Best dashcam

[Stinger GT SS]

Just a thought before I get the BlackVue DR900s installed - where exactly should I get the installer to mount them? I read in the Stinger manual last night not to put anything behind the rear view mirror as it will obscure a front camera. As a few of you have installed these or similar, any pics to share showing where they have been mounted?

Here’s where mine is mounted without any issues.

 

[ShannonC]

 

[Coast GT]

Slightly different angle pic but same as @Stinger GT SS and @ShannonC the cables for it go up under the housing for the lane keep assist and along the headliner to the fuse box below the steering column.
Rear camera is mounted dead center below the third stop light

 

[Flameangel]

Here's mine.
View attachment 27188

 

[Flameangel]

And Rear.

 

[Wazz]

Howdy all. Got the Blackvue 900S 2CH installed the other day at Autobarn. Must say the customer service would have been crap...had there actually been any customer service. Now, no idea how to get it to talk with my smartphone. I can connect to dashcam via wifi, that connection says no internet. I think to myself, I will test this with my smartphone as a mobile hotspot. Can't work out how to get the dashcam to do its thing. Try app in Cloud, does nothing as not connected. I go to WIFI tab, says not connected though I am (just no internet). Instructions are not easy to follow from the manual. What 237 things am I doing wrong?

On another note, the installer has put the magic pro thing right under the footwell, just above the accelerator. I can't reach the ^%$#% thing without having to pull seat right back and crawl under - neighbours do not need to hear me grunt or see bum cleavage...

 

[Stinger GT SS]

Howdy all. Got the Blackvue 900S 2CH installed the other day at Autobarn. Must say the customer service would have been crap...had there actually been any customer service. Now, no idea how to get it to talk with my smartphone. I can connect to dashcam via wifi, that connection says no internet. I think to myself, I will test this with my smartphone as a mobile hotspot. Can't work out how to get the dashcam to do its thing. Try app in Cloud, does nothing as not connected. I go to WIFI tab, says not connected though I am (just no internet). Instructions are not easy to follow from the manual. What 237 things am I doing wrong?

On another note, the installer has put the magic pro thing right under the footwell, just above the accelerator. I can't reach the ^%$#% thing without having to pull seat right back and crawl under - neighbours do not need to hear me grunt or see bum cleavage...

You need to connect your wifi settings in your phone to BlackVue when the camera is on put in the password & then you can access all the settings & videos through the BlackVue App you should have downloaded on your phone.

 

[Wazz]

You need to connect your wifi settings in your phone to BlackVue when the camera is on put in the password & then you can access all the settings & videos through the BlackVue App you should have downloaded on your phone.

I'm not getting that... my phone connects to Blackvue using the cams supplied SSID and password (says connected but no internet so I do have a wifi connection. I have created an account so that's not problem. I'm going to take it back tomorrow, they can rip it out and refund me, I'm too old to learn new stuff.

 

[Stinger GT SS]

I'm not getting that... my phone connects to Blackvue using the cams supplied SSID and password (says connected but no internet so I do have a wifi connection. I have created an account so that's not problem. I'm going to take it back tomorrow, they can rip it out and refund me, I'm too old to learn new stuff.

Well good luck, maybe they can get you connected & set it up for you.

 

[Wazz]

Well good luck, maybe they can get you connected & set it up for you.

They didn't bend over backwards to help on Monday so doubt they will again, I have heard of people have issues with the Blackvues trying to connect, I've done everything the vague instructions say, I'm not stupid (though feeling it right now), but I'm stuffed if I know what else will fix this....maybe a hammer to my head ugh,

 

[Stinger GT SS]

They didn't bend over backwards to help on Monday so doubt they will again, I have heard of people have issues with the Blackvues trying to connect, I've done everything the vague instructions say, I'm not stupid (though feeling it right now), but I'm stuffed if I know what else will fix this....maybe a hammer to my head ugh,

I’m sorry you had crap service & are frustrated, I’m old too & tech devices frustrate me too when they don’t do what you believe they should do.
You could also try ringing Autoblack Box in Perth they are BlackVue Australian distributors & they may talk you through it or put you onto someone more competent in Bendigo.

 

[Wazz]

I’m sorry you had crap service & are frustrated, I’m old too & tech devices frustrate me too when they don’t do what you believe they should do.
You could also try ringing Autoblack Box in Perth they are BlackVue Australian distributors & they may talk you through it or put you onto someone more competent in Bendigo.

Good point, yes may try that tomorrow as there is only the one dealer here in Bendigo (Autobarn) so outside help from people who know their products would be handy. Will keep you posted. (and Dad thought he had a problem when he failed to tune the TV to pickup the Atari's picture and me as a 13yo had to sort it... now I've become my Dad but the 11yo is of no use yet lol)

 

[Coast GT]

Download the Blackvue app to your phone. Set up the account, once the camera is turned on and your account is logged in on the app scan the available WiFi on the phone and connect to the Blackvue one. Use the username & password supplied by Blackvue to connect them. You won’t have an internet connection once you connect to the camera as it doesn’t have that capability.

Fire up the app on your phone and select the Blackvue WiFi option. That’ll give you access to whatever footage is on the camera. You can change options once you’re in there.

As for the power magic pro being in the fuse box under the steering column it’s not an issue, you don’t have to turn it on and off all the time. They should’ve set the time limit and voltage limit so the camera will run in parking mode once you’ve stopped the engine until either the time limit expires or the car battery gets below whatever voltage limit they’ve set. If it cuts out it will fire up again once you kick the engine over

 

[Wazz]

Download the Blackvue app to your phone. Set up the account, once the camera is turned on and your account is logged in on the app scan the available WiFi on the phone and connect to the Blackvue one. Use the username & password supplied by Blackvue to connect them. You won’t have an internet connection once you connect to the camera as it doesn’t have that capability.

Fire up the app on your phone and select the Blackvue WiFi option. That’ll give you access to whatever footage is on the camera. You can change options once you’re in there.

As for the power magic pro being in the fuse box under the steering column it’s not an issue, you don’t have to turn it on and off all the time. They should’ve set the time limit and voltage limit so the camera will run in parking mode once you’ve stopped the engine until either the time limit expires or the car battery gets below whatever voltage limit they’ve set. If it cuts out it will fire up again once you kick the engine over

I tried that, connects to phone, phone once connected to cam says no internet as described... can't access any footage, no options come uo to change much at all. If I hit WIFI tab it just comes up with a message saying can't connect. With the magic Pro it seems to be on all the time, they have just installed it, not set it to cut out. Really poor effort to install but not configure...it's nearly impossible for this old bloke to get down low enough to tinker with the settings. I'll be going back tomorrow to ask them to sort it out and show me...or a refund if easier.

 

[ShannonC]

@Wazz
This may help
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...FjAAegQIAhAB&usg=AOvVaw1FJE5-fgLHuCB97jGua2RX

 

[Wazz]

@Wazz
This may help
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...FjAAegQIAhAB&usg=AOvVaw1FJE5-fgLHuCB97jGua2RX

Thanks mate - all good now! Cheers

 

[Driver]

I've had dashcams for years. One thing I've learnt is Memory cards are a problem. They corrupt & die over time - so get the "High Endurance" cards that are designed for dashcams or CCTV cameras. eg: constant memory writing.

So in light of this I have installed 2 x dual camera dashcams for redundancy - the Blackvue DR750S and the Viofo A129.

It shall be interesting to see how the Viofo really compares to the Blackvue at half's it's price!

IMHO go BlackVue 900 2CH + Magic Pro it’s a new model & most up to date, I have an old DR500gw-HD from 2013 & it still works fine, so your initial outlay will diminish over time.

I've got a DR500 too. It did brick itself a few years back but I was able to flash it thanks to the Russian dashcam forums & some very tricky soldering work to hook the serial port inside it so i could get console access to it's embedded linux OS.

 

[Wazz]

Two questions:
1) Car has 3000km check on Tuesday, since then the Black Magic Pro box only powers up when car running, not when turned off. Keeping in mind I am not tech savvy (I was 30 years ago lol), what should I be looking for that the Kia mob may have accidentally botched?

2) Looking for suggestions for decent data plan and whether to use an old mobile phone as the hotpsot or buy a (hopefully cheap) portable modem. I used ALDI for normal phone and get 40Gb for around $45. I can buy a new sim/data pack with them for $15 (3Gb) or $30 (26Gb) with a 28 day expiry. Would 3GB suffice running a BlackVue DR900S 2CH? I have video quality at 2nd highest rate now which is standard HD not 4G.

 

[Coast GT]

Two questions:
1) Car has 3000km check on Tuesday, since then the Black Magic Pro box only powers up when car running, not when turned off. Keeping in mind I am not tech savvy (I was 30 years ago lol), what should I be looking for that the Kia mob may have accidentally botched?

2) Looking for suggestions for decent data plan and whether to use an old mobile phone as the hotpsot or buy a (hopefully cheap) portable modem. I used ALDI for normal phone and get 40Gb for around $45. I can buy a new sim/data pack with them for $15 (3Gb) or $30 (26Gb) with a 28 day expiry. Would 3GB suffice running a BlackVue DR900S 2CH? I have video quality at 2nd highest rate now which is standard HD not 4G.

Is the power magic pro turned on? There’s an on/off switch on it. If it’s in the off position it will run while the car is on but kill power to the cameras when the ignition is off. Also check what fuse they ran it to, it needs to go to a fuse that has constant power. I think mine is running off the infotainment unit fuse as it has constant power to run the clock etc. I think they ran the other one to power the camera when the ignition is on from the fuse for the 12v charger.

Re the data plan don’t bother unless you are using the Blackvue via the cloud service which is a subscription.

I’m running my front camera in 4K and the rear in 1080p HD. You can link your phone to the Blackvue via WiFi which will allow you to view what’s saved on the memory card. It gives you an option to save to the phone. Just download the Blackvue app to your phone if you haven’t already got it. The manual for the camera is pretty basic but should cover what you need.

 

[Wazz]

Is the power magic pro turned on? There’s an on/off switch on it. If it’s in the off position it will run while the car is on but kill power to the cameras when the ignition is off. Also check what fuse they ran it to, it needs to go to a fuse that has constant power. I think mine is running off the infotainment unit fuse as it has constant power to run the clock etc. I think they ran the other one to power the camera when the ignition is on from the fuse for the 12v charger.

Re the data plan don’t bother unless you are using the Blackvue via the cloud service which is a subscription.

I’m running my front camera in 4K and the rear in 1080p HD. You can link your phone to the Blackvue via WiFi which will allow you to view what’s saved on the memory card. It gives you an option to save to the phone. Just download the Blackvue app to your phone if you haven’t already got it. The manual for the camera is pretty basic but should cover what you need.

Yes turned on, I have been using that switch to turn it off at night as the car is securely locked up anyway.

I have the phone app and the windows based one for the laptop too. Both very useful but the reason I was toying with the data plan was so that if some knucklehead hits my car when it's parked, I'll get push notifications (so I can run out to the work car park with a meat clever (haha) and the event will be backed up on the cloud too. Also good just to randomly see what is going on around the car as a) we have a resident loony in this town who walks everywhere and tends to pee on cars (I kid you not) b) I'll be out of town for a few days and car will be in an open car park so want the extra security... other than that, I'd not really bother. Decided today have an old mobile phone, might try that for a hotspot if I go ahead.