A229 Pro (2025) Improvement Wish List

[Panzer Platform]

After five months of testing here’s my wish list for the “2025 model”.
We all know what my amateur opinions are worth, and where I can stick ‘em. lol
-Chuck

1.) Discontinue 3-CH Configuration
2.) Revert 2-CH Rear 4K + 4K (IMX678 & IMX678) 60Mbps + 60Mbps Bitrate
3.) Revert 2-CH IR 4K + 2K (IMX678 & IMX675) 60Mbps + 30Mbps Bitrate
4.) 60fps Option Both Channels (upgraded processors required)
5.) Revert Coax Cable For Rear & IR Cameras
6.) Revert External Microphone Jack
7.) “Narrow” Lens From A119 Mini (2022) 93° Horizontal FOV (current FOV is 112°)






8.) 225° Front Camera Adjustment (ability to show passenger compartment)
9.) 180° IR Camera Swivel Mount (ability to show driver or passenger window)
10.) Revert 6 IR LED Emitters FOV 84° to 98° (reposition light sensor)





11.) LCD Display Horizon Alignment Line (50% Road / 50% Sky)



12.) Front Camera Text Overlay Too Small (increase character size like rear camera)




13.) Optional CPL Filter Rear Camera (clip on / press on)
14.) Support 2TB SD Card
15.) “OK Viofo” Guard Phrase (for voice commands)
16.) Voice Command “Turn On HDR” & “Turn Off HDR”
17.) Voice Notification “GPS Signal Connected” & “GPS Signal Disconnected”
18.) Optional 1 Meter Cable For Rear Camera
19.) Included 50cm Type-C to Type-C Data Transfer Cable
20.) Included Viofo Brand SD Card (64GB)
21.) Included HK4 Hardwire Kit
22.) Box Version (BlackVue DR970X-2CH Box Plus)
23.) No Cloud, Radar, ADAS, Geo-Fence, Smart AI, H.265, Speed & Red Light Camera Alerts, Proprietary Software Viewer, etc.
@safedrivesolutions @rcg530 @Vortex Radar

 

[TheSpanishInq]

23.) Geo-fencing HDR on/off (aka off during daytime for the current location)

13.) Would be higher on my list

 

[Panzer Platform]

23.) Geo-fencing HDR on/off (aka off during daytime for the current location)

Bill informed us Geo-Fencing for various features like disabling parking mode when returning home / garage, etc. requires cloud infrastructure.
Viofo has no immediate plans to add cloud, (and there’s good reason it's not on my list). lol
As a consolation prize you can utilize the Auto HDR Timer in settings.
See attached screenshot.
But you don't get what you don't ask for.
Send a support ticket with your request;

Submit a ticket

support.viofo.com

13.) Would be higher on my list

Viofo has a DIY solution for this, but it’s very “DIY”. lol

A229 Pro Test & Review PP

Has anyone tested the heat output of the A229 Plus/Pro? While the A229 Pro has heatsink (And the Plus does not), it records at a higher res (4K) which results in higher bitrate which equals to more heat. I don't mind spending the $$$ for the Pro, however I need something that will survive heat...

dashcamtalk.com

 

[TheSpanishInq]

Bill informed us Geo-Fencing for various features like disabling parking mode when returning home / garage, etc. requires cloud infrastructure.
Viofo has no immediate plans to add cloud, (and there’s good reason it's not on my list). lol
As a consolation prize you can utilize the Auto HDR Timer in settings.

Calculating sunrise shouldn't require cloud infra:

Sunrise equation - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

That, at least, is way more precise and far less cumbersome that manually changing the HDR timer every week.
It would be a different story if the camera would take the weather into account. On dark, cloudy days, HDR might be an option, maybe. But I don't expect that to be precise enough, so I settle for a timer based on the sunrise calculation . Maybe disable HDR half an hour after sunrise and enable it half an hour before sunset?

And I guess the same would go for disabling parking mode. If you can tell the camera where it should not enter parking mode, in Geo-coordinates, it can calculate if it is in the neighborhood of that location or not.

 

[Panzer Platform]

Calculating sunrise shouldn't require cloud infra

I can’t be convinced to convert a fixed blade dagger into a Swiss Army Knife. lol
Please send your improvement request to Viofo;

Submit a ticket

support.viofo.com

 

[TheSpanishInq]

No need to pull a knife on my suggestion
I've submitted a ticket, hope it can be done.

 

[Dex_]

I'm thinking about using light sensor on cabin camera as source of signal for HDR turn on\off. It allows turn on HDR even at day time on a tunnels and underground parking zones depend on light conditions. I also did not use HDR timer cause it required change settings around once at week.
I see one minus here - I did not use cabin camera because it decrease bitrate for main camera.

 

[Panzer Platform]

I see one minus here - I did not use cabin camera because it decrease bitrate for main camera.

Correct.
Connecting the IR Interior camera cuts the Bitrate of the Front camera in “half” from 60Mbps to 36Mbps.
This is my #1 complaint with the A229 Pro, and why it should have stayed a 2-CH system, (Front & Rear or Front & IR Interior).
"1.) Discontinue 3-CH Configuration"

Parking mode in 3-CH configuration is going to create “too much” heat.
We will find out this summer when we see posts requesting help, and submitting support tickets & warranty claims.

 

[viofo]

Some of the features no need to wait till 2025.

What is the 3 most important features?

 

[Panzer Platform]

Some of the features no need to wait till 2025.

What is the 3 most important features?

Gung Hay Fat Choy.
I’m Year of the Horse.
I’m not married, please send Lai see. lol
3 Hardware or 3 Firmware, you can choose.

HARDWARE:
7.) “Narrow” Lens From A119 Mini (2022) 93° Horizontal FOV (current FOV is 112°)




10.) Revert 6 IR LED Emitters FOV 84° to 98° (reposition light sensor)





9.) 180° IR Camera Swivel Mount (ability to show driver or passenger window)

FIRMWARE:
11.) LCD Display Horizon Alignment Line (50% Road / 50% Sky)



12.) Front Camera Text Overlay Too Small (increase character size like rear camera)
12a.) Also add “HDR Stamp” on Rear & IR Interior cameras at bottom of recorded footage.




17.) Voice Notification “GPS Signal Connected” & “GPS Signal Disconnected”

Don't forget to fix “Disable GPS in Parking Mode” setting.



Everything else can wait until January 1, 2025.
-Chuck

 

[safedrivesolutions]

Some of the features no need to wait till 2025.

What is the 3 most important features?

Over the air updates, impact only (low current, quick wake up) parking mode like Thinkware(Also fix your auto event detection from locking up in high heat) , more support and stability for other micro SD cards on market. @Panzer Platform those are my 3 critical

 

[Panzer Platform]

impact only (low current, quick wake up) parking mode like Thinkware(Also fix your auto event detection from locking up in high heat) , more support and stability for other micro SD cards on market. @Panzer Platform those are my 3 critical

Whoa, whoa, whoa, Ben, these are not on the 1-23 list.
Please start your own “Wish List” thread, too many chefs in here. lol

Over the air updates

We already have this.
Viofo officially released YouTube “How To” videos for both iOS & Android.
@rcg530 tested it, and it’s clunky AF.
It works, but the process needs to be streamlined similar to the Vantrue S1 Pro, (and other Vanture models).
C'mon Viofo, if Vantrue can do it surely you can too. lol

 

[safedrivesolutions]

We already have this.
Viofo officially released YouTube “How To” videos for both iOS & Android.
@rcg530 tested it, and it’s clunky AF.
It works, but the process needs to be streamlined similar to the Vantrue S1 Pro, (and other Vanture models).
C'mon Viofo, if Vantrue can do it surely you can too. lol

I mean like a real update with no cable like Thinkware, IROAD, Vantrue, Blackvue, should i keep listing brand names???

 

[safedrivesolutions]

Whoa, whoa, whoa, Ben, these are not on the 1-23 list.
Please start your own “Wish List” thread, too many chefs in here. lol

Hi JACKED ha ha ha

 

[Panzer Platform]

I mean like a real update with no cable like Thinkware, IROAD, Vantrue, Blackvue, should i keep listing brand names???

OK, well you got me there but, you can't include Thinkware, IROAD and BlackVue in that list because it conflicts with #23. lol

 

[Panzer Platform]

20.) Included Viofo Brand SD Card (64GB)

This customer from Amazon US is upset about the lack of included Viofo Brand SD Card, (January 5, 2024).
https://www.amazon.com/gp/B0CKYGLT5M



This customer from Amazon US is upset about the lack of OTA Firmware Updates via Wi-Fi, (December 20, 2023).
https://www.amazon.com/gp/B0CKYGLT5M

 

[safedrivesolutions]

All good points that can be corrected. SD card support, OTA updates. Is there a SMUG EMOJI?????

 

[Panzer Platform]

SD card support,

SD Card compatibility with aftermarket brands, (SanDisk, Samsung, Kingston, etc.) is not the issue I'm trying to raise, even though I agree with you 100%.
The core issue is the lack of included SD card in the box with the camera so the customer has a "known good card" for troubleshooting purposes.
BlackVue & Thinkware include their own branded 64GB cards in the box with all their cameras.
Bill has expressed his concern is related to cost, and another issue not mentioned.

OTA updates

Correct.
The "new" Type-C to Type-C method of OTA firmware updates is not user friendly like Vantrue's method with their smartphone APP, (non-cloud).
Shouldn't you be waist deep in snow doing installs right now. lol

 

[safedrivesolutions]

SD Card compatibility with aftermarket brands, (SanDisk, Samsung, Kingston, etc.) is not the issue I'm trying to raise, even though I agree with you 100%.
The core issue is the lack of included SD card in the box with the camera so the customer has a "known good card" for troubleshooting purposes.
BlackVue & Thinkware include their own branded 64GB cards in the box with all their cameras.
Bill has expressed his concern is related to cost, and another issue not mentioned.

Correct.
The "new" Type-C to Type-C method of OTA firmware updates is not user friendly like Vantrue's method with their smartphone APP, (non-cloud).
Shouldn't you be waist deep in snow doing installs right now. lol

The main problem is customers in general want to save money on an SD card. So part of me says every box should include a 32GB micro SD card in the box. It would solve a lot of challenges.

 

[Panzer Platform]

main problem is customers in general want to save money

These are the same customers that buy $50K high end luxury cars that require premium, (91 Octane) but they pump regular, (87 Octane) to save $0.20 a gallon, and then complain the engine runs like crap. lol