We tell you how to avoid the most common mistakes when choosing a DVR.
Choose the cheapest model
In an effort to save money, some motorists buy the cheapest DVRs. However, such a device may turn out to be useless. And it’s not just that the device can break down at the most inopportune moment.
The quality of the video recording made by an inexpensive DVR often does not allow you to see either the license plate or even the make of the car.
In the event of an accident, such a video recording will not be recognized as evidence. As a result, the police will say that there is no way to identify the culprit and close the case.
When choosing, look only at the video resolution
One of the main parameters that you need to consider when choosing a DVR is the matrix resolution. The higher the resolution, the better the image.
Modern DVRs record video in FullHD format (1920 × 1080 pixels) or higher — Super HD, 2K, 4K. If the matrix resolution of the gadget is lower, then it is an outdated model.
However, video quality depends not only on the resolution. Other characteristics of the lens, matrix and processor are also important.
The lens must have glass lenses: unlike plastic ones, they do not crack or turn yellow due to temperature changes. You should also pay attention to the main lens of the lens — the one that is installed in the front part of the device. Its diameter should be 14 mm or more.
In the matrix, not only the resolution is important, but also its physical size: the larger it is, the more detailed the image will be. Also, before buying, you should pay attention to the manufacturer of the matrix — you can find out from the instructions for the gadget. OmniVision, Aptina, Sony are considered good brands.
The processor processes signals coming from the matrix, forms frames from them and sorts them at a certain frequency. To prevent the video from being blurry, its frequency should be at least 30 FPS, that is, frames per second. Good processors for video recorders are produced by Novatek, Ambarella, Allwinner Technology, Alpha Imaging Technology (AIT).
Ignore the viewing angle
The viewing angle is another important parameter when choosing a video recorder. The larger it is, the larger the section of the road gets into the frame.
If the viewing angle is less than 120 degrees, then everything that happens not quite straight in the direction of travel may not get on the video, and fundamentally important details of the situation will not be recorded.
Too wide an angle — from 170 degrees and more — often also has a bad effect on the quality of the recording. In this case, the «fish eye» effect may occur — the image at the edges will be distorted, will become convex, as when looking through a peephole.
The standard angle for modern recorder models is considered to be from 120 to 140 degrees. This is enough for one lane on each side of the car to get into the video. Full HD resolution is suitable for this viewing angle.
Not thinking about Wi-Fi
Some drivers consider Wi-Fi in DVRs an optional additional function. However, if there is a Wi-Fi module, you can connect to the device at any time from a smartphone or tablet and watch videos or change settings.
If the DVR does not have a Wi-Fi module, you have to transfer the recordings via a USB cable or memory card. This can be inconvenient, especially if you urgently need to view and save the video.
Choose a model with an unsuitable mount
DVR brackets can be attached to the car glass in two ways: with double-sided 3M tape or with a vacuum suction cup.
3M tape is cheaper than a vacuum suction cup and holds the device in place more securely. But it is also more difficult and takes longer to remove. In addition, tape can leave unsightly marks on the windshield.
Using a vacuum suction cup, the device can be quickly moved on the glass or installed in another car. However, if you attach the DVR to a poorly wiped glass, it may fall. And the suction cup loses its elasticity over time and begins to hold the device worse.
Those who buy a recorder for the first time should take the version with a suction cup: it is more convenient to move it this way to choose the best place on the glass where the device will not interfere with monitoring the road.
What else to pay attention to when choosing a video recorder. Recording mode: continuous or cyclic. Video recorders can record video continuously or cyclically.
Continuous recording is when the video is saved in one file. As soon as this file takes up all the memory of the video recorder, the recording will stop.
Then, in order for the gadget to continue working, the driver will have to manually delete the old data. This is inconvenient: if an accident occurs at a time when the recorder’s memory is full, the device will be useless.
Many DVRs have a cyclic recording function — when information is saved in separate video files lasting from one to 15 minutes, the parameter in most cases can be selected independently. When there is no free space left in the device’s memory for video, the oldest recording is automatically erased and replaced with a new one. It turns out that the DVR always stores the same archive of records. The larger the memory capacity of the microSD card, the more information it contains.
It should be borne in mind that while the file is being saved, the device stops recording video. Recording gaps usually last from one to four seconds. An accident may occur during this interval, and the DVR will not record it. The recording duration parameter is affected by the microSD card class. If you install a memory card of the wrong class, the recording gaps will become longer and failures may occur in it.
The appropriate memory capacity and card class are indicated in the instructions for the DVR. Usually, when recording video in Full HD quality, you need a memory card of at least class 10.
Internal power source: battery or capacitor
If the DVR suddenly turns off and does not have time to correctly complete the recording, this recording may be damaged. To prevent this from happening, the DVR needs its own power source. It can be of two types: a battery and a capacitor.
A battery can power the device longer than a capacitor. The battery capacity of a DVR can be up to 600 mAh — this is enough for autonomous operation of the gadget for an hour. However, batteries, especially inexpensive lithium ones, quickly deteriorate — they can swell in the cold or under the sun.
A capacitor does not swell or explode from overheating. But you can’t count on long autonomous operation of the DVR with it — the device will only have time to correctly complete its work within a few seconds after the power is turned off.
Additional useful functions
The GPS module records the coordinates and speed of movement. This data can be useful for detailed examination of the recording in case of an accident.
The radar detector receives radio signals emitted by police radars and notifies the driver about them.
The impact sensor or gravity sensor — G-sensor — detects sudden changes in the vehicle dynamics, that is, not the impact itself, but the displacement along the X-Y-Z axes caused by the impact. If the sensor is triggered, the device saves the video in a special folder. Recordings from it are not automatically erased or overwritten.
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