Installing a dashcam

[ViperSmith]

I've been thinking about a dashcam for awhile. Lets be honest, people get dumb around fast cars. Passing you on double yellow, etc.

Bought http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C48TJ58/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Part of the reason was I could rig this up to the pigtail for a radar detector. The dashcam has the same power draw as a radar detector (actually a bit less). So, wiring it up with the pigtail would be a breeze. Plus, best of all, no exposed wires at all.

Deciding on a place. Thought about right of mirror, but it chopped off some of the left hand view of the car

http://i.imgur.com/a1IesBW.jpg

Decided to mount it on the plastic piece below the mirror. Not an optimal spot. I may move it in the future if it annoys me. The benefit to the spot above is it really isn't visible to the driver.

http://i.imgur.com/xNJnDi8.jpg

View from outside

http://i.imgur.com/ksSvTG5.jpg

All that came with it

http://i.imgur.com/1UOCpaL.jpg

Pigtail that came with the car

http://i.imgur.com/hfK2P3W.jpg

Surgery

http://i.imgur.com/ZTr9kh1.jpg

Getting the piece above the mirror wasn't that hard. You want to pull on the upper portion (upper and lower)

http://i.imgur.com/nryIa7Y.jpg

Pigtail plugs in right there (drivers side)

http://i.imgur.com/bORT1Mj.jpg

[RevHeat]

Can you post some video for us?

[ViperSmith]

Can you post some video for us?

i shall! haven't been driving much thanks to the weather, i did sneak out the other night - here is one of the short videos.

There are basically three video modes with this camera. "Always on", "Event", and "Motion"

Always on is standard driving, a bit lower quality. videos are in 3 minute segments
Event is when something happens hard braking, accident, etc, videos are of higher quality, videos are in 30 second segments
Motion is when the car is parked and someone hits it, videos are of higher quality, videos are in 30 second segments

The Viper creates a lot of "Event" videos if you drive a Viper like it should when accelerating :)

Below is a night video. You'll notice it isn't catching license plates well due to glare, but in reality (to me) this was more about catching events happening. I'll try and get a daytime video today if I can sneak out.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgSsfxKlna8

[RevHeat]

Thank you for posting video

[ViperSmith]

RevHeat,

here is another during the day. I decided to go to the casino and throw money away


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yI68kK1nCRA&feature=youtu.be

[RevHeat]

I like how it has gps built in. Thanks again.

[Stealth]

My Gen V came with the pigtail pictured above which taps into the mirror for power as others have noted. One Question: how did you splice the plastic connector which snaps into the radar detector onto the white and red wires of the power pigtail?

Thanks!

[ViperSmith]

For the dashcam, i cut off the supplied cig lighter from the cord and spliced it in there. I used the shrink wrap material to close it up nicely.

[plumcrazy]

pretty cool. but soon enough it will be mandatory in cars

[v10enomous]

I have a dashcam but it creeps me out recording everything I say and possibly incriminating me if I suffer a momentary lapse in judgment driving... I only use it selectively now when driving and leave it on when my car is out and unattended.

[Jack B]

I just put the Blackvue model in my jeep. Here are some of the features:

1 Front/rear camera.
2. Wireless to a phone app.you can view the cameras remotely
3 Park mode for when the car is unattended.

[v10enomous]

That sounds slick... What model ? Can you post a link...


I just put the Blackvue model in my jeep. Here are some of the features:

1 Front/rear camera.
2. Wireless to a phone app.you can view the cameras remotely
3 Park mode for when the car is unattended.

[Jack B]

I am not sure what is norm for these cameras, but, this one includes gps position and speed. I just installed the system so I am not sure about the total range of features. The reason for the camera was that the jeep has been hit three times in the last year. The last incident was when it was parked and no one took responsibility. On the jeep the front camera is totally hidden behind the mirror.

Here is the link:

http://the-gadgeteer.com/2013/08/29/pittasoft-blackvue-dr550gw-2ch-dual-dash-cam-review/


That sounds slick... What model ? Can you post a link...

[v10enomous]

Impressive !


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lfqdWXrCuQ

[Voice of Reason]

I like the idea but front window realestate is so precious I wonder if there's an alternative place that would work as well and not block any visibility. Maybe something mounted between the seats by the headrest?

[v10enomous]

I like the idea but front window realestate is so precious I wonder if there's an alternative place that would work as well and not block any visibility. Maybe something mounted between the seats by the headrest?

Looks like you could stick the mount on the back of the rear view mirror.

Here's video from the one I have now hence the need to upgrade...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfkhnUaqI40&list=UUtQr6PGAR3TZR7xYNAb1nMg


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkFznwZWmF4&list=UUtQr6PGAR3TZR7xYNAb1nMg

[ViperSmith]

I like the idea but front window realestate is so precious I wonder if there's an alternative place that would work as well and not block any visibility. Maybe something mounted between the seats by the headrest?

lmao, i mounted mine below my rear view, because as high as i sit there is no visibility from the rear view to the hood!

[G37Sam]

Did any of you have to do any fabric cutting around the connector?

http://i.imgur.com/bORT1Mj.jpg

[ViperSmith]

I had to push the fabric down enough to expose the connector to get the male / female to hook correctly. It is tough, the glue is pretty strong. I didn't cut, just pulled it down.

[G37Sam]

Drove me nuts! No matter what I did I could not manage to get the male and female to connect (no pun intended)

Not looking forward to doing any cutting.

[ViperSmith]

I'd try a flat head screw driver to see if you can push it down. Taking a knife up there isn't a good idea in my opinion.

[ACR]

Drove me nuts! No matter what I did I could not manage to get the male and female to connect (no pun intended)

Not looking forward to doing any cutting.

massage it in

[ViperSmith]

massage it in

Manipulating it with your fingers works well too

[VIPEREPIV]

Old pics, but I've had a dash cam in my Subaru for a couple of years now. I mounted mine just under the rear view mirror, and connected it with a 12' usb to micro usb wire, along with a dual usb cig. light adapter. Different cars, but you can kinda see where I routed the wire, starting at the head liner. Also, I recently replaced the $35 dash cam that you see in the pics and video, and replaced it with the G1W-C for $48.

http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/rr55/dave7zombie/Install/IMG_20130317_092924_235_zps10dd1a0d.jpg

http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/rr55/dave7zombie/Install/IMG_20130317_093545_519_zps51b45c86.jpg

http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/rr55/dave7zombie/Install/IMG_20130317_125224_835_zps96dfc51d.jpg

http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/rr55/dave7zombie/305824_4868670121766_1699414503_n_zpsf028dc45.jpg

This footage was from the cheap ass $35 dash cam. (720p at 30FPS)

https://youtu.be/wt6vuBshbw8

This footage is from another driver's $48 G1W-C dash cam. (Night time)

https://youtu.be/OAZ6QrxuEyQ

[donk_316]

Would drive me nuts having a giant phone and a dash cam right in the middle of your field of vision...

Is there not smaller versions??

- - - Updated - - -

Would drive me nuts having a giant phone and a dash cam right in the middle of your field of vision...

Is there not smaller versions?? Gopro would even be better than some of these.

[Malu59RT]

I've had a Blackvue DR650GW-2CH installed on my car since May, and its captured several close calls. I love the fact that it records front and back (I call this the loser cam for airfield events), shows GPS speed, and wires in to the Viper without hacking up the car. The camera automatically starts recording when I turn it on, and powers off on its own, so I literally do nothing with it, unless I want to review footage. For those concerned about footage being retained, the card can be formatted directly on the dashcam, or you can remove the micro SD card. It's amazing what people will accuse you of, and then watch them clam up when you provide footage proving otherwise. Also, the Blackvue Desktop program makes finding footage easy, as well as a phone app that lets you view footage directly from your phone, and change the settings of the camera if you wish.

I highly recommend it for any car, and it can be mounted to the right of the mirror so it is out of your field of vision if you like.

Screenshot of the program:

http://www.autoblackbox.com.au/assets/public_files/images/BlackVue/DR600Series/DR650%20Player%20Example.jpg

[ViperJon]

^^ That's freaking amazing...

[ViperSmith]

Would drive me nuts having a giant phone and a dash cam right in the middle of your field of vision...

Is there not smaller versions??

- - - Updated - - -

Would drive me nuts having a giant phone and a dash cam right in the middle of your field of vision...

Is there not smaller versions?? Gopro would even be better than some of these.

It isn't in your field of vision at all.

[ViperSmith]

I've had a Blackvue DR650GW-2CH installed on my car since May, and its captured several close calls. I love the fact that it records front and back (I call this the loser cam for airfield events), shows GPS speed, and wires in to the Viper without hacking up the car. The camera automatically starts recording when I turn it on, and powers off on its own, so I literally do nothing with it, unless I want to review footage. For those concerned about footage being retained, the card can be formatted directly on the dashcam, or you can remove the micro SD card. It's amazing what people will accuse you of, and then watch them clam up when you provide footage proving otherwise. Also, the Blackvue Desktop program makes finding footage easy, as well as a phone app that lets you view footage directly from your phone, and change the settings of the camera if you wish.

I highly recommend it for any car, and it can be mounted to the right of the mirror so it is out of your field of vision if you like.

Screenshot of the program:



If you don't have one you really don't get how useful it is. There is so much bad driving out there it is unreal. As you said, it is nice to take the questioning out of the equation if something goes wrong to who was wrong.

[G37Sam]

Look at my non-circumcised connector:

http://i451.photobucket.com/albums/qq234/G37Sam/20151029_173937_zps7vretljv.jpg

I went at it with a flathead but no luck. It seemed stuck/glued to it. I could not squeeze my hands in there freely either it's too tight.

[Voice of Reason]

I mount a GoPro Hero 4 Session (the new one the size of a small cube) below the rear view mirror on the black plastic box. When I first mounted it I thought for sure it would be distracting but it's surprisingly not. The mirror itself takes up so much of your vision area that the little more you lose isn't a big deal. I don't use it all the time but it's easy to turn on with a single button push when needed.

[ViperSmith]

Look at my non-circumcised connector:

http://i451.photobucket.com/albums/qq234/G37Sam/20151029_173937_zps7vretljv.jpg

I went at it with a flathead but no luck. It seemed stuck/glued to it. I could not squeeze my hands in there freely either it's too tight.

hah, yeah thats bad. I'd take an xacto knife to that, just be patient and all should be good. mine wasn't like that at all!