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G1W Dashcam Review

G1W Dashcam Review

G1W Review Summary

The G1W has been a best seller of ours for a long time now, so we’ve been putting one through its paces to see what makes it so popular! The G1W, available in either a smart blue or black finish, is our cheapest dashcam which makes it a great choice for many people looking for a car camera. But does low price, have to mean low quality?

Key Features

  • Our cheapest dashcam.
  • Full HD quality video (1920 x 1080) at 30fps.
  • 120° wide angle lens.
  • 2.7″ LCD screen.
  • Photo mode.
  • Motion detection.
  • G-sensor.
  • Micro SD cards up to 32GB (class 6).

Despite it’s budget price-tag, the G1W comes nicely packaged with everything you need to install it in your vehicle and start recording, except for a memory card. Although we’re currently offering one for free with the G1W at time of writing, which makes this camera exceptional value for money. Many people simply want a reliable dashcam, that records good quality video – no GPS, no wifi, no other bells and whistles – and in that respect the G1W is hard to beat.

It’s because of this that the market is awash with copies of this gem of a camera. Fakes often look identical, and may come with an even more appealing price tag, but deliver sub-standard performance in every respect. Always ensure that you purchase your dashcam from a trusted supplier to guarantee that you receive a genuine product.

Upon unboxing the G1W, the first thing that you notice is its huge screen. The rear of the camera is dominated by a 2.7″ LCD screen which makes it ever so simple to set up the camera and watch your videos. The screen is bright, with large icons which make it easy to read, and with a few chunky buttons at either side of it, it’s easy to navigate too. The menu options are simple, but effective, and shouldn’t cause anyone too many headaches in adjusting the camera’s settings to suit their needs.

On the front of the camera we find the lens, mounted centrally, which again makes installation and alignment that bit easier. We’d prefer the bezel around the lens not to be silver, as this is more obvious when viewed from outside the vehicle. If this is a concern for you, then the G1WH might be worth a look.

Alongside the lens in a small light which we’re led to believe will illuminate the road ahead at night, but unfortunately this isn’t the case. Lights on dashcams tend to be a bit of a gimmick which actually only serve to cause glare on the inside of the windscreen. Even infra-red lights, which are commonplace among budget dashcams, have the same effect.

Elsewhere on the G1W, we find a slot for the microSD memory card, a HDMI out port, an AV out port and a mini USB power connector. On the top of the camera we also find the power button, a button marked M and a slot to attached the suction mount. All-in-all the G1W is a fairly simple unit, but this is actually one of it’s strength. Often people are put off by the complexities of more advanced dashcams, and the G1W lends itself very nicely to those.

Installation is simple, with the suction mount clipping neatly and snugly into the slot on the top of the camera, enabling the camera to be attached firmly to the windscreen. When in place, it’s just 80mm from the base of the mount to the bottom of the camera so it still stays a compact and tidy unit. From this point the 3m power cable simply needs to be routed along the top of the windscreen, down the A pillar, around the dashboard and along to the cigarette lighter socket. Depending on your vehicle, this could be a 10-15 minute job, with the only tricky part being pushing the power cable into various gaps between trim to conceal it. The screen makes alignment simple and the camera can be up and running in no time at all.

The suction mount means that the camera can easily be detached from the windscreen for security purposes. We had hoped that the mount could be left in the car, so that the camera wouldn’t need to be aligned each time it was put back in place, but in our tests it is just too tricky to unclip the camera from the mount when it’s fitted behind your rear-view mirror. Although this does mean that the mount is a firm fit which will help to give a stable image.

We inserted a 32GB class 6 microSD card, capable of holding around 5 hours of 1080p footage, and set off for a drive. After 30 seconds, the screen turns off so as not to be a distraction to the driver but a small flashing LED shows that the camera is still recording which is a useful feature.

If required, a press of any button turns the screen on again, and while the camera is recording, a press of the M button locks the video being recorded at the time, keeping it safe from the loop recording feature. A key icon on the screen signifies this and means that you can retain any videos that you might like to refer to at some point. Keep in mind, that the more videos that you lock, the less room there will be on your memory card for new footage so it’s good practise to copy videos that you need to your computer from time to time and format your card to keep it in full working order.

Considering this is our cheapest dashcam, you might expect the image quality just to be so-so, but this isn’t the case. Daytime footage is crisp and clear with registration plates visible on vehicles in front and even passing vehicles in many cases. We’re genuinely impressed at the amount of details that the G1W captures, and feel that in the case of an incident, footage from this smart little camera would undoubtedly help to paint a clear picture of activity surrounding any incident.

In low-light conditions the G1W doesn’t captures as much detail, unsurprisingly so, but it does have a WDR mode which helps the camera to improve the image quality as much as possible. In our tests, while registration plates weren’t always legible at night, partly due to the reflection of our headlights on number plates, the footage still helped to show what was happening around us on the road.

So, the G1W is cheap and captures excellent video quality, so where’s the down side?

In terms of features, the G1W is limited, and could be improved with the inclusion of more advanced features such as GPS, but I’m sure we’d see the price increase accordingly. Build quality also doesn’t compare with more premium cameras, with buttons having a decidedly plasticy feel to them, but nothing feels sub-standard. Finally, the instruction manual leaves a lot to be desired, especially if you’re unfamiliar with dashcam terminology, but thankfully, as the camera is relatively simple and it’s default settings are adequate for many user, this needn’t be a deal-breaker.

So while some may see the G1W as an entry-level dashcam, don’t be fooled. While it’s not the smallest or most technologically advanced camera available, it records excellent footage and offers peace-of-mind for a bargain basement price.

G1W Dashcam Videos

Unboxing Video
Sample Footage

G1W Dashcam Downloads

Buy the G1W Dashcam Online

The G1W is available to buy online for only £42.99..

 

 

 

 

 

It’s up to the parent on how they introduce the dash cam but many parents offer their car (or buy a car) providing they use a car camera which can be viewed at any time. As the parent, you can view the footage of their driving and even see their speed and location on a map, providing your camera comes equipped with GPS. You can also see the g-forces being applied so you can identify quick and dangerous moves on the road! Quite a powerful tool for a parent!

You could argue that this is all rather big brother but if you love your kids and want them to be safe, this is a very effective way to ensure they drive safely and reduce the risk of having an accident.

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New Release: The Nextbase 122 Dash Cam

New Release: The Nextbase 122 Dash Cam

As part of the brand new series of Nextbase dash cameras, the Nextbase 122 dash cam is a clear winner as a highly practical and functional car camera. HD recording, parking mode, and more, all for a very low cost make it an ideal choice for younger, or new drivers.

Recording Quality

The Nextbase 122 records in an impressive 720p HD at 30 frames per second – enough to clearly capture road incidents in detail. Its 5-layer f1.6 lens provides a viewing angle of 120° to ensure that the whole road is covered with video footage in order to provide court admissible evidence instantly. The vehicle camera is completely compatible with a polarising filter, giving you to option to improve your recording quality through reducing or completely removing glare and reflections from your vehicles windscreen. These are some seriously impressive specs when compared against the price tag of this camera.

Design

The Nextbase 122 has the classic look and feel of a Nextbase camera, meaning a discreet installation which doesn’t distract you while driving is very possible. The newly designed mount uses a lower profile design and high strength neodymium magnets allowing you to easily place and remove the dash cam with just one hand. A standard 3m adhesive pad is used for fitting, and a suction pad is included. The power cable goes directly into the mount itself, leaving the car camera completely free from wires.

Nextbase 122 Features

Video Quality

The Nextbase video quality is sufficient for recording the road ahead of you in enough detail to use your footage as evidence. 720p @ 30fps HD Recording, alongside a 120° wide viewing angle ensure that your journey is covered.

Display

The Nextbase 122 uses a bright and clear high-resolution screen for easy menu navigation and playback. The display is 2″ in size which is slightly smaller than some of the previous models. This provides enough size to see the menu and recording screen while allowing the camera to have a slightly more discreet design.

Capacity

This dash cam will support up to a 32GB Micro SD card, for 4 hours of footage. Once this storage becomes full, it will automatically begin to overwrite the oldest footage to provide you with constant recording.

Footage which you don’t want to be overwritten can be saved as a manual recording.

 

Parking Mode

The Nextbase 122 features a new and improved intelligent parking mode which will automatically begin recording when motion or movement is detected around your parked vehicle.

This makes use of their new high precision G sensor to make sure that all possible events are recorded and locked away from being overwritten.

Free Cloud Access

Another feature new to the Nextbase range is their completely free MyNextbaseCloud service. This allows footage to be easily saved, viewed and shared online without taking up storage space on your SD card or computer.

What’s in the box

  • 122 Nextbase Dash Cam
  • Fitting tool
  • Adhesive mount
  • Suction mount
  • Usb cable
  • Car power cable
  • Quick start guide

 

 

 

 

 

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Is The Thinkware F200 Better Than The Nextbase Duo HD?

We often get asked ‘which is the best dash camera?’. This is a hard question because it will always come down to personal needs and preferences. That being said, a comparison over at Auto Express did a good job of deciding which is better: the Thinkware F200, or the Nextbase Duo HD.

Thinkware F200-2CH

       

The Thinkware F200-2CH is a great front and rear dash camera system, providing high quality at a low price. Coming in at £169.99, while boasting HD recording from both ends, built-in WiFi, and a time lapse feature, it is a pretty impressive camera.

Features

Video Quality – 1080p HD Front, 720p HD Rear

Price – £169.99

WiFi – Yes

GPS – Optional Antenna

Time Lapse – Yes

Viewing Angle – 140°

Parking Mode – Yes

Screen – No

SD Card – 16GB Card Supplied

Memory – Up to 64GB

Nextbase Duo HD

          

The Nextbase Duo HD is also an affordable front and rear dash camera, with impressive specs. It records at 1080p HD from both lenses, hasbuilt-in Wifi, and a GPS magnetic mounting system. However, is slightly more expensive, at £199.99.

Features

Video Quality – 1080p HD Front and Rear

Price – £199.99

WiFi – Yes

GPS – Yes

Time Lapse – No

Viewing Angle – 140°

Parking Mode – Yes

Screen – Yes

SD Card – None provided

Memory – Up to 32GB

What Was The Result?

“The F200 takes it here… it has a better field of vision, which will be more important when capturing incidents.”

“We put the two devices head to head, focusing on recording abilities and quality, ease of use, plus price.”

“We captured a good amount of detail with the front camera; it adjusted for exposure well and we could read licence plates and road signs easily.”

“The lens picked up licence plates from a good distance , and offered a better field of vision than the Duo, so we could position it anywhere we liked in the rear window.”

If you would like further advice or book an installation, please click here, or call 01865 957191 to speak to one of our experts today.

 

 
 
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Young Drivers Getting Unfairly Treated

Young Drivers Getting Unfairly Treated

New research has found that almost 30% of 18-25-year olds involved in a car accident were either wrongly blamed or struggled to prove their innocence.

 

The study, carried out by Nextbase, found that younger motorists often admit to fault at the scene of an incident, even if they are the victim. Richard Browning, director at Nextbase, commented: “With research showing that a large proportion of young drivers are getting blamed for accidents that may have not been their fault, a dash cam can act as a witness to help prove innocence. “Research shows that the older you get, the worse your reactions are, however younger drivers are still getting penalised with sky high car insurance costs.”

Nextbase has partnered with MyFirstUK insurance to offer up to 30% off premiums to young drivers when a Nextbase 312GW dash cam has been fitted in the vehicle. Unlike having a black box, drivers aren’t curfewed or monitored, but given the freedom to drive with confidence.

Furthermore, when a dashcam is fitted in vehicles alongside a black box, findings show that 67% improve their driving over a three-month period, compared to when just a black box was installed.

Nextbase says its research shows 85% of those with a black box would happily opt for an alternative to save money

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The Best Dash Camera For Driving Instructors

The Best Dash Camera For Driving Instructors

It has become increasingly common for driving instructors to have dash cameras in their vehicles, not only to ensure they have increased safety when on the road but to use as a teaching aid during lessons. However, for a dash camera to be used by a driving instructor there are a couple of special requirements. The first is a camera that has Wi-Fi, this allows a Wi-Fi enabled mobile or tablet to connect to the camera allowing you to review previously recorded footage. This can help the instructor explain what a student did wrong and how to improve. Another must have feature is the ability for the camera to run silently. This is to ensure that learners are not distracted or disturbed during lessons and tests by the camera beeping or ‘talking’.

These requirements rule out most dash cameras as although Wi-Fi connectivity is becoming increasingly popular, it is still not a feature the majority of cameras have. Even fewer cameras can be configured to run completely silent, with the camera producing no noise what so ever. Due to these requirements, the BlackVue DR750S dash camera is what many driving instructors purchase due to its ability to meet these specialist requirements. This camera can come as either a front only or front and rear camera system.

BlackVue DR750S FeaturesBlackVue DR750S-2Ch

Both the front and rear camera record in 1080P Full HD, meaning the footage produced will be crystal clear. The DR750S has built in GPS and Wi-Fi for use with the smartphone app and comes with cloud compatibility allowing you to view your camera remotely. The GPS allows the vehicles location and speed to be overlaid onto the footage. Alongside these features, the cameras sleek cylindrical design means it is very discreet and will not be an eyesore for the driver.

When connected to your camera over Wi-Fi, you can change camera settings, review previously footage and watch the camera live. This can be useful if you want to use the dash cam in driving lessons, as you can easily find the footage and play it back to the learner.

The DR750S also has the availability of parking mode recording when hard-wired. This will result in the camera recording when either motion or an impact is detected after the ignition has been switched off, offering you peace of mind when you are not in the vehicle.

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Audi Q7 Dash Camera Installation

Audi Q7 Dash Camera Installation

Every installation we do here is done to the highest possible standard. We only use fully trained auto-electricians who are then tested on dash camera installations before going out in the field. By doing this we ensure only the best engineers are able to work on your vehicle, we will also ensure the engineer has suitable experience on your vehicle or similar vehicles before being assigned to your installation.

Recently we had an enquiry of installing a camera system into a new Audi Q7. The customer required the camera system to be as discreet and high quality as possible with all wires hidden, an additional battery was also needed to ensure the vehicle is protected overnight. After hearing this, our experienced team decided that the Lukas Qvia AR790 was the most suitable camera system, with the Cellink B battery pack also being used. The AR790 is one of the most discreet camera systems available, with a sleek cylindrical design. Both the front and the rear camera record in 1080P full HD which makes it one of the best cameras available today.  

After showing the customer the camera system and battery pack combination , along with images of previous installations of this system that we have completed, he decided that this was the system for him. The order was then placed via our online shop and our booking team then called him to arrange a suitable date, time and location for the installation to take place. The kit was then sent out to the customer ready for the engineer.

Lukas AR790 Installation

Lukas AR790 Front Camera Once on site, the engineer completed his pre installation vehicle checks, to ensure the vehicle is working correctly before carrying out any work. The front camera was positioned out of sight behind the rear view mirror and the rear camera was placed in the top middle of the rear windscreen. All cables are then run through the trim of the vehicle, using existing grommets so no cable is visible. The cameras power cable was then connected to the battery pack, which is installed using a relay. This means the battery pack is charged when the ignition is on and will power the cameras in parking mode once the ignition is switched off. Once the installation was completed, the engineer performed his post-installation checks, ensuring both the camera system and vehicle are working as expected before leaving.

Our experienced team are happy to help recommend the best camera system for your needs, so please contact us if you have any questions. Alternatively, you can check out our extensive range of dash cameras

 

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Dash Camera Parking Mode

Dash Camera Parking Mode

When searching for a dash camera, people often want a camera that can record when the ignition is off. The majority of the cameras we offer have the ability to enable parking mode once they have been hard-wired into a vehicle. To save space on the SD card, the majority of dash cameras will only save footage in parking mode after motion or an impact has been detected.

After the ignition is turned off your camera will automatically go into parking mode, it will then stay in this mode until the vehicles voltage drops to a pre selected level or the vehicles ignition is turned on. We typically find that a camera will record for 2-4 hours after the ignition is turned off. However, this can be extended with the use of additional battery packs.

How can I use parking mode?

BlackVue Power Magic proThe first thing to check is that you have a camera that is capable of parking mode, brands like BlackVue, Lukas and Thinkware will all go into parking mode automatically when hard-wired. To be able to hard-wire the camera you will need the correct cable, Lukas and Thinkware cameras come with this hard-wire lead as standard in the box, however, BlackVue cameras need an additional piece of equipment called the power magic pro to be able to hard-wire the camera and enable parking mode.

Other cameras such as the Nextbase range have internal batteries. The battery is charged when the vehicles ignition is on. Once the ignition is turned off, the camera will be powered by it’s own battery. Depending on the model of camera, you may have to manually enable parking mode before you leave the vehicle.

Extending the duration of parking modeCellink B Battery Pack

For those who want their camera to record over night, an additional battery pack is available. By purchasing a battery pack, you can significantly increase your parked recording time. When the vehicle is on the battery pack is charged, for a full charge you need to drive for approximately 1.5 hours. The most common battery pack is the Cellink B, which was designed specifically for use with dash cameras and will give you around 15 hours of parking mode with a front and rear system or 30 with a front only camera.

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How to change the Mobius camera settings

How to change the Mobius camera settings

The Möbius range of cameras can be configured to suit your needs. With settings such as resolution, recording mode and clip size being able to change. We have created a simple step-by-step guide on how to change the settings of yur mobius, this guide works for all Möbius variations.

Step 1: Download the Möbius software onto your laptop or PC, this can be done at: http://www.mytempfiles.info/mobius/index.html

Step 2: Plug your camera (with the SD card inside) into your laptop/PC’s USB port.

Step 3: Once you computer recognises a device has been inserted you will need to open the software that you just downloaded. When it loads you will be met by a screen similar to the one below. Click on the memory card at the top to screen to access the settings. You can now go in and out each tab and change the settings to your preference.

Step 5: Click set parameters, once you have done this you will be notified that the parameters have now been saved. Your Möbius is now ready for use.

If you experience any problems whilst trying to change the settings of your camera please contact us, one of the team will be happy to help.

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Do dashcams make good vehicle CCTV systems?

Do dashcams make good vehicle CCTV systems?

It’s a saddening (and maddening) state of affairs, that many people see fit to needlessly damage other peoples vehicles. From tyres being slashed to paintwork being keyed, we’ve spoken to many customers who are suffering at the hands of vandals, and who are looking for a solution and we get asked almost daily whether dashcams can offer protection against this type of problem.

Just recently, as you may have seen in the mainstream media, the driver of an Aston Martin Vantage innocently parked their car in a Tesco’s car park, only to return to find their car scratched, with a reported £9,000 worth of damage. Fortunately on this occasion, the driver had a BlackVue dashcam installed and images of the vandal quickly went viral, resulting in a 48-year old man being questioned by the police.

So that’s it, case closed, dashcam footage helped to catch the vandal, so they work, right?! Simply choose a product from our wide range of cameras which offer parking protection and your troubles will be over, right?!

Well, yes and no. Dashcams are definitely an option if you’re looking to protect your vehicle and capture footage while it’s parked, but they do have some limitations and there are some things to consider, depending on what you’re hoping to achieve, which we’d like to highlight to ensure that you find the correct product for your needs.

The difference between motion detection and parking protection

Even the most basic dashcams seems to have some motion detection functionality nowadays, and this enables the camera to be switched to a mode where it will monitor activity within it’s view, and if detects any movement, it will start to record. When it no longer detects anything of interest, it stops recording again. As useful as this feature is, it does have some limitations.

Firstly, from when it initially detects movement, these is a short delay while it boots up before it actually starts recording. While usually less than a second, these vital moments could be crucial if you need to refer to this footage for evidence. Secondly, motion detection usually needs to be enabled manually when required, which can mean that you need to remember to do it each and every time you park your vehicle. And you just know that something will happen on the once occasion that you forget to turn it on, right?!

More advanced parking protection modes can detect when you have been parked for a short time and automatically switch to the relevant setting, where upon they continually monitor activity, and create a video file whenever motion is detected. Cleverly, these video files usually start a few seconds before the activity was detected, meaning you get a clear picture of the entire event.

View all of our cameras that offer parking protection

Low light performance

One of the enquiries we receive the most is from frustrated drivers who, for whatever reason, have become the target of vandals, and are looking to catch them in the act with dashcam footage. Unfortunately a lot of this vandalism occurs under the shadow of darkness, so some form of night-vision is a requirement. Unfortunately, while some dashcams feature infra-red LEDs, there are a gimmick, and dashcams simply aren’t designed for use in low-light conditions. During regular use at night, their view is illuminated by headlights and street lighting which means that they’re able to capture good quality images, and some models also feature a high dynamic range which allows them to manipulate this image to improve them even further, but without a significant light source dashcams will struggle to capture any meaningful footage. Even if you park in an area with adequate street lighting, which might enable you to capture a person committing a crime, it’s debatable as to whether you would be able to make out enough detail to identify them.

360 degree coverage

During normal use, a dashcam only really needs to cover the view from the front, and possibly the rear, in order to capture the vast majority of meaningful activity that it needs to. However, in the case of a vehicle being targeted by vandals or thieves, the sides of the vehicle are prime target areas, and so many of our customers are looking for 360 degree coverage from their cameras. While it is possible to add multiple cameras inside a vehicle to cover additional angles, this can cause complications where mounting and powering are concerned, and so isn’t the ideal application for dashcams.

Hardwiring

Hardwiring is the process of connecting your car camera directly to your vehicles electrical system so that it can receive power while your ignition is off. Many vehicles will cut the supply of power to the cigarette lighter socket when the ignition is switched off, meaning that you can’t run dashcams this way if you hope to use the parking features. By hardwiring your camera, you ensure that it has a continual source of power and so it can record while you’re away from your car, but this can mean some extra effort and expense, especially as we’d always recommend the use of a qualified professional when carrying out electrical work.

Memory card capacity

This becomes less of an issue as dashcam technology moves forwards and they can accept larger capacity memory cards, but with the majority of our customers opting for relatively small, inexpensive memory cards with their cameras, this is still worth mentioning. As a rough guide, a 32GB memory card will hold around 5-6 hours of high quality footage in total which, through loop recording and clever space management systems is perfectly acceptable during regular use. However, some customers are looking for a system which will store many hours, or even days worth of footage as a more traditional CCTV would and this simply isn’t achievable without a very high capacity memory card, which are still prohibitively expensive. And even then, only a very small number of dashcam models support this size of card.

Live streaming

The idea of being able to connect to your dashcam, from anywhere in the world, and see activity around your vehicle is one that we’re often asked about, but there simply hasn’t been an answer to. However, that may all be about to change with the development of “BlackVue in the Cloud”. This new feature from BlackVue is only in it’s early launch stages but seems to offer some exciting functionality that may offer a new dimension in vehicle security. The technical details are, at time of writing, still not fully understood, but essentially, if your dashcam is able to connect to a wifi hotspot, it will be able to upload live images that you’ll be able to view via an online portal. While this is largely aimed at fleet managers, to enable them to track their vehicles, it clearly has significant security benefits too.

Summary

So, hopefully you’re now more aware as to the strengths and weaknesses that dashcams have, where vehicle security is concerned. There’s no denying that car cameras can play a key role in protecting your vehicle while you’re away from it, but they might not be the solution in every case.

However, if you still think that a dashcam is something that you’d like to look into further, you can browse all of our models that offer any form of parking protection here. Cameras that have proven popular in this area have been the BlackVue DR3500-FHD, the BlackVue DR650S-2CH and the Lukas LK-7950 which could each be worth a look. The BlackVue DR3500-FHD is a front-facing camera and is their entry-level dashcam, but it still features an advanced parking protection mode. The BlackVue DR650S-2CH and Lukas LK-7950 cameras each offer front and rear recording and will automatically switch to their parking modes when required.

If you have any questions as to whether car cameras might be suitable for your needs, please do get in touch and we’ll be happy to advise.

 

 

 
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How to solve DAB radio interference

How to solve DAB radio interference

Occasionally, some cameras can affect DAB radio reception in some cars. There’s no sure fire way to solve this but there are a few things that you can do to try to reduce or completely remove the interference caused by your dashcam.

1. The first thing to try is re-wiring the power cable so it runs in an alternative route, perhaps the other side of the car.

2. Try using a shielded power cable. These are usually more expensive but do offer better protection against interference.

3. Try using noise suppressors. These are small round magnets which clip onto each end of the cable and can help reduce the interference caused by the cable.

The interference may be caused by the camera itself or the cabling, or both. Some people have wrapped the camera in foil to see if that makes a difference to help determine whether the interference is caused by the camera or the cable. If the camera is the cause then there’s not a great deal that can be done.

Looking online, many people have made their own DIY solutions using foil or special electrical shielding spray but we can’t recommend these practices since they will invalidate the warranty, although they have obtained good results.