Retired mechanic here…..everyone please listen. The OBD port was never meant to supply constant power to something. In the 10 years i worked at a toyota dealer i saw this 7 times. 4 due to that insurance monitor progressive and State Farm offer and 3 due to tapping into and or plugging a device into the OBD port long term. People those ports are meant for accessing the computer ONLY. So unless you want to spend $5,000 or more on a computer -labor/programming DO NOT PLUG INTO THAT PORT. Hardwire another way
@@TexDrinkwater Agreed. It does seem like low risk to me as well. The question is….Is choosing the low risk option ,when there are no risk options, optimal?
I recently installed and hardwired the a229 pro in my Silverado. My current solution for the parking mode battery dilemma is a 1.5amp battery maintainer that I plug in whenever I'm home. Long term I'll likely add a second deep cycle battery in the engine bay for extended recording when I'm away from home.
@@NathanielHatley I'm just gonna wire mine to a key on only circuit when I fit one to my 71 C10. Not taking the chance, even if a modern battery starting a 53 year old points fired I6 has an easy enough life.
With an open budget, I've had a Blackview 970X LTE Plus professionally installed in my truck about a month ago and it's been working great and flawlessly; no video or focus issues such as ones you reported. Apparently the very recent manufactured batches of Blackview 960X LTE Plus have no issues. I love the fact I can do live view any time and impact notifications are also very worthy. I have an extended battery pack totalling 14,300mAH for extended parking coverage. Loving it so far 👍
Hopefully, they started doing something differently at Pittasoft. I have 2 Blackvue cameras on my cars. Installed a bit more than 3 years ago. Both having the same issue - constant reboots. By now I hate the phrase "starting normal recording". Tried multiple SD cards. Voltage level is ok. They both are cloud cameras with the price in the $650 range. Highly not recommended. It seems the company needs to be renamed from Pittasoft into PITA soft.
With a newly installed blacvie 970x 2 channel confused on how to have remote cloud that I can retrieve from app have wifi in vehicle Have another two channel earlier model 900 2 channel that works beautifully with app. Not concerned with cloud as never drive vehicle. I’ve been going bavk and forth with blackvue with their customer service but quite frankly I’m not savy enough to answer the questions they need to set up my cloud. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated When I install my detector alps the shop always opts for the blacvue as they install in 95 percent of customers very high end vehicles Thx in advance
@@eugenekozlowski1949 you said you have a 970X 2CH and not the LTE version. To remotely connect to your camera, you need the camera connected to a 2.4gHz wifi hotspot; most in-vehicle wifi hotspots operate only whilst vehicle is running or the ignition switch is in accessory mode. Please confirm your vehicle wifi hotspot is available by searching for that hotspot in your phone. Your hotspot needs to be working on 2.4gHz and not the 5gHz band for it to communicate with your 970x; this is not something the manual tells you. In your vehicle hotspot settings, assuming it is live and on, change settings to 2.4gHz. Let me know how it goes.
Don't go too cheap. I bought a chinese $50 dashcam and it was totally losing 5seconds of footage between clips. which could be a huge problem in the case of an accident. I had a guy road rage at me, and it missed the crucial moment he drove at my car. I could have reported him to the cops, and his insurance company if I'd had that footage. Spend the money, buy a good brand, and check the footage to make sure it is capturing all footage from clip to clip with no losses.
There's so much packed into this video I have to watch twice. Some of this stuff I wasn't aware I needed but you're just that through. Definitely cloud capability with realtime image notifications to my home screen.
I switched from the n4 pro to a229 pro 3ch because the vantrue was nothing but a nightmare. Kept boot looping, restarting randomly and just not turning on. Requested a replacement, same exact thing. A229 worked straight out of the box. No issues and I’m happy with it.
@@VortexRadar I had it hard wired into my battery. Have no idea why it kept messing up. Tried 3 different cars and same outcome. I actually bought the a229 pro based off of your review. It just slightly beat out the blackvue.
I will get A229 Pro for my next vehicle. Blackvue drop the ball with the 970x. I have a 900x on my Dad's RAV4 and it work great. Was about to get 970X until I saw this video.
Something to consider when using a drive camera that uploads over the Internet is that these companies will usually sell your data to the insurance companies so they can raise your rates for any reasons they find.
@@JelqtronZero I have the Vantrue S1. It’s an older model but takes good video. My biggest gripe with it is the sentry feature will not work for me and it doesnt seem to be displaying the speed and never has. It doesn’t have any wireless features, though. I’ve never connected it to the internet. It might not even be able to. The only reason it might is to update firmware.
Bought the Viofo A139Pro because of your review and it contains the new Sony Starvis 2 sensor which makes it clear during low light situations. The only issue is it can't connect to any of our iPhones with the Viofo app. Selling it and picked up a Vantrue N4 for over a year in the car and it works excellent.
Weird. Mine connects to my iPhone just fine. Have you tried posting on the DCT forums so people can help you get it working too? dashcamtalk.com/forum/forums/a139-pro.404/
Fantastic Video.. Great job going over the details of all the cameras. I have used Viofo A119.. its ANCIENT.. 5 years old I think. Works great still and has great video quality. I also have an Original Vantrue N4. 3 cam setup. Some things I dont like on the Vantrue.. video quality is not as good as the older Viofo, and the mount.. It moves around on the ball swivel too easily no matter how tight you make it. The viofo stays where you aimed it.. even if you bump the camera. Also.. you have the screen door effect. The Vantrue lens sits a lot farther away from the glass.. so any dirt or scratches outside or inside tend to effect the video quality more.. The Viofo is right up next to the glass.. and seems to do better as a result. I guess if something got on the window right in front of it .. would block it. But for the general dust, dirt.. The lens being closer seems to work better. Keep in mind.. I use it for rideshare.. so lots miles... mostly at night.
Best review video ive seen in a long time. Thank you for making it obvious and showing footage. The views showing the same footage accross different cameras was very insightful. Really appreciate the quality video.
Pretty happy with my a229 plus. The voice commands do have a mind of their own, every day it locks a couple of videos out of nowhere. Also, wifi works great when I start the car, but after I drive for a while, the app doesn't connect and I have to power it off and power it back on. Then wifi works again
You are possibly the best dash cam expert on the planet. Excellent comparison‼️😅 I like the comparison of the footage quality. Lots of work that you have done for us. Thanks! - I would like to know more about night vision.
this video was a crazy watch because one of the Entry Level demo clips is actually a road in a neighboring city to where i live. absolutely insane that i recognized it too.
Thank you! Glad the video was helpful. This took a LOT of work in testing, researching, collecting and analyzing sample footage, shooting and editing, etc.
I used the Viofo A119 V3 for years. It's a great dashcam for the price. Highly recommended if you're looking for a single channel dashcam that's less than $100.
Thanks so much for all the great testing and honest reviews. I was thinking about buying 2 A229 Pros so I can have full 4K HD for front and rear view. Do you think this is a waste?
@@VortexRadarI'd say that's the reasonably best 4ch setup quality wise, especially for rear plate readability and for getting the face from people who scratches car for fun (time lapse mode while parked). I wish Viofo was officially here in Brazil. A229 Plus seems like a good 2ch combo for hot weather but importing it is just too much. Xiaomi's sub brand, 70mai A800S-1 costs 1/3 the price and isn't 1/3 worse for sure. By the way, do you have any comparison with A810 vs A229 Pro? Didn't see any on your channel.
Thank you for the Dashcam Presentation. The radar detector camera is really important for me, because I'm always on the road. Just someone parked behind me on highway while I was viewing the front camera on my phone. They have been sitting there for about 40 minutes. If there was a camera that went from one screen to the next automatically, I won't need a radar camera. But radar with a cloud feature does save time than looking for a video feed that you want to upload on Facebook or TH-cam. Making more for evidence gathering than for potential accidents or security. I have a 4 channel camera that shows the sides, front and back. I drive a cargo van, which a cab camera, although good, does not show the full extend of the intended focus. Like a police showing up. Or a vehicle that hits me from the side. I have no windows in the back and the cab and cargo are to separate areas by a mental wall. Because the cargo area is separate, I have a camera for it. I brought a camera from temu and it was the worse mistake. I thought if I spent more, I would match the features of my 4 channel camera.. An absolute waste of money. Than I saw a cheap camera in Ollie's for $10. Yes! $10 . It's a single camera, but it does the job. It has a battery battery unlike the $79 piece of garbage from Temu. A three channel that really shows two or three depending on the power source. The menu is pretty confusing. But not so much with the $10 camera. The only real problem is because you can't connect your phone to it, obtaining the footage is more difficult. And the sound isn't great! Although the menu is more confusing on the 4 channel camera, the phone (or tablet) viewing option makes it more simpler. Non of the cameras have cloud viewing. But because I'm always in my vehicle, it is not a pressing issue. Some people have used a ring type camera for their traveling, cargo/Sprinter vans or RVs. They probably offer more superior functionality for a better price. Maybe someone can give me there experience as this might be the direction I want to go.
Thanks for the great reviews. I’ve been following your reviews on dashcams for at least a year and just today, ordered the Viofo A229 Pro using your link. Thanks again!
very good video and wonderful analysis. helps me to quickly decide the dashcam over tons of chinese items in amazon. thanks. and its hard to find the No BS videos now these days , thanks for making one.
Couple questions about the thinkware 3000 cam; 1. Can I add an external power cell to supplement and prevent draing the car battery? 2. Can it be hardwired into a vehicles fuse box? 3. Does it offer any cloud data trf capabilities? For example if I'm driving, it connects to my phone to save the recordings in the cloud? 4. If it cannot handle cloud, what's the max size sd card you can store? Thank you for the awesome reviews. This helped me identify the cam I need, mostly for recording when car is parked.
1. Yep. I recently did a video about it here: th-cam.com/users/shortsrWksn8HaT8Y You can use either this battery like I did: amzn.to/46x2igX or this smaller one: amzn.to/46nTsC6 2: Yep. It comes with the cable to do this. 3. Yes, if your phone serves as a WiFi hotspot for your dashcam to connect to. 4. Not sure off the top of my head. Maybe 512 GB? You can reference some Thinkware documentation.
@@Pasta4life11 This dash cam performs well and connects easily to my phone for quick video downloads-a real convenience. The only drawback is an occasional random beeping, which stops after unplugging and reconnecting. It’s a minor annoyance in an otherwise reliable device.
I’ve been playing with the idea of dash cams for half a decade. I even bought two, but I never installed them because I never had the mental bandwidth to devote to figuring out how to use them now they’re out of date so I’ll take your suggestion and determine what’s best for me and I’ll get back to you.🎉
@@VortexRadar Trust me. Less drama is better. I have a Blackvue system. I recorded some guys that came by me speeding then the cops showed up and pulled one of them over. I could have offered up my info but i kept driving and said NOT MY DRAMA. Thanks for your videos.
That's why people like the one with the rear-facing camera attached to the front facing one because if something happens that's your fault you just take it down real quick@@VortexRadar
Having to buy a new car and figured it’s time for a cam. Pleasantly surprised to see you’re still making videos (never bought a radar detector but remember watching hour stuff yearsss back)
The struggle I have had is with mounting the rear camera in my convertible. Mounting to the rear glass is not an option since it folds into the trunk when the roof is open.
Really good video! Just like all your others. Do you have any advice on a Dash Cam with live view that can be used when parking? Kind of like a reverse cam. The resolution is not very important. App function is to prefer. LTE is not required, but is desirable. Have looked at Garmin because they have good support here in Sweden. So they are desirable. But there should be other options as well, I think. Money is not a problem.
Usually the dash cams that use an app over WiFi to do that lead to a poor experience. If that’s important, you may want to consider a dashcam with a dedicated display like a RVM style dashcam. There’s a lot of junky ones and fake 4K ones, but the Nexigo D90 looks pretty good. amzn.to/4aMmFI6
I bought a Garmin Dashcam 57 because I've been happy with the reliability & Customer Service of their other products which I have; Nuvi 2597 GPS for my car & 61ST GPS hand held GPS when hiking/geocaching. Everything works out of the box & if I want some tech support I can call & talk to a real live person. I connected my Dashcam with Garmin's OBD power plug, no problem.
Thanks for the information! I appreciated this video! I'm a delivery driver of 9 years, and feel that I should have something to capture video in case I get involved in a wreck of some kind, especially with my other fellow drivers being in wrecks lately this year. I'v gone for the "Viofo A229 Pro", with the 3 channel set up. Seems to be the best option, and well received from what i'v read in the comments and reviews. Even got $80 off through Amazon + free shipping with my prime account, so even better. Can't wait to give it a go! (Probably should get some SD cards for them too, while i'm at it. Might need those)
I've been interested in Nextbase iQ 4k since your video with Nextbase personnel. How do you feel about that dash cam now they're there has been a little bit of time while out on the market? Keep up the great work!
You are awesome for doing this video. You really put a lot of time and effort into making a nice comprehensive video and I appreciate it. Keep up the great work. No AI is gonna replace you !
Would you recommend buying Vantrue N4 Pro or Viofo a229 Plus? Both seems to be around the same price at the moment. My priorities are video quality and license plate rec. Thanks
Back in March 2022 I bought the Vantrue N4. Within less than a year, it started a sequence of shutting down and turning back on constantly. I contacted the manufacturer. They sent me a new rear camera because this only happened when the rear camera was connected. They also sent a new cable. I tried replacing both of them and the issue continues to happen. Its been over two years and I’ve told them it was a heat issue because during the summer the frequency of rebooting is every two seconds during the winter it’s about every 20 seconds or so. Therefore, it’s a heat issue. The unit feels very warm. And no the voltage is just as it should be. My last correspondence with the manufacturer theybsaid that they are going to inform their engineers of the issue. After researching this on the Internet, it appears I am not the only one having this problem. So now I have bought a three camera system and only got two cameras working. I wish they would do something to correct the situation. At this time, I cannot recommend them. 😢
Your review was very informative. I'm presently looking for a dash camera that is suitable for my needs. My vehicle is a 2025 Honda CRV Sport, I find the windshield smaller that usual therefore I don't want a camera that will take up any additional windshield space. However, one piece of information I need is the longevity of each of the dash cameras you reviewed. I find that although all the cameras are good and some have a better recording quality. What I don't know is how long will each of the cameras last. I have done some research and read reviews that say some of the cameras last 6 months while others a year or two. Can you please provide some insight into how long each of the cameras you reviewed will last? Thank you
Thanks for the great video, lots of info to consider, exactly what I was hoping to get. Also, thanks for making me homesick lol, I moved to Dallas from Mill Creek 7 years ago, it was fun seeing all the streets you were driving around on that had me thinking 'I know that place'!
Your videos have been a 1 stop resource for me (on radar detectors and laser jammers, etc.) and I am always grateful for the accuracy and detail of your information. I am looking for dashcam options that have a dedicated/remote display (using a separate, NOT built-in forward facing camera). I have searched quite a bit but have only come up with "street guardian" products that have this functionality (perhaps I am using the wrong search terms?). I wonder if in your research, you have come across other brands that have this configuration (or could suggest better search terms for me to use). I don't need anything super fancy or lots of options (I don't need interior cam or rear view capability). I would be grateful for any suggestions you may have. Thanks again for all of the GREAT/informative videos that you create.
For those who are curious I have a BlackVue hardwired and installed by professional shop. When it’s in parking mode, it will drain my battery to 0 if I don’t drive my car for a few days. It’s very annoying. And took me buying a new battery and getting my alternator tested to figure this out.
Did you enable the parking mode settings with voltage cutoff options in the dashcam? It should turn off before draining the battery too low. If so, you can always raise the voltage cutoff level so it doesn’t drain your battery as much as well as consider using the timer so it shuts off after a period of time. With a healthy car battery, you shouldn’t have any issues when using the voltage cut off settings.
Very informative. I have an old classic car, seldom used. Battery is disconnected when not using the car. I need "No hussle" when connecting battery back on. Need proper front facing camera,... and monitor so that all functions are at hand without any apps. Cost is not an issue. Your recommendation please. Thanks JB
One thing I don't understand, is how they can possibly have 4k front, 2k rear, and potentially even a 1080p interior, and still use the same v30 microSD card. How can they possibly write all of that video to the card? Seems like they would need a better card, or multiple cards.
This is like the 1st or 2nd video of yours I see. And I know immediately I must subscribe here. You are simply amazing and knowledgeable in what you discuss. You are simply amazing 💯 👍
@@VortexRadar I ordered the viofo A229 Pro yesterday after watching few of your indept and brilliant reviews. I am a stack fan of OEM mirror dash cam. But I found the A229 Pro fulfilling almost all I desired from a dashcam, but it's not a mirror 😀. After so much research over weeks now, I come to realise no single dashcam fulfills all I desire in it except I go by using 2 seperate units 🤷🏼♂️ So decided to get this Viofo and another mirror dash cam with no much bells and whistles. MY questions are: 1) Is it okay to adwire 2 different dashcams in a single vehicle (2024 Toyota Rav 4)? 2) Could there be any side effect? 3) I have seen many dashcam reviewers saying that the cut-off voltage should be minimum of 12V to avoid waking up to a dead car in the next day. But what's the minimum voltage required by a 12V car to start up? Thanks
@@VortexRadar Help Please. My car is being vandalized in the parking lot on drivers door so far. What camera do you recommend since at times I can't park close to my apartment.
Great review - thank you! I only come to you for car video and radar detector reviews - no need to go anywhere else. A question I have is if you have any opinions or recommendations of dash cams that would function well for both its primary purpose but also for recording car club drives. Those often use GoPro but I'd love to find a set up that can handle both of them well.
I love your channel. I upgraded my REDTIGER F7N 4K to a VIOFO A229 PRO. When I went to install the A229, I was disappointed that I could not see the screen as I could with the F7N. The A229 was installed that the screen was facing down at such angle that I couldn’t see the screen unless I leaned to the side and looked up (obviously not safe) and I also couldn’t use the touch buttons. I like to be able to see what my camera main camera and my rear camera sees as I’m driving. I emailed VIOFO’s Customer Service and they told me to use Voice Commands. If their voice command system is anything like the one on my Garmin GPS, I’d be spending time repeating my commands. If I can review dash cam footage in my iPhone, why is there even a screen in the A229? It just feels weird to have the camera and button facing the floor.
I bought the A139 pro few years ago and it’s been the best dashcam I’ve had. I might consider upgrading to the new A229 pro. Do any of the wiring need to be changed or the same wires can be used?
I just picked up the Viofo A229 Pro 3 ch and was wondering if the SanDisk 512gb High Endurance Video micro SDXC card worked as well as the SanDisk 256gb Max Endurance micro SDXC card that you recommend? Thanks for all the awesome videos... very informative!
While I've had good luck with the High Endurance cards over the years, for some of the most demanding dashcams like the A229 Pro which records large video files and from multiple cameras at a time, Viofo is now explicitly recommending the Max Endurance cards over the High Endurance ones. See here: shrsl.com/4rc72 They are limited to just 256GB though so if you want 512GB, you'll need to use a Viofo brand card. amzn.to/4hVmNJw For this reason I've been switching to Viofo 512's.
I bought a VIOFO 119 V3 a couple years ago and it was a piece of crap. I put my old one back in and it has been working well ever since. I just pulled my 119 out and plugged it in and will try to install new firmware but I don't have any confidence in it. It just does goofy stuff. The old one I'm using now is rock solid.
This was a great tutorial on what to look for! Thank you for sharing. I’m looking for a front/back dash-cam with the Sony lens and am not interested in paying subscription fees for the cloud and such. Just put it on the memory card. In addition, I like the parking protection these cameras offer. What would you recommend given these three important features.
What about the FitcamX. Integrates into the the forward radar box behind mirror on most newer cars - connect straight into the power used by the radar without batteries or cables to the fuse box. No clunky external cameras stuck to your windscreen.
good vid man. well done handsome!. literally, the dude even posted the links to the memory cards lol. great effort, time well spent, thumbs up!. unfortunately money is an issue for us, so were just going to go with........ the a229 pro like yea said, since the misses is the one that causes the accidents :)
In hot climates. Get Tesla and set the interior for dog mode or camp mode. Any comfortable temperature for hours or even days when plugged in. You can buy Power stations in any size Add a solar panel and it could last year round 24/7/365
Just making an observation about the video comparison at 15:37 to 15:52, the CPL is ON on the Thinkware U3000 while the other two the Viofo A229 and Blackvue DR970X the CPL is OFF. As I understand Circular Polarizer Lens (CPL) is best used during bright sunny days and not during dark nights. I am just curios if it makes a difference if the CPL is OFF on the Thinkware U3000.
Right. I discussed this in the video since the TW CPL isn’t removable once installed and BV didn’t offer a CPL. That said, CPLs do impact light gathering capabilities (like wearing sunglasses), but they do not impact dynamic range which is what I was specifically testing in the comparison.
Hi, thank you for your great video. I and my husband travel a lot, and we have decided to record the roads on our trips. So I was wondering if there is any dash cam that can be installed and uninstalled multiple times in different cars.
Which of these are "hands-off"? I'm looking to buy one for myself, but I'm not looking at camera specs as much as I am 2 main features: 1. Do I have to turn it on every time I start my car?, and 2. Does it automatically overwrite memory, or do I have to manage it myself?
@@VortexRadar well I will definitely be buying one from your affiliate links then, I honestly can’t believe that the creator of such an informative and huge video responded to my obscure inquiry within 20 minutes. I’ve never seen that before. Thank you very much - subscribed, liked, (obviously) commented, and will share with my family!
@@VortexRadar when I looked at dashcams a few years ago at Best Buy, the employee explained how most of their models don’t have both, which is why I asked. Thanks again!
Oh wow, no wonder it would be confusing! When it comes to action cameras like GoPros, that’s true, but all dash cameras work that way. Maybe that was the source of the confusion?
Thanks for the review I have subscribed to your channel. Have been trying to retrieve decent information on the Blackvue and the VIOFO and the VIOFO A229 Plus 3CH seems to fit my price range and needs. On a scale to 1-10 on installation on cars I would say I'm a 6.5; How complicated is the install and will it come with everything needed to install? Also, how is customer service and is there a customer service phone number in the U.S.?
I have a 229 duo pro and and I've had overheating issues with it since day one. I bought it through Amazon through and when I tried to return it for an exchange it was already past the date on Amazon. I contacted the manufacturer in China and they wanted me to first class mail it back to them with tracking with me paying for international postage. I just said screw it and I'm going to get another one
I'm in Nevada & am seriously thinking of buying the A229Pro. Please, which State are you living in & having overheating issues with? I'm guessing, Texas.
I have dash camera in my old car/that I still have and drive,for 4-5 years already. Dash camera was not expensive, I have pack of 2,one front and one back camera on loop recording. Im very very happy I decided and bought it. Now, I'm buying new dash camera for my "new" car and i was just thinking about another way to plug the camera. Can someone suggest any good videos/tutorials on how to do that connection on battery correctly with proper installation and parts. Appreciate any advice
Excellent tutorial. Based on Your reviews and cam functions and features, I purchased the VIOFO A229 Plus 3 Cam kit with the parking power wire kit. I do have a question; regarding the the frame rate (I think). Before I went thru the whole installation bid, I first connected the dash cams and tried them out. Everything is working fine BUT, that frame rate., I'm not sure if I am describing it correctly. On Cameras screen, as I moved the cameras a bit, the frame movement did not correspond with my movements. Play back of videos when I removed MicroSd card and played files on my Pc, they seemed fine. Perhaps this has some to do or the fix in camera Settings? Could you elaborate some, I'd appreciate it. Thx.
I recently had cervical spine surgery and now the Washington state DMV office is making me prove I can drive safely. Which set up would be the best to show me 90° to the left and 90° to the right at least 500 feet in either direction? I am not able to turn my head, and won’t ever be able to because of the surgery.
I’m planning on getting insta360 x4 as dash-cam but I’d love to know that there are more options.. can you please tell me when would the video be posted
I feel Blackvue quality has suffered also. My 750 lasted 2 years… I have replaced my 900x front camera once a few months out of warranty and now my B130X is acting up and 4 months out of warranty. Ill be trying a different manufacture next time for sure.
I have had a BlackVue 900 for 5 years. The only Dashcam i have had Are you sure you know your settings on the BlackVue app? I don’t run cloud just SD card so maybe that difference a bit
Very informative video, thanks! I'm planning on replacing my aging Nextbase 512GW+Rear camera as I'm sure the internal capacitor is dead. Based on your video I'm going to get a Viofo A299 Pro as it seems to be a great camera for the price and night time recording looks fantastic. Haven't decided if I'll get the interior cam or not yet, did you notice any degradation of video quality when using it in 3 channel mode compared to 2 channel? Thanks again!
There is slight degradation of the front cam quality (reduced bitrate to make room to the extra channel), but if you need the interior cam, then you need it. I run the 3CH in my car. :)
Retired mechanic here…..everyone please listen. The OBD port was never meant to supply constant power to something. In the 10 years i worked at a toyota dealer i saw this 7 times. 4 due to that insurance monitor progressive and State Farm offer and 3 due to tapping into and or plugging a device into the OBD port long term. People those ports are meant for accessing the computer ONLY. So unless you want to spend $5,000 or more on a computer -labor/programming DO NOT PLUG INTO THAT PORT. Hardwire another way
Thanks for that info!
Seven times in ten years at a dealership seems like an acceptable risk level to me.
@@TexDrinkwaterwow you’re smart
@TexDrinkwater if it was the only option, it is a very, very low risk. But it's not.
@@TexDrinkwater
Agreed. It does seem like low risk to me as well. The question is….Is choosing the low risk option ,when there are no risk options, optimal?
Hi, I'm in the uk and been using the Viofo A119 Mini 2 for about 6 months now and it's Brilliant.
I've been running the a229 Pro 2CH for a couple months now; works very well.
T
I recently installed and hardwired the a229 pro in my Silverado. My current solution for the parking mode battery dilemma is a 1.5amp battery maintainer that I plug in whenever I'm home. Long term I'll likely add a second deep cycle battery in the engine bay for extended recording when I'm away from home.
@@NathanielHatley I'm just gonna wire mine to a key on only circuit when I fit one to my 71 C10. Not taking the chance, even if a modern battery starting a 53 year old points fired I6 has an easy enough life.
Nice beard
With an open budget, I've had a Blackview 970X LTE Plus professionally installed in my truck about a month ago and it's been working great and flawlessly; no video or focus issues such as ones you reported. Apparently the very recent manufactured batches of Blackview 960X LTE Plus have no issues. I love the fact I can do live view any time and impact notifications are also very worthy. I have an extended battery pack totalling 14,300mAH for extended parking coverage. Loving it so far 👍
Great news! Thanks for the report. Hopefully this trend continues.
Hopefully, they started doing something differently at Pittasoft. I have 2 Blackvue cameras on my cars. Installed a bit more than 3 years ago. Both having the same issue - constant reboots. By now I hate the phrase "starting normal recording". Tried multiple SD cards. Voltage level is ok. They both are cloud cameras with the price in the $650 range. Highly not recommended. It seems the company needs to be renamed from Pittasoft into PITA soft.
@@calmdown1774 No such issues; only concern is almost 1/2amp current draw in parking mode. Backup batteries last a little over a day or more.
With a newly installed blacvie 970x 2 channel confused on how to have remote cloud that I can retrieve from app have wifi in vehicle Have another two channel earlier model 900 2 channel that works beautifully with app. Not concerned with cloud as never drive vehicle. I’ve been going bavk and forth with blackvue with their customer service but quite frankly I’m not savy enough to answer the questions they need to set up my cloud. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated
When I install my detector alps the shop always opts for the blacvue as they install in 95 percent of customers very high end vehicles
Thx in advance
@@eugenekozlowski1949 you said you have a 970X 2CH and not the LTE version. To remotely connect to your camera, you need the camera connected to a 2.4gHz wifi hotspot; most in-vehicle wifi hotspots operate only whilst vehicle is running or the ignition switch is in accessory mode. Please confirm your vehicle wifi hotspot is available by searching for that hotspot in your phone. Your hotspot needs to be working on 2.4gHz and not the 5gHz band for it to communicate with your 970x; this is not something the manual tells you. In your vehicle hotspot settings, assuming it is live and on, change settings to 2.4gHz. Let me know how it goes.
Don't go too cheap. I bought a chinese $50 dashcam and it was totally losing 5seconds of footage between clips. which could be a huge problem in the case of an accident. I had a guy road rage at me, and it missed the crucial moment he drove at my car. I could have reported him to the cops, and his insurance company if I'd had that footage.
Spend the money, buy a good brand, and check the footage to make sure it is capturing all footage from clip to clip with no losses.
There's so much packed into this video I have to watch twice. Some of this stuff I wasn't aware I needed but you're just that through. Definitely cloud capability with realtime image notifications to my home screen.
I switched from the n4 pro to a229 pro 3ch because the vantrue was nothing but a nightmare. Kept boot looping, restarting randomly and just not turning on. Requested a replacement, same exact thing. A229 worked straight out of the box. No issues and I’m happy with it.
Weird! I wonder if there was some power or wiring issue? That sounds very frustrating and unusual. Glad to hear the A229 Pro is treating you well.
@@VortexRadar I had it hard wired into my battery. Have no idea why it kept messing up. Tried 3 different cars and same outcome. I actually bought the a229 pro based off of your review. It just slightly beat out the blackvue.
thanks, i was about to buy the van true but going with the Viofa
@@wevonox7941 hows the a229 plus?
Just installed my A229 Plus today
Ah sweet
I will get A229 Pro for my next vehicle. Blackvue drop the ball with the 970x. I have a 900x on my Dad's RAV4 and it work great. Was about to get 970X until I saw this video.
I brought the A229 Pro on your recommendation and love it
I got it and I don't like it. Can't see plates very well during the day or at night. Night time rear camera is practically useless.
@@misternaem2103 Dashcams NOT reading license plates in daylight, at night, or in low light situations is a "REVELATION" for most.
@@misternaem2103 crap, which one will you buy now
@@misternaem2103 which camera did you go for then?
Something to consider when using a drive camera that uploads over the Internet is that these companies will usually sell your data to the insurance companies so they can raise your rates for any reasons they find.
That's diabolical 😭😭😭
But what is I have no insurance😎😭
Dude You're paranoid or just a bad driver considered that's the reason for them raising your insurance?
i was trying to find a good one without wifi or hook up to the phone you know one?
@@JelqtronZero I have the Vantrue S1. It’s an older model but takes good video. My biggest gripe with it is the sentry feature will not work for me and it doesnt seem to be displaying the speed and never has. It doesn’t have any wireless features, though. I’ve never connected it to the internet. It might not even be able to. The only reason it might is to update firmware.
Thanks for the shout out Ariel, great video and very informative for the buyers! 😊 Haha that chicken at 15:48! 😅
😄👍👍
@@VortexRadar Thanks for this. I have been waiting for this as I am about to upgrade my A119 V3. Do we know why the chicken crossed the road?
Bought the Viofo A139Pro because of your review and it contains the new Sony Starvis 2 sensor which makes it clear during low light situations. The only issue is it can't connect to any of our iPhones with the Viofo app. Selling it and picked up a Vantrue N4 for over a year in the car and it works excellent.
Weird. Mine connects to my iPhone just fine. Have you tried posting on the DCT forums so people can help you get it working too? dashcamtalk.com/forum/forums/a139-pro.404/
@@VortexRadar I just posted the above comment. Thanks
@@dc5723you’re welcome
Fantastic Video.. Great job going over the details of all the cameras.
I have used Viofo A119.. its ANCIENT.. 5 years old I think. Works great still and has great video quality. I also have an Original Vantrue N4. 3 cam setup.
Some things I dont like on the Vantrue.. video quality is not as good as the older Viofo, and the mount.. It moves around on the ball swivel too easily no matter how tight you make it. The viofo stays where you aimed it.. even if you bump the camera.
Also.. you have the screen door effect. The Vantrue lens sits a lot farther away from the glass.. so any dirt or scratches outside or inside tend to effect the video quality more.. The Viofo is right up next to the glass.. and seems to do better as a result. I guess if something got on the window right in front of it .. would block it. But for the general dust, dirt.. The lens being closer seems to work better. Keep in mind.. I use it for rideshare.. so lots miles... mostly at night.
Best review video ive seen in a long time. Thank you for making it obvious and showing footage. The views showing the same footage accross different cameras was very insightful. Really appreciate the quality video.
Pretty happy with my a229 plus. The voice commands do have a mind of their own, every day it locks a couple of videos out of nowhere. Also, wifi works great when I start the car, but after I drive for a while, the app doesn't connect and I have to power it off and power it back on. Then wifi works again
Yeah I wish they had a trigger word you had to say first like “Alexa” or “OK Google” or something. I think that’d help avoid the false activations.
You are possibly the best dash cam expert on the planet. Excellent comparison‼️😅 I like the comparison of the footage quality. Lots of work that you have done for us. Thanks! - I would like to know more about night vision.
Really appreciate this information and the amount of details !
Thank you! It was so much work, lol.
this video was a crazy watch because one of the Entry Level demo clips is actually a road in a neighboring city to where i live. absolutely insane that i recognized it too.
actually i think we just live in the same state, and probably a similar area, ain't that neat!
Which ones are better suited to take down and put up for theft reasons? Vs ones that permanently stick to the window
Theft reasons? I'm confused. How would they steal it from inside the car?
@@clonkex people break into cars
Wow. Talk about highly informative video. I'll defo be picking one using your link that's for sure..Great job
Thank you! Glad the video was helpful. This took a LOT of work in testing, researching, collecting and analyzing sample footage, shooting and editing, etc.
I used the Viofo A119 V3 for years. It's a great dashcam for the price. Highly recommended if you're looking for a single channel dashcam that's less than $100.
I absolutely love your videos man straight to the point no BS You're my go-to for this stuff
Thank you! Lots of info and test data to pack into these and so I’m glad to hear the videos are helpful. 🙏
Very thoughtful review (especially for someone not used to having a dashcam looking for hands off use)! Thank you!
Thanks so much for all the great testing and honest reviews.
I was thinking about buying 2 A229 Pros so I can have full 4K HD for front and rear view.
Do you think this is a waste?
I’ve seen several people do that and set up the rear cams as side cams or something.
@@VortexRadarI'd say that's the reasonably best 4ch setup quality wise, especially for rear plate readability and for getting the face from people who scratches car for fun (time lapse mode while parked).
I wish Viofo was officially here in Brazil. A229 Plus seems like a good 2ch combo for hot weather but importing it is just too much. Xiaomi's sub brand, 70mai A800S-1 costs 1/3 the price and isn't 1/3 worse for sure.
By the way, do you have any comparison with A810 vs A229 Pro? Didn't see any on your channel.
I’m not a fan of Li-Ion batteries in dashcams for safety reasons or some of the compromises made in the A810.
I will always return to this channel bc of the transparency on tech. Great Stuff vortex
I've watched several dash cam review videos, this one was definitely the best. Subscribed!
Thank you! Welcome aboard :)
Thank you for the Dashcam Presentation.
The radar detector camera is really important for me, because I'm always on the road. Just someone parked behind me on highway while I was viewing the front camera on my phone. They have been sitting there for about 40 minutes. If there was a camera that went from one screen to the next automatically, I won't need a radar camera. But radar with a cloud feature does save time than looking for a video feed that you want to upload on Facebook or TH-cam. Making more for evidence gathering than for potential accidents or security.
I have a 4 channel camera that shows the sides, front and back. I drive a cargo van, which a cab camera, although good, does not show the full extend of the intended focus. Like a police showing up. Or a vehicle that hits me from the side. I have no windows in the back and the cab and cargo are to separate areas by a mental wall.
Because the cargo area is separate, I have a camera for it. I brought a camera from temu and it was the worse mistake. I thought if I spent more, I would match the features of my 4 channel camera.. An absolute waste of money.
Than I saw a cheap camera in Ollie's for $10. Yes! $10 . It's a single camera, but it does the job. It has a battery battery unlike the $79 piece of garbage from Temu. A three channel that really shows two or three depending on the power source. The menu is pretty confusing. But not so much with the $10 camera.
The only real problem is because you can't connect your phone to it, obtaining the footage is more difficult. And the sound isn't great!
Although the menu is more confusing on the 4 channel camera, the phone (or tablet) viewing option makes it more simpler.
Non of the cameras have cloud viewing. But because I'm always in my vehicle, it is not a pressing issue.
Some people have used a ring type camera for their traveling, cargo/Sprinter vans or RVs. They probably offer more superior functionality for a better price.
Maybe someone can give me there experience as this might be the direction I want to go.
Thanks for the great reviews. I’ve been following your reviews on dashcams for at least a year and just today, ordered the Viofo A229 Pro using your link. Thanks again!
very good video and wonderful analysis. helps me to quickly decide the dashcam over tons of chinese items in amazon. thanks. and its hard to find the No BS videos now these days , thanks for making one.
Your awesome dude, just got a Acura MDX, getting the 3-pack A229 Pro.
Sweet congrats!
Couple questions about the thinkware 3000 cam;
1. Can I add an external power cell to supplement and prevent draing the car battery?
2. Can it be hardwired into a vehicles fuse box?
3. Does it offer any cloud data trf capabilities? For example if I'm driving, it connects to my phone to save the recordings in the cloud?
4. If it cannot handle cloud, what's the max size sd card you can store?
Thank you for the awesome reviews. This helped me identify the cam I need, mostly for recording when car is parked.
1. Yep. I recently did a video about it here: th-cam.com/users/shortsrWksn8HaT8Y You can use either this battery like I did: amzn.to/46x2igX or this smaller one: amzn.to/46nTsC6
2: Yep. It comes with the cable to do this.
3. Yes, if your phone serves as a WiFi hotspot for your dashcam to connect to.
4. Not sure off the top of my head. Maybe 512 GB? You can reference some Thinkware documentation.
@@VortexRadar this is so helpful thank you. Sounds like thinkware is the right camera for me
Thanks for the video! I’m going with an A119 Mini 2 🙌🏻
Congrats! 👍
How has it held up?
@@Pasta4life11 This dash cam performs well and connects easily to my phone for quick video downloads-a real convenience. The only drawback is an occasional random beeping, which stops after unplugging and reconnecting. It’s a minor annoyance in an otherwise reliable device.
I’ve been playing with the idea of dash cams for half a decade. I even bought two, but I never installed them because I never had the mental bandwidth to devote to figuring out how to use them now they’re out of date so I’ll take your suggestion and determine what’s best for me and I’ll get back to you.🎉
While Dash Cams can be used to prove you were NOT at fault in accident it can also be used to PROVE you were at fault. Double edged blade.
That’s true. If that happens, maybe don’t jump out and be like “Hey officer, check out my dashcam footage!” 😄
@@VortexRadar😂
@@VortexRadar Trust me. Less drama is better. I have a Blackvue system. I recorded some guys that came by me speeding then the cops showed up and pulled one of them over. I could have offered up my info but i kept driving and said NOT MY DRAMA. Thanks for your videos.
That's why people like the one with the rear-facing camera attached to the front facing one because if something happens that's your fault you just take it down real quick@@VortexRadar
Then don’t be a bad driver? And if its your fault, be a grown up and take responsibility if you mess up, the other car could also have a dashcam
Just got a new Camry, thanks for the dash cam recommendations and reviews. Beautiful family by the way!
Thank you! Which one are you going for?
man really needed it! it helps alot thanks
Having to buy a new car and figured it’s time for a cam. Pleasantly surprised to see you’re still making videos (never bought a radar detector but remember watching hour stuff yearsss back)
haha welcome back!
How about reviewing the iPhone software for these devices? I see your favorite has very poor reviews in the App Store.
Most every dashcam app has poor reviews. lol 🤷♂️
The struggle I have had is with mounting the rear camera in my convertible. Mounting to the rear glass is not an option since it folds into the trunk when the roof is open.
Really good video! Just like all your others. Do you have any advice on a Dash Cam with live view that can be used when parking? Kind of like a reverse cam. The resolution is not very important. App function is to prefer. LTE is not required, but is desirable. Have looked at Garmin because they have good support here in Sweden. So they are desirable. But there should be other options as well, I think. Money is not a problem.
Usually the dash cams that use an app over WiFi to do that lead to a poor experience. If that’s important, you may want to consider a dashcam with a dedicated display like a RVM style dashcam. There’s a lot of junky ones and fake 4K ones, but the Nexigo D90 looks pretty good. amzn.to/4aMmFI6
I bought a Garmin Dashcam 57 because I've been happy with the reliability & Customer Service of their other products which I have; Nuvi 2597 GPS for my car & 61ST GPS hand held GPS when hiking/geocaching. Everything works out of the box & if I want some tech support I can call & talk to a real live person.
I connected my Dashcam with Garmin's OBD power plug, no problem.
Thanks for the information! I appreciated this video! I'm a delivery driver of 9 years, and feel that I should have something to capture video in case I get involved in a wreck of some kind, especially with my other fellow drivers being in wrecks lately this year. I'v gone for the "Viofo A229 Pro", with the 3 channel set up. Seems to be the best option, and well received from what i'v read in the comments and reviews. Even got $80 off through Amazon + free shipping with my prime account, so even better. Can't wait to give it a go! (Probably should get some SD cards for them too, while i'm at it. Might need those)
Congrats! Hopefully you won’t need it *knock on wood* but it’ll be good to have it. :)
I've been interested in Nextbase iQ 4k since your video with Nextbase personnel. How do you feel about that dash cam now they're there has been a little bit of time while out on the market? Keep up the great work!
That one gets a lot of complaints in practice and the video quality doesn’t seem very good.
@@VortexRadar Thank you very much.
You are awesome for doing this video. You really put a lot of time and effort into making a nice comprehensive video and I appreciate it. Keep up the great work. No AI is gonna replace you !
lol thank you!
Would you recommend buying Vantrue N4 Pro or Viofo a229 Plus? Both seems to be around the same price at the moment. My priorities are video quality and license plate rec. Thanks
I like the design of BlackVue's box model, but I dislike that the rear camera is 1080p and the front camera's video quality isn't as good as Viofo's.
2:01 Thanks for disclosure of sponsors or lack thereof. A youtuber with moral.
Officer: How much of a proof do you have?
OP: Yes 20:30
Back in March 2022 I bought the Vantrue N4. Within less than a year, it started a sequence of shutting down and turning back on constantly. I contacted the manufacturer. They sent me a new rear camera because this only happened when the rear camera was connected. They also sent a new cable. I tried replacing both of them and the issue continues to happen. Its been over two years and I’ve told them it was a heat issue because during the summer the frequency of rebooting is every two seconds during the winter it’s about every 20 seconds or so. Therefore, it’s a heat issue. The unit feels very warm. And no the voltage is just as it should be. My last correspondence with the manufacturer theybsaid that they are going to inform their engineers of the issue. After researching this on the Internet, it appears I am not the only one having this problem. So now I have bought a three camera system and only got two cameras working. I wish they would do something to correct the situation. At this time, I cannot recommend them. 😢
You're very thorough. Thank you!
I don’t want to record myself while driving because i discovered, after accidentally taking a photo of myself while driving, that I have a RBF.
You are beautiful!
Good girl
Your review was very informative. I'm presently looking for a dash camera that is suitable for my needs. My vehicle is a 2025 Honda CRV Sport, I find the windshield smaller that usual therefore I don't want a camera that will take up any additional windshield space. However, one piece of information I need is the longevity of each of the dash cameras you reviewed. I find that although all the cameras are good and some have a better recording quality. What I don't know is how long will each of the cameras last. I have done some research and read reviews that say some of the cameras last 6 months while others a year or two. Can you please provide some insight into how long each of the cameras you reviewed will last? Thank you
Great video with good useful info 🎥👍🏼
Thank you so much for your time! This was just an all-around excelent video.
This video helped me out a lot, thanks.
So glad to hear that! 🙏
Good job Ariel!
Thank you! I spent so much time going back and forth in the Blackvues after our conversation, heh. Still feels kinda borderline.
Thanks for the great video, lots of info to consider, exactly what I was hoping to get. Also, thanks for making me homesick lol, I moved to Dallas from Mill Creek 7 years ago, it was fun seeing all the streets you were driving around on that had me thinking 'I know that place'!
I promise I was waiting for this video. Thanks
Your videos have been a 1 stop resource for me (on radar detectors and laser jammers, etc.) and I am always grateful for the accuracy and detail of your information. I am looking for dashcam options that have a dedicated/remote display (using a separate, NOT built-in forward facing camera). I have searched quite a bit but have only come up with "street guardian" products that have this functionality (perhaps I am using the wrong search terms?). I wonder if in your research, you have come across other brands that have this configuration (or could suggest better search terms for me to use). I don't need anything super fancy or lots of options (I don't need interior cam or rear view capability). I would be grateful for any suggestions you may have. Thanks again for all of the GREAT/informative videos that you create.
The video starts at 02:30
For those who are curious I have a BlackVue hardwired and installed by professional shop. When it’s in parking mode, it will drain my battery to 0 if I don’t drive my car for a few days. It’s very annoying. And took me buying a new battery and getting my alternator tested to figure this out.
Did you enable the parking mode settings with voltage cutoff options in the dashcam? It should turn off before draining the battery too low.
If so, you can always raise the voltage cutoff level so it doesn’t drain your battery as much as well as consider using the timer so it shuts off after a period of time.
With a healthy car battery, you shouldn’t have any issues when using the voltage cut off settings.
@ 15:51 Please tell me you found out "Why the chicken crossed the road?"
I can't wait for 15:51 and I'm only at 11-something ... 😅
Which would be the most fit product for very hot climates (where the car's interior space goes up to 40 celsius degrees and above)?
Very informative. I have an old classic car, seldom used. Battery is disconnected when not using the car. I need "No hussle" when connecting battery back on. Need proper front facing camera,... and monitor so that all functions are at hand without any apps. Cost is not an issue. Your recommendation please. Thanks JB
One thing I don't understand, is how they can possibly have 4k front, 2k rear, and potentially even a 1080p interior, and still use the same v30 microSD card. How can they possibly write all of that video to the card? Seems like they would need a better card, or multiple cards.
This is like the 1st or 2nd video of yours I see. And I know immediately I must subscribe here. You are simply amazing and knowledgeable in what you discuss.
You are simply amazing 💯 👍
Thank you and welcome aboard!
@@VortexRadar
I ordered the viofo A229 Pro yesterday after watching few of your indept and brilliant reviews. I am a stack fan of OEM mirror dash cam. But I found the A229 Pro fulfilling almost all I desired from a dashcam, but it's not a mirror 😀.
After so much research over weeks now, I come to realise no single dashcam fulfills all I desire in it except I go by using 2 seperate units 🤷🏼♂️
So decided to get this Viofo and another mirror dash cam with no much bells and whistles.
MY questions are:
1) Is it okay to adwire 2 different dashcams in a single vehicle (2024 Toyota Rav 4)?
2) Could there be any side effect?
3) I have seen many dashcam reviewers saying that the cut-off voltage should be minimum of 12V to avoid waking up to a dead car in the next day. But what's the minimum voltage required by a 12V car to start up?
Thanks
@@VortexRadar Help Please. My car is being vandalized in the parking lot on drivers door so far. What camera do you recommend since at times I can't park close to my apartment.
Great reviews! Thank you. How is Atomi Smart 4K dual lens dash cam?
So the a119 is the best front only dash-camera? Thanks for the detailed video.
Awesome video! I've been wanting a DC for a while, drivers get worse and worse 😡. Haven't been hit 🙏🏻.
Great review - thank you! I only come to you for car video and radar detector reviews - no need to go anywhere else. A question I have is if you have any opinions or recommendations of dash cams that would function well for both its primary purpose but also for recording car club drives. Those often use GoPro but I'd love to find a set up that can handle both of them well.
I love your channel. I upgraded my REDTIGER F7N 4K to a VIOFO A229 PRO. When I went to install the A229, I was disappointed that I could not see the screen as I could with the F7N. The A229 was installed that the screen was facing down at such angle that I couldn’t see the screen unless I leaned to the side and looked up (obviously not safe) and I also couldn’t use the touch buttons. I like to be able to see what my camera main camera and my rear camera sees as I’m driving. I emailed VIOFO’s Customer Service and they told me to use Voice Commands. If their voice command system is anything like the one on my Garmin GPS, I’d be spending time repeating my commands. If I can review dash cam footage in my iPhone, why is there even a screen in the A229? It just feels weird to have the camera and button facing the floor.
I bought the A139 pro few years ago and it’s been the best dashcam I’ve had. I might consider upgrading to the new A229 pro. Do any of the wiring need to be changed or the same wires can be used?
I just picked up the Viofo A229 Pro 3 ch and was wondering if the SanDisk 512gb High Endurance Video micro SDXC card worked as well as the SanDisk 256gb Max Endurance micro SDXC card that you recommend?
Thanks for all the awesome videos... very informative!
While I've had good luck with the High Endurance cards over the years, for some of the most demanding dashcams like the A229 Pro which records large video files and from multiple cameras at a time, Viofo is now explicitly recommending the Max Endurance cards over the High Endurance ones. See here: shrsl.com/4rc72 They are limited to just 256GB though so if you want 512GB, you'll need to use a Viofo brand card. amzn.to/4hVmNJw For this reason I've been switching to Viofo 512's.
I bought a VIOFO 119 V3 a couple years ago and it was a piece of crap. I put my old one back in and it has been working well ever since. I just pulled my 119 out and plugged it in and will try to install new firmware but I don't have any confidence in it. It just does goofy stuff. The old one I'm using now is rock solid.
What is your “old one”?
This was a great tutorial on what to look for! Thank you for sharing. I’m looking for a front/back dash-cam with the Sony lens and am not interested in paying subscription fees for the cloud and such. Just put it on the memory card. In addition, I like the parking protection these cameras offer. What would you recommend given these three important features.
What about the FitcamX. Integrates into the the forward radar box behind mirror on most newer cars - connect straight into the power used by the radar without batteries or cables to the fuse box. No clunky external cameras stuck to your windscreen.
Discussed here: Checking Out New & Popular Dashcams (Livestream)
th-cam.com/users/live9UxdOks0Ues?feature=share
good vid man. well done handsome!. literally, the dude even posted the links to the memory cards lol. great effort, time well spent, thumbs up!. unfortunately money is an issue for us, so were just going to go with........ the a229 pro like yea said, since the misses is the one that causes the accidents :)
In hot climates.
Get Tesla and set the interior for dog mode or camp mode.
Any comfortable temperature for hours or even days when plugged in.
You can buy Power stations in any size
Add a solar panel and it could last year round 24/7/365
Great Video! How long does it take for a Viofo 3-channel setup to fill 512GB memory card?
Just the info I was looking for!!! thx
Purchased the pro with your link due to the quality of your content. Thank you.
Congrats and thank you!
Just making an observation about the video comparison at 15:37 to 15:52, the CPL is ON on the Thinkware U3000 while the other two the Viofo A229 and Blackvue DR970X the CPL is OFF. As I understand Circular Polarizer Lens (CPL) is best used during bright sunny days and not during dark nights. I am just curios if it makes a difference if the CPL is OFF on the Thinkware U3000.
Right. I discussed this in the video since the TW CPL isn’t removable once installed and BV didn’t offer a CPL. That said, CPLs do impact light gathering capabilities (like wearing sunglasses), but they do not impact dynamic range which is what I was specifically testing in the comparison.
Hi, thank you for your great video. I and my husband travel a lot, and we have decided to record the roads on our trips. So I was wondering if there is any dash cam that can be installed and uninstalled multiple times in different cars.
Which of these are "hands-off"? I'm looking to buy one for myself, but I'm not looking at camera specs as much as I am 2 main features: 1. Do I have to turn it on every time I start my car?, and 2. Does it automatically overwrite memory, or do I have to manage it myself?
That describes basically 100% of the dashcams on the market. :)
@@VortexRadar well I will definitely be buying one from your affiliate links then, I honestly can’t believe that the creator of such an informative and huge video responded to my obscure inquiry within 20 minutes. I’ve never seen that before. Thank you very much - subscribed, liked, (obviously) commented, and will share with my family!
@@VortexRadar when I looked at dashcams a few years ago at Best Buy, the employee explained how most of their models don’t have both, which is why I asked. Thanks again!
lol thank you and wellcome aboard!
Oh wow, no wonder it would be confusing! When it comes to action cameras like GoPros, that’s true, but all dash cameras work that way. Maybe that was the source of the confusion?
Wow this is so helpful, specifically mentioning the hot climate in saudi arabia 🇸🇦🤣, thank you so much now i know what to choose.
Thanks for the review I have subscribed to your channel. Have been trying to retrieve decent information on the Blackvue and the VIOFO and the VIOFO A229 Plus 3CH seems to fit my price range and needs. On a scale to 1-10 on installation on cars I would say I'm a 6.5; How complicated is the install and will it come with everything needed to install?
Also, how is customer service and is there a customer service phone number in the U.S.?
I have a 229 duo pro and and I've had overheating issues with it since day one. I bought it through Amazon through and when I tried to return it for an exchange it was already past the date on Amazon. I contacted the manufacturer in China and they wanted me to first class mail it back to them with tracking with me paying for international postage. I just said screw it and I'm going to get another one
I'm in Nevada & am seriously thinking of buying the A229Pro. Please, which State are you living in & having overheating issues with? I'm guessing, Texas.
I have dash camera in my old car/that I still have and drive,for 4-5 years already. Dash camera was not expensive, I have pack of 2,one front and one back camera on loop recording. Im very very happy I decided and bought it. Now, I'm buying new dash camera for my "new" car and i was just thinking about another way to plug the camera. Can someone suggest any good videos/tutorials on how to do that connection on battery correctly with proper installation and parts. Appreciate any advice
I’ve got a couple videos doing that if you’d like to search my channel. :)
Excellent tutorial. Based on Your reviews and cam functions and features, I purchased the VIOFO A229 Plus 3 Cam kit with the parking power wire kit. I do have a question; regarding the the frame rate (I think). Before I went thru the whole installation bid, I first connected the dash cams and tried them out. Everything is working fine BUT, that frame rate., I'm not sure if I am describing it correctly. On Cameras screen, as I moved the cameras a bit, the frame movement did not correspond with my movements. Play back of videos when I removed MicroSd card and played files on my Pc, they seemed fine. Perhaps this has some to do or the fix in camera Settings? Could you elaborate some, I'd appreciate it. Thx.
I recently had cervical spine surgery and now the Washington state DMV office is making me prove I can drive safely. Which set up would be the best to show me 90° to the left and 90° to the right at least 500 feet in either direction? I am not able to turn my head, and won’t ever be able to because of the surgery.
So I’m actually working on a video now talking about 360 degree dashcams that do a good job at recording to the side as well. Stay tuned for that one.
@@VortexRadar Thanks!! I just found your channel and enjoyed seeing some familiar landscapes as you were filming 😉
I’m planning on getting insta360 x4 as dash-cam but I’d love to know that there are more options.. can you please tell me when would the video be posted
Video is now live! th-cam.com/video/BbD6PoN6nZY/w-d-xo.htmlsi=z14Dhhv6NwK4WWeA
I'm guessing the Viofa a229 Plus should be better at night than the Pro version due to the pixel pitch of the lower res sensor. Have you compared?
I'm lost, what do I buy, this was overwhelming! All I'm looking for is a good clarity dash cam that records front and back
In that case get a Viofo 2CH dashcam
I feel Blackvue quality has suffered also. My 750 lasted 2 years… I have replaced my 900x front camera once a few months out of warranty and now my B130X is acting up and 4 months out of warranty. Ill be trying a different manufacture next time for sure.
Those are all very expensive cameras. Awesome review, great job.
I had my Nextbase 322GW for over 4 years now great dash cam. And when it goes wrong i will by another it's the only make i trust
I have had a BlackVue 900 for 5 years. The only Dashcam i have had Are you sure you know your settings on the BlackVue app? I don’t run cloud just SD card so maybe that difference a bit
Very informative video, thanks!
I'm planning on replacing my aging Nextbase 512GW+Rear camera as I'm sure the internal capacitor is dead.
Based on your video I'm going to get a Viofo A299 Pro as it seems to be a great camera for the price and night time recording looks fantastic.
Haven't decided if I'll get the interior cam or not yet, did you notice any degradation of video quality when using it in 3 channel mode compared to 2 channel?
Thanks again!
There is slight degradation of the front cam quality (reduced bitrate to make room to the extra channel), but if you need the interior cam, then you need it. I run the 3CH in my car. :)
Thank you for this! You were really thorough and informative. This was really helpful.
Used the link yesterday. Got A229 Pro 2CH in today. Will start using tomorrow.
Wow that was quick. Congrats!
@@VortexRadar Yeah...Prime shipping. Didn't have a choice. It was either next day or nothing.