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Comment by mudil | Hacker News Reader

What camera do you use? Any recommendations?

I like the G1W-C models for cheap and works, and the BlackVue DR* (I have a DR650-GW) models for "really nice."

The BlackVue models have GPS, which is nice because it provides a speed readout overlaid on the video. They also have WiFi (mostly useless IMO) and run Linux, which means there are a few interesting hacks for them.

Two often-overlooked things to look for are:

* A capacitor for power-off storage (this is what keeps the camera on while the video is finalized and buffers flushed) instead of a LiPo, which is ill-suited to use in a hot, sunny area like the windshield.

* A discrete design without flashy chrome bits and blinky lights everywhere. The last think you want is someone breaking in and stealing your dashcam itself.

I'd avoid anything with a speed written on the screen. I can't see an insurance company passing up the opportunity to screw you for going 5-over

I turned off GPS on mine for that exact reason. If your speed is +- 10 mph the average speed of traffic, it's not a factor. Unless you're an insurance company, of course, and then it's a great excuse to deny a claim.

speed can probably be accurately inferred from video evidence anyway.

I'm pretty sure new cars are storing this information anyway.

Insurance companies will need to jump though hoops to access that data in a fender bender where you still have possession of the vehicle. If you provide it (in a dash cam video that's evidence that you shouldn't pay) you're giving them an opportunity to deny the claim right there. There's also a lot of cases where traffic is doing 20-over and 20-25 over is criminal in most states

If you have Progressive Snapshot or a similar device, that's storing driving data, but which cars do so by themselves?

Almost all modern cars have an Event Data Recorder as part of the SRS/Airbag system which records snapshot data in the event of a deployment. Here are some NHTSA standards for EDR storage:

http://www.nhtsa.gov/DOT/NHTSA/Rulemaking/Rules/Associated%2...

Here's a list of vehicles supported by one consultant's forensics software:

http://www.rimkus.com/uploads/pdfs/Event_Data_Recorder.pdf

I got the transcend drivepro 200 with the suction mount. I picked it because the video quality day and night were rated near the top, and it has wifi so I can configure it/download videos easily from my phone.

http://smile.amazon.com/Transcend-DrivePro-Recorder-Suction-...

I went all the way and hardwired it into the overhead console also, so it comes on/off with the car and there's no wire to attract attention :)

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