I've been working on this review since mid-2022 when I first received the Vantrue E1 dash camera from Vantrue. I hope you find something in this review video to help you make an informed purchased decision. Check out the video's description section for links to the various chapters in the video along with affiliate links and a Vantrue discount code to save you 15% off of your Vantrue purchase.
Great video!! With consumption study and everything. Very valuable information! I want to buy an N4 Pro, and I really hope that they will make it more responsive to collision detection wake up, because anything more than 3-4 seconds delay after collision is useless.
Right on Robert, This was a marathon of testing to get through, I’m glad you finished. Good job, and good work. I watched every minute of the video, and rewatched the sample footage multiple times. The License Plate Capture 27:18 was awesome. You’ve convinced me to run my A119 Mini at night time in 30fps with HDR enabled. I still like the 60fps during the daytime though. 36:06 I like “Final Thoughts Guy” lol -Chuck
Thanks Chuck. This was definitely a marathon review. I received the first E1 in July 2022. Getting the firmware issues ironed out took a couple of months. I also had an issue with Vantrue 2-wire hardwire kit where it would cutoff power to the E1 when I started my car. I had it connected to a BlackVue B-112 battery pack and the output voltage while charging jumps to 16.7 volts (by design of the B-112). The original 2-wire hardwire kit had 16V-to-22V voltage range check to determine if the unit was in a 12-volt or 24-volt vehicle. If the input voltage was in that 16V-to-22V range, the 2-wire hardwire kit would stop providing power to the dash camera. Vantrue revised the 2-wire hardwire kit to have an 18V-to-22V voltage detection range for the 12V vs 24V vehicle check. Then there were some audio issues (audio gain is too high IMO). The firmware issues appear to be resolved now, but the nighttime HDR performance is not where it needs to be (IMO).
I bought my E1 Lite in November 2023, it randomly stopped working yesterday wouldnt power on via any cable either through the mount or directly into the camera tried several power sources, thankfully i had about 3 days left on the return policy to send it back and get a new one. Hopefully this second one lasts a bit longer, i did notice it has a slightly different model code so fingers crossed.
The Vantrue OBD hardwire kit is a "2-wire" solution meaning it only provides power until a low voltage cutoff voltage level is reached. It would require the dash camera to detect when the vehicle has been motionless for 5-minutes to know when to enter parking mode. You might be able to use a different company's OBD power adapter, but it would have to be tested to be 100% sure.
Such a comprehensive review. Great sample footage too, I was surprised to see the results. I bought the E1 Lite yesterday and with my testing I believe I'm seeing buffered motion detection video even though it's not supposed to be buffered. In my testing I forced the camera into parking mode using the down arrow button and reviewed the footage after (I walked from one side of the car to the other going past the field of view of the camera). What bugs me is that these (for me at least) aren't shown in the 'events' section of the app but in the regular video recordings section. No different icon or anything. I do need to test some more to verify my findings. One question I do have is with regards to looped recording. Is it best to keep this at 1 minute?
The looped recording length set to 1 minute is typical of most dash cameras. Keeping it at 1 minute minimizes the amount of video/audio that could be lost if there is a file corruption problem and it reduces the amount of video/audio "lost" when the oldest files are deleted when the file system fills up on the microSD card. It also minimizes the amount of video/audio content you may need to provide to police or your insurance company if an event takes place. The longer loop recording times definitely cuts down on the number of files on the microSD card, but it increases the amount of video/audio that might be corrupted or deleted by a single file. I tend to leave the loop recording length setting at 1 minute.
Hopefully there have been firmware updates since this video was made that addresses the night noise as it’s unacceptable. Not sure if I will buy this dashcam or not as image quality is subpar
There have been two updates for the E1 since I released this video. I have not retested the night video noise issue since the review. E1_VT-EDA191 2024-01-24 1. Added a 2560x1440P 60FPS option; note that HDR is not supported in this mode. When turn off loop recording, the maximum recording time for each video segment is 12 minutes. 2. Added a collision detection activation mode with two options: power-saving mode (default) and quick start mode. 3. Modified loop recording time, changing the original 5-minute option to 2 minutes. 4. Added daylight saving time and standard time functions. 5. Added time display format options: 12-hour and 24-hour formats. 6. Added APP display of voice command content, compatible with the new APP, displaying voice recognition content on the APP. 7. Added APP remote control commands, matching the new APP, with options to display the remote control's on/off settings on the APP. 8. Added APP OTA commands, matching the new APP, enabling OTA upgrade functionality. 9. Adapted to new batches of G-Sensors. 10. Default system time updated to January 1, 2024. E1_VT-ECD201 2023-04-23 1. Added HDR timer function; 2. Updated display driver to fix the issue of distortion on high-temperature screens.
when you have E1 mounted on the windshield, can it be pointed toward the back if I want to use it record the inside of the cabin and cars trailing? I need something small for my convertible and can't mount anything on my back window since it opens and closes. TIA
The E1 mount has its largest adjustability with the camera facing forward. If you rotate the mount to have the camera face backwards, there's not much adjustability in the mount for that mounting direction. The mount would have to be attached to a surface that is nearly parallel to the ground to allow the E1 to face backwards and see out of the rear window. I don't believe the E1 would meet your requirements for a rear facing camera.
can you also power it with a normal micro usb cable? I only have one 12v adapter and use that to power some other things witha usb A connector. Or can i only power it with the includes cable that has the 12V plug?
The E1 and E1 Lite dash cameras accept power via a USB-C cable connection. The cigarette lighter/power port adapter that can be used to power the dash camera also has a USB Type A port on the end of it so you can power other things as well.
The CLA has a hardwired cord that goes to the dash camera. On the end of the CLA plug, there is one open USB Type-A port to provide power to another USB powered device.
Only seen Sony starvis 1 sensor and 5MP 😢😢😢😢 closed the video:(( it’s a new camera 🎥 Needs to have Sony Starvis 2 sensor and 8-12Mp :) 4K 😊😊😊 Plus all new camera 🎥 needs to have AI built in to :))
Yes. In the "Record Setup > Stamp" settings you can enable/disable various items in the information stamp in the status line. Items that can be toggled on/off are: Date/Time Stamp, Brand/Model Stamp, License Plate Number Stamp, Speed Stamp, GPS Location Stamp.
From the product feature description: 【Low voltage protection】It has a smart low voltage protection system that will automatically shut off the power to your dash cam when the battery voltage drops to 11.6V or 23.2V, thus preventing it draining the battery.
In my installation, I have an On/Off switch to turn off the power to the hardwire kit or cigarette lighter adapter (CLA) when I park at home. When I start my car and leave my garage, I turn on the toggle switch to supply power once again. You can also use a long press of the power button on the side of the E1 / E1 Lite to power down the unit, but you'd have to press it again to restore power when you wanted to have it start recording. If you don't require parking mode recording, you could connect the power source to an accessory (switched) power source and it would turn the dash camera on/off as you start/stop your vehicle's engine. I've left all settings at their defaults within the firmware settings except to for the time zone setting and the video resolution to select whether HDR is on or off.
@@RetroCarGuy530 grazie di tutto ,un domanda come mai i comandi vocali a me non funzionano , mi spiego meglio ogni volta che effettuo una richiesta non prende mai il comando , mi potresti aiutare
In the firmware settings check the "System Setup > Voice Control" setting and make sure it is not turned "Off". The "Voice Control" setting has settings of "Off, Low Sensitivity, Standard, High Sensitivity". The default value for that setting is "Standard". The "Voice Content" option lists the commands that are available in the selected language. The English commands are "Take Photo, Video Start, Turn On Audio, Turn Off Audio, Turn On Screen, Turn Off Screen, Turn On Wi-Fi, Turn Off Wi-Fi, Lock The Video". Make sure the hole on the bottom/left/rear of the dash camera for the microphone has not been covered by anything and you have a clear path between yourself and the dash camera to allow the microphone to pickup your spoken commands. Make sure when you issue a voice command you speak clearly and at a moderate pace. Speaking quickly will result in the dash camera ignoring the command.
You can use a dash camera battery pack that is charged while the vehicle is driving. The dash camera will be powered by the dash camera battery pack instead of directly drawing from the vehicle's battery while parked. I recently reviewed three of the higher capacity dash camera battery packs on the market today. ruclips.net/video/Gn3IoBjO_Vg/видео.html
I've been working on this review since mid-2022 when I first received the Vantrue E1 dash camera from Vantrue. I hope you find something in this review video to help you make an informed purchased decision. Check out the video's description section for links to the various chapters in the video along with affiliate links and a Vantrue discount code to save you 15% off of your Vantrue purchase.
This is the best video I've seen about dash cams! (and I watched maybe a hundred of them) Very intelligent video. Thank you!
Thank You! You answered my HDR question and the answer is, since I do mostly night driving…keep it on
Wow this was an incredible review and made my purchase decision based on it. Thanks again! Will be subscribing!
Tolles, informatives Video 👍 Hat bei meiner Kauf Entscheidung sehr gut geholfen 😊 Vielen Dank
Great detailed review !
Thank you!
Thank you for the thorough presentation!
Great video!! With consumption study and everything. Very valuable information! I want to buy an N4 Pro, and I really hope that they will make it more responsive to collision detection wake up, because anything more than 3-4 seconds delay after collision is useless.
Right on Robert,
This was a marathon of testing to get through, I’m glad you finished.
Good job, and good work.
I watched every minute of the video, and rewatched the sample footage multiple times. The License Plate Capture 27:18 was awesome. You’ve convinced me to run my A119 Mini at night time in 30fps with HDR enabled. I still like the 60fps during the daytime though.
36:06 I like “Final Thoughts Guy” lol
-Chuck
Thanks Chuck. This was definitely a marathon review. I received the first E1 in July 2022. Getting the firmware issues ironed out took a couple of months. I also had an issue with Vantrue 2-wire hardwire kit where it would cutoff power to the E1 when I started my car. I had it connected to a BlackVue B-112 battery pack and the output voltage while charging jumps to 16.7 volts (by design of the B-112). The original 2-wire hardwire kit had 16V-to-22V voltage range check to determine if the unit was in a 12-volt or 24-volt vehicle. If the input voltage was in that 16V-to-22V range, the 2-wire hardwire kit would stop providing power to the dash camera. Vantrue revised the 2-wire hardwire kit to have an 18V-to-22V voltage detection range for the 12V vs 24V vehicle check. Then there were some audio issues (audio gain is too high IMO). The firmware issues appear to be resolved now, but the nighttime HDR performance is not where it needs to be (IMO).
very nice video, after watching this, I picked Viofo A119 Mini 2 for our 2024 Subaru crosstrek
I bought my E1 Lite in November 2023, it randomly stopped working yesterday wouldnt power on via any cable either through the mount or directly into the camera tried several power sources, thankfully i had about 3 days left on the return policy to send it back and get a new one. Hopefully this second one lasts a bit longer, i did notice it has a slightly different model code so fingers crossed.
What’s the model number on the one that didn’t work?
Sorry thrown the box away now @arey256
@@TarkovFLIR it’s ok thank you
@@TarkovFLIR thank you anyways
amazing review! thank you!
Great detailed review, quick question: can you use any generic OBD power cable?
The Vantrue OBD hardwire kit is a "2-wire" solution meaning it only provides power until a low voltage cutoff voltage level is reached. It would require the dash camera to detect when the vehicle has been motionless for 5-minutes to know when to enter parking mode. You might be able to use a different company's OBD power adapter, but it would have to be tested to be 100% sure.
@@RetroCarGuy530 ok, thanks for the response and have a great day.
Such a comprehensive review. Great sample footage too, I was surprised to see the results.
I bought the E1 Lite yesterday and with my testing I believe I'm seeing buffered motion detection video even though it's not supposed to be buffered. In my testing I forced the camera into parking mode using the down arrow button and reviewed the footage after (I walked from one side of the car to the other going past the field of view of the camera). What bugs me is that these (for me at least) aren't shown in the 'events' section of the app but in the regular video recordings section. No different icon or anything. I do need to test some more to verify my findings.
One question I do have is with regards to looped recording. Is it best to keep this at 1 minute?
The looped recording length set to 1 minute is typical of most dash cameras. Keeping it at 1 minute minimizes the amount of video/audio that could be lost if there is a file corruption problem and it reduces the amount of video/audio "lost" when the oldest files are deleted when the file system fills up on the microSD card. It also minimizes the amount of video/audio content you may need to provide to police or your insurance company if an event takes place. The longer loop recording times definitely cuts down on the number of files on the microSD card, but it increases the amount of video/audio that might be corrupted or deleted by a single file. I tend to leave the loop recording length setting at 1 minute.
best review that i see in a dash cam.
do this E1 vantrue cam record when the wifi is off .?
Yes, the E1 will record when the Wi-Fi is turned off.
why is there a glistening plastic ring aorund the lens?
The 40mm ring around the lens is so the optional 40mm CPL filter can be installed on the lens.
Hopefully there have been firmware updates since this video was made that addresses the night noise as it’s unacceptable. Not sure if I will buy this dashcam or not as image quality is subpar
There have been two updates for the E1 since I released this video. I have not retested the night video noise issue since the review.
E1_VT-EDA191 2024-01-24
1. Added a 2560x1440P 60FPS option; note that HDR is not supported in this mode. When turn off loop recording, the maximum recording time for each video segment is 12 minutes.
2. Added a collision detection activation mode with two options: power-saving mode (default) and quick start mode.
3. Modified loop recording time, changing the original 5-minute option to 2 minutes.
4. Added daylight saving time and standard time functions.
5. Added time display format options: 12-hour and 24-hour formats.
6. Added APP display of voice command content, compatible with the new APP, displaying voice recognition content on the APP.
7. Added APP remote control commands, matching the new APP, with options to display the remote control's on/off settings on the APP.
8. Added APP OTA commands, matching the new APP, enabling OTA upgrade functionality.
9. Adapted to new batches of G-Sensors.
10. Default system time updated to January 1, 2024.
E1_VT-ECD201 2023-04-23
1. Added HDR timer function;
2. Updated display driver to fix the issue of distortion on high-temperature screens.
when you have E1 mounted on the windshield, can it be pointed toward the back if I want to use it record the inside of the cabin and cars trailing? I need something small for my convertible and can't mount anything on my back window since it opens and closes. TIA
The E1 mount has its largest adjustability with the camera facing forward. If you rotate the mount to have the camera face backwards, there's not much adjustability in the mount for that mounting direction. The mount would have to be attached to a surface that is nearly parallel to the ground to allow the E1 to face backwards and see out of the rear window. I don't believe the E1 would meet your requirements for a rear facing camera.
can you also power it with a normal micro usb cable? I only have one 12v adapter and use that to power some other things witha usb A connector. Or can i only power it with the includes cable that has the 12V plug?
The E1 and E1 Lite dash cameras accept power via a USB-C cable connection. The cigarette lighter/power port adapter that can be used to power the dash camera also has a USB Type A port on the end of it so you can power other things as well.
Does the CLA have additional USB Port on top? Would be Important for me.
Thank you!
The CLA has a hardwired cord that goes to the dash camera. On the end of the CLA plug, there is one open USB Type-A port to provide power to another USB powered device.
@@RetroCarGuy530 Thanks a lot for the quick response. Very helpful!
Only seen Sony starvis 1 sensor and 5MP 😢😢😢😢 closed the video:(( it’s a new camera 🎥
Needs to have Sony Starvis 2 sensor and 8-12Mp :) 4K 😊😊😊
Plus all new camera 🎥 needs to have AI built in to :))
Can you turn off the speed display?
Yes. In the "Record Setup > Stamp" settings you can enable/disable various items in the information stamp in the status line. Items that can be toggled on/off are: Date/Time Stamp, Brand/Model Stamp, License Plate Number Stamp, Speed Stamp, GPS Location Stamp.
kit OBD cosa mi dice come consumi , lo consiglia
From the product feature description: 【Low voltage protection】It has a smart low voltage protection system that will automatically shut off the power to your dash cam when the battery voltage drops to 11.6V or 23.2V, thus preventing it draining the battery.
volevo sapere a quale sensibilità hai settato i sensori e come attivi la registrazione in partenza, visto che rimane sempre alimentata.
In my installation, I have an On/Off switch to turn off the power to the hardwire kit or cigarette lighter adapter (CLA) when I park at home. When I start my car and leave my garage, I turn on the toggle switch to supply power once again. You can also use a long press of the power button on the side of the E1 / E1 Lite to power down the unit, but you'd have to press it again to restore power when you wanted to have it start recording.
If you don't require parking mode recording, you could connect the power source to an accessory (switched) power source and it would turn the dash camera on/off as you start/stop your vehicle's engine.
I've left all settings at their defaults within the firmware settings except to for the time zone setting and the video resolution to select whether HDR is on or off.
@@RetroCarGuy530 grazie di tutto ,un domanda come mai i comandi vocali a me non funzionano , mi spiego meglio ogni volta che effettuo una richiesta non prende mai il comando , mi potresti aiutare
In the firmware settings check the "System Setup > Voice Control" setting and make sure it is not turned "Off". The "Voice Control" setting has settings of "Off, Low Sensitivity, Standard, High Sensitivity". The default value for that setting is "Standard".
The "Voice Content" option lists the commands that are available in the selected language. The English commands are "Take Photo, Video Start, Turn On Audio, Turn Off Audio, Turn On Screen, Turn Off Screen, Turn On Wi-Fi, Turn Off Wi-Fi, Lock The Video".
Make sure the hole on the bottom/left/rear of the dash camera for the microphone has not been covered by anything and you have a clear path between yourself and the dash camera to allow the microphone to pickup your spoken commands.
Make sure when you issue a voice command you speak clearly and at a moderate pace. Speaking quickly will result in the dash camera ignoring the command.
What’s a way I can use the dashcam without using the car port I don’t wanna waste battery on my car 24 hours
You can use a dash camera battery pack that is charged while the vehicle is driving. The dash camera will be powered by the dash camera battery pack instead of directly drawing from the vehicle's battery while parked. I recently reviewed three of the higher capacity dash camera battery packs on the market today. ruclips.net/video/Gn3IoBjO_Vg/видео.html
@@RetroCarGuy530
Thank you! thats a great idea 👍🏻
38 minute video is ridiculous length of time. I lead a busy life,
If you don't want to watch that long of a video, then don't watch it!
But not busy enough since you had time to leave a complaint😂
I think that was great info! You know you can fast forward right right Karen?
Thanks for your comment no-knickers-emma.
Dude you can watch at up to 2x. My brother got me into watching long videos this way. Definitely cuts down on time