Best Dash Cam Settings
Our Recommended Settings for the Thinkware U3000 4K UHD Dash Cam
The Thinkware U3000 is probably the best dash cam you’ll see this 2023 – thanks to its superior performance, video resolution, and maximum security features. Highlighting the best of Sony STARVIS 2 technology, built-in RADAR sensor, Super Night Vision 4.0, Thinkware Connected Cloud features, ADAS and a lot more, the U3000 is expected to provide drivers with advanced protection and convenience like no other.
We have been playing around with this dash cam, and we want you to experience how to get the best out of it! So, whether you are still deciding when to get your Thinkware U3000, or you have already purchased one from us, here’s our highly recommended dash cam settings so you can make the most out of your Thinkware experience.
Recommended Settings for the Thinkware U3000
The optimal settings of the Thinkware U3000 can be set according to your preferences using Thinkware’s mobile app or the PC viewer. The recommendations that we will provide are based on the mobile viewer. Note that the U3000 will stop recording while configuring settings on the smartphone app.
Part 1: Setting the Camera
In this section, you will learn how to maximize your video camera resolution of this 4K dash cam, on top of its Sony STARVIS 2 and Super Night Vision 4.0. From the Thinkware Dash Cam Link App, tap Dash Cam settings > Camera Settings.
Recommended Camera Settings for the Thinkware U3000:
Resolution for front/rear: 4K @ 30 frames per second for the front, and 2K QHD @ 30 frames per second for the rear
For the U3000, you also have the option to scale it down to 2K @ 60 frames per second if you often drive on speeding highways. You may choose this if you wish for your footage to have less motion blurs, but overall, the video quality of 4K @ 30 fps is still highly recommended.
Brightness for front: Mid, depending on your windshield tint
Brightness for rear: Mid, depending on your windshield tint
Rotate rear camera: Disabled
(Continuous Mode) Super Night Vision 4.0: Enabled
(Parking Mode) Super Night Vision 4.0: Enabled
Image Quality: High, this is a new feature where you can choose between normal and high. Of course, high quality is best when recording evidence, although it will also consume more space on your micro SD card.
Part 2: Setting Recording Features
To ensure all-around security for your car, these are our recommended settings for the U3000. From the Thinkware Dash Cam Link App, tap Dash Cam settings > Record Settings to manage the recording features settings.
Do note that for the parking mode settings, parking mode must be activated via hardwiring, or OBD II power cable – which comes in every package of the U3000. If continuous power is not supplied to the Thinkware U3000, the product will stop recording when the vehicle engine is turned off.
Recommended Recording Settings for the Thinkware U3000:
Voice Recording: Enabled - The U3000 comes equipped with a built-in microphone for recording audio in the cabin. We recommend turning this on for security purposes especially when you’re sharing a ride. However, if you live in an area where audio recording is prohibited, you can have this setting disabled. You can also easily turn on and off the audio of the voice recording of the camera through the microphone button on the front unit.
Set Privacy Recording: Disabled - This is a new feature that constantly wipes the SD card for your privacy, constantly looping over existing footage storing only a limited-time backlog. If you want to enable this, you can choose between 1 min, 2 min, 3 min, and G-Shock options which only saves impacts. Files will be saved that long after being recorded, and cleared afterwards.
Continuous Mode Incident Recording Sensitivity: Mid. If your vehicle rides pretty low, and you can feel most bumps on the road, then consider turning the sensitivity down.
Parking Mode: Motion Detection – although if you’re leaving your dash cam for a long time, you can also activate Energy Saving mode or RADAR mode.
When activated, Thinkware’s Energy Saving Parking mode saves a 20-sec video clip only after an impact has been detected. On the other hand, RADAR mode means that when a person or vehicle is detected in a low-power recording situation, the U3000 immediately wakes up and starts recording.
Parking Mode Waiting Time: 30 seconds. This is a new option to enable a couple minutes boot delay to parking mode.
Smart Parking Rec: Enabled, for thermal protection and external battery protection. When enabled, this setting prevents heat-related damage by automatically switching to a low-power mode if the temperature inside the vehicle gets too high during parking surveillance.
Impact Sensitivity in Parking Mode: Mid
Motion Detection Sensitivity: Mid
Radar Sensitivity: Mid
Use External Battery: This setting is only applicable if using the Thinkware iVOLT Xtra battery. Otherwise, leave this off.
Off Timer: Depends on your preference - the Thinkware U3000 has a built-in voltage monitor. With this setting, you can set a timer so that your dash cam will turn off after a specific duration of parking mode or the voltage cutoff, whichever comes first. To turn off the off timer, select Disabled.
Battery Protection: Enabled. This enables the cutoff options below.
Vehicle Type: Choose whether you’re using a regular car, a hybrid car, or an electric car
Battery Cutoff Voltage: 12V (11.6~13.2V)
Wintertime Battery Protection: November, December, January
Part 3: Setting Road Safety Features
Safety is on top of our priority, and the U3000’s features like ADAS and Safety Camera Alerts can be your guide all throughout your drive. Tap Dash Cam settings > Road Safety Settings to manage the road safety features settings.
Recommended Road Safety Features for the Thinkware U3000:
Most BMW fuseboxes, while not all, are not as easily accessible as your average vehicle. Instead of being up at the front of the vehicle, they are located in the rear of the trunk. Even if there is a fusebox in the front of the vehicle, it is unlikely that it will have both the constant, and ACC(Ignition-based) connection required for the hardwire installation.
To properly hardwire the camera, you’ll need to run the cable all the way from that rear fusebox in the trunk to the camera on the front windshield. While some dash cams are mounted in a way that allows professional installers to accomplish this with the stock hardwiring kit, many vehicles or camera models will need an extended wire to cover the distance.
BMWs, like other European car models, have very thin panelling, making wiring more difficult, especially when combined with how far the cable must be run from the trunk. Camera models with thick cabling, such as Viofo, are not ideal for wiring into BMWs. Unsure how to run the cables through the vehicle? Check out our BMW guides here.
Part 4: Configuring the System Settings
For easier navigation and user convenience, you can also configure the device’s actual System settings. Tap Dash Cam Settings > System Settings to configure the hardware system settings.
Recommended System Settings for the Thinkware U3000:
Language: Depends on your preference
Volume: Depends on your preference, but if you select 0 for the volume level, the voice guidance will be disabled.
Note that with the Thinkware U3000, audio messages’ volume are already separated between ADAS, Safety cameras, and System itself.
Security LED: Enabled
Rear Camera LED: Enabled
Time Zone: Select your date and time
Daylight Saving: Enabled
Speed Unit: mph
Speed Stamp: Enabled
Wi-Fi Frequency Band: 5GHz
Internet: Enabled, this is important if you wish to connect to the Thinkware Connected Cloud features. If this isn’t enabled, the dash cam will not be able to connect to any internet source.
Experience the best of the Thinkware U3000, only here at BlackboxMyCar!
And that’s our recommended settings for the Thinkware U3000. If you wanna go big on the Thinkware U3000, check out the exclusive Thinkware U3000 Signature Bundle to get premium accessories including the BlackboxMyCar PowerCell 8, Thinkware CPL filter, Heat Blocking Film, BlackboxMyCar Guaranteed 256GB microSD card + Thinkware 64GB backup microSD card, Pre-spliced Thinkware Hardwiring Kit, BlackboxMyCar Essential Install Kit with Circuit Tester, Add-a-Fuse bundle and trim tools, BlackboxMyCar Aqua Shield + Vinyl Scraper, and 1-Year Manufacturer Warranty + Bonus 1-Year Warranty – all bundled up for you!
Want to know more about the Thinkware U3000? Subscribe to our YouTube channel to see sample footage, check out our review of the dash cam here, or send us a message at info@blackboxmycar.com!