Hello Everyone,
I am looking for feedback from the members of this forum to tell me if I have unrealistic expectations of a webcam!
For many years I have used pretty basic 1 channel cameras and have always been able to download videos from the data card to a Windows PC and Laptop without a problem.
I recently got really carried away and bought a (relatively) high end and certainly high priced camera, an ESV E7 2 channel camera. It is hard wired into the car with front and rear cameras and Wi-Fi capability, and other functions I am yet to master. Having been quite satisfied with my previous ‘budget’ cameras I had high expectations of the new toy.
My experience to date has however been a great disappointment as I will try to explain:
Initially I was disappointed with the contents of the User Manual, which left much to be desired, and the lack of any real support through the manufacturer’s website. This not my main gripe though which is related to accessing the data stored on the SDHC card.
A downloadable file viewer (TAT Viewer 5G) is available on the ESV website and with this downloaded I was able to view the recordings on the card, so far so good. Using software embodied in the SDHC card it is possible to download the files from the card to a Windows PC/laptop, so far so good, but it then became apparent that when the copied files are viewed ONLY the front camera view is seen, without any of the associated data seen in the Viewer when accessed from the card.
My question here is - What do others see when viewing recordings downloaded from their dashcams?
In my ignorance, I believed that by buying a high spec device with front and rear cameras I would be able to retrieve vital data to use in the event of a prosecution or an insurance claim dispute. Enquiries made to my supplier and to another Australian distributor have convinced me that all I can expect is access to the whole range of data only directly from the SDHC card, and that once a file is downloaded to a computer and the card written over all the ‘additional’ data is lost.
I have almost reached the point of wanting to write off my bad purchase and buy another camera but I need to know what others are able to view once their files are downloaded. Is there any camera that will permit me to download the front and rear videos and all the associated data so that it can be passed on to Police or Insurance Companies? Maybe this simply is not possible? If this is in fact impossible, what is the use/value of a 2 channel camera? I might just as well settle for a GoPro and save a heap of cash!
I should mention that the camera uses an unusual file format (.TAT) which is not readable by Windows, (a full SD card shows as an empty card in Windows File Explorer), so other Windows based file viewers will not read the files off the card. I approached the developers of the popular Dashcam Viewer and they had not heard of this file format.
I hope someone can advise me if there is a camera that will allow me to download the full range of data or am I searching in vain?
Wishing all here a very successful and healthy 2020, best wishes,
Roger B
I am looking for feedback from the members of this forum to tell me if I have unrealistic expectations of a webcam!
For many years I have used pretty basic 1 channel cameras and have always been able to download videos from the data card to a Windows PC and Laptop without a problem.
I recently got really carried away and bought a (relatively) high end and certainly high priced camera, an ESV E7 2 channel camera. It is hard wired into the car with front and rear cameras and Wi-Fi capability, and other functions I am yet to master. Having been quite satisfied with my previous ‘budget’ cameras I had high expectations of the new toy.
My experience to date has however been a great disappointment as I will try to explain:
Initially I was disappointed with the contents of the User Manual, which left much to be desired, and the lack of any real support through the manufacturer’s website. This not my main gripe though which is related to accessing the data stored on the SDHC card.
A downloadable file viewer (TAT Viewer 5G) is available on the ESV website and with this downloaded I was able to view the recordings on the card, so far so good. Using software embodied in the SDHC card it is possible to download the files from the card to a Windows PC/laptop, so far so good, but it then became apparent that when the copied files are viewed ONLY the front camera view is seen, without any of the associated data seen in the Viewer when accessed from the card.
My question here is - What do others see when viewing recordings downloaded from their dashcams?
In my ignorance, I believed that by buying a high spec device with front and rear cameras I would be able to retrieve vital data to use in the event of a prosecution or an insurance claim dispute. Enquiries made to my supplier and to another Australian distributor have convinced me that all I can expect is access to the whole range of data only directly from the SDHC card, and that once a file is downloaded to a computer and the card written over all the ‘additional’ data is lost.
I have almost reached the point of wanting to write off my bad purchase and buy another camera but I need to know what others are able to view once their files are downloaded. Is there any camera that will permit me to download the front and rear videos and all the associated data so that it can be passed on to Police or Insurance Companies? Maybe this simply is not possible? If this is in fact impossible, what is the use/value of a 2 channel camera? I might just as well settle for a GoPro and save a heap of cash!
I should mention that the camera uses an unusual file format (.TAT) which is not readable by Windows, (a full SD card shows as an empty card in Windows File Explorer), so other Windows based file viewers will not read the files off the card. I approached the developers of the popular Dashcam Viewer and they had not heard of this file format.
I hope someone can advise me if there is a camera that will allow me to download the full range of data or am I searching in vain?
Wishing all here a very successful and healthy 2020, best wishes,
Roger B