Nextbase 380GWX

[Pixelle.]

Hi Folks, 

I had a Nextbase 380GWX fitted on Friday. It went wrong within 2 miles. Reset a couple of times but nothing helped. Alsorts of weird happenings. Also the Nextbase camera app seems very clunky and had to be re-downloaded. Toyota dealer is removing it on Wednesday for full refund. I didn't want a repair or replacement as I am not overly delighted with this experience of the system. 😢

As a complete novice on Dashcam manufacturers, I would appreciate some thoughts when considering a replacement (not necessarily Nextbase). Although I am fairly tech competent, I can't be doing with unnecessary gimmicks and faffing about with wifi connections when all I need is a decent reliable set up that I can connect to my Mac for viewing. 

Thanks,

Pixelle.

 

[inteli7]

If your budget allows it, then I would highly suggest this Viofo camera: VIOFO A229 PRO 2CH: 4K+2K HDR Dual Dash Cam with Sony STARVIS 2, Super Night Vision, Voice Control (viofouk.co.uk) . They have capacitors instead of batteries and a screen that allows you to do many things without a phone. On top of that, they came with an app and Wi-Fi. You can view, delete or download via 5GHz content to your phone. (that's super fast) The app also allows you to change the camera settings!

Quickly look at the reviews online, and they will speak for themselves. For the price that you pay, you cannot get any better. There are other options like thinkware or blackvue, but they cost way more. 

I have my A129 PRO DUO 4K, which didn't skip a heartbeat. It's one of the best dashcams that I owned. It is a shame that not many people are aware of Viofo, but it is getting there.

[inteli7]

Cheaper directly from their website: VIOFO A229 PRO 3CH 4K+2K+1080P HDR 3 Channels Car Dash Camera with Sony STARVIS 2 Sensors for Lyft Taxi Ridesharing Drivers £261.70

[inteli7]

Go to their official viofo.com website. seems cheaper there: VIOFO A229 PRO 2CH Front and Rear 4K+2K HDR Dual Dashcam with Sony STARVIS 2 Sensors Super Night Vision Voice Control

[Roy124]

Nextbase is a first rate UK company and I originally used their route planning mapping software until the product was bought by Microsoft.

They then moved to dashcams with an extensive range and good tech support.

Their software can display positional data, g forces, speed etc.

The version you were sold works quite well but what did you mean went wrong in first 2 miles?

The App is indeed clunky and needs to connect with the phone using its own WiFi broadcast.   I find it works better if I am away from my home network.

If I do want to review footage I remove the main camera from the car and view on the computer.  It really is a clunky experience. 

My dealer plans to move my current cam to the new car.  I am mulling tge idea of buying the new cloudbased cameras.

[Roy124]

The links by @inteli7 are for equally capable dashcams.  

[Parts-King]

99% of Nextbase issues are caused by rubbish SD cards, either the card itself dying or needing formatting. I always change the card for a better quality one, you need a decent class 10, I use Kingston 32GB cards, never get any trouble with them. Format the card first and see how you get on 

[Roy124]

@Parts-King agree, I forgot, I had a problem with recording,  it was a Nextbase card.

They asked for a photo of both sides of the card to prove it was a genuine card.  They sent a replacement.  It has workex fine ever since.

[Pixelle.]

1 hour ago, Roy124 said:

Nextbase is a first rate UK company and I originally used their route planning mapping software until the product was bought by Microsoft.

They then moved to dashcams with an extensive range and good tech support.

Their software can display positional data, g forces, speed etc.

The version you were sold works quite well but what did you mean went wrong in first 2 miles?

The App is indeed clunky and needs to connect with the phone using its own WiFi broadcast.   I find it works better if I am away from my home network.

If I do want to review footage I remove the main camera from the car and view on the computer.  It really is a clunky experience. 

My dealer plans to move my current cam to the new car.  I am mulling tge idea of buying the new cloudbased cameras.

Thanks Roy,

Very soon after setting off from being fitted, the dash cam started to jingle constantly so I turned the sound off until I got home.  I hadn't time to return to the garage. Next morning, after driving about 10 mins, that 'chinking' sound went crazy as though the camera was recording every few seconds... totally random.  It did this again later. I managed to get the wifi up and running once more (what a pain) to view the footage and the erratic recording times were confirmed. The recordings looked to be mostly rear view too.  Completely nuts, I really can't be doing with it. I hope this makes some sense.

I looked at the special offer Nextbase 622 or 522 set-ups initially and maybe should have gone with one of them and got Nextbase to fit it. The price wouldn't be that much different on the 622 dual cameras to the 380GWX fitted. Back to the drawing board.

Jx

[Pixelle.]

1 hour ago, inteli7 said:

Cheaper directly from their website: VIOFO A229 PRO 3CH 4K+2K+1080P HDR 3 Channels Car Dash Camera with Sony STARVIS 2 Sensors for Lyft Taxi Ridesharing Drivers £261.70

[jthspace]

I bought a fixed-in camera that replaces the panel under the mirror.  No extra wiring and "just works". See write-up HERE

Here's a 3 minute sample vid.  Doesn't bounce about which is good, but wide angle lens does pick up reflections although on the plus side it gives good coverage.  This was 8:30 am so sun was low-ish.

YouTube video 3 minutes

YouTube vid is not as clear as straight off the card/app, registration plates clear on camera vid.

Also available at Amazon

 

[Pixelle.]

Thanks Dave, I will have a look at the VIOFO model.

[Pixelle.]

10 minutes ago, jthspace said:

I bought a fixed-in camera that replaces the panel under the mirror.  No extra wiring and "just works". See write-up HERE

Here's a 3 minute sample vid.  Doesn't bounce about which is good, but wide angle lens does pick up reflections although on the plus side it gives good coverage.  This was 8:30 am so sun was low-ish.

YouTube video 3 minutes

YouTube vid is not as clear as straight off the card/app, registration plates clear on camera vid.

Also available at Amazon

 

Thanks Jeff, that looks interesting.

[Pixelle.]

1 hour ago, Parts-King said:

99% of Nextbase issues are caused by rubbish SD cards, either the card itself dying or needing formatting. I always change the card for a better quality one, you need a decent class 10, I use Kingston 32GB cards, never get any trouble with them. Format the card first and see how you get on 

Thank you King, useful to know. Nextbase recommend their own industrial grade ? cards to prevent problems. 🫤😄

[Primus1]

I have a blackvue front and rear dash cam, powered by its own Battery which is hardwired to the car, I’ve had it since 2020 and had it removed from my last car and fitted to this one, you can subscribe to the cloud and view your cameras from anywhere, but, being a tight Yorkshireman, I haven’t done this, mine has no screen, instead I view through my phone via the app, there’s even an app for the Battery so I can see how much charge it has..

[Cyker]

4 hours ago, inteli7 said:

They have resistors instead of batteries

*capacitors*, not resistors!  

They basically mean the camera can't run without power, but will be much more reliable in hot temperatures, which typically murder battery-equipped dashcams quickly.

 

3 hours ago, Parts-King said:

99% of Nextbase issues are caused by rubbish SD cards, either the card itself dying or needing formatting. I always change the card for a better quality one, you need a decent class 10, I use Kingston 32GB cards, never get any trouble with them. Format the card first and see how you get on 

This!

Normal (micro)SD cards in dashcams do not last very long and voids any warranty they have on them. If you don't drive much, you can get away with it, but because I drive so much I was wearing out 128 and 256GB cards within a year-year and a half!  

Cards like the Sandisk Max Endurance range are much more robust and can withstand continuously being written to - The one in mine is warrantied for Dashcam use and has a 10 year warranty, and has been through 3 cars so far  

Most of the bigger Dashcam makers, including Nextbase and Viofo, sell their own industrial/dashcam-rated microSD cards, as do most major SD card makers - Sandisk, Transcend, AData, Samsung etc.

[Roy124]

@jthspace I saw that camera last year. It is so neat I am surprised Toyota didnt market it.

I had a look at my YC housing but couldnt see how it opened.   I'll look agaim

[inteli7]

1 hour ago, Cyker said:

capacitors*, not resistors!  

They basically mean the camera can't run without power, but will be much more reliable in hot temperatures, which typically murder battery-equipped dashcams quickly.

I must have been so tired to write that. Sorry and thank you for the correction!

[jthspace]

3 hours ago, Roy124 said:

@jthspace I saw that camera last year. It is so neat I am surprised Toyota didnt market it.

I had a look at my YC housing but couldnt see how it opened.   I'll look agaim

Like other panels, they all clip together and a plastic trim tool will often pop a panel off. Look on their website as, from memory, they had example vids on “how to”

[Jules88]

I had the 380GWX fitted to mine by the dealer. I'm assuming Toyota UK dealers have some partnership deal with Nextbase. It's an OK dash cam, but not worth the price they charge. Had to remove it and go back to my old one after a few months.

You can't go wrong with VIOFO. Had the A129 in my previous car and moved it to my current when I got tired of the 380GWX, it's so much better.

Just ordered the new VS1 last week, looking forward to getting it.

[Big_D]

On 2/5/2024 at 7:47 PM, Cyker said:

Normal (micro)SD cards in dashcams do not last very long and voids any warranty they have on them. If you don't drive much, you can get away with it, but because I drive so much I was wearing out 128 and 256GB cards within a year-year and a half!  

I replace my cards about every 12 months, Better safe than sorry. I use Sandisk and find them to be fine.

[Cyker]

23 hours ago, inteli7 said:

I must have been so tired to write that. Sorry and thank you for the correction!

No worries, thanks for not being offended!  

 

18 hours ago, Jules88 said:

I had the 380GWX fitted to mine by the dealer. I'm assuming Toyota UK dealers have some partnership deal with Nextbase. It's an OK dash cam, but not worth the price they charge. Had to remove it and go back to my old one after a few months.

You can't go wrong with VIOFO. Had the A129 in my previous car and moved it to my current when I got tired of the 380GWX, it's so much better.

Just ordered the new VS1 last week, looking forward to getting it.

Nextbase seem to have got in with a lot of companies - They seem to supply a lot of manufacturers with 'official' dashcams, and a lot of insurers only give discounts if your Dashcam is one of theirs!

I've always preferred Viofo as they've been class leading so far, being one of the earliest to use supercaps instead of batteries (Which makes them far more durable in high heat!), and I think the first to release a camera that uses the new Sony Starvis2 sensor (Currently the state of the art low-light sensor on the market), but especially because I've found their customer service surprisingly good.

 

5 minutes ago, Big_D said:

I replace my cards about every 12 months, Better safe than sorry. I use Sandisk and find them to be fine.

I always replaced them just too late - I'd go to retrieve footage only to find it was corrupted or not recorded!  When Sandisk released the Max Endurance series I immediately got one and it's lasted so long  it's made up for the extra cost  

I can strongly recommend them (Or another industrial-grade sdcard) for anyone who gets a lot of use out of their Dashcam!

[inteli7]

31 minutes ago, Cyker said:

I've always preferred Viofo as they've been class leading so far, being one of the earliest to use supercaps instead of batteries (Which makes them far more durable in high heat!), and I think the first to release a camera that uses the new Sony Starvis2 sensor (Currently the state of the art low-light sensor on the market), but especially because I've found their customer service surprisingly good.

That's true, and their current flagship is the Viofo A229 Pro, which is available as 1,2 and 3 Channels. They also have a post that tells you the cards compatible with their dashcams: What memory card is recommended for a VIOFO dashcam? : VIOFO Support Center

 

At the moment, in my A119 Pro Duo, I rock this micro SD card, which has been fantastic (got it for £30 off Amazon): https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07FCR3316/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Got it in August 2022 and never had an issue with it. They say this is unstable with the 4K cameras but never had an issue. Maybe there was a batch of bad micro SD cards, or who knows? Anyway, follow what they say, and you should be fine.

[Pixelle.]

10 hours ago, inteli7 said:

That's true, and their current flagship is the Viofo A229 Pro, which is available as 1,2 and 3 Channels. They also have a post that tells you the cards compatible with their dashcams: What memory card is recommended for a VIOFO dashcam? : VIOFO Support Center

 

At the moment, in my A119 Pro Duo, I rock this micro SD card, which has been fantastic (got it for £30 off Amazon): https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07FCR3316/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Got it in August 2022 and never had an issue with it. They say this is unstable with the 4K cameras but never had an issue. Maybe there was a batch of bad micro SD cards, or who knows? Anyway, follow what they say, and you should be fine.

All helpful, thank you Dave.

 

[Pixelle.]

On 2/6/2024 at 2:33 AM, Jules88 said:

I had the 380GWX fitted to mine by the dealer. I'm assuming Toyota UK dealers have some partnership deal with Nextbase. It's an OK dash cam, but not worth the price they charge. Had to remove it and go back to my old one after a few months.

You can't go wrong with VIOFO. Had the A129 in my previous car and moved it to my current when I got tired of the 380GWX, it's so much better.

Just ordered the new VS1 last week, looking forward to getting it.

Hi Jules, I am seriously considering either the Viofo 119 Plus Duo 2channel F & R. or the 129 version. I have made an order up but haven't got a clue as to what fuse taps I need for my Yaris Mk 4. I am going to get a local garage auto electrician to fit it, so will he have the fuse taps I need or should I order them in?  I will take all advice given on the best card and size for these models.

Thank you in anticipation.

Jane