Dashcam advice

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rcflyers

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I require a dashcam and was looking for some advice over which one to choose please.

I need a 3 channel system ideally with 3 separate cameras as I want to cover as much as the car as possible

I would rather not have one with a built in screen as I want to mount the cameras as discreetly as possible so they are not too visible.

I need the system to be able to record while parked, and at night.

I will be parking at the local sports centre 2 or 3 evenings per week so a camera with good night vision is essential.

It needs to have motion detection and impact detection in the parking mode.

Ideally I would be able to turn the parking mode function on and off easily.

I work as a mechanical engineer so I can fit the system myself.

It will be going in an EV which automatically tops up the 12v battery from the main drive battery so power consumption is not really an issue.

Thanks for any replies.
 
Thanks, they seem to have been discontinued now :-(
 
rcflyers said:
Thanks, they seem to have been discontinued now :-(
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The A329 is better than the A139, especially if you are using 3 channels, since the A139 reduces bitrate if 3 channels are connected. The A229 is in the middle if the price is an issue.

The A329 & A229 do have screens, but they have screen savers to turn them off very quickly if you want them to, and the cameras are really no bigger, just a vertical layout instead of the A139's horizontal layout. Vertical tends to be easier to hide in most vehicles, though not all, and the screen tends to be out of sight behind the rear view mirror unless you are looking for it. They don't hang down on a stalk like many dashcams, they fit flush against the glass, out of sight.
 
rcflyers said:
I require a dashcam and was looking for some advice over which one to choose please.

I need a 3 channel system ideally with 3 separate cameras as I want to cover as much as the car as possible

I would rather not have one with a built in screen as I want to mount the cameras as discreetly as possible so they are not too visible.

I need the system to be able to record while parked, and at night.

I will be parking at the local sports centre 2 or 3 evenings per week so a camera with good night vision is essential.

It needs to have motion detection and impact detection in the parking mode.

Ideally I would be able to turn the parking mode function on and off easily.

I work as a mechanical engineer so I can fit the system myself.

It will be going in an EV which automatically tops up the 12v battery from the main drive battery so power consumption is not really an issue.

Thanks for any replies.
Click to expand...
A 3-channel without the screen, maybe only Blackvue has such a model now?
 
rcflyers said:
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I would rather not have one with a built in screen as I want to mount the cameras as discreetly as possible so they are not too visible.
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I have an A229 Pro, that I have attached to the windscreen, to the right, and behind the rear-view mirror. Here, the dashcam will be more visible to the passenger and less visible to you. Obviously the opposite if you place the dashcam on the left side of the rear-view mirror. I can barely see the dashcam and actually see more of the power lead and other camera cables than I do the camera. To get to the camera I need to move the RV mirror out of the way, or sit in the passenger seat. Regardless of where you place the dashcam, there will be some apparent visibility of the dashcam from outside of the car. You can set the screen to turn off in about 30 seconds as I recall, at least on the VIOFO models I have owned.

Unless you find a particularly small camera, there will often be some visibility of the camera, depending on windscreen placement, and a slight visibility of the wiring.
 
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rcflyers said:
I require a dashcam and was looking for some advice over which one to choose please.

I need a 3 channel system ideally with 3 separate cameras as I want to cover as much as the car as possible

I would rather not have one with a built in screen as I want to mount the cameras as discreetly as possible so they are not too visible.

I need the system to be able to record while parked, and at night.

I will be parking at the local sports centre 2 or 3 evenings per week so a camera with good night vision is essential.

It needs to have motion detection and impact detection in the parking mode.

Ideally I would be able to turn the parking mode function on and off easily.

I work as a mechanical engineer so I can fit the system myself.

It will be going in an EV which automatically tops up the 12v battery from the main drive battery so power consumption is not really an issue.

Thanks for any replies.
Click to expand...
You could go with two Viofo A229 units, one for the front and one for the rear window. Then you can use the rear cameras of each unit on the side windows to get a 4-channel coverage. It's not a typical setup, but it gives you flexibility and the wide angle from the side cams can help capture more around your car.


The Viofo wedge-style cameras are actually more discreet than you'd expect, even though they come with a screen. I did an install on a Hyundai Kona and the main challenge was the windshield trim, there was a big plastic piece coming down from headliner that forced me to mount the cam a little lower than ideal, making it more visible. But that was with a bargain Amazon cam. With the A229, you might be able to tuck it right next to the trim and still get a good view. Definitely check the live image during placement.


Heads-up on wiring through the rear hatch: the rubber weather strip around the trunk has some nasty black glue under it. When I pulled it off to run wiring, it got on the headliner and made a mess... it took longer to clean off than to install the camera 🤦‍♂️ So just peel carefully or wrap nearby trim before working.
 
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