Four Questions before I Mount my A119

[Skeezix]

I just received a model A119 V3 with the GPS unit to replace my 2017 A119 and I'd like to ask four questions before I mount the A119.

STATIC STICKER Questions:
1. What is the advantage to using a static sticker?
2. What is the disadvantage to using a static sticker? I didn't need one with my original A119.

The instructions say to first peel the red sign protective film off the static sticker and then attach the sticker to the windscreen.
Next, peel the green sign protective film off the static sticker.
Last, peel the protection film off the sticky pad on the mount, and attach it (the mount connected to the dashcam) to the sticker. I don't want to separate the GPS unit from the A119 any more than I have to, so I'll just press the whole assembly to the sticker on the windshield, unless somebody here suggests otherwise.

EVA FOAM Question:
3. Do most of the owners end up using the foam or do most of them do without?

FIRMWARE Question:
4. What is the latest version of the firmware produced by VIOFO?

Thank you for your help!

 

[kamkar]

1 that is just for easy removing of the system, if you put in a rental car for instance, lease maybe, or if you dont want to stick to the glass itself.
These are often plenty big and so you can trim it down to size so it is just a bit larger than the footprint of the system and so not inclined to get in view of the lens or get in the way of other obstructions..

Not really any disadvantage though i must admit i have never used one for a longer period, they do have #2 sides to them so to say / like manual say, so be vigilant about that if you use.
The sticky pad residue from a windscreen is fairly easy to remove.

The static stickers also only work on absolutely flat & clean glass, i tend to mound dashcams on the dotted area on top of my windscreen, which in my car is like baked on the inside of the glass and so uneven surface, so do not work there in my car.

The EVA foam are nice to have, the camera / mount fit can get loose over time, not only from constant taking off / putting back on, it is just there to fill the gap in that case, you could also later on put a dab of glue on a surface to take out the slack that might have appeared between the 2 parts. ( let ir dry of course before you put the 2 parts together, it is essentially just a thing like the EVA pad to fill a gap )
I have never run a camera for so long i have had any need for the EVA foam myself.

Newest Firmware seem to be version V2.6_20241031 released 31 November 2024.

Viofos DL link. https://www.viofotech.com/download/firmware/A119V3/FWA119V3.bin
Or go to https://www.viofo.com/pages/firmware and scroll down on the list of models to find the A119V3

 

[LateralNW]

I just received a model A119 V3 with the GPS unit to replace my 2017 A119

@kamkar pretty much covered everything.

I'm impressed your unit was still going says a lot for the Viofo product.

The static stickers are great as you can easily remove the dashcam as many people in the past complained they couldn't get the unit off the windscreen because the sticker was to strong. lol. Can't please everyone.
I haven't used the eva foam but on another car that had until recently the A119V3 I added a small piece of plastic to jam the unit in a fixed position.
In the later version of their dashcams they altered the interlock that helped to prevent this movement.

I use some alcohol mixed with water to clean the windscreen.

 

[Vortex Radar]

So trimming the static stickers definitely makes them stick worse and the weight of the dashcam can pull it off. I've tried that several times and keep going through mounts and replacement tape so I'm gonna stop, lol. They're also not super great for repeated reapplications onto the WS and they keep falling off again.

It's mostly for easier unmounting when the time comes. It's much easier to peel it off the WS and not deal with cleaning off all the gunk afterwards. The tape on the mount is still really stuck to the static sticker so you're gonna have to replace that. It's just for the WS. That said, using a razor blade to get most of the gunk off and then an alcohol prep pad (thanks for the tip @SafeDriveSolutions!) has made that cleaning process way easier.

 

[Chuck McCoy]

1. What is the advantage to using a static sticker?

I've used the static stickers before when I knew it was going to be a temporary install, it made removal a breeze.

What is the disadvantage to using a static sticker?

I think it looks "ugly"

If you ever need to remove a Viofo GPS Mount here's a video on how NOT to do it;

 

[Vortex Radar]

I've used the static stickers before when I knew it was going to be a temporary install, it made removal a breeze.

I think it looks "ugly"

If you ever need to remove a Viofo GPS Mount here's a video on how NOT to do it;

Wow! lol, I'm blown away by how well that worked. 🙂

 

[kamkar]

I have pried off many mounts, but that be just mounts on brands that have GPS not there, with the Viofo mounts i prefer to get a thin blade in under there and cut some in the pad before i start to use force, but that for sure to leave some of the pad on the windscreen.

I have actually never ever used the at least once recommended string band saw method.

 

[Chuck McCoy]

I'm blown away by how well that worked

That makes two of us. lol
It usually leaves a sticky mess.

 

[Nigel]

That makes two of us. lol
It usually leaves a sticky mess.

For a temporary install, I normally leave 80% of the 3M pad cover plastic in its original position, then you only need 20% of the force to remove it, and you still have 80% of the stick for the next place it is going, and it tends not to leave a sticky mess, or at least it is easy to clean up.

 

[Skeezix]

I thank all of you for your replies.

Kamcar gets a gold star for one of the most informative replies that I've received in over 25 years of forum-browsing! 👍

I find it odd that the posted video and its author say that one should NOT use pry sticks for removal, and then show how easy it is to use them!