AdvoCam-FD8 RED-II GPS + GLONASS - the most sophisticated mid-range recorder?

    No, so long ago a summary material was published on Geektimes about the current line of DVRs of the Russian manufacturer AdvoCam. Yes, yes - of the one who independently develops his devices at his own production in the city of Alexandrov. There, in the Vladimir region, AdvoCam tests all its models for resistance to subzero temperatures and shaking on the roads. And at the same time, he always organizes a test pre-production assembly of limited batches of devices to identify and eliminate possible “jambs” and bugs before launching mass serial production at the facilities of Asian partner factories. Exactly in the same way, by the way, all the world's leading giants of the portable electronics market work, including Apple.

    In this material, among the current models of the brand's DVRs, AdvoCam-FD8 Red II (GPS + GLONASS) was mentioned, which became the successor to the 2013 flagship AdvoCam-FD8 Red, which was popular at that time. In the updated version, the single-system GPS was replaced with GLONASS / GPS, the top-end matrix of the American company OmniVision with support for HDR mode was installed (highlight dark areas, equalize frame brightness). We got a solid device for 9,500 rubles.




    According to AdvoCam, the updated AdvoCam-FD8 Red II (GPS + GLONASS) is the most thoughtful DVR of the middle price segment (8-12 thousand rubles) in Russia at the end of 2016. In this case, “thoughtfulness” means shooting Super HD, a GLONASS / GPS receiver, HDMI, built-in memory, a large screen, and other useful features in a compact case. Well, let's figure out how successful the update of the popular model turned out to be.

    Equipment


    AdvoCam-FD RED-II GPS + GLONASS is notable for a rather rich set of delivery. So, in addition to the registrar himself, the following accessories were put in the box.

    1. A cigarette lighter charger with an additional USB port. Thus, not only autoreg, but also a smartphone or tablet can be charged through the adapter.
    2. Convenient mounting on a vacuum suction cup.
    3. Plastic hooks on 3M tape for neatly laying the cable through the passenger compartment (only 6 hooks, which is enough even for a bus or truck).
    4. Cable for connecting the recorder to a computer (USB-microUSB).
    5. User manual.
    6. Disk with software. On it you will find instructions in electronic form, as well as a player for viewing videos and codecs. However, the manual is on the AdvoCam website. This is important, since today not all laptops and even desktop computers have CD-drives.
    7. A leaflet from the president of the college of legal protection for motorists and the popular television and radio host Viktor Travin. This brochure lists the steps to take with the video in the event of an accident. The information is useful, it's hard to deny.



    All of the above is packed in a rectangular box made of thick cardboard. The packaging is framed in red and black colors. In addition to the image of the AdvoCam-FD8 RED-II GPS + GLONASS itself, the box contains the meaning of the device control keys. Here you can find the main characteristics of the registrar. There is also a table of the ratio of the volume of memory cards and the duration of the video, which will fit on these cards.





    Design and controls


    AdvoCam-FD8 RED-II GPS + GLONASS looks almost the same as all other models of the FD8 line - Black and Gold of this brand. All of them are made in one design: a body elongated in the horizontal plane, rounded corners and beveled edges. The only difference is the color of the plastic lining around the camera lens, in our case it is red. Which is clear from the name of the device.



    In addition to the mentioned lens and the red insert, on the front side of the device (that is, the one that looks at the road) there are speaker slots, as well as LED backlighting. The latter should not be used in motion, as its light will be reflected from the windshield, which will noticeably worsen the quality of the video. This light is needed to illuminate nearby objects when the car is standing. For example, with her help, the record will show the face of the traffic police inspector who came up for a conversation or, God forbid, attempts to sell you his striped wand. Also on this side of the AdvoCam-FD8 RED-II GPS + GLONASS we see the AdvoCam logo and an indication that the device is recording video in Super Full HD 1296p.



    On the opposite side of the recorder is a large 2.7-inch display. Such a diagonal is enough to study the menu, and to “aim” the camera on the road, and even to view the recorded video. On the sides of the AdvoCam-FD8 RED-II GPS + GLONASS screen there are control buttons - one double key on the left and right. By the way, about management: in this device (like in all other AdvoCam models), the OneTouch proprietary interface is implemented, which allows you to turn on or off a function with one click (turn on / off the screen, record sound, backlight, and much more). It is actually convenient and very easy to learn. I note that even a beginner will not have difficulties with the management of AdvoCam-FD RED-II GPS + GLONASS.



    On the upper edge of the AdvoCam-FD8 RED-II GPS + GLONASS there are two more control keys: power and instant photo. There is also a connector for connecting to a computer and an AV output. In addition, on the upper end there is a contact pad for the mounting bracket. Yes, power to the AdvoCam-FD8 RED-II GPS + GLONASS is supplied through the mount bracket, and not directly. That is, the charger cable is not connected to the recorder, but rather to the mount (although you can “plug” it into the case). This design allows you to quickly remove or install autoreg on glass - and no fuss with wires.



    At the bottom of the recorder there are only ventilation holes, there is nothing more here.



    On the right side of the AdvoCam-FD8 RED-II GPS + GLONASS (if you look at the screen) there is a slot for a MicroSD memory card. The gadget easily recognizes cards up to 128 GB inclusive. A flash drive of this volume will fit about 16 hours of Super Full HD video or a day of continuous shooting in Full HD. Thus, you can capture even a very long trip as a whole.



    On the left side there is a reset button recessed into the housing and a miniHDMI output. The latter is used to connect the recorder to the TV.



    The AdvoCam-FD8 RED-II GPS + GLONASS case is made of rough black plastic. The material is pleasant to the touch and quite practical. So, it does not leave fingerprints or small scratches, he is not inclined to collect scuffs, and does not slip out of his hand. I did not have any complaints about the build quality of the registrar. All parts are clearly fitted to each other, there are no uneven joints, no burrs, or large gaps.

    Here I will say a few words about mounting on a vacuum suction cup. As I said, the power cable is not connected to the recorder, but rather to the mount. Also its advantage is its compact size and reliable swivel joint. In other words, you can quickly turn the recorder in any direction without loosening the screws and releasing the clamps. For example, in the cabin or in the direction of the driver’s window to record a conversation with the traffic police inspector.







    Video recording


    AdvoCam-FD8 RED-II GPS + GLONASS records video in resolution - Super Full HD (2304x1296 pixels). Therefore, it is foolish to assume that it uses cheap plastic lenses, a Chinese processor and the same Chinese matrix. Many brands that manufacture relatively inexpensive registrars commit such savings, but AdvoCam is not one of them.



    So, the AdvoCam-FD8 RED-II GPS + GLONASS lens consists of six lenses made of enlightened professional glass. This suggests that the matrix receives more light in comparison with plastic lenses; as a result, evening and night video is of higher quality. In addition, plastic lenses may deform over time due to temperature changes, but this will not happen with glass.

    The viewing angle of the lens is 120 degrees diagonally. So not only what happens immediately in front of the hood of the car, but also the side of the road gets into the frame. At the same time, the image remains “flat,” that is, it does not bend at the edges, as is the case with wide-angle lenses.

    On the processor for AdvoCam-FD8 RED-II GPS + GLONASS also did not save. This is the top version of the American Ambarella - A7LA50. The matrix here is also American - 4-megapixel OmniVision OV4689 1/3 '' format. That is, the size of the sensor is larger than in most other recorders, where usually 1/4 '' or even less. This has the most positive effect on the recording quality in low light conditions, since the larger each pixel in the matrix, the better the night and evening video will be. And all this - I emphasize it especially - in the middle class registrar, and not in the flagship model!

    AdvoCam-FD8 RED-II GPS + GLONASS records video in the following modes:

    • 2560 x 1080 pixels, 30 frames per second;
    • 2304 x 1296 pixels, 30 frames per second;
    • 1920 x 1080 pixels, 30 frames per second;
    • 1920 x 1080 pixels with HDR, 30 frames per second;
    • 1280 x 720 pixels, 60 frames per second;
    • 1280 x 720 pixels, 30 frames per second.

    I suggest you familiarize yourself with examples of videos recorded on the AdvoCam-FD8 RED-II GPS + GLONASS at different times of the day and under different weather conditions:



















    I will not deceive a bit if I say that AdvoCam-FD8 RED-II GPS + GLONASS writes high quality video. On the records you can see all the small details, such as traffic signs, the color of traffic lights, car license plates, texts on road signs and more. I also note the absence of darkened areas in the frame and too bright - the picture is even.

    All of the above applies to both day and night shooting. I can’t even believe that AdvoCam-FD RED-II GPS + GLONASS belongs to the middle class of autoreg. During the day, the reading range of license plates is about 17-18 meters, at night - up to 12 meters. These are excellent indicators for a mid-range model with a price tag of less than 10 thousand rubles. Chinese competitors give worse performance for the same money: during the day - a maximum of 15 meters, at night - about 10 meters.

    Additional functions


    Here I will start with the fact that the AdvoCam-FD8 RED-II GPS + GLONASS automatically turns on and starts recording after starting the engine of the machine. The shutdown occurs in the same way - the engine was shut off, shooting stopped and the recorder turned off. You can also activate manual recording start / stop mode. The function of loop recording (saving new clips on top of the old when filling the memory card), of course, is present. In the settings, you can select the duration of the clips between 1, 5, 10 and 15 minutes.

    To ensure that an important video is not accidentally deleted during loop recording, any fragment can be marked as “important” and “undeletable” manually. Also, to assign an emergency mark, a built-in G-sensor is provided, which automatically responds to "emergency situations", for example, a blow, sharp braking, hitting an open hatch, a large hole, etc. In this case, the sensor is triggered and automatically protects the current video fragment from being dubbed. By the way, in the settings you can adjust the sensitivity of the G-sensor. Let's say you often drive on dirt roads or roads with poor coverage - you need to set the sensitivity to a lower level so that the sensor does not work on the smallest pits and bumps. And vice versa: if you ride only on good roads, we “twist” the sensitivity to a higher level.

    Separately, I note the function "copy for the protocol." With it, you can quickly copy the "emergency" video into the recorder's memory (for this, 256 MB of internal memory is provided, which is enough for almost two minutes of recording in Super Full HD resolution), and remove the memory card and give it to the traffic police. Agree, this is convenient. No need to copy the video to your phone or equip the recorder with a second slot for a memory card. I really liked this option.

    A lot of functions in AdvoCam-FD8 RED-II GPS + GLONASS adds a two-system receiver of satellite navigation GPS / GLONASS.



    For example, it determines the speed that can be displayed over the footage in the form of a stamp. In addition, in the settings you can set the maximum speed limit that will be shown on the video. So to say, an option specifically for drivers of our country who like to break the speed limit. In addition, AdvoCam-FD8 RED-II GPS + GLONASS is able to warn the driver in advance of approaching traffic police posts, speed cameras (including Strelka-ST), etc. That is, in case of exceeding, you will always have time to reduce the speed to the allowed one. It works as follows. The memory of the recorder contains a base with the coordinates of the posts and cameras. When approaching such points, the device will warn you with a sound signal, and your current speed and allowed will be displayed on the screen.brand ) or use databases from enthusiasts (on the Internet, there are more than enough of these). In addition, you yourself can edit the file with the database - delete obsolete "points" or add your own. Everything is simple and convenient, the file has the extension TXT.



    If someone does not know what a two-system satellite navigation module is better than ordinary GPS (single-system), I will explain. The GLONASS / GPS option more confidently keeps in touch with satellites in poor reception conditions, for example, tunnels or places with a large number of high-rise buildings. Plus, the search for satellites, that is, the launch of the navigation module takes less time. AdvoCam is one of the few manufacturers of recorders that equips its models with dual-system GPS-GLONASS receivers. Chinese and pseudo-Russian brands that resell “China” under their logos almost always put a “bare” GPS and do not take into account national specifics for Russian consumers.

    It is also worth mentioning that the AdvoCam-FD8 RED-II GPS + GLONASS has an LDWS security system, the function of which is to reduce the number of accidents due to the fault of a sleepy or distracted driver. So, the registrar monitors the movement of the car on the road lane and, in the event of a shift to the side of the road or an adjacent lane, emits a loud signal. Thus, the driver will have time to recover and avoid accidents. The function is very useful, only for its proper operation you need high-quality road markings that are not covered with dust, dirt or snow. That is, this function will essentially work only in the summer in good weather.

    Conclusion


    To summarize. AdvoCam-FD8 RED-II GPS + GLONASS belongs to the middle class of video recorders, however, its affiliation is determined only by the price (9 500 rubles). Otherwise, it can be called the flagship device, and there is every reason for this. Judge for yourselves: the registrar writes highly detailed high-quality video in Super Full HD resolution, for which it is worth noting expensive components. The numbers of cars driving in front are distinguishable by day from 17 meters, by night from 12. A very, very decent result for the middle price segment. It is also equipped with a dual-system satellite communications module (GPS / GLONASS), unlike most Chinese models, which put only GPS. AdvoCam-FD8 RED-II GPS + GLONASS has a very wide range of additional functions - almost the maximum. Including warning of approaching radar, cameras and traffic police posts, and the growing popularity of the LDWS system. We add here high build quality and rich equipment. As a result, we get a modern autoreg at an affordable price. However, if you want to save a little, you can buy the AdvoCam-FD8 RED-II version without the GPS / GLONASS module for 8,000 rubles.

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