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/B00...?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



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.



View from outside



All that came with it



Pigtail that came with the car



Surgery



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



Pigtail plugs in right there (drivers side)

[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.

[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

[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/...sh-cam-review/

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

[v10enomous]

Impressive !

[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...

[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?

[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.









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??

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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.