Cheap Dash cam

[pol2825]

Hi all,

I have spent a while looking over the many posts around dash cams but have yet to find one that's a reasonable cost but does the job. I'm just looking for a cam that records while I drive, not bothered too much about when it's parked overnight although that would be a nice to have. I'm not paying hundreds of pounds, the budget is around 50 bucks. Anyone have any reasonable suggestions?

Thanks,

P.

[rpsmith79]

I've got one of these

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ambarella-A2S ... SwHQ9WZWlh" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I did a fair bit of research before i bought it, and it was recommended by a guy who used to blog reviews about all sorts of cheap eBay dashcams, and at the time this was his top choice

It's really nice and compact too, has a tilt mechanism to get the right angle, and built in screen to review any video/images at the side of the road if needed

Oh, and it's pretty cheap too

It sits nicely behind the rear view mirror too and doesn't stand out too much from the outside either

Scirocco Interior by Richard Smith, on Flickr

[pol2825]

Is there a long power cable to hide away and make it discreet?

[rpsmith79]

Yes, can't remember the length, but there was plenty for me to wire it into the fuse panel on the drivers side of the dash, but there should be more than enough to reach to the cig lighter as well

[pol2825]

Thanks for replying. Do u cut the wires and connect them piggy back in a fuse at the driver side panel? I read u can buy adaptors allowing another connection.

[rpsmith79]

Thanks for replying. Do u cut the wires and connect them piggy back in a fuse at the driver side panel? I read u can buy adaptors allowing another connection.

You can buy proper USB power supplies that are designed to be wired into the fuse box, but i am a cheap skate, and like to DIY, so i adapted the supplied cig lighter plug with a couple of additional wires that i have piggy backed onto the rear wiper in the fuse box

[Paddy_R]

I've got one of these

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ambarella-A2S ... SwHQ9WZWlh" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I did a fair bit of research before i bought it, and it was recommended by a guy who used to blog reviews about all sorts of cheap eBay dashcams, and at the time this was his top choice

It's really nice and compact too, has a tilt mechanism to get the right angle, and built in screen to review any video/images at the side of the road if needed

Oh, and it's pretty cheap too

It sits nicely behind the rear view mirror too and doesn't stand out too much from the outside either

I have the new version of that one. It's called the mini 0806. Higher spec camera, gps and better cooling were the main upgrades. The lead is easily hidden, as is the camera to be fair, and more than long enough to reach the 12v socket. The newer version is about £25 more though but worth it.

I've mine installed so you can't see any wires or the camera at all from the drivers seat.

I'll try to take a pic later.

Link:

" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[rpsmith79]

I've got one of these

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ambarella-A2S ... SwHQ9WZWlh" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I did a fair bit of research before i bought it, and it was recommended by a guy who used to blog reviews about all sorts of cheap eBay dashcams, and at the time this was his top choice

It's really nice and compact too, has a tilt mechanism to get the right angle, and built in screen to review any video/images at the side of the road if needed

Oh, and it's pretty cheap too

It sits nicely behind the rear view mirror too and doesn't stand out too much from the outside either

I have the new version of that one. It's called the mini 0806. Higher spec camera, gps and better cooling were the main upgrades. The lead is easily hidden, as is the camera to be fair, and more than long enough to reach the 12v socket. The newer version is about £25 more though but worth it.

I've mine installed so you can't see any wires or the camera at all from the drivers seat.

I'll try to take a pic later.

Link:

" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Looks nice that one, i wasn't so sure about getting one with GPS as it might be able to be used to calculate speed, and i'd rather not have that in case it showed i was speeding, even it the accident was caused by someone else, i'd rather just have a plain camera myself, unless the GPS part can be turned off

[Paddy_R]

Yeah, you can choose to have it on or not. It's one of the many options in the menu.

[rpsmith79]

Yeah, you can choose to have it on or not. It's one of the many options in the menu.

Cheers, good to know if ever i decide to upgrade

[Paddy_R]

And the pictures as promised:

View from I side the car:



View from drivers seat:



And just to prove that there is actually a camera there:

[rpsmith79]

That is a slick install that Paddy

[Paddy_R]

Thanks. Took all of 10 mins using trim removal tools to maneuver trim panels a few mm (to push the wire in behind).