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Old 10-31-2016, 01:16 PM   #8
Scalded Dog


 
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Drives: 2011 1LT
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Crestline, CA
Posts: 3,029
I've run a few dashcams... so, as an "expert," I'll suggest a few things:

Some cameras have a front and rear aimed camera, in order to simultaneously record in both directions. However, note that in the Camaro, that rear window is so small and distant, it may not be successful at rear- shot video. I had to take my two- way dashcams out of the Camaro, but have great success with them in my truck.

G-force sensors--- in my opinion--- suck. The technology is not well developed. The idea is that after an accident (which it senses by G- forces, in theory), that portion of the video recording will be locked (so it cannot accidentally be recorded over later). However, I have yet to see a device that doesn't trigger the automatic locking of a section of video from potholes, hard stops, or door slams. This means that after a few days, you discover that ALL of your video clips are locked, and have no more available memory on your card... until you go and manually unlock each and every section. Pain in the butt... and you could get caught in a situation where you THOUGHT you were recording, but weren't. I recommend either getting a device that does not include that feature, or can be disabled.

However, you may want the feature that INITIATES recording whenever it senses motion while your vehicle is parked. That can help identify the car that bumps you in the parking lot and drives off, or even the neighborhood kids who think that jumping on the hood is hilarious fun when they've smoked too much weed one night.

To answer your original post question: All dashcams require power. Yes, most (probably all) have some sort of internal battery, but it is only good for a few minutes. All dashcams need to be powered by the vehicle, in order to keep the battery charged, and keep the device working. Easiest is to simply plug it into a cigarette lighter- style 12V plug... all dashcams include this power cord. However, cleaner/ neater/ easier is to hardwire it. It can either be hardwired to come on and off with the vehicle, or always on, or however you like... an electronic store shop should be able to do this in any way you like (if you are not handy with a multimeter and electrical tape!)... but, all dashcams need SOME sort of power source to keep them alive and well.

Note that many (most) dascams are not high enough resolution to capture most license plates... I strongly recommend that you look for one that DOES have very high resolution. License plates are critical info in many situations. "Grayish mid- 90's sedanish looking car" is never a good enough description to go find who hit and ran... but a license plate can increase the odds of finding the scumbag.

One more warning: Once you go, you can never come back. I started using a dashcam about a year and a half ago. Now all four of my vehicles have them, and I take an easy- to- attach portable unit whenever I rent or borrow another vehicle. I can't go without a dascam... I'd rather drive around naked with no doors on the car than go without a dashcam. It's saved my tail in an accident situation already (two different stories, naturally, but my dashcam revealed who was telling the truth!), and the cops have used my footage (from a crime that I and my dashcam witnessed). I've also gotten cool footage of wildlife and other random odd things. Point being, I can't live without it now. I just KNOW that if I tried to drive a mile without one, I'd be involved in three different accidents (none my fault, but all other drivers would be compulsive liars), I'd see Elvis, a unicorn would cross the road in front of me, and Olivia Munn would flash me.
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