Reviewed: RAC 05 GPS-Enabled DashCam with Speed Cameras

AliOnHols · Pocket GPS Verifier Joined: Oct 15, 2008 Posts: 1941

that clip works for me. i cant read a reg plate of a car coming at me at night with me own eyes. i wouldnt expect a dash cam to be able to. it does capture the car in front with exceptional clarity imho.
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MaFt · Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2016 1:48 pm Post subject:

One question I have to ask is this: why would you want to know the registration of every car travelling the other way?

The only reason I can see that you would need a registration was if they crashed into you - but then you'd have a clearer view as they'd be in front of you and not off to the side. The issue in my footage was the side of the window obscuring it but that's the only place, really, I could get the camera... It needs to be easily accessible as the FOcus power socket is on all the time so can't just leave it in and connected as it won't turn itself on with the ignition.

sussamb · Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2016 2:00 pm Post subject:

My Focus power sockets go off when you switch off the ignition, although there is a delay of around 5 minutes. Maybe yours does the same?
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Privateer · Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2016 11:15 am Post subject:

I think that there are reasons to ask that a dashcam can record a number plate of a vehicle coming towards you. If you're the witness to a hit and run then your dashcam evidence would be useful if it is detailed enough.

Like MichaelEvans, I have had RoadHawk units for several years. All of my units are the HD (not HD 2) model. For the first year I used the standard settings, in the second year I experimented so I now have a pretty good audio/video quality both day and night - but that did involve a lot of experimentation which took a lot of time as I had to drive several hours in the daytime and nighttime (with and without streetlights) in order to have valid results of each change.

With my current settings I can normally freeze the frame of the dashcam output to read the number plate of an on coming vehicle when we're in an urban area (30mph). Approaches on faster roads will be harder (if not impossible) to read the number plate.

I'm running my RoadHawk on the following settings: 1920x1080; 30 frames per second; 12 Mb/s Bit rate. This equates to a file size of 102,400 KB (100 MB) per minute.

As MaFt has already pointed out if you increase the Bit rate then you increase the video quality. The RAC 03 has three settings for Bit rate, they are:

Super fine: 18 Mb/s
Fine: 16 Mb/s
Normal:10 Mb/s

The trouble is that whilst you can increase resolution, fps, and Bit rate it is a trade off for file space. My RoadHawk HD settings (1920x1080; 30 frames per second; 12 Mb/s Bit rate) use 100 MB per minute. Therefore on a 64 GB SD card I can get just over 9½ hours recording time before the files start to be overwritten. You increase the settings and you need to increase the size of the storage card if you want to keep the same amount of recording time.

At the end of the day, we all have specific reasons to have dashcams and we adjust the settings on our dashcams accordingly.

Regards,
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MaFt · Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2016 4:19 pm Post subject:

MaFt · Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2016 4:30 pm Post subject:

OK, had a near-miss recorded today on the RAC 05 here: https://youtu.be/gA5c5R2G_48

On the raw footage you can clearly make out the registration of the truck as it goes past, however it's not as easy on the YouTube video - I assume this is down to bit-rates and compression etc etc

MaFt

Privateer · Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2016 5:12 pm Post subject:

At 00:11 the registration is reasonably visible as "MX12 NGY" and confirms to be that if you replay the video a couple of times.

That roundabout's markings are awful. I would normally say that the lorry had right of way as you should give priority to traffic approaching from your right, unless directed otherwise by signs, road markings or traffic lights (Rule 185). The lorry comes off the roundabout and moves to the left hand lane (lane 1).

I'm not an expert driver by any means (I'll leave that for others) but you're not in a segregated left-turn lane (where you do not give way to traffic). The road markings are very messy. I think that it was probably best to just give way.

Does that roundabout have any history of being an accident black spot?

I'm not an expert but would be interested in what others think.

Regards,
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Robert.
iPhone 6s Plus, iOS 14.0.1: iOS CamerAlert v2.0.7
TomTom GO Mobile iOS 2.3.1; TomTom (UK & ROI and Europe) iOS apps v1.29
Garmin Camper 770 LMT-D

DennisN · Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2016 5:20 pm Post subject:

Instead of "Lorry nearly takes off my front end", perhaps a change of title to "This is why you (I) have to give way at roundabouts."? Very Happy

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fthompson · Occasional Visitor Joined: Oct 16, 2010 Posts: 3

I bought the new RAC 03 rear view mirror the in power socket being on the top when the power lead is inserted it sticks up fairly high and fouls the head lining,ok fo me. But when my wife adjusts the mirror to suit her position. It very difficult to get the mirror right due to the power plug. So I invested in right angled connector 90 deg. This has solved the problem this adapter from eBay 0.99p for two post free. Well worth the weeks wait I. The post

M8TJT · Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2016 6:51 pm Post subject:

There is nothing messy about the lane markings. There is clearly a give way line across the carriageway as well as the usual give way to traffic on the roundabout rule. Lock MaFt up and throw away the key. Laughing

Or better still, Take him out and shoot him. Catch 22.

DennisN · Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2016 6:54 pm Post subject:

I wasn't going to say that - because I'm a nice person.

Just catch 1 - MaFt. Tie him to a post and shoot him. Nicely.
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Dennis

If it tastes good - it's fattening.

Two of them are obesiting!!

MaFt · Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2016 9:43 pm Post subject:

MaFt · Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2016 9:44 pm Post subject:

DennisN · Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2016 10:39 pm Post subject:

OK. New title "It is shocking that you (I) have to give way at roundabouts, otherwise you (i) will get a shock".
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Dennis

If it tastes good - it's fattening.

Two of them are obesiting!!

M8TJT · Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2016 11:17 pm Post subject:

Click bait works for me. Sometimes

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