[Jon D]

Does anyone have one and, if so, what do you think of it?
With cash-for-crash scams on the increase, this looks like a good way to prove your case if you have the bad luck to be caught in one.
Link here: http://www.roadhawk.co.uk/roadhawk-hd/prod_30.html

[makkan00]

I'd like to hear on this as well. I am considering BlackVue at the moment.

[rogerxp]

Make sure you get one with the 'capturing-meteor' setting

[Jon D]

Originally Posted by rogerxp

Make sure you get one with the 'capturing-meteor' setting

I understand 'capturing', but what do you mean by 'meteor'?

[Jon D]

Originally Posted by makkan00

I'd like to hear on this as well. I am considering BlackVue at the moment.

I had a look at the BlackVue, but got a pretty mediocre review at Auto Express and I think the Roadhawk displays more information. It also automatically captures and retains footage of before/after impact so you don't have to worry about vital evidence being overwritten.
On top of that it has image stabilisation and the software is Mac compatible.

[djgandy]

Originally Posted by Jon D

I understand 'capturing', but what do you mean by 'meteor'?

Did you miss the meteor that hit Russia?

[Jon D]

Originally Posted by djgandy

Did you miss the meteor that hit Russia?

By virtue of the fact that I'm still in one piece, fortunately yes.

[makkan00]

Originally Posted by Jon D

I had a look at the BlackVue, but got a pretty mediocre review at Auto Express and I think the Roadhawk displays more information. It also automatically captures and retains footage of before/after impact so you don't have to worry about vital evidence being overwritten.
On top of that it has image stabilisation and the software is Mac compatible.

Thanks. I was expecting the response in Blackvue's favour.
You comment made me to search their comparison.

Here is a thread which compared few of them and favoured BlackVue 400 HD. Mind you, looking at Roadhawk wesite, they have launched HD version, which is going to be available from mid April.
Here is another thread discussing roadhawk pros and cons.

I may be wrong but here is how I see Blackvue 500HD model vs roadhawk HD model.
1- Blackvue (BV) camera is smaller and slimmer.
2- BV 500HD has wi-fi built in which helps you to watch it live on the iphone application.
3- You can use iphone to change its settings quickly. So you do not even need a PC unless you want to change the detailed options.
4- You do not have to take out the memory card, and by using iphone application you can download a particular video to your iphone over wi-fi.
5- It comes with parking mode which detects any movement / impact on the car. Though it only covers the front of the car.
6- It has power magic accessory which helps to save the battery by turning off the camera in the parking mode, when battery voltage drops beyond certain point set by you.

I guess you are right in saying that roadhawk seems more robust and have probably more options on the display (in the software), but versatility of Blackvue makes it winner IMHO.

[Jon D]

Originally Posted by makkan00

...discussing roadhawk pros and cons...

You've obviously done a good bit of research on the subject - thanks for posting the links. A lot of food for thought...
The only aspect that slightly concerns me is that the RH records your speed, which, of course, means that you could end up incriminating yourself if you've exceeded the limit and have to present the footage as evidence in court or to support an insurance claim.
If the BV doesn't record speed, that would probably swing it for me.
I suggest we keep each other posted on any new info gleaned.

[fulcrum]

Originally Posted by Jon D

You've obviously done a good bit of research on the subject - thanks for posting the links. A lot of food for thought...
The only aspect that slightly concerns me is that the RH records your speed, which, of course, means that you could end up incriminating yourself if you've exceeded the limit and have to present the footage as evidence in court or to support an insurance claim.
If the BV doesn't record speed, that would probably swing it for me.
I suggest we keep each other posted on any new info gleaned.

I think you can turn that off though it would weaken the evidence.

You can

When you disable the speed overlay, your speed is still recorded in the meta files along with the recordings. If you need to prove your speed, you can playback the video from within the Pitasoft viewer to view your speed.

However if you need to submit a video with regards to a collision investigation and don't want your speed known, you can simply omit the meta data files. Editing a video, even if just to crop it, is always risky for trial use. You risk having it thrown out.

[Jon D]

Thanks for the info - do you have any experience of either unit?

[fulcrum]

Originally Posted by Jon D

Thanks for the info - do you have any experience of either unit?

Nope but I would be going for the Blackvue

BMWs fitting is different because of the battery drain - video how to here.

[Jon D]

Originally Posted by fulcrum

...BMWs fitting is different because of the battery drain - video how to here...

Thanks again for posting such an informative link; it's preempted and answered a question about wiring, which I was going to post on the technical forum. Do you know if I'm correct in thinking, as the power supply will be hard wired directly to the battery, as opposed to the fuse box, that no error codes will be generated?

[fulcrum]

Originally Posted by Jon D

Thanks again for posting such an informative link; it's preempted and answered a question about wiring, which I was going to post on the technical forum. Do you know if I'm correct in thinking, as the power supply will be hard wired directly to the battery, as opposed to the fuse box, that no error codes will be generated?

Yes - I think that is the point

[makkan00]

Originally Posted by Jon D

You've obviously done a good bit of research on the subject - thanks for posting the links. A lot of food for thought...
The only aspect that slightly concerns me is that the RH records your speed, which, of course, means that you could end up incriminating yourself if you've exceeded the limit and have to present the footage as evidence in court or to support an insurance claim.
If the BV doesn't record speed, that would probably swing it for me.
I suggest we keep each other posted on any new info gleaned.

There is an option in blackvue software that you can hide the speed. I saw that fulcrum already responded to that. That is a plus point.

One thing which is putting me off from BlackVue is that they recommend to reset memory card once/week. There are plenty of people who have never done this and are running BV without issues. But this things puts me off. Not sure about BH and I never got interest in their products.

Re: hard wiring is not necessary as shown in the video.
There are E9X where there are few fuses which have constant +ve and hence it can be connected to the fuse box.
However later models (I am guessing LCIs) switch off all the power to fuse box 20 minutes after locking your car.

So, it depends on your car and abilities.

[makkan00]

Originally Posted by fulcrum

Nope but I would be going for the Blackvue

BMWs fitting is different because of the battery drain - video how to here.

What model are you thinking of fulcrum?

[fulcrum]

Originally Posted by makkan00

What model are you thinking of fulcrum?

The DR500GW - latest one.

The earlier versions have had problems with heat on very hot days but with each new version it gets better.

You are right about LCI cars. Pre LCI can be wired via the fuse box.

[makkan00]

Originally Posted by fulcrum

The DR500GW - latest one.

The earlier versions have had problems with heat on very hot days but with each new version it gets better.

You are right about LCI cars. Pre LCI can be wired via the fuse box.

HD400 version 2 had heat issues rectified, so they are good bargains.

I may go for 500HD as well.

[xPETEZx]

Anybody gone ahead and got one of these?
Got any pictures of it installed?

Could be interested in getting one of these too.

[PowerCorrupts]

You probably won't be that interested,

But I've like made a phone mount where I can mount my iPhone and the car can still charge & play all the music off it, but I can also hit the video button and it records everything infront of the car, then if nothing happened on your trip then you can delete the file off the phone

Think it only cost me like £5 but doesn't have anywhere near as many features as the ones listed above! Altough it was more of something that I realised I could do after I had set the phone to sit where it does, as I wanted to use the phone as a satnav etc.

[makkan00]

Originally Posted by xPETEZx

Anybody gone ahead and got one of these?
Got any pictures of it installed?

Could be interested in getting one of these too.

Going to order BV 500HD next month.
Already started looking into its files and it can be hacked.
I'll be keeping it to its OEM condition for first year and once warranty expires, I'll start playing with the files.

[Bomber]

I have a cheaper camera installed and am very impressed for the money, it doesn't have a screen but I have it linked to the idrive so no need for one.

It automatically records on startup and has a g sensor so any impacts are saved to a separate file so they cannot be overwritten, it is also very small and compact.