Review: Mini 0902 Wi-Fi Dashcam with GPS - A7LA55 & 0V4689 (Gearbest.com)

Sunny

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Dash Cam
More than I can review. ;)
Thank you @GearBest for providing sample.
It's available for purchase at Gearbest site:
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Summary: will be updated after tests.
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Detail Review:
Main Features:
Video resolution: 2304 x 1296, 1920 x 1080, 1280 x 720
Ambarella A7LA55 chipset with 0V4689 4 million pixel CMOS image sensor
WiFi function for iOS and Android devices
External GPS module
Support ADAS (when at 720P)
Max. support 64GB TF card (not included)
Power off: 5s after car engine stop
Battery: Built-in 250mAh li-ion battery
*****************************************
Package Contents:
  1. Mini 0902 Dashcam,
  2. Sticky mount with extra tape,
  3. Mini USB car charger,
  4. Mini USB PC cable,
  5. External GPS module,
  6. Product manual.
IMG_0061-mini0902.jpg

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Unboxing video:

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Side-by-side with Vantrue N1 dashcam:

IMG_0064-N1-0902.jpg

IMG_0065-N1-0902.jpg

IMG_0066-N1-0902.jpg

IMG_0068-N1-0902.jpg

IMG_0069-N1-0902.jpg

IMG_0070-N1-0902.jpg

Tests to follow soon...
 
uh, the design of Mini 0902 likes HTC action camera:

Interesting! But I don't know how to open it. Where is the power button?

HTC-ACTION-CAMERA-02.jpg
 
uh, the design of Mini 0902 likes HTC action camera:

Interesting! But I don't know how to open it. Where is the power button?

On the mini 0902, I don't see a power button.
It automatically starts when plugged in.
I'm testing with wifi app and will update soon.
 
Wi-Fi App:
Product manual mentions 'Tonview' but there is no Tonview in google play store.
Gearbest product site has link to download TonView here.
You have to check 'Allow unknown sources' to install.

If you want to download from Google play store instead, download 'GoView': https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tonmind.goview&hl=en
Connecting to the app is similar to other wi-fi apps, connect to CARCAM-#### wi-fi hotspot and start the app.
It asks to sync datetime so no need to manually set it.

GoView app.png

Folder and files:
Folders are similar to other Ambarella based cameras:
EVENT
NORMAL
PHOTO
However, 'NORMAL' folder has another subfolder named media### for normal video files.
Files have date and time so easy to find particular video.

One weird thing is, it saves a smaller file for every clip and it has thm in the name so probably thumb for playing in the camera but the mini doesn't have screen so probably for phone. The small file is 720x400p resolution @ 15fps so pretty low even for phone screens.
This can use up the card too quick.
mini 0902 files and folders.jpg

File size and VBR of 1080p @30fps video: A 3 minute file is around 143mb and overall VBR is only 6 525 Kbps.
This is the lowest VBR from Ambarella based dashcam I have tested.

Format : MPEG-4
Codec ID : avc1 (avc1/isom)
Video Bit rate : 6 001 Kbps
Width : 1 920 pixels
Height : 1 080 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 16:9
Frame rate mode : Constant
Frame rate : 29.970 (30000/1001) fps
Audio Bit rate : 64.0 Kbps
Nominal bit rate : 128 Kbps
Channel(s) : 1 channel
Text (GPS Log) Bit rate : 6 554 bps
Stream size : 144 KiB (0%)
Source stream size : 144 KiB (0%)
Title : Ambarella EXT

File size and VBR of thumb video (720x400p): A 3 minute file is around 20mb and overall VBR is 936 Kbps @ 15fps.
Video Bit rate : 600 Kbps

Width : 720 pixels
Height : 400 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 16:9
Frame rate mode : Constant
Frame rate : 14.985 (15000/1001) fps
Audio Bit rate : 64.0 Kbps
Text (GPS Log)
Bit rate : 6 552 bps

I will check if menu settings have option to turn that thumb file off.
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File size and VBR @ 2304x1296p: A 3 minute 1296p file is around 180mb and overall bit rate is 8388 kbps.
File size : 180 MiB
Duration : 3mn 0s
Overall bit rate : 8 388 Kbps
Video Bit rate : 8 001 Kbps

Width : 2 304 pixels
Height : 1 296 pixels
Frame rate : 29.970 (30000/1001) fps
Audio Bit rate : 64.0 Kbps
Nominal bit rate : 128 Kbps
Text (GPS log) Bit rate : 6 554 bps
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GPS performance:
GPS locked in within 25 seconds cold start.
Screenshot showing GPS data in Daum Potplayer.
mini 0902 Gps data display.jpg
 
Last edited:
Snowy day and evening video screenshots(1080p):
All areas are in good focus.
Audio is very good, no distortion, clear.

20160324180921-N3936.58574W10506.17713.MP4_20160324_205652.125.jpg

20160324180921-N3936.58574W10506.17713.MP4_20160324_205705.500.jpg

20160324180921-N3936.58574W10506.17713.MP4_20160324_205745.000.jpg

20160324180921-N3936.58574W10506.17713.MP4_20160324_205759.078.jpg

20160324183657-N3936.87994W10505.56305.MP4_20160324_205911.296.jpg

20160324183959-N3936.58894W10506.43780.MP4_20160324_205931.328.jpg

Against the sunlight:
20160324183959-N3936.58894W10506.43780.MP4_20160324_210049.421.jpg

Evening:
20160324191935-N3936.49371W10508.96848.MP4_20160324_210400.718.jpg

20160324192238-N3936.14611W10507.77738.MP4_20160324_210455.656.jpg

20160324191935-N3936.49371W10508.96848.MP4_20160324_221832.078.jpg
 
Last edited:
Snowy Daytime/evening videos:
1080p @ 6mbps. The camera got very hot even in cold weather but haven't seen focus shift yet.
Good video for low VBR.
FOV is very wide.



 
Last edited:
6kbps video bitrate is just too low for 1080p resolution. I hope the final product can at least double that.
 
I find that the video recorded in 1296p is not as clear as those recorded in 1080p on the mini0902...

Does your mini0902 hangs and restarts when using GoView app to change more than 2 settings of the mini0902? The TonView app for Android can be download from gearbest website but it is crap...

Can also check which firmware version do you have? Mine is CarCam-A755-01-V1.2.2
 
uh, the design of Mini 0902 likes HTC action camera:

Interesting! But I don't know how to open it. Where is the power button?

HTC-ACTION-CAMERA-02.jpg

Looks more like Blackvue...
avto-blackbox-ru-obzor-videoregistratora-BlackVue-DR500GW-HD-Wi-Fi_2.jpg
 
20160418 Update: New and better app... LinkinEyes:

For those looking for better app to control mini 0902, LinkinEyes is the one.
It's much better and doesn't crash often and most of all, it has 2560x1080p resolution that bumps overall VBR to 13.9mbps.
Tested with Samsung Galaxy Note II and works great.
Here's download link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fusionnext.camera&hl=en

Obviously, it's not made for 0902 but works fine as it's based on Ambarella.






I find that the video recorded in 1296p is not as clear as those recorded in 1080p on the mini0902...

Does your mini0902 hangs and restarts when using GoView app to change more than 2 settings of the mini0902? The TonView app for Android can be download from gearbest website but it is crap...

Can also check which firmware version do you have? Mine is CarCam-A755-01-V1.2.2

Looks like GoView and TonView are almost same, even have same logo.
Neither crashed but GoView is much better as I can live view on it but not on TonView.
Also, saved file stream fine in GoView but never plays on TonView. Yes, TonView is crap.

Both give weird screen often like this when I try to view live feed:
Screenshot_2016-03-25-08-19-38.jpg

TonView:
Screenshot_2016-03-25-08-19-10.png Screenshot_2016-03-25-08-20-35.png


GoView:
Screenshot_2016-03-25-08-23-34.png
Screenshot_2016-03-25-08-24-34.png
Screenshot_2016-03-25-08-24-51.png

Also, it doesn't say if it's recording or not.
I guess I'll know once I check files.
Screenshot_2016-03-25-09-18-34.png


Also, TonView has no option to check firmware but GoView has.
From GoView app, the version is CarCam-A755-01-V1.2.2
Is there newer firmware?

Also, is there option to turn off small file creation?
It creates a smaller file for every clip for app streaming and uses card space.
 
Last edited:
I can view live feeds from the mini0902 using both TonView and GoView but there is lots of skipped frames... TonView always shows the settings is off and always asked you sync the time with your phone. Eventhough have already configured the mini0902.

Here is what happen when I try to change more than 2 settings using GoView. At around 1.05 the wifi gets disconnected to the mini0902. Same goes with TonView.

I have tried the 2 apps on Samsung Galaxy Note 3, Xiaomi Mi4i and Samsung Galaxy S7 edge... All same results but TonView is crap.
 
I dont like this camera :( only 6 Mpbs come on...

 
I dont like this camera :( only 6 Mpbs come on...

Yeah, that 6Mbps video is muddy.

Also a piece of advice posting that video on YouTube, you probably should mute the audio because it contains copyright music, otherwise YouTube will send you a warning and mute your audio themselves.
 
File size and VBR @ 2304x1296p: A 3 minute 1296p file is around 180mb and overall bit rate is 8388 kbps.
File size : 180 MiB
Duration : 3mn 0s
Overall bit rate : 8 388 Kbps
Video Bit rate : 8 001 Kbps

Width : 2 304 pixels
Height : 1 296 pixels
Frame rate : 29.970 (30000/1001) fps
Audio Bit rate : 64.0 Kbps
Nominal bit rate : 128 Kbps
Text (GPS log) Bit rate : 6 554 bps
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Night video screenshots @ 2304x1296p: Overall VBR of 8388 kbps.

20160327210433.MP4_20160327_213144.859.jpg

20160327210433.MP4_20160327_213152.234.jpg

20160327210433.MP4_20160327_213208.281.jpg

20160327210736-N3936.57236W10506.61448.MP4_20160327_213501.421.jpg

20160327210736-N3936.57236W10506.61448.MP4_20160327_213600.171.jpg

20160327211035-N3936.50726W10506.58626.MP4_20160327_213700.375.jpg

20160327211035-N3936.50726W10506.58626.MP4_20160327_213753.359.jpg

20160327211335-N3936.49781W10507.73147.MP4_20160327_213822.937.jpg

20160327211335-N3936.49781W10507.73147.MP4_20160327_213849.265.jpg

20160327210433.MP4_20160327_213119.562.jpg
 
it's actually not too bad considering the low bitrate, there should be plenty of room for improvement I would think
 
it's actually not too bad considering the low bitrate, there should be plenty of room for improvement I would think
Yes, it's very good considering the low bit rate.
Other Ambarella dashcams are hitting over 24 mbps so this is at least 3 if not 4 times less bit rate.
 
4 times the bitrate doesn't mean they could get 4 times the quality, if they're encoding better though they may be able to get much better results out of 12 to 15mbit than others are achieving at far higher rates, I think it shows a lot of promise
 
Night videos @ 2304x1296p:
From residential area to strip mall and back...


 
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