Dashcam for the Emira

[nsmith27]

I have the Viofo A229 Pro 4K which has worked with no problems so far.
You would think that that would use slightly more power than the VS1 so you will be ok.

If you do get the VS1 can you check if it is suitable for fixing to a vertical screen?
It looks like it should by the pictures on their website.
I was thinking about sticking it on the rear screen as a stand alone camera rather than having one attached to my front one.

Hi there, I see you mention you have the Viofo A229 Pro installed in your Emira.
May I ask you a few questions please as I am thinking of getting the same dash cam for my Emira.
1. Is yours mounted on the passenger side of the rear view mirror and powered from the USB by the rear view mirror ?
2. Fo you also have the rear camera installed. If yes is this in the inside of the interior glass and how did you run the cable and loose any excess cable ?
3. Are you using the 512GB SD card?
4. Any other hints and tips
Thank you

 

[Nick Sticks]

Hi there, I see you mention you have the Viofo A229 Pro installed in your Emira.
May I ask you a few questions please as I am thinking of getting the same dash cam for my Emira.
1. Is yours mounted on the passenger side of the rear view mirror and powered from the USB by the rear view mirror ?
2. Fo you also have the rear camera installed. If yes is this in the inside of the interior glass and how did you run the cable and loose any excess cable ?
3. Are you using the 512GB SD card?
4. Any other hints and tips
Thank you

It's mounted on the UK driver's side of the rear view mirror.
It's as high and to the left as I could get it.
This makes it easy to press the Save button (the ! in the triangle) when you want to save the current recording segment.
It doesn't get in the way of my view and as I usually drive with the sunblinds down practically invisible anyway - and the Save button is still in sight.

I used this short cable to connect it to the USB outlet:
Amazon - AINOPE 2-Pack 0.5ft USB C Cable

I did start off with the Viofo 128GB SDcard but found this was too small for longer journeys as I like to review my trips for the interesting scenery or incidents if I don't press the Save button.
I got a SanDisk 512GB Extreme microSDXC card from Amazon which works well. This does my trips to Scotland and back and just about my trip Ipswich>Portsmouth>Cherbourg>Le Mans>Forges Les Eaux>Saint Omer>Calais>Folkstone>Ipswich.
I've now got 3 of these for the Monaco trip next year.
I set the recording segment time length to 10 minutes (the maximum) because I find it easier and there's less likelihood of saving the wrong segment if, for example, you press the button because something has just happened but it changes to the next segment before you press the button - this happened to me when it was set to 5 minutes and I missed something important and was another reason for going to the 512GB card.

I haven't got the rear camera for this because I had just got my car and wasn't sure where I would route or store that very long 6m cable they supply for the rear camera. I still might do this if I can figure out where to hide the cable.

Incidently the Trim Removable Tool they supply with the camera is ideal for removing the small covers on the 3 screws when you want to open the front bonnet.

 

[675430VME]

Front and rear cam with digital rear view mirror

 

[nsmith27]

To Embedded Media, the video you have showed of a digital rear view mirror displaying front and rear looks very interesting.
Where is the rear view camera mounted ?
Are you UK based ?

 

[675430VME]

To Embedded Media, the video you have showed of a digital rear view mirror displaying front and rear looks very interesting.
Where is the rear view camera mounted ?
Are you UK based ?

Under the rear diffuser.

 

[nsmith27]

Thanks for the two pictures. From
What I can tell your digital rear view mirror still has the main function of a normal glass mirror until you touch it?
Are you UK based and how much is this please?
Is it possible to have the rear camera installed on the internal rear glass?

 

[675430VME]

Thanks for the two pictures. From
What I can tell your digital rear view mirror still has the main function of a normal glass mirror until you touch it?

Yes

Are you UK based and how much is this please?

No, I am currently in China. The unit costs 500 USD.

Is it possible to have the rear camera installed on the internal rear glass?

It is possible, but the routing of the fiber optic wire might not be as neat as running through the rear wheel arch to the cabin. Also installing under the diffusor got you a very nice view and coverage of the rear car when you go mountain drive with your buddy or during a track event.

 

[nsmith27]

Thanks for your reply, not sure if it is possible to proceed if you are based in China. Which is a shame as I like the idea of the digital rear view mirror.

 

[kitkat]

I tried the rear view digital mirror thing and immediately took it off. I didn’t realize I would be sensitive to a screen there instead of a mirror. There’s a huge difference in focal distance between a mirror you look through and a screen you look at. Some people aren’t sensitive to it at all, but it’s an expensive mistake if you are.

 

[nsmith27]

Thanks for feedback Kitkat, it seems a great idea, but could have downstream issues. Sorry to hear it was an expensive mistake.

May I ask what you opted to install instead, and did you install a rear dash cam on the internal glass ?
I’m looking at the VIOFO A229 Pro 2ch, powering from the USB A port on the side of the rear view mirror.

 

[kitkat]

Thanks for feedback Kitkat, it seems a great idea, but could have downstream issues. Sorry to hear it was an expensive mistake.

May I ask what you opted to install instead, and did you install a rear dash cam on the internal glass ?
I’m looking at the VIOFO A229 Pro 2ch, powering from the USB A port on the side of the rear view mirror.

Yeah I think it’ll work for most people and greatly improve rear visibility — it just didn’t work for me.

I went with a 70mai Omni dashcam with LTE connectivity. I have the rear camera affixed to the internal cabin rear glass but as you’d expect it only really records a very narrow focused area, I’m not sure how useful it would be if actually needed for some sort of road incident.

The 360 camera itself is great though, it uses some AI human threat detection vision neural network and follows people around and notifies me on my phone as well as sends me video clips.

 

[seneca blew me]

Is there a way to use the rear reverse camera as 'rear dash cam'?

 

[IANC3631]

I've just bought a Kawa mini orb. Dashcam very small its voice operated and connects to your mobile.....has a micro ad card inside,but it was reasonable and gets good reviews.

 

[meesterover]

I sent my mirror plastic to FitCamX for them to make an OEM-like solution.
I have used their dash cams in 4 car (2 current). I should have one in my hands in ~45 days. I will start a new thread when I receive it.

 

[avinson85]

i've purchase 2 transcend drive pro dash cam's. First one bought in June 2016 and still going strong and then purchase a second one maybe 3 years ago . Other than the SD card eventually failing its been top tier and would recommend. Currently on version 550 and US only now by the looks of it ..

Transcend Drivepro 550

 

[sswany]

@kitkat I hadn't seen 70mai cameras before, looks slick. Did you end up using their battery pack for parking monitoring also?

I'm currently using the Garmin mini 3 and separately, installed the Magsafe wireless charger kit from @silent cilantro so I have a good, spare USB port already mounted under the glovebox that could be an easy location to charge it -- curious where you mounted yours. Thanks!

 

[sawdust]

Like IANC3631 in post #273 I chose a KAWA dashcam, but the KAWA Mini 3 Gen2. I didn't need the the versatility of the Mini Orb because the dashcam is mounted between the windshield and rearview mirror. The only view the camera has is forward through the windshield.

The goals were to mount the dashcam (a) in the center of the windshield for a symmetric camera image, and (b) out of my sight while driving. Since I can't normally see the dashcam, the fancy indicator panel of the PRO versions is superfluous. But I did want the improved camera sensor of the Gen 2 versions. So of the four versions of the Mini 3 available, I chose the Mini 3 Gen2.

Power measurements indicate that the KAWA Mini 3 Gen2 draws less than 0.4A from the USB port while recording with the WiFi off. The only indication of operation is a small tri-color LED on its left side. So a RHD car would be better off with the PRO version and its indicator panel.

Image quality is on par to what I'm used to seeing with the Corvette C8's built-in PDR. I do miss the basic data capture, e.g. mileage, speed, and gear, that could be overlayed with the PDR.

​

 

[kitkat]

@kitkat I hadn't seen 70mai cameras before, looks slick. Did you end up using their battery pack for parking monitoring also?

I'm currently using the Garmin mini 3 and separately, installed the Magsafe wireless charger kit from @silent cilantro so I have a good, spare USB port already mounted under the glovebox that could be an easy location to charge it -- curious where you mounted yours. Thanks!

Yup I’m using their battery pack now.

 

[johnraiders]

Only downside to rear dashcam is it kills your radio reception
I've got VIOFO variants and both very good
Screens too small to use as reversing camera

 

[MikeLombardo]

I sent my mirror plastic to FitCamX for them to make an OEM-like solution.
I have used their dash cams in 4 car (2 current). I should have one in my hands in ~45 days. I will start a new thread when I receive it.

I have something similar in my Silverado, definitely curious to see what they come up with!