It's quite the upgrade! The cabling will need to be changed to switch to the new models. If you're curious about all the differences, we have an article here: www.blackboxmycar.com/pages/upgrading-from-the-viofo-a129-to-the-new-a229-proandplus-series
Can you read the license plate numbers with this dash cam? You should really dedicate a section of the review just for this because this is what dash cams are for especially with hit and runs
Absolutely! We appreciate your feedback and will definitely consider it for our future videos. The VIOFO A229 Pro, with its 4K UHD main camera and Sony STARVIS 2 technology, is built to capture high-quality footage, including license plates, even in challenging conditions like low light or high-speed situations. Its HDR and Super Night Vision features further enhance its ability to capture clear details at night. This feature is especially crucial in hit-and-run scenarios. Thanks again for your suggestion!
If I buy the A229 Plus, can I add at a later step the rear camera? Is it available to be purchased separately? Or should I go for the A229 Plus duo from the start?
The manufacturer, VIOFO, sells the rear camera separately here: viofo.com/dash-cam/336-a229-plusa229-pro-rear-camera-replacement-with-cord-and-adhesive-sticker.html Do keep in mind that it will likely be fulfilled overseas which can take a while, and will be less expensive if you get them together.
You certainly can plug the camera into a power bank instead of a car battery, we sell dash cam battery packs for that exact purpose. With that being said, using a standard USB battery often isn't ideal, since it can't tell the camera to go in and out of parking mode. As for whish is better in general, since the key difference is resolution, the A229 Plus is often better due to the lower price tag.
I live in the Phoenix Arizona area and have heard that the pro model May overheat a lot more than the plus model. What are your thoughts? Should I just stick with the plus model to avoid overheating?
Yes, the basis that the 4k Pro model runs hotter than the 2k Plus model is true. From some community testing, we've seen that the difference is 28℉ (16℃) between the two. For more information on that, check out the thread here: dashcamtalk.com/forum/threads/a229-pro-test-review-pp.49779/page-2#post-603138
Hi, curious about the A229 Plus. Can the 2CH simultaneously do front 2K 60 (HDR OFF) and rear 2K 30 (HDR ON)? My concern with buying a dash cam is having better framerate over resolution. Therefore, a 2K 60 would be better for me than a 4K 30 front camera.
Hi there! I can confirm that you can have the front camera set to 2k @60fps while the rear camera is set to 2k @ 30fps. However, the HDR is all or nothing so you'll need to have it on for both or neither. At least there's an auto-HDR setting, which will you can set to only enable HDR during certain set windows.
@@blackboxmycar Appreciate your response! Was afraid the 2CH would lock me to 2K 30 both just for having front + rear run together. My initial plan was to get just a 1CH dash cam (A119 mini 2) so I could secure my 2K 60, as it's very important to me. As for the HDR, I wish they would just allow us to enable it on one camera out of the two, without affecting the other. Viofo should really take notes on that!
@@blackboxmycar Sorry for bothering you too much, but there's a summer sale right now in AliExpress and I wondered If I'll be able to get 1440p60 on Front if I get the 3CH version. Again, don't care if the rare will be 1440p30 and interior 1080p30!
The body of these models is higher-quality than earlier A129 models so we're expecting it to handle heat better, though they were still rather reliable. Plus, from the A229 Duo to the A229 Plus/Pro Duo, they've added additional heat sinks internally. We may need to give it the good ol Beat The Heat test when things warm up though ^^
Parking mode can be disabled in the settings of the camera. You can also set it to only record motion/impacts so it won't draw much power in your garage. There's also the old fashioned way of unplugging the camera, or the advanced way of installing an in-line switch.
@@blackboxmycar...Yeah..I had that switch option installed for parking in the house garage but it's another point of failure. I started getting parking mode turning off itself when I was out. Traced it to the switch failure. I removed the switch and have been manually turning off the camera when parking at home.
Hi again. Would you be able to quantify the sensitivity options of motion detection? I mean how far will the dashcam detect motion when it's set to low, medium and high? My A229 Pro's motion detection is set to low but it seems that it never stopped recording from the time I left my car parked.
I sometimes leave my car for to 1 to 4 days at most. how long will the camera have power for? and what settings should i use for parking mode to maximize the time available for these features to work. i currently have the thinkware u 3000 but its app interface and gps accuracy is sub par. im going to return it
To get the most out of parking mode with the Thinkware U3000, use Energy Saving Mode. Without a battery pack, it lasts about 1-2 days. With a battery pack, it can last 5-7 days, depending on the pack and settings. Enable Smart Parking Mode to save energy by recording only when incidents or extreme temperatures occur. If you have problems with the app or GPS, contact our support team at info@blackboxmycar.com. We're here to help!
229 plus offer 2k 60fps on front camera, 229 pro does not offer 60fps on any resolution. More fps, better chance at capturing a plate. Im torn between the 2 i really want 60fps, but i also want the quad gps in the pro
@@DR0CK Same. My existing dashcam has 4k on the front but it only captures at 25fps. That 5 fps will not make it any different 30fps is enough for slow captures. But if there is a HIT & RUN even 4k cannot capture it clearly in time with 30fps
-> Please tell Viofo to let the front camera record @ 60 FPS in "Automatic HDR" mode during the time period when HDR is off! Becuase now 60 fps are only possible, if HDR is turned off completely.
Have you tried the VIOFO RTC300 telephoto camera for the A229 Plus/Pro? It has Starvis 2 and HDR. I see they are claiming the telephoto lens is better at reading license plates.
Glad you're excited about the RTC300 too! As it's just been announced, we haven't had hands-on with it, but will certainly be testing it out and discussing with VIOFO, so stay tuned
I have recently bought the A229 PRO with the 4K etc and I love it hands down, I have owned many dash cams such as Blackvue, Nextbase Thinkware etc etc and the A229 is far better but my problem I have is that I cannot get the hardwiring sorted as I have a continue power feed correctly but I connected the acc wire to my fuse box as it says in the instructions and when I turn off my engine it switches the dash cam OFF ?? because the acc turns off at the same time as the engine and I then cannot use the parking mode ?? any ideas will be a help, thanks Nev from the UK
Sorry to hear you're struggling with hardwiring, there are various reasons why parking mode is not engaging. Firstly, please ensure parking mode is enabled in the settings of the camera, and that the voltage cut-off on the hardwire kit is not set too high. As for the connections themselves, ensure everything is wired properly, as per our hardwiring guide: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-8NMHENYSSzg.html
Great video! Thank you for making this, I have learned a lot. Question, if I get the A229 Plus but place the smaller camera in the front and have the main 229 plus under the seat, would this work? I wish Viofo would make a box that will fit under the seat and a small camera like the rear view camera they make for the front. I also have issues of the dash cam freezing up because of the Texas heat, so that's the other reason why I wanted to run the small camera in the front.
Hi there, glad you liked the video! Yes, this would technically work I suppose, but you'd be wasting the front camera's recording, which has better quality. If you're looking for a main unit that is hidden, along with smaller cameras for the front, then you may be better off with the DR770X or DR970X Box units from BlackVue.
A month is a really long time! The closest you can get is combining the energy efficiency of the Thinkware U3000, with a dash cam battery pack like the PowerCell 8.
Thanks for the feedback! I'll see what we can do. In the meantime, Panzer Platform over on DashCamTalk has done just that with these units, and noted an added heat sink compared to previous installations. You can check that out here: dashcamtalk.com/forum/threads/a229-pro-test-review-pp.49779/
Im going to buy the A229 plus tomorrow. Then I won't need my wife in the front and my mother-in-law in the back seat with their phones taking video footage anymore.
That's a clever and humorous way to look at it! I can certainly appreciate the joke about having your family members act as makeshift dash cams 😂. The VIOFO A229 Plus will indeed be a much more reliable (and probably less opinionated 😂) solution for capturing footage from the front and rear of your vehicle. On a more serious note, the A229 Plus is a solid choice that should serve you well. It offers good video quality and reliable performance. Remember to follow the installation instructions carefully for the best results. If you have any questions about setup or usage once you get your new dash cam, don't hesitate to reach out to our support team. They're always happy to help, and unlike in-laws, they won't overstay their welcome! Enjoy your new dash cam, and drive safely!
Will only do 2K + 1440p rear simultaneously at only 30 FPS. Will only do 4K if the rear camera is disabled or disconnected completely!! Will NOT do 60 FPS on anything no matter the settings, even HDR etc turned off. Sounds like a bait and switch
I understand how that could be disappointing if the dash cam's performance doesn't match your expectations. The resolution and frame rate capabilities can vary based on the dash cam model and its configuration. For the BlackVue DR970X, achieving 4K resolution typically requires more processing power, which may impact the ability to record at higher frame rates or with additional channels like a rear camera. It's always a good idea to check the product specifications to ensure they align with your needs. If the current setup isn't meeting your expectations, you might consider reaching out to the manufacturer's support for further assistance or exploring other models that fit your requirements. If you have any more questions or need help with other options, feel free to reach out to us at info@blackboxmycar.com or chat with us via Live Chat. We're here to support you in finding the right dash cam solution!
