Why Professional Dash Cam Installation?

Why Professional Dash Cam Installation?

You bought a dash camera but not sure why you would get professional dash cam installation? Here are 5 of the top reasons our customers get it done.

#1 Not Enough Cigarette Lighter Plugins

Most cars on the road have 1 cigarette lighter plugin. I bet if you asked most people what they used it for they would tell you to charge their phone. So, now you have this dilemma. Charge my phone or plugin my dash camera? What are the chances of an accident happening? That is the main thing, no one plans on car accidents happening. If they did they would be called “On Purpose.” Free up your cigarette lighter by getting your dash cam hardwired.

#2 Get Wiring Ran Professionally

While you can install your dash cam yourself, chances are you wouldn’t be able to do it without having excess wiring in your car. A professional dash cam installation makes all of the right connections and routes your dash cam safely through your vehicle. Therefore, Your dash cam technician can remove the proper trim panels to conceal wiring and avoid interfering with safety systems like airbags in the dash, a-pillars, b-pillars, and headliner. Your cigarette lighter will also remain free, which will help your car maintain a clean and tidy look. This makes your dash cam a safe addition to your vehicle (not a hazard!).

#3 Parking Mode

Parking mode gives you the ability to record while parked. This involves using either a hardwire cable or OBD2 cable. Installers have access to technical wiring, and lots of specialty tools. In short, to be able to record motion detection, time lapse, or impact only while parked we recommend professional dash cam installation.

#4 Low Battery Protection

Will my car battery die from a dash cam install? The short answer is no. A couple factors is, how you install it, and how you set the dash camera up. If you have a dash camera without low battery protection, and you do not drive your vehicle regularly. As a result, there is a good chance you will kill your battery. We do not want your car battery to die from a dash cam. So, Dash cameras sold at Safe Drive Solutions all have low battery protection. We recommend setting this for 12 volts or higher to protect your battery. For this common question about dash cams, we provide an example below.

car battery

Once I had a client say the dash camera killed their battery. After investigating we found out they had been leaving their interior light on for quite a few weeks. There is lots of factors that can kill your vehicles battery, for example leaving an accessory plugged into your cigarette lighter all night. However, getting a bad cell in your battery or leaving the interior light on all night is more common. These types of things happen but getting a dash cam with low battery protection you should be fine. If you are still worried get a backup battery for your dash cam.

#5 No Cigarette Lighter To Be Seen

Some of the new vehicles on the market just have USB plugins for you to charge your phone or integrate with Apple Carplay. There are even a few newer vehicles where the cigarette lighter is in the trunk or hatch of the car. Not really convenient for you to plugin a dash camera. This is where our professional installers come in. They

Professional Dash Cam Installation

In conclusion, whether it be lack of tools, parking mode, low battery protection, or getting your wiring ran nice and tidy. We recommend looking into hiring a professional for dash cam installation.

Dash Cam Parking Mode

Dash Cam Parking Mode

With so many dash cameras to choose from often I get asked which dash cam has parking mode? Well, I can tell you first off all of our units we sell have parking mode capability.

However, they do need to be hardwired or use of an OBD 2 adaptor.

So which has the best dash cam parking mode? Great question

Let’s explore our top 5 choices for parking mode.

#5 Time Lapse

This will record in 1 or 2 frames per second depending on the dash cam. Furthermore, it is constantly recording and when you replay back the video it looks like it is in fast forward. Positives of this is it will take up a lot less sd card space allowing for longer record time capability. Negatives – is it will lose a lot of vital information needed. To put this into perspective normal recording is at 30 frames per second so when recording in Time Lapse you are only recording 1/15 or 1/30 of the information you normally would.

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#4 Motion Detection

Dash cameras with motion detection will record anytime there is motion. Which means anytime somebody walks by, drives by, it will wake up and record. This can be a great feature for people worried about any funny business happening around their vehicle while parked. Positives – Wakes up and records if there is movement. Negatives – If you live in a condo, underground parking or live on a busy street the dash camera will be waking up and going back to sleep very frequently.

motion detection

#3 Impact Only (Energy Saving Mode)

This is very common choice among Thinkware clients because if there is an impact while parked the dash camera will wake up 1 second after impact and record a 20 second video. Positives – Very low current draw compared to other parking mode features. Negative- It does not catch the actual incident as it wakes up 1 second after.

#2 Time Lapse with motion detection and impact

So far I have only seen this parking mode available on GNET and IROAD dash cameras. What happens with this parking mode is something special. It records at 1 frame per second while parked using very minimal sd card capacity.  If motion is detected it will then change and record at 10 frames per second and move that video into the event recording folder. As well as if impact is detected it will also put a video into the incident folder and record at 10 frames per second. Positives-It changes between time lapse and motion detection automagically to make best use of SD card space and surveillance mode. Negatives-It does not record only when impacts it records entire time while parked

#1 Energy Saving Mode 2.0 with Radar Sensor

When motion is detected by the radar module, the dash cam wakes up and gets ready to record. If an impact is detected, a 20 second video (10 seconds before and 10 seconds after impact) is saved in a dedicated folder on the sd card. When no impacts are detected, dash cam does not save the footage and resumes to energy saving mode 2.0. Positives- if there is impact while parked it will save it and capture the whole incident. Also very low current draw allowing it to last longer then other dash cameras. Negatives if there is impact from rear of vehicle the radar sensor only does front and therefore rear of vehicle will default to 1 second after impact recording. If there is any suspicious activity around the vehicle that is not impact related it will also not record those events.

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Dash Cam Top Features

Dash Cam Top Features

What top features do you want in a dash cam? Well this is what a lot of our customers ask for.

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Wi-Fi Capability

Why would you want this? The main reason you want this is because if there is an incident or a video recording you want to have. You can easily take your phone and pair it to the device and download videos directly to your phone. This makes it easy to email somebody, submit to insurance or throw it on the socials. It also allows you to change settings on the dash camera.

Parking Mode

A lot of our customers are concerned about incidents happening while parked. Parking mode gives you the capability to record in either time lapse, motion detection, or energy saving mode. Depending on the dash cam these top features are widely available.

motion detection

Low Battery Protection

This is the #1 concern for all of our customers. Watch our YouTube Video. All of our dash cameras we offer have low battery protection when either hardwired or using an OBD2 adaptor cable. If it drops below a certain set voltage the dash camera will shut off to protect your car battery.

HDR

High Dynamic Range purpose is to remove light blurring when driving at night and shows clearer recording quality in various lighting conditions. For example, driving through tunnels. A lot of our example YouTube videos will include the Richmond Tunnel to show you how our dash cams respond in those lighting environments.

high dynamic range

Event Recording

So, if you are driving and you get into an accident you want to know that video will go into a separate event or incident file. That way it is saving it and you do not have to worry about downloading it right then and there. Some dash cams come with a small SD card and no event recording folder. When an incident happens you can easily record over that. If there is an impact there is a G-Sensor built into the unit and it will automatically take that video and put it into a separate video file folder making it easier for you to find. Making this one of the top dash cam features.

car accident

Sony STARVIS

This is a premium sensor that guarantees the ultimate sharpness night image quality. The Sony STARVIS image sensor will record the brightest and cleanest images even in low light environments. It provides a much brighter and clearer image compared to seeing with bare eyes.

sony starvis

Conclusion

In short, these are some of the top dash cam features we are asked about everyday. There are many other features available feel free to comment below or contact us.

Is a Dash Cam Worth it?

Is a Dash Cam Worth it?

With so many drivers on the road, often I get asked “Is a Dash Cam worth it? We are going to outline some of the benefits it can provide you.

Hit and run claims

A hit and run is when an unidentified driver hits your vehicle or you are injured, and leaves the scene of the collision. In BC, Canada ICBC states “If you are claiming vehicle damage and have ICBC Collision coverage you will have to pay your chosen Collision deductible, which could be as low as $300. If you have ICBC optional Hit and Run coverage​​ you will have to pay a $750 deductible.”

So the questions remains is a dash cam worth it? Some of my clients have had their deductible waived by proving innocence with dash cam footage. Imagine being blamed for something you did not do and having to pay for it? Well without a dash cam you are definitely paying your deductible. With a dash cam you will get a chance to tell your story.

hit and run collision car accident why you need a dash cam

Capture Evidence of Accident

Having a silent witness on the road through a dash cam recording can help prove fault in accidents. Knowing who is at fault can allow you to settle outside of court quickly so you can move on with your life. Dishonest drivers may flee the scene or lie when they realized they are at fault. Above all, without the dash camera it makes it a lot harder to prove innocence. Imagine you are sitting at the stop lights and the car in front of you reverses into you. As a result, you are at fault and have no way to prove innocence.

A friend of mine dash cam just saved him from a 50/50 insurance claim. His dash camera proved he was going through a green light and not running a red. Therefore, without the footage he would have been hoping for a witness. Video down below.

car accident
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Parents Can Monitor New Car Drivers

When you have a young driver on the road with a brand-new license as a parent, you go through a wave of emotions, both excited and terrified. While you know your teenager understands the rules of the road with an adult in the car, what will it be like when they go out on the road alone? Or even with friends in the car. You may not be able to be in the car with them as they go out on the road independently, but you can find a way to ensure that they are protected and accounted for. As you are considering different options, the choice to buy your teen a dash cam is an option that provides a range of helpful features.

Say your teen experiences an accident, and it isn’t evident which driver was liable; you can look at the footage of the dash cams to help determine who made a mistake. This can be especially helpful for young drivers who are still trying to understand how to utilize the guidelines of driving in practice without reminding them. Understandably, they may experience a few hiccups as they get used to driving on the road without someone to make suggestions when they may be doing something incorrectly.

Looking over the footage with your teen can also be a helpful way for them to understand what they need to work on when it comes to their driving. Like athletes and actors, it can be beneficial for drivers to look over how they were driving in different situations when they are starting to move on their own. Dash cams provide the ability to reflect on specific rules that need to be remembered more regularly. All great reasons on why to buy your teen a dash cam.

teen driving with parents

Vandalism

If you are worried about vandalism happening to your car. A few things we recommend to get best use out of a dash camera.

  • Let us know so we can properly advise you on best solution
  • To have 24 hour parking mode coverage we recommend a powercell otherwise low battery protection will kick in and you wont capture any recordings
  • Look at dash cams with motion detection or time lapse mode
  • Talk to your insurance company to find out if they will waive your deductible if you prove innocence
vandalism to car caught on dash cam

Is a Dash Cam worth it?

In short, is a dash cam worth it? I think the decision is yours to make. We do not leave home without it. There is plenty of benefits that will assist you in your daily drive. If you have any questions do not hesitate to ask.

Dash Cam Comparison

Dash Cam Comparison

What features to choose? So much technology and options. That is why we have a dash cam comparison to help you make the right choice.

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4K Dash Cam Comparison Chart viofo a139 pro dash cam Channel 2 VIOFO A129
Model # Thinkware U1000 VIOFO A139 Pro VIOFO A129 Pro
Front Cam Resolution 4K 4K (Starvis 2) 4K
Rear Cam Resolution 2K QHD 1080p 1080p
W-Fi w/Mobile App Yes Yes Yes
Cloud Yes No No
GPS Yes Yes Yes
Safety Camera Alert Yes No No
Parking Mode Yes Yes Yes
Night Vision Yes Yes Yes
Front Cam Viewing Angle 150 140 130
Rear Cam Viewing Angle 156 170 140
HDR (High Dynamic Range) No Yes Yes
Video Codec H.264 H.264 H.264
MicroSD Card Capacity 128GB 256GB 256GB
Sony STARVIS lens Yes Yes Yes
LCD Screen No No Yes
Manual Recording Button Yes Yes Yes
Low Battery Protection Yes Yes Yes
High Temperature Shutdown Yes Yes Yes

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2K Dash Cam Comparison Chart iroad x11 viofo a229 dash cam viofo a119 dash cam
Model # IROAD X11 VIOFO A229 Duo VIOFO A119 Mini
Front Cam Resolution 2K QHD 2K QHD 2K QHD
Rear Cam Resolution 2K QHD 2K QHD N/A
W-Fi w/Mobile App Yes Yes Yes
Cloud No No No
GPS Yes Yes Yes
Safety Camera Alert No No No
Parking Mode Yes Yes Yes
Night Vision Yes Yes Yes
Front Cam Viewing Angle 155 140 140
Rear Cam Viewing Angle 155 140 N/A
HDR (High Dynamic Range) Yes No (WDR) Yes
Video Codec H.265 H.264 H.264
MicroSD Card Capacity 512GB 256GB 256GB
Sony STARVIS lens Yes Yes Yes
LCD Screen No Yes Yes
Manual Recording Button Yes Yes Yes
Low Battery Protection Yes Yes Yes
High Temperature Shutdown Yes No No

1080P Dash Cam

Comparison Chart

Channel 2 F790 Front + Rear f200 pro Channel 2 IROAD FX2
Model # Thinkware F790 Thinkware F200 Pro IROAD FX2 IROAD T10S2
Front Cam Resolution 1080P 1080P 1080P HD 1080P
Rear Cam Resolution 1080P 1080P 1080P HD 1080P
Sony STARVIS No No No Yes
W-Fi w/Mobile App Yes Yes Yes Yes
Cloud No No No No
GPS Yes (Sold Separately) Yes Yes
Safety Camera Alert Yes Yes (GPS antenna required) No No
Parking Mode Yes Yes Yes Yes
Night Vision Yes Yes Yes Yes
Front Cam Viewing Angle 140 140 140 150
Rear Cam Viewing Angle 140 160 140 145
HDR (High Dynamic Range) Yes No No No
Video Codec HEVC H.264 TP9950 H.264
MicroSD Card Capacity 128GB 128GB 256GB 256GB
LCD Screen No No No Yes
Manual Recording Button Yes Yes Yes No
Low Battery Protection Yes Yes Yes Yes
High Temperature Shutdown Yes No Yes Yes
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Dash Cam Recording Time

Dash Cam Recording Time

Can I get a dash cam with longer than 1 minute video recording time? So, all the dash cameras we deal with offer 1 minute record time. If there are any incidents, or impacts they are usually 20-30 second video clips. There are a couple reasons why you want to get a dash cam with these features.

  • One of the reasons is you want the smaller file size.
  • It will be easier to find the specific file
  • Most insurance companies want a maximum 25mb file size.
  • Quick to download a shorter video file to your phone
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Recording Size

Think about this if you had a 10 minute or 15 minute video you will now possible be downloading 500mb or a few Gb of video. Then you will have to take that huge file and use video editing software so you can share it on the socials or submit to insurance company. Why most dash cams have 20-30 second incident files or max 1 minute video. It makes it easier to submit for insurance purposes. Also is typically under 25mb in size.

iroad app

Recording Time

Therefore, some more food for thought. All the dash cameras we carry delete 1 video file and record 1 brand new video file. So, if your video file is 15 minutes or 1 hour you will lose 1 full hour just like that gone. While losing a 1 minute or 20 second file is minimum. Keep in mind most people dash cams come with a small SD card that typically only records 1 or 2 hours of continuous recording.

Downloading Time

Furthermore, if you want to download a 1-minute video it will typically take you approximately 1 minute. However, riddle me this try downloading a 15 minute or 1 hour video file to your phone and now you’re in your car for 15 minutes to an hour. Never mind the space you need to have available on your phone.

In short, it may sound like a minor detail but keep that in mind when searching for a dash camera. Your dash cam video recording time is important.