Dash Cam Installation (BlackVue DR400G-HD)
 

Nice. I want this and have been researching it for about 3 days now.

Im scared to touch any of those wiring stuff but if I dont and just plug it in using the 12v lighter power, I will be missing out on the parking detection features.

Nice job. Is it hooked up so that you get constant power for park mode?

Yes, I have it hooked up to constant power so that it will record while parked. It will only record if it senses motion in front of the camera, or an impact to the vehicle.

That's a brilliant feature. Gonna have to do this.

I wonder if you can hook up the AV cables to the navigation system and use the LCD screen as a monitor as an option.

that thing has gps? i just ask because it show speed on that video

thank you! we were all waiting for this!

Yes, you can hook it up to nav if it has an input. The camera comes with the cables and the instructions on doing just that. I don't think that the BeSpoke has an input, though, so I didn't bother.

Yes, @v12, the camera has a built in GPS, and inertia sensor (G meter).

So this can be a cheaper alternative to go pro? What's the resolution that it records in?

Very nicely done! As for the parking usage... It is recommended that you also integrate the "Power Magic Pro" into the Black Vue and the vehicle's power source since it does constantly uses your power. (Not good especially when you are in a very busy area, ex. mall?)

What it does is prevent your battery from completely draining. It reads your vehicle battery voltage drops, and you can set it when to completely shut the camera off to prevent complete discharge of the battery.

Here is the link: http://www.autoblackbox.com.au/index...&product_id=90

From reviews, this is said to be even better than the "Go Pro" cameras.

For those who don't want to wire into the car's harness there are available switched and constant power in the fuse panel where you could get a simple tap fuse to complete the install. If you are especially lazy or don't like cutting wires there is an adapter port in the glove box.

Looks good, really makes me want to get one. I have been holding off but I dunno how long I can keep my wallet at bay.

Yeah, I read about that... and I will let you guys know if this camera actually draws enough voltage to worry me. When parking for extended periods I could always just unplug it right at the unit. I wouldn't think that 24 hours of recording digitally would draw that much current... but we'll see.

I think a GoPro Hero is $200-ish, so this isn't cheaper than that, but this camera comes with some GREAT software that really makes using it easy. It records at five different resolutions, the greatest is 1920x1080 @ 30fps. On top of that, this monitors your GPS location, vehicle speed (could be useful for getting OUT of an erroneous speeding ticket) and whether or not there was an impact to the vehicle.

I know that the GoPro Naked goes for $200 with less quality than the HD Hero2 which goes for $250 right now regular $299. Then they have the packages

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/null/GoP...at240800050019

so its a toss up for me on which I would go with. Have to do my homework!

The GoPro is a great camera to be sure.

The Blackvue is the one you want, if you want a specialized dashcam. If you want a more general cam you can use all around then I would go with a GoPro.

Yeah, if you just want a camera for a track day or something, go with the GoPro. I want a camera that will be on all of the time to record the idiots on the road, etc.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kR6GIpdSs7Y"]Raguruban Yogarajah caught on dash cam trying to scam using his acura tsx on 401/Keele - YouTube[/ame]

So if I got a ticket for going 90 MPH and then I review this camera and the GPS shows Im going only 88 MPH, doesnt that mean I can use it as evidence to void the existing ticket? I heard that if theres a single thing wrong on the ticket (date, time, speed, mispelled name, wrong license info, wrong eye color, weight, etc) can void the ticket.

Is that true?

Edit: I pulled the trigger. I saw the stock going down on Amazon. So I had to buy before it runs out or goes up in price... supply and demand :(

I heard some dude got his kid of a speeding ticket using GPS as evidence somewhere in the US a couple years ago, I don't remember the particulars...

Hey DarrenDriven, I was wondering if you have pulled the SD card and examined the contents. I assume aside from the MP4's there are also some data files that contain the GPS data? Just wondering how they are storing that..

Round of applause Darren. Round of applause.

LOL. The driver of that acura got so many death threats. He deserved it. I hope someone finally shoots him.

When I get the add a circuits from the courier, I will do a DIY writeup for this camera and the power magic pro tapped into the fuse box.

Should be a jolly good time.

@pinoyplaya - It's hit or miss if you take the video into court with you. If the judge is doing his job then he should drop the ticket since it was written in error. He might be lazy or bend the rules and just readjust the charges. Now, if you take a lawyer in with you then you will probably get the ticket dropped completely.

@Rossman - I did pull the 16Gb SD card as the viewing software for my Windows PC is stored on there. The viewing software is actually really great and shows a LOT of information. You can see where your car traveled as you watch the video footage, as well as G-meter charts. Not sure how they are storing the GPS data, though.

Thanks, yeah, their software looks cool - but I want to make a web-based version of that...I'd guess the GPS data is stored either as a separate file or perhaps as embedded metadata within the MP4's themselves.

I will check it out further once mine gets here, thanks!

I have a blackvue too, but I just plugged it into the glovebox socket so I'm missing out on the parking function. Please do post an update about battery discharge, because I'd love to wire it to constant on. Thanks!

I look forward to this...bought mine without the power magic pro but still considering adding it...

Just worried that leaving the blackvue in the car will be temptation for a smash-n-grab... :-/

That's my concern as well. Maybe if it's wired in there will be less temptation to take it.

I'll probably only remember to post about it if I come back to the car with a dead battery. :) If I never post about it then all is well.

Good write up, I have been looking into this camera as well. Anyone know of a similar walkthrough for connecting it to the nav on the BRZ?

I would wait and get the new DR400G II version. Its listed on Pittasoft's Korean site but not on the english version yet.

That version apparently fixes some overheating issues, and also looks to support better h264 compression (high profile not just baseline) so it should be able to record more content onto the same sized memory card.

Moderately annoyed as I only discovered this new version after ordering mine....*sigh*

The new one: http://www.blackvuehd.co.uk/BlackVue_DR400G_HD_v2.php
It looks pretty similar so i dont expect it will be that much of an upgrade.

Oh, I have the DRGII, it was a bitch trying to read the Korean manual lol!

Korean site here:
http://www.blackvue.com/contents/sub1.asp?idx=17

If you scroll down a ways you can see with the new h264 "high profile" compression they are getting an extra 3-4 hrs stored on the card at 30fps 1080p. That alone is pretty significant.

I wish they would make the exact same camera but smaller and with external storage, maybe a setup where I could just have it record directly into a car pc and not have to worry about small SD cards and their limits.

Don't really have to worry about storage, unless you're recording hours of footage a day and you want to look up footage from months ago. Mine overwrites the oldest files when the storage is full. I use a 32gb card.

It's more that i want to archive some stuff and it'd be nice to get a weeks worth of trips before having to pull the SD card.

That guy in front is a sack of s**t LIAR.

Theres a news video of him saying that he got so many death threats after everyone saw that video on youtube. LOL!

Here it is...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tubPwVSx0_o

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXuEcfLl698

I'm not advocating _anyone_ issuing death threats.

But, it seems obvious to me that this guy is a scammer.

I watched the news interview where he stated that he had some number of direct/indirect dependants. I've been on this earth long enough to be able to spot someone who is willing to do _whatever_ it takes to provide for a family. That in and of itself is not bad, but when you stoop to faking accidents you've crossed the line in my book.

He should find a real job and stop looking for quick (and illegal ways in my opinion) to make ends meet.

:paddle: