A329 Test & Review PP

[viofo]

A329 vs. A229 Pro - Audio Comparison

I will recreate this comparison will actual driving test footage.
Just waiting on official public firmware for the A329.

Audio can also be improved in the future version.

 

[Augustus]

Audio can also be improved in the future version.

Also Chuck's song choices can be improved on the future version .

 

[Nigel]

For @Nigel
Heat Test & Power Consumption Comparison (connecting included 50cm Type-C data cable to SSD input)

Without cable:

106℉ (41℃) Front
121℉ (49℃) Right
120℉ (49℃) Left

With cable:

103℉ (39℃) Front
117℉ (47℃) Right
108℉ (42℃) Left

If a general purpose cable can reduce the port temperature by 7°C and camera temperature by 2°C then somebody should design a specialised heat sink USB plug/cable for people who live in hot places!

The before and after photos appear to be the same photos, and the garage appears to have cooled by 1°C, so maybe the results are not very significant, but for the part of the camera around the USB-C port, the 7°C cooling is significant, and it appears that all the cooling you get from plugging in an SSD is actually from plugging in the cable, it doesn't matter if the SSD is on the end of the cable or not!

3.93 Watts ÷ 96Wh Battery Pack = 24.4 Hours Recording Time
4.03 Watts ÷ 96Wh Battery Pack = 23.8 Hours Recording Time (0.6 Hours Less)

It is a pity the cable uses so much power, I didn't think there was anything in the cheap cables to use power, maybe a cheap charging cable instead of a data cable would use zero power?

Thanks for running the test.

 

[Chuck McCoy]

Audio can also be improved in the future version.

Do you mean the A329 Pro, or the next firmware?

 

[Chuck McCoy]

The before and after photos appear to be the same photos

I just realized I uploaded the wrong thermal photos is post #179 Doh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I still have the camera running so I will fix that right now.

 

[Augustus]

613M would say you are not a man of culture.

I knew what the song was, I was subjected (tortured) when I was a kid with Boney M and Elvis and other old school music.

BeeGees I can get behind, so try that next time, I like just about all of their songs.

 

[Chuck McCoy]

The before and after photos appear to be the same photos

I uploaded the wrong photos in post #179.
I went out to the garage to try to “fix” it and test conditions are not cooperating.
I’ll have to redo both before & after tests.
That’ll take around 4 hours.
I’m falling asleep again.
The news says we’re getting an “atmospheric river” rain storm this week.
I only have one more day to trim trees before they fall on the house, so I’ll be doing that tomorrow.
This test will have to wait.

 

[Nigel]

I uploaded the wrong photos in post #179.
I went out to the garage to try to “fix” it and test conditions are not cooperating.
I’ll have to redo both before & after tests.
That’ll take around 4 hours.
I’m falling asleep again.
The news says we’re getting an “atmospheric river” rain storm this week.
I only have one more day to trim trees before they fall on the house, so I’ll be doing that tomorrow.
This test will have to wait.

We have the figures, and the photos from the test with the memory card reader tell almost the same story, so I don't think redoing the test is necessary. The important information is that plugging a cable in, even with nothing on the other end, does cool the camera, and for some people having heat issues, that may be useful to know. It also explains why the camera cooled when you plugged the memory card reader in.

 

[Bladex]

Good morning.

Is there any test carried out with M.2 SSD and its respective casing?

 

[Chuck McCoy]

M.2 SSD

I don't know what this is.
Can you provide link, and photos?

 

[Augustus]

I don't know what this is.
Can you provide link, and photos?

He means SSD (SATA or NVMe) in an enclosure like the advert photos for the A329

 

[Chuck McCoy]

He means SSD (SATA or NVMe) in an enclosure like the advert photos for the A329

These don't look user friendly, or plug & play.
What are the pros & Cons of these ugly sticks?

 

[Bladex]

No sé qué es esto.
¿Puedes proporcionar enlaces y fotos?

I'm sure you know it but I don't explain it well or the translator doesn't do his job well.

It is a solid M.2 NMVe SSD normally used inside PCs.
In theory with lower energy consumption than a normal SSD, in this specific case that I present mounted remotely with a specific adapter.

But I don't know if it will increase consumption much compared to Microsd mounted remotely with adapter?

The m.2 mnve SSD has significantly faster speed than a normal portable SSD and lower power consumption.

The price is lower than an SD and very similar to a normal portable SD.

But I don't know if a329 would recognize it without a problem, as happens with remote SD?

I also don't know if it would significantly increase the power consumption and temperature of port C.

It would be interesting if any colleague with an a329 has this type of SSD and could test compatibility and if they have measurement, temperature and consumption tools.

Obviously if you do not have this type of SSD it is a notable and risky outlay.

I don't have measurement tools, if I had them I would at least measure the consumption and perhaps buy the m.2 SSD and adapter on Amazon.

To measure energy consumption, what tool is needed?

 

[Augustus]

These don't look user friendly, or plug & play.
What are the pros & Cons of these ugly sticks?

Lol they're plug and play for replacing your internal SSD on your pc or laptop, me and @kamkar been doing it for years.

However, when using the enclosure that gives it the opportunity to be used as an external (rather than internal) drive with a USB-C output, which plugs into either USB-A or USB-C.

Pros are that storage is a lot cheaper to acquire this way rather than buying something like a Samsung T7 shield, cons can be if the heatsink isn't very good in the enclosure then you may run into issues with the drive etc.

 

[Augustus]

I'm sure you know it but I don't explain it well or the translator doesn't do his job well.

It is a solid M.2 NMVe SSD normally used inside PCs.
In theory with lower energy consumption than a normal SSD, in this specific case that I present mounted remotely with a specific adapter.

But I don't know if it will increase consumption much compared to Microsd mounted remotely with adapter?

The m.2 mnve SSD has significantly faster speed than a normal portable SSD and lower power consumption.

The price is lower than an SD and very similar to a normal portable SD.

But I don't know if a329 would recognize it without a problem, as happens with remote SD?

I also don't know if it would significantly increase the power consumption and temperature of port C.

It would be interesting if any colleague with an a329 has this type of SSD and could test compatibility and if they have measurement, temperature and consumption tools.

Obviously if you do not have this type of SSD it is a notable and risky outlay.

I don't have measurement tools, if I had them I would at least measure the consumption and perhaps buy the m.2 SSD and adapter on Amazon.

To measure energy consumption, what tool is needed?

NVMe are in a lot of portable SSD now which seem to have gotten rid of SATA SSD, but you're right in a lot of cases read/write speeds will be significantly faster than the lower specced NVMe in portable SSD.

i presume it's just the usb-c mounting interface, hence why microSD card readers being tested here with the A329 work. Has nothing to do with being locked down to just SSDs, so any USB-C interface device should work.

 

[Nigel]

To measure energy consumption, what tool is needed?

Easiest, cheapest, and most useful is a USB-C power meter, lots of them available at various prices, they are all reasonably accurate, maybe not exact, but they will let you compare power consumption between devices, and also measure energy in and out of power banks.

Best way is to use a multimeter to measure power going into the hardwire kit, or maybe the meter on your bench power supply if that is where your power is coming from, this will give you the most accurate result for predicting parking mode record times, but the USB-C power meter is much easier to use, more useful and plenty good enough.

But I don't know if a329 would recognize it without a problem, as happens with remote SD?

The camera wants an External Storage Device, doesn't matter what it is, as long as it will reliably respond fast enough. Some of the fastest SSDs may not always respond fast enough, while some of the cheapest USB sticks might be fine, so every device needs some testing before it can be recommended. We haven't heard of many issues with external storage devices though, yet...

 

[Chuck McCoy]

To measure energy consumption, what tool is needed?

 

[Chuck McCoy]

Easiest, cheapest, and most useful is a USB-C power meter

Correct.
However, they can only measure power consumption in NORMAL RECORDING MODE.
You need the HK4 Hardwire Kit to "reliably" command the camera to PARKING MODE, and switch back to NORMAL RECORDING MODE at will.

 

[Nigel]

Correct.
However, they can only measure power consumption in NORMAL RECORDING MODE.
You need the HK4 Hardwire Kit to "reliably" command the camera to PARKING MODE, and switch back to NORMAL RECORDING MODE at will.

You can plug the USB-C power meter in between the HK4 and camera. Are you saying that will disable the parking mode signal?

If so, it probably depends on which power meter you use.

I've always used two multimeters to measure parking mode power use, one for voltage, the other for current, since to know how long a battery will last you also need to know how much power the HK4 itself consumes, which can vary depending on how much power the dashcam draws, but I do use a USB-C power meter to measure power drawn from power banks, and that doesn't need the ACK signal for the dashcam to enter parking mode.

 

[SocialsFinest]

Do you mean the A329 Pro, or the next firmware?

i hope they mean next firmware… if the current 329 gets relabeled as the “plus” because ‘xx’ months from now they release a Pro version, ima facepalm .

I’m already debating lots as it is on the Extra $70ish dollars for the 329 vs 229 Pro on amazon.

Btw Chuck, your Amazon code wasnt working when i tested last night, ill test again later.
And glad to see u had a safe Sema trip.

If i work overtime and get the extra money to get the 329, i’ll be happy to post findings on the soon to come Midwest (probable) -30°F or colder winters