Dashcam advice please

Kremmen · Posted: Sun Nov 10, 2019 6:02 am Post subject:

Bitrate is the amount of data saved via the quality, more detail.

The higher the bitrate the larger the filesize.

Viofo example: https://dashcamtalk.com/forum/threads/bit-rate-high-or-medium-or-low.40965/#post-491561
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DashCam:
Viofo A119 V3

DennisN · Posted: Sun Nov 10, 2019 8:21 am Post subject:

Wot? On second thoughts, don’t answer that
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Dennis

If it tastes good - it's fattening.

Two of them are obesiting!!

Kremmen · Posted: Sun Nov 10, 2019 10:06 am Post subject:

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DashCam:
Viofo A119 V3

pcaouolte · Posted: Sun Nov 10, 2019 10:34 am Post subject:

The segment length doesn't make any noticeable difference to the storage space used.

If your dash cam has the capability for you to press a button to save an important segment then, when you play back the segment, you spend less time looking through a short segment to find the action that you wanted to save.
If the segment time is too short then, by the time you press the button, you may save the following segment rather than the one you wanted.

I use a 3 minute segment time.

Bit rate affects quality and storage space, its a balance. Think of it as how much the video is compressed when saving it on the card. A high bit rate gives more data per frame so better quality playback but uses more storage space. If you don't have a bit rate setting then the camera is likely to decide the bit rate automatically. It will tend to use a higher bit rate when lots of things in the image are moving rapidly and a low bit rate when you are sitting at the lights with nothing moving in the image.
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Paul

DennisN · Posted: Sun Nov 10, 2019 11:03 am Post subject:

I just KNEW it was something to do with magic! All I know is 1080p uses more bity things than 720p.

My segment length will, I think, be OK at 5 minutes - on the rare occasions when I scan the footage, 5 minute segments will be easier to look for than 3 minutes and when I'm scanning, I'm looking for an event, so I run it at double speed (or more if it's a noticeable event) until I get there, then back to normal for study, or pause for screenshot. I won't need to press the save/protect button because with 16 hour record capacity I'll be home and download to my computer for saving.

Relative to segment length, I "felt" a flash as I drove on Thursday night, so I made a mental note that it was about 9pm and at home scanned for it - the markers were overhead speed limit signs and there were only three, a sequence of 60, 50 and 40, so I had to scan from 9pm until I found them. It took some time because it came up at 9:10 and with the timestamp showing I was under the limit for all three gantry signs. But I've downloaded it and will keep it until I'm sure they got somebody else, not me!

I thought the idea was to press the button at the time of the event? Pressing during the "current segment" could press at the start of the next segment, thereby missing the event, doncha think? Having said which, mine displays segment progress if I care to take my eyes off the road for long enough to look for it! I suppose it depends on what the event is - does it stop you or simply get your passing interest?
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Dennis

If it tastes good - it's fattening.

Two of them are obesiting!!

Kremmen · Posted: Sun Nov 10, 2019 12:20 pm Post subject:

If you know where or roughly where the event took place then using the Nextbase player with the included mapping box open, you can click each saved clip and the section of road that clip covers will be highlighted.

Just makes it easier to find the clip.
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DashCam:
Viofo A119 V3

pcaouolte · Posted: Sun Nov 10, 2019 12:53 pm Post subject:

DennisN · Posted: Mon Nov 11, 2019 1:09 am Post subject:

I found my event easily. It was a series of three gantry speed limit signs, which I remembered was between nine and nine thirty at night. So they showed up like sore thumbs on fast forward.
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Dennis

If it tastes good - it's fattening.

Two of them are obesiting!!

Privateer · Posted: Thu Nov 21, 2019 2:38 pm Post subject:

Dennis, how are you getting on with your dashcam's new settings and are you saving all of your footage now?

I'm thinking about changing my dashcams as one of my RoadHawks is occasionally not working, although the power cable is fine.

Roadhawks take normal-sized SD cards. I have a collection of SD cards for keeping footage so I guess that if I were to get another dashcam, it would use micro SD card.

I once had an RAC (rearview mirror) dashcam that used micro-SD cards and every time that I went to swap the card it would shoot across the car. Do other dashcams have the same problem of launching cards across the cockpit?

I'm looking for a dashcam that gives god quality footage day and night (automatic WDR/HDR) that can record at 1080p with 30FPS and good bitrate (automatic bitrate might be good unless you advise otherwise). GPS for speed and route, easily set up via a menu or iPhone iOS app. What do you recommend?

Thanks,
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Robert.
iPhone 6s Plus, iOS 14.0.1: iOS CamerAlert v2.0.7
TomTom GO Mobile iOS 2.3.1; TomTom (UK & ROI and Europe) iOS apps v1.29
Garmin Camper 770 LMT-D

Kremmen · Posted: Thu Nov 21, 2019 5:43 pm Post subject:

I've previously had a few Nextbase dashcams but I'm finding my Viofo A119 V3 is knocking spots off them all.

My old Nextbase 412 had a good quality quadHD lens but the stalk based mount caused motion blur on less than perfect surfaces.

The V3 has the latest Sony Starvis lens.
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DashCam:
Viofo A119 V3

Privateer · Posted: Tue Nov 26, 2019 2:14 pm Post subject:

Hi K,

Thanks for the information, the Viofo A119 V3 looks interesting and not a bad price at £99.99.

Does it shoot out the micro SD across the car when you eject it?

It looks like you can get a windscreen suction mount for the Viofo A119 V3, as I would like to be able to temporarily install it into other vehicles.

Regards,
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Robert.
iPhone 6s Plus, iOS 14.0.1: iOS CamerAlert v2.0.7
TomTom GO Mobile iOS 2.3.1; TomTom (UK & ROI and Europe) iOS apps v1.29
Garmin Camper 770 LMT-D

Kremmen · Posted: Tue Nov 26, 2019 2:45 pm Post subject:

As much as I hate to knock Nextbase but Viofo have it cracked.

I can't complain about it.

The V3 has a Sony QuadHD lens, you can get a dedicated CPL filter and they have a presence on DashCamTalk

https://dashcamtalk.com/forum/forums/a119-v3.303/
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DashCam:
Viofo A119 V3

AliOnHols · Pocket GPS Verifier Joined: Oct 15, 2008 Posts: 1942

I too am in the market for a DashCam and I'm looking at the Viofo a119v3 with interest.

However, I currently have a Nextbase 512 and the feature I like most about it is the way the screen switches to a digital Speedometer after a few seconds. I find this invaluable as the numerals are large enough to be seen in my peripheral vision while driving. It saves me having to take my eyes off the road, refocus eyesight and check my speed on the car's speedo.

Could anybody with an A119 v3 please let me know if this is also an option on the Viofo.

Thank you.

EDIT - I've just downloaded the manual and read this -
Screen Saver: Turns the screen OFF after a set time.

That's a shame.
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Garmin Nuvi 2599
Android with CamerAlert, OsmAnd+, Waze & TT Europe.
TomTom GO 730, GO 930, GO 940 & Rider2.
SatMap Active 10 & 20.

Kremmen · Posted: Thu Nov 28, 2019 12:27 pm Post subject:

Privateer · Posted: Thu Nov 28, 2019 12:52 pm Post subject:

Hi K,

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