How to turn a smartphone into a DVR

Content

How to fix a smartphone in a car
How to mount a lens
How to connect power
How to choose an application
How to set up the application
How to set up a recording
Is it worth it to turn a smartphone into a DVR
- Disadvantages
- Advantages
What can be done so that the video recording of an accident has legal force?
Video recorder vs smartphone: which is better
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Imagine if the predecessors of Christopher Columbus had a video recorder. Surely, the debate about who actually discovered America would have become much less. Travels of modern drivers are not so exciting, but they cannot do without this “miracle of technology”. Especially if it comes to a controversial situation on the road.

The price of registrars is quite high. It can vary from 100 to 800 dollars. The quality of video recording in budget models is frankly “lame”, and for more expensive ones there may not be enough salary. Therefore, "folk craftsmen" found a way out - to mount a regular smartphone instead of a registrar. Let's look at how to do it yourself.

How to fix a smartphone in a car

In the case of a conventional DVR, everything is clear - it is mounted on a specially provided design. Everything is simple and logical here. To fix the smartphone correctly, you have to refine a bit. It is unlikely that Steve Jobs could imagine that his Iphone would be used as an “I-registrar”, otherwise we would have an “apple” in an extended configuration.

So, in order to choose the mounts correctly, you need to adhere to three rules:

The holder must be compact so that it does not fall off at the most crucial moment under its own weight. Ideally - turning.
It should be possible to quickly remove the smartphone from the mount. Especially if you have one phone. Suddenly someone will call.
The best place to install the mount is the top of the windshield. If "screwed" to the dashboard, the rays of the sun will illuminate the camera.

Holders on suction cups or glue base are perfect. Their price is $ 5, and amenities for the entire hundred.

How to mount a lens

Although modern gadgets are equipped with cool cameras, they are still not suitable for the role of a DVR. They have too narrow a view for recording traffic conditions. Therefore, you have to spend a little money and buy a wide-angle lens. Do not rush to be upset, it costs just nothing: 2-3 dollars with a clothespin or 10-12 - with a screw thread.

There is one caveat here - buy lenses made of glass only. Plastic is not good.

During installation, be sure to center the lens so that the picture does not get distorted. Also check that the mounting is secure.

How to connect power

In the video mode, the smartphone is very quickly discharged, so you will not be able to use it due to the built-in battery. To conduct a separate power supply, you will need: a reliable 2 A adapter and a long cable. You can use the "native" cord that comes with the phone. However, in this case, you will have to enjoy the scenery from the hanging wires. We recommend that you immediately take a genuine cable in order to carefully lead it along the body to the cigarette lighter, bypassing the windshield.

It is convenient to use a cable with a magnetic connector to power the telephone recorder. It makes the process of connecting / disconnecting the gadget more comfortable and faster.

How to choose an application

On iOS and Android, you will find a ton of free and relatively free applications that turn the gadget into a cool registrar. The choice between them is similar to the choice of a music player: the possibilities are almost the same, only the picture is different. Let's look at the six most popular ones:

Roadar

This is a multifunctional application that can:

Turn on independently when motion is detected.
Automatically adjust exposure to avoid flare.
Perform the function of a radar detector.
Recognize traffic signs.
Warn about speeding, parking ban and other nuances.

Smart driver

SmartDriver can record the situation on the road, but focuses more on something else - on the radar function. Also, the application helps the driver to figure out the desired route using the pop-up tips on the screen.

The free version gives access to the database of DPS cameras and posts, updated once a week. With a paid subscription, renewal occurs daily.

Autoboy

Simple and reliable registrar with low requirements. This is a great solution if your android is a bit outdated. There is nothing superfluous. AutoBoy can work in horizontal and vertical orientation, it has many settings that allow you to personalize it to your needs and supports the accelerometer

The program can not only record, but also take pictures, in a given time interval. AutoBoy can also upload videos to YouTube.

Daily Roads Voyager

This application has a large set of settings to select the optimal mode and recording quality. During testing, the program showed good stability, as for a free application.

There were not so many cons in the DailyRoads Voyager. One of the main ones is advertising displayed in the form of banners. If the mobile device has a small RAM, then this may slow down the recording. This “hindrance” can be eliminated by buying a pro-account for a relatively nominal fee - almost $ 3.

The navigation buttons in the application are located to the side, without closing the record display window. In addition to standard presets, software developers have left the opportunity to make individual settings. They include:

selection of the place of unloading of the footage;
determination of recording length and video resolution;
loop recording function (to save free space on a memory card);
photographing at certain time intervals;
sound recording management;
the ability to disable some functions so that the phone battery does not overheat;
work in the background.

iOnRoad Augment Driving

An innovative application, the principle of which is based on the functions of driver assistance systems, which are equipped with many modern cars. The idea is to not only record what is happening on the road, but also to warn the driver of a possible collision.

Software benefits include:

the idea of warning the driver about the danger of a collision;
budget version of the lane retention system;
color and sound notification;
the possibility of background recording.

This program has several significant drawbacks, because of which it cannot be put the highest rating:

the program is energy-intensive (the processor can get very hot);
not compatible with devices equipped with small random access memory;
no Russian language;
in some cases, the application turned off spontaneously;
during rain on some devices, the camera focus moves from the road to the windshield, which reduces the quality of the picture;
for people with color blindness, the color alert option (green, yellow and red) will be useless, and the audible alarm is often annoying rather than warning of danger.

It is worth noting that this application is a good attempt to implement the idea of a mobile assistant for the driver. At the moment, the developers have not yet finalized it enough to give him high marks, but the idea is good.

Road recorder

The application developer calls his "brainchild" the best video recorder for a mobile phone. The advantages of the software include:

HD recording
display of important data - auto speed, geolocation, date and time of recording;
work in the background for the possibility of making phone calls;
the ability to save a record in the cloud storage;
You can set the function to automatically remove the footage.

In addition to these functions, developers have recently added an emergency call button located on the recording screen in the application. Additionally, video material from an accident can be selected so that the application does not delete it.

How to set up the application

Any application has its own settings. At some points, they, of course, may differ, but the key options are the same.

It is important to choose applications that have a background function. Thanks to this, the device will be able to simultaneously perform the function of the phone and the DVR.

In each individual case, the developers equip their creation with various options that can stabilize the smartphone, and can slow it down so much that the driver will only be distracted.

Overall - feel free to experiment. Try turning on and off the various options to customize the application to your needs.

How to set up a recording

Each phone and application is configured for video recording in its own way, but the procedure is carried out on the same basis. Here are some factors to consider:

The quality of the recording. Many mobile devices allow you to capture video clips with a resolution of 4K or Full HD. Choosing this option, it would be worthwhile to stop at HD. This will save space on the memory card. If the application has the function of automatic uploading of material to the cloud storage, it will quickly “eat up” all the free traffic provided by the operator.
Loop recording. If the application is equipped with this function, you should use it. In some cases, you can pre-set the amount of memory provided to the application so that it does not fill the entire memory of the phone or memory card.
Image stabilization. This option often depends on the camera capabilities of the device itself, not the application. If it is available in the software settings, then it is better to use it. This will significantly improve recording quality without the need for a higher resolution.
Additional options need to be tested in a simulation environment, not in real road situations.

Is it worth it to turn a smartphone into a DVR

Digital technology is advancing rapidly. Even at the time of writing, several developers can publish a couple of new applications for a mobile phone, making it a full-fledged DVR.

There is no need to talk much about the advantages of classic DVRs. They completely exclude the human factor in determining the correctness of the participants in an accident. The interested party will not be able to "tune" the facts for themselves. Witnesses of the incident can not be persuaded, and if they are absent, recording from the camera is a weighty proof of someone's guilt or rightness.

If everything is unambiguous with classic registrars, then what about the use of their analogues - mobile phones with the appropriate program? As with any device, mobile phone-based recorders have their advantages and certain disadvantages.

Disadvantages

It is inconvenient to use a smartphone as an analog of a DVR for the following reasons:

Most mobile phones are equipped with optics, perfect for shooting during the day. The night mode often remains unavailable, since this requires an expensive smartphone with a special camera. Bright sunshine can also significantly reduce recording quality. The capture width of the phone’s camera rarely allows you to capture what is happening on an adjacent lane or curb.

During activation of the DVR mode, other functions of the device are not disabled. The more applications that run in the background, the more information the processor will process. This will inevitably lead to overheating of the low-power device. Some programs consume a lot of energy, so the phone will need to be turned on for constant charging. Active mode and constant heat from the sun can damage the smartphone.
If the phone is used as the main registrar, it will be inconvenient to use other functions of the gadget: social networks, browser and messenger.

Advantages

If the driver has a high-quality and modern smartphone, then using it as an auto-recorder can be justified by the following factors.

The quality of the shooting. Many budget car recorders have poor recording quality. Sometimes such surveys do not even allow you to recognize the license plate in front of a going car. Modern smartphones provide detailed photo and video shooting.
Most smartphones of the latest generation are equipped with either software or optical image stabilization. Even if you choose medium resolution, the picture will not be blurry due to shaking while the car is moving.
Another advantage of productive mobile devices is their multitasking. In addition to the function of the DVR, the driver can activate the navigator option. It will depend on the capabilities of the gadget.

What can be done so that the video recording of an accident has legal force?

The legislation of each country has its own subtleties that govern the use of data from DVRs in resolving disputes. Here is what the driver can do so that the material captured by his device can be used as evidence:

In the event of an accident, the driver must immediately inform the police officer about the presence of a DVR in his car. This will not make it possible to accuse the owner of the material that he forged it using video editing.

The provision of video material by the driver must be indicated in the protocol. It should be requested that the police officer include details on the recording device in the protocol: where it was located in the car, its model and the distinguishing characteristics of the removed memory card.
The actual time of the incident should be displayed on the record, so it is important that this parameter is correctly configured in advance in the program.
In case of refusal to include information on the presence of video evidence in the protocol, it is necessary to mention this in your explanations. At the time of signing the document, you need to write in it about your disagreement with the decision of the police officer.

Other details should be clarified by a lawyer.

With proper use of a suitable smartphone, the driver can save money on the purchase of a separate DVR. Before using this feature, you must really assess the capabilities of your phone.

Video recorder vs smartphone: which is better

Despite the fact that modern smartphones have wide functionality, including it can be used as a navigator or DVR, it is better to give preference to a specialized device. There are several reasons why the combination "smartphone + application for loop recording" is inferior to a full-fledged DVR:

Loop recording. Smartphones often lack this function. Such a device takes pictures until the memory runs out, and due to the high resolution of the camera, this volume will be used up quite quickly. The DVR, on the other hand, provides loop recording until it is turned off. When the memory on the card runs out, the old recordings are erased and the process goes on continuously.
High load. DVRs are designed for many hours of work in shooting and recording mode. The processor of a smartphone is not designed for such a load, which is why prolonged video recording can damage it or the phone will simply freeze.
Camera lens. A camera with a viewing angle of 120 degrees or more is installed in DVRs. This is necessary for the device to be able to record what is happening not only directly in front of the car, but also on adjacent lanes and on the side of the road. For a smartphone to be able to cope with such a function, you need to buy a special wide-angle lens.
Performing one task. DVRs are designed to do one thing. The entire capacity of the memory card is used exclusively for storing video recordings (and in some models for photos). A smartphone is a multitasking device, and a memory card is always used not only for storing multimedia files. And so that the recording is not interrupted on the road, the phone function will need to be turned off (activate the "flight" mode).
Camera adaptation. All DVRs are equipped with cameras that are able to quickly adapt to changing lighting conditions, for example, when a car leaves a tunnel, the clarity of the picture stabilizes as quickly as possible. A smartphone can also have a similar stabilization, only this function needs to be properly configured manually.
Ready to go. The DVR is always connected to the vehicle's on-board system (to prepare a disconnected device for operation, just connect a wire to it). To activate it, just turn the ignition key. With a mobile phone, it is necessary to carry out some manipulations to enable and configure the corresponding application.

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