Dash Cam Maintenance and Upgrade Tips

Ahhh...Spring! The weather is getting better all around and winter driving may finally be behind us. But just as you may be thinking the roads are finally safe again you may not realize that spring brings a whole new road of hazards that you need to pay attention to, from potholes, rain showers and sun glare to pedestrians, cyclists, and animals.

And just like how you need your dash cam to be reliable during the winter, you need it to be in tip top shape in spring as well. We are often contacted by people wondering why their dash cam is misbehaving. So, to help you get your dash cam ready for all the spring adventures ahead, we’ve put together some top tips for you. Got a motorcycle dash cam? These tips work for you, too!

You may have centered your dash cam and made sure it captures the right angles, but if the camera lens or the windshield is dirty, you will be left with nothing but blurry, smudgy footage.

While it isn’t hazardous, a dirty camera lens certainly makes it challenging to record clear images. Even in perfect daytime conditions, dirt and scratches can cause loss of contrast.

For best video recording results, ie. no “blurry” and “foggy” videos or excessive sun glare, you should clean the camera lens regularly.

1. If you live in a dusty environment, it’s a good idea to first remove the dust from the lens using a soft brush. Wiping the lens with dust still on it could lead to scratches.
2. Wipe the lens with a non-scratch lens cloth, optionally dampened with isopropyl alcohol.
3. Make sure to allow the lens to air dry.

You can also reduce glare on your dash cam by using a CPL filter. Make sure to rotate the filter after installation to get the angle just right.

Not getting crystal clean video quality? A dirty windshield could be the problem, especially for those who drove on heavily salted roads. Salt stains can quickly collect on car windshields during winter, leaving a white and gray film.

You can use your wipers, but a common problem with many vehicles is that the windshield wipers do not cover the entirety of the windshield, ie. the upper portion. This is especially true for older Honda Civics. While it’s always a good idea to have the camera in an area that the wipers will reach, sometimes it’s easier said than done.

When cleaning your windshield, stick with a non-ammonia based cleaner to avoid leaving an invisible film that can refract light. In other words, avoid cheap Windex, etc. You can try a 50-50 solution of water and white vinegar.

Blades are easy to overlook - until you need them to see through rain and muddy road spray from other cars. Clean the blades with a paper towel or cloth soaked in windshield washer fluid (or a mild detergent). And don’t forget about the rear windshield wipers, too, if you have them.

One of the main reasons for a dash cam to falter is because the SD card has not been regularly formatted and/or the microSD card has not been changed when it is worn out (ie. unable to store data any longer), which can happen when you drive a lot, or if you have left your vehicle and dash cam in storage during the winter (ahem, bikers, yes, talking about you here).

All dash cams we carry have continuous loop recording, which means when the memory card is full, it will automatically overwrite the oldest video. If you plan on doing a lot of driving, you may want to consider getting a larger capacity SD card. A higher capacity SD card means more data can fit onto the card before it runs out of storage space and needs to start overwriting old data.

All memory cards have a read/write lifespan. For instance, say you have a 32GB microSD card in your Thinkware U1000 2-Channel dash cam, which will hold about an hour and 30 minutes of recording; and say you drive about a combined 90 minutes to and from work each day. That’s one total write a day. If the SD card is good for 500 total writes, you’ll be needing to replace the card in a year - that’s considering you only use your car for work and you don’t have parking monitoring enabled, because if you do, then you will be looking for a replacement much sooner. If you upgrade to an SD card with a larger capacity, you will be able to record more before overwriting kicks in, thus ultimately not requiring to replace the SD card. It is important you use an SD card from a reliable source that can handle the stress of continuously overwriting.

Want to check out the recording capacities of SD cards on other popular dash cam models, including the BlackVue DR900S-2CH or the VIOFO A129 Pro Duo? We have a SD Card Recording Capability chart for you!

Because of the way the dash cam writes and overwrites on the SD card (ie. starting and stopping recordings as you turn your car on and off), it is important to format the card in your dash cam periodically. This is because partial files can clog up the card, resulting in performance issues or false memory full errors.

So, with that said, it is recommended that you format the memory car at least once a month. This can be done via the on-screen menu on the dash cam, using the smartphone app, or via a desktop viewer.

Note that when you format an SD card, you will be erasing all existing data and information on the card. So, if there’s any important footage you need to save, you will need to back up the files first. If you have a Cloud-compatible dash cam (like the BlackVue DR900S or the Thinkware U1000) you can back up the files onto the Cloud, first.

Does your dash cam have the latest firmware? Don’t remember the last time you updated your dash cam’s firmware?

The truth is, not that many people are aware that they can update their dash cam’s firmware. When a manufacturer launches a new dash cam, the camera is assembled with a firmware that was designed at that time. After the dash cam has been released, users may find that there are bugs and problems. The manufacturer investigates these problems and produces fixes for them in the form of firmware updates. Updates generally contain fixes or feature enhancements, but will also include new features. These are all essentially free upgrades to your dash cam.

We recommend checking for updates after you purchase a new dash cam, and then on a semi-regular basis, every few months or so after that. If you’ve never checked your dash cam for a firmware update then now is a good time to do so.

1. First, check what version of firmware your dash cam is running. This information is found within your dash cam’s menu options.
2. Next, check the manufacturer’s website for the latest firmware. (Tip: Check in the Support and Download section)
3. Read the instructions very carefully before updating the firmware - you don’t want to end up having a dead dash cam.

• BlackVue  
• Thinkware 
• VIOFO

Say you’ve cleaned your windshield and the dash cam lens, and you’ve reformatted the SD card and you’ve updated to the latest firmware, but you’re still not completely satisfied with your dash cam’s video quality. Perhaps you are looking for better night vision? Or perhaps you’re ready to ditch your WiFi-only system and jump onto the Cloud so you can get real-time GPS tracking on your vehicle and driver? It’s time to upgrade to a better unit! But…

Well, if this applies to you, then we recommend staying with the same manufacturer.

For example, say you have the BlackVue DR750S-2CH and you want to upgrade to a 4K UHD dash cam, then we recommend the BlackVue DR900S-2CH. All the cables are interchangeable between the two models, so all you need to do is unplug the DR750S front and rear cameras, remove them from the windshield, and mount the DR900S front and rear cameras on the exact same spots (and of course, connect it with the existing wires and cables).

This is also the same case if you are upgrading from the Thinkware F800 Pro Full HD to the Q800PRO 2K UHD dash cam, or from the VIOFO A129 Duo Full HD to the VIOFO A129 Pro Duo 4K UHD dash cam.

Well, if this applies to you, or if you are a new Uber/Lyft driver in need of an IR dash cam system to protect you on and off the road, then we recommend staying with the same dash cam manufacturer.

For instance, If you already have a VIOFO A129 installed in your vehicle and would like to upgrade to a 4K dash cam, you can get the VIOFO A129 Pro 4K 1-Channel model and just connect it to the A129’s IR camera. Rear cameras are the same for these two models, so you can even reuse the writing and mounts.

However, if you are looking to upgrade your existing Thinkware FA200 2-CH IRC, do be warned that the FA200 IRC is the only in-cabin IR dash cam from Thinkware. If you want to upgrade to a 4K UHD IR dash cam system, we recommend the BlackVue DR900S-2CH IR system.

If you are looking for best-in-class parking mode features, we strongly recommend the Thinkware U1000 dash cam with the RADAR sensor.

What you need is a multi-channel, tamper-proof dashcam system and it needs to be a smart system and is remotely accessible, giving a comprehensive view of the vehicle and the road. Cloud integration offers scope for instant alerts and notifications and thus transforming any vehicle into a “connected vehicle” on and off the road.

Cloud dash cams are much more useful than simply downloading footage after an incident. Whether your main goal is to protect your drivers and vehicles, eliminate fraud attempts on your business, keep your drivers accountable, or reduce your insurance premiums, equipping your fleet vehicles with cloud-ready dash cams is a worthwhile investment.

Learn more about how Cloud dash cams can help you manage your fleet on our article: Smarter Fleet Management with the Cloud.

Follow the tips above to get your dash cam ready for Spring and Summer. If you have any questions or if you want to speak to our dash cam experts, you can always find us online via email or Live Chat. You can also give us a call, too!