Dealer fitted dashcam.

[152bobby]

8 minutes ago, Cyker said:

Nextbase's after-sales support supposedly has improved a lot and I think you can download PDF manuals from their website, but there's not much to it TBH...

They are mostly set-and-forget; Only time I touch mine is to pull the microSD card to dump footage or update the firmware

Bear in mind that it does not have auto SD card formatting or whatever it's called.  And if you don't have one with a screen and it gives no warning that the SD card needs formatting, then it's as use as a ashtray on a motorbike.  There really is no such thing as a fit and forget Dashcam.  I currently have a 2 channel ThinkWare set up and it has auto SD formatting, but it doesn't stop me checking it frequently that it's actually doing what it's meant to be doing !!

[moggio53]

17 minutes ago, Cyker said:

Nextbase's after-sales support supposedly has improved a lot and I think you can download PDF manuals from their website, but there's not much to it TBH...

They are mostly set-and-forget; Only time I touch mine is to pull the microSD card to dump footage or update the firmware

They dont seem to like MACs

[152bobby]

Just now, moggio53 said:

They dont seem to like MACs

Their Nextbase dashcams are notorious for not connecting to WiFi to view or download a clip whilst in the car, it's fine if you take the SD card out and put it in a laptop.

This is why I ditched all my Nextbase cams in 3 cars and changed to ThinkWare.

Nextbase customer services are pretty good.  Just Google it and it will take you to a particular Dashcam site and you'll see they are good.  But the have for YEARS ignored the issue of connecting to your phone in a car to retrieve a video clip.

 

[Cyker]

7 minutes ago, moggio53 said:

They dont seem to like MACs

Nobody likes Macs!   *ducks* 

 

12 minutes ago, 152bobby said:

Bear in mind that it does not have auto SD card formatting or whatever it's called.  And if you don't have one with a screen and it gives no warning that the SD card needs formatting, then it's as use as a ashtray on a motorbike.  There really is no such thing as a fit and forget Dashcam.  I currently have a 2 channel ThinkWare set up and it has auto SD formatting, but it doesn't stop me checking it frequently that it's actually doing what it's meant to be doing !!

My one's been pretty much fit and forget!  I just put in the settings when I bought it and haven't touched any of them since, and it's been through I think 3 cars at this point...? It's not a Nextbase though...

 

I don't get this thing about formatting the SD card regularly - It literally just wastes write cycles on the card.

I have 2 256GB MLC SD cards and I've never formatted either of them aside from initially to convert them from exFAT to FAT32 and they still work the same as they did originally.

I did get that as advice when I was using normal microSD cards and they were developing problems after a year, but the formatting didn't really help (It appeared to at first though...). Switching to MLC cards improved the longevity by orders of magnitude (Instead of replacing them every year, this one has been through 3 cars and several years and still works!)

[moggio53]

2 minutes ago, 152bobby said:

Their Nextbase dashcams are notorious for not connecting to WiFi to view or download a clip whilst in the car, it's fine if you take the SD card out and put it in a laptop.

This is why I ditched all my Nextbase cams in 3 cars and changed to ThinkWare.

Nextbase customer services are pretty good.  Just Google it and it will take you to a particular Dashcam site and you'll see they are good.  But the have for YEARS ignored the issue of connecting to your phone in a car to retrieve a video clip.

 

I think my wife gave up on it when viewed on a phone she only EVER got a 10 second clip

My Nextbase is here next to me still in its box unopened - I think it may end up on eBay

[moggio53]

anyone want to make me an offer!!!!!

[Heidfirst]

2 hours ago, moggio53 said:

My wifes got a Nextbase dealer fitted and has no idea how it works - no instructions, non, nada

https://nextbase.co.uk/help-and-support/dash-cams/380gwx-dash-cam-support/

[exim]

Mine sometimes gives randomly plays the start-up plink-plink-plink chime mid journey.

Anyone know what that means?

[trashman1965]

6 minutes ago, exim said:

Mine sometimes gives randomly plays the start-up plink-plink-plink chime mid journey.

Anyone know what that means?

Mine did that when I was using a 256GB SD card...think it struggles to write and delete at the same time. Did it once with the 128GB card and formatting it solved the issue. 128GB is the max quoted for use.

So could just be full SD card unless there's a loose connection.

Also, if you have parking mode active, it will kick in when you are sat in traffic or drive through queue and may not start again until a little while after you are moving again.

[Cyker]

I used to randomly get that in my Mk2 when the stop-start still worked; I think when restarting, the voltage would sag a bit too much for the Dashcam and cause it to restart.

Ironically, the 12v Battery dropped too low so the stop-start system stopped working, and I never had the problem again  

I've not had it in the hybrid so far...

It's a good shout about checking the connections though - My dad used to use an ancient Dashcam that used a USB-mini connector ( Not the Micro or C type we mostly use now!), and both it and the lighter socket adaptor were really loose so any sharp bumps would make it cut out  

[Derek.w]

I noticed signs in dealers saying remove dashcams if you booked in for a mot!.

[Cyker]

I wonder if that's because some over zealous MOT testers would fail the car because the Dashcam was in the driver's vision area...?

[Heidfirst]

more likely it is because they don't want to be filmed ...

Most dashcams should be fitted so that they are hidden from the driver by the rear view mirror.

[moggio53]

Im finding this a most fascinating discussion, and I would love to have one, on the condition it worked even with my feeble 70 YO brain.Its almost that I need a friendly neighbour to pop in and show me "the works", but at the moment Im really struggling to justify something that won't work easily and won't drive me around the !Removed! bend. It's the same reason I use a MAC - it just works and does what I want it to do! Oh, by the way, Ive just had a large Scotch - rant over, and no offence inferred.

[jthspace]

11 hours ago, Heidfirst said:

more likely it is because they don't want to be filmed ...

Most dashcams should be fitted so that they are hidden from the driver by the rear view mirror.

I believe it's the law that Dashcam screens blank once on the move, i.e. the screen saver is enabled and blanks the screen after 3 / 5 minutes.

Same law (probably) that doesn't allow videos to play on car screens if the vehicle is moving - unless not viewable by the driver.  I've seen screens where the polarising cover allows a front seat passenger to see a video but the driver sees a static screen.

[Heidfirst]

1 hour ago, jthspace said:

I believe it's the law that dashcam screens blank once on the move, i.e. the screen saver is enabled and blanks the screen after 3 / 5 minutes.

Same law (probably) that doesn't allow videos to play on car screens if the vehicle is moving - unless not viewable by the driver.  I've seen screens where the polarising cover allows a front seat passenger to see a video but the driver sees a static screen.

I actually meant mounted behind (from the driver pov) the mirror so that they were not classed as obstructing driver vision.

However, I have certainly observed dashcams in other cars with screens that were displaying video whilst driving.