N4 Pro S Review
- Thread starter Hack_man
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Hack_man
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I don't use G-sensor triggering but I can try setting it up to see how it behaves.
Karagandinez
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The Vantroue representative stated that the S1 Pro Max has a Novatek NT98529. Or are NT98529 and NT96580 the same thing?
jsmith
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G Sensor triggering is automatic. Default is 3 for all cams. It triggers when you hit a speed bump. This camera doesn't offer an option for G-Sensor customization during parking mode so the setting is universal.
When I hit a small bump mine was trigger at 2 and 3. I set it to 1. Usually you don't have to go that low.
EricSan
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I found the same thing for the S1 Pro Max, so it looks like these two models use a new/different sensor that is ULTRA sensitive. It would be great to have two modes: one for drive mode (which I would set low) and another for parking (which I would set for maximum sensitivity).
@Jeff_Vantrue - is it possible to have TWO settings for the collision detection feature? That would be GREAT!
@Jeff_Vantrue - is it possible to have TWO settings for the collision detection feature? That would be GREAT!
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Hack_man
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I'm not sure what you mean "G Sensor triggering is automatic". I agree the Default is 3 for all cams but there is an option to turn G sensor triggering completely OFF for Driving mode. I have changed my setting for all three directions to "2" so that I can test if it's ultra sensitive.
For Parking Mode, there are options for 1 2 3 4 5 Sensitivities in Collision Mode so I'm not sure what it means to say the setting is "Universal during parking mode" or that there is no option for G sensor customization.
I tend to use Low Bit Rate recording.
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jsmith
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While you are correct Collision offers this feature, I think Viofo handles differently. Notice separate parking G-Sensor Option.
Whoops! I never noticed "OFF" function on any G-Sensor. Viofo and Vantrue both have that capability. Learn something new and be more observant on my part!
jsmith
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Ya noticed same. My Viofo A139 Pro doesn't go bonkers on the same bumps. Anyway, at 1 it's better, but that's bordering turning feature off.
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Hack_man
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I'm glad they provide the OFF function for Driving G sensor. If I have a driving incident, I'd want the camera just to keep doing what it's already doing, namely recording with no extra functions during a collision.
If I need to safeguard the footage, I'll copy it ASAP to another device. If I'm traveling long distance, and can't copy it quickly, well that could be an issue and makes the case to keep an extra SD card in the car.
If I need to safeguard the footage, I'll copy it ASAP to another device. If I'm traveling long distance, and can't copy it quickly, well that could be an issue and makes the case to keep an extra SD card in the car.
jsmith
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Not always feasible. Sometimes you're incapacitated or rendered unconscious. Other times, you can't access the camera.
Back in my late teenage days (1990s) I was with a friend who had only been driving short time and his group of friends ....Stupidity at its finest prevailed as happens with bad decisions, speed, etc. The car ended up crashing and rolling about half a dozen times before landing on its roof.
No such thing as dashcams in those days. Suffice to say the last thing you'd worry about was trying to eject the memory card when you've got people with serious injuries. Plus, the car was trashed and smashed. Only way out was crawling through a window. Doors weren't accessible.
G-Sensor to lock a video has a purpose. If you're taken away by ambulance or not conscience, the camera continues to record, risking the video being overwritten.
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Hack_man
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Is there a way to limit parking recording time on the Vantrue? On my A229 Pro I can program a time limit (currently set to 4 hours). I cannot find this setting on the N4 Pro S.
My concern with G-Sensor lock (Not specific to Vantrue) is that it's one more processor intensive operation that needs to be performed when the camera is already going thru a potential major power disruption. There are reports and concerns (which I will try to find in this Forum) that G-sensor enabled recordings can be more problematic during worse case scenarios resulting in a complete loss of footage. This is not a Vantrue specific issue, but simply due to limitations of hardware during a severe collision event. The odds of getting the camera to shut down "politely" during such an event are increased by limiting hardware and processing resources to the bare minimum.
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jsmith
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Not that I know of on Vantrue Models. Just voltage cutoff via OBDII or hardwire kit but no actual manual timer.
The G-Sensor lock the file. It has nothing to do with shutdown.
What you're referring to is a cut in power and that would be either supercap failure that went unnoticed or if you get a no name dashcam a lithium battery failure due to these things expanding in heat and dying. When a camera loses power or shuts off, it needs a few seconds to exit the last file being written or that file is corrupt.
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Hack_man
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I'm presenting comparison footage looking towards the sun with A229 Pro and N4 Pro S (both 4K front cameras)
The detail looks very similar. The Vantrue shows a deeper blue sky which has been a common theme when comparing with Viofo.
I believe the white circular dots are some tree sap I picked up JUST AFTER meticulously cleaning my windshield 🙁
I'm going to try to pass thru that area again at the same time with PlatePix turned ON.
N4 Pro S - CPL filter Installed, HDR and PlatePix OFF
A229 Pro - CPL filter installed, HDR OFF
The detail looks very similar. The Vantrue shows a deeper blue sky which has been a common theme when comparing with Viofo.
I believe the white circular dots are some tree sap I picked up JUST AFTER meticulously cleaning my windshield 🙁
I'm going to try to pass thru that area again at the same time with PlatePix turned ON.
N4 Pro S - CPL filter Installed, HDR and PlatePix OFF
A229 Pro - CPL filter installed, HDR OFF
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Dex_
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My suggestion about processor based on extracted info from firmware update files using my Novatek FW Info tool, I does not have any of this dashcams. But I'm almost sure that S1 Pro Max, S1 Pro and N4 Pro S use a same processors. And this is a ARM32 with 2 cores inside (not ARM64 with 4 cores as in Viofo A329/329S).
It is enough for 4K front + 4K rear with own processor module. Viofo use another architecture with only one more powerful processor that works with all 3 image sensors. But Viofo does not released 4K+4K dashcam yet.
Hope to see some days N4 Pro S with 4K front + 4K rear + cabin cam (all with Starvis 2 or better) cause N4 Pro S have ideal form factor for me (LCD size, IR led at down side, windshield mount separated from GPS module, cool front CPL filter mount and adjusting, etc.).
Current N4 Pro S is good but I already have same image quality on Viofo model that was released much early.
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jsmith
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Seems text is a bit more legible on the Viofo A229 but that could also be placement of camera, too.
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Hack_man
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I was slightly leaning towards that conclusion but it's close, it's hard to call.
TonyM
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You can do it manually with the VP01 hardwire kit which has DIP switches to set both cut-off voltage and parking duration.
TonyM
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It is possible that the A229 Pro has a higher bitrate than the N4 Pro S which may help to maintain more recorded detail. Although I understand the N4 Pro S records in H265 so a direct bitrate comparison does not tell the whole story.
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Hack_man
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Ah yes thank you I just looked that up. It is programmable for
1 hour, 3 hours, 6 hours, 12 hours, 24 hours
jsmith
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@Hack_man @EricSan @Jeff_Vantrue
When driving with HD (Need to test without to see if same issue), no CPL,the picture is quite bright but also does have motion blur. Do you notice when hitting a bump at night with HDR enabled, the image gets blurry for a second? I wonder if this is HDR processing taking place (trying to capture multiple stills of images), and the vibration disrupts its algorithm.
Again, I'm not sure if this happens with HDR disabled. I'll need to test that one.
When driving with HD (Need to test without to see if same issue), no CPL,the picture is quite bright but also does have motion blur. Do you notice when hitting a bump at night with HDR enabled, the image gets blurry for a second? I wonder if this is HDR processing taking place (trying to capture multiple stills of images), and the vibration disrupts its algorithm.
Again, I'm not sure if this happens with HDR disabled. I'll need to test that one.
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