Garmin Dash Cam 20 Review - Why doesn't everyone have one of these?

Of all the things Russia has given us, including vodka, ushankas and questionable human rights policies, I think my favorite thing is the Dashcam. Due to rampant insurance fraud (or lack of insurance) on the Mad Max-esque roads of the Tundra, many Russians have embraced the dashboard camera, or the dashcam as a way to protect themselves from tanks, falling comets and poorly maintained Yugo’s. Great examples of this can be found here and here.

But why America is slow to adopt the dashcam? It’s such a great idea, and after using one for the last few weeks, I’m hooked.

Garmin sent me one of their newer models to check out, the Garmin Dash Cam 20, their latest HD dashcam offering that's GPS enabled. Being a photographer, I was curious to see how a dashcam worked in a real world, and how it could integrate into my commute.

Here’s what’s most awesome about it:

•           2.3” LCD screen that auto-dims
•          Full time, date, location and speed stamp
•          Full HD 1080P, 720P or VGA resolution
•          Integrated microphone
•          G-force induced incident sensor
•          Very wide angle lens for total road coverage
•          Compact, discreet size
•          Dashcam Player Software is excellent

First things first- The Dash Cam 20 comes with everything you need to get started, including the camera unit and a sturdy mounting suction cup, which is joined to the same ball-joint used by all GPS manufacturers. It also comes with a power cable for the car, and a charging / transfer cable, as well as a 4GB micro-SD card and reader. It also has instructions, but honestly, no one is probably going to read them.  Set-up is extremely straightforward; just plug it into your lighter power outlet in the car and mount it. it took me a couple of tries to find the best position before I settled on mid-windshield underneath the rearview mirror in order to get the best view of the road.

Everything included in the box

The unit itself is tiny, fitting in the palm of your hand.

Mounting from outside the car is discreet enough to where it *probably* won't get stolen

From inside the car, the Dash Cam 20 provides unobtrusive
and non-distracting coverage of the road
ahead, while recording audio from inside the car.

Operation is very simple. Just plug it in, and leave it on. Forget about it, until you need it, which hopefully you won’t. The Dash Cam 20 continuously records your drive, and overwrites data as it goes so you don’t have to swap Micro SD cards. You can also protect data so it doesn't get overwritten. It turns on automatically when the car is powered on, and the display dims after a few minutes so not as to distract the driver. The drop-down power cord is kind of annoying, but it’s just one more gadget in my car that I'll eventually get used to. It doesn’t really bother me as a driver, but I do have to make sure passengers don’t get tangled up in it. If I really was ambitious, I would hardwire it.

Another benefit to the Dash Cam 20 is the built in G-sensor, which automatically saves a file of footage before and after an “incident” so you always have a record. Incidents are triggered by abrupt G-force changes like collisions, big potholes or hard braking like when pedestrians jump in front of your car. I personally found that the sensor was rather sensitive (which is adjustable), but this is likely because of my car’s stiff suspension on poorly maintained NYC roads. If in fact an incident happens, you can pull the unit to review footage, or capture snapshots using the still photo function at your set resolution. Want to prove to the DOT that a massive pothole destroyed your rim? You’re covered. If someone tries to catch you in a swoop and squat? Covered. See a dude on fire running down the shoulder into opposing traffic on the Cross Bronx? Well, you get the point. (Totally wish I had this camera when I saw that). It also helps to keep valets in check, and keeps them from taking 143 MPH joyrides in your car, like what happened to me that one time. 

Lets get into the tech: The Dash Cam 20 records in either 1080p, 720p or VGA resolution at 30 FPS With the supplied 4 GB MicroSD card, while record times are 48 minutes in 1080p, 2.2 hours in 720p or a whopping 4.8 hours in VGA. The unit will accept up to 32 GB MicroSD cards though, significantly extending recording time to about 6.5 hours in Full HD. Due to my average commute taking two hours each way, I opted for the 720P mode, and found the footage to be more than adequate. The unit does require a power source for extended use, which is a supplied power connector thoughtfully paired to a mini-USB connector. It does have a built in battery that’s good for about an hour, which is likely included in case you need to use its still camera function outside the vehicle.
Footage from the camera is recorded in the .AVI format, which is not a problem for Windows users, or it can be played with Garmin’s free Dash Cam Viewer software. To get footage from the camera, you can either pop out the SD card and use the included adapter, or plug the unit directly into their computer and download in mass storage mode using the included cable.

I was very skeptical about the image quality that these units can produce. The lens is a very wide angle, yet has no problem covering the majority of the road. While it’s not a true 180 degrees, the lens does a great job of providing an extremely wide angle of view with minimal distortion or vignetting.  I positioned it so my hood is just within the frame, to give anyone viewing the footage a true view of what I’m seeing on the road.

Still images captured from the Dash Cam 20. You can still read signs and license
plates and other info with the cameras focus. This day was bright overcast.
Note the bottom of the screen includes speed and location data

The camera lens also has a fixed focus, so while you won’t be shooting shallow depth of field portraits with it anytime soon, all of the relevant numbers in a scene such as license plates and vehicle marking will be clearly in focus. Combined with the 30 fps frame rate, details do a great job staying crisp under highway speeds and throughout various lighting conditions.

Since we don’t always drive in sunlight, the low light ability is something else to touch on. The performance is surprisingly decent, but there is some smearing from the built in noise reduction algorithms that is noticeably present in still and footage in low light. The ISO / Sensitivity is also one of the many adjustable options, perfect for those that frequently drive at night or in dark conditions. The transition from low light to bright light, such as when coming out of a tunnel is also surprisingly quick, with the cameras meter rapidly adjusting exposure to changing light.

In low light conditions such as in a tunnel or at night, the Dash Cam 20 retains
its ability to create a legible image, although with some smearing due to noise suppression

But my favorite part of this camera is actually the built in GPS function, which is well worth the upgrade from lower priced versions of this model.  While it will tell you your latitude and longitude coordinates, it also tells you your vehicle speed, which is both great for reviewing footage, but also excellent if you need to make a case in court by fighting a ticket or in other litigation. Not only that, it makes reviewing footage that much more fun, and I can prove to my wife that I’m not actually speeding all the time.

I’m usually not one for OEM software, but the Garmin Dash Cam Player software is well worth the free download. When playing files, the viewer automatically populated a map of the route for the file, and also marks any incidents in the timeline for quick review. It also has a display that shows some arrows on the car, but I have no idea what they are. I assume pitch or movement direction which shows lane changes, etc.  Download the software here -  you’ll be glad you did. http://www8.garmin.com/support/download_details.jsp?id=5815

The Dash Cam viewer Software is a great addition to the unit, providing
mapping information and other data for reviewing footage. 

The Garmin Dash Cam 20 currently retails for $249.99, but you can get it online for as low as $180 at other on-line retailers. It’s a bit pricey, but considering both the peace of mind and the GPS features that other units lack, it’s worth the investment if you do a lot of driving. 

New baby, new shoes, and some new help for commuters

Really? Over a month since my last post? But it isn't for lack of trying. The good news is that I took three weeks off to unplug and to welcome a baby daughter, so there was no commuting. There was also no sleeping or relaxing, but that's par for the course.

Yesterday I had to miss work also had to go get new tires put on and a rim straightened. why? Because on Friday i was cruising through Bethpage Park at about 50 mph when a lady blew a stop sign directly in front of me. She stopped in the middle, so i had to dive left to avoid hitting her and the car behind her. So I pull a full-on power slide, and nail a curb with my driver side and come to a stop. Luckily it wasn't a true curb, one of those gradual concrete risers. So now I have a puncture wound in my Potenza RE960 and a bent rim with some major rash. I spent the weekend trying to find a set of 245/45/18's that were under $300 bucks a piece. she drives fine now, but the wheel points true north at about 12:30, and the alignment is way off. so that's another thing i have to get fixed.

But a lot has been happening since i have been out, mostly thanks to U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and U.S. Rep. Michael Grimm (R-13-NY) and their push of the commuter protection act. Not many people know that Port Authority is actually privately held and one of the aims of the bill is to put tolls back under government control. It also pushes for accountability and transparency. As you probably know, GWB and other PA crossing have had a major toll hike and will be even more in the next few years. These tolls are funding other PA projects that create income through rent yet don't go back into infrastructure or to commuters. Check out the Senator's bill here and give support.

http://grimm.house.gov/press-release/rep-grimm-senator-lautenberg-introduce-commuter-protection-act-return-oversight-unjust

Commuting this week is going to suck.

So, thinking about driving into the city this week? You should probably think twice.

The traffic is only beginning to start. This morning I got on the northern state, and the sign says "Delays to exit 17". That's delays to Goddamn Queens. The signs should just say "Nassau County - delays." Perhaps you can find the best route by using one of those nifty signs that tell you travel times? Good luck with that, as they have all been knocked out of commission since Irene, and sit there with blank displays. Even the level traffic indicator on the GWB hasn't worked in Months, but i guess that's your tolls at work.

First, the Port Authority decided to raise tolls. Again. Now crossing rivers at PA bridges and tunnels is going to cost you 12 bucks in cash, or $9.50 with an EZ pass. Driving a truck? That’s 13 bucks. Per axle. Be prepared for extra long waiting lines at the cash lanes as confused people dig in their cup holders for enough coins to cough up the extra dough. Additionally, those pricks always stay in the EZ pass lane until the last second and then hop over, causing traffic.

Finally, the UN in is town. This means total and complete gridlock across the entire island of Manhattan. Going anywhere from 6th ave to the East River, downtown through the 40's? You should probably walk it, as you'll get there faster. Expect random street closures as dignitaries and the President are in session, and also a tour is expected of the Ground Zero site at some point as well. All those dignitaries have to stay somewhere too, so expect more closures in the AM and afternoon as they leave their hotels. So if you see a convoy of black SUV's coming your way, expect to see a street closure in your future.

Told ya it was gonna suck. Good luck.

How I’m going to save about $600 this year for my cars

Lets face it, gas isn’t getting cheaper. Tolls are going up. Its time to start cutting back somewhere.
This weekend, I did something I haven’t done since high school - I changed my own oil.

It was actually my local fast-lube place that inspired me to start doing this. While getting the car serviced, the guy has my hood up, and he can see that there is a lot of work done to this motor, and its obvious that this is a well cared for car. The guy then walks into the waiting room, and shows me my (clean) cabin air filter, and tells me I need to replace it. I just did these about 5K miles ago, and tell him to put it back. He then tries to convince me I need a transmission flush and new wipers. Yeah, I’m not going back there. I also skipped the “tips” bin on the way out.

Why go back to changing my own oil? Well, here’s what I figure: I started using synthetic in my car, and my wife’s uses regular. It’s not that I don’t care about my wife’s car, its that she drives a Honda four-banger and the thing could run on bacon grease if need be. My oil changes are about $60, and hers are about $35. Multiply this by a few times a year, and it starts to add up really fast. I change oil every 5000 miles, because I don’t buy into the every 3000 mile hype that lube places try to make you believe. So at a few times a year, that’s $400 for my car, and about $175 for my wife’s car. Why have I been spending this money?

So this weekend, I went down to Autozone, and picked up $80 worth of supplies, including jackstands, funnel, a Fram filter (the grip is nice), a 15 quart drain pan and a five liter jug of synthetic oil. Previously, the only thing stopping me from doing this myself is that I had no where to put the used oil. Used automotive oil is a huge threat to the environment, highly toxic, and there are heavy fines for disposing of it improperly. AutoZone now takes oil free of charge for recycling. I figure I’ll drop it off when I go in to get some wiper fluid or blades or something. So all things considered, now I’m negative 20 bucks, but the next time I do this, I’ll be ahead $40. And the savings grow every time after that.

The process is so much easier than I remember, just raise the car, drain, seal and put on new filter and refill. Took me about 40 minutes, most of which was just jacking the car up and waiting for the oil to drain. Seeing as how time spent driving and waiting at a lube place is about 30 minutes, this only cost me about 10 minutes in time.

What are the other benefits? Well for one, I know I am getting good parts, and not some recycled oil crap or inferior filters. The other thing is that I realize I’m doing a better job - after seeing how long it took the oil to drain, I don’t think its possible for the pan to completely drain out in the two minutes they have the plug off. That means this sludge has been sitting in my motor.

Now my car is happy and purring like a 300HP kitten.

Top 10 List for Metro NY Commuters

I am so freakin’ excited because summer is almost here. I actually hate the heat, and could care less about the beach, but summer means that all little rug rats are out of school and traffic decreases significantly. However, there is one more hurdle to pass, and that is today. The Memorial Day Holiday.

This Thursday is by far one of the most unpredictable traffic days of the year. We just don’t know if everyone is going to be taking Friday off to get a jump on their weekend plans. We don’t know how much extra construction there will be, because crews earn time and a half for working on the holiday. We don’t know how many non-commuters will get into accidents and cause major delays for the rest of us. But I can tell you the tolls will likely be hellish.

Nevertheless, I thought of something the other day. Everyone likes top 10 lists, so I put together a list of the top ways you know you are a hardcore commuter for the NY Metro Area.

1. You can straddle a pothole at 60 mph without breaking a sweat


2. You follow the person with their convertible top down on the CBX, and squeal with delight on the inside when they get the mystery water substance dumped on them that falls from the underpasses


3. 1010Wins and NewsRadio88 are your first two presets


4. Most other places in the world would consider our safe following distance to be tailgating


5. Don’t worry about that NYPD cop, I’m only doing 65 MPH in a 50 zone


6. You know that the word “express” usually means slower. For example, “express” lanes for NJ turnpike, Long Island “Express”way, etc


7. You have a deep appreciation for Jewish holidays, no matter what your faith is


8. You have a favorite toll lane


9. You know the Clearview is where it’s at


10. And finally, you get really annoyed on Fridays when all the slow, non commuters invade your way home.

Broken down:

99 Corolla, 96 BMW 3 series, 2000 Maxima, 96 Grand Marquis, 94 Grand Marquis

New Feature: Broken Down

So I had an idea for a new feature: My dad always told me to take notice of all the cars broken down on the side of the highway when we go driving, and when it comes time for you to buy a car, don't buy what you saw broken down. Sounds simple, but this is good advice - We live in a day and age where you can't really believe reliability surveys from any car manufacturer, and sometimes a really-real-world test is what you see on the side of the road.

So what spurred this? well today, it was the 2007 Nissan Versa in the right lane of the lower level of the GWB at a dead stop, which I nearly hit at 60 MPH. Bad place to stop, even with your hazards flashing. I have heard not -so-good things about the Versa, especially given Nissan's legendary reliability of the bulletproof VQ motors. Guess I'll keep an eye out for more of them.

So from now on, I am going to report on what I see broken down, and perhaps chart it out using some crazy Excel skills at the end of the year for a completely unscientific test.

Put the damn phone down

Only twice today was I nearly sideswiped by someone texting while driving. The geniuses in Albany only recently made it illegal. It also isn't like there is a stereotype for this - The asses on the blackberries are just as bad as the high school girls who can barely drive as is. Seriously though, this should be license suspension. But heres a great video from the other side of the pond.

lots of miles, one bad pothole

What a long weekend. Logged in probably close to 500 miles of driving this weekend visiting family and friends. Traffic wasn't that bad. I have to work most of this week, and I expect it to be light for the most part in the mornings, and a bit heavier on the way home. Holiday traffic patters are sometimes hard to call because of the amount of inexperienced drivers are on the road yield a larger percentage of accidents, which equal delays. but overall, its a lot lighter.

I am also sorry to report that i didn't get either the X5 or the 98 Suby Legacy GT 5 speed I asked for this Christmas.

Also, be on the lookout for a huge pothole that has opened up on the ramp from the Grand Central to Clearview. it's one of those thats barely noticeable until your on top of it, and next thing you know, you need a new rim.

Hidden Gem - Rt. 46

Massive inbound GWB delays? This is a secret that I’m not sure I should be sharing. When coming from NJ on the Western spur of 95N, take Rt. 46 eastbound when you know traffic is bad on the other approaches. The on Ramp might look like its backed up, but the reward is usually about 30 minutes off of your commute, and it drops you off with easy access to both levels of the GWB. Good to know on weekends, when the tolls are backed up with tourists, this route is usually free and clear.

map

[http://bit.ly/8dsBJT]