VIOFO A329 2CH - Testing / Review - RCG

[rcg530]

HDMI Output:
I have a feeling Viofo brought back the A/V output (HDMI) for the folks who keep asking;
“Can I use the 2.4” LCD screen on the main unit as live view backup camera with the rear camera feed?”
Or commercial applications like bus / truck drivers.
Would you be interested in testing this out?
I thought about testing it out but it would require purchasing a monitor, and a micro HDMI cable;
https://www.amazon.com/gp/B089YSHMYS

I'm not actively planning on spending any additional money for the HDMI feature. Purchasing the two SSD drives was a large enough expense for now.

 

[viofo]

Does this mean different SSD's will have different power consumption rates / parking mode run times?
I was really hoping for Impact Only Parking Mode with sub 1 Watt power consumption.

The Only Parking Mode doesn't save power, as it keeps pre-recording.

 

[viofo]

HDMI Output:
I have a feeling Viofo brought back the A/V output (HDMI) for the folks who keep asking;
“Can I use the 2.4” LCD screen on the main unit as live view backup camera with the rear camera feed?”
Or commercial applications like bus / truck drivers.
Would you be interested in testing this out?
I thought about testing it out but it would require purchasing a monitor, and a micro HDMI cable;
https://www.amazon.com/gp/B089YSHMYS

Most of dashcams don't support HDMI and video out now due to the license issue, the chipset vendor cut this feature.
We added this feature on A329, maybe some users need this with the latest dashcam technology.

 

[rcg530]

I updated post 4 with this additional info:

One thing to note about AED parking mode when the SSD is the primary storage for the A329 is that the A329 does seem to reduce power to the SSD drive while the A329 is waiting for an impact or motion event. Since the A329 is buffering video/audio when the impact/motion event takes place, the A329 has some time to fully power up the SSD to begin writing the video to the SSD file system. Power consumption remains at motion/impact recording levels for approx 60 secs when first starting AED mode or an AED recording completes.

 

[Augustus]

Video Storage Options

New video files can be written to the microSD card or to an externally connected SSD drive.

You can select which of the memory storage locations will receive newly created video files:

View attachment 74135View attachment 74136

You can manage the videos stored on the SSD video this menu option

You can backup the video files stored on the microSD card to the SSD if you only wish to use the SSD to archive video files originally stored on the microSD card.

View attachment 74137View attachment 74138View attachment 74139View attachment 74140

You can delete video files currently stored on the SSD drive using the "Delete External SSD Files" option

View attachment 74141

You can send video out the micro HDMI port using this setting (I've not tested this feature yet)

View attachment 74142

Would love to see a more detailed progress panel than just number of files, maybe percentage wise. Or time remaining. But understandable because you can only display so many characters on a small screen ...

 

[GPak]

A329 2CH Power Consumption Testing

Please keep in mind that the A329 2CH dash camera I used for my testing is a pre-production/prototype unit. There may be optimizations made in the hardware or firmware (after v1.0_240830) that may impact the power consumption test results.

The A329 supports writing new video files to an external USB-C memory device (primarily a Portable SSD). The A329 must provide power to the external storage device which of course will increase the power consumption of the A329 when configured in that manner. I have two rows for each video/test configuration so I show the "microSD only" power consumption and when a portable SSD device is configured as the primary storage destination for new video files. I used a SanDisk 1TB Extreme PRO Portable SSD during my power consumption testing with a SSD connected to the A329. Since the SSD draws power from the A329, parking mode times are reduced when compared to the microSD card parking mode time estimates.

Power Consumption Test Results [click on thumbnail to see]
View attachment 74154

Parking mode time estimates based on the power consumption test data [click on thumbnail to see]

View attachment 74155

One thing to note about AED parking mode when the SSD is the primary storage for the A329 is that the A329 does seem to reduce power to the SSD drive while the A329 is waiting for an impact or motion event. Since the A329 is buffering video/audio when the impact/motion event takes place, the A329 has some time to fully power up the SSD to begin writing the video to the SSD file system. Power consumption remains at motion/impact recording levels for approx 60 secs when first starting AED mode or an AED recording completes.

View attachment 74160

Wow, what a big difference in power consumption when parked between MicroSD and SSD!
I wonder if the A329 can be configured to write to SSD while driving and switch to MicroSD when parked

 

[mommam034]

Too bad
The rear camera cable would be great if used with A139 pro.

 

[Chuck McCoy]

The Only Parking Mode doesn't save power, as it keeps pre-recording.

I don’t understand what you mean.
Vueroid D21 4K, and Thinkware U3000 have Impact Only Parking Mode with power consumption in the 2 mA - 7mA range (0.1 Watts).
@safedrivesolutions
Do I have this correct?
Can you explain this better?

 

[viofo]

I don’t understand what you mean.
Vueroid D21 4K, and Thinkware U3000 have Impact Only Parking Mode with power consumption in the 2 mA - 7mA range (0.1 Watts).
@safedrivesolutions
Do I have this correct?
Can you explain this better?

View attachment 74162

That is based on the dashcam that can support quick start, like power on within 1 ~ 2 seconds.
I saw Novatek has something new tech for parking recording in the near future.

Personally I don't have much interest in the impact-only mode, if the camera is powered off, it may not trigger the event, or miss some events without the g-sensor trigger.
I prefer the camera to keep recording in parking mode.

 

[Chuck McCoy]

if the camera is powered off, it may not trigger the event, or miss some events without the g-sensor trigger.
I prefer the camera to keep recording in parking mode.

I agree, which is why I only recommend Low Bitrate Parking Mode so nothing is missed.
However, most consumers do not want the additional cost, and complexity of a dash cam battery pack to support (power hungry) Low Bitrate Parking Mode.
If Viofo camera’s had Impact Only Parking Mode (0.1 Watt) you cold siphon customers away from Vueroid & Thinkware.

 

[Nigel]

I thought about testing it out but it would require purchasing a monitor, and a micro HDMI cable;

You can plug your TV into it for testing... you do a lot of your testing in your garage anyway!

 

[Nigel]

Wow, what a big difference in power consumption when parked between MicroSD and SSD!
I wonder if the A329 can be configured to write to SSD while driving and switch to MicroSD when parked

It would also need to power down the SSD in parking mode, or at least tell it to go to sleep, before that would be useful, but it would be useful for a lot of people.

The alternative would be to use lower powered storage, presumably some USB thumb drives don't use much more power than a microSD?
My microSD card readers do all seem to get very hot when being used, so using them is probably not the answer!

 

[TonyM]

I assume the SSD is set to loop record, just like the microSD?

Are there separate partitions on the SSD for 'live' recordings and backups? Or are all the files saved / backed up to SSD in the usual folders?

 

[Paul Iddon]

$64,000 Question:
1.) Is night time HDR performance 100% functional / acceptable?
2.) Is night time HDR performance better than;
A229 Pro
A139 Pro
A119 Mini 2
3.) Is 60fps HDR Off at night time a complete mess?
@TonyM
@Paul Iddon

I don't have a test unit Chuck, I've seen just the 3 or 4 names @viofo have chosen to send the A329 out to so far.

Paul.

 

[ogzogz]

In some firmware Viofo changed the SNV name to Night Vision and I hope to keep it in this way and not as SNV.
Night Vision is improving the image for sure. For such comparisons I always use GIF images.
View attachment 74146

apparently the night vision feature reminded me of the images with the a129 series wdr activated.

 

[rcg530]

A329 GPS Mount

I checked with VIOFO and I was told that the GPS mount for the A329 has been recently updated with a updated antenna to get a better GPS signal. The prototype/test unit I have has the exact same GPS mount as the A229 Pro/Plus.

Production A329 dash cameras while have the updated GPS mount and the next production batch for the A229 Pro will also get the updated GPS mount as well. I'll have to see if that means only the A229 Pro will get the updated GPS mount or will the next batch of the A229 Pro and A229 Plus will get the updated GPS mount. I can't see why they would not update the A229 Plus GPS mount as well.

 

[kamkar]

Thinkware U3000 have Impact Only Parking Mode

I think the 70mai cameras do the same, at least when i 4G connect to the camera, modem connection is instant, but it take a while for the live view to pop up, and even longer if the battery have called quits and so have to wake up the camera.

So it would seem these are CBR, which is excellent it is what i prefer ( Constant BitRate )

 

[kamkar]

Most of dashcams don't support HDMI

I would assume only few of users would want to use a HDMI output.
I could use that as with the flat rear of my car a rear dashcam would work as a reversing camera, but i do not have a headunit now that it have a HDMI input

Otherwise my tired old back would appreciate to not be twisted when looking back during reversing.

 

[Mtz]

I wonder if the A329 can be configured to write to SSD while driving and switch to MicroSD when parked

The worst idea from a wishlist of a dashcam with SSD.

My microSD card readers do all seem to get very hot when being used, so using them is probably not the answer!

Of course!

I would assume only few of users would want to use a HDMI output.

I think the A329 was created for some professional drivers who asked for SSD and HDMI. If normal drivers will be happy to use a 4TB SSD the HDMI is almost useless for them, but this HDMI is not affecting their happiness about SSD.

I assume the SSD is set to loop record, just like the microSD?

Yes! Nothing special compared to SD card. On my SSD there was some moment when the free space was only 1.5 GB. Sometimes is 3-4-5 GB

Two videos of Viofo A329 at night, I hope USA people to not be sad because of european license plates visibility

On youtube description you have the original videos so you can analyze them.
The firmware was not the latest.
Unfortunately my windshield is still not clean even I tried a lot.

I am very happy that Viofo accepted to include the 21:9 resolution, this resolution should be the standard for dashcam usage but unfortunately people think that more image is always better. Just think that some 70Mai is recording in 4:3 format and many people are happy about that.

PS: if you will look at the end of the file name you will see a number. In theory that number should tell how many videos recorded my A329 dashcam.

 

[Augustus]

The worst idea from a wishlist of a dashcam with SSD.

Of course!

I think the A329 was created for some professional drivers who asked for SSD and HDMI. If normal drivers will be happy to use a 4TB SSD the HDMI is almost useless for them, but this HDMI is not affecting their happiness about SSD.

Yes! Nothing special compared to SD card. On my SSD there was some moment when the free space was only 1.5 GB. Sometimes is 3-4-5 GB

Two videos of Viofo A329 at night, I hope USA people to not be sad because of european license plates visibility

On youtube description you have the original videos so you can analyze them.
The firmware was not the latest.
Unfortunately my windshield is still not clean even I tried a lot.

I am very happy that Viofo accepted to include the 21:9 resolution, this resolution should be the standard for dashcam usage but unfortunately people think that more image is always better. Just think that some 70Mai is recording in 4:3 format and many people are happy about that.

PS: if you will look at the end of the file name you will see a number. In theory that number should tell how many videos recorded my A329 dashcam.

No clean windscreen? lol!