Dashcam Options - after Viofo A129 Duo from Shopping Square

justanick on 19/12/2020 - 00:33
Last edited 21/12/2020 - 12:32 by 1 other user

I have bought so many bargains from this place but I have to report that buying Viofo Dashcam on a ozbargain deal from here in November through Shopping Square online website has been a complete nightmare.

Shopping Square is horrible they sent me a faulty product and after testing out a lot and getting professional installers today the rear camera completey stopped working. This is when I need the device working during Christmas vacation as I'll be driving a lot and keeping my car in the street.

I bought two sets of CPLs, 2 HK3 with fuse taps as Viofo tried BSing that the HK3 wire is faulty. I wrote to Shopping Square for a full refund and I bet they will say send the product to Viofo Australia which is not affiliated with the main Chinese manufacturer and then an entire months of waiting for a refund.

Now I need some suggestions from you all:

1) Should I contact Strathfield Radio and see if I can buy Viofo Duo from them and install it too and they take care of the warranty ? This is just to save the Bluetooth remote I bought and the CPL lens and Viofo is cheaper compared to other ones
2) Should I get another device like Thinkware or Blackvue ? Is there a recommended device I can buy ? Is there a sale which I would like to take advantage of ?

Automotive Dash Camera VIOFO

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Comments

  • jv on 19/12/2020 - 00:33
    -3

    Now I need some suggestions from you all:

    Sorry, I don't have any suggestions.

  • justanick on 19/12/2020 - 01:53

    Hoping to receive some positive feedback :( I'm just really down now.

    • [Deactivated] on 21/12/2020 - 18:32

      what a ripoff. The blackvue only costs like $450. And they are charging you $800. I'd say something like $600 or $650 would be more reasonable. It's so easy to install , you just pull the fuse box open , tap into the fuses and then remove the roofliner. JFL if they are charging you $350 for 30 minutes of work.

      Why didn't the viofo work? Did you try plug it into the cigarette lighter?

      If the front camera works , just use that. I don't think the rear camera is necessary. Just plug the front camera into the cigarette lighter for now. Save yourself $800.

      • justanick on 21/12/2020 - 21:16

        thank you mate. The Blackvue DR750X 2CH series is not $450 anywhere. Let me know if you find one. They charge $200 for installation. That @#@#@ Viofo experience was so so bad that I cannot trust myself installing Blackvue myself. I would be going to hospital if I have to go through that Viofo crap again and that arrogant Shopping Square and Viofo tech support was so sure that their Camera was not faulty they made me do everything. Even after professionals coming twice for this job I went in and bought Multimeter from Jaycar .. fuse taps and cable from Strathfield Radio to do this job again resulted no joy from Viofo Cameras.

        In short Viofo camera does not seem to recognise when to start on Ignition start or fall back to constant current. Anyways its garbage ! I am paying my price for going too cheap. I know it works for many people but if you encounter an issue well GOOD LUCK with that!

        • [Deactivated] on 21/12/2020 - 21:23

          https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/590403

          Just a week ago..

          LOL there is no professionals in installing dashcams. It's not rocket science.

          Anyways , you should try different fuse locations. All you need is a circuit tester with a globe telling you which side is hot. I had a problem with Viofo too, whereby in parking mode , if I started the car or put it in accessory mode the camera would not light up. Turning off parking mode in the settings has fixed this.

          Maybe you have wired it wrong. The Yellow is Accessory , The Red is Power. The Original fuse goes into the first slot and new 5 ,7.5 or 10 amp fuse goes into a second slot. The uppermost pin of the fuse tap goes into the hot side of the fusebox slot

          • justanick on 21/12/2020 - 21:58

            @[Deactivated]: Oh damn !! I was looking at Repco and it was almost as equal to what my professional installers are charging me. I missed the deal which you mentioned damn !! But the reason why I would want to use the professional installers is just cause of the warranty and technical support they would do help me out in person rather than someone in China (Viofo) asking me stupid questions like did you restart the Camera or reset ?!

            Now why would you turn off the parking mode in the settings ? I bought the Dashcam for the purposes of parking mode. I have bought Multimeter, Globe and another set of HK3 cable and fuse taps. I wrote a lot in Viofo forum and emai exchanges for 6 weeks. I got the professional installers who are almost 5 star review online came twice to chuck out the HK3 wire, fuse taps and reinstall the whole garbage and nothing worked. The rear camera stopped working all of a sudden but it came back online today. I am so done with this product. Technical service is the worst I have faced in my life. I can assure you the wiring has been done properly.
            Now Shopping Square is saying they will not refund me the money but after I send them the product they will test and replace the front camera if the test shows nothing is wrong with Viofo. They also told me they will send this to Viofo for testing that means I am waiting for months and months and pay for shipping as well. I bought this for $288 and I made mistakes of buying 2 CPL lens and extra stuff as above the costs increased significantly

            • [Deactivated] on 21/12/2020 - 22:07

              @justanick: Yeah , I guess we're different. You probably have an expensive car and worry about people scratching your car. I get it.

              Maybe try reflashing the camera with the software again. I did that and it worked. It was extremely buggy before it. Same version but just new install.

              Viofo are being such tightasses.

              • justanick on 21/12/2020 - 22:15

                @[Deactivated]: Thanks mate. I am the kind of person who has OCD and scratches etc bothers me let it be expensive car or not. I also wanted a reliable device that would come handy when a situation arises and it's for my own gadget loving pleasure but NO Viofo just ruined it all

                In terms of FW I installed 2.1V… downgraded to 1.5V and then Viofo sent me their own dodgy version 2.4 or something nothing worked.

                I seldom get frustrated like this but Viofo in combination with Shopping Sqaure killed it. I wonder how Shopping Square is still in business cheating people. There's a lot of negs about them online .. I should have done some research.

  • idonteven on 19/12/2020 - 03:04

    I've got the Viofo A129 single and it's been problem free. Sorry that you got a faulty one!

    At the moment, you're better off just buying from a brick and mortar shop (i.e. Strathfield Radio) so you can ensure that you won't be without a dash cam.

  • kiitos on 19/12/2020 - 06:44

    Do you know how much it would it cost for supply and install from Strathfield? I can't see an installation price online.

  • dassaur on 19/12/2020 - 08:39

    Have an a129 duo. Great setup, faultless.

  • Ryanek on 19/12/2020 - 09:08

    Why don't you at least wait for a reply from SExpres?

    • justanick on 19/12/2020 - 11:18

      Do you mean Shopping Square ? I have been in touch with them ever since this product arrived and they take days to reply and say send it to Viofo Australia without any details given to me even how would Viofo Australia identify me? I can't deal with them just want the money back

  • justanick on 19/12/2020 - 11:16

    I called Strathfield Radio A129 Duo installed on my car would be $250 and they are booked out until Jan 2021. Yes, I would go with someone who will give me warranty now.
    My current professional installers recommended I go with Blackvue DR750X 2 channel installed $800 or Street Guardian SG966 DC Pro Plus $630.

    A129 Duo 4K works out to be the cheapest with install $595.

    Here's my issue until you are hit with an issue everything is fine when you get a bad luck like mine you are no where to go.

    Anyone knows how Strathfield Radio are with Dashcam installs ?

  • justanick on 21/12/2020 - 22:44

    Btw something a bit off topic.
    If I have the hardwire Blackvue set up in my car can I also use the Dashcam battery pack as a backup ? This is for the times I would want to record for 15-20 hrs …an extended period of

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