A118 Novatek 96650 Full HD 1080P Car Camera DVR

[chris-s]

EDIT 2014-10-06 : Added some picture, reviews and sample test footages.

EDIT 2014-13-06 : No more overheating issue, read this :http://dashcamtalk.com/forum/thread...-1080p-car-camera-dvr.5647/page-11#post-70384

EDIT 2014-08-17 : How to update firmware ?

1. Prepare a micro SD card, format the SD card.
2. Download the new firmware from a safe place.
3. Rename the file to “FWB40A.bin” if needed, and copy to root directory of the SD card.
4. Insert the SD card to the camera card slot
5.Connect the camera with charger, it will upgrade automatically, after upgrade it will power on the camera automatically.

After upgrade, remove the SD card and delete the firmware, otherwise it will upgrade again when you power on the camera next time.

Daytime test footage :
A118 : https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bxdsi3_riDEkelRPSnBXRllnaFk/edit?usp=sharing
0803 (EV+0.7) : https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bxdsi3_riDEkRFg4VEZuN1hMSUE/edit?usp=sharing

A118 / Mini 0803 comparison :


A118

0803 EV+0.7

A118

0803

 

[jokiin]

Better than the G1W in my opinion, far better build quality also

 

[chris-s]

Thanks @jokiin.

That's seems to be very promising, as my G1W is already perfect, except the lack of GPS.

I really like this new mount system, very innovating.
Lens will be very close to the window, and in my opinion it will reduce reflections of dashboard.

It could also be great as a rear dashcam if I don't use the extension that hides cables.

 

[chris-s]

I've ordered an A118 from Foxoffer.
I will let you a small review as soon as received.

 

[Hilts]

I've ordered an A118 from Foxoffer.
I will let you a small review as soon as received.

Look out @niko someone's after your mantle of "Dash Cam Ownership King"!!

 

[jokiin]

Long way to go before he loses that title

 

[Hilts]

Yep, but chris-s is gaining fast at the moment!!

 

[jokiin]

I've got dozens of cameras and I think I still have a way to go before I could catch Niko

 

[chris-s]

I'm just trying to find the best that can fit my cars.
Purpose is to have 1 front, 1 rear and 2 lateral dashcams on my 2 vehicles

But if 0803/0801 and A118 fits good, I will resell my G1W & G1WH.

 

[jokiin]

you'll find the A118 is a lot more compact than it looks in pictures, way smaller than the G1W and it will fit in places that are too tight for an 0801 due to the design

 

[russ331]

I've ordered an A118 from Foxoffer.
I will let you a small review as soon as received.

I'm looking forward to your review.

It's a pity that it hasn't already been reviewed by someone as influential as Techmoan, whom I suspect is largely responsible for the worldwide sales success of the G1W, following his random purchase of one.

The YouTube review of the G1W is titled 'the best (insanely cheap) 1080p Dash Cam'. Chances are that it isn't, since Techmoan hasn't reviewed every cheap dashcam. Perhaps the A118 deserves the title?

 

[jokiin]

different people have different needs so what might suit one person is useless to the next, I'm sure there's a lot of people where the G1W fits their needs and they find it ideal

Techmoan reviews are more basic than what @niko does but for joe average his reviews are fine and generally give a good idea of what to expect which is what a lot of people miss out on when shopping online

 

[chris-s]

you'll find the A118 is a lot more compact than it looks in pictures, way smaller than the G1W and it will fit in places that are too tight for an 0801 due to the design

Exactly. I was suspecting it was smaller as it seems on the pictures, so I have asked Foxoffer the dimensions.
Since, dimensions appears on the A118 product page, as I asked for

This small size and new design will be perfect for my rear window. I could'nt find a way to mount a G1W, and 0801/0803 wouldn't have been as close to the window as I was expected.

Techmoan, whom I suspect is largely responsible for the worldwide sales success of the G1W

That why I bought a G1W And I'm very happy because it gives really good footages, better than more expensive dashcams.

different people have different needs so what might suit one person is useless to the next, I'm sure there's a lot of people where the G1W fits their needs and they find it ideal

I'm sure too. This is really a must have dashcam. But the risk is to find other dashcam worst after trying it

 

[Hilts]

I'm just trying to find the best that can fit my cars.
Purpose is to have 1 front, 1 rear and 2 lateral dashcams on my 2 vehicles
But if 0803/0801 and A118 fits good, I will resell my G1W & G1WH.

I am also interested to see how you get on with A118, as the design is interesting...

2 Lateral dash cams too! Does your car have 'Police Safety Camera' and a hi-viz battenburg decal on it by any chance?!

...It's a pity that it hasn't already been reviewed by someone as influential as Techmoan, whom I suspect is largely responsible for the worldwide sales success of the G1W, following his random purchase of one.
The YouTube review of the G1W is titled 'the best (insanely cheap) 1080p Dash Cam'. Chances are that it isn't, since Techmoan hasn't reviewed every cheap dashcam. Perhaps the A118 deserves the title?

@Techmoan - as Russ has suggested would you consider reviewing the A118 next (??):

...Techmoan reviews are more basic than what @niko does but for joe average his reviews are fine and generally give a good idea of what to expect which is what a lot of people miss out on when shopping online

Has Joe Average got more dash cams than niko? Or is that just a really stupid question??!

 

[jokiin]

Don't know of anyone that has had more cameras than niko

 

[Hilts]

Yep, niko has more dashcams than he has socks...

.....I don't even remember, hard to say ... maybe around 25-30 pcs different dashcams models I have in hand ( I keep best ones ) and another 50-60 different models I sold from the past I was testing them.
So, for sure I have them more than I have socks in my drawer ... I mean CLEAN socks, not the ones which are waiting for laundrette-time, LOL

@chris-s - keep going, you'll catch up with him eventually!!

 

[niko]

I've got dozens of cameras and I think I still have a way to go before I could catch Niko

"Ownership" amount is not that important as understanding hardware and firmware side which combined experience you have the most.
I dont have any specialized hardware / firmware engineering experience. It all comes from buying, looking inside, doing side by side tests and making my own conclusions which are not always right, and I still learning from other wize-guys of this and other forums / sources.

 

[chris-s]

2 Lateral dash cams too! Does your car have 'Police Safety Camera' and a hi-viz battenburg decal on it by any chance?!

In some particular situations, lateral dashcam could be helpful to determine responsability.
I had recently a case of a car trying to overtake me by the right in a roundabout. The front cam did not show anything !
Here is the video, this is the red car at my right at the beginning of the video wich honk me to force the way...

It could also be helpful to have a lateral cam when someone is get off his car and trying to open your door to hit you !
4 years ago, a man has hit my car with his hands for some reasons that I ignore. Hopefully I had a witness and he was condemned for damaging my vehicle. But without witness, the front cam only wouldn't have seen anything....

 

[Hilts]

In some particular situations, lateral dashcam could be helpful to determine responsability.
I had recently a case of a car trying to overtake me by the right in a roundabout. The front cam did not show anything !
Here is the video, this is the red car at my right at the beginning of the video wich honk me to force the way...

It could also be helpful to have a lateral cam when someone is get off his car and trying to open your door to hit you !
4 years ago, a man has hit my car with his hands for some reasons that I ignore. Hopefully I had a witness and he was condemned for damaging my vehicle. But without witness, the front cam only wouldn't have seen anything....

Wow! Sounds rather like GTA 'Paris Edition'...
Hope you were OK afterwards!

 

[niko]

Wow! Sounds rather like GTA 'Paris Edition'...
Hope you were OK afterwards!

No "GTA" can be compared to Russia road rage