Dashboard cameras - recommendations?

[aquazi]

Just checked this morning the quality is amazing... Especially at night can make out the numberplates when the car is within a couple of meters.

The only annoying thing is the positioning of the camera means i pick up in the top right the light sensor cover :headbang:

Also gps data needs a special viewer which doesnt work on my win8 laptop.


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[Swiftly]

There are links to some software in the additional info section which runs on both x32 and x 64 flavours of windows 8 which might be of use http://www.techmoan.com/blog/2014/6/15/mini-0803-probably-the-best-mini-dashcam-with-a-screen.html

 

[aquazi]

Thats where i got my software from... I suspect its the resolution of my laptop (QHD) which is why it doesnt work too well.


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[Swiftly]

Thats where i got my software from... I suspect its the resolution of my laptop (QHD) which is why it doesnt work too well.


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Arghhh... I understand now

 

[TitanTim]

Well i finally got mine fitted

Went for a e-prance 0803 with gps.

Fitted with a 12v to micro usb adaptor:

Sadly was dark when i finished so no fitted pics yet.... Also its quite annoying how it beeps on startup!

But had a lane departure system which works well although beeps even when i want to change lanes!!


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Fitted mine but its not the e-prance version last weekend. Two annoyances which are not the fault of the cam is I had to mount it further to the passenger side as it was picking up the ginormous rain sensor unit on the screen. I've run the cable inside the headlining and down inside of the screen pillar, behind the dash and down under passenger footwell to spare 12v power point that BMW has convieniently located under the glovebox. The second annoyance is it powers on as soon as you open the door or boot rather when switching the engine on which means when washing the car its powering on and off all the time. Unsure if this is because I have comfort access. I've only had time to look at a few clips and think I will need to angle the camera to point further down as it was taking in too much brightness at times. I like the small design though and no giant suction cup that most seem to use.

Tim.

 

[Stuart Truman]

Where did you fit the USB stub (I can't recognise it from the pic) and have you put it on a switched wire? Cheers!

 

[srhutch]

Where did you fit the USB stub (I can't recognise it from the pic) and have you put it on a switched wire? Cheers!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/141051703938?_trksid=p2059210.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

This is the one I have, think CJ has the same. Not fitted mine yet, but think there is a 12v switched feed in the mirror housing as that's where CJ connected his.

PS. where you been Mr. T.

 

[Stuart Truman]

Cheers for the info. I was thinking about mounting an adapter up in the interior light housing if it would fit.

I've been lurking on and off but stopped getting involved for a while after one too many keyboard warriors started in on each other. I had an "I'm too old for this sh1t" moment. I met Fran a week or so back to give her some Alpina bits I had left over. I do miss the place though so I thought I'd drop in and say hi

 

[Swiftly]

I used the 12v ignition live feed from the rain sensor to power the USB converter

 

[srhutch]

Must get mine fitted, although it's going in the DD. Might try this weekend as it's going in for a service on Friday and would be interested to see what happens.

 

[Stuart Truman]

Cheers swiftly. Did you get a pic, or can you remember the wire? I'm not going to be able to hard wire mine for a while, too much on so for now there's a mile of cable lying around.

 

[Swiftly]

Don't have any pictures unfortunately Stuart. The wire I used was a violet-white wire that powers the wiper rain sensor. It is a fused switched +12v feed from ignition position 1. I soldered the wires and shrink wrapped them before wrapping it back up using the original tape which makes the joint hardly noticiable.

You can unplug the cable to the rain sensor and use a digital meter to check the voltage on the violet-white cable and that power is only available at ignition position 1 before you start

 

[aquazi]

Cheers swiftly. Did you get a pic, or can you remember the wire? I'm not going to be able to hard wire mine for a while, too much on so for now there's a mile of cable lying around.

I removed the plastic around the rain sensor, and removed the interior light.

Unplugged the loom that goes to the rain sensor pulled some wrap away to get to this;

Then i fitted my 12v to usb adaptor like CJ to the GPS bracket inside the space where the interior light goes... Using one screw as an earth point.

Took about 30 mins to do.


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[Stuart Truman]

Cheers!

 

[Swiftly]

Cheers swiftly. Did you get a pic, or can you remember the wire? I'm not going to be able to hard wire mine for a while, too much on so for now there's a mile of cable lying around.

I removed the plastic around the rain sensor, and removed the interior light.

Unplugged the loom that goes to the rain sensor pulled some wrap away to get to this;

Then i fitted my 12v to usb adaptor like CJ to the GPS bracket inside the space where the interior light goes... Using one screw as an earth point.

Took about 30 mins to do.


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That's spot on almost exactly what I did

 

[srhutch]

Just fitted mine to the 1er. Didn't use the power adapter in the end as I went back to my original plan A as it was proving difficult to get the interior lights out.

I modified the 12V cigarette lighter adapter. I removed the parts that fit into the lighter and soldered on two wires, the live with a fuse piggyback adapter and the earth with a ring terminal. Put the cover back on on tie wrapped. I then hid this in the fusebox behind the glovebox as in the Zed, connected the fuse adapter to a 12v switched fuse and the earth to a screw in the fuse box (also one in the Zed I know) and fed up the A pillar.

I follwed this by washing the Zed and then going for a hoon :driving:

 

[Number5]

Well done Aquazi,

I wish I'd read your post before I took the whole glove box out and fished the lead up the A pillar !

I then reverted to your plan, using the violet&white cable as an 'ignition1 live' and it's worked a treat, keeping the whole thing local above the interior light panel. My 0803 Dash-Cam is in discreet and working nicely.

Thank you

 

[mad4slalom]

anyone know anything about the contour roam ? my daughter sent me one from oz for xmas , just got a windscreen /dash mount coming for it .