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

SkillfulHamster705

Nov 22, 2024 5:37 AM

1 Comments

Joined Nov 2024

SkillfulHamster705Nov 22, 2024 5:37 AM

1 Comments

Quote from Lafiro

:

Guys, please avoid VIOFO. Complete trash of a company. Videos do not safe all data. Sections will go missing and videos stop recording completely until the dash cam is reset. I have 3 different flagship units from them in the last 2 years and off the bat they had major issues that to this day continue. I missed two accidents on my dash cam I could have helped with. I missed someone pretending to be a cop who ran and it didn't save the video. I had my car stolen and returned and it wasn't recording again. Complete POS company and products. I reached out multiple times for help and their excuses were that they have issues with their cables plugging into the car fuses so you have to use a usb connection or usb battery bank. Are you serious???!! They requested I buy their memory card to try and resolve the issue - did this 3 times and then Amazon the max endurance ones and all the same issue! Then they tell me for $30 they will exchange the dash cam. NO! All 3 of mine have issues all with non recording and two with their screens messing up (the other has no screen).Please please from an IT pro to everyone here that is lucky enough to read my message. Do not purchase a VIOFO product. Even free it's not worth sh** if it can't even record your most needed moments.

Which specific viofo dashcam did you buy? There is no mentioning in the post. Did you hardwire them, used cigarette lighter socket or used OBD2 cable for power? Why did you buy 3 units in 2 years when they had issues and why did you buy their sd card 3 times again?

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tripleplay

Nov 22, 2024 5:46 AM

611 Comments

Joined Aug 2007

tripleplayNov 22, 2024 5:46 AM

611 Comments

Does the obd2 cable work well with these instead of hardwire fuse tap? Don't want to deal with playing with fuse.

NeatMorning7086

Nov 22, 2024 10:49 AM

503 Comments

Joined Jan 2022

NeatMorning7086Nov 22, 2024 10:49 AM

503 Comments

Quote from w9w8s

:

Releax, SJW extraordinaire, it's not xenophobia to understand that the CCP is an oppressive, genocidal regime. We can love the Chinese people while understanding and being empathetic to the fact that they live under a horrible government. This person is clearly talking about the government/Chinese companies and not the people.

This!

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ArchvileX

Nov 22, 2024 12:35 PM

61 Comments

Joined Jun 2012

ArchvileXNov 22, 2024 12:35 PM

61 Comments

I've been using Viofo cams for a few years now, A119 v3 (2019) and A129 Plus duo (2021), and to date I have had no issues. As long as the cams are powered properly, installed properly and compatible high quality cards are used, they work absolutely fine.

It's true that with all products there will most likely be a few bad/defective ones, this is unavoidable, so changing brands or devices may not sheild you from this.

That being said, the only reason I haven't bought a new one, is that I have no need for a third system - unless I gift or sell existing ones (I really want the new sensor, heh).

To add some more context, was in an accident where airbags etc deployed, and the cam captured everything.
So, I'd suggest mounting it away from the path of potential airbag deployment and the fumes/smoke that may emit from them, it will blur your lens.

1

ShrewdEducation4697

Nov 22, 2024 12:51 PM

122 Comments

Joined Nov 2023

ShrewdEducation4697Nov 22, 2024 12:51 PM

122 Comments

My A129 is acting up keeps giving me the yellow triangle warning ⚠️ not sure why even got a new memory card. Any chance the 229 plus uses the same wiring harness?

localdeals

Nov 22, 2024 1:41 PM

3.8K Comments

Joined Mar 2008

localdealsNov 22, 2024 1:41 PM

3.8K Comments

Quote from ShrewdEducation4697

:

My A129 is acting up keeps giving me the yellow triangle warning ⚠️ not sure why even got a new memory card. Any chance the 229 plus uses the same wiring harness?

I looked at more than 30 pictures of online reviews on Amazon, and I could not tell if it uses USB-C or the same cables that came with the A129 Plus Duo. I have one as well and would like to upgrade to the A229 Plus.

Last edited by localdeals November 22, 2024 at 05:44 AM.

rbf351

Nov 22, 2024 1:48 PM

151 Comments

Joined Jan 2006

rbf351Nov 22, 2024 1:48 PM

151 Comments

the A229 uses USB-C, the A129 uses mini usb.

2

AlexBizi

Nov 22, 2024 2:26 PM

24 Comments

Joined Dec 2018

AlexBiziNov 22, 2024 2:26 PM

24 Comments

Quote from Hotandfree

:

A119 V3 is a very reliable dashcam since it has been on the market for 5+ years.Mini 2 is relatively new with better sensor/higher resolution. Mini 2 has voice notifications to inform you of memory card errors.You can't go wrong with either one. However, for $85, Mini 2 is a better deal.

Thank you

AlpineMan

Nov 22, 2024 2:29 PM

3K Comments

Joined Dec 2003

AlpineManNov 22, 2024 2:29 PM

3K Comments

Quote from bklynzdknyjai

:

i literally just bought this last week and installed it, will buy and return to amazon for $ difference. i have the 229 pro and came with a filter, the filter works well with sun glare and i presume as well for nighttime lights or from on coming traffic.

CPL makes recordings darker...especially at night. I took mine off.

2

AlpineMan

Nov 22, 2024 2:34 PM

3K Comments

Joined Dec 2003

AlpineManNov 22, 2024 2:34 PM

3K Comments

Quote from starlights_

:

Are these made in China? Privacy concerns of driving data housed in Chinese Cloud? Assuming Chinese will be able to access driving patterns/routine, voice recordings and home footage of the outside of one's house...

Edit: While we are at it, why not help nation states build detailed maps with images of our neighborhoods Smilie

. (Go for thumbs down if you want to - lol)

A condom would have prevented the dumbest comment above.

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2

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smartdeals

Nov 22, 2024 2:36 PM

12K Comments

Joined May 2005

smartdealsNov 22, 2024 2:36 PM

12K Comments

haha...

AlpineMan

Nov 22, 2024 2:43 PM

3K Comments

Joined Dec 2003

AlpineManNov 22, 2024 2:43 PM

3K Comments

Quote from starlights_

:

Reading plates is more of a function of FPS and shutter speed - 4K vs 2K will not be very different. Ideally shutter speed of twice the speed the vehicle is traveling at and FPS of 120 would be the minimum required to capture number plates of vehicles traveling in the opposite direction. Slightly less for vehicles traveling in the same direction. None of the dash cams advertise shutter speed of their electronic shutters

4k does make a difference when trying to make out a license plate in addition to the sensor used, fps and bit rate setting. And you're correct...no one advertises their shutter speeds.

https://youtu.be/yymvlmINAuk

Last edited by AlpineMan November 22, 2024 at 06:59 AM.

Joosh

Nov 22, 2024 2:47 PM

299 Comments

Joined Jul 2010

JooshNov 22, 2024 2:47 PM

299 Comments

Quote from triggerhappy007

:

You'll need a Dongar adapter if you want to connect into the rearview mirror power. If it's a 2014-2021, get the 7 pin Honda adapter. If 2022+, get the 8 pin adapter. The good thing about the rearview mirror power is that it turns on and off when you turn the car on and off. So your 12v battery won't die because it's connected to your dashcam. The bad news is that you won't be able to use parking mode. If you need parking mode, you'll need the hardwired kit or a USB battery.

Thank you very much! This is exactly the info I was hoping to get, very much appreciated! I do not care for the parking mode so this adapter is exactly what I will use.

starlights_

Nov 22, 2024 3:04 PM

473 Comments

Joined May 2015

starlights_Nov 22, 2024 3:04 PM

473 Comments

Quote from AlpineMan

:

4k does make a difference when trying to make out a license plate in addition to the sensor used, fps and bit rate setting. And you're correct...no one advertises their shutter speeds.https://youtu.be/yymvlmINAuk

Unreadable plates are primarily a function of motion blur that requires shutter speed reciprocal to the focal length of the lens in a stationary situation. When the camera is moving at speed in a vehicle, much higher shutter speed is required to freeze every frame. In addition, FPS relates to this because if you are capturing images with high shutter speed at low fps you will get jitter during recording because of missing information due to low Frame rate.
Other issue with dash cams, especially cheaper ones is that while they may advertise the most desired sensor, the processor is usually unable to keep up with processing the information, especially when using very high resolution such as 4K resulting in heat and poor image quality despite 4K resolution. A 720 or 1080 camera with high shutter speed and good processor will provide you with crisper images than a 4K camera - ever wonder why GoPros are so crisp, even the older lower resolution ones and why they cost so much more?
Additionally, in most cases YouTube is not an authoritative source for any information except mis information (I did not see the linked video above, so this comment is not directed at that but generally speaking).
However, as I said previously, it's a free country so go for whatever floats your boat

and suits your requirements and budget.

1

PaperOrPlastic

Nov 22, 2024 3:16 PM

625 Comments

Joined Aug 2012

PaperOrPlasticNov 22, 2024 3:16 PM

625 Comments

Quote from triggerhappy007

:

You'll need a Dongar adapter if you want to connect into the rearview mirror power. If it's a 2014-2021, get the 7 pin Honda adapter. If 2022+, get the 8 pin adapter. The good thing about the rearview mirror power is that it turns on and off when you turn the car on and off. So your 12v battery won't die because it's connected to your dashcam. The bad news is that you won't be able to use parking mode. If you need parking mode, you'll need the hardwired kit or a USB battery.

How do these cameras work without parking mode when the vehicle has an impact? Does the impact trigger the camera to turn on and record for a few minutes? I have a cheap $35 dash cam that currently does that and it's main power source is the cigarette outlet. It does have a battery instead of a capacitor so perhaps that's why it can turn on when the vehicle is off?

If the VIOFO A229 Pro can do this feature as well then I'd probably opt for the donger adapter instead of the HW4 hardware kit from VIOFO.

1

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

$160

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