A169

[mentadent]

Make A169 with 6 cameras please.

 

[Dashmellow]

Interesting idea, but that is a lot of data for one camera to process. Even if it could process that much data, it would probably get pretty hot. It's also a lot for a memory card, even a big one to process. You wouldn't get much storage for each channel.

Another issue is that dash camera manufacturers are dependent upon the chip-sets available from SoC manufacturers. Currently, SoCs (System on a Chip) for dash cams are primarily only available with one, two or three channels, so if a 6 channel dash cam could even be produced in the first place it would require two - three channel processors combined which would make for an expensive, complex camera. You might also need two memory card slots, one for each processor, which could help with the data storage problem but would also add to the complexity and cost of the camera. Of course, you'd also need 6 lenses and six sensors, so I wonder what such a camera would actually cost to produce?

 

[Julian23]

How would you even use 6 channels?
I would understand 5. Front, rear, left and right plus inside. But 6?

 

[kamkar]

I think it would cost more than say 2 X what ever current 3 channel system.
For sure it will also have to be a version with all the cameras remote from the main box.
And you would also need to have some other means of storage than memory cards, and for sure you want at least 1 TB of storage space.
This in turn mean you also need to have some fast way of offloading footage, and just in case the memory have not gone full circle yet and so there are footage on the memory devise you already have backed up 1 time, well you do not want to back that up again.
Hardware wise you would also have to rely on a SOC like the ones used in DVR / NVR / other form of CCTV recorders, but here you might not be able to get the needed bitrate / image quality on each channel, the CCTV devises make do with much smaller bitrates as they generally do not have to resolve fast moving objects.
BUT ! you could probably find some hardware / SOC you can use, just it aint going to be cheap.
Also multi channel recorders will need active cooling, my NVR had a stupid little fan with high RPM, i have replaced that with a 120 mm fan that push much more air thru the NVR box, and as a much lesser noise level.

It would be a very big mouthful for any dashcam brand i think, even if there are already 3 channel models and some have demoed 4 channel systems.

 

[Nigel]

I think the biggest problem is that not enough people would buy it...

The amount of data and card space required is not much of an issue these days, you can easily fit 6x1080 + 1x half height 4K into just 2 4K streams.

I would understand 5. Front, rear, left and right plus inside. But 6?

You have forgotten the low level reversing camera mounted in the rear bumper, and the inside rear mounted/forward facing camera - necessary in taxis to catch things happening that are blocked by heads and headrests in the rear facing interior view.

 

[Dashmellow]

How would you even use 6 channels?
I would understand 5. Front, rear, left and right plus inside. But 6?

Personally, I could do without the interior camera but I would want a secondary telephoto camera facing the front. 🙂

I never drive without one!

 

[mentadent]

One forward, one backward, one left, one right, one passenger, one up nose.

I will glue two A139's together.

 

[Julian23]

Personally, I could do without the interior camera but I would want a secondary telephoto camera facing the front. 🙂

I never drive without one!

I have to agree, this would be a nice feature

 

[Dashmellow]

One forward, one backward, one left, one right, one passenger, one up nose.

I will glue two A139's together.

Everybody needs a nose cam!

I would want one on my nose, not up my nose though.

 

[SawMaster]

6 isn't enough, needs to be 7 to cover each nostril individually.

Somehow I worry about those who would want an 8-channel version...

Phil

 

[TonyM]

I'm slowly weaning myself off multiple dashcams. I'm down to 7CH so far! 😛 My target is 6, without any nose cams

 

[Mio NoVue]

Take a couple passengers with you & drones.

 

[mentadent]

I might have borrowed the camera from my colonoscopy.

 

[kamkar]

If anyone made a dual channel camera, with 2 forward facing cameras and one wide one tele, i would so buy that.
I would also buy that if it was a 3 channel system and had a rear camera.
I also dont need a interior camera.

 

[Dashmellow]

I might have borrowed the camera from my colonoscopy.

Is that your nose cam now?

 

[Dashmellow]

I'm slowly weaning myself off multiple dashcams. I'm down to 7CH so far! 😛 My target is 6, without any nose cams

For the last five years I've had 5 cams in my vehicle.

Front + front telephoto + rear + left side + right side

Basically 360º plus

Considering adding a rear tele.

So, six channels sounds just about right.

 

[DashCamDelight]

From googling, these systems already exist, albeit, the resolution for each feed is generally reduced to DVD quality 480P or 720p.

Probably get better results running a 2 x 3 and a 2 x 2 channel setup where you can capture streams at a higher resolution.

Front + Rear + Interior + Driver Side + Passenger Side.

 

[Dashmellow]

From googling, these systems already exist, albeit, the resolution for each feed is generally reduced to DVD quality 480P or 720p.

It would be helpful if you posted some links so we could see what you are actually talking about but from the sound of it you are describing old school commercial fleet systems used in buses and trucks which offer analogue D1/960H CCTV resolutions. Some versions of these systems are still on the market and indeed they are basically mobile CCTV systems, different than what we think of as dash cams, assuming this is what you are referring to. Based on this I don't think one could say the kind of thing mentadent proposes already exists.

There are modern high resolution (1080p) versions of these systems like the modular, expandable AXIS F Series but they are very pricey and impractical for average consumers like us.

I believe there may be a couple of generic 4 channel dash cams on the market designed for truckers but I'm not sure these are anything that any of us would find practical or useful. Perhaps these are what you are referring to? Again, if that is the case please post some links to what you found.

Either way, what @mentadent is postulating is a modern digital dash cam from Viofo that would have six full high res channels but that is something else entirely. Obviously, since nothing like that currently exists one would need to use more than one camera to achieve the desired result as many of us do and as you and others point out.

 

[DashCamDelight]

It would be helpful if you posted some links so we could see what you are actually talking about but from the sound of it you are describing old school commercial fleet systems used in buses and trucks which offer analogue D1/960H CCTV resolutions. Some versions of these systems are still on the market and indeed they are basically mobile CCTV systems, different than what we think of as dash cams, assuming this is what you are referring to. Based on this I don't think one could say the kind of thing mentadent proposes already exists.

There are modern high resolution (1080p) versions of these systems like the modular, expandable AXIS F Series but they are very pricey and impractical for average consumers like us.

I believe there may be a couple of generic 4 channel dash cams on the market designed for truckers but I'm not sure these are anything that any of us would find practical or useful. Perhaps these are what you are referring to? Again, if that is the case please post some links to what you found.

Either way, what @mentadent is postulating is a modern digital dash cam from Viofo that would have six full high res channels but that is something else entirely. Obviously, since nothing like that currently exists one would need to use more than one camera to achieve the desired result as many of us do and as you and others point out.

I agree that mostly of these are geared towards commercial fleets. Here's one I found that appears to be a legitimate Dashcam vs CCTV and supports 4 additional cameras (5 Channels Total). Not sure the resolution as the literature is confusing. Don't know what they're saying by Main Stream and Sub-Stream.

• Video
• Main Stream
  CH1：1080P/720P
  CH2~CH5：720P
• Sub-Stream
  CH1：720P/480P
  CH2~CH5：480P

The issue here is that either resolution (720p - Old High Def or 480 - DVD Standard) isn't all that great in 2022. And then how well would this handle in enclosed vehicle. My guess is lower resolutions may be due to limitations on the Front Camera processing 4 additional Streams at once and also to prevent front unit from overheating.

So running a 3 Channel and 2 Channel system will yield far better quality without the pitfalls. I.E. 2K Front + 1080P and 1080p (3 Channel) and 4k and 1080p or 2k and 1080p on a 2 Channel

AE-DI5042-G4

Hikvision AE-DI5042-G4 5ch Dashcam 4G/GPS

www.hikvision.com

 

[SawMaster]

I might have borrowed the camera from my colonoscopy.

That was the 8th channel which I was worried about 😵

Phil