Was looking at 1CH as didn't want the hassle of running a wire through a hatchback boot
Came across the older version (2020 based on link) of the Blackvue DR900S which includes 32gb card and a Power Magic Pro (PMP).
Seems like camera quality is the same as the new 900X, with the only difference being:
Link below to read a comparison:
https://www.blackboxmycar.com/blogs/news/blackvue-x-vs-s#:~:….
Hmmmmm… I would assume the premium pricing meant premium support…
As did I…
"You get what you pay for!", and other famous lies
My 900s 2 channel died just after 2 yrs (not what i would expect for almost a $900 camera). Repco wouldnt have a bar of it because it was 'outside warranty'.. even after i had the australian consumer law conversation. Blackvue finally helped me out after a lot of kicking and screaming. Got the 900x to replace the 900s. The first one kept malfunctioning. Sent it back. Onto the second.. its a little hit and miss at times. I felt like my 900s was more reliable when it actually worked and didnt completely brick it.
This did come with A LOT of stress!
My DR900s 2 channels just died after 3 years…I also expect that it would last at least 5 years…I guess I'll have to start down the journey of getting it replaced via complaint to Blackvue.
Did you have it registered for 3yrs warranty online? They may try and fight it.
I definitely would expect at least 5yrs from sich an expensive product too.. considering ive had a $20 dashcam for 5yrs and still running too
Similar, had a 900S dual camera fail after 2 years, they gave me a refurbished unit, which has also just failed a year later. Went in there again (they are just near my work in Perth) and they didn't have parts available for the dual camera version, so they offered a single camera unit as a swap, as I needed the camera for a big trip we are currently doing. Pretty disappointed to have two fail in the same manner, won't be buying them again, even if they did what they could to help. Can't fault the service, but don't trust the product.
The Blackvue ones are so annoying. Slow to connect, slow app, very unintuitive.
Oh and sd card problems again and again.
Good to hear. Not just mine then. Factory options of failure and annoyance
Whats a better alternative to blackvue ?
Not sure if it's better or not yet as it's still in the post, but this is what we went for after hearing some not so great reviews of Blackvue and it's app recently https://www.viofo.com.au/product/a139-pro-2-channel/
I'm looking for an a139 Pro. Is that the cheapest deal at the moment?
I got mine cheaper on eBay with some codes.
I'd probably say Thinkware - IROAD might also be worth a look. I currently have a Blackvue DR750G-2Ch, and prior to that a Thinkware F770 for over five years. If it came down between the two, I'd go for the Thinkware again purely for image quality for equivalent money and reliability.
Techradar did a Aussie top 10, no Blackvue to be found…
https://www.techradar.com/best/the-best-dash-cam-in-australi…
Doesnt necessarily mean blackvue isnt good. Could be that Blackvue might not have provided a unit so wasnt included in the test.
Did I say it did?
I seem to remember this one having overheating issues.
I've been using the D900s for 3 years now. Constant reboots. In summer, it shuts itself off while I'm still driving (probably due to overheating), without any indication.
Also have this setup with Power Magic Pro, straight to a 4-year old car battery. Parking mode trigger is incredibly inconsistent, but that might be an issue with PMP, not the camera.
My older, generic brand dashcam from JB HiFi was cheaper, more reliable and the app was far better than the Blackvue one. Would not buy again.
Not sure why people are so obsessed with Blackvue dashcams, yes they are decent but so overpriced.
Been using DDPAI for many years in number of cars, work perfectly at significantly less cost.
Anyone looking at buying a dash cam should look at Linus YT review he did on them.
Long and thr short, your paying for a name rather than a product.
Almost EVERYONE Wasting Money on Dash Cams.
I paid a little over $600 for the 2CH version of the DR900S and long story short, I won't be buying another Blackvue product. The footage itself is good, but getting it off the dashcam with the associated app is absolute garbage - Super slow to open, slow to connect to the phone and slow to copy footage. The app was also updated and now tries to check for a Blackvue account and push purchasing a cloud subscription every time you open it, which is annoying but not the end of the world…unless of course you try to open the app in an area with poor phone reception and are stuck waiting for it to time out just so you can connect to your camera. I've also had issues with the supplied 32GB SD Card corrupting, as well as a Sandisk Max Endurance 128GB card I purchased. The camera also constantly restarts to the point where I've just muted the volume on it and ignore it now, just hoping that it's running if I'm ever in an accident.
Mine started contant restarts before it bricked. Be careful.
Also, in regard to the app, the blackvue staff told me that the new app was rubbish and they are in cinract with the developers.. as the new app has produced a lot more troubleshhooting complaint phone calls to them that they cant keep up. They sent me a link to be able to re-download the old app. Still not great.. but better than being forced to make an in app purchase.
I agree with everything you've said here….and cna confirm I have the same experience with my 750s-2ch, plus the app
Try using the older firmware to fix the restart issues on 750S. Version 1.007 used to be available on the website but doesnt look like it anymore but that worked for me. Mine started after updating but the older firmware doesnt.
Sandisk cards also caused it but no issues with samsung.
I must be one of the lucky ones. 2 x 750S now in their 5th year, and 2 x 900S in their 3rd year, all operating very strong via PMPs to the car battery.
Don't use Sandisk Max Endurances… the best is a Samsung Pro Endurance which is what Blackvue themselves have promoted as acceptable so you don't need to pay an arm and a leg for their own brand. Every month I reformat it and I am still yet to brick a SD card too.
People need to remember that these things aren't a set and forget; you do need to care for them too!
The 900S is more susceptible to overheating but in Summer I change the image quality down to the 750S level and not 4K so it doesn't run as hot. Also attached a heat sink to it.
I'd advice against getting the DR900S, or even Blackvue. Mine has been sent to their returns/warranty centre in WA in February and they still have no ETA on when I'll get it back. They sat on it for months and told me parts were arriving, and then told me that they can't get the part to fix it. During this time they were trying to sell me a DR900X refurb for several hundred dollars, which I didn't want as I had already splashed out for the hard wiring and power magic pro thing. The latest option they gave me was to wait while they send it to Korea or take the refurb at a slightly reduced rate.
Blackvue is not a premium brand and their warranty is a joke.