Akenori DriveCam trip video recorder reviewed

MikeB

The Akenori DriveCam is a small device that records HD video as you drive in your car. It incorporates a GPS which is used to embed the time, location and speed of the vehicle into the video. With many incidents of bad driving, accidents and 'dodgy' insurance claims this device could both reduce your insurance premiums and also be used as evidence to attribute blame if you are unfortunate enough to have an accident. The Akenori DriveCam is priced at £269.95 and is available from Exeros Technologies www.exeros-technologies.com

The Akenori DriveCam is just over 2 inches wide and tall and just a tad more deep. The camera points out towards the rear whilst the front sports a 2.4" display. The whole assembly hangs off a mounting bracket that is glued to your windscreen with very strong double sided tape. The device does not have an internal battery for recording, but then it doesn't need one, simply wire up the the USB power lead to your cigar lighter outlet and the DriveCam will switch on with the ignition. This feature will only work for accessory power sockets that are activated by the car ignition.

Click here to read the full review.

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Mike Barrett

mikealder

M8TJT · Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2012 8:26 pm Post subject:

Is this not true of other similar devices?

carl_w · Lifetime Member Joined: Mar 13, 2004 Posts: 242

Let's be honest, if you had slotted in behind the Audi as you should have when you realized it was going faster than you even though you were in the overtaking lane, the Astra would never have been able to undertake.

MikeB · Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2012 11:24 pm Post subject:

carl_w · Lifetime Member Joined: Mar 13, 2004 Posts: 242

I would disagree -- if you were not travelling faster than the Audi then why not use the left lane?

However, this highlights the problem I have with these sorts of devices. I can imagine it won't be long before they're mandated by insurance companies (or effectively mandated by making your insurance ludicrously expensive unless you have one). And TBH whilst I'm not the world's worst driver I don't drive like a saint all the time.

Oldboy · Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2012 9:40 am Post subject:

carl_w · Lifetime Member Joined: Mar 13, 2004 Posts: 242

aj2052 · Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2012 11:34 pm Post subject:

Oldboy wrote:

johnnym100

Mike

Thanks for the review and the professional video clip, and I am keen to stay away from any driving etiquette discussions.

I do have some questions:

How does it compare with a RoadHawk? (I have an RH-1 but even comparing with the DC-whatever would be useful). Putting the Video screen & speed camera warnings aside as those are not features on the RoadHawk.
How does the video quality compare? I assume much better quality on this device as my RoadHawk can only make out a number plate from about 15 feet away. Any info on how Low light performance compares?

As the camera hangs down from the mount (or mirror I think from the video) does it obscure windscreen view to the nearside? Is this legal e.g. The dangling air fresheners, trinkets, furry dice etc are MOT failures.

As a pocketGPSworld subscriber, can your speed camera database be installed on it?

John.

Philhen · Posted: Fri Aug 10, 2012 11:00 am Post subject: The In-Car Camera

On a completely different tack, I have just finished working as an accident investigator (over 12 years) and whilst a large number of accidents happen at the front of the car, there are also a large number that occur on either side and at the rear. You cannot rely on the fact that it will happen in front of you, it just doesn't work that way. Rear end shunts are all too common! Another area of incident is where someone pulls out onto an apparently clear road, and before you know it, there is a motorcycle (or a car) travelling at high speed which ploughs into the side of your vehicle, usually with distastrous consequences and not unusually fatal. All motorcyclists claim that they were travelling under the local speed limit at the time of the accident!
My point in all this is that an in-car camera is not worth spending money on unless it can see all round your vehicle - it is then, and only then, that you are protected from all the spurious claims from 3rd parties and their legal representatives!
Philhen.

MaFt · Posted: Fri Aug 10, 2012 11:19 am Post subject: Re: The In-Car Camera

PaulB2005 · Posted: Fri Aug 10, 2012 1:43 pm Post subject:

Even if it just prooves you weren't speeding, you didn't suddenly slam on the brakes or that YOU weren't the one that jumped a red light a forward facing camera can still prove a lot. Not worthless.

TonyIshUk · Occasional Visitor Joined: Aug 10, 2005 Posts: 52

Roadhawk have told me they are expecting a HD camera in the near future, Not sure if it will replace the DC 1 or addition to stock. No price quoted yet.

Rgds

BunnyBallerina · Occasional Visitor Joined: Dec 21, 2005 Posts: 37

Are you able to YouTube the actual output of the camera so we can assess its quality - eg how far away you could read a number plate etc

BB

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