Automobile Dash Cam - Who Uses One?

Terry Soloman · Jul 28, 2016

After being forced out of my lane by a trucker who I'm guessing decided I would either move or die, I decided to get a Dash Cam Rexing Dash Cam ? Dash Cam Expert I've been using it for several weeks now, and I have already caught several close calls on tape (people running red lights, stop signs, making left turns out of the right lane). I'll never drive without one again.

Anybody else using one? :skullflag:

DeepseekerADS · Jul 28, 2016

I don't have one yet Terry, but I've been thinking about getting one. This day and age we need one for legal self protection!

kingskid1611 · Jul 28, 2016

I too have put some thought into getting one but haven't pulled the trigger yet.

Terry Soloman · Jul 28, 2016

My gal got ours on Amazon. It was about $100.00 however we had to also buy the 32gb sd memory card to put in the camera ($27.95). It has a "looping" function, so that it can just "loop" back every 10-minutes if nothing happens. It also has an auto save tied to an internal g-force monitor in case something hits you, or you have to brake hard. Super clear HD quality on my computer as well. I really feel a lot more secure with it in the car.

fuzzytexan · Jul 28, 2016

I've had one for 12 months, nothing crazy yet.

Beamed from my AT Pro [emoji769]

ARC · Jul 28, 2016

I already see how stupid most people drive the first time...

I don't want to see them do it again. :P

BigWaveDave · Jul 28, 2016

My company truck has had a Drive Cam in it, had it for about 8 years or so...
It is always on, but not recording.....BUT, there is a mercury switch inside, and if an event triggers that switch...
It freezes, saves the previous 10 seconds, through the last 5 seconds.
Benefits: Makes us better drivers...
Big insurance breaks for my company
Saves our a$$ when one of you non CDL drivers does something stupid.
Not really any drawbacks to the drive cam, unless you want to get written up, suspended, or fired, for violating company safe driving rules. I have zero incidents this year,(knock on wood)...wanna keep it that way.
Smoking, no seatbelt, cell phones, food/drink, any distracted driving, all grounds for "coaching".... The company's catch phrase for last chance.
My company doesn't fool around with guys who don't take it serious....after 16 years, still going strong

DeepseekerADS · Jul 28, 2016

Terry Soloman said:
My gal got ours on Amazon.

Terry, was that the one in the link you posted?

Terry Soloman · Jul 28, 2016

DeepseekerADS said:
Terry, was that the one in the link you posted?

Yes.

Terry Soloman · Jul 28, 2016

AARC said:
I already see how stupid most people drive the first time...

I don't want to see them do it again. :P

That isn't what they are for AARC. It's so the JURY can see the stupid person crashing into you. 8-)

DeepseekerADS · Jul 28, 2016

Terry Soloman said:
That isn't what they are for AARC. It's so the JURY can see the stupid person crashing into you.

Thanks for the confirmation Terry.

I see a lot of traffic accident videos from Russia on Youtube. I'm kinda thinking they're really getting to the point of being essential for us here in the future.

kcm · Jul 29, 2016

We've been using a dash cam for a couple years now. Started with an E-Prance, but there were too many problems. Now have a Matego Blazer MG600E. Had quite a time trying to figure out how to mount the camera on the rear view without covering up the light sensor for the mirror, yet while being able to take it out of the vehicle when needed. Is not good to have these dash cams sitting in a very hot vehicle day after day. Most won't last more than a year or two when exposed to such heat. They may still work, but if you pay close attention to the recordings, you'll often find where the "loop" isn't working correctly. Meaning, it's "supposed" to record over the oldest files first. However, on the E-Prance cameras, they were being written over at random - sometimes files as new as 5 minutes would vanish into thin air. Made the cameras completely unreliable!

E-Prance finally had to stop selling that model, and have all but gotten out of dashcam sales. Is too bad too, cause the picture quality was absolutely top of the line!!

The Matego is good, but I sure do wish the E-Prance cameras would have been better engineered!

On our many miles of backroads, it's normal for us to see deer, bear, various birds, etc. Having a camera with such fantastic picture quality makes for much more use than just security purposes.

Terry Soloman · Jul 29, 2016

kcm said:
We've been using a dash cam for a couple years now. Started with an E-Prance, but there were too many problems. Now have a Matego Blazer MG600E. Had quite a time trying to figure out how to mount the camera on the rear view without covering up the light sensor for the mirror, yet while being able to take it out of the vehicle when needed. Is not good to have these dash cams sitting in a very hot vehicle day after day. Most won't last more than a year or two when exposed to such heat. They may still work, but if you pay close attention to the recordings, you'll often find where the "loop" isn't working correctly. Meaning, it's "supposed" to record over the oldest files first. However, on the E-Prance cameras, they were being written over at random - sometimes files as new as 5 minutes would vanish into thin air. Made the cameras completely unreliable!

E-Prance finally had to stop selling that model, and have all but gotten out of dashcam sales. Is too bad too, cause the picture quality was absolutely top of the line!!

The Matego is good, but I sure do wish the E-Prance cameras would have been better engineered!

On our many miles of backroads, it's normal for us to see deer, bear, various birds, etc. Having a camera with such fantastic picture quality makes for much more use than just security purposes.

Heat was one of my main concerns being a transplant from Arizona, where it was common to see old ladies driving their Buick's with oven mitts on in the summer! The camera we ordered detaches from the mount easily, and was tested in high heat The Rexing Dash Cam passes The High Heat Test ? Rexing Dash Cam I usually take it off the dash anyway when I park because Yo! It's New York! Luckily, I have a cool garage. :skullflag:

kcm · Jul 29, 2016

That's the nice thing about the Matego Blazer. The camera can stay mounted on the mirror if you choose, or you can get creative like me and make a slip-on cover out of stiff, clear plastic (clear to let light through for our light sensor). I DO NOT like the rear view mirror in our truck!! Anyway, the rest of the system can sit anywhere you want, as it is ONLY the camera that is exposed. The rest of the system can stay in your glove box if you wish.

The cameras aren't what is so fragile to the heat - it's the electronics. So I got this camera as the electronics and display can simply be unplugged and carried in - or placed in an insulated bag in the car for storage.

Terry Soloman · Jul 29, 2016

Wow, that didn't take long. :censored:

kcm · Jul 29, 2016

Idiots abound! At least you were paying attention and could avoid.

What's with the time stamp Terry? It's upside down.

Nitric · Jul 29, 2016

I don't have one but would like to get one in near future! Especially here! People seem to ignore the double yellow line in this state! They are constantly coming left of center! I think it's because out where we live, in some areas, if you go a foot or two off the road there are some pretty big dropoffs, so they hug the center...It's the only thing I can think of...Or the roads aren't crowned here as much as they are in the North...

kcm · Jul 29, 2016

Some people drive hugging the center line, as the line helps them stay on track as they daydream about other things.

Some people consider that "everything" between the lines is fair game, so it shouldn't matter whether they are on one side or the other, in the middle, or all over the place, provided they stay within those lines.

Then you have the OCD crowd (like me :laughing7:

) that prefers to hug more the outer line, keeping maximum distance between myself and the fools rushing towards me 30-40MPH over the speed limit!

Terry Soloman · Jul 29, 2016

kcm said:
Idiots abound! At least you were paying attention and could avoid.

What's with the time stamp Terry? It's upside down.

New user error! I had the camera mounted upside down :dontknow:

I know, what a dummy! :laughing7:

I flipped the picture on YouTube, and remounted the camera in the car. :occasion14:

kcm · Jul 30, 2016

Good one! It looks like your cam just sits on the dash, rather than being mounted to the windshield or rear view mirror. it may be tempting to continue doing it that way, but keep in mind that if you're in an accident, that camera will become a projectile.Me, I ain't gotta worry. My head is one of the hardest substances known to exist in the world!! :tongue3:

As our rear view has electronics built into it, the non-mirror side of it doesn't go straight across. When I got the camera and tried to figure out how to mount it, the camera wouldn't face forward correctly. Also, I didn't want to mount the thing permanently on the windshield. So I found some strong, clear plastic and made a removable holder - hanger - whatever you wanna call it.