An ode to cross-compatibility - the Vantrue R2 works with the hardwire kit for the Vantrue N4

[H-NV]

Recently, after 4 years of service, my Vantrue N4 gave up. I was struck over the few days just how used I had become to having a dashcam in the car. I actually think it makes me a better driver, sort of a "if I screw up then it's captured in HD". There are of course the more natural reasons, most especially that my dashcam has mostly witnessed accidents involving others, but not my car.

Then comes to the good news.

I was hunting through boxes from my recent move and found my old Vantrue R2, which used to be my main dashcam, but now is for travel use. I happened to have the broken N4 nearby and put them side by side. The mount connectors appeared to be identical!

A bit of charging, firmware update, changing settings and formatting the SD card later, I went out to the car. The R2 fit onto the N4's hardwire kit excellently and the R2 powered on straight away. What was going to be an unexpected expense I really didn't need (remember, I just moved house) was now fixed and I had at least something until I could get a more up to date camera.

Also, consider this a compliment for keeping an older, suction cup mounted dashcam around for travel/renting cars. I hadn't thought of it as a redundant camera before but it's just perfect for it.

Cheers to small but important victories.