The Street Guardian SG9665GC is a dash cam manufactured by the Chinese company Street Guardian, from one of the most popular members in our forum, jokiin. This camera is using the same discreet casing as the B40 but has better quality internal hardware. There are 3 significant improvements over the B40:
- The SG9665GC is using the newer Novatek NT96655 processor while the B40 uses the older Novatek NT96650 processor
- The SG9665GC is using the Sony Exmor IMX322 CMOS sensor instead of the Aptina AR0330.
- The SG9665GC is using an improved lens
These 3 changes have resulted in better video quality. Video quality during the day is very good and night quality is good, probably some of the best night footage available today. (Update April 2016: Note the exposure problem and blurry video problem below for some owners). The SG9665GC records 1080p at 30f/s with an average bit rate of approximately 15,000kpbs. The camera comes with a 1.5″ screen and an external GPS module is included. The camera does not have buffered parking mode or WiFi.
The other benefit of the SG9665GC is that there is currently 1 source for the camera, unlike the B40 which is produced by numerous manufacturers. Also there is extensive support for the camera by the manufacturer and resellers and they are very active in our dash cam forums.
Build quality is is quite good and on par with the B40. The size of the camera is 72mm x 52mm x 43mm. While not the smallest camera, the form factor makes this camera quite discreet when mounted in a car for a number of reasons. The camera mounts directly to the windshield rather than using a large mount. The shape of the camera is also quite good for discreet mounting. It can be mounted high up on the windshield so that only the lens is visible from the outside.
Camera Versions
Over the years there have been incremental improvements each Street Guardian SG9665GC. To date 3 versions have been released (currently only V3 is being sold)
V1
- Original with serial numbers SB15xxxxx through to SGGCxxxxxxxx. The settings menu will display version number SG20xxxxxx.002 and SG20xxxxxx.V1
V2 (End of 2015)
- At the end of 2015, V2 was released with camera serial numbers SGGC-Bxxxxxxxx.
The settings menu displays version number SG20xxxxxx.V2 - Was updated due to new factory sensor calibration
- Uses protected memory for calibration data
V3 (2017)
- CPL included for free
- Lens housing re-tooled to allow the newly redesigned CPL to clip onto new slots
- The actual lens is a new model
Known problems
Exposure problem
A number of owners have indicated that the SG9665GC has trouble transitioning from dark to light scenarios (coming out of a tunnel, transitioning from a tree canopy to bright light). The video gets washed out / too bright after going though a dark scene. The following video demonstrates the problem.
Some owners have minimized the problem by angling the camera up 1 notch and trying to get less of the car’s hood in the video. Dark hoods may make the problem appear worse. The CPL filter does not seem to fix the problem. We are not sure if this is a widespread problem yet. You can read more about it on our forum.
Blurry Video
A handful of users have also indicated the SG9665GC has blurry video when the temperature changes. We are not sure how widespread this problem is. Click on the following picture to see the issue. You can read more about it here.
Hot Pixels
Numerous owners have indicated that the SG9665GC has “hot pixels” which are noticeable in night videos. The following image illustrates the problem (right click and view image to see a larger image). This typically can be corrected via a calibration process. The instructions for calibration can be provided by the seller via email or can be requested on the SG9665GC forum.
FM Radio Interference
A handful of owners are getting interference with their FM radio or other onboard electronics (TPMS sensor). This appears to be a problem with the originally supplied power cable. A new power cable is currently being provided which should address this problem.
Flip External GPS
The external GPS was designed to be installed on the dash with the “GPS logo” facing upwards. Some owners want to mount the GPS on the window which would result in the GPS facing the wrong direction (downwards). To address this, you can manually flip the GPS antenna as per the video below.
Mounting the Camera
Mounting and Unmounting
Sample Videos
Day Video
Night Video
Comparison Videos – SG9665GC top vs DR500GW HD bottom
SG9665GC top vs B40 bottom
SG9665GC vs Blackvue DR750W-2CH
BlackVue DR650GW-1CH vs SG9665GC
Should I Purchase?
If you are a fan of the B40 dash cam, you will be very happy with the SG9665GC given the improvements in video quality. Reliability appears to be very good and Street Guardian provides some of the best pre-sales and after-sales service (via the manufacturer and sellers).
At $150, price is much steeper than the B40 but if video quality and support are your most important purchasing factors, it is difficult to beat the SG9665GC. Just note that the SG9665GC does not come with buffered parking mode or WiFi. As of April 2016, some owners have indicated the camera has exposure and focus problems. Currently evaluating how widespread these problems are. See what other owners have to say about the SG9665GC on our forum.
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.
The latest firmware can be found at the Street Guardian Site.
Specifications
Detailed Specifications
| Read Review |
 |
| Camera Type | Single Channel |
| Form Factor | Wedge |
| Country | China |
| Processor | Novatek NT96655 |
| CMOS Front | Sony Exmor IMX322 |
| CMOS Rear | N/A |
| Channels | 1 |
| Screen | 1.5" |
| Touchscreen | No |
| GPS | Yes |
| G-Sensor | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | No |
| Parking Mode | No |
| Lock Files | Auto or Button |
| Max Resolution Front | 1920×1080p |
| Front Frames Per Second | 30 |
| Max Bitrate Front (Mbps) | 15 |
| Max Resolution Rear | N/A |
| Rear Frames Per Second | N/A |
| Max Bitrate Rear (Mbps) | N/A |
| Video Format | MOV |
| Compression | H.264 |
| Diagonal Viewing Angle Front | 135° |
| Diagonal Viewing Angle Rear | N/A |
| SD Card Type | MicroSD |
| Max Size (Spec) | 64GB |
| Max Size (User) | 64GB |
| Size Front (mm) | 72 x 52 x 43 |
| Size Rear (mm) | N/A |
| Mount | Adhesive |
| Power Supply | 5V |
| Operating Temp | Unknown |
| Battery | Capacitor |
| Error Notification | Screen |
| Swivel (To Record Side Windows) | No |
| Apps | None |
| Cloud Connectivity | No |
| Release Date | Mar 2015 |
| Warranty | 24 months with registration |
| Unique Features | None |
| Advantages |
Video quality Build quality Mounts directly to windscreen and is discreet Excellent Support |
| Disadvantages | No buffered parking mode |
| Final Word | All around an excellent camera with good support. A bit on the pricey side for a single camera and no buffered parking mode. |
Published: June 24, 2015
Updated: Feb 5, 2017
SG9665GC - DashCamTalk
The Street Guardian SG9665GC video quality has been surpassed by other cameras, support for the SG9665GC is best in the industry.
Product SKU: Street Guardian SG9665GC
Product Brand: Street Guardian
Product Currency: USD
Product Price: 150
Price Valid Until: 2023-01-01
Product In-Stock: SoldOut
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