LugNut
09-06-2015, 01:32 PM
This is mainly for a wider readership, once search engines find this. I had done a lot of readings of others' blogs, etc. about the G1W, and here's some comments (IMHO):
The orange- and white-boxed "HD BLACKBOX CAR DVR 1080P" that I bought for cheap, new, off eBay, appears to have the genuine processor and lens.
Despite the cover photo showing a silver body cover and black lens ring, mine is all black bodied, with a shiny chrome ring (will be painted black once I'm convinced I don't need to return the dashcam).
All the included cables are excellent -- the power cord to the cigarette lighter plug was generously long for a Yaris (with about a foot extra), enough to hide it under the trim around the passenger's side and under the dash to the cigarette lighter plug.
The suction cup attachment is working perfectly so far. From experience, I used a mild cleaner on it and wiped it very clean with water afterward. Then cleaned the glass well and let it dry too. Then, again from experience, wetted the cup lightly with spread out spit. Then pressed it firmly to the glass before flipping the attaching lever. Then attached the camera. It's nice that the camera is easily removable from this mount.
This G1W proved to be extremely sensitive to the not-included microSD card that was used. I had read to use a Class 10 card instead of the recommended, slower Class 4 or 6, but the generic US$6 32GB card I bought on eBay proved to cause the G1W fits, even after a deep reformating (FAT32, w/ 32 bits) on a PC. The G1W had all sorts of weird problems, including locking up and not saving files including photos.
The provided instructions are awful -- the unit's on-screen messages were in Chinese text as default, but fortunately I stumbled upon the language-changing option. Lesson -- Watch a number of Youtube videos on setting up and using the G1W first! And precharge the unit with the provided USB cable from your computer.
In retrospect, I think many of the warnings I read about immediate failures of "genuine" G1W dash cams is due to the card used. After a few hours of frustration, I ran to Walmart and bought a Toshiba 16GB Class 4 microSD card (yes, you will likely want the SDHC adapter, or even the USB adapter, too) for $11. I installed it new, un-reformated. The G1W is working well now, but I have a Class 4 32GB card, by Transcend, on order under the advice found elsewhere here on the WWW.
So ... I think the G1W manufacturers would be wise to provide a working and preinstalled microSD card to decrease negative comments and returns. I bet they can get 32GB cards for only a couple of dollars each.
And get an English technical writer to totally rewrite the user's manual -- that's critical too. I'm available to do so, but expensive. :rolleyes:
The orange- and white-boxed "HD BLACKBOX CAR DVR 1080P" that I bought for cheap, new, off eBay, appears to have the genuine processor and lens.
Despite the cover photo showing a silver body cover and black lens ring, mine is all black bodied, with a shiny chrome ring (will be painted black once I'm convinced I don't need to return the dashcam).
All the included cables are excellent -- the power cord to the cigarette lighter plug was generously long for a Yaris (with about a foot extra), enough to hide it under the trim around the passenger's side and under the dash to the cigarette lighter plug.
The suction cup attachment is working perfectly so far. From experience, I used a mild cleaner on it and wiped it very clean with water afterward. Then cleaned the glass well and let it dry too. Then, again from experience, wetted the cup lightly with spread out spit. Then pressed it firmly to the glass before flipping the attaching lever. Then attached the camera. It's nice that the camera is easily removable from this mount.
This G1W proved to be extremely sensitive to the not-included microSD card that was used. I had read to use a Class 10 card instead of the recommended, slower Class 4 or 6, but the generic US$6 32GB card I bought on eBay proved to cause the G1W fits, even after a deep reformating (FAT32, w/ 32 bits) on a PC. The G1W had all sorts of weird problems, including locking up and not saving files including photos.
The provided instructions are awful -- the unit's on-screen messages were in Chinese text as default, but fortunately I stumbled upon the language-changing option. Lesson -- Watch a number of Youtube videos on setting up and using the G1W first! And precharge the unit with the provided USB cable from your computer.
In retrospect, I think many of the warnings I read about immediate failures of "genuine" G1W dash cams is due to the card used. After a few hours of frustration, I ran to Walmart and bought a Toshiba 16GB Class 4 microSD card (yes, you will likely want the SDHC adapter, or even the USB adapter, too) for $11. I installed it new, un-reformated. The G1W is working well now, but I have a Class 4 32GB card, by Transcend, on order under the advice found elsewhere here on the WWW.
So ... I think the G1W manufacturers would be wise to provide a working and preinstalled microSD card to decrease negative comments and returns. I bet they can get 32GB cards for only a couple of dollars each.
And get an English technical writer to totally rewrite the user's manual -- that's critical too. I'm available to do so, but expensive. :rolleyes: