Viofo Dash Cams: A229 Pro 3 Channel $273, A119 Mini 2 $86, A229 Plus 2 Channel

dougmc

Nov 21, 2024 7:37 PM

242 Comments

Joined Jul 2007

dougmcNov 21, 2024 7:37 PM

242 Comments

Quote from PocketsThick

:

Having had one dash cam in my car that had a "super capacitor" in it for "durability" but yet ultimately failed; I'm hesitant to keep my dash cam on the windshield during the summer.

I wonder if it's just a fluke?

I live in Texas and have dashcams in all my (mine, wife, kids, etc.) cars, and as long as they have ultracapacitors and not batteries I've found them to handle the Texas heat just fine for years on end.

(And my cars are parked outside all the time -- they don't get garaged.)

Most are Viofo brand, like what's being sold here.

The very oldest camera has the plastic on the lens getting a bit cloudy, reducing the quality of the image it takes, but the image quality is still acceptable and that camera is six years old. (Looking it up, it's the non-Viofo exception: a Blueskysea Mini 0906 on what is now my son's car.)

Last edited by dougmc November 21, 2024 at 11:42 AM.

ThePublisher

Nov 21, 2024 7:48 PM

635 Comments

Joined Jun 2017

ThePublisherNov 21, 2024 7:48 PM

635 Comments

I have a mini 2 im very happy with. So easy to use and nice video. Only front though. Any know how the rear came works and connects to power? Also does it have its own card or does it connect to main front cam? Thanks in advance.
Great share OP!

dougmc

Nov 21, 2024 7:49 PM

242 Comments

Joined Jul 2007

dougmcNov 21, 2024 7:49 PM

242 Comments

Quote from signetv

:

I've had mine (a119) for over a year and it constantly gives false positives on recording events. Keeps recording clips while nothing is happening. I reached out to Viofo and they suggested lowering sensitivity to the minimum setting, but that didn't work at all.

I've generally preferred to just turn incident detection off entirely for driving.

I mean, if there is a crash, I'm going to remove the card before any footage gets overwritten anyways, so there's no need to protect it.

And what happens with footage being protected that doesn't need to be is that more and more of the card becomes unusable, and eventually it only has room for one file that keeps getting overwritten. Doing periodic reformats is how one can deal with this, but it's even better to turn off the protection entirely (or turn the sensitively all the way down) and just have a big card instead.

Now, if you can turn incident detection on for any parking mode, then that makes more sense.

1

dougmc

Nov 21, 2024 7:51 PM

242 Comments

Joined Jul 2007

dougmcNov 21, 2024 7:51 PM

242 Comments

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank dougmc

Quote from ThePublisher

:

I have a mini 2 im very happy with. So easy to use and nice video. Only front though. Any know how the rear came works and connects to power? Also does it have its own card or does it connect to main front cam? Thanks in advance.
Great share OP!

Most dashcams with a remote camera (including the ones on sale here) have one long cable that goes between the back cam and the front cam.

The back cam gets power from the front unit through cable, and the cable also transfers footage from the back to the front cam. There is only one card, in the front cam, and it's recording to two files at once.

It's also pretty easy in most cars to hide this cable entirely in the headliner and gaskets.

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zeth006

Nov 21, 2024 8:49 PM

6.2K Comments

Joined Apr 2006

zeth006Nov 21, 2024 8:49 PM

6.2K Comments

I'd ignore all the horror stories about cams failing. All the major dash cam manufacturers use the same lenses, chips, and even OS inside. That's why when you power them on, they make that same retro-sounding tinny noise. Also means they're all going to have roughly the same failure rates assuming of course quality control rates are reasonable across the board.

My A119 footage helped me expedite my insurance claim. Other party's insurance didn't even bother trying to dispute it once my insurance co sent them the footage.

I definitely recommend considering replacing the microsd every couple of years and sticking to high endurance ones rated to last tons of cycles.

4

ThePublisher

Nov 21, 2024 8:54 PM

635 Comments

Joined Jun 2017

ThePublisherNov 21, 2024 8:54 PM

635 Comments

Quote from dougmc

:

Most dashcams with a remote camera (including the ones on sale here) have one long cable that goes between the back cam and the front cam.

The back cam gets power from the front unit through cable, and the cable also transfers footage from the back to the front cam. There is only one card, in the front cam, and it's recording to two files at once.

It's also pretty easy in most cars to hide this cable entirely in the headliner and gaskets.

Exactly what I was wondering, thank you!

fiveohfour

Nov 21, 2024 9:01 PM

2.3K Comments

Joined Dec 2012

fiveohfourNov 21, 2024 9:01 PM

2.3K Comments

Quote from PocketsThick

:

Having had one dash cam in my car that had a "super capacitor" in it for "durability" but yet ultimately failed; I'm hesitant to keep my dash cam on the windshield during the summer.

Anyone have a good mount that is easy to release/install the dash cam?

The high cabin heat must be killing dash cams because I'm not the only one who has had this issue. I have security cameras installed outside that have never failed. The difference is that they are not experiencing 120+ degrees like the dash cams will.

I just want high quality camera kits that don't require being mounted like a cheap radar detector.

I WANT THE CAMERAS HIDDEN or at least not obvious. I want no screen built in that forces the camera to be 20x the size it needs to be without a screen.

Dash cams are useless if a thief breaks in and steals the expensive accessory with the screen on your windshield

A unit with a remote processing box would also allow for mounting away from the heat and sunlight, like some higher end radar detector variants where everything is hidden.

Anything of high quality like this available yet?

2

blankspce

Nov 21, 2024 9:11 PM

710 Comments

Joined Aug 2014

blankspceNov 21, 2024 9:11 PM

710 Comments

Which one is best to purchase? something that works

JoKeR_

Nov 21, 2024 9:12 PM

799 Comments

Joined May 2009

JoKeR_Nov 21, 2024 9:12 PM

799 Comments

Quote from DUNGSTA

:

Apparently it was only an issue with his and earlier units?

I know my VIOFO camera tends to stop recording or save video protected or Wi-Fi enabled or other commands randomly. This is my second camera, I have the mini 2. I don't recall the Youtubers DashCam version though so I apologize.

starlights_

Nov 21, 2024 9:13 PM

473 Comments

Joined May 2015

starlights_Nov 21, 2024 9:13 PM

473 Comments

https://fitcamx.com - close to what you want but not sure if your car model is covered.

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1

starlights_

Nov 21, 2024 9:15 PM

473 Comments

Joined May 2015

starlights_Nov 21, 2024 9:15 PM

473 Comments

Quote from fiveohfour

:

I just want high quality camera kits that don't require being mounted like a cheap radar detector. I WANT THE CAMERAS HIDDEN or at least not obvious. I want no screen built in that forces the camera to be 20x the size it needs to be without a screen. Dash cams are useless if a thief breaks in and steals the expensive accessory with the screen on your windshieldA unit with a remote processing box would also allow for mounting away from the heat and sunlight, like some higher end radar detector variants where everything is hidden. Anything of high quality like this available yet?

https://fitcamx.com - close to what you want but not sure if your car model is covered.

2

1

starlights_

Nov 21, 2024 9:27 PM

473 Comments

Joined May 2015

starlights_Nov 21, 2024 9:27 PM

473 Comments

Quote from wherestheanykey

:

This is an excessive amount of unfounded xenophobia for one to have. If you don't want to deal with Chinese companies, you're free to spend triple the amount for the exact same hardware sold under a more American sounding brand. Personally, I'd be more worried about the AI systems that are constantly recording you as you shop at Home Depot, Target, or Walmart. Heck, even Costco now knows exactly when you enter and leave the store.

Ignorance is Bliss Smilie

. you are correct regarding CPC

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c00ller

Nov 21, 2024 9:30 PM

184 Comments

Joined Feb 2007

c00llerNov 21, 2024 9:30 PM

184 Comments

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank c00ller

Quote from tl215

:

Save you $99. 30 minutes YouTube and 30 minutes DIY

Maybe it's 30 mins DIY if you've done this many times but for a first timer it's going to take a lot of extra time mapping out which fuse locations are ACC and always hot, how to properly route the cable and take apart the trimming in your car, etc. And for those interested, ChrisFix makes the best video I found on how to do all of this, because he shows how to properly route the cables so they don't cross paths with the pillar and side curtain air bags (99% of all videos show the short cut improper way).

9

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pennywize

Nov 21, 2024 9:42 PM

401 Comments

Joined Sep 2011

pennywizeNov 21, 2024 9:42 PM

401 Comments

Looks like no need for coupon VIOFO2024 the price is reflecting the deal price.

dealdigger101

Nov 21, 2024 9:49 PM

1.4K Comments

Joined Jul 2014

dealdigger101Nov 21, 2024 9:49 PM

1.4K Comments

Quote from tl215

:

Save you $99. 30 minutes YouTube and 30 minutes DIY

Lol not if you mess up the airbags when shit happens you dieded.

2

Viofo Dash Cams: A229 Pro 3 Channel $273, A119 Mini 2 $86, A229 Plus 2 Channel

$160

$260

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