Review - Vantrue E1 Pro - 4K Starvis 2 IMX678 - LTE Cloud Compatible - Smart Cube Dashcam

[TonyM]

E1 Pro - Quick Start Test in Collision Detection Mode

I was curious to see how fast the E1 Pro starts recording after an impact when the "quick start" setting is enabled in collision detection parking mode.

The result was just under 2 seconds, which is on par with a number of other dashcams. For comparison, the startup time in power-saving mode is about 15 seconds.

 

[TonyM]

E1 Pro and LTE Module - Some Observations

I have been using the E1 Pro in Collision Detection parking mode for a few weeks, alongside the LTE module.

Impact detection sensitivity is set to 2/5, which is sensitive enough to be triggered every time I close a car door. Sometimes even opening the door is enough to trigger it.

Push notifications are set to real-time (this has to be set using the camera on-screen menu - it is not in the companion app).

When the sensor is triggered, the E1 Pro wakes up after 2 seconds and records a 30-second video, then goes back to sleep.

I found some interesting logic in the notifications:
- If the camera completes the 30s video clip, I then receive a push notification of the event
- If I turn on the ignition before the 30s clip is complete, the camera switches from parking to normal recording, and I do not receive a notification
- If I turn off the parking battery (which shuts down the camera) before the 30s clip is complete, I do not receive a notification

Therefore, I usually get a notification every time I get out of the car and close the door, but I do not get a notification when I get in and start driving, or when I arrive home and turn off the battery.

The time interval between the impact being detected and my phone receiving the notification has varied wildly, from less than 5 seconds to more than 15 minutes. At present I do not know why this interval varies so much.

 

[EricSan]

The time interval between the impact being detected and my phone receiving the notification has varied wildly, from less than 5 seconds to more than 15 minutes. At present I do not know why this interval varies so much.

Sometimes my daughter texts my wife and it takes up to an hour to come through. Guess it’s the same kind of thing…

 

[TonyM]

I'm on vacation this week and I brought the E1 Pro with me to use in the hire car, with the suction cup mount. Unfortunately the suction cup keeps falling off the windshield 😕

The first time it fell off after only an hour of driving from the airport. The other two times it fell off when I left the car parked overnight.

It seems to have a firm grip when installed by twisting the locking mechanism 90 degrees. The glass is clean and does not have raised dots in the area where I am installing it.

It has been about 9 months since I used this mount. It was stored in its box. The protective cover for the suction cup came off and no longer 'sticks' to the surface. Perhaps the material has aged?

@Jeff_Vantrue

 

[EricSan]

I see patterns of "something" in the light reflection on the cup itself. run the suction cup under water (careful to keep the rest dry) and rub with your fingers to make sure it is clean and there is no physical debris stuck to the cup. Then let it air dry. This will remove lint and other things that might be stuck to the cup. Don't dry with a towel of any kind, that will just impart more lint. Lint keeps the suction from forming. I've run into this lots of times with radar detector suction cup mounts. If this doesn't work, then there is another problem.

 

[Jeff_Vantrue]

I'm on vacation this week and I brought the E1 Pro with me to use in the hire car, with the suction cup mount. Unfortunately the suction cup keeps falling off the windshield 😕

The first time it fell off after only an hour of driving from the airport. The other two times it fell off when I left the car parked overnight.

It seems to have a firm grip when installed by twisting the locking mechanism 90 degrees. The glass is clean and does not have raised dots in the area where I am installing it.

It has been about 9 months since I used this mount. It was stored in its box. The protective cover for the suction cup came off and no longer 'sticks' to the surface. Perhaps the material has aged?

@Jeff_Vantrue

View attachment 90536

Sorry to hear about the mount issue.
You can try restoring the suction by soaking just the rubber suction surface in boiling water for a short time, then cleaning it with alcohol. This can help improve its stickiness.
Please be careful to only soak the rubber part, do not immerse beyond that area, as the mount isn’t waterproof and water could damage the internal components.

 

[Chuck McCoy]

Reply function not working.

@Jeff_Vantrue said:
You can try restoring the suction by soaking just the rubber suction surface in boiling water for a short time, then cleaning it with alcohol. This can help improve its stickiness.
Please be careful to only soak the rubber part, do not immerse beyond that area, as the mount isn’t waterproof and water could damage the internal components.

Chuck said:
@TonyM
Can you imagine if Vantrue put this in the user manual?
People can’t even figure out a static sticker.
Boiling water?
Forget, “Instructions unclear, thing stuck in ceiling fan”
Next we’re going to have structure fires 😂

 

[TonyM]

The issue might be user error 😳

I thoroughly cleaned the glass before re-installing the mount and it's stayed on all day today.

I partly blame the hire car company for not keeping their car spotless!

 

[Chuck McCoy]

@TonyM
Just to be thorough can you whip up a scalding pot of boiling water. lol

 

[TonyM]

I see patterns of "something" in the light reflection on the cup itself. run the suction cup under water (careful to keep the rest dry) and rub with your fingers to make sure it is clean and there is no physical debris stuck to the cup. Then let it air dry.

I rubbed it with a wet lint-free cloth that I found in our holiday house and it still has that patterned appearance. I didn't try boiling water though.

 

[TonyM]

You can try restoring the suction by soaking just the rubber suction surface in boiling water for a short time, then cleaning it with alcohol.

I'm on vacation so that might be difficult. I have half a nice bottle of wine and a strong German beer available...!

 

[TonyM]

The suction cup has remained solidly secured to the windscreen since I thoroughly cleaned the glass prior to re-installing it.

The E1 Pro continues to work well as a 1CH travel dashcam in a rental car. It is quick to install, and the 12V adapter includes a useful usb socket to power my phone as a navigation device when driving abroad.

Privacy mode appears to be working as intended. I will review some footage when I return home.