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Digtal recorder and Dash Cams

Grapeshot

Grapeshot

Legendary Warrior
Joined
May 21, 2006
Messages
35,317
Location
Valhalla
Have had numerous requests to create a stickie on digital recorders (personal carry use) and dash cams.

The purpose of this thread is not to argue the merits of using such as individual state laws will prevail, but rather to seek out the best vs best value in each category for the benefit of the other user/members here.

A short mention of problems pertaining to one state or another is acceptable, but the focus should stay on what you like and why.

Not as a quide, but just for a starting point of reference is this old thread.
http://forum.opencarry.org/forums/s...ideo-Cameras-and-State-Laws&highlight=dashcam
 
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Grapeshot

Grapeshot

Legendary Warrior
Joined
May 21, 2006
Messages
35,317
Location
Valhalla
I presently carry a Sony ICD PX333 4GB Digital Flash Voice Recorder OEM VG ICD-PX333 whenever I leave the house. It stays on until I return home.

It does every thing I could want and is available on-line for under $30.00 including free shipping.

This from Gold Star - the same people I bought my dash cams from.
http://tinyurl.com/o7dhqsm

Dash cams - recently purchsed two unit for about $16.00 each, again with free shipping from Gold Star
Units are described as: HD DVR with 2.5" TFT LCD Screen

These all come from a USA supplier, fully warranted, day/night recording, and down loadable. You will want to add a SD/MMC card.

You could pay a lot more, but why?
 
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Liberty-or-Death

Liberty-or-Death

Regular Member
Joined
Feb 7, 2014
Messages
411
Location
23235
I regret buying this generic dashcam for many reasons.
Luckily it only cost me 6 dollars after the gift card I wasted on this.
You'd do well to avoid this model.

Advertised Features: (my comments are parenthetical)
  • 170 degree lens & 1920 x 1080P 30fps FHD (The video file format is .AVI but it uses a non-standard encoding (MJPG - Motion Jpg) so it will not play on most devices. If you have VLC media player, it will play. Picture quality is decent but it is only 1280x720, not Full HD)
  • Support HDMI video transmission (no, there is no HDMI out option)
  • Automatic recording when car start (This feature works if your power port is only on when the car is started.)
  • Motion Detection Automatic Recording (Could not test this feature.)
  • High Resolution Camera with Super Night Vision (Could not notice a difference at all.)
Advertised Specifications: (my comments are parenthetical)
  • G-Sensor: Support
  • LCD Screen Size: 2.7 LTPS 16:9 (This is not a wide format screen)
  • Chip: Novatek NT96220
  • Lens: 170 degree A + grade high resolution ultra-wide angle lens
  • Files Format: MOV. (This is .AVI, not .MOV)
  • Image Sensor: AR0330
  • Video Resolution: 1920*1080; 1280*720; 848*480; 640*480 (I could not get this to do 1920*1080)
  • Recording Video Format: H.264,Audio:AAC (Video is not H.264 MPEG-4 AVC;; Audio is PCM, Mono, 16-bit, pathetic)
  • Continuous Loop Video: Seamless Loop Recording, don't leak second
  • Automatically Power on/off: Support Auto ignition boot, turn off shutdown (This feature works if your power port is only on when the car is started.)
  • Interface:support USB;HDMI ;AV OUT (There is a USB charging port, untested for data transfer, but there are no video out ports, neither HDMI or AV Out)
  • Motion Detection: Support
  • Night Vision: Support (Night vision LEDs are worthless, no benefit seen.)
Other observations:
  • The mount is weak, does not remain stationary but orientation migrates even when tightened, mount stays on windshield but camera falls off the mount, etc.
  • Doesn't drain battery if left on, but randomly turns itself off.
  • Embedded mic sounds tinny and static-y, lousy audio recordings, voice is inaudible on videos, sound is mono channel, not stereo
  • Color and clarity of LCD is fine but the display is always on, there is no sleep mode to darken the display
  • No option to hard wire the camera
 
A

Atomterrible

New member
Joined
Feb 21, 2014
Messages
16
Location
Texas
I have this camera and can't say enough good about it for a dash cam. Not too expensive at $80 I think, but maybe cheaper on eBay. Tons of mounting options, not to mention that it records when you start the car, and loops back over previously recorded material, so you never need to do anything until you want to save something. Then you just pop out the card to get the last X hours from it.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7wmIyD1fM4M
 
solus

solus

Regular Member
Joined
Aug 22, 2013
Messages
9,315
Location
here nc
G1W-C 1080P HD Car Dash Camera /w Capacitor directly from spy tec http://www.spytecinc.com/

excellent quality, mount hinky and one minor glitch it and i are having some discussions on how to set the date/time but i will persevere w/o learning Chinese...grrrrr..

now where did i leave my hammer...

ipse
 
altajava

altajava

Newbie
Joined
Oct 31, 2008
Messages
228
Location
Occupied Virginia, USA
Grapeshot said:
There is plenty of wire to run it hidden behind the dash, up the post and behind the headliner trim. I'm told do not hardwire it as it doesn't use 12 volt.
Click to expand...

I've always used this
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BKJDKM/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER
or this
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00RT5TE5Q/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A2OCOGC9B25845
to hard wire to the fuse box. Then zip tied the two plugs together and hid it up under the dash somewhere. That way whatever I'm installing keeps the little transformer that's in the plug and sometimes gives me the extra wiring needed to hide everything properly.
 
scouser

scouser

Regular Member
Joined
Apr 4, 2011
Messages
1,341
Location
804, VA
stocked up on a few more of the F198 dash cams that have been popular among the Richmond group. They came from WA but when I powered them up the On Screen Displays on all of them were in Chinese. I don't care if the instruction manuals are in Chinese, I'm quite familiar with how to work the thing. However, when the OSD menu is in hieroglyphics that causes a problem.

Well it did, until I decided to try google translate and then I picked the hieroglyphics on my screen that looked closest to the ones google showed for "language". Thankfully when I pressed that button one of the options that appeared on my screen was "English"

when the camera is powered on you have to press the MENU button 2 times, then you press DOWN 1 time and then press the OK button (which is the one at the top next to the ON/OFF button).
At this point a new menu appears on the screen, the top item says "English". When I highlighted that and pressed the OK button the OSD turned to English.
 
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carolina guy

carolina guy

Regular Member
Joined
Jun 21, 2012
Messages
1,737
Location
Concord, NC
Grapeshot said:
I presently carry a Sony ICD PX333 4GB Digital Flash Voice Recorder OEM VG ICD-PX333 whenever I leave the house. It stays on until I return home.

It does every thing I could want and is available on-line for under $30.00 including free shipping.

This from Gold Star - the same people I bought my dash cams from.
http://tinyurl.com/o7dhqsm

Dash cams - recently purchsed two unit for about $16.00 each, again with free shipping from Gold Star
Units are described as: HD DVR with 2.5" TFT LCD Screen

These all come from a USA supplier, fully warranted, day/night recording, and down loadable. You will want to add a SD/MMC card.

You could pay a lot more, but why?
Click to expand...

Have had a few of the dash cams for a couple years now...other than occasionally needing to format the SD card (fails to delete and write when full) and needing to be unplugged/battery pulled once every few months, we have had good service from them. Helped in 2 accidents already, and provided a LOT of peace of mind knowing the chances of a "he said/he said" traffic encounters are reduced and also keep it pointed to traffic lights to record yellow/red lights. :)

Getting ready to upgrade to a dual (front/rear) higher resolution model soon.
 
HPmatt

HPmatt

Regular Member
Joined
Aug 18, 2013
Messages
1,468
Location
Dallas
scouser said:
...
Well it did, until I decided to try google translate and then I picked the hieroglyphics on my screen that looked closest to the ones google showed for "language". Thankfully when I pressed that button one of the options that appeared on my screen was "English"

when the camera is powered on you have to press the MENU button 2 times, then you press DOWN 1 time and then press the OK button (which is the one at the top next to the ON/OFF button).
At this point a new menu appears on the screen, the top item says "English". When I highlighted that and pressed the OK button the OSD turned to English.
Click to expand...

Here's the link to the camera - needs a microSD card (purchased separately).

https://youtu.be/z0R06jau3o4
 
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A

adk_mechetech

Regular Member
Joined
Jun 2, 2015
Messages
65
Location
06076
I'm still waiting for this group to release some more info before pre-ordering, but this little device looks pretty slick.

Narrative clip 2 $199 but you can get down to $160 with "karma"

http://getnarrative.com

Supposedly they have a mode to tap it and record indefinitely. Not sure about automatic backup to another device yet though. 720p or 1080p video only at the moment, but other options are likely just a software change. It can still hold a days worth of video easily. Battery life 30 hours, 8mp, 8gb storage, USB, GPS, WiFi, and Bluetooth.
 
Grapeshot

Grapeshot

Legendary Warrior
Joined
May 21, 2006
Messages
35,317
Location
Valhalla
We've had some very savvy people look at and use many of these dash cams including GoPro.

All in all you'll be hard pressed to beat the practicality of the one mentioned in my post #4 - presently available for under $20.00

There are identical units for a variety of prices (some much higher) from the same distributor - that is for those who think by paying more they are getting more - Caveat emptor.
 
U

utbagpiper

Banned
Joined
Jul 5, 2006
Messages
4,061
Location
Utah
Grapeshot said:
There are identical units for a variety of prices (some much higher) from the same distributor - that is for those who think by paying more they are getting more - Caveat emptor.
Click to expand...

Grapeshot,

By chance have you seen any units that also provide back up camera functionality?

I'm looking for a back up camera for the wife's vehicle and would like to have it support a second rearview camera on the back on the trailer when pulling that. The trailer camera would be for far more than backing....I'd like to be able to see what is behind me while driving. Far too many folks have no concept of being able to see the rear view mirrors of the tow vehicle and insist on tailgating.

If I could get the above, while also having a downloadable dash cam, especially for less than $1k, I'd be happy as a clam at high tide.

Thanks

Charles
 
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