The Livue LB100 DVR is a compact Korean built dash cam with very good picture quality during the day and good picture quality at night. It records 720p at 30f/s with up to a 8,500kpbs bit rate (can be set lower as well). This dash camera also has a G-sensor and parking mode. A separate GPS module is optional and this camera uses micro SD cards.
This comes with a battery discharge prevention device built in which will turn the camera off if voltage drops to 11.8V for more than 30 seconds. Note that 11.8v may be too low for effective battery discharge prevention. The low voltage cut-off will turn off the camera You can also set a time for battery discharge prevention from 2 hours to 48 hours or even unlimited or completely disabled. You can read more about Battery Discharge Prevention Devices and some of the limitations of low voltage cut-offs.
This camera is using a Core Logic (Lucy) CLM550F2 processor made in Korea and comes with a TCBW A203_2M_1/3″ lens. The manufacturer is WinyTech. In fact, this camera is identical internally to the Winycam V300HD DVR.
Many people are looking for small discreet cameras with good video quality, particularly at night. Even though this camera shoots 720p, the video quality appears quite good, just a notch below many of the more expensive Korean cameras . The night video quality is also good. Recently this camera has been selling for $100 but price has increased to $120. There is likely no other dash cam with better night video quality at that price range.
We would like to thank our member Mtz, who provided the information for this review. You can read his original thread in our forum.
Comparison with Itronics Dash Cams
This is a compact camera as compared to the Itronics ITB-250HD. The cameras are approximately the same size but the LB 100 is a little bit less discreet given its silver lens.
Here are some comparison videos of the Itronics ITB-100HD (top) with the Livue LB100 (bottom). Notice the night video quality of the much more affordable Livue is nearly as good as the Itronics.
Known problems
This is gaining popularity in 2013 due to its reasonable $100 price tag (note that this camera used to sell for over $200). There is not much information on reliability yet but some minor problems are summarized below.
Date is Incorrect
Owners have complained of an incorrect date with the camera (year is 1975, 1983, etc.). This is due to incompatibility with the Livue setup.cfg files.
The solution is to install the WinyBBViewer on your computer and configure your settings with that. Choose the current viewer instead of the newer viewer. Alternatively, you can use the WinyCam Android application to configure the settings. These applications are in English and provide the correct setup.cfg file. Do not install the Livue Android application or the Livue PC software because they will not setup the .cfg file correctly.
Blurry Picture
Mtz has indicated the left side of the video is blurry as per the video below.
This might be an issue with the lens on his camera only or it might be a broader problem. We will capture if other owners experience this problem.
Disassembling the dash cam
Mounting the Camera
The Livue LB100 mounted compared to the 808 #16, ITB-100HD and ITB0-250HD.
The mount system uses a ball allowing rotation in any direction not only up and down. The wire connectors are on top of the camera, making the wires less visible. The GPS module, if purchased, is included in the mounting system. You can remove the camera by simply unmounting it from the windshield mount.
Livue LB100 PC Player
The Livue LB100 player, which is Korean, does not work with this camera. It only works with the Korean firmware so the configuration files will not be saved correctly.
The Winycam Player works best and can be found on the camera’s SD Card. Avoid searching / using the latest Livue software due to configuration issues. Apparently the Winycam Current Viewer is better than the New Viewer as well.
The software is very good due to the multitude of options provided. From power saving, different FPS for parking mode and camera sensor image settings. The following screenshot illustrates some of the settings.
Livue LB100 Android App
A Livue Android app exists but comes in Korean only. However, the Winycam Android app is in English and functions well. You can download it from the Google Play Store.
Sample Videos
Day Video
Night Video
Should I Purchase?
This camera is small, black, has decent picture quality, G-sensor and parking mode. Even though it is a 720p camera, the video quality is quite good. There doesn’t appear to be a camera with better night video at this price range. Reliability is unknown at this time and it is difficult to predict how long this $100 deal will last since the Korean manufacturers are known to crack down on eBay vendors. At $100, this camera is shaping up to be a best buy. Note that the price has increased to $120 now.
Firmware
WARNING! MAKING CHANGES TO YOUR FIRMWARE ARE PERFORMED AT YOUR OWN RISK. WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGE TO YOUR DASH CAM AS A RESULT OF THESE INSTRUCTIONS.
Firmware Update Instructions
- Remove the SD card from the black box after turning off the power completely.
- Copy the firmware file to the top position of the files in the SD card after connect the SD card to the PC.
- Boot the power in the black box after inserting the SD card into a black box.
- If the firmware file is automatically recognized, start to update the firmware after the voice guide to indicate the start of the firmware.
- When the firmware update is completed, the firmware file stored in the SD card is automatically deleted and the black box is rebooted after the voice guide to indicate the completion of the firmware update.
Firmware File Format
File name will be as WINYCAM_V300_yymmdd.bin – yymmdd will change depending on year/month/date of the firmware version
If on the bottom-right screen you will see V300HD, the firmware installed is the WinyCam, but if is FW01, the firmware installed is the Livue
Latest Firmware
You can download firmware from the Winycam site.
The latest firmware version is V300_130226_EN.bin
SD Card Contents
You can download the SD card contents here.
User Manual
You can download the manual Livue LB100 manual here.
You can download the Winycam V300HD manual here.
Specifications
Detailed Specifications
Updated: May 21, 2013
Livue LB100 - DashCamTalk
The Livue LB100 used to be a top pick but cams with better video quality now exist for the price.
Product SKU: Livue LB100
Product Brand: Livue
Product Currency: USD
Product Price: 120
Price Valid Until: 2023-01-01
Product In-Stock: SoldOut
6.3
Livue LB100 - DashCamTalk
The Livue LB100 used to be a top pick but cams with better video quality now exist for the price.
Product SKU: Livue LB100
Product Brand: Livue
Product Currency: USD
Product Price: 120
Price Valid Until: 2023-01-01
Product In-Stock: SoldOut
6.3