Updated UHD model
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Driving trucks is not an easy job! You’re driving a multi-ton machine at high speeds, and the road is full of smaller cars that would fit under your trucks tires.
Not to mention that sometimes your payload will be dangerous, too, like flammable chemicals or oil! Or maybe your payload is worth hundreds of thousands of dollars!
Either way, it is not an easy job, right?
Spending so much time on the road, you’re going to see some weird stuff. There will be crazy drivers, road rage incidents, unfortunate accidents, and things you never even imagined.
Usually, you drive through without any problems, but sometimes, you just won’t be able to avoid it.
At those times, it’s useful to have a dashcam running that records the footage. After all, you are the guy that’ll have to answer to your boss if something happens to the truck, and you want to be able to show you are innocent, right?
The BlackVue DR650GW Truck Dashboard Camera
To get high quality footage of the road, we recommend the BlackVue DR650GW dashboard camera. This model of the DR650 is specially adapted for trucks.
It is a two-channel dashcam, which means there are two cameras – one for the front and one for the back.
The front dash cam is a sleek cylinder that can fit anywhere on your windshield – preferably right behind or right below your rear-view mirror. The front camera records a wide 130-degree view, so everything you see and a little more is captured in the video.
The rear camera comes in a rugged waterproof housing that you can mount on the very back of your truck. From the rear camera, a tough 15m(46 feet) coax cable carries the video signal from it to the main unit you have on your dashboard.
All of the recording takes place in the front unit.
Recording specifications:
Front camera: Smooth 1080p HD at 30fps
Rear camera: Smooth 720p HD at 30fps
View videos and manage your camera
The BlackVue DR650GW has WiFi built in so you can connect to it using your Apple or Android phone. From your phone, you can change the camera settings and view/edit/delete videos. You can also upload videos directly to YouTube from the app itself.
Recording modes
This truck dash cam records in 3 modes:
Normal mode: In this mode, the camera will keep recording video until it runs out of space on the memory card. When it does, it will erase the earlier files and record over them. This is useful for getting rid of unwanted, uneventful videos.
Event mode: In this mode, whenever the camera’s built in sensor detects sudden movement like a jolt, shock, or hard brake, it will automatically save that video recording and prevent it from being overwritten.
Parking mode: If you wire your dashcam directly into your truck’s battery(using Power Magic Pro, included with this camera), the camera will continue to receive power even when your truck is off. When the camera detects any motion, it will automatically start recording.
This way, you can still know what goes on around your truck even if you are not in it.
GPS
The DR650GW truck dash cam has GPS built in, so it will record GPS data along with video. When you use the BlackVue software to view videos on your computer, you can see GPS data alongside video. The GPS data can be overlayed on a map.
Installation
Installation is fairly straightforward. You’ll get everything you need right out of the box. You will have to run the coax cable from the cab back to the end of the trailer, and mount your rear camera on the trailer. If you wish to use the camera as a CCTV, you’ll also have to wire Power Magic Pro into your fusebox.
Power Magic Pro is necessary for using the camera as a CCTV because it will prevent the dash cam from over discharging your battery so you don’t come back to a dead engine battery!
Are there cheaper options available?
Yes, there are – a quick search for “dash cams” and you’ll find hundreds of Chinese sellers listing their dash cams. Those dash cams, however, have no quality control and no accountability. Chinese generic brand dash cams are notoriously bad and it’s like a gamble. You may get a good one, or you may not.
The video quality is also hit or miss.
Here is a sample video from the BlackVue DR650GW(note the quality and clarity):
BlackVue is a reputed manufacturer that specializes in dash cameras. You can be sure that they make the best stuff, and their cameras are built to last.
Plus, additional features like the companion app and parking mode can’t be found in those cameras. Finally, with the BlackVue camera, you get a warranty – so you know your investment is safe.