Frequently Asked Questions

Simply put, a dashcam (or dash cam) is a small video camera that attaches to your car's windshield and continuously records video as you drive. Dashcams were popularized in Russia; more than likely you have seen footage from a Russian dashboard camera. Sometimes a dashcam is called a car DVR (Digital Video Recorder), a car black box or an in-car camera system.

Dashcams, or dashboard video cameras, get their name due to originally being mounted on the dashboard of vehicles (mostly police cars). Now, most dashcams mount to a car's windshield with a secure and easy to use suction cup mount or strong adhesive pad.

Yes, there are several types of dashcams, and while they come in all shapes and sizes, they can be classified into a few different ways:

Single-lens or Basic dashcams are the simplest type of dashcam. These record from a single camera lens, like a normal camcorder. People mount these dashcams on their front windshield to record what is happening in front of the car.

Multiple-lens dashcams are a bit more complex. These dashcams can record from more than one camera lens simultaneously. Typically, they utilize one forward-facing lens to record what is happening in front of the vehicle, and use the input from a smaller remote camera (a camera mounted in the back of the vehicle - on the rear windshield) to record what is happening behind the vehicle (or pointed inside the vehicle) as well.

Unfortunately, this is not an easy question to answer. Since BlackVue dashcams all have different qualities, the best dashcam is the one that best suits you.

Keep in mind that while there are a wide variety of dashcams available on the internet, many of which are cheap and unreliable, you can rest assured that we only sell those cameras which we personally research and which pass our own internal quality tests.

Once you have selected and purchased your BlackVue dashcam, in most cases this is all you need to do to be up and running:

1. Insert a memory card. Your BlackVue dashcam will ship with a memory card included
2. Attach the adhesive windshield mount
3. Plug the power cord into the power source (cigarette lighter or other).

Done! Since recording is automatic, just drive your vehicle like you normally would, and enjoy the fact that you are now protected by your BlackVue dashcam!

 

BlackVue Dashcam have many applications, but most importantly, they act as an impartial witness in case of an accident. A BlackVue dashcam will help provide irrefutable evidence of what happened before, during, and after an incident. No more "your word against theirs" - rest assured you will always have the truth on your side.

The BlackVue DR650S Series dashcams come with GPS data logging as well. This additional data, along with the video, will provide a record of your position and speed always. This information proves the facts such as your whereabouts at a time, and can also be used to prove or verify your speed. The GPS data can be displayed on a Google-type map during video playback on your home computer.

Dashcam footage can also a source or entertainment, awe and protection for others. Not only can the footage captured by your BlackVue dashcam serve as a witness for someone if they are involved in an accident, but it can also capture the events that surround us in the world today. For example, in 2013 meteor exploding in the skies over Russia, TransAsia plane hitting bridge in Taipei and even a lightning strike in during a thunderstorm.

Many different types of municipal vehicles; police, fire; already use dashcams. Individual drivers concerned with false liability claims and protecting themselves are utilizing the protection offered by on-board video recorders. In short, everyone can use a dashcam to protect themselves

Business owners can also benefit greatly from having a video and GPS data installed their fleet vehicles when they are out in service for the day.

BlackVue Dashcams record video to a removable memory card inside the camera itself. Anytime your car is on and the dashcam is plugged in, it is acting as your backup witness. Dashcams automatically start recording when they are powered on, and stop recording once you turn your car off. The BlackVue dashcam models have the ability to keep recording even while the vehicle is parked! This is known as "parking mode".

Generally, yes. In the United States, using a dashboard camera to record video on public roads is legal in almost all cases. The law allows one to record video as long as you are not infringing on another's privacy. However, anything done in public is not protected by privacy laws; there is no expectation of privacy in public. Therefore, recording pictures/video in public is a First Amendment protected right so long as you do not violate other laws (for example: stopping in the middle of traffic to record the arrest of an individual, or otherwise interfering with a traffic, police, or rescue operation).*

The laws for recording *audio* however are different. Because oral communication laws vary by locale, we recommend notifying your passengers that audio recording is taking place, or simply disabling the microphone on your dashcam. It is also our recommendation to always inform any police or government official that they are being recorded if you believe your dashcam is recording them (either video or audio).

Please see the following articles for further information:

• United States: Recording in Public Places and Your First Amendment Rights
• Canada: The Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA)

 

All BlackVue dashcams come with a power cord that plugs into the 12v power outlet in your car. This cord is just uunder 15 ft, more than long enough to tuck behind and route around the interior panels of your vehicle so it will not be hidden to the driver or passengers.

Another installation option is for you or your local car audio shop can hard-wire the BlackVue dashcam by tapping into your vehicle's 12v power circuit. This provides a complete professional installation and frees up your power outlet for your cell phone charger or other electronic device.

Our BlackVue cameras come equiped with super capacitors. These capacitors provide enough power to safely shut down your dashcam when power is cut. Unlike the lithium batteries used in action cams, a super capacitor is designed for a driver’s needs and can tolerate vibration as well as extreme heat and cold..

A dashcam starts creating video files on an empty memory card. These video files are typically segmented into 1, 3, or 5-minute chunks, since it is easier to view and work with small video files on your computer rather than one long continuous file. When the memory card is full, the dashcam simply starts over at the beginning of the memory card, and in this way, never needs any attention from you until you have captured an incident on video that you would like to save. This is known as "loop recording", and is one of the most important abilities of dashcams.

1. Turn off the dashcam and remove the microSD card from the dashcam.
2. Insert the card into the microSD card reader and connect it to a computer.
3. Run the BlackVue Viewer program.
4. In BlackVue Viewer go to Settings (Windows) / Windows Viewer → Preferences (Mac) to access the settings panel.
5. Click the Wi-Fi tab and under Login credentials change the password.
   * The dashcam's Wi-Fi password is case sensitive which means that upper case " A " and lower case " a " are considered different letters.
   * If you click on "Reset" , the password will be changed to default password: blackvue
6. Click Save & Close.

Change the dashcam's Wi-Fi SSID / password over the Cloud:

*Please make sure that dashcam and the smartphone are connected to the internet (Wi-Fi hotspot)

1. Login to the BlackVue app.
2. Select BLACKVUE CLOUD.
3. Go to Camera settings > Firmware settings → Wi-Fi settings → Login credentials.

You can change the camera’s SSID and Wi-Fi login password.

*Note: The firmware can be upgraded by using the BlackVue app in the dashcams with built-in Wi-Fi module.

Following steps describe how to upgrade the firmware using a computer:

• Turn off the dashcam and take out the SD card. Connect it with the computer by using the microSD card reader.

• After getting the backup of the necessary recordings saved on the microSD card, format it as FAT32[windows] / MS-DOS(FAT) [MAC] using the format tool in BlackVue Viewer program

 

 

• Download the latest firmware for your dashcam model from our website.

• Unzip the downloaded firmware and copy the "BlackVue" folder only into the microSD card.

• Insert the microSD card in the dashcam and power it up.

• All BlackVue dashcams turn to Parking Mode automatically by default once the vehicle is stationary for a few minutes. If the car is parked and engine is turned off, the dashcam will keep recording only if it is hardwired to the car's battery using Power Magic Pro or connected to Power magic battery pack.
• The BlackVue keeps recording all the time in Parking Mode, but without writing to the microSD card.
  The video is recorded only if a motion or an impact is detected, creating a video file that starts 5 seconds before the triggering event (using the buffer memory) and saving that file to the memory card.
• If you want the dashcam to be recording during Parking mode all the time, just like in Normal mode (Driving mode), you can disable the "Auto switching to Parking mode" in dashcam/firmware settings → Basic settings → Recording settings.

You can turn on / off the dashcam's LEDs in the dashcam/firmware settings → Wi-Fi & Other → Other settings

Note:

* The GPS and Wi-Fi LEDs on the dashcam can't be turned off.

* The rear camera security LED can be turned off only in the DR650S-2CH model.

• Manual recording is a feature of BlackVue dashcams (with built-in Proximity senor) that creates a separate Event recording file (starting 5 seconds before it was triggered) when the sensor is touched, or a finger is waved within 20mm of the sensor. The manual recording file thumbnails are marked as "M".

• Manual recording can't be triggered if the dashcam is already recording another event at that moment.

• The length of manual recording file is 1 minute in DR650GW dashcams and can be 1, 2 or 3 minutes in DR650S dashcams depending on the file length that you have set in dashcam/firmware settings. → Recording settings → Event and Parking mode recording duration.

• The proximity sensor is located on the side of the front camera next to the Wi-Fi LED.

• With the exception of theDR750LW-2CH model, all the BlackVue dashcams with built-in Wi-Fi module have the proximity sensor.

• The proximity sensor is used primarily for Audio Recording ON/OFF feature but in DR650GW and DR650S, it works as following:

Proximity sensor (on side of front camera) function.	DR650GW	DR650S
Legacy Firmware (DR650GW: 1.XXX~)	Audio Recording ON/OFF	(DR650S doesn't have legacy firmware)
Latest Cloud Firmware	Manual Recording trigger	By default: Audio Recording ON/OFF However, it can be set to trigger Manual recording instead in the dashcam/firmware settings

*The security LED can be deactivated in Firmware settings by using BlackVue app or BlackVue PC Viewer.

*The GPS LED automatically switches on when GPS is active and cannot be disabled.

*If the Wi-Fi in the dashcam is ON, the LED will stay ON and would blink when it's connected to the Internet (Cloud connected).

Via BlackVue Viewer:

1. Unplug the power cable of the dashcam and take out the microSD card.
2. Insert the card into the microSD card reader and connect it to a computer.
3. Run the BlackVue Viewer.
   * You can download it from our official website's downloads page and install it on your computer.
4. You can export the desired recordings from the BlackVue Viewer to your computer by right clicking on the recordings and then "Export" or access the Record folder in the microSD card to copy/move the recordings to your computer.
5. To export the recordings on Mac, you have to access the Record folder on the microSD card.

OR

Over the Cloud:

*Only Cloud supported dashcams have the feature of accessing the recordings remotely.
* Make sure that the dashcam and the smartphone are connected to internet (Wi-Fi hotspot)

1. Login to the BlackVue app.
2. Select BLACKVUE CLOUD. Select your camera.
3. Select the video you want to watch. You can watch videos from the camera’s microSD card and from the Cloud storage.
4. Tap the icon next to the video you want to backup. Select "Copy to Internal memory" to save the recording in your smartphone or "Copy to Cloud" to upload the recording to BlackVue Cloud server.

Important note: The recordings will be automatically deleted from the BlackVue Cloud storage after 90 days (3 months) from the date they were uploaded.

Via Direct Wi-Fi:

1. 1.Go to your smartphone’s Settings > Wi-Fi and connect to your dashcam.
2. Open the BlackVue app. Select BLACKVUE Wi-Fi.
3. Select the video you want to watch from the camera’s microSD card.
4. Tap the icon next to the video you want to backup. Select "Copy to Internal memory" to save the recording on your smartphone.

Watching recorded videos saved on your smartphone (Internal Memory):

1. Open the BlackVue app. Select INTERNAL MEMORY.
2. Select the video you want to watch.

* On Android smartphones, you can watch the recordings saved in the Internal Memory from the Gallery. On iPhone, to watch the recordings saved in the internal memory, the recordings have to be further saved in Photos as follows:

Using BlackVue Viewer:

1. Unplug the dashcam's power cable and take out its microSD card.
2. Insert the card into the microSD card reader and connect it to a computer.
   * Make sure that your computer recognized the SD card.
3. Run the BlackVue Viewer program OR you can download it from our website, install on your computer and run.
4. In BlackVue Viewer, Go to Settings (Windows) / BlackVue Viewer→ Preferences (Mac) to access the settings panel.
5. Configure your desired settings and don't forget to click "Save & Close" .

Using BlackVue App:

*Only if your dashcam has built-in Wi-Fi.

1. Go to your smartphone’s Settings > Wi-Fi and connect to your dashcam's Wi-Fi.
2. Open the BlackVue app. Select BLACKVUE WI-FI > Settings > Configure your desired settings→ Save & Close.

Over the Cloud

*Only Cloud supported dashcams have the feature of accessing the recordings and dashcam/firmware settings remotely.
*Make sure that the dashcam and the smartphone are connected to the internet (Wi-Fi hotspot).

1. Login to the BlackVue app.
2. Select BLACKVUE CLOUD. Click on the settings menu icon on the top right→ Go to "Camera settings".

Note: You can configure dashcam/firmware setting over the Cloud using BlackVue Viewer featuring Cloud service.

If the dashcam doesn't power up when you start the car,

• Unplug and re-plug all the cables carefully.
• Check the condition of the dashcam's power cable and cigarette jack.
• If the dashcam is hardwired using Power Magic Pro, check the power connections, fuses and cut off voltage/time settings.

• DR430-2CH, DR450-1CH, DR470-2CH (with external GPS module connected ) DR650S and 650GW series dashcams with latest firmware installed reboot to save the GPS time on the RTC (Real Time Clock) of the dashcam. The dashcam gives "Resetting the time" before it reboots. If this happens often, please proceed RMA service for RTC replacement/repair.
• If you are using a third party microSD card in BlackVue dashcam, it can cause the dashcam to reboot randomly. You can try to troubleshoot the issue by formatting the microSD card, or updating the firmware. But if the issue recurs, we recommend using a BlackVue microSD card.
• In case you are using a BlackVue microSD card but the dashcam reboots randomly, format the microSD card, or update the firmware and insert it in the dashcam.

If the issue recurs with the BlackVue microSD card even after formatting it / firmware upgrade, please send us the following details at cs@pittasoft.com for further examination of the issue:

1. "Config" and "System" folders from the " BlackVue" folder inside the microSD card.
   (To get them, turn off the dashcam -→ take out the microSD card -→ connect it to your computer using the microSD card reader -→ open the microSD card drive -→ open "BlackVue" folder -→from there, zip the "Config" and "System" folders only and attach them to the email.)
2. The most recent date when the restarting issue occurred.
3. The microSD card model and storage capacity.
4. How long have you been using the microSD card?

IMPORTANT NOTES:

* It is recommended to format the microSD card at least once a month to avoid any operational issues related to the microSD card.

*If you are using an microSD card for more than six months, it is recommended to get a new one.
-The BlackVue microSD cards have a six month warranty period. You can contact the seller for the replacement of the faulty BlackVue microSD card within the warranty period.
*The main requirement (aside from the microSD card being Class 10) is that the microSD card must be formatted as FAT 32 [windows] or MS-DOS (FAT) [mac]. We highly recommend using BlackVue microSD cards for optimal performance. The reason for it is that dashcams put microSD cards under higher stress than most electronic products such as action cameras or DSLRs due to their constant recording. We test our cards extensively before selecting them for inclusion in our products, to make sure that their performance is good and degrades as little as possible over time. We cannot guarantee the perfect performance of cards from other manufacturers, as even cards with the same specifications may vary from batch to batch. Especially the SanDisk microSD cards, which show more restarting and stability issues in BlackVue dashcams.

 

1. Erase the stored information of the dashcam's Wi-Fi in your smartphone's Wi-Fi settings:
   -Android: press and hold the dashcam's Wi-Fi SSID and when the pop-up appears, click on
   "Forget Network".
   -IOS: Click on the info icon and then click on "Forget this Network".
2. Turn off the Wi-Fi of your smartphone. Also, turn OFF the dashcam's Wi-Fi by pressing the Wi-Fi button on the side of the dashcam, wait for 10~15 seconds and press the button once again to turn it back on. Now turn on your smartphone's Wi-Fi and try to connect to the dashcam.
3. If above doesn't solve the issue, Reset the dashcam's Wi-Fi password or upgrade the dashcam's firmware and try again.
   * Please note that the dashcam's Wi-Fi password is case sensitive, which means that same upper case and lower case letters are different. For example, " A " and " a " are considered different letters.
4. Sometimes, a particular smartphone may fail to connect to the dashcam's Wi-Fi. If possible, try to connect to the dashcam's Wi-Fi by using another smartphone and send us the model number and OS version of the smartphone that can't be connected to the dashcam's Wi-Fi.

Note:

• To connect your smartphone to the BlackVue dashcam's Wi-Fi, stay near the dashcam (the distance between the dashcam and the smartphone should not be more than 10m [32 ft])

• Check if the Wi-Fi LED on the dashcam is ON or blinking. If it isn't, press the Wi-Fi button to turn it ON or restart the dashcam.
  

• The dashcam’s Wi-Fi SSID should appear almost instantly in the Wi-Fi networks menu of the smartphone when the dashcam boots up or when turned on by pressing the Wi-Fi button. However, in order to establish a connection successfully, it is recommended to wait for 15~20 seconds to let the Wi-Fi set up properly.

• Only one phone or tablet can be connected to a BlackVue dashcam at a time. For this reason, make sure that the dashcam is not connected to any other device when you are trying to connect to it.

Some old firmware versions of DR650GW series dashcams cannot be directly upgraded to Cloud compatible firmware v.2.007, so please try the following procedure:

1. Turn off the dashcam and take out the microSD card. Connect it with the computer by using the microSD card reader.
2. After getting the backup of the recordings saved on the SD card, format it as FAT32[windows] / MS-DOS(FAT) [MAC] using the format tool in BlackVue Viewer program.
   

   

3. Download BlackVue Legacy firmware (v1.011: for 2CH or v.1.004: for 1CH ) and latest cloud compatible firmware v.2.007 from our website.
4. Unzip both downloaded firmwares.
5. First only copy the "BlackVue" folder from unzipped legacy firmware (v1.011 for 2CH or v.1.004 for 1CH ) into the microSD card.
6. Insert the microSD card back into the dashcam and power it up.
7. Let the dashcam upgrade the firmware and once it says "Starting Normal recording" , turn it off, take out the microSD card and do the above steps (1-6) once again but this time, copy the "BlackVue" folder from the unzipped Cloud firmware ( v.2.007) only into the microSD card.

• For a smooth Wi-Fi connection of your smartphone to the BlackVue dashcam's Wi-Fi, the distance between the dashcam and the smartphone should not be more than 10m (32ft).

• Strong radio interference due to other electronic devices in the car can affect the Wi-Fi connectivity of the dashcam and it might randomly disconnect from the smartphone. To troubleshoot this issue, turn off all other electronic devices and try to connect again
  OR
  take out the dashcam from mount power it up at home using a common power adapter and try to connect your smartphone to it's Wi-Fi.

For Android Users:

• Before connecting any Android device to the dashcam, make sure to turn off the “Smart Network Switch” option in the Wi-Fi settings of the smartphone. BlackVue acts as a Wi-Fi server for your phone or tablet, but it does not provide a connection to the Internet, so the “Smart Network Switch” function might cause it to disconnect from the BlackVue.

• In some android devices with Android OS 6.0 onward, turning on the location in the application permissions might solve the connectivity issue (go to Settings → Apps (or Applications) → Application manager → BlackVue → Permissions → Location, choose “Allow”)

For iPhone Users:

• Before connecting your iPhone to the dashcam, make sure that the “Wi-Fi Assist” option is turned off (Go to Settings > Cellular. Then scroll down and tap the slider to turn off Wi-Fi Assist).

• Upgrade the dashcam's firmware to the latest version available on our website.
• For the dashcams without built-in or externally connected GPS module, Run the Time setting program available on our website.
• For the dashcams with built-in or externally connected GPS module, it is not necessary to run the Time setting program if the dashcam's GPS is working properly.
• Once the dashcam upgrades the firmware and says "Starting Normal Recording", connect your smartphone to the dashcam to set the time zone and other settings in the dashcam/firmware settings.
• If the dashcam the problem of the incorrect date/time persists even after following the above steps, please contact the seller for the RMA service.

• Only the BlackVue dashcams with buit-in GPS or external GPS have the speed stamp on the recordings.
• Check if the speed unit settings are correctly configured in dashcam/firmware settings → Recording settings→ Speed unit .
• For the built-in GPS models, check if the GPS LED on the dashcam is ON and recording during driving.

- If all of the above conditions are met and GPS doesn't work, please send us some of the video recordings without the speed stamp, along with their GPS files, and "Config", "System" folders saved in the microSD card. (To get them, turn off the dashcam -→ take out the SD card -→ connect it to your computer using the microSD card reader -→ open the microSD card drive -→ open "BlackVue" folder )

* Zip the "Config" and "System" folders so that you can attach them with the email

* You might not be able to send the recordings via email because of the large size of the recordings. We recommend uploading them and their GPS files on your online drive (dropbox, google drive etc.) and sending us the link instead.

-If GPS LED doesn't turn on during driving, please refer to the GPS issue troubleshooting support article.

• First, upgrade your dashcam's firmware to the latest version available on our website.
  
• Note that GPS may take 10~15 minutes to lock on after you start driving.
• Depending on the vehicle and the location of the BlackVue device GPS signal can be blocked due to strong radio interference of other electronic devices in the car, the cloudy/rainy weather or mountains, tunnels, tall buildings on both sides of road etc. Please check if GPS works by removing the unit from the bracket and positioning the unit far away from the rear-view mirror. If it works then there must be a heavy interference near the rear-view mirror. It is better to relocate the BlackVue.
• However, if you have used the dashcam for 1~2 days after upgrading the firmware and considering the above, and the dashcam's GPS is still not working, then please contact the seller to proceed with the RMA service .

• First, upgrade your dashcam's firmware to the latest version available on our website.
  
• Make sure that you are using the coaxial cable (rear camera cable) that came with the dashcam. Similar cables - or sometimes even BlackVue coaxial cables of older models - can cause compatibility issues.
• Turn on the dashcam and check if the power LED on the rear camera is ON. If it isn't, power off the dashcam and unplug the coaxial cable from the front and rear camera carefully.
• Check if the MCX jacks (female connectors) on the front / rear camera or the connection pins (male connectors) of the coaxial cable are damaged.
  -If the MCX jacks are damaged, please contact the seller for repair/replacement of the dashcam.
  -If the connection pins (male connectors) of the coaxial cable are bent / damaged, please purchase a new Coaxial cable.
• If both the MCX jacks (female connectors) on the front / rear camera and the connection pins (male connectors) of the coaxial cable are in fine condition, insert the coaxial cable back in the front and rear camera and make sure that it is properly inserted all the way in.Then power up the dashcam. If the rear camera still doesn't work, please contact the seller to proceed with the RMA service.

• Please refer to your product’s manual for warranty information. As a general rule, BlackVue dashcams and add-on products (Power Magic Pro, Power Magic Battery Pack, etc.) have a one-year warranty period. Memory cards are covered by a 6-months warranty, and consumables such as tapes, cable clips, etc. are not covered by the warranty. However, if the malfunction is due to user’s negligence, repair cost may be charged even within the warranty period. A receipt or any proof of purchase is required to determine the product's warranty period. You must possess your purchase receipt or other proof of purchase to receive warranty service.
  
  
• We deal RMAs through our distributors / dealers.
  
  

The standard RMA service procedure is as follows:

1. In case of any malfunction of the dashcam, contact the seller and ask them for the product replacement or repair service.

2. If the seller refuses to provide the services or you cannot contact the seller for any reason, contact the authorized BlackVue distributor in your country directly.

3. If the distributor can't provide the services either, or you cannot contact them for any reason, send us the following details:

a) Serial number printed on the dashcam
b) Seller's details (name, location etc.)
c) The receipt of purchase.
d) Your current location
e) Email conversation history with the seller/distributor (if available)