Totaled my FR-S / why you should have a dashcam

[Imrac]

Originally Posted by FX86

depends on the area/neighborhood if you think it's safe to leave your belongings out in the open of your car

my dash cam has a chrome bezel around the lens which definitely attracts attention

honestly, i don't see how a dash cam will deter someone from stealing it..they steal it then wipe the footage of themselves stealing it if they happened to be caught on camera

Most criminals are not that smart if they are the smash and grab type, they see a camera, they will probably pick a softer target.

I guess it would depend on how subtle your dash cam is (chrome ring doesn't sound fun, I think I would plasti dip that black).

I suppose it's up to the operator whether they want to leave the camera in 24/7. so YMMV.

[Racer-X]

Originally Posted by Stratoside

driver side air bag didn't deploy for me at all

Mine didn't either, but I didn't expect them to. If you are thrown to the right, there is no point in having an air bag on your left or in front of you going off.

[FX86]

Originally Posted by Imrac

Most criminals are not that smart if they are the smash and grab type, they see a camera, they will probably pick a softer target.

I guess it would depend on how subtle your dash cam is (chrome ring doesn't sound fun, I think I would plasti dip that black).

I suppose it's up to the operator whether they want to leave the camera in 24/7. so YMMV.

with my camera, the battery lasts less than a minutes and if the battery is depleted for a certain amount of time it always resets the date and time so i always take it home and let it charge overnight

seems like a design flaw from a software standpoint but when it comes to recording footage it gets the job done really well so i can look past it

[Imrac]

Originally Posted by FX86

with my camera, the battery lasts less than a minutes and if the battery is depleted for a certain amount of time it always resets the date and time so i always take it home and let it charge overnight

seems like a design flaw from a software standpoint but when it comes to recording footage it gets the job done really well so i can look past it

My dash cam mini 0803 has had a few quirks. When the SD card has 0KB left, it doesn't know how to overwrite the first 5 minute chunk. Its rare that the SD card gets 100% full (0kb left), but it will shutdown. I have to turn it on manually and format the card and continue on my way. Happens like once every few months.

Other issues I have had was the MPH overlay was displaying Kilometers per hour, but with MPH at the end... So highway speed showed 100+ MPH, until I updated the firmware.

Now the timestamp on the overlay is displaying in GMT (not terrible, just not convenient). I believe the time on mine stays correct when the unit gets shut off due to low battery, but it always resyncs with the GPS. The GPS locks pretty quick where I live (Maybe 30 seconds after power).

The image quality is decent, I will be picking up another camera for my other vehicle shortly, just not sure what one to get.

[Racer-X]

Originally Posted by Imrac

I will be picking up another camera for my other vehicle shortly, just not sure what one to get.

I'm getting an A119, which looks like a good upgrade from the A118.

[shiumai]

Originally Posted by gramicci101

Shiumai,


I saw that the product details on Amazon said operating temp: 10F to 140F. Do you pull your camera down when your car is parked outside all day?

My car is parked in a structure during the day, so I don't have that issue. I did put a small strip of vinyl wrap on the inside of the windshield as a small sunshade for the camera, and also to make it less obvious if parked outside uncovered. I don't take it down when parked; it's pretty discreet. Even though I don't have it recording when parked, it might still act as a deterrent. I have no idea whether dashcams alone are a reason for a thief to break into a car - they're relatively cheap.

I installed the same camera in our Subaru Outback as well, and that one gets parked outside. So far, no issues after reviewing video footage, but then again, they're both brand new. The outback cam is partially shielded by the dot matrix, so it doesn't get the full brunt of direct sunlight. We'll see after a few months.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by gramicci101

Shiumai,


I saw that the product details on Amazon said operating temp: 10F to 140F. Do you pull your camera down when your car is parked outside all day?

Meh 10F? It will warm up enough to work in a few minutes so I would leave it in.

[gramicci101]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

Meh 10F? It will warm up enough to work in a few minutes so I would leave it in.

I was worried more about the 140F. If it's 110F outside, the inside will get much hotter. FX86 made a good point about theft though, so I'd remove it anyways.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by gramicci101

I was worried more about the 140F. If it's 110F outside, the inside will get much hotter. FX86 made a good point about theft though, so I'd remove it anyways.

Meh it doesn't get that hot anyplace and I have never locked my car doors in my life.

[geezerbrzeezer]

Glad things worked out - your video is very dramatic - incontrovertible evidence.

I installed a Thinkware F770 two channel unit this past weekend. In addition to the two sided mounting tape for the bracket, I glued the camera to the bracket, something blackboxmycar suggests, so the thing will be very difficult to steal. And the card is almost impossible to remove, a good and bad thing.

It's good peace of mind, and if you consider what not having evidence could potentially cost, if it saves your bacon even once, it's virtually free.

[MrDinkleman]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

Meh it doesn't get that hot anyplace and I have never locked my car doors in my life.

He's in Vegas. Yes it does. Easily hit 115 in the summer, possibly 120...

[funwheeldrive]

Is there a DYI for installing a dash cam for our cars? I'm kind of confused on how people are hiding the wiring in the headliner.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by MrDinkleman

He's in Vegas. Yes it does. Easily hit 115 in the summer, possibly 120...

LOL Sarcasm/irony font should have been in play. I spent an afternoon with Gram in Vegas last July. It was 121 at one point. I have still not figured out how people live there in that.

[ichitaka05]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

LOL Sarcasm/irony font should have been in play. I spent an afternoon with Gram in Vegas last July. It was 121 at one point. I have still not figured out how people live there in that.

First 86EXPO ('13), we did it at Vegas in June... iirc temp were around 120~125. At one point, bottom of my shoes were melting.