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Uk Prius Dash Cam

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Main Forum' started by Jimmy6616, Aug 27, 2018.

  1. Jimmy6616

    Jimmy6616 Junior Member

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    Purchased a Nextbase 312GW dash cam but the sucker mount won’t stick to the ‘black dots’ and to locate it somewhere really means on the upper right or left windscreen which I’m not keen on. Would much rather have it somewhere near the middle . As you know there are various sensors behind the mirror. Any recommendations from uk gen 4 owners as to what you’ve purchased \ fitted ? I possibly could use a 3M pad to stick the sucker to the black dots??

    Jim
     
  2. The Professor

    The Professor Senior Member

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    I fitted mine directly to the side of the black dots on the passenger side. I don't notice it there, and it's as central as you'll get it. The windscreen wiper still clears the glass in that area too.

    You can use sticky pads on the dots, but at some risk. The sticky pads don't stick well to them, and they tend to fall off. In a previous car I pulled off the black dots when I removed the dashcam.
     
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  3. RCO

    RCO Senior Member

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    Halfords put mine beside the black dots on the passenger side and I don't have any problems with that. Of course I can't read the button labels from the drive seat, but that's hardly a major problem. They hid the cable behind the trim and just a short length comes out from the passenger footwell to my power splitter unit. Should be easy to uninstall when my contract ends in 2019.
     
    #3 RCO, Aug 28, 2018
    Last edited: Aug 28, 2018
  4. Jimmy6616

    Jimmy6616 Junior Member

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    Thanks guys will follow your lead
     
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  5. lesturner

    lesturner Taming the Dragon - Tennessee

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    I have used the heavy duty scotch black tape made for holding edge molding on vehicles. Found it at the local auto parts store. Has held through 2 Northern Indiana winters and summers (-15 to +102 degrees F)...
     
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  6. CooCooCaChoo

    CooCooCaChoo Active Member

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    Yeah, those black dots are called frits and I put my dash cam on the passenger side next to the camera. You can tuck the cabling into inside panels and it will look nice and clean.

    The frits are supposed to be really hard to remove... :p
     
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  7. The Professor

    The Professor Senior Member

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    I've doubt the car I had then was anywhere near reasonable quality in any aspect. They were akin to self-adhesive stickers. You could remove them with relative ease.
     
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  8. Jimmy6616

    Jimmy6616 Junior Member

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    Did you fit the dash cam with a hardware 12v kit or the provided usb to cigar plug? I’ve fitted using a 12v kit and suffering really bad dab reception
     
  9. The Professor

    The Professor Senior Member

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    Not sure if you're asking me or not, but yes, I used a hardwire kit. No problems with DAB. But then it's a different radio transmitter, different geology, different car, different hard wire kit, different dashcam, etc.
     
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  10. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    sounds more like they are on the fritz.

    .
     
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  11. Smaug1

    Smaug1 Member

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    I have a suction cup dash cam too. Their lens' are wide enough angle that it doesn't matter if they're centrally placed or not. Aim it just a bit toward the center, best you can and don't worry about it. I think it's a better option than scratching the dots off or trying to find something that will stick to them, such that it'll pull them off (thus de-valuing your car down the road)

    What I've been having trouble with is it falling off when it gets hot, and I get to my car and find it hanging by the cord.

    I've tried leaving the windows open, but have had my interior soaked a couple times by rain recently, so I don't think I'll do that any more. I may put some high temperature double-stick tape on the suction pad, since it is going to be more or less a permanent fixture in the car for the next 10 years.
     
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  12. CooCooCaChoo

    CooCooCaChoo Active Member

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    Heh. FYI, for those of you who are thinking about a rear facing dash cam as well, any placement on the rear window results in a variable amount of static coming through the radio. At least for me and the model of dash cam that I have. Static can be minimized if you don't place it right on the defrosting wires.
     
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  13. The Professor

    The Professor Senior Member

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    I'm going to guess that's because the radio antenna is also part of the heater element? That is a common trick. Curious if just FM radio is affected out DAB, USB, etc too.
     
  14. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    You can avoid those issues altogether by putting the camera on the outside of the car thusly;
    20180908_140404-1.jpg
    .
     
  15. Smaug1

    Smaug1 Member

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    That would take a water-tight, salt-resistant and UV-resistant camera. Not to mention you'd have to clean the lens and hope it doesn't get hit by any rocks.

    I'll take the windshield woes over that any day. ;)
     
  16. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    That above picture is the rear camera
    ;)