Dear All,
I had my Blackvue 650 2-ch system installed this week and I'm posting this to add to the knowledge base. Let's start with helpful links, then move on to my personal tips of things that work and don't work:
Here is my install, done by Walnut Creek Customs:
Customized electronics installs in the Bay Area - Page 2
Some of the original threads that even got me thinking about this:
Tesla Model S BlackVue HD Dashcam Installation Guide - TESLARATI.com
Dashboard Camera Install | Forums | Tesla Motors
A very helpful review of the Blackvue 650 2-ch system:
BlackVue DR650GW-2CH Dashcam Review - YouTube
And a funny video why dashcams could be helpful:
6 Reasons You Should Own a Dashcam - Reviewed.com Cameras
This, in addition to driving a lot for work, is what put me over the edge to get a dash cam system:
Dash Cam Catches Tire Shop Taking P85D On a Joy Ride - TESLARATI.com
Things that did work:
- A SanDisk Ultra 64 GB micro sd card works. To get it to format properly, the SD formatter app did not work at all using my laptop. I ended up just holding down the WiFi button on the camera until the weird noise came up, let go, then it formatted the card. After formatting, the wifi would not connect properly (see next)
- This is how I solved the wifi password problem: the wifi password is either the default, or the last one you entered into the phone app (for me, that's an Android phone). I found that if you use the "Blackvue Wifi" in-app button to connect to the camera, all hell breaks loose. On the other hand, if you use the native Android settings menu to connect to a wifi network like you would with any other network, type in your password, then hit connect, this is solid. Just start the Blackvue app after and it should already be connected. I did so many reformats, password resets, and cursing myself until I figured out this workaround.
- The OEM 16GB card records 4 hours of HD front and rear video. Conversely, a 32GB card gets 8 hours, and a 64GB gets 16 hours.
Things that don't work well:
- the GPS doesn't always work and speed is not always shown; sometimes it shows up to 3mph even when the car is parked
- getting the time zone to work properly on the original SD card was not possible; for some reason, it is working on the new 64GB card (both have been formatted multiple times until I got it just right)
- motion detection settings don't seem to help the problem of constant recording-- it never stops unfortunately so you only get the last
x hours of recorded video depending on your sd card size
- there is some major heat coming out of the unit, which leads me to question its long-term durability of components
Anyways, I'm about to take a 2,000 mile road trip with the thing this summer. I'll be sure to update this knowledge base as able.
- K