Discreet/unobtrusive but excellent dash-cam

kirkofski

atrixblue.-MFR-. wrote: »

0803 has its faults I would not buy one. 0805 for £5.99 extra has all these ironed out, is exactly the same size and width with a better lense and chipset with not even a 3rd of the common problems the 0803 has.


If the OP waits for just a little while the 0806 will come down in price and have some firmware updates to correct some firmware issues.

I've been running a mini 0801 for 15 months now and thankfully its been fault free. I do however know of the problems with this and subsequent models. I love the mount/size and performance of it, just hope it continues to work.

davybull

+1 for Mini 0801.

Used it for about 18 months without any problems.
Got some good footage too!!! :rotfl:
Just sold that car so it isn't in use at the moment.
As soon as my new car is delivered I will be fitting the camera to that.

Dave.

atrixblue.-MFR-.

Old stocks of the 0801 are still flying about at the moment it seems, I encouraged my BIL to purchase 1 after a close call with a foreign HGV.


These are the Issues ive quickly identified with it.


Mute button doesn't mute audio. (if you want to risk bricking the camera you can flash the firmware to fix it but at your own risk I did not do this for BIL we have sent back to supplier for a refund).


When the camera is mounted into the holder, it wobbles something terrible.


Audio quality is OK, although electrical sounds will dominate the audio if hardwired (and it was hardwired correctly using a switched ignition source with fuse at the fuse box), if plugged into the 12v out socket, its not so bad but you will hear screeching of white noise).


In direct sunlight, the camera footage will seem dark and blotchy (this is before compression in any video editing software) this can be minimized, by putting the camera at an angle to include some dashboard for the camera to focus properly, but its not a cure just a minimizing exercise.


Reports of overheating from higher climate countries, the camera does operate a little hot under normal operating temps, this can increase if the camera is located above the demister outlets for the windscreen.


If your lucky enough to get the last 0801 (upgrade-) (although BIL one was advertised as the 0801 upgrade mount and hardwire kit version) then most of these are ironed out bar the firmware with mic audio issue and GPS location issues although a new mount design.


GPS mount versions, KPH is displayed as MPH, when GPS is turned off in menu it doesn't turn off (goes for the second firmware update of the 0803 aswel). this could have a big impact to an insurance company who see's the MPH at 48 on a 30MPH road because its infact KPH but displayed at MPH on the screen.


Issues ive had with my 0803.


New mount- still loose fit for the camera to mount in.


Gps location using software supplied is not accurate infact places my trips over the Indian ocean. have played about with it a few times, and still not had any luck getting a GPS fix to my location.


Gps MPH is infact KPH but displayed at MPH on screen, opening the GPS log file and Deleting the GPS log file contents whilst disconected the internet when you connect the camera via USB will prevent the speed being displayed in video if you need that footage to send to insurers once contents are deleted in GPS log, re-connect to internet after (repeat for every time you connect the camera and don't want speed and GPS stamp watermarking the footage).


With the slight wobble from the mount you get vibration noise in the audio, again, the 0803 has glitched firmware in previous batches ( could be fixed by now as my replacement 0803 from supplier has a different firmware and different splash screen when powered on haven't used the camera yet I still await my vehicle back from repairers) but the mount is still the same although it is a upgraded mount as it was described as being sold with, youll notice that older 0801-0803 early batches of the camera has silver connections in the mount and on the male part of the camera mount these were modified to gold for better conductivity and reliability.


Sticking with the mount topic, when camera is inserted, it can go too far to the back of the mount, and miss the pins. Whilst you driving it can wobble so much it loses power and resorts to using its own power that lasts for a mere 2-5 mins, and then power off, if you don't hit the sweet spot fiddling with the mount and camera adjusting its position to make contact with the pins it wont recharge, and thus no footage and no protection if it so happens someone rear ends of pull out into collision on this one trip it decides to play up.


The camera cant withstand this type of connection issue with its mount, going over bumps causing it to go on and off recharges causes a sort of power to surge whilst its recharging , it will either crash, or refuse to shut off with a horrible consistant chime, the only way to power off the camera is to unmounts it hold power button for 10-15 second and do a "forced shutdown". After only twice of this, my camera bricked itself, the Bios firmware chip went out and the camera was dead, it was sent back only after 15 days ownership.


To remedy any movement of the camera in its mount, is to make a shim to place in the male part of the mount insert on the camera, a thick piece of hard plastic like the type you get from a toys packaging view window, undo the two screws that hold the connection plates in place, use top piece of the mount you've unscrewed a template, and cut the plastic out with a craft knife or scalpel for precision and accuracy, as any excess causes the piece of plastic mount to snap when attached to its mate when screwing it down.


When screwing it back down, don't over tighten the screws, its best to screw down slowly and loog for the plastic to start to buckle around the screw, test fit it into the mount, then when happy it isn't going to move, remove it and unscrew those two screw again this time counting the number of turns, apply a little dab of glue or lock thread (lock thread would be better as you can then unscrew it again easy) to each screw then counting the turns screw it down and give it 10-15 mins to cure. then the mod is done and youve created the shim taken up the gap to prevent it from wobbling and it prolonged its life.



Now onto my own experience with the nextbase 202 lite.


suction Mount is useless for mounting to windscreen, the cable that comes with the camera is not 90deg angled so this hits the windscreen and prevents adjustments, my remedy was to place to the camera on my rear view mirror lucky enough it was large enough that it did not obscure my rear view and I could adjust it.


720p is a little blotchy, if you use the 1080FHD feature then its a just an upscale and it becomes more prominent.


Audio Is sensitive and clear, and whilst this is a plus, if your talking about your sex life or anything such as finances and bank card details and you use it to upload to youtube or other media sites, then youll find yourself editing the footage (losing quality due to compression of the file size) and having muted audio and a silent color movie for people to view.


When mounting and un mounting, you can easily hit the on button located to the side of the camera, annoying sometimes but with practice of removing and mounting it you can avoid that.


Buttons are clunky and sometimes don't register you've pressed them, annoying when you want to access the second menu in the main menu as you have to hit the menu button in quick succession, if it fails to register, then you have to go back out go back into menu and click again quickly.


White decals on the front of the camera can appear in your footage foreground if mounted too close the windscreen if you modify a universal mount to take into account of above problem with cable hitting screen, black permanent pen can sort that out but you'll the void the warranty!.


Night footage is not the best ive seen better in cheaper knock off specials on amazon.


when the camera gets to temp, the footage in the screen can get a white haze, this is transferred to the recorded footage, and can be frustrating when wanting to view someones reg plate. currently no fix to this that im aware of. camera was sent back to alfuds, who sent it off for a report and repair 10 weeks later its returned with a report that says they cant find anything wrong with it and has no manufacturing defects or faults that can be found. I gave mine away to a friend who recently was a victim of road rage and had his vehicle vandalized by the criminal.


Led lights on it can be bright at night, if your one to like a darkened cabin whilst on a long trip then have a strip of black electrical tape handy to place over them.


This is what ive experienced with My camera's its doesn't apply to every camera of the models mentioned, but should be noted as a warning to what you could possibly encounter. as always Research Techmoan is about the BEST review channel of camera's ive seen on YT.
As always people don't take to internet to give praise about what bought as often as they do when they encounter a problem with product or service, negative reviews tend to be more abundant than that of positive reviews. so always be sure you buying from a trusted site, A uk supplier preferably to limit costs to send back if you encounter a fault.


0803 day Video quality 9/10 night 7/10
Audio quality 7/10


nextbase 202 lite Video quality 5/10 night 3/10
Audio 9/10

oldagetraveller

I know you shouldn't have to but the mount can be made less slack by "shimming" it with paper suitably cut to size. The four tiny screws have to be removed and the mount comes apart carefully. Cut a "shim" to fit between the two halves which effectively increases it's thickness slightly.

MrA2012

I'm also looking for a dashcam and have the same requirements as the OP. I'm considering the Mini 0806 (although I'm seeing mixed reviews).

One thing that concerns me - how "permanent" is the mount? If I were to change my car soon, is it easy to remove the mount without damaging or marking the windscreen? My car has a heated front windscreen - is it advisable to stick something like that to it?

As a temporary measure, I'm using an Android app called "DailyRoads Voyager" on my phone in a windscreen mount. It's pretty good.

atrixblue.-MFR-.

MrA2012 wrote: »

I'm also looking for a dashcam and have the same requirements as the OP. I'm considering the Mini 0806 (although I'm seeing mixed reviews).

One thing that concerns me - how "permanent" is the mount? If I were to change my car soon, is it easy to remove the mount without damaging or marking the windscreen? My car has a heated front windscreen - is it advisable to stick something like that to it?

As a temporary measure, I'm using an Android app called "DailyRoads Voyager" on my phone in a windscreen mount. It's pretty good.

Theres guides on youtube on how to convert a suction mount to fit a 0803/5/6 IIRC e-prance do a suction mount as optional extra but you lose GPS If memory serves which isn't a bad thing. The mount is not permanent as in its fixed to the screen forever yes the sticky pad is pretty good at sticking it to the screen but ive used a bit of fishing line and sawing the pad off, or a bit of strimmer line, some isopropyl alcohol will then clean the screen. and leave no marks.


Heated front screen should be fine, just don't mount it to the blackparts of the screem mount to glass only.

boundy

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/G1WH-2-7-5-0MP-COMS-Car-DVR-1080P-Novatekwith-Glass-lens-1920-1080-HD-Wide/1929135278.html


I've been using this for a few weeks and it makes a great budget cam, not the smallest but as I don't have a rear view mirror, this takes its place quite nicely

boundy

https://dashcamtalk.com/


Will give you a few ideas and how to spot a fake

atrixblue.-MFR-.

boundy wrote: »

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/G1WH-2-7-5-0MP-COMS-Car-DVR-1080P-Novatekwith-Glass-lens-1920-1080-HD-Wide/1929135278.html


I've been using this for a few weeks and it makes a great budget cam, not the smallest but as I don't have a rear view mirror, this takes its place quite nicely

try finding the UK equivalent site its US$$.

s_b

atrixblue.-MFR-. wrote: »

try finding the UK equivalent site its US$$.

not so
look top right convert to £ and your in
i haven't used this seller but Ive used ali before and have to say it knocked spots off ebay and came in quicker time from china less than a week in fact:)