Dash Cam G90-7S Review

Since my first review of the Dome G90 , several generations have been released.
The new GS90C (or G90-7S) is another step further in the right direction.







The GS90-7S is priced around 85.99$ (~75€) at GearBest (with 
Coupon DG7SLG) which is lower than its predecessor (was 105$/90€ in August 2014).



Below is a brief recap of it main features. They're similar to the previously reviewed G90 with now a greater choice of video resolutions: 1080P (1920 x 1080), 720P (1280 x 720), 1269P (2304 x 1296).


In the box you'll find the camera, the bracket, the cigarette lighter connector, the external GPS module, an USB cable, the updated manual and now also a mini-CD.



In appearance, not much has changed but the AV connector can now be used to connect the external GPS module.

The mounting bracket in unchanged.
For a while, the dash cam community expressed wishes to see a more compact one with 3M sticker. This was never really a problem for me but now that we have a GPS module in addition to the power connector, it would be a good opportunity to update the bracket with both connectors on its base.








Playback:
The Mini-CD contains what is supposed to be the BlackVue player, but I could not run it. Anyway, nothing beats the Registrator Viewer.

You just need to download their most recent release:
6.0.0.1 won't read the GPS track correctly, but 6.0.0.8 will.



























Before deciding its permanent location, it is important to test the GPS module first, with the logo facing upward, and ensure that the GPS signal indicator on screen turns green with enough bars. The antenna should get the fix within 30 seconds.




Permanent Speed Stamp: The current firmware version, G90-ZX-A770-785-S-H, has a small bug (or bad design choice): The speed is not only recorded in a track of the MP4 file but also constantly displayed on the video beside the "stamps".
This should be optional and I found no way to remove it, even with GPS option disabled.

Sound quality has been improved in this hardware release and the camera is capable of a crystal clear sound recording.

Unfortunately this quality is negatively affected once the power adapter is plugged in: a permanent cracking noise is then added to the recording.
You can make an idea for yourself with this video.

That noise can also be heard in other videos from on Dashcamtalk.

LDWS, FCWS and FCMD, LLW and DDA (Drunk Driver Assistant)
Lane Departure Warning System: in case you drift to the other lane
Front Collision Warning System: in case you didn't see the car stopped in front of you
Front Car Moving Detection: in case you didn't the car moving away from you
Low Light Warning: to tell you when it's getting dark...

All these features aim at doubling the dash cam as a driving assistant but in my view, if you feel the need for any of them, just skip driving that day.

Conclusion:
The G90-7S comes with improvements over the previous generation but no radical changes.
This Dash Cam excels in its core functions: taking high quality videos and snapshots in the event of a car incident. This reflects again the established superiority of the Ambarella chipset.

The surrounding bells and whistles (driver assistance) are of arguable utility and so is the parking mode due to the short battery autonomy  (which is "by design" since documented in the manual.) 

With the addition of the GPS module and lower price, the G90-7S represents a better value than its predecessors and overall it is an excellent eye-witness for the price (85.99$/~75€ at GearBest with Coupon DG7SLG)



Good:
- Great gap-less video and still picture quality day and night
- Much better sound quality but interference from power adapter .
- Accurate GPS information


Not so good:
- Battery autonomy has not been improved.
- Speed is recorded on screen and not removable (firmware bug?)

Dedicated forum: https://forum.dashcamtalk.com/forums/g90.80

Special thanks to Sunny @ GearBest for providing this sample.

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EYESIGHT ES-IP810W IP Camera Review and Start Up Guide

The IP810W is one of those simplified wireless IP Cameras equipped only with an USB port that any noob can have up and running in a matter of minutes.











The EYESIGHT ES-IP810W is the cheapest camera of its category (26.45€/$29.99 with Coupon Code: GB810W at Gearbest) .
In comparison, the Tenvis TH671 is priced at 56€ (64$) and a Dropcam Pro is worth 170€ (199$).

All these cameras rely on a specific Smartphone app and P2P connectivity.
The aim is to make the initial configuration and use as simple as possible.

Unboxing and set up:
Inside the box we find: the camera, a USB power adaptor and 2 leaflets.
The first one, in English, is a generic quick guide for 3 models of the VOIPC series. The second one, with the specific instructions for this model... is in Chinese only.

The English equivalent guide for the IP810W should look like this:
1. a. For Android devices: Don't bother scanning the QR code on the box! This will load and install a alternate Chinese Market from and some useless bonus apps and eventually, the Chinese version of the "eRobot's 2cu".
Instead, just get the app in English directly from the Android market place, or  2cu.co or p2pcam.so
1. b. For IOS devices, you can scan the QR code or go directly to the App Store.
2. Power up your IP810W

3. Launch the 2cu app and choose "Set Wifi by QR Code"

4. Register with the DDNS service (needed the first time only).

5. In Tools, choose "Set Wifi by QR Code"

6. Select your local Wi-Fi access point (the same used by the smartphone/tablet) and provide the password.(DHCP must be enabled on your router)



7. A QR Code appears on the screen of your mobile device: place it at around 30cm from the camera until you hear a "beep".

8. Your camera is registered on the LAN and linked to the 2cu app.
Job done! Any additional camera can be installed by repeating the process from Step 5.

Additional utilities:
GPlayer is required to read the proprietary video file format (.av) recorded.
An online ActiveX-based viewer can be used at http://cloudlinks.cn/view

Features:
The IP810W uses a microSD memory for storage. Inserting the card must be done with caution because of the gap beside the slot where it could accidentally fall.

The HI3518 chipset in this camera is capable of 720P (1280*720) resolution. In reality, this is only effective in the mobile app's live view, if HD mode is selected.
Videos and snapshots are always stored in 640x360.

Surprisingly, the night vision is excellent and even better than some bigger models.

The motion detection can be set to sound a ringtone or send an email. Touching the thumbnail opens the live view and touching the camera name gives access to the playback screen and settings.










Online Updates (OTA)
The camera features an on-line update system for both the device and the app. No need to beg the manufacturer for an updated firmware file.

Mounting options:
The camera is meant to be used on its own stand which has 4 possible positions from slightly forward to full back. The base can be fixed on a wall with 3 screws.

The IP810W camera module can also be detached from its frame.
There's even a gutter to help passing a small screwdriver to push one of the plastic clips, but it should be done with caution and very occasionally.
This gives more options to place this tiny camera where no other would fit.

The camera claims to be ONVIF compatible but can only be accessed locally via RTSP which limits the 3rd party viewers to work with. For instance, Synology Surveillance Station requires an http url. Also, Onvif Device Manager does not detect the camera and there was no way to point it to its xml profile. This is a point that I'm checking with EyeSight and subject to correction.

There again, the URL for streaming only allows the low and very-low resolutions:

rtsp://192.168.1.1/onvif1 (640x360)

rtsp://192.168.1.1/onvif2 (320x180)

Conclusion:

Despite its low price the IP810W works as claimed and flawlessly.
It is targeted at smartphone/tablet users who want something quick and easy to set up without specific technical knowledge. The mobile application does everything you need and keeps you  alerted of any event in the eye sight of the camera.
Having an OTA update system for both the camera firmware and the mobile app is a first for me with an IP Camera of this price range.

Advanced users may regret the limited options to use the IP810W without a constant link to the
Cloud and the absence of high resolution streaming (via rtsp) and saving (pictures and video on SD card).  

Pros:

- Fast, simple and clever way to set up the camera

- Compact camera with performance equivalent to the bulkier ones

- Good microphone sensitivity

- Online updates for firmware and application

- Mobile app (2cu) clean and intuitive.

Cons:

- Resolution limited to max 640x360 for video recording and streaming (only live viewing in HD)

- Speaker output too faint.

Just for fun, below is a time lapse video made from snapshots taken on motion detection during the day while the camera was pointing at my bird feeder.

Special thanks to Sunny @ GearBest for providing the discount code

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