the other night I went and order one of these off Amazon. DASHCAM

All the reviews read ok so got to be worth a try.

Plus half normal price atm due to black friday deal
 
Nextbase are very good I have some and get good results and never any trouble except with suction cup mounts falling off the screen in hot weather. Those that are stuck onto the screen are better. The units with a built in rear view camera are ideal for taxi drivers etc, they won't show much of the road behind.
Front cameras are fairly easy to fit and wire in if you know a bit about car electrics, you can get a fitting kit which takes poer from the fuse block via a piggy back fused connector and it's usually easy to run the cable up the A pillar behind the trim and then tuck it under the headlining. Rear wired cameras are a bit trickier to get the cable through but they will need power anyway so something has to be done.
Make sure that cameras are fitted in an area that is cleaned by the wipers. You may get a small discount on your car insurance especially if you buy a good, branded make.
 
Nextbase 622GW with the plug-in rear camera is the one I went for as it records both front and rear. Took me 10 minutes to install into my Ford Fiesta as it routed without me pulling any panels off at all. I went for the 622GW because it has low power "intelligent parking". Not 100% sure how it works, but if it detects a bump, it will record automatically for you. I have it wired into a switched live to avoid draining the car battery and so far this setup has been bulletproof. Switches itself on and off with the ignition or when it detects movement. The phone app allows you to view and download recordings over wi-fi too, so all good.

You can set a screensaver mode where the screen turns off after 30 seconds but still records. Touch the screen again to wake it up.

Not had any reliability issues whatsoever with it and would certainly recommend it. Link below:

Nextbase 622GW
 
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Another vote for the Nextbase 522GW with rear camera. Hardwired by Halfords so no wires showing and turns on/off with ignition. Also, even when turned off and parked up it will automatically turn on and record if the car is bumped. It also automatically locks the recording if it thinks the car has been bumped or in an accident so the recording will not get over-written when the card gets full. You can manually delete locked recordings.
Had mine for five years. It paid for itself within the first few months when a heavy duty strap came off a lorry coming towards me and hit my car, causing a lot of damage. He didn’t stop, but with his registration recorded I managed to track down the company owning the lorry.
I’ve also been bumped in the rear a couple of times and it is amazing how quickly the drivers have admitted liability when they spot the camera. It will also record sound (and their admission of guilt). Insurers love them and you can easily upload the footage to most. Be aware though that you need to moderate your language whilst driving!
 
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