thinking of something like this: https://www.instructables.com/DIY-Smart-Car-System/

thinking of something like this: https://www.instructables.com/DIY-Smart-Car-System/

$50?  What are you waiting for?

What could possibly go wrong?

 

$50?  What are you waiting for?

What could possibly go wrong?

 

prices.

What's that saying, "Buy quality, cry once,  buy cheap cry.....?"

$50?  What are you waiting for?

What could possibly go wrong?

 

Looks like a Rube Goldberg to me….

I already have a couple Rasp Pis 3s. With Pis are the GPIO pins which can be integrated into car alarms. It just needs a cellular connection to pass info to a user.

I already have a couple Rasp Pis 3s. With Pis are the GPIO pins which can be integrated into car alarms. It just needs a cellular connection to pass info to a user.

If you can find a strong enough WiFi signal nearby, you can connect when you park and have an internet connection for remote camera monitoring and alarm notifications.

I was able to connect to Tony Car Sales' customer WiFi from the Costco parking lot in Waipio.  Once that's established, there's no need for a cellular connection for most apps.

Another review of the VIOFO A139 Pro with really good details.

One takeaway is that the STARVIS 2 is going to become the most used imager for dash and CCTV cameras in the coming years.

Another is how so many fake 4K dash cams are being advertised.

Given the features, technology and price point, I think this is the best quality camera I'd consider buying.  You can get 3 channel cameras for half as much, but the image quality and features such as parking mode not as good. 

To be honest, most people involved in a fender bender will not need license plate image quality in their dash cam videos.  Aside from a hit & run, you're going to be stopping and exchanging information, and you can record the license on your cell along with any damage.  But you never know when something will happen that involves the Cops, and having the license number would go a long way toward identifying the other driver.

also around 9 months old...

How about using the camera built into our smart phone?  S21 Ultra has a 4k front facing camera . . .

How about using the camera built into our smart phone?  S21 Ultra has a 4k front facing camera . . .

As a dash cam?

S21 Ultra Camera Specs:

MAIN CAMERA   Quad   
108 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.33", 0.8µm, PDAF, Laser AF, OIS
10 MP, f/4.9, 240mm (periscope telephoto), 1/3.24", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS, 10x optical zoom
10 MP, f/2.4, 72mm (telephoto), 1/3.24", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom
12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, Super Steady video
Features   LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama
Video   
- 8K@24fps,
- 4K@30/60fps,
- 1080p@30/60/240fps,
- 720p@960fps,
- HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS

SELFIE CAMERA   Single   
40 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.7µm, PDAF
Features   Dual video call, Auto-HDR
Video   4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps

https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s21_ultra_5g-10596.php

VIOFO A139 PRO Camera Specs

Image Sensor: Front: Sony STARVIS 2 Sensor 8MP 1/1.8 IMX678
Resolutions:  2160P(4K)
Video Resolution:  4K 3840*2160P 30fps
F1.6 Aperture 7 Elements Glass Lens
140° Wide Viewing Angle

i'm not a professional photographer, but I do know a little.  Based on the capabilities of the imaging hardware, the S21 Ultra is comparable to the VIOFO A139 Pro hardware.

Both are capable of 4K at 30 fps.  The VIOFO can also do 4K@24fps to allow for 3 channels, but the S21 can do 8K at 24 fps as well as 4K@60fps.  The phone has better specs in these areas, but given the cost of the phone is about 4 times that of the front A139 Pro camera, it follows that the specs might be better.

What i also notice is the Aperture of the VIOFO is F1.6, while the wide angle lens of the S21 is F1.8.  Doesn't seem like a big difference, but when recording in very low light, you want the lowest F-Stop spec you can afford (i.e. largest aperture opening).  In addition, the higher the F-Stop, the longer the exposure needs to be, so the 60 fps might introduce more image blur than the F1.6 lens at the same fps.

I think if you can obtain an app for the S21 that can do the same things as the dash cam (turn on when the car starts & off when it stops), loop the video files so you are overwriting the oldest ones as new video is captured, and protecting specific video clips when an event happens (manually or based on sudden braking, impact, etc.), then the phone would be a viable dash cam.  One problem is leaving it to record when you might also need to see the screen for GPS/map directions.

The first time I was interested in a dash cam, I toyed with my GoPro 3+ Hero camera.  Besides the battery always needing to be charged, having to start and stop recording, making sure it was properly positioned and no parking mode made it okay but not great.  The image quality was very good, and since GoPros have a wide angle lens, the view of the road was comparable to a dash cam.

Most of the better/best dash cameras list all of their features.  Maybe walk through the list for a dash cam you might like and see if the S21 can do the same or similar functions/features.  If not, you need to decide if those are necessary or not regarding your specific needs.

On a similar note, many police interactions are recorded on cell phones because they capture decent sound, can be directed toward the police as they move about, and doesn't shut off when you turn the ignition off.

i just wish everyone who took cell videos to post to YT could remember to hold it the right way -- landscape mode (sideways).      

Another "plus" I remembered over a cell phone is a dash cam with GPS will record the location and speed of your car.  So, if you review the footage and see that a traffic ticket is bogus, you have the evidence to fight it. Cell phones do collect meta data if you enable it in the camera settings, but nothing like speed -- only location.

Mahalos for the detailed analysis FJ!!

Sent from my SM-S908U using Tapatalk

Mahalos for the detailed analysis FJ!!

No problem.

Some tools are versatile.
 
You can use an adjustable wrench as a hammer. 

Just don't expect full hammer functionality.

 

The Thinkware U3000 with the STARVIS 2 sensor is out now.

It uses RADAR to capture pre-damage and post-damage video in parking mode with reduced power consumption.  Motion detection in other cameras requires the cameras be on.  For the U3000, the cameras are off until the radar detects motion.

MSRP during the current promo is $550 for the front alone, and $700 for front & rear.  Add an external battery, and the front/rear bundle is $1000.

I think the A139 Pro is still my top pick.  The 2 channel kit on Amazon is $330 which includes front & rear cameras, the hardwire kit, and the bluetooth remote button.
https://www.amazon.com/%E3%80%90Bundle-A139PRO-Hardwire-Bluetooth-Remote%E3%80%91/dp/B0C3M5R9CZ

The same bundle with 3 channels (Front/Rear/Interior) with hardwire kit and BT button is $390.
https://www.amazon.com/%E3%80%90Bundle-A139PRO-Hardwire-Bluetooth-Interior/dp/B0C5CT8NKD


The BT button is about $20, and the HW kit is $18.  I don't see any discounts for bundling with those, so you could buy the number of cameras you want and add the HW kit and/or BT button separately if you can find the camera cheaper.  Looks like VIOFO is having a promo now.

It looks like 2 channel is the max for the U3000 on its own.  You can make it 3-5 channels with a separate multiplexer unit.

I watched a few more reviews on the VIOFO A139 Pro, and finally found out why the front camera only does 4K @ 24fps when in 3 channel mode. Heat.

The unit might run too hot with the power and images traversing the coaxial cables through the main unit.  Some reviewers commented that the unit runs warm, which might be an issue if leaving the camera in parking mode while sitting in the hot Hawaii Sun.

Hopefully more testers it will be able to gather some data on that.  If VIOFO can get that problem solved, then the camera could go to 4K @ 30fps with 3 channels.

Saw this other review a few days ago.  He likes the Vantrue N4 Pro also, but it was a very close finish between that and the Viofo A139 Pro.