[drive.helios]

Originally Posted by trakesht

Do you mind sharing the installation costs ? Happy to discuss over DM if you don't want to post publicly

.

Lets catchup over the DM.

[skrishdrives]

Hey Guys,

If I get the Viofo A229 Pro from the US, wont there be any issues along with it in terms of compatibility etc? I drive a 2015 Creta Sx+

Link to Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/VIOFO-A229-Pr...1zcF9hdGY&th=1

Also, is the 3CH really worth it? I mean other than having internal video is there really any other advantage to it, sorry if its a noob question, but maybe I am not looking at the larger picture, pun unintended!

Are there any other recommended model(s) or item(s) to get from the US, i have my parents returning next month so might as well cash in as much as possible

Was also considering getting a TPMS, any recommendations? Kindly suggest this newbie

[bravo6]

Originally Posted by skrishdrives

Hey Guys,

If I get the Viofo A229 Pro from the US, wont there be any issues along with it in terms of compatibility etc? I drive a 2015 Creta Sx+

You can power the dashcam either via USB, or use a hardwire kit to connect it to 12V or 24V battery system. Essentially it has universal compatibility.

Also, is the 3CH really worth it? I mean other than having internal video is there really any other advantage to it

The internal camera is for the driver's protection, for example if they are operating a taxi and a passenger attacks them.

Unless you have folk visiting the US every so often, you might want to consider buying locally to get warranty.

[sraghavan]

Almost everyone talks very highly of the Starvis 2 sensors and 4K recording. But after going through several posts, I understand 4K recording generates gargantuan file sizes, and videos are recorded in 30fps. So a few have mentioned of downgrading their settings to HD quality for manageable file size and 60fps recording. So my question - is it counter-productive to get high-end dashcams supporting 4k recording?

[skrishdrives]

Originally Posted by sraghavan

So a few have mentioned of downgrading their settings to HD quality for manageable file size and 60fps recording. So my question - is it counter-productive to get high-end dashcams supporting 4k recording?

Very good point indeed!

Is it worth it to go ahead for the high end option or just settle for the lower end since we are anyway adjusting the settings for what might probably be the same quality of output at the end of the day or am I wrong in assuming that?

[jomyboy]

Originally Posted by sraghavan

So my question - is it counter-productive to get high-end dashcams supporting 4k recording?

I got the VIOFO A229 Plus and have installed a 258 GB card and that suits me fine. Switching off the mic also helps save some space. If I had gone for the Pro version, I would not have settled for any less than 512 GB.

[250Nm]

Viofo has dropped firmware updates for the A229 Pro and Plus variants.

https://viofo.com/blog/firmware-upda...-plus-version-
v13-beta-b119.html

Highlights:

1. Bluetooth button support - New accessory to replace the wired remote button.
2. Rear camera to have its own HDR setting.
3. Interior camera setting
4. New 21:9 resolution
5. Parking HDR - Turn ON/OFF HDF in parking mode.
6. Parking GPS - Turn ON/OFF GPS in parking mode.
7. Time Format - 12/24 hour format
8. Daylight Savings - Used in several countries located far north from equator. Not applicable for us in India.
9. File names to include sequential numbering
10. File quantity limit increased from 5000 to 15000

I went ahead and updated my 229 Plus last night:

[sraghavan]

Originally Posted by 250Nm

Viofo has dropped firmware updates for the A229 Pro and Plus variants

By dropped, you mean released. I thought they have stopped firmware updates

[sraghavan]

Originally Posted by 250Nm

I went ahead and updated my 229 Plus last night

@250Nm - can you please share your experience with the A229 Plus? Thanks in advance.

[bravo6]

Originally Posted by sraghavan

So a few have mentioned of downgrading their settings to HD quality for manageable file size and 60fps recording. So my question - is it counter-productive to get high-end dashcams supporting 4k recording?

Originally Posted by skrishdrives

Is it worth it to go ahead for the high end option or just settle for the lower end since we are anyway adjusting the settings for what might probably be the same quality of output at the end of the day or am I wrong in assuming that?

Lower resolution output = camera is throwing away data that was captured. Why do you want to pay extra for something that you won't use? Just get the cheaper A129 Mini V2 which also has Starvis 2 sensor and can do 1440p60.

Originally Posted by sraghavan

I understand 4K recording generates gargantuan file sizes..

Originally Posted by jomyboy

If I had gone for the Pro version, I would not have settled for any less than 512 GB.

File size is irrelevant since you are not going to archive the full 256GB card to PC/cloud. If there is an incident, you will only need a few seconds or a minute at max. You'll never copy the full trip to watch on your PC basically.

256GB can store about 10 hours worth of 4k + 1080p dual channel recording. Are you really going to watch that much footage? The only reasons you want a bigger uSD card is to have greater write endurance and to prevent overwriting of files that you forgot to manually lock.

If you enable File Chaptering, the dashcam creates a new file every x minutes.
For e.g. I have mine set to 1 minute, so each 4k file is never more than ~450MB. So I just need to transfer 1-3 videos (450 * 3 = 1.35GB) to show what happened before, during and after an incident.

[Sebring]

File size doesn't matter as the rewrite is on. You need the highest resolution to catch the number and for nighttime clarity. The card takes it for years without issue, dont worry. Choose your poison

Originally Posted by sraghavan

Almost everyone talks very highly of the Starvis 2 sensors and 4K recording. But after going through several posts, I understand 4K recording generates gargantuan file sizes, and videos are recorded in 30fps. So a few have mentioned of downgrading their settings to HD quality for manageable file size and 60fps recording. So my question - is it counter-productive to get high-end dashcams supporting 4k recording?

[250Nm]

Originally Posted by sraghavan

By dropped, you mean released. I thought they have stopped firmware updates

Sorry about that, I should have been more clear.

Originally Posted by sraghavan

@250Nm - can you please share your experience with the A229 Plus? Thanks in advance.

Hope this quick summary helps. Mine is a front + rear variant without interior camera. Please feel free to ask if you have more questions.

+ Both front & rear units have Sony STARVIS 2 sensors (IMX675 5MP) resulting in good quality video recordings.
+ HDR support for front & rear (can turn it ON/OFF based on a time schedule)
+ Type-C ports for power & rear unit.
+ Rear unit rotates 360 degrees and can record either interior or rear view.
+ Voice commands works most of the time and the unit also responds with voice alerts for the actions performed. No need to bend down to look at the lights/display.
+ For faster transfer speeds, one can directly connect a type-C to type-C cable to smart phone. However, my Motorola tries to detect this cam as an analog audio source and throws some driver error

- Unit is quite bulky and is the biggest of all the Viofo's I had owned (A118, A119, A129 Plus).
- Due to heavy weight & bigger size, it is no more a stealth cam that hides behind the IRVM.
- The static sheet won't stick to dotted pattern (again, due to camera's weight) and has to be mounted below it.
- Despite boasting 5GHz wifi support, file transfer experience with the Viofo app is still not seamless. One has to stare at the progress window and cannot let it run in the background. I end up removing the memory card to review the footages most of the time.

The package


Taller, stronger, sharper compared to A129 Plus


Static sheet won't stick to dotted area (A129 Plus was fine there)


No more a stealth cam


Rear unit can rotate fully to record cabin view


Curved defogger intrudes into the lens' line of sight

Front - Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Jsgmg3S1LE

Front - Night:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqjkxvFmL80

Rear - Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lf0XLg5Seac

Rear - Night:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yko-njnwUUE

[sraghavan]

Finally took the plunge. Got myself a Viofo A229Pro 3CH with all accessories and would like it to be installed on my Hyundai Alcazar with hardwiring. Would greatly appreciate any reliable contact who can do the job in Bangalore, preferably central or south bangalore - Magadi Road, Rajajinagar, Basaveshwaranagar, Gandhinagar, Basavangudi, Jayanagar upto JP Nagar. It would be great if you have had prior experience with the guy. Thanks in advance.

[sraghavan]

TBH, am a DIY kind of guy, and will probly may have a go at it myself. It's the hardwiring part that I am a bit cagey about. If anyone knows a detailed tutorial about installing the dashcam including the hardwiring part, please point me to it. Thanks.

[hrishi_dypim]

Originally Posted by drive.helios

Congratulations to you too! Vijay recommended that the extreme version of sd card should suffice, and may not need the extreme pro. I'm willing to wait it out and see if any issues arise and then consider an upgrade.

I agree that the file sizes are quite huge and the video quality from the drives I did with in the apartment premises seem really good.

How is your extreme sd card running , did you get any issue? I am planning to buy 512 gb for A229 Pro 3CH.