A dash cam is an easy-to-use and vital device that lets you record the road in front of you when you drive. When the dash cam has been wired into your car, it uses the vehicle as its power source and starts recording wherever the engine is turned on, when a sensor detects a collision.
The dash cam may record video of any incident or unforeseen circumstance, including a careless driver, a collision, or even a traffic stop. Dashcams can save recordings that can be uploaded to a cloud for storage and shared with insurance companies, law enforcement, or others after an incident.
Many drivers want to know how much data dashcams use. It’s critical to comprehend the effect of using a dashcam on data allowance due to data limits and possible expenses. In this article, we’ll look into whether dash cameras use data and the quantity of it they use.
What Distinguishes Connected Dash Cams from Standalone?
Standalone dash cams function without an internet connection. They capture video onto a card with memory that is removed and moved to a computer for storage. These cameras can loop record. So, information use is constrained to the memory card’s space rather than using up internet data.
On the other hand, some connected dash cams rely on cellular or wireless internet access. Other options on these dashcams include streaming live, tracking via GPS, and cloud storage. To access these options, connected dashboard cameras may need to be connected to the internet, which means they use data.
Does the Dash Cam Require Wi-Fi?
Consumers in the US and other markets appear to have a lot of misconceptions about Wi-Fi. They mistakenly believe Wi-Fi to be the alleged Internet and believe they can connect directly to their car from their home, mobile device, or another location.
The so-called Wi-Fi is a channel protocol used to connect devices, such as cell phones or networked home components, directly to one another. However, this technology is still not fully understood by users, which has negatively impacted their user experience.
What does the Dashcam’s Wi-fi Feature do?
You might associate the term Wi-fi with wireless networks that let you access the internet. The Wi-Fi included in dashboard recording devices is a distinct idea. The R2-4K dashcam from Rove has built-in Wi-Fi. This makes it possible for the dashcam to connect to your phone without wires and data connection.
The transmission range capability of a dashcam’s wi-fi is 10 ft in the middle similar to a regular home wi-fi network. If there is more than 10 ft between the dashcam and cell phone, the Wi-Fi contain won’t work.
Your mobile device must already have the Rove app set up to connect your R2-4K dashcam via Wi-Fi. Once linked, you can use Rove’s cloud to download the video files to your mobile device. Now that you are aware of dashcams’ Wi-fi capabilities, let’s look at them in more detail and see how they function.
Does Live Viewing Connection Distance Require Wi-fi?
After connecting a smartphone to the dash cam’s Wi-fi signal, footage from the camera will stream to the app. The ideal viewing distance is 6-10 feet; there should be no obstructions such as walls or metals, etc.
This function is not very useful for dash cams because, if your car is within this range, you can see it without a phone and don’t need to watch it through one. If there is a blockage in the way, the signal strength from the screen will be weaker, which will negatively impact the viewing quality.
If you have used a screenless Wi-Fi operating recording device from a reputable manufacturer, you are aware that this feature is not easy to install the first time because the Wi-Fi signal may drop and be interrupted based on your mounting setting.
How Can You Use the Dashcam’s Wi-fi Feature?
The main advantage of the Wi-fi characteristic is that it does not require you to take the camera out of your car. For dashcams without this feature, you must manually take out the memory card and insert it into a PC to view your recorded footage.
Conversely, dashcams with built-in Wi-Fi enable you to quickly complete the task distantly from your smartphone. When determining who is at fault for the accident, this quick access is extremely valuable.
For example, dash cams with Wi-fi allow you to download and share videos of the occurrence with law enforcement, showing your innocence right away if you participate in an accident but it wasn’t your fault.
Do Dash Cams Utilize Data?
Dash cams can continuously document the view of the roadway and record significant events. These cameras are made to ensure that drivers have a trustworthy record of their journeys and to offer critical evidence in the event of accidents.
A dashcam’s primary function is to record video, which inevitably raises concerns about data usage. Not all dashcams need a link to the internet or use data to operate properly. The majority of conventional dash cams are standalone devices that record video to a memory card inside the camera.
Do You Need Data to Download Dash Cam Videos?
Every dash cam stores video on flash media, most frequently an SD card. Some models come with Wi-fi, making it simple to share videos with others. A dash cam allows users to view the video using the device’s replay mode. It can spare you from having to download videos and use your mobile device.
With the current restrictions imposed by Wi-fi technology, installing a video that lasts one minute takes almost an hour, which is slower than expected. If you use Android phones a prompt will appear requesting you to format the storage card if the memory card is 64GB. At this point, you must download the NTFS for USB app from Paragon Software.
How Much Data Does a Connected Dash Camera Use?
The amount of data used by a dash cam (connected) depends on several variables, such as the video resolution, frame rate, and frequency of recording. In comparison to lower choices like 720p, higher video resolutions like 1080p need more data for recording and storing video.
Similarly, higher frame rates, like 60 frames each second, lead to bigger files and more data usage. We can consider an average scenario into consideration to calculate the data usage of a connected dashcam.
Assume that the dash camera records for an average of one hour per day that a resolution of 1080p, 30 frames per second, and trigger recording anything. An estimation for these parameters would be 1.5 to 2.5 GB of data used per hour of keeping track.
Why not Create a Dash Camera that Supports 4G/5G?
The hardware required to support 4G LTE/5G functionality is expensive. It will increase the cost of the dash cam. Consumers pay for cloud server storage when backing up and uploading to the cloud, and cellphone companies might require users to buy a certain amount of cloud storage for a certain price each month.
Unlike smart home cameras, which may link to the Internet at home, dash cam supporting 4G LTE/5G function requires an Internet connection. A separate SIM card for a wireless network must be purchased to monitor your car remotely while the user is traveling for dash cam car setup.
Tips for Monitoring Data Consumption?
If data usage is a concern for you, change the resolution of the video and pace to save data. Lowering the video recovery and frame rate can save a lot of data. But this can affect the clarity and quality of the video.
Use Wi-fi if your linked dash cam is Wi-fi capable. You can upload videos and access extra features without using cellular data by connecting the digital camera to your residence or office network. If you decide to use cloud storage, see if you can set the number of uploads. This may aid in lowering data usage.
If you want to supplement your dashcam’s cloud storage with more space, think about buying a bigger memory card. By doing this, you can store more video locally and reduce the frequency of data uploads.
Conclusion
Dash cams have incredibly practical tools for recording significant moments while driving, ensuring safety, while offering proof in the event of an accident or dispute. An internet connection is necessary if your dash cam can stream video live or offer real-time GPS tracking.
Connected dashcams offer features like streaming and cloud storage that can utilize different quantities of data. You can control data consumption and make decisions based on your requirements and the data plan’s restrictions by becoming familiar with the settings of your dash camera.
For managing your fleet or maintaining an eye on parked cars, the ability to stream live enables you to remotely monitor the camera’s view. Hope this article will help you to know the quantity of data dash cam uses. Please let us know what features you are searching for in a dash camera in the comment box.