I purchased the hardwiring kit so I can use the parking features and fortunately there is a live and switched live feed in the roof console due to the California control unit being up there.
So the front facing unit was a doddle, however I haven't yet worked out how to correctly remove the trim over the sliding door to run the cable for the rear as yet.
Setup is easy as you just press the wifi button on the unit and it starts up a hotspot, join it with your phone and open the. mobile app to change its settings.
So the front facing unit was a doddle, however I haven't yet worked out how to correctly remove the trim over the sliding door to run the cable for the rear as yet.
Setup is easy as you just press the wifi button on the unit and it starts up a hotspot, join it with your phone and open the. mobile app to change its settings.
It was £95 from Halfords + £6 for a 16gb memory card from Argos. Took about 10 minutes to route power cable under headlining, down door seal on A-pillar, under dash und up beside glove box into 12v outlet. Not hard wired as such, but will do for now to allow me to use it straight away.
I've had a Nexbase in my Defender for a couple of years - never needed but reassuring that its always there. I now have a Nexbase 512G in the T6 but its a bit of a pain having to remember to plug in and unplug all the while because the 12v sockets are permanently on. I've got the van going in for a solar panel next week and am going to get them to hardwire it into an ignition switched circuit for me.
I have a HP one in both the van and in the works car. It comes with a computer program that you can download the footage too that sets up in split screen with the captured images on one side of the screen and then on the other the GPS track, g-meter, background noise etc. Bought one for the van after seeing how good the footage was on a night time response run in the pitch black. Can be set to record sound as well which is an option (have to have it on in the car as it is the only way to prove the sirens are on). Ultimately the clarity is excellent. It's not the cheapest unit on the market at just under the £100 pound mark, but I do believe that you get what you pay for.
Can't say I have seen one that does front and rear footage and holds it all on one hard drive. Perhaps somewhere like Maplin's may be worth a look.
Can't say I have seen one that does front and rear footage and holds it all on one hard drive. Perhaps somewhere like Maplin's may be worth a look.
Just got a Nextbase 402 for Christmas, not had a chance to try it yet but it gets some really good reviews 
I have a thinkware F750 very similar to @Loz the 770 wasnt out when i bought mine
When purchasing i narrowed it down to Thinkware, Lukas & Blackvue but based on picture quality opted for the thinkware, its worth noting it was a while ago and new models are out since i purchased mine
The picture quality is very good has option for sound on/off and wiring can be concealed easily enough.
The main brain is in the front and houses the memory card and all controls and there is software options for viewing on a pc that will show front/rear camera adjacent to a google type map that plots the route as the video plays and holds full gps info/speed.
All in all very happy with the purchase but its worth noting the thinkware units are slightly selective over the memory cards that they accept, i bought the cheaper unit with the smaller memory card and then upgraded it to a much larger one so it holds recordings for 2 weeks ish but not all cards will work but a quick google on their forums will let you know what will and wont work, if you do go down this road let us know and i can let you know the one i bought that didnt work and the one that did
When purchasing i narrowed it down to Thinkware, Lukas & Blackvue but based on picture quality opted for the thinkware, its worth noting it was a while ago and new models are out since i purchased mine
The picture quality is very good has option for sound on/off and wiring can be concealed easily enough.
The main brain is in the front and houses the memory card and all controls and there is software options for viewing on a pc that will show front/rear camera adjacent to a google type map that plots the route as the video plays and holds full gps info/speed.
All in all very happy with the purchase but its worth noting the thinkware units are slightly selective over the memory cards that they accept, i bought the cheaper unit with the smaller memory card and then upgraded it to a much larger one so it holds recordings for 2 weeks ish but not all cards will work but a quick google on their forums will let you know what will and wont work, if you do go down this road let us know and i can let you know the one i bought that didnt work and the one that did
There are plenty of good ones but avoid the cheapos, they will just frustrate you and if they don't work when you most need it what's the point?
I've got a nextbase dash cam but obviously that's no good for the rear. I will take your advice. Today is payday and I'll be silly not to get one. In the mean time I may just wrap my van with tons of bubble wrap...urghhhh!!!!
Well, with regards to VW. I'll keep you all posted with what happens. Maybe I should take a VW technician out with me as a passenger and then show them that way.
@Jonny , I never had a dash cam before.. Did a lot of research, and doubted myself a lot.. Put it in on front (f770 32gb twin cam kit), as was a bit of a ball ache due to health, but first day had evidence of road rage.. Including audio, reviews my actions and found my driving was fine.. Others agreed.. Then vowed to do the rear cam...
More ball ache, but ran cables fine, went over top of roof lining in front, along side roof to rear, through rubber conduit to hatch, down hatch and out at wiper motor.. Sticks on glass between the heater elements and has its own mic.., all I can say is bloody brilliant system with superb quality! I have the app on a spare clean iPhone 4, and can download &a review stuff on that. Cam has speed cam data base as well and warns you! Very handy, also tells you verbally, and verbally of parking incidents, just be aware, you will want a second card, and also a bigger card, but that might be me, get the 32gb kit to start with, and download app to set parking mode, as not set out of box
Net result (how I feel).. Best kit for the car, next base, thought about but glad I wenT Thinkware!
More ball ache, but ran cables fine, went over top of roof lining in front, along side roof to rear, through rubber conduit to hatch, down hatch and out at wiper motor.. Sticks on glass between the heater elements and has its own mic.., all I can say is bloody brilliant system with superb quality! I have the app on a spare clean iPhone 4, and can download &a review stuff on that. Cam has speed cam data base as well and warns you! Very handy, also tells you verbally, and verbally of parking incidents, just be aware, you will want a second card, and also a bigger card, but that might be me, get the 32gb kit to start with, and download app to set parking mode, as not set out of box
Net result (how I feel).. Best kit for the car, next base, thought about but glad I wenT Thinkware!
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@T6 Dave cheers for this matey! As soon as I'm home from work, I'll be straight on it. Yeah, it's the wires that are the pain in the bum. It's bad enough trying to hide the wires I have for the front dash cam. I'd ideally want to run a USB from the fuse board so I don't have to keep unplugging everything as the 12V and USB don't switch off with the ignition.
@Jonny , Ok, I ran the ign and bat live fuses from piggy back connectors in fuse box next to gear shift.. I ran a twin core automotive cable Across the pass side, up the A post having removed the pillar trim, across to interior light area, and that's where I bundled the orig wires with their fuses as are accessible.. You only have to drop the blank panel down to get to them..
I dropped the interior light out as well to run the two black cam wires out to the dash cam using a pull wire, by pulling the head lining down a bit at the screen.., my dash cam is mounted to the right of the rear view stem.. Don't mount it right up to it, otherwise the mount obscures the lens view to pass side.. Download the app and use live view to set up the view before sticking it up, and bear in mind you want to be able to pop the SD card.. Lens can be angled down to suit, and goes just below the blacked out area around mirror. Will post a pic up later.. Is really nice this side, as can get access to controls very easily when needed. you can turn the tell tale led on or off via the app, I've got it off..
Rear USB, feed through the roof having removed rubber conduit from roof and hatch, then feed a single feed wire through conduit and attach to USB wire with small cable tie, then wrap well with elec tape to smooth joint.. Feed through conduit by working small sections of rubber over the cable to USB join..and pulling every so often, take your time it's not too bad..
Next feed the USB cable on its own down hatch, having gained access to bottom of hatch area, and have patience, it will go, but is a pain.. Then run over to motor area and mount lens above spindle (mount is offset), making sure mount foot goes between the element wires.. Oh and before you mount, use the app to check view with hatch closed and sitting inside, also think about putting a small bit of black tape over led as you can't turn it off, and at night it reflects back in parking mode off of the hatch glass..
Use the app to change the password for wireless on the thinkware, delete your remembered wifi from phone and set phone side up again with new wifi password, and remember it on phone.. Next time it will connect straight away with no probs, you can also change its wifi name, but isn't an issue, as you turn it on or off on the dash cam unit as needed..
Overall it is a VERY rewarding job when done, and you won't use another brand afterwards m8
I dropped the interior light out as well to run the two black cam wires out to the dash cam using a pull wire, by pulling the head lining down a bit at the screen.., my dash cam is mounted to the right of the rear view stem.. Don't mount it right up to it, otherwise the mount obscures the lens view to pass side.. Download the app and use live view to set up the view before sticking it up, and bear in mind you want to be able to pop the SD card.. Lens can be angled down to suit, and goes just below the blacked out area around mirror. Will post a pic up later.. Is really nice this side, as can get access to controls very easily when needed. you can turn the tell tale led on or off via the app, I've got it off..
Rear USB, feed through the roof having removed rubber conduit from roof and hatch, then feed a single feed wire through conduit and attach to USB wire with small cable tie, then wrap well with elec tape to smooth joint.. Feed through conduit by working small sections of rubber over the cable to USB join..and pulling every so often, take your time it's not too bad..
Next feed the USB cable on its own down hatch, having gained access to bottom of hatch area, and have patience, it will go, but is a pain.. Then run over to motor area and mount lens above spindle (mount is offset), making sure mount foot goes between the element wires.. Oh and before you mount, use the app to check view with hatch closed and sitting inside, also think about putting a small bit of black tape over led as you can't turn it off, and at night it reflects back in parking mode off of the hatch glass..
Use the app to change the password for wireless on the thinkware, delete your remembered wifi from phone and set phone side up again with new wifi password, and remember it on phone.. Next time it will connect straight away with no probs, you can also change its wifi name, but isn't an issue, as you turn it on or off on the dash cam unit as needed..
Overall it is a VERY rewarding job when done, and you won't use another brand afterwards m8
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Neat and tidy! I like the idea of having the app on another phone too. Was checking these cams out last night, they do seem awesome. Not purchased yet though. I'll try and sell the one I have to go towards the payment of the f770. Cheers for the instructions too, I'll be needing them for sure! Did you buy the hard wired version then?
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@Jonny , yeah hardwired kit.. Not worth paying for fitting, as is reasonably straight forward.. Pm me when you get it m8, and I'll see if I can describe the front to rear cable route..
I'd get it, then sell your current one, as it would have paid for itself already m8.. I used Rates fords, they are an agent and can get it in for you.. VERY helpful and pleasant def use them again, and recommend m8!
I'd get it, then sell your current one, as it would have paid for itself already m8.. I used Rates fords, they are an agent and can get it in for you.. VERY helpful and pleasant def use them again, and recommend m8!
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