Dashcam installation

Vertigo1

Vertigo1

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Hi all,

Looking at getting a decent dashcam installed, possibly thinkware as I like the design of their latest U3000, although it's a bit pricey.

I'm in two minds whether to have a go at self-installing or just pay someone to do it, especially as I'll want the rear camera too. Vehicle is a B9.5 A4 Avant.

Install cost isn't really the issue, it's more finding a reputable installer (ideally somewhere in the Midlands) who would hardwire it properly, not damaging any trim, correctly piggy-backing fuses etc etc.

Can anyone offer any advice, either on self-install or a reputable installer they've used?

TIA.
 
I would, just getting over COVID tbh, but I personally never use piggyback fuse points, they're imho shxt & asking for issues.

All comes down to economics as you're in midlands, but see how you get on, but fitting to avants always take a longer due to running into the boots properly as I never do a loop from headliner to the rear window as it looks awful, always through the boot rubbers to the boot lid itself.
 
Ah I remember you from years back when I was more active on here. Aren't you down London way?

If this kind of installation service is something you'd provide then I'd be interested, even if it involves some travelling.
Basicially I'm wary of letting some "random" installation company loose on my car as I'd imaging there are a lot of opportunist cowboys around.
 
Ping me a WhatsApp numbers in signature, I'll reply when I can bud
 
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Forgive me piggybacking onto your thread, @Vertigo1 , but I’d like to ask @DJAlix his opinion on my dashcam options when I change cars in the next couple of months. Currently I have a 2018 SQ5, with a Thinkware 770 front/rear setup. It’s hardwired and this is the third car it’s been in, going back six years. Two of those installations were done by @NHN when I lived in South East London. I’m due to take delivery of a brand new SQ5 in October or November and would like to know what you think would be the best way.

I’m happy with what the F770 does but am conscious it’s quite an old unit and out of date in terms of functionality. I could transfer it to the new car: a refitting kit is about £65, or I could take the opportunity to update to something newer. I’ve no interest in 4K (probably not even 2K for that matter) so I think I’d be choosing between the F790 (a slightly updated version of what I have now) or the Q850 (which has higher resolution and connectivity to my phone). They are not that different in price (£210-£220).

Whichever choice I make, I’ll need to factor in the cost of a professional installation as I have no ability to do it myself. At the same time, I’ll get an Autowatch Ghost 2 and possibly a tracker put in by a local firm here in Northumberland.
 
Nothing wrong with the 770 at all to be honest. Solid units and great quality video for a HD camera. If this wa me, to be honest I would take the opportunity to upgrade the camera as the 770 is no longer supported and a bit out dated. I would be looking at the F850:

1) 2k video
2) bang up to date with software releases
3) the power management is vastly superior to the 770 so parking mode / standby lasts longer
4) thermal management is 100000000% better then the 770.

790 is an option but for the price difference to the 850 I would not be thinking about it. The 790 also has issues with mounting. It’s a single cable system with a much thicker cable which is not very flexible, so has to be mounted further down the windscreen to avoid damaging it over time.

I ask £275.00 (2 channel front and rear) for an F850 and £100 to hardwire install.

Ghost…. “Shudder”. Get some proper security that does not require a “finger dance” every time you get in the car or a complete vehicle reset if you get a button wrong lol Meta Trak autoblok (tag based system) or an S5 Deadlock (if you want tracking and app control with tags).


View: https://www.instagram.com/p/C-4wv7jI0CM/?igsh=MXY5YjAxcmFnczBpZA==
 
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DJAlix said:
Nothing wrong with the 770 at all to be honest. Solid units and great quality video for a HD camera. If this wa me, to be honest I would take the opportunity to upgrade the camera as the 770 is no longer supported and a bit out dated. I would be looking at the F850:

1) 2k video
2) bang up to date with software releases
3) the power management is vastly superior to the 770 so parking mode / standby lasts longer
4) thermal management is 100000000% better then the 770.

790 is an option but for the price difference to the 850 I would not be thinking about it. The 790 also has issues with mounting. It’s a single cable system with a much thicker cable which is not very flexible, so has to be mounted further down the windscreen to avoid damaging it over time.

I ask £275.00 (2 channel front and rear) for an F850 and £100 to hardwire install.

Ghost…. “Shudder”. Get some proper security that does not require a “finger dance” every time you get in the car or a complete vehicle reset if you get a button wrong lol Meta Trak autoblok (tag based system) or an S5 Deadlock (if you want tracking and app control with tags).


View: https://www.instagram.com/p/C-4wv7jI0CM/?igsh=MXY5YjAxcmFnczBpZA==
Click to expand...

Thanks; great information.
 
DJAlix said:
Don’t bother with the Thinkware U3000. I have one, great camera but the F850 the one to go for unless you want 4k.
Click to expand...

I can't seem to find any info at all about an "F850" model - do you have a link?
 
I have installed dash cam on b8.5 and b9 A4 Avant front and rear. Also on a fiat500e and brothers panamera. It's pretty easy to do. Should take no more than a couple of hours. Had no issues with piggy back fuses. Get your self a decent set of pry tools, some piggy back fuses and a multimeter, fabric tape, heat shrink solder tubes for a pro look some cable tiles, watch some YouTube videos and you will be fine. Audi are so so much better build and resilient than the fiat in terms of prying trim and removing panels and working on fiat, breath on the fiat trim and it will break, Audi is far more superior. All my cameras have been thinkware I particularly like their speed camera audio notifications. They do lack on their ability to support hdri that has a noticeable reduction on quality compared to some that do support this feature. But do look on dashcamtalk website for make an informed decision, it all depends what your priorities and budget are.
 
correct, apologies its the Q850. The F850 was my old favourite which they unfortunately don't make anymore.

A recent install of the Q850 is attached
 

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Nice shots, @DJAlix. I'm going to contact my local firm, BassMechanix of Cramlington, to discuss options for an S5 Tracker with a duration of ownership subscription and an Q850 front/rear dashcam install. They are also authorised Ghost installers, so I will arrange for them to remove the existing Ghost from my current SQ5 before it goes.

It's a little bit early (the new car is being built this week and is scheduled for arrival at the dealer in late October) but the more I can get provisinally arranged early, the better. Also, I don't know how busy they are at BassMerchanix.
 
Great installs there. I also have u3000 and f800 both serve me well.

Sent from my 24030PN60G using Tapatalk
 
Many thanks to Alex for the Q850 install in my A4 yesterday. Very quick and professional job, exceeded my expectations tbh.

With regards to the camera itself, one thing I have noticed is that, in the current weather, the motion detection parking mode appears to be basically useless as the rain triggers it.
I checked it this morning, after a night of constant rain and it had basically been storing video constantly all night, which will obviously fill the card in no time.

I tried setting the motion detection to the "lowest" setting to no avail, it still did it. As a result I've switched to the time-lapse mode (2fps) as this should prove sufficient and obviously creates far smaller files. It was active driving that I wanted it for mainly anyway, the parking mode was a side-benefit really.
 
Many thanks for the kind words. Was great meeting you :)

Unfortunately rain “sets off” all dash cameras with motion. Oldest video will be recorded over so technically the card never fills up. As long as you have a large sd card then there should be no issues with capturing any events, battery charge dependent however.
 
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I'm more than happy with the time-lapse option tbh. 2fps is more than adequate to catch any activity while parked and, even recording constantly, it consumes hardly any space.
 
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I had the same issue last year and ended up filming the suspension movement to spot what was really going on. Used a setup from https://store.insta360.com/motorcycling and mounted the cam under the car to catch the noise at the source. Turned out it was a worn bush, not the shock itself. Super useful if you’re struggling to pin it down.
 
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