DVR with a radar detector: a little helper with big features
Content
New technologies are increasingly being used in imported and domestic cars to improve road safety and create more comfortable driving conditions. Among the most popular gadgets among motorists is a DVR with a radar detector. To use this device with maximum efficiency, you need to select the appropriate model, correctly install the device, connect it and make the necessary settings.
What is a DVR with a radar detector
The direct purpose of the DVR is to record disputes on the road, cases of abuse of authority by traffic police officers, etc. The materials captured on the DVR can serve as an evidence base in favor of the driver if the car has been in an accident. Video filming can be carried out both around the car (while driving or in the parking lot), and in the cabin. Simultaneously with the growth of traffic in megacities, the DVR is gradually moving into the category of mandatory car accessories.
A special place among gadgets of this type is occupied by video recorders equipped with a radar detector - a device that warns the driver about a road speed camera. The radar detector receives the radio signal of the traffic police radar and notifies the driver of the need to comply with the speed limit.
Radar detectors that can be found on sale are capable of operating in the frequency ranges:
- X - 10 475-10 575 MHz. Police radars worked in this range back in Soviet times. Such a radar can easily detect even an inexpensive radar detector;
- K - 24 000-24 250 MHz. The most common range in which such speed tracking systems operate as Vizir, Berkut, Iskra, etc .;
- Ka - 33-400 MHz. This range is the most “difficult” for radar detectors, because traffic police radars operate at these frequencies very quickly, and the driver does not always have time to slow down before the violation has already been recorded;
- L is the range of laser pulses. A camera that operates in this range emits an infrared beam that is sent at the speed of light to the headlights or license plate of a car and returns at the same speed. This means that if your radar detector has informed about a laser device on the road, then it is too late to slow down, because the violation has most likely already been recorded.
Advantages of a combined instrument that combines a DVR with a radar detector:
- the device takes up less space on the windshield than two separate devices, and does not interfere with the view with extra wires;
- the cost of such a device is lower than the total price of a separate DVR and radar detector.
The disadvantages of combo devices include a lower level of technical characteristics than separately installed registrar and radar detector. But this is a characteristic "disease" of all universal devices.
How to choose the right DVR with radar detector
When choosing a DVR with a radar detector for your car, you should focus on the compliance of the technical equipment of the device with your wishes, and, in addition, on the dimensions and cost of the device.
What to look for
In order not to make a mistake with the purchase and choose the most suitable combi-device, you need to consider that:
- the high cost of the device is not always justified. On the one hand, the more expensive the device, the better the image quality of the recorder, the larger the battery capacity, etc.
- matrix resolution is the most important criterion for choosing a recorder. A matrix with a resolution of 2,1 megapixels (1920x1080) or higher is capable of providing a sufficiently high quality of shooting;
- the smaller the device, the less interference it creates for the driver when driving. The mounting of the device plays an important role - if the recorder trembles and vibrates while driving, the captured video will be of poor quality;
- a side effect of the large viewing angle of the recorder may be an image stretched at the edges;
- The SD card for the DVR must be at least class 4. If you use class 1-3 cards, the video will be choppy;
- the wider the operating range of the radar detector, the higher the likelihood that the device will promptly warn you about the video recording camera;
- some modern radar detectors have a range of up to 5 km in free space. The traffic police radar works, as a rule, at 350-400 m, so a good radar detector should give the driver enough time to slow down;
- The firmware of the radar detector must have a regional reference (the device must have an up-to-date geobase installed) and take into account the peculiarities of traffic police radars.
Table: parameters of the most popular DVRs with a radar detector in 2018
| Model | Viewing angle | Processor | Display | Resolution, PC at 30 fps | Frequency range | Battery capacity, mAh | price, rub. |
| NeoLine X-Cop 9100S | 135° | Ambarella | 2.0 " | 1920 × 1080 | K, X, Ka, Laser, Arrow | 220 | 27 000 |
| Roadgid X7 Hybrid | 170° | Ambarella | 2.7 " | 2304x1296 | K, Ka, L | 240 | 11 450 |
| Scat Inspector | 170° | Ambarella A12А35 | 3.5 " | 2304 × 1296 | K, X, L | 520 | 13 300 |
| Trendvision TDR-718GP | 160° | Ambarella A7LA70 | 2.7 " | 2304 × 1296 | K, X, L | 300 | 12 500 |
| Sho-Me Combo Slim Signature | 135° | Ambarella A12 | 2.3 " | 1920 × 1080 | K, X, L | 520 | 10 300 |
| ACV GX-9000 Combo | 170° | Ambarella A7 | 2.7 " | 2304 × 1296 | K, X, L | 180 | 10 500 |
| CarCam Hybrid | 170° | Ambarella A7LA50D | 2.7 " | 2304 × 1296 | K, X, L | 250 | 8 000 |
| Subini STR XT-3 | 140° | Novatek NT96223 | 2.7 » | 1280 × 720 | X, K, Ka, L | 300 | 5 900 |
Never used DVRs, recently decided to purchase. I wanted to take it better right away, I chose for a very long time and eventually bought a roadgid x7 gibrid gt. To be honest, after all the declared characteristics, functions, I was expecting just space, in reality everything turned out to be not so rosy, for such and such money. On the DVR, the picture seems to be not bad, however, sometimes in the evening the quality of the shooting deteriorates noticeably, the license plate of the car also periodically lights up, so it’s impossible to make out. The radar detector reports cameras in a timely manner, only there is one thing: it constantly works in the underground parking, contacted support, they said that the GPS does not catch the subway, so there are triggers.
Price
DVRs with radar detectors on the market today are conditionally divided into:
- budget, costing up to 8 thousand rubles;
- middle price segment - from 8 to 15 thousand rubles;
- premium class - from 15 thousand rubles.
Statistics show that the most popular category is models of the middle price range, which, as a rule, combine a fairly high quality and reasonable cost.. Budget models are equipped, as a rule, with basic functionality and quite successfully cope with their tasks.
Premium devices are distinguished by a large number of additional functions and the use of latest generation technologies. This category of devices includes, for example, Neoline X-COP R750 worth 28 thousand rubles. This model is equipped with:
- a remote radar unit, which is installed under the hood, due to which it becomes invisible to traffic police officers;
- Wi-Fi module;
- reliable 3M-mount and active charging Smart Click Plus;
- anti-glare filter CPL, which eliminates the negative impact of bright sunlight on video quality;
- Z signature filter, which reduces the number of false positives of the radar detector, etc.
Manufacturer
According to statistics, the most popular brands of DVRs with radar detectors among domestic motorists are:
- KarKam;
- NeoLine;
- Inspector;
- TrendVision;
- Sho-me et al.
A model from a well-known manufacturer always looks more preferable than a device whose name you hear for the first time. Even despite the advantage of the second in cost with matching characteristics. When buying a cheap device of unknown origin (which can cost 5 thousand rubles or even less), during its operation or when setting it up, you run the risk of encountering some kind of problem that will require you to contact specialists or review many specialized Internet resources (and never found a solution).
terms of Use
When choosing a DVR with a radar detector, it is important to consider the expected operating conditions of the device. For example, if:
- If your vehicle is frequently driven in areas with poor road surfaces, you should choose a device with a good mount to prevent excessive vibration. The registrars of domestic manufacturers - CarCam, DataCam, AdvoCam - have proven themselves well on Russian roads;
- you spend a lot of time driving at night, you should choose a device that reproduces a high-quality image at night (in particular, NeoLine X-Cop 9100S, Inspector Scat Se, etc.);
- if you plan to use the device often in standalone mode, you need to have a sufficiently large battery capacity (like the Sho-Me Combo Slim Signature or Inspector Scat Se).
Video: comparative analysis of different models of recorders with radar detectors
Installation, connection and configuration of the device
In order to properly prepare the DVR with a radar detector for operation, it is recommended to strictly follow the manufacturer's instructions.
Installation
The combo device is usually attached to the windshield with a suction cup or 3M tape. To install and connect the device, you must:
- Wipe the glass and remove the protective film from the suction cup.
Before installing the DVR, you need to clean the windshield and remove the protective film from the suction cup - Holding the bracket with one hand, insert the device into it until it clicks. If you need to remove the device, most often, you need to lightly press the plastic tab and remove the device from the bracket.
- Place the assembled structure on the windshield. If 3M tape is used for installation, you should immediately think carefully about the location of the device, since 3M tape is intended for single use. The device is usually placed behind the rear-view mirror.
- Choose the optimal tilt of the camera and fix it in this position. Install a memory card.The DVR camera needs to be fixed at the required angle
connection
The power cable must be inserted into the connector, which can be located on the mount or on the body of the device. The other end of the cable must be pulled to the cigarette lighter or fuse box, depending on the instructions for use. In the first case, the power supply is simply inserted into the cigarette lighter, in the second case, you will need to connect the cable to the on-board network in accordance with the scheme recommended by the manufacturer.
If, for example, we are dealing with NeoLine X-Cop 9100S, then inside the power cable we will see three marked wires:
- WATT, which must be connected to a 12V circuit;
- ACC - joins the ignition;
- GND - goes to ground.
Some motorists connect the DVR to the radio or ceiling light. It is not recommended to do this, because in this way the parameters of the factory electrical circuit are violated.
Setting
For the combo device to work effectively, you need to properly configure it. Setting up any device is carried out in accordance with the user manual. The principle of settings for all devices is the same, the difference is only in the number of options that need to be adjusted. As an example, consider the NeoLine X-Cop 9100S settings with an intuitive and user-friendly menu.
Settings menu
To enter the settings menu, press the upper right button, after which the display will open:
- video settings;
- detection settings;
- viewing the record;
- firmware update.
You can select one or another category of settings with the “Select” button (lower right), and you can switch to another setting or the next mode using the “Up” and “Down” buttons located on the left.
If you select video settings, a submenu will open with a large number of items that allow you to set the required parameters on the device, including:
- date, time, language;
- volume, brightness, sharpness, contrast;
- video resolution, device sensitivity when driving and during parking, and many other settings.
To return to the factory settings, you need to select the "Default settings" item.
In the detection settings, you will also see a long list of parameters that you can set to your liking. The most significant of them are:
- range of GPS alerts. Here you can set the moment when the radar detector is triggered depending on the speed of the car. For example, when driving at a speed of up to 60 km / h, the signal will appear 600 m before the tracking camera, if you drive at a speed of 61-70 km / h, the warning will come at 650 m, etc.;
- maximum speed. If the vehicle speed is higher than the set value, an audible signal will sound;
- frequency selection. Depending on the region in which the device will be used, you can select the required frequency band. For example, for Russia - a wide range of K within 23–900 MHz, etc.
Quick settings
To enter the quick settings, you need to hold down the "Menu" button for 2 seconds. In this mode, you can adjust:
- danger zone. If you select this setting, the device will warn of approaching speed bumps, busy intersections, schools, etc.;
- a quiet zone, i.e. an area with an increased number of false positives (for example, at gas stations and stores with automatic doors). In this zone, the device will not respond to radio signals;
- microphone - to turn sound recording on and off;
- video recording - turns video recording on and off.
Selecting the detection mode
To set the detection mode, use the "Select" button located under the "Menu" button to select one of the four modes:
- "X-COP", which provides for automatic switching of frequency bands, the degree of sensitivity and error filtering depending on the speed of the vehicle;
- "city", which is recommended for movement in densely populated areas. This mode is characterized by reduced sensitivity to traffic police radars and a small number of false positives;The "city" mode is recommended for movement in densely populated areas
- "track" with the standard ability to detect traffic police radars. In this mode, the device detects the presence of a radar at a greater distance than in the "city" mode, but protects against interference worse;
- "turbo" with the highest possible sensitivity and detection range of the radar, but also with the maximum number of false alarms.The "turbo" mode provides the highest possible sensitivity of the radar and the maximum number of false positives
In the spring, having got into an accident, I realized that my old DVR was recording what was happening, well, in very poor quality, and there were always problems with the radar detector, either beeping for no reason, or missing an explicit camera. Since such a thing, I decided to take a hybrid. I don’t have much money, so I didn’t consider flagships, but the x-cop 9000c model just fit into my finances. I will not paint everything thoroughly, you will read the characteristics anyway, I will only say that I was pleasantly surprised. 1. Image quality. All car numbers on the video are distinguishable, even at night. 2. In the parking mode, it detects not only when moving in the frame, but also by shock sensors. 3. You can not be afraid to discharge the battery, as a power controller is provided. 4. Actually notifications about cameras. For almost a year of using the device, I didn’t miss a single one (for me, this is probably the main plus). I can’t note any shortcomings, except that my old memory card didn’t fit, after checking with the manufacturer, I received an answer that a more modern memory card is needed, at least class 10 (I actually purchased one).
Video: recommendations for setting up a DVR with a radar detector
The nuances of using the device
When installing a DVR with a radar detector in a car, it will be useful to know that:
- in the SDA there is clause 7.3, according to which, the presence of objects on the windshield that restrict visibility for the driver can be considered as a violation of the rules. If the traffic police inspector who stopped you considers that the registrar impairs visibility, this may be the basis for a fine of 500 rubles;
- if you are planning a trip by car abroad, you need to clarify whether there are any restrictions on the use of a radar detector in the country you are visiting. Similar restrictions exist in the Baltic countries, Germany, Sweden, Finland, Spain, etc.;
- The recordable time on the dash cam will vary depending on the memory card used, as well as the display resolution. For example, shooting a 3-minute video in FullHD may require up to 350 MB of memory. If possible, it is better to use a class 10 flash drive with a capacity of 32 GB. Some devices have a loop recording option, when you can configure the removal of outdated video materials.
A DVR with a radar detector is becoming an increasingly common attribute of a car. The car accessories market is represented today by a large number of devices of this type - from budget versions with limited functionality to premium class devices equipped with a large number of additional options. Which gadget is most appropriate for your car is up to you.
