Excellent review. I just received mine from amazon and will start using it. Your description of the the product and review are awesome. Your explanations are great and very down to earth explanation. I did not even bother reading the manual, you covered it all. Thank you Ray for that well done/perfect review. looking forward to your other reviews. AWESOME
Glad you did this review, Ray. I just won one of these on another channels live stream! It's kinda funny seeing your footage as you drive around my hometown. -Sue
Sure appreciate the video. I bought one and have yet to install it hoping for a video to come out. I contacted Akaso and asked about the extra electrostatic plastic and sticky pad and was told you can put the sticky pad on the suction cup and stick that to the plastic. There is also a RUclips video that came out 4 days ago titled "How to upgrade your Akaso Trace 1 Pro". For someone that is not very computer savvy, I'm not sure I can follow their instructions, but I have a grandson that I bet can help me.
Thanks for doing this review. It's really informative (and you spend zero time opening a box!) "A little dark and soft. No exposure adjust. Would be hard to read a license plate." That's a deal breaker. I have an Akaso Brave 4 action camera. I'm always anxious about which GoPro to buy so then I don't buy anything. I finally decided, just get one of these.... Same thing with Dash Cameras. Every one I've looked at has some deal breaker flaw. In the end all that great GoPro footage in RUclips videos is selling a lot of this 'second rate' (but usable) stuff. One thing I think happens all too often: A company boasts high resolutions when all they've done is doubled the pixels of a lower resolution. Still early days with the Akaso to tell. Reading license plates in all conditions is the essential criteria of a dash cam. Learning how to use the Akaso I bought, I see that I can use it as a dash cam, it has a record loop--so when it fills up the card it starts recording over track one, etc... it also has a drive feature that if the camera is plugged into the ciglighter socket, it will turn on when the car starts and of when the car is turned off. This is Good Enough for only $60? (and I can still put it on my bicycle helmet and take it in my kayak). The smart phone monitor feature can also be used to turn a small camera into a back up camera. Also, I have a high end Nikon DSLR, and while I don't expect any of these cameras to be anything like it, one thing it does exceptionally well, mind bogglingly well, is low light. For bicycle safety the night-blind Akaso Brave 4 doesn't matter much, I don't cycle around cars at night-- so again Good Enough; if anyone hits me or commits a malicious felony (I've been riding for 40 years. Lot of angry violent people out there.)
Thanks for the excellent info, btw Akaso is just launching a new model of Brave the Akaso Brave 7 LE, will have front and rear LCD screens and be waterproof, they offered me one to review, just might take them up on it as I really liked my Akaso V50 Elite I got a few months back - www.loveyourrv.com/another-camera-for-lyrv-akaso-v50-elite-action-cam/
I finally purchased my girst Akaso Trace Pro! Its an amazing gadget. I just dont understand why it keeps recording after it senses impact during park mode. As soon as i close my door, the camera starts recording and doesnt seem to stop recording, ever! The only way i see quit is by removing it from park mode. And that just takes away from why i bought it in the first place, which is to record anyone breaking into my vehicle (hence the rear view camera).
Mine doesn't keep recording, just a short clip. I wonder if your power source is always on. When I turn off the truck the cigarette lighter power goes off after about 20 secs and the camera gets no power so has to use its own battery to power the park monitor. From the manual - Parking Monitor - Turn on/off for options, default is off. When there is no power input and the camera has been turned off, the camera will be turned on automatically and start recording, the video will be saved and the camera automatic shutdown after 30 seconds.
@@LoveYourRV okay i see. I have one outlet that stays on forever and the other one turns off when you remove the key from the ignition. Maybe ill switch it around and see how that works.
Ray, are you able to turn the camera off? I just picked one up, and it seems to always be on. If I press and hold the power button, it goes off for a short while. However, with it sitting on my counter if i walked by, it would turn back on.
Yes, I have had it in the truck for a few months now and it turns off and stays off. Unless I have the parking monitor turned on then it sometimes comes on and records. The parking monitor is quite sensitive and it doesn't take much vibration to activate.
Nice review. I wonder if the rear facing camera is in black & white because of the interior lighting? Of the cameras I have around my house with IR lighting the IR lights come on when the lighting level gets low and you can see the IR LEDS. I would think your IR LEDs will turn off when there is enough light. Have you taken the camera outside and had it record? I will add one negative from my perspective and that it looks like the suction cup mount is a proprietary mount. On my Garmin dash cam I can buy a windshield mount from one of a dozen different companies when the suction cup starts to get brittle and lets the camera fall off.
Thanks, We drove 200 miles during an often bright day and it stayed B&W the whole time. Have tried it in my sunny window as well. Looked for a setting I may have missed but couldn't find any. Good point about the mount. Cheers, Ray
Vancouver Island always has high gas prices and because we have a combative Premier against oil Alberta just socks to the Island and Vancouver, it is 1.17 per lt at Costco in Abbotsford, at least on last Tuesday and 1.32 in eastern BC and I heard 1.05 in Edmonton. and its always cheaper in Sask.
Is it worth getting the Trace pro instead of the Trace 1? And where do you recommend purchasing this dash cam? Perhaps on Amazon or Ebay, an electronic store? Or perhaps the original website store?
The WiFi on the Trace 1 Pro makes it easy to setup and it has GPS, though I found the GPS kind of flaky, sometimes doesn't track. You can get them on Amazon - amzn.to/2xSFs7L Quick shipping and easy return.
Hey there I comment a while ago but I have a another question? How do you bright the lighting on the camera. Because mine is so hard to see. Idk why it does that?
Is it the display that is hard to see or the video footage the camera produces? There is a setting for WDR Wide Dynamic Range, it may have some effect. Look on page 23 of the owners manual - fccid.io/2ASV5-TRACE1/User-Manual/User-manual-4299744.pdf
My biggest hesitation for buying this camera is the lack of customer support (allegedly) and the wiring, I get frustrated easily and I can see me being frustrated trying to hide the wiring
What do you mean is your shutting off from the heat. I haven't had any issues but I don't visit really hot places much. maybe the highest I see is about 85F.
I haven’t purchased one yet. Im just worried they’ll be a day that it might over heat one day due to the dash cam being on and the sun hitting i, and possibly burning the software inside.
Most of the heat would be generated by the display screen but it shuts off after a minute and jut shows the time. Other than that its a very low wattage item so doesn't get too hot.
Yes, I said that in the review. It sometimes doesn't track at all, won't connect. They have had a firmware upgrade but didn't help much. A company rep told me I have to wait 2-3 minutes for it to connect before driving and if I do that it usually works, but that's a pain.
Thank you, I did the firmware upgrade that came out June 27th, 2019 www.akasotech.com/en-trace-1-1pro-v01-firmware and it didn't help much. For the GPS function to work I need to wait a minute or two for the GPS signal to connect before moving the vehicle. If I jump in the vehicle a drive away right away the GPS never connects. I contacted the company and they told me this is currently the way it works., not good if you ask me. Cheers, Ray
@@gunfighterdrummer www.akaso.net/usermanual/trace1pro.pdf Loop Recording - OFF, 1Min, 3Min, 5Min for options, default is 3 minutes. The files will be saved every 3 minutes if you choose 3 minutes. When the memory card is full, the new files will cover the old one if the loop recording is on; If it is off, the camera won’t work anymore, please format the SD card or change a new one.
Depends on the resolution selected and whether you use both front and rear cameras or just front facing. I'd say the average is about 4 hours, then it overwrites itself except for the protected footage.
Look into the settings section of the menu. There will be a setting that says format. Formatting will erase all files on the micro SD card making it a blank slate for new recordings.
This works great but it doesn't seem to record when I need it to. I'm an uber driver and it only recorded 3 of my passengers and I hade around 15. I quite understand. It also kept date stamping the day before and the hours are all off.
@@LoveYourRV No, I think I've got it now. BTW, what if your lighter socket is always powered (while car is off)? How would that effect anything such as powering up when car starts. I know, stupid question, lol.
My lighter socket shuts off when the truck isn't running and it hasn't been a problem. The camera has a battery with a little bit of capacity to capture Parking Monitor events, then turns back on when I start the engine and records constantly while running.
When you play back the video on your phone the GPS speed is shown. Here is the manual - www.akasotech.com/usermanual/Trace-1-Pro-Manual.pdf Cheers, Ray
@@LoveYourRV I did but it doesn't stay connected and keeps telling me to switch my phone to mobile data which it is already set on. I did manage to get it working for a bit and then it disconnected.
Neat camera, i think one intent for the wifi is that you can watch your vehicle remotely or check on a pet if you run into the store quickly. Of course not in a hot vehicle would you do that.
ah, yes that makes sense, though you'd have to leave it in WiFi mode and power to it on, usually, it turns off and goes to sleep in Parking Monitor Mode when I turn off the vehicle, I should test the WiFi range.
I find the IR light to be dummy light on this camera, it's just nonexistent, and this is where customers get scammed. This thing just relies on your car inbuilt GPS light, or from your phone etc. They lie big here...
If you didn’t use cigarette lighter connect THEN WHY DIDNT YOU SHOW HOW YOU GOT TO POWER THE CAMERA?? Kinda stupid to say that it connects to the cl and then your voice trails off and you don’t say how got it connected. WHATS THE POINT OF THE VIDEO THEN!! Annoying.
Sorry I didn't think the whole point of the camera review was where it got its power. Since I was doing a review for the camera company I didn't want to show how I had opened up my dash and modded things as they don't recommend that in the manual. They just say plug it into the vehicles cigarette lighter 12V power outlet. If you are curious about what I did in my specific vehicle to mod things leaving my 12-volt outlet free for other things I've published a separate video for that part of it - ruclips.net/video/QbvzTwBWMcc/видео.html
Check the user manual www.akasotech.com/usermanual/Trace-1-Pro-Manual.pdf Its called Akaso Car play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.saina.driverecorder&hl=en_US
Excellent review. I just received mine from amazon and will start using it. Your description of the the product and review are awesome. Your explanations are great and very down to earth explanation. I did not even bother reading the manual, you covered it all. Thank you Ray for that well done/perfect review. looking forward to your other reviews. AWESOME
Glad it was helpful!
I bought one and it is a great little camera. Highly recommend.
Cool, does your GPS tracking work properly? Mine usually doesn't, usually can't pick up the signal.
Glad you did this review, Ray. I just won one of these on another channels live stream! It's kinda funny seeing your footage as you drive around my hometown. -Sue
great review. Thank you and Have a nice day.
Looks like a really slick camera. Thank you and God bless!
Very thorough review. Thanks 4 sharing 👍
Great review sir. Super helpful especially for Uber Drivers. Cheers !
Sure appreciate the video. I bought one and have yet to install it hoping for a video to come out. I contacted Akaso and asked about the extra electrostatic plastic and sticky pad and was told you can put the sticky pad on the suction cup and stick that to the plastic. There is also a RUclips video that came out 4 days ago titled "How to upgrade your Akaso Trace 1 Pro". For someone that is not very computer savvy, I'm not sure I can follow their instructions, but I have a grandson that I bet can help me.
Thanks for doing this review. It's really informative (and you spend zero time opening a box!) "A little dark and soft. No exposure adjust. Would be hard to read a license plate." That's a deal breaker.
I have an Akaso Brave 4 action camera. I'm always anxious about which GoPro to buy so then I don't buy anything. I finally decided, just get one of these.... Same thing with Dash Cameras. Every one I've looked at has some deal breaker flaw. In the end all that great GoPro footage in RUclips videos is selling a lot of this 'second rate' (but usable) stuff. One thing I think happens all too often: A company boasts high resolutions when all they've done is doubled the pixels of a lower resolution. Still early days with the Akaso to tell.
Reading license plates in all conditions is the essential criteria of a dash cam.
Learning how to use the Akaso I bought, I see that I can use it as a dash cam, it has a record loop--so when it fills up the card it starts recording over track one, etc... it also has a drive feature that if the camera is plugged into the ciglighter socket, it will turn on when the car starts and of when the car is turned off. This is Good Enough for only $60? (and I can still put it on my bicycle helmet and take it in my kayak). The smart phone monitor feature can also be used to turn a small camera into a back up camera.
Also, I have a high end Nikon DSLR, and while I don't expect any of these cameras to be anything like it, one thing it does exceptionally well, mind bogglingly well, is low light. For bicycle safety the night-blind Akaso Brave 4 doesn't matter much, I don't cycle around cars at night-- so again Good Enough; if anyone hits me or commits a malicious felony (I've been riding for 40 years. Lot of angry violent people out there.)
Thanks for the excellent info, btw Akaso is just launching a new model of Brave the Akaso Brave 7 LE, will have front and rear LCD screens and be waterproof, they offered me one to review, just might take them up on it as I really liked my Akaso V50 Elite I got a few months back - www.loveyourrv.com/another-camera-for-lyrv-akaso-v50-elite-action-cam/
The number one rule of dash cams is, if you think the crash is your fault hide the dashcam before anybody notices it. :)
I finally purchased my girst Akaso Trace Pro! Its an amazing gadget. I just dont understand why it keeps recording after it senses impact during park mode. As soon as i close my door, the camera starts recording and doesnt seem to stop recording, ever! The only way i see quit is by removing it from park mode. And that just takes away from why i bought it in the first place, which is to record anyone breaking into my vehicle (hence the rear view camera).
Mine doesn't keep recording, just a short clip. I wonder if your power source is always on. When I turn off the truck the cigarette lighter power goes off after about 20 secs and the camera gets no power so has to use its own battery to power the park monitor.
From the manual - Parking Monitor - Turn on/off for options, default is off.
When there is no power input and the camera has been turned off, the camera will be
turned on automatically and start recording, the video will be saved and the camera
automatic shutdown after 30 seconds.
@@LoveYourRV okay i see. I have one outlet that stays on forever and the other one turns off when you remove the key from the ignition. Maybe ill switch it around and see how that works.
Ray, are you able to turn the camera off? I just picked one up, and it seems to always be on. If I press and hold the power button, it goes off for a short while. However, with it sitting on my counter if i walked by, it would turn back on.
Yes, I have had it in the truck for a few months now and it turns off and stays off. Unless I have the parking monitor turned on then it sometimes comes on and records. The parking monitor is quite sensitive and it doesn't take much vibration to activate.
@@LoveYourRV Thanks. That was it. When I turned of the parking monitor then it stayed off.
Do you really need to attach gps or leave it out? I like the higher 2k res and wifi but GPS is useless for me
The GPS dongle is part of the power cord but no need to sitck to the window if you don't want GPS function.
Nice review. I wonder if the rear facing camera is in black & white because of the interior lighting? Of the cameras I have around my house with IR lighting the IR lights come on when the lighting level gets low and you can see the IR LEDS. I would think your IR LEDs will turn off when there is enough light. Have you taken the camera outside and had it record?
I will add one negative from my perspective and that it looks like the suction cup mount is a proprietary mount. On my Garmin dash cam I can buy a windshield mount from one of a dozen different companies when the suction cup starts to get brittle and lets the camera fall off.
Thanks, We drove 200 miles during an often bright day and it stayed B&W the whole time. Have tried it in my sunny window as well. Looked for a setting I may have missed but couldn't find any.
Good point about the mount. Cheers, Ray
Akaso added an extra sticky pad and electrostatic plastic to use for the camera mount. I wasn't sure if they were just extras, so I contacted them.
Ray crazy fuel prices out in B.C. From your dash cam footage (shell), glad I'm in Ontario
Yup, glad I don't do much traveling in the summer
Vancouver Island always has high gas prices and because we have a combative Premier against oil Alberta just socks to the Island and Vancouver, it is 1.17 per lt at Costco in Abbotsford, at least on last Tuesday and 1.32 in eastern BC and I heard 1.05 in Edmonton. and its always cheaper in Sask.
please review also the transcend drivepro 550 and compare it to Akaso Trace 1 Pro. thanks
Is it worth getting the Trace pro instead of the Trace 1? And where do you recommend purchasing this dash cam? Perhaps on Amazon or Ebay, an electronic store? Or perhaps the original website store?
The WiFi on the Trace 1 Pro makes it easy to setup and it has GPS, though I found the GPS kind of flaky, sometimes doesn't track. You can get them on Amazon - amzn.to/2xSFs7L Quick shipping and easy return.
Love Your RV thank you sir!
Hey there I comment a while ago but I have a another question? How do you bright the lighting on the camera. Because mine is so hard to see. Idk why it does that?
Is it the display that is hard to see or the video footage the camera produces? There is a setting for WDR Wide Dynamic Range, it may have some effect. Look on page 23 of the owners manual - fccid.io/2ASV5-TRACE1/User-Manual/User-manual-4299744.pdf
The display I believe because every time it trim the brightness well there is no brightness cuz it hard to see. idk if it’s recording it not. Help
The display has an auto off function after a few minutes to save battery life I presume, even though it doesn't show it is is still recording.
Why does it says Not enough storage when I try to download videos but it’s a brand new SD card? Is it my phone or idk help
And can I download the videos with my Mac Pro or no?
My biggest hesitation for buying this camera is the lack of customer support (allegedly) and the wiring, I get frustrated easily and I can see me being frustrated trying to hide the wiring
Do you have any advice for keeping the cam on in your vehicle during hot summer days?
What do you mean is your shutting off from the heat. I haven't had any issues but I don't visit really hot places much. maybe the highest I see is about 85F.
I haven’t purchased one yet. Im just worried they’ll be a day that it might over heat one day due to the dash cam being on and the sun hitting i, and possibly burning the software inside.
Most of the heat would be generated by the display screen but it shuts off after a minute and jut shows the time. Other than that its a very low wattage item so doesn't get too hot.
Does the GPS show what speed you are going?
When, it works yes, it does when footage is played on the app or desktop player.
Love Your RV so its unreliable?
Yes, I said that in the review. It sometimes doesn't track at all, won't connect. They have had a firmware upgrade but didn't help much. A company rep told me I have to wait 2-3 minutes for it to connect before driving and if I do that it usually works, but that's a pain.
@@LoveYourRV okay thank you.
Hello, for you to get the GPS working properly, you need to do a firmware update. Thank you
Thank you, I did the firmware upgrade that came out June 27th, 2019 www.akasotech.com/en-trace-1-1pro-v01-firmware and it didn't help much. For the GPS function to work I need to wait a minute or two for the GPS signal to connect before moving the vehicle. If I jump in the vehicle a drive away right away the GPS never connects. I contacted the company and they told me this is currently the way it works., not good if you ask me. Cheers, Ray
Hint : Play this video at 1.5 speed.
I love mine,so far its worked great. Amazon has it on special for $89. Do you like to keep yours on 3min loop or 5min loop recording ?
Good to hear, I put mine on 5 min and also bought a 128GB SD card for it. Been working well. Cheers, Ray
What is the 3 and 5 minute loop for?
@@gunfighterdrummer www.akaso.net/usermanual/trace1pro.pdf Loop Recording - OFF, 1Min, 3Min, 5Min for options, default is 3 minutes.
The files will be saved every 3 minutes if you choose 3 minutes. When the memory card is
full, the new files will cover the old one if the loop recording is on; If it is off, the camera
won’t work anymore, please format the SD card or change a new one.
How long does the recording last for 32gb?
Depends on the resolution selected and whether you use both front and rear cameras or just front facing. I'd say the average is about 4 hours, then it overwrites itself except for the protected footage.
How to replace battery, is there any service centre in Mumbai?
Sorry I don't know. Try asking via email at support@akasotech.com Cheers, Ray
Hey there I juts purchase this item. Love it btw but how do you delete videos that says “protected” and it automatically locks it.
I think the easiest way is to format the micro SD card
Sorry what you mean by that?
Look into the settings section of the menu. There will be a setting that says format. Formatting will erase all files on the micro SD card making it a blank slate for new recordings.
Wow you’re amazing ha thank you it worked appreciate it. Blessing for Cali & happy early thanksgiving
How far does the live footage work
Not very far at all, maybe 50 feet. I find the WiFi app is mostly only good for making it easy to set and adjust stuff.
Which video player u r using
Not sure what you mean by video player?
Nice cam! How are the Lion batteries coming along?
Getting ready to install them this weekend :)
Great to hear! Thank you.
This works great but it doesn't seem to record when I need it to. I'm an uber driver and it only recorded 3 of my passengers and I hade around 15. I quite understand. It also kept date stamping the day before and the hours are all off.
Maybe its a dud as my unit has been working well for several months now.
@@LoveYourRV No, I think I've got it now. BTW, what if your lighter socket is always powered (while car is off)? How would that effect anything such as powering up when car starts. I know, stupid question, lol.
My lighter socket shuts off when the truck isn't running and it hasn't been a problem. The camera has a battery with a little bit of capacity to capture Parking Monitor events, then turns back on when I start the engine and records constantly while running.
I installed this in my car but can't recording it. Very bad feeling.I put 128gb sd card of samsung U3. Not happy for this experience.
Maybe its a dud, I've been using mine all time now for last 8 months, works well, I use a 128GB SanDisk card
Can you display your speed? Thanks
When you play back the video on your phone the GPS speed is shown. Here is the manual - www.akasotech.com/usermanual/Trace-1-Pro-Manual.pdf Cheers, Ray
It's a great camera but cannot figure out how to hook into the App
Turn the camera WiFi on and connect to the camera's WiFi SSID
@@LoveYourRV I did but it doesn't stay connected and keeps telling me to switch my phone to mobile data which it is already set on. I did manage to get it working for a bit and then it disconnected.
Neat camera, i think one intent for the wifi is that you can watch your vehicle remotely or check on a pet if you run into the store quickly. Of course not in a hot vehicle would you do that.
ah, yes that makes sense, though you'd have to leave it in WiFi mode and power to it on, usually, it turns off and goes to sleep in Parking Monitor Mode when I turn off the vehicle, I should test the WiFi range.
Like the camera buy 1 day use non work
Thanks for letting us know, hope they replace or refund. Mine is still working well.
I find the IR light to be dummy light on this camera, it's just nonexistent, and this is where customers get scammed.
This thing just relies on your car inbuilt GPS light, or from your phone etc.
They lie big here...
If you didn’t use cigarette lighter connect THEN WHY DIDNT YOU SHOW HOW YOU GOT TO POWER THE CAMERA?? Kinda stupid to say that it connects to the cl and then your voice trails off and you don’t say how got it connected. WHATS THE POINT OF THE VIDEO THEN!! Annoying.
Sorry I didn't think the whole point of the camera review was where it got its power. Since I was doing a review for the camera company I didn't want to show how I had opened up my dash and modded things as they don't recommend that in the manual. They just say plug it into the vehicles cigarette lighter 12V power outlet. If you are curious about what I did in my specific vehicle to mod things leaving my 12-volt outlet free for other things I've published a separate video for that part of it - ruclips.net/video/QbvzTwBWMcc/видео.html
if you can not hook up 2 wires -- then you should not be installing a dash cam yourself - keep it simple and wire it into your overhead map lights
No matter how you frame it...if you are not paying for it, it's a commercial... not a review.
If that's the case, then I was vastly underpaid for this one.
what app you downloaded?
Check the user manual www.akasotech.com/usermanual/Trace-1-Pro-Manual.pdf
Its called Akaso Car play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.saina.driverecorder&hl=en_US