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blackwolf



Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17382

United Kingdom 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Stornoway Grey
Blackvue DR650 dashcam
I know that there are some folk on the forum running the Blackvue DR650 dashcam in some form or another, and I wonder if anyone who does run this camera could offer me some advice.

I fitted one last week (the 2-channel 'Truck' version since on my DC I need a weatherproof camera at the rear) and generally it seems very good, however it doesn't get a GPS signal - in ten hours or so of motoring to date it has had a GPS fix for about 30 seconds (which at least proves it works).

Now I think that the most likely reason for this is that the position I have it fixed to the windscreen means that it really doesn't get much of a view of the sky. Since I have no interior rear view mirror, I have fixed the unit so that the lens is at the top of the sweep of the passenger-side wiper-arc, and the unit is about half-an-inch form the top of the glass. The body of the unit is therefore directly under the top rail of the screen, and a GPS receiver in the unit can (I imagine) only really get s signal from a satelite more-or-less directly in front of the vehicle (which isn't where they tend to be)! The fact that it is a heated screen probably isn't helping either.

it is however a neat, unobtrusive location for the camera.

My question therefore is this: do you get a reliable GPS signal, and if so whereabout on the screen have you fitted your unit?

I am thinking that I will probably have to move it to about where the mirror used to be if I want the GPS to work, but before going to the trouble of unsticking and replacing the adhesive pad, I was hoping for om feedback on loaction.

I don't really want the unit in the middle of the screen since I anticipate that there may be 'obstruction' issues at MoT test time, though I suppose I could always refit the rear view mirror fo the test.

Many thanks!
Post #466645 26th Oct 2015 11:07am
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midlife



Member Since: 15 Apr 2015
Location: Cork
Posts: 122

Ireland 2007 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 SW Rimini Red
I have mine bang in middle of screen top. Gets GPS in seconds. . Have you played back on player to check your not getting GPS?
Post #466646 26th Oct 2015 11:14am
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blackwolf



Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17382

United Kingdom 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Stornoway Grey
Yes, definitely not getting GPS!

How far from the top edge of the screen is your unit? It may be that even an inch down the screen would be enough to make a difference.
Post #466654 26th Oct 2015 11:59am
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Venomator



Member Since: 25 Aug 2014
Location: Peterborough
Posts: 2087

United Kingdom 
@blackwolf...
Not sure why you should be having such difficulties tbh, they are built for such locations, have you double checked your settings... Question

On many units you are able to attach a separate GPS receiver, might be worth checking out if you continue to have difficulties... Whistle

Mr. Green
 Rog... Mr. Green
The GREEN One...


MY2016 Urban Truck Build Thread - http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic40548....al[/color]
Post #466667 26th Oct 2015 12:34pm
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midlife



Member Since: 15 Apr 2015
Location: Cork
Posts: 122

Ireland 2007 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 SW Rimini Red
Mine is bang behind where the mirror is. They have internal GPS aerial which picks up fine. Have you tried firmware and checked your up to latest although this one has worked with all versions
Post #466676 26th Oct 2015 1:24pm
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custom90



Member Since: 21 Jan 2010
Location: South West, England.
Posts: 20367

United Kingdom 
If it still doesn't work out I'd seriously try and get a replacement if you can?
Post #466677 26th Oct 2015 1:31pm
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blackwolf



Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17382

United Kingdom 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Stornoway Grey
It is the latest firmware (updated it after initial tests) and I believe it to be working OK.

As noted above, I suspect that the main problem is that it is right up at the absolute top of the glass, so that in all honesty the unit gets no "view" of the sky. Knowing that Midlife's works fine at rear view mirror height I will try it there (where I expect it to be better, since it will get a better view of the sky).

I'll try to get and post a photo tomorrow of where mine is, then you'll see what I mean. It's a great location apart from the GPS!

As far as I know there is no external-GPS-aerial option on this model.

To be honest, I bought it for the dual camera feature and the GPS wasn't really a factor. Trouble is now that I have seen what it can do when it has a GPS signal, I want that to work too!

Many thanks for the suggestions so far.

(Incidentally finding a home for the rear camera in a location where it doesn't only show me the spare wheel which is following absurdly close behind has been challenging too!)
Post #466685 26th Oct 2015 1:46pm
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gilarion



Member Since: 05 Dec 2013
Location: Wales
Posts: 5110

Wales 2007 Defender 90 Other CSW Trident Green
Have you noticed whether the GPS LED is lit on the rear of the unit you should see a blue light.

GPS function can take several minutes to obtain a lock on to satellites. I do not think seeing the sky is the issue here.
Have you either a tinted front screen or a heated screen as both can interfere with GPS functionality as can some aftermarket alarms. On board Satellite Navigation such as a TomTom can also interfere with the GPS function of the Black Vue.

Have you noticed if the time is correct on the unit as the time is set via GPS, so if the time is correct then GPS function is working.

This is a bit of a long shot but our Military are always jamming GPS signals and this often gives rise to people thinking there is a fault with their equipment OFCOM has a site where you can check if any GPS jamming is in operation in your area search here http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/spectrum/gps-jamming-exercises/

My advice would be to take the unit out of the car or even hang it out the driver’s window and see if the blue LED GPs light comes on this can take up to ten minutes if the unit has not received a signal for a couple of days.

If having tried the camera out of the Defender and still no GPS function return it to the seller and ask for advice as maybe the unit is faulty. For those who like Welsh Mountains and narrow boats have a look at my videos and photos at..

http://www.youtube.com/user/conwy1
Post #466692 26th Oct 2015 2:12pm
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blackwolf



Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17382

United Kingdom 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Stornoway Grey
The GPS LED works, and very occasionally I will get a GPS signal. During these periods, the recorded footage correctly shows speed etc, and using the Blackview viewer I get the correct function mapping functions. So I know that the unit is capable of receiving GPS and performing correctly.

On a typical journey I will get perhaps 1 minute per hour of GPS reception.

The screen is a standard tinted heated one (hence my comments about above heated screens), however a variety of devices have no trouble working correctly in the car.

I am farily convinced that the problem is the unusual location I've put the unit, and moving it lower on the screen (to rear view mirror level) will improve the situation.

The question of the time is another issue with these, since as you say it derives its time from the encoded GPS signal. My unit was convinced that it is in 2018, and has not had enough GPS-on time to sort this out. There is a utility on the Pittasoft downloads page that allows a time resync, and the same effect can be accomplished by deleting certain time-stamped files on the SD card. As far as I know the time on my unit is now as correct as it can be in the absence of GPS.
Post #466699 26th Oct 2015 2:30pm
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gilarion



Member Since: 05 Dec 2013
Location: Wales
Posts: 5110

Wales 2007 Defender 90 Other CSW Trident Green
Very odd!
To be honest my Camera is also right at the top of the windscreen above the rear view mirror and about half an inch below the windscreen rubber seal, and I have no problems with GPS, however my window is not tinted or heated. I would also say the lens of mine is about an inch from the glass.

I wonder if the unit is somehow switching to parking mode as this mode switches off GPS For those who like Welsh Mountains and narrow boats have a look at my videos and photos at..

http://www.youtube.com/user/conwy1
Post #466701 26th Oct 2015 2:38pm
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blackwolf



Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17382

United Kingdom 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Stornoway Grey
We seem to be sorted. I have moved the camera about 2" lower down the screen, and the GPS signal now seems to be strong and all OK.

For info, photos of before and after follow.

Original position, no GPS (the GPS LED is illuminated in this picture only because the unit was powering up when the photo was taken):



Click image to enlarge



Lowered approx 2" to about where the rear view mirror used to be, GPS now OK (LED not lit because I'd just powered the unit down):



Click image to enlarge


Conclusion - don't put it too close to the top of the 'screen!


My thanks to all who contributed. Thumbs Up
Post #466993 27th Oct 2015 1:24pm
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gilarion



Member Since: 05 Dec 2013
Location: Wales
Posts: 5110

Wales 2007 Defender 90 Other CSW Trident Green
Pleased you have now sorted it, strange though that my unit is positioned higher than yours is and still works fine. For those who like Welsh Mountains and narrow boats have a look at my videos and photos at..

http://www.youtube.com/user/conwy1
Post #466998 27th Oct 2015 1:38pm
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midlife



Member Since: 15 Apr 2015
Location: Cork
Posts: 122

Ireland 2007 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 SW Rimini Red
Good to hear working. Yours must be sensitive as I have mine as near to your first position. I couldn't get a photo to upload. Great bit of kit and quality is immense especially on viewer watching front and rear at same time
Post #467009 27th Oct 2015 2:42pm
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blackwolf



Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17382

United Kingdom 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Stornoway Grey
I hadn't thought about this before but I do also have a Patriot rack which is a sustantial grounded metal thing between me and the satellites - might further attenuate the signal.

Main thing is it is working!

Midlife wrote:
... Great bit of kit and quality is immense especially on viewer watching front and rear at same time


Have to agree, it is good. I like the mapping function too, now I have GPS! Thumbs Up
Post #467014 27th Oct 2015 2:59pm
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blackwolf



Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17382

United Kingdom 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Stornoway Grey
An update in case anyone is interested or has similar problems...

Although moving the unit further down from the roof improved its performance initially, it soon became clear that it still wasn't right. So I sent the unit back to the supplier who has replaced it with a new replacement, which I fitted on Friday. Sofar this has worked perfectly, it has GPS almost all the time, and has sorted out its timestamps.

So it was a faulty unit after all.

Thank you all for your input and advice! Thumbs Up
Post #475567 23rd Nov 2015 7:39pm
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