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Android phone as a dashcam, anyone tried?

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deltaforce

Android Enthusiast
Noticed a car crash a couple of days ago, primarily because one idiot was speeding in right lane and could not control the car. But the blame will go on the driver he hit as he was making a left turn, although legal, stopped as he saw the speeding numbnut.

Since then I have a strong feeling that I should have a dashcam. I am not willing to shell out $200+ for a dedicated dashcam, so wondering if anyone tried, non-SIM loaded prepaid android phone as a dashcam. If yes, what phone did you try and how does it work?

Thanks in advance.
 
I would just get a cheap android phone and set it up on the dash with maybe a small tripod. Then you could have it always plugged in via a Usb car port. Then you could just upload the footage to your computer if necessary
 
Digital Controller said:
I have heard of the one you mentioned in the other thread you posted in.

There is a list here: https://play.google.com/store/search?q=dashcam apps&c=apps

I am only really familiar with Autoboy Dashcam which does everything I need it to :)
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You misunderstood. This thread is not about the software but about hardware. And since cheap phones are, well cheap phones, I don't want to buy just a 'cheap' phone to realize that the video it shoots is be useless if anything really happens and if I have to hand it over to law enforcement officer.

Hence, if anyone has used 'cheap' android phone, I am more looking into the phone suggestions. They cost anywhere from $20 to $100. I won't mind even a Chinese knock off but more important, if it shoots good quality video.
 
I've actually considered doing that as well. I use a car mount for my phone. However, I usually angle my phone towards me, so the camera would not be pointing straight ahead. I do have an older phone. I guess I could use my old phone as a dash cam, but it would take some more work. I'd have to add a mount and then when I get in and out of my car, I have to mount and unmount two different phones.
 
Stuntman said:
I've actually considered doing that as well. I use a car mount for my phone. However, I usually angle my phone towards me, so the camera would not be pointing straight ahead. I do have an older phone. I guess I could use my old phone as a dash cam, but it would take some more work. I'd have to add a mount and then when I get in and out of my car, I have to mount and unmount two different phones.
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I currently have a mount for my phone in the cupholder ... it's just the right position, but doesn't have a view of the road. I too have a couple of older phones hanging around.

I think I'll try this ... using a 12v adapter with multiple USB connections. Keeping my current phone where it is and using a suction mount for a cam on the windshield.
 
deltaforce said:
You misunderstood. This thread is not about the software but about hardware. And since cheap phones are, well cheap phones, I don't want to buy just a 'cheap' phone to realize that the video it shoots is be useless if anything really happens and if I have to hand it over to law enforcement officer.

Hence, if anyone has used 'cheap' android phone, I am more looking into the phone suggestions. They cost anywhere from $20 to $100. I won't mind even a Chinese knock off but more important, if it shoots good quality video.
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I'm sorry for misunderstanding you!

However, I have never really delved into the world of dash cams, let alone Android dash cams.

Here is what a search turned up: https://www.google.com/search?q=and...s_sm=93&ie=UTF-8#q=android+dash+cams&tbm=shop
 
lunatic59 said:
I currently have a mount for my phone in the cupholder ... it's just the right position, but doesn't have a view of the road. I too have a couple of older phones hanging around.
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That won't work on my car. The cup holders are in between the seats. It'll just take videos of the gear shift. :)
 
There are a handful of decent sub-$100 dashcams that would probably be a better long-term solution than getting a crappy phone specifically for that purpose.

Head to Dash Cam Talk and scroll down the page to the "Best Bang for the Buck Dashcams" list. :thumbup:
 
codesplice said:
There are a handful of decent sub-$100 dashcams that would probably be a better long-term solution than getting a crappy phone specifically for that purpose.

Head to Dash Cam Talk and scroll down the page to the "Best Bang for the Buck Dashcams" list. :thumbup:
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One of the folks on another forum I frequent has lately been recommending the Spytec G1W-C, which can be had for $69: Search results for: 'g1w-c'
 
I've used a dashcam App on my Xperia U, but the footage is not of a high resolution. Beware of cheap dashcams, some only record in 640 x 480. I'd look for 720p as a minimum quality with 1080p preferable if my budget could run to it.
 
Hopefully this thread isn't dead...

I have a dashcam in my car that doesn't have a built in monitor. Instead there is an rca cable that can be plugged into a monitor in the car if I would like. Is there any way to use my Note 3 as the monitor?
 
dolcichw said:
Hopefully this thread isn't dead...

I have a dashcam in my car that doesn't have a built in monitor. Instead there is an rca cable that can be plugged into a monitor in the car if I would like. Is there any way to use my Note 3 as the monitor?
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I don't think the Note 3 has an RCA video input. ;)

In other words, no, I don't think you'll find a way to do that. :(

codesplice said:
One of the folks on another forum I frequent has lately been recommending the Spytec G1W-C, which can be had for $69: Search results for: 'g1w-c'
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Related: I recently swapped dashcams in my car and installed a Mobius Action Cam. It's cheap (~$70ish), records high-quality 1080P, and is very small and easy to tuck out of the way:
IMG_20150125_154414.jpg

Highly recommended if you don't need GPS. :thumbsupdroid:
 
Well they do make rca to 3.5mm and rca to micro usb converters. But if I try one will my phone recognize the video feed or will I need an app? And does said app exist?
 
dolcichw said:
Well they do make rca to 3.5mm and rca to micro usb converters. But if I try one will my phone recognize the video feed or will I need an app? And does said app exist?
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Most (if not all) of the RCA-to-USB adapters that I can find are directional - they take a USB input to an RCA output. You're wanting something to go the opposite direction. While it's entirely possible that such a device exists, there isn't anything in Android built to handle video input. That's not something that a simple app would be able to accomplish, it would have to be integrated at the hardware and kernel level.

Same goes for the RCA-3.5mm adapters - your phone isn't built to handle raw external video input.

(And yes, there are some scenarios for using a phone/tablet as a monitor for a DSLR camera, but those are using USB connections on both ends so that the input to the phone is actually data instead of raw video.)
 
You could try something like iCam. It does claim to have USB input support but it's talking about direct connect webcams. I couldn't begin to guess if an RCA>mUSB adapter would work.
 
lunatic59 said:
You could try something like iCam. It does claim to have USB input support but it's talking about direct connect webcams. I couldn't begin to guess if an RCA>mUSB adapter would work.
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That sounds like it's for streaming video from the computer to the phone, like [camera] -usb-> [computer] -app-> -network-> [phone].
 
i just bought a windshield mount, thinking of using my S5 as the Movie Camera just to see how it goes.
 
codesplice said:
Most (if not all) of the RCA-to-USB adapters that I can find are directional - they take a USB input to an RCA output. You're wanting something to go the opposite direction. While it's entirely possible that such a device exists, there isn't anything in Android built to handle video input. That's not something that a simple app would be able to accomplish, it would have to be integrated at the hardware and kernel level.

Same goes for the RCA-3.5mm adapters - your phone isn't built to handle raw external video input.

(And yes, there are some scenarios for using a phone/tablet as a monitor for a DSLR camera, but those are using USB connections on both ends so that the input to the phone is actually data instead of raw video.)
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That sucks but thank you.
 
codesplice said:
Related: I recently swapped dashcams in my car and installed a Mobius Action Cam. It's cheap (~$70ish), records high-quality 1080P, and is very small and easy to tuck out of the way:
IMG_20150125_154414.jpg

Highly recommended if you don't need GPS. :thumbsupdroid:
Click to expand...
What vehicle do you have? How the heck did you wire that? I have a Forester with the EyeSight and I am scared to open up that part. If I mess up, it will screw up the EyeSight and god knows what will happen. The wiring there is pretty crazy.
 
deltaforce said:
What vehicle do you have? How the heck did you wire that? I have a Forester with the EyeSight and I am scared to open up that part. If I mess up, it will screw up the EyeSight and god knows what will happen. The wiring there is pretty crazy.
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I've got a BRZ. I have my radar detector wired in to the power for the rearview mirror, but I was too lazy to build a 12VDC->5VDC step down circuit. The camera just has a long miniUSB cable routed around the windshield and down to the cigarette lighter adapter in the glovebox.
 
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