** Updated**
Ok, so I bought this based on the reviews.
I originally gave it 3 stars, but upgraded it to 4 then 5, because of interactions with their service team, whom are very keen on making things right. I upgraded it again to 5 because their solutions and actions were great.
So, now that I have this all installed, I went out in the deep darkness for a test.
I thought that it works pretty good, but let me get into the details.
Cameras:
I found the original rear camera had a rather grainy image in the dark, but useable, I suppose I was expecting it to be a bit more of an eye into darkness than it turned out.
Am I disappointed?; well no not really, maybe some… but I did think it should be a bit better than it is.
Graininess shouldn’t be affected even considering it was installed inside the rear hatch window. The forward image is great and it’s behind a window…
So The next day it was sunny and I went for another drive. So now i find some new issues:
When driving with the sun out, looking at the rear image, there is a lot of problem with reflections. I am guessing it’s because it’s mounted on the inside, oh well, for now that will have to do until I can figure out how to mount it outside in such a place that is useful, I may try adding a small black cardboard sun shade over the lens to see if that helps.
I don’t really want to mount it outside And offset from the hatch handle (the handle is right in the center) for several reasons, first being that I don’t want it staring straight into the guy behind me’s headlights and second I don’t want some punks walking by and seeing it dangling there and decide to damage it, rip it off or diddle with it. So inside it stays for now.
** Update **
Wolfbox customer service got in touch with me after they read my review and offered to ship me a new better model rear camera, it came very fast and now that it’s installed, i can say i like the rear image much better. Much less grainy.
Front camera:
I find the clarity and overall look and brightness are really great.
Software:
So when using the setup, I found a problem that bothers me. If you are dealing with the reflections and want to turn off the screen, and use it like a regular mirror, it stops recording if you are in the brightness mode.
If you put it on “screen off mode”, that issue is avoided, because it turns off the screen and keeps recording after it stays lit for 30sec, so ok… but it would be nicer to have an onscreen button that you could do that with because now if i’m driving at night and want it on, you have to go into settings and monkey around to get it back to being on all the time… grrrr And then of course the screen is really dark in mirror only mode which is very sad. The manuals descriptions of the modes is poor.
** Update **
Tech support said that “quick” touching the power button will also turn it off but allow for continuous recording in mirror only mode. Ok, that helps!
I love the touch screen, and the software is clean and easy to use minus the issues I mentioned with the screen off options.
I love how i only have to touch the screen like an iPad to move the image angle up or down.
Also, the file system seems very weird. After reviewing the files on my computer it seems that I can see all the files as expected, you can only review forward files while on the mirror, I can’t see any files for the rear camera on the mirror, only on the computer… not a deal breaker at all.
Device body and design:
Another issue I have is the very poor “thought” design of the cables where they connect to the unit… 3 different shapes and angles, you would think they would design it in such a way that they would all face the same direction and sit nicely side by side instead of all hap hazard… see pics. (i’ll get a better pic soon)
It would be nice if the PCB had the memory card to one side or the other rather than in-between the rear cam and gps wire connections. But not a deal breaker.
GPS and LDWS
I tried the gps gizmo and took it out - absolutely useless and distracting.
Supplied cables and lengths.
I have a 2013 grand caravan and I found the rear camera extension wire was “just” long enough, if i have to mount it down near the license plate it might not make it unless i routed it as a straight shot through the head liner rather than around the perimeter under the edges.
Also, The front power wire is just barely long enough and i mean barely it would be nice to see it 6 inches or more longer.
I originally bought a 10inch unit - and “that” was too small just incase you’re trying to figure out which one you need.
Security Features:
There is a consideration to make when you buy one of these you may need to know.
It has to do with the leaving the camera on 24/7 on a non keyed 12v outlet, I tested the unit after i installed it and it is drawing about 0.3amps, so if you have a 45 or so amp hour battery, the battery will be dead or unable to start the car in about 3 to 6 days, so if you don’t drive everyday - so as to recharge the battery, you might want to not bother with the security cam feature.
If you do, you should get the adapter kit that is suppose to prevent drawing the battery out completely, but again, if you don’t drive it everyday, that kit will only just cut off the battery so it doesn’t kill it, and you’ll still be not recording after maybe 4 - 6 days.
However! - just to be clear, all this draining on a 24/7 recording program, is going to hurt your battery long term, because draining a flooded lead acid battery to 75% every 3 - 6 days is not good for it.
You might want to get a heated LifepO4 lithium or at least an AGM battery rather than a basic lead acid flooded battery. But I am ranting here… this not the fault of the dash cam… you could buy your battery at costco and just replace it under warranty in 3 years if it gets weak.
Or, maybe getting a small dedicated additional battery that you hide somewhere for the camera to draw from, which your alternator charges maybe with an isolator switch to have while your driving, just saying.
That of course will likely have to be professionally installed to be useful. I just wouldn’t bother.
I am just going to use it in my keyed 12v outlet thanks, and for that it seems so far to be great. I find if i need security recording - i just switch the prong to my non keyed outlet for as long as i need it then i put it back.
**Update**
I received some info from tech support concerning the recording in off keyed mode, apparently they say that there is circuitry embedded that prevents it draining the battery past 12v. I knew I wasn’t going anywhere over the holidays, So I put the adapter into my non keyed outlet and after 3 days my battery was stone dead at 8.4v - yup had to get a jump to start it.
So I will leave it in the keyed adapter from now on, but regardless I still don’t like the idea of leaving any sort of parasitic device eating away at my battery even if I am charging it every day.
I know many of you are not electrically savvy and think that there is nothing to consider when making changes to your systems, that all is rosy and possible.
As I said; if you do use it in non keyed mode or with it running straight off the battery AND you tend to not drive everyday, you should have something other than a lead acid battery installed, and the additional kit that protects the battery because LONGTERM your going to shorten your batteries life and unless you drive everyday, you are going to drain out.
So overall - you can’t go wrong buying this unit! Support is great, and the product is well thought out for the most part. I may be a bit weird about protecting batteries, but that’s me. If you’re looking for a good dashcam mirror, this one is worth getting in my opinion.
my 2cents
| Product Dimensions | 30.1 x 7.2 x 1.8 cm; 830 g |
|---|---|
| Batteries | 1 Lithium Polymer batteries required. |
| Item model number | G840 |
| Connectivity Technologies | USB |
| Special Features | Mute Function, Internal Memory, Night Vision,Touch Screen, Compact Design,G-Sensor,Loop Recording, Built-In Display,Built-In GPS, Built-In Speaker,Built-In Supercapacitor, Parking Monitor,Reverse Assist |
| Other display features | Wireless |
| Colour | G840s |
| What’s in the box? | 4K Mirror Dash Cam, 1080P Backup Camera with screws and 3M tape, 11 feet Car Charger, 32GB TF Card(in the dash cam card slot), External GPS antenna4K Mirror Dash Cam, 1080P Backup Camera with screws and 3M tape, 11 feet Car Charger, 32GB TF Card(in the dash cam card slot), External GPS antenna |
| Item Weight | 830 g |
