Ring-Car Dash Cam Installed

So I just installed within 15 mins. Real easy install, I recommend just using a credit card to stuff the wire into the dash crevice. It gets power from the ODB2 port, so its is always on and will record motion. It will also sense if your battery is running low and stop recording. Very impressed so far, I bought mine at BestBuy online, a few days ago. It also has LTE built in, so you don't have to be connected to Wifi ($60 per year).

2 quick videos:

1) I stopped for lunch and shut off the truck, the Ring dash cam was recording motion:


2) Driving, feel like the guy with the white car almost ran into me for a test:

 

They should have went with a window mounted dash cam style setup. Only power source is OBD port.

 

Looks good. Might have to try this

 

https://www.blackboxmycar.com/blogs...e-know-and-what-we-think-of-this-new-dash-cam

 

Looks awesome! I was keeping an eye on this camera for a while, wanted to see it released first.

We've got many good reasons to have always recording camera in SF...

I'm mainly interested in it when parking at lots to see if someone backs up into my truck or breaks in etc

 

That's exactly why I bought this dash cam. I wanted it specifically for parking and to function while the truck was off. I was originally going to get the toyota dash cam, but for the extra $100 and not having connectivity, it just wasn't worth it. I do like how you can keep the interior cam closed and it does not record interior video or audio. Don't need Jeff Bezos knowing anymore about my life...

 

Do you have a picture of how the connection to OBDII looks? As in does it protrude down and in the way much...thanks.

 

I would probably use an obd2 to 12v adapter so it's not taking up the port.

 

I'm curious to see someone to test alternate power options. Ring is pretty adamant that it will not work by getting 12v power alone, but then they also say that it only uses the OBD-II port for power...so something doesn't add up.

 

I read the article posted and i think it just said they're not exploring other power options. Ring products are catered to the dumbest of DIYers....i bet they just don't want to deal with custom installs and have people call them because they fried something.

 

...and I'm willing to bet my front tow hooks that their dashcam pulls ODB data from your truck and sends it off who knows where.
Throw Wireshark on that dashcam connection and let's see what it really does...

Edit:
From some review of it on the web:
"The Ring Car Cam is not designed to be a dash cam, but more like an extended camera for Ring home camera system. Without removable storage onboard, it makes is impossible to capture long drives. Everything is stored in the camera and accessible only through the Ring app, and it will cost you a subscription if you want to download that video."

Wow...and ppl willingly buy this nonsense?
GL
-99

 

Can you set it to send you alerts for movement inside the truck and can you review footage remotely over the LTE connection? I would be interested din using it as sort of an alarm to notify me if someone broke in.

 

Yes....but you need the $6/mo subscription

 

sells it off to who knows who

 

Sure, pic below. There are many settings in the app, such as to adjust motion sensitivity. Supposedly, the device isn't sending your data to the Amazon cloud. But honestly, at this point I'm not concerned with it. Between the Toyota tech built into the truck and my IPhone, I'm sure location data is known all the time. I'd have to go back to my old Blazer and using a payphone to not be tracked all the time...

 

Yes, you can. Just flip down the privacy lid on the inside cam and it will record inside the truck and audio as well. One of the better reviews below. I know people are concerned about privacy, but I was really wanting a dash cam that I could access over LTE, could capture motion while truck is off and didn't cost an arm and a leg for the monthly or yearly subscription.

Review: https://youtu.be/0TSDwxzdygM

 

It's one thing to have some Chinese (maybe?) company end up with your data/footage...but how bout this?

From CNET article re:Ring...and I'm not saying this is the case with this "dash cam" as I have no clue, just pondering:
"The law lets Ring and Google share user footage with police during emergencies without consent and without warrants. "

Yeah...that's a big NO from me.
-99

 

Picture doesn't look very sharp, can't read license plates, is that due to youtube compression, or does it come out of the camera like that?

 

Just ordered my ring cam now..

 

It looks interesting.

 

Maybe do a thread on Blackbox?

 

I really don't understand the use case for these Rings. The "real" dash cams like BlackVue and Viofo have battery protecting parking modes... and essentially unlimited removable storage, better resolution, apps, wifi, etc. Like at my house, I have a Ring doorbell cam because people know what it looks like and might be a deterrent. But I also have several real IP network cams for security because the Ring is a toy.

 

So for those interested in some motion while parked (Tundra off) and night time driving footage, here are some videos from tonight. Overall, impressed so far. I was watching people go by my Tundra while eating dinner with the built in LTE connection.

Motion captured while parked example:
https://youtu.be/pzADSbFWt3w

Night Time Clips:
https://youtu.be/8F63qB7RUP0
https://youtu.be/jgA5MZxsexQ

 

Nice rolling stop. Ha ha. Reminds me an old joke:
cop: I pulled you over because you did not come to a complete stop back at the stop sign.
Driver: but officer, I slowed down and no one was coming. What’s the difference?
Cop: I’ll show you (pulls driver out of the car and begins to hit driver with nightstick) now tell me, do you want me to stop, or slow down?

 

Does the Ring camera have room to let a Sun Shade be placed in front of it? I live in Georgia and I use a Sun Shade to block some of the heat and to protect the dashboard. Thanks for the help.

 

OP- Just to confirm…these units do not come with hard copy copy directions and found on the app?
It appears pretty straight to install but curious on anything specific to these trucks you did to get optimal angle/view? Thanks.

 

How's the cabin view?

 

I would say a sunshade between the camera and the window would be too tight. But you can always just put it in back of it.

 

I flipped down the privacy screen real quick to test, can’t see my kids well in the back (too short). But, captures driver and passenger well with audio. Audio is only recorded when the privacy screen (aka inside cam lens) is open. Pleased so far with the cam, I know it may not be for everyone. It did have a weird offline that happened, but I unplugged and replugged in the OBD2 connector. I just connected to the live view and took a pic of the interior for those interested.

 

Thanks UConn for the answer.