DR970X Plus Series - Testing/Review - RCG

[Bono]

13-Feb-2024 Update:

Pittasoft created a new DHL shipment. I don't know for sure what's in it, but I'm guessing it may be a replacement DR970X Plus front camera for the one that's very out of focus. An email from Pittasoft would be a good thing every now and then....

Last week, I received a replacement DR970X-2CH LTE Plus dash camera for NA to replace the GL version that was sent to me in error. My preliminary focus checks suggest this unit is "in focus" or at least far better than previous units. I purchased a third party Blendmount for the non-LTE BlackVue cameras to allow me to get more BlackVue dash cameras installed into a smaller windshield space. I placed the latest DR970X LTE Plus dash camera lens in the middle of the windshield and the DR970X Plus (badly out of focus unit) just below it using the Blendmount.

The DR970X Plus series dash cameras have been updated to firmware version v1.001.

Here's how the dash cameras are arranged on my car's front windshield:
View attachment 70787

Here are frame grabs from the five dash cameras in my car during this morning's drive to the local post office.
View attachment 70792 View attachment 70790 View attachment 70788 View attachment 70789 View attachment 70791

Excellent. So hopefully they are finally addressing the out of focus issues. Is it fully in focus and not out of focus at all? Is there a noticeable difference between the Plus and last year’s model?

 

[rcg530]

Excellent. So hopefully they are finally addressing the out of focus issues. Is it fully in focus and not out of focus at all? Is there a noticeable difference between the Plus and last year’s model?

The latest DR970X-2CH LTE Plus front camera seems to be "in focus" across the entire field of view. The DR970X Plus front camera is very out of focus (still waiting on a replacement or even an email about that one). The previous generation DR970X front camera has a "soft focus" across the entire field of view. I believe not having a CPL filter for the DR970X Plus series dash cameras is a bad thing. I believe the image quality would improve in my car with a CPL filter for those dash cameras.

DR970X / DR970X Plus / DR970X LTE Plus


U3000 No CPL / A229 Pro with CPL


The DHL shipment I mentioned in my previous post is not a replacement DR970X Plus camera. I found a DHL status update email which lists its contents and it's a "DR970X-2CH BOX PLUS" dash camera.

 

[Vortex Radar]

13-Feb-2024 Update:

Pittasoft created a new DHL shipment. I don't know for sure what's in it, but I'm guessing it may be a replacement DR970X Plus front camera for the one that's very out of focus. An email from Pittasoft would be a good thing every now and then...

haha, I just got a DHL shipment and delivery today. No note from Blackvue, but opening the package, it's the Box version of the 970X Plus. Hopefully it's got a sharp front lens too.

 

[rcg530]

Today, I received a DR970X Box-2CH Plus dash camera. I have some unboxing pics. I won't be able to install this in my car for a couple of weeks. My car's radiator developed a crack in the plastic around the radiator cap. It will take a couple of weeks to source parts for my car and repair it.

Tomorrow, I'll start testing this dash camera with a focus check. I'll then start my power consumption testing. This dash camera comes with an external GPS (GNSS) receiver that plugs into the only USB port in the main unit. If you want to have BlackVue Cloud connectivity, you will need to purchase the BlackVue Cloud CM100GLTE connectivity module (not the older CM100LTE connectivity module). The CM100GLTE connectivity module will provide the GPS data and the LTE connectivity to this dash camera. You plug the CM100GLTE connectivity module into the USB port instead of the GNSS receiver.

 

[crumple.arrant]

Someone should make a front camera CPL filter for the 970x Plus. The focus and quality of the recordings seems very blurry and worse than my DR900S with CPL filters on.

 

[rcg530]

I performed a focus check using the DR970X BOX-2CH Plus dash camera. I was a bit worried about the front camera (model FC2) being connected over the same type of coax cable as the FHD 1080p rear cameras are connected to the front camera (or the main unit for this dash camera). The rear cameras always have a soft focus. I was pleasantly surprised to see a very good focus quality with the front camera connected over the coax cable. The rear camera (model RC1) still has a soft focus like the RC110F rear cameras from the other BlackVue cameras that use it.

Last week I received a replacement DR970X-2CH LTE Plus for NA. I ran a focus check when I first received it (outside of my car). Today, I ran the same focus check for the DR970X BOX-2CH Plus dash camera.

Here are frame grabs from both focus checks:

DR970X-2CH LTE Plus fw v1.001


DR970X BOX-2CH Plus fw v1.001

 

[Panzer Platform]

Here are frame grabs from both focus checks:

How come no "RCG 530" plate?
I knew I should have upgraded to the raised lettering. lol

 

[rcg530]

How come no "RCG 530" plate?
I knew I should have upgraded to the raised lettering. lol

I ended up buying the "RCG530" plate with raised lettering. For the focus checks, I've been using "real" plates so nobody can say any blurriness is from using a non-standard plate.

 

[rcg530]

Today, I ran my power consumption test suite using the DR970X BOX-2CH Plus dash camera using the provided external GNSS GPS receiver. I will run the same test suite unplugging the GNSS receiver and plugging in the CM100GLTE for NA connectivity module to provide GPS data and LTE connectivity for BlackVue Cloud access.

DR970X BOX-2CH Plus FW 1.001 with GNSS Receiver

 

[rcg530]

Today, I ran my power consumption test suite using the DR970X BOX-2CH Plus dash camera with the BlackVue CM100GLTE NA connectivity module connected instead of the GNSS GPS receiver.

DR970X BOX-2CH Plus FW 1.001 with CM100GLTE NA Connectivity Module

 

[rcg530]

I captured some thermal pictures of the DR970X BOX-2CH Plus dash camera components. I powered the dash camera for two hours in my filming studio with an ambient air temperature of 71F/21.6C.

Front Camera:


Rear Camera:


Main Unit (locking cover removed):

The main unit reaches temperatures that might be too warm for enclosed (no air flow) locations within the vehicle. In the next post, I will include thermal pictures with the locking front cover installed.

 

[rcg530]

I installed the front locking cover for the DR970X BOX-2CH Plus dash camera. Getting the cables through the ends of the slot on the locking cover was a bit "tight". The CM100GLTE connectivity module's cable USB connector was very hard to get through the opening. I would suggest performing the cable installation process through the main unit's locking cover in a slow and low force manner to avoid breaking the cover plastic.

DR970X BOX-2CH Plus main unit with locking cover installed (additional 60 minutes):

 

[rcg530]

Since my regular dash camera test car is down (leaking radiator), I installed the DR970X BOX-2CH Plus dash camera into my 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid.

This installation is meant to be temporary, so I took advantage of the "box" being separated from the cameras. I installed a BlackVue B-130X battery pack and the DR970X BOX main unit in the rear cargo area floor next to an accessory/run mode CLA port. I ran the camera cables to the front and rear cargo door. I installed the GNSS receiver on the plastic at the base of the rear side window. I used the CLA power cord for the dash camera to power it since I have a custom made CLA output cable for the B-130X with a SPST toggle which allows me to turn on/off the power to the dash camera. I just have to remember to turn on the dash camera power before I start driving and to turn it off when I park my car in the garage. It's crude but it works for now.



As I found with my initial focus check for the DR970X BOX-2CH Plus dash camera, the front camera has a very good focus across the entire field of view. That's something I have not be able to say about most of the other BlackVue front cameras. The 1080p rear camera is somewhat blurry even for a 1080p camera. This is a typical video image quality statement for other BlackVue dash cameras. This units rear camera might have a slightly better focus quality than the other BlackVue rear cameras.

BlackVue DR970X BOX Plus front camera (model FC2):


BlackVue DR970X BOX Plus rear camera (model RC1):


During the installation, I found what looks like a manufacturing defect (with my unit) or a design issue with the front camera housing. The end of the front camera housing that is opposite of the securing screw, cable and windshield mount is hitting the windshield mount. There appears to be a gap variance from end to end which allows the far end to touch/tap the windshield mount. There appears to be enough bounce/flex in the camera case to allow the round camera housing to tap the windshield mount.

I added a thin strip of automotive noise reduction felt padding to the camera housing and that appears to eliminate the noise and bouncing of the camera housing against the windshield mount.

 

[dennman]

The technical specifications says "Memory Support microSD card up to 512GB", Blackvue just doesn't have any 512GB cards for sale. I'm considering picking up a 512GB Sandisk High Endurance for use in mine when it arrives.

I just talked to Blackvue customer support and he said they recommend "Either Samsung Pro Endurance or any Lexar" After researching I discovered the modal Samsung only goes to 256. Lexar's best seems to be either the 512 Blue High-Performance 633X or the Professional 1066X cards... https://www.amazon.com/gp/B07KBQQ82D or https://www.amazon.com/gp/B08T8LHL38

​

 

[Phatboy64]

I ordered my 790X Plus LTE with too small of an SD card. I called the guys at Blackvue and the tech I spoke with was not too keen on the Lexar, he went so far as to say not supported...
I really wanted to get a 512GB card. I ended up getting the Samsung Pro Endurance 256GB for now. The tech said I had to format the new SD card on my PC and not the Cam. is that right? Doesn't make sense to me but what the heck do I know..

 

[Will1688]

Has anyone else had any focus issues after release? Wondering if this is still a widespread problem..

 

[rcg530]

The DR970X BOX-2CH Plus that I recently received has a front camera (FC2) that has a very good focus quality. The rear camera (RC1) has a soft focus, but it's a slightly better focus quality than the RC110F rear cameras included in many of the recent BlackVue dash camera products. The DR970X-2CH LTE Plus [for NA] front camera (replacement unit 2 for me) has a good overall focus quality but not as good as the FC2 in the DR970X BOX-2CH Plus dash camera. Pittasoft is sending me a replacement DR970X-2CH Plus dash camera. I won't get that shipment until late this week or early next week. The DR970X Plus front camera that I have now, is an early sample unit and it has a very poor focus quality.

 

[rcg530]

I put together a day/night video sample from the BlackVue DR970X BOX Plus front camera and the VIOFO A229 Pro front camera. I found that nighttime video from the DR970X BOX Plus front camera has noticeable horizontal lines when the ambient light level is low. The DR970X BOX Plus front camera captured plates and roadside signs better than the VIOFO A229 Pro front camera (with or without HDR on).

 

[Phatboy64]

Has anyone else had any focus issues after release? Wondering if this is still a widespread problem..

Yes, I got the Plus LTE and the focus is horrible, to the point that it seem useless if I needed to read a license plate.
I talked to Blackvue and they told me to work it out with the vendor I bought it from…I am traveling and don’t really have time to deal with it at this point…unless it gets fixed this is just a $500 gadget…..disappointed.

 

[Panzer Platform]

Yes, I got the Plus LTE and the focus is horrible, to the point that it seem useless if I needed to read a license plate.
I talked to Blackvue and they told me to work it out with the vendor I bought it from…I am traveling and don’t really have time to deal with it at this point…unless it gets fixed this is just a $500 gadget…..disappointed.

Welcome to the club.
Can you not return the defective dash cam for a full 100% refund?
Vote with your wallet.
-Chuck