A 'black box' for your car.
Sunday, November 13, 2011 at 9:23PM I know that there are a lot of people out there who are looking for a 'fit and forget' car camera. One that will continuously and unobtrusively record every journey - with no need for any manual intervention. A camera that you would only touch if you got into an accident and you needed to pull the evidence off it. The automotive equivalent of a aircraft black box recorder.
Well, if you can find a way to hide this camera away in your car then this might be the one for you. The video explains pretty much everything (hopefully) that you will need to know.
Even the Muppets that I picked up a couple of years ago get let out of their display cases to help me explain something.
If you are thinking of taking the camera apart - I've put a picture below that shows what it looks like without the Suction cup mount and what happens if you try and unscrew and remove the protruding bracket (it contains the wiring to the GPS aerial socket - so you would need to disconnect/snip these wires to be able to remove this section - not beyond the realms of possibility, but also not something that I want to do).
I have also put a couple of untouched 1080p sample clips in a dropbox folder - a 2 min 130MB clip, and a shorter 30 second 30MB clip. Right click and save either of these if you want to test them.
UPDATE - People email me regularly to tell me that this camera is no longer available from Chinavasion.
A quick search shows that it is still available on ebay though..
Reader Comments (228)
A great, thorough review which highlights all the important features and performance criteria of this device.
I may be tempted to order one very soon thanks to your hard work.
Maybe you should provide a sponsored link where you would receive a small commission?
Just have one link where you get paid and one where you wouldn't and the viewers can choose which to click :)
Nice review! I have one question though. Is it easy (or possible at all) to delete all information after you got involved in an accident? Blackboxes that you get from your car insurance company usually have a hidden button. You can press that button to delete all data after an accident - if you believe that the data can be used against yourself.
@willydilyy
Quickly eject the memory card and put it somewhere 'safe'? ;)
@willydilyy There is no Nuke button on this. Video evidence is a doubled edged sword....especially with your MPH overlaid on the screen. Proof that you were speeding at the time of the accident will not do you any favours. The speed overlay can be switched off (in the set-up menus when it's attached to the TV).
Nice review, good bit of kit and the footage is beautifully clear. Just a shame they didn't in-build a GPS aerial (considering where it's intended to be mounted) and perhaps thinner cable to the 12v, since you're around the courtesy light you can pickup power there. They "almost" get there with these boxes but this looks the best yet!
Nice review as usual.
Looks better than my Extreme Cam & a lot cheaper too.
Great timing, I was just thinking about car recorders and had looked at your older reviews again only the other day and had seen this device listed online.
I think I'm with slimgym - this looks like a 'nearly' product at the price they are selling it at. If it were tidied up a bit or somewhat cheaper I'd have ordered one already. As it is the Jumbo 808 (that I ordered recently for £26) still seems to be a bargain option if a bit of a hassle and missing the GPS data.
But thanks for effort you put into these the comprehensive reviews. They really are a great resource.
where to buy this cute gadget? and what's the name?
Kier, it is a '1080p GPS Car Recorder v1000GS' if you do a search you can find there are plenty of people advertising them on ebay..
Cheapest I can see on there currently is £112.27 delivered.
Just ordered mine !
Anyone want an EXTREME CAM !!!!
It comes so handy when you are involved in accident but dangerous to you if the information can be used to you...
I see enough bad driving this thing would catch for it just to be amusing to upload the best to youtube, let alone if anyone is involved in an accident. Luckily accidents are few and far between compared to the amount of poor inconsiderate driving that's out there.
Please twitter, when you have new review.
Thanks,
Frank
(I don't check your website everyday ;-)
I bought one on Ebay Yesterday with built-in GPS-antenna.
http://www.ebay.nl/itm/320778408029?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
Greetings from Holland.
Ahh interesting, I wonder given this whether the original unit has an in-built antenna and the external one on a cable is just if the internal isn't working? Mr TechMoan can you have a try see if you get GPS data without the external aerial connected?
The two units seem identical except ebay item does not come with the aerial or memory card :(
A "Quick Data Deletion Button" or commonly known as a format button is fitted ! If data is needed to be removed sharpish !
Hmmm I think I'd get one for my car.
@Mike. You are of course correct.
@Slimgym I've tested this out today and failed to get a GPS lock without the external aerial attached. The one linked to by DG doesn't have a GPS antenna connector. Perhaps this is the real difference between the V1000 and the V1000GS. It looks like this is the better option...less wires.
@TechMoan Excellent, thank you for checking this out! You could be right the difference. I think the signal if you fitted the camera to the windscreen ought to be fine. A lot of cars with the thermo dynamic windscreens can block GPS signals but the area around the mirror (often has black printing to allow parking tickets to be fixed) does not have this system there to specifically let GPS through. Having said that in my car (Peugeot 308) the iPhone works fine for navigation even on the seat so maybe they've got around this recently.
http://www.goodluckbuy.com/full-hd-1080p-car-dvr-vehicle-dash-camera-with-gps-logger.html
Does it have the capacity to save an unlimited amount of data from the cameras?
Thanks for the video. I just have a couple questions hope someone can find the answer:
1. Is the V1000 (one without the gps) goes without the external dangling connector? Can someone post a link where I can find such model?
2. What is the power input spec of this device? (Obviously it takes the 12V from car charger, I also saw the USB connector so I am wondering if it charges from USB or 110/220V as well?
Hello,
I just found your reviews. Excellent content. Thanks!!!
I am wondering if this camera could be used as a rear facing DVR in the car and a rear view camera at the same time (attached to my video stereo deck which allows for a rear view camera)?
I saw that there is a mini USB port with a cable that has the RCA video lead. I am wondering if that is live while recording in the car?
Thanks
Matt
@ Matt - The Phono/RCA leads provide a live monitor out whilst the camera is powered up or recording - so yes you could use it for the purpose you are suggesting..
@ Ed - DG linked to the camera with the built in GPS antenna - see the comment above yours. Ebay item number 320778408029
Yes it will power from the USB - as demonstrated on the video when I attach it to the TV. It will record when attached to USB as well - thats the reason for the USB/Rec button on the camera. You can select USB data or Power mode.
I am confused regarding the built in aerial on this camera.
I emailed the above vendor and asked if this model needed an external gps aerial and he sent me two return emails each more confusing than the one previous????
I would like to know how DG gets on.
Great site and most informative, helps us to make an informed choices,please keep up the good work
I have not received my camera yet.
But i think it's very similar to the dod gs 600 ( http://www.dod-tec.com/product.php?cat_1st=4&cat_2nd=6 )
You can download a user manual there.
Greetings from Holland.
A curious discovery today. I found that I'd accidentally left the camera plugged into a USB charger after testing it a week ago. It was still recording, and had been continuously for a week. Interestingly the red and blue light were both flashing, showing that it had a GPS lock & the Antenna was not attached.
So that indicates two things.
1) It's very reliable...to continuously record and loop for a week, is pretty impressive.
2) It doesn't need the GPS Antenna attached to get a lock on.
I'll take it out in the car at the weekend to see how long it takes to get a lock without the antenna attached. When I have something proper to report, I'll add an update to the blog post.
I received mine, it has also an external GPS antenna!
Greetings from Holland.
Strike my previous comment. It turns out that the flashing blue light on the camera was indicating an error had occurred. I should have noticed that it was flashing quicker and in time with the red light. A quick reset and press of the format button sorted it out though. So after driving with it in the car for an hour today without the antenna attached and failing to get a GPS lock on, it now appears that the antenna has to be attached for the GPS to work. Sorry to get your hopes up there.
@DG So you ended up with the same model I reviewed then? I wonder if the pictures on that website are of the V1000 and the V1000GS with the antenna socket and the external antenna is the only model with GPS. Just a guess.
Yes, i think i have the same model as you reviewed.
I think also a picture is used of a model without GPS.
I have uploaded a sample video of my camera: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aP8g89ci5c4
Greetings from Holland.
Mine arrived today !
Bought from. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HD-1080-Vehicle-camera-GPS-logger-H-264-HDMI-blackbox-V1000GS-car-cam-video-DVR-/320778408029?_trksid=p3286.m7&_trkparms=algo%3DLVI%26itu%3DUCI%26otn%3D3%26po%3DLVI%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D4543849555181063765
I don't think these are made with an internal ant, pictures shown must be v1000.. Ah well.
Need to set up & try now.
Excellent review. I purchased the original DOD-Tec GS600 about 1 year ago - serial number 1, I think. The firmware forced kph, 1 minute recycle time, and had about a 4 second gap between video segments (even with class 6 SDHC cards). And, the GPS data stamped showed 40kph while standing still - for at least 20-30 seconds after coming to a stop. Needless to say, I was quite disappointed and had given up on an all-in-one GPS solution - until I found your video.
I found this for USD151 w/free shipping at AliExpress http://us.aliexpress.com/snapshot/103892527.html?isRedirect=false. From all appearances it seems like I got the one you reviewed - but their photos all show no external GPS antenna connection and their description lists the antenna as 'internal'. They also don't address the recycle time limits or GPS lag times. I've sent an email to the seller to confirm.
BTW, on the GS600, you use the HDPlayer software that came with the camera to set the "impact" threshold. Mine, by default, came set so low, that ordinary driving triggered every clip to 'protect'. Didn't take long, and the card was full and wouldn't recycle. You have to hook the camera up to a PC and put it in a special mode (been too long to remember how now), but you could then update the trigger values.
I subscribed to your YT channel. I really appreciate the effort you've put into describing the products you review. I'm so sick of seeing people review things like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQsdbwDK8oY
A few days ago i had the GPS antenna very close to the camera. (hanging on the suction cup)
And the GPS didnt work very well sometimes loosing the GPS fix and saying i was driving aprox. 40KM/H when i was standing still at the traffic light.
And it sometimes took a long time to get a fix in that setup.
Later i put the GPS antenna somewhere else on the dash and the camera works fine again.
Greetings from Holland
That's interesting, DG - and may account for why I'm getting such horrible speed reports on my GS600. Here's a video I took a year ago - the content is bad (ran over a dog). Turn the volume way down if you don't want to be disturbed by the sounds. But, take note of the speed stamp for the entire time the vehicle has stopped. I never assumed it was GPS reception, since the blue light (and time stamp on the files) indicated it had 'locked'.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dptScwAkJq4&
Tried mine for the first time yesterday. First thoughts are quite good. Built in ANT would have been nice as would a swivel head on the window sucker, but these are minor irritations.
Here's a video sample if anyone is interested.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mq9iFYi-Vzc
As Techmoan would say, "thanks for watching" !
I bought this camera based on this review and it's absolutely a gem. The picture and audio is crisp and recording is flawless. As Techmoan mentioned in the review the manual isn't particularly helpful and it's bit a hinderence since I can't work exactly how motion sensors work.
By default XYZ sensors are off so I presume that function of locking files from over recording isn't enabled.
Once I enable it I have a presented scale of sensitivity starting from 1- 10. My understanding is that "1" is being least sensitive and "10" most(is that correct?). I set them all at level 4 and sometimes while driving over a bump or pothole I hear blip form camera and I guess it means that file became protected.
I wonder if understand this function and setting correctly. I will appreciate sharing anyone else's experience and also at what sensitivity level do you have your settings?
Regards
Jan
Techmoan, were your vids done with "Standard out of the box settings" or did you change any values ? ie sharpness etc ?
Many thanks.
@Mike All settings were on auto.
Thank you !
Is there any gap between recordings as was the case with the DOD GS600? It was for that reason I never invested in the DOD unit.
Using a class 10 card here, no gaps !
Thanks Mike. Ordered one, along with an 8GB card.
I got mine and I had 2 problems:
1. The G sensor is way to sensitive even in the lowest settings (1) it triggers on every little move. And it does not trigger in the differential signal it triggers on the total amount of acceleration.
If anyone has a solution to this plz let me know.
2. The camera hangs very frequently! I need to press the reset key to get it going again. The file it was recording at this time is corrupt.
I am in contact with the sealer... lets see
@Tom. I did find some people with problems relating to corrupt data, which seems to have been resolved by using a different microSD card. I will not be using the one which I am buying with the camera in the camera itself, I will just use it for storage, and provide my own card from a reputable brand.
I believe the G sensor works the other way around, although that's only an assumption on my part. I would have assumed higher values are less sensitive to movement.
Thanks for the review - 'm considering this unit now.
I've just been introduced to these in-car recorders by someone in the US pointing me to the Fuho CDR-E07 - here are some detailed specs from an old ebay entry):
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-CDR-E07-Vehicles-Camera-Dual-Cam-Mobile-DVR-G-Sensor-GPS-LED-Free-Shipping-/400246212743?item=400246212743&vxp=mtr
It is standard definition but has 2 cameras and the option of infra-red recording. The software that comes with it looks pretty good with a Google Maps display etc.
Unfortunately I can't find a review of it, or a current supplier.
It would be great to get the opinion of the CDR-E07 from someone who was an experienced user of the 1000GS. Any takers?
@rich is this what you are looking for?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TAXI-CAR-CCTV-DVR-VIDEO-VOICE-RECORDER-GPS-TRACKER-/220895574436?pt=UK_Gadgets&hash=item336e66f9a4
Hi, first off all can I thank the owner off this site/ reviewer off this camera so much for what are some excellent very easy to understand reviews, it was thru this review that I have just purchased my own twin lens night vision in car camera ( x2000 model with gps ) small 2.7" screen built in. couple off things if anyone could advise ??
1/ no software with the camera, the camera does not support usb direct ie card has to be removed and played via a card reader so how can it play via the viewer software which I take it is built into the unit itself ?? possibly loaded onto the card during the initial formatting off the card within the unit itself ??
2/ my one has a lithium battery built in which is great as I hopefully wont have to have the 12v supply lead trailing up to the camera unit, not sure how this works thou as normally its the power rom the car engine which starts the recording automatically ???
3/ any recommended for a brand off 16 or 32GB micro sd cards that work particulary well in this sort off thing ?? belive I will require class 6 or higher to prevent break up / stutter off picture quality ?? my camera is 720 as opposed to the 1080 off the one within the review.
still to receive my camera but jst be interested to here from anyone who could advise me regards the above ??
thanks again