Something you weren't specific about in this video...and, of I remember correctly, wasn't mentioned in the original Multiplexer video...is the degradation of the recorded resolution when recording multiple camera feeds. Yes, you do mention that all cameras after the primary are recorded into the second (ie. traditionally, the 'rear') channel. But, what you don't mention...and, a lot of people potentially interested will NEED to know...is that the recorded resolution of each camera (under "channel 2") it's lowered. For example, in a 5-channel configuration, the resolution of the video from channels 2-5 will ONLY be 480x270. That's a HUGE reduction on resolution, and what helped me to realize the Multiplexer isn't really worth it.
Hey Robb, thanks for the feedback. We didn't want to answer this until we heard back from Thinkware because you brought up a valid point that we wanted clarity on so we could give you the right answer. Here's what they said: Every single video is 1080p and they are combined into one 1080p resolution. Because you're combining 4 videos into 1 (where it's 2x2 columns), the size of each video is reduced by half of 1080p, not 4 times smaller (1920 x 1080 -> 960 x 540). We've tested it - the video itself is clear enough to see all details as the original video itself is recorded in 1080p and the size of the video is reduced into half. Of course, there will be some reduction in clarity if you were to take one of the combined videos and manually stretch it to fit the full screen. The trade-off to this was that if we were to save all the videos separately, the total size of a one minute video becomes almost 500MB as it's 5-channels, so that's why the videos are combined into one video to save memory. Hope this helps answer your concerns!
@@blackboxmycar In your reply, you say "the size of each video is reduced by half of 1080p, not 4 times smaller"...but, then, in the resolution you mention (ie. 960x540), that IS 1/4 the 1080p resolution (ie. the second half of that sentence contradicts the first half). Our another way, half the horizontal resolution PLUS half the vertical resolution EQUALS 25% (or 1/4) the resolution.
@@robbryan3044 Thanks for your reply! I was about to splurge on this system and your comment saved me hundreds of dollars! Its cheaper for me to buy 4 dashcams then use this stupid multiplexer which only gets you 1/4 the resolution.
Been using it since last year and works well. I still have my thinkware Q800 in my car and have the multiplexer with thinkware f200 pro. Have both dashcams running off the same Celllink-neo but only get 8 hours of parking mode, 10 hours of running just the thinkware f200 with the multiplexer. It does suck a lot milliamps like .6 /.7 in parking mode.(5 channel)
Right on Broseph, Thanks for the shoutout. Five channels, so cool. I hope Viofo, and other brands have 4&5 channel offerings in the future too. 6:21 Dedicated Dash Cam Battery Packs are expensive, and worth every penny for a reason. I don’t think most people understand the chemical composition difference between a $40 Lithium-ion & Lithium-Polymer Power Bank vs. a $400 Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) Battery Pack. If only there was a way to show the limitations of Lithium-ion & Lithium-Polymer Power Banks when used in a hot environment (parked car) with a real world experiment. Ahem, BBMC “Beat The Heat” fish tank. I know you guys have fire extinguishers at the ready. Let’s blow some power banks up. My inner Beavis demands FIRE! -Chuck
Bummer that is not compatible with the U1000. I actually want to buy the U1000 but was holding out since it was only 2ch vs 3ch. I want the cloud feature, radar, etc. Now having been introduced to this multiplexer I'm completely spoiled. These are not things that I need of course but I want them. At this point maybe I'll wait for a U1000 compatibility or just go with two systems :).
We primarily sell in North America, where we are located. We do situationally sell internationally, but will charge in full for shipping, contact our sales team if you would like a direct quote.
Thanks for the feedback, that would mainly fall on Thinkware directly, and we've unfortunately heard no plans of making the multiplexer compatible with flagship cameras
I would recommend an external battery pack for the Thinkware multiplexer, as the camera system will draw a significant amount of power with so many cameras in one. The Q850 is not mentioned here it was not out when this video was out, and I do not believe it has the proper connection types for the multiplexer
@@conman20000 Sorry to hear that, who were you speaking to? Wiring is a bit challenging since you have to splice 2 cables together for the multiplexer system to connect to a battery, but we've done it many times before
Yes, this is possible, however you will need to connect the power cable of both the multiplexer and camera to the battery pack's output slot, which will be challenging. Consult a local electrician for this if concerned.
Hey do you think this will ever be compatible with the U1000? I'm looking to buy the U1000, for 4k footage, but want the multiplexer so I could add a cabin camera. I'm worried I'll have to spend another $300 or so on another 3CH dashcam when I start doing Uber
We would say probably not for compatibility with the U1000, at least for the foreseeable future. If you want a 3CH, we'd say go straight into a 3CH dash cam. You don't necessarily need 4K for Uber. We'd recommend something like a VIOFO T130 for that purpose.
So it's 1080p for all for multiplex cameras right? Essentially making each cameras recording 480. Such a low resolution really defeats the purpose having cameras for identification. you can't make out plates or faces more than 10 feet away. Call me when we have 1080 per channel.
Tesla level monitoring minus the Tesla😂 Quick question, is this capable of using more than one screen. Like sending the side cam signals to each screen?
Haha, yes it's a pretty comprehensive system! Unfortunately it does not have the option to broadcast multiple feeds, all recordings will be clipped together.
Hey Sam, from what we've discussed with Thinkware, unfortunately you cannot. However, we will be testing it next week physically ourselves so if we have an update, we'll be sure to let you know.
Great review and answered almost all of my questions!! I just have one question left and am hopeful you can help me out. There’s times where I’ll need to turn my camera system off. Is there a way to shut the system down while driving without having a mess of cables in my face all the time? I’m hoping to have some kind of off switch near the steering column. Thanks!!
Hi there, glad you liked the review. The multiplexer would be connected to an F200 Pro, which can then be used to control the system. You can't necessarily stop recording with the F200 Pro, but you can press the record button to stop audio recording or trigger manual recording. The idea is that it will be fully recording while the vehicle is on. You can consider unplugging the F200 Pro from power, which will stop all recording, or wiring in an in-line switch manually to the power cable. Footage can also always be cleared through the camera's wifi, either specific clips, or a full wipe through formatting.
@@blackboxmycar turned out great! I was also able to very slightly modify the external cameras to hide them in the base of my side view mirrors for a “stealth” install and use a tiny bit of liquid gasket to seal everything up
Is it possible to connect this multiplex system to a small ‘hard drive’ in order to record direct to that ‘hard drive’ for larger storage? I like the idea of the ability to record the four sides of the vehicle, however also believe that tha ability to have a larger storage device that the videos are recorded to would be even more advantageous given the amount of video that will be recorded.
I have the same question. I am about to purchase this system and want to add the exterior cameras u dermeath the mirror. Will the system allow me to change the viewing angle or flip it since It will not be mounted like you all displayed in the video?
Hey Paul, we typically recommend the SanDisk A1 SD card for customers. However, we haven't extensively tested the 70mai Pro ourselves so we are unsure how well it'll be working long-term.
few questions 1. can you view each individual camera view with the app 2. can you view all 5 simultaneously on the app at once ? 3. what is the durability for the exterior infrared cameras and side cameras can it withstand going through the car wash and heavy rain ?
Hi there, to answer your questions: 1+2) Unfortunately not. The system automatically combines 4 of the views into 1 (sides + interior and rear), and 1 front view. 3) These exterior cameras are built to be installed outdoors, so it shouldn't be a problem.
it just combines multiple video feeds into one (resizing the multiple inputs to the resolution of the rear camera input), there is no reason for it to not work with all their main units the only thing that matters is the output resolution, so a 1080p multiplexer should work with any unit that works with 1080p rear camera and I assume even main units that support 2K rear camera will still work with 1080p rear camera it's kinda useless products as it is if it only works with the low-end main units should have been quite the opposite, make a main unit with 4K rear cam support and make a 4K or at least 2K multiplex....ideally the mutliplex should be able to select what resolution to have the output set to and thus be compatible with all head units
Thank you for the feedback there. Thinkware directly may have more input on this, and why the multiplexer is not compatible with their higher-end models. Each of the Thinkware Multiplexer cameras records in 1080p Full HD and sends a 1080p Full HD feed to the Multiplexer. The size of each video from the secondary cameras is then reduced by half to 960 x 540 to fit the screen.
@@blackboxmycar might be because the multiplexer is an old product. Seems like all the supported main units use 3.5mm jack for the rear camera cable. The newer dash cam models seems to use microUSB. So maybe the old ones are analogue signal and the newer ones are digital signal. Anyway after watching the RetroCarGuy530 review and seeing the greatly increased power consumption when using the mutliplexer compared to 2ch setup it makes it kinda useless for my intended use case (was looking into 4ch parking mode since I had the side of my car vandalized recently)
@@blackboxmycar I never understood why more dash cams didn't have 4 channel designs. Why would you NOT want to record the left and right sides of the vehicle in addition to front and back? Most of the dash cams that I see now that have 3 channel (front/inside/rear) that allow the 2 front cameras to swivel aren't the best quality but I like the design a bit better. You just have to remember to swivel the camera if you're trying to record something which isn't always feasible.
![Diggy Graves - Red Vineyard [Official Lyric Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/8Ro085T0mnQ/mqdefault.jpg)
Something you weren't specific about in this video...and, of I remember correctly, wasn't mentioned in the original Multiplexer video...is the degradation of the recorded resolution when recording multiple camera feeds. Yes, you do mention that all cameras after the primary are recorded into the second (ie. traditionally, the 'rear') channel. But, what you don't mention...and, a lot of people potentially interested will NEED to know...is that the recorded resolution of each camera (under "channel 2") it's lowered. For example, in a 5-channel configuration, the resolution of the video from channels 2-5 will ONLY be 480x270. That's a HUGE reduction on resolution, and what helped me to realize the Multiplexer isn't really worth it.
Hey Robb, thanks for the feedback. We didn't want to answer this until we heard back from Thinkware because you brought up a valid point that we wanted clarity on so we could give you the right answer. Here's what they said:
Every single video is 1080p and they are combined into one 1080p resolution. Because you're combining 4 videos into 1 (where it's 2x2 columns), the size of each video is reduced by half of 1080p, not 4 times smaller (1920 x 1080 -> 960 x 540).
We've tested it - the video itself is clear enough to see all details as the original video itself is recorded in 1080p and the size of the video is reduced into half. Of course, there will be some reduction in clarity if you were to take one of the combined videos and manually stretch it to fit the full screen.
The trade-off to this was that if we were to save all the videos separately, the total size of a one minute video becomes almost 500MB as it's 5-channels, so that's why the videos are combined into one video to save memory.
Hope this helps answer your concerns!
@@blackboxmycar In your reply, you say "the size of each video is reduced by half of 1080p, not 4 times smaller"...but, then, in the resolution you mention (ie. 960x540), that IS 1/4 the 1080p resolution (ie. the second half of that sentence contradicts the first half). Our another way, half the horizontal resolution PLUS half the vertical resolution EQUALS 25% (or 1/4) the resolution.
Good point- making external cameras ability to pick up thieves faces when prowling around van maybe next to useless ??
@@robbryan3044 Thanks for your reply! I was about to splurge on this system and your comment saved me hundreds of dollars! Its cheaper for me to buy 4 dashcams then use this stupid multiplexer which only gets you 1/4 the resolution.
Been using it since last year and works well. I still have my thinkware Q800 in my car and have the multiplexer with thinkware f200 pro. Have both dashcams running off the same Celllink-neo but only get 8 hours of parking mode, 10 hours of running just the thinkware f200 with the multiplexer. It does suck a lot milliamps like .6 /.7 in parking mode.(5 channel)
Right on Broseph,
Thanks for the shoutout.
Five channels, so cool. I hope Viofo, and other brands have 4&5 channel offerings in the future too.
6:21 Dedicated Dash Cam Battery Packs are expensive, and worth every penny for a reason. I don’t think most people understand the chemical composition difference between a $40 Lithium-ion & Lithium-Polymer Power Bank vs. a $400 Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) Battery Pack.
If only there was a way to show the limitations of Lithium-ion & Lithium-Polymer Power Banks when used in a hot environment (parked car) with a real world experiment. Ahem, BBMC “Beat The Heat” fish tank. I know you guys have fire extinguishers at the ready. Let’s blow some power banks up. My inner Beavis demands FIRE!
-Chuck
Can 5 side cameras be used, for outside use only?
Bummer that is not compatible with the U1000. I actually want to buy the U1000 but was holding out since it was only 2ch vs 3ch. I want the cloud feature, radar, etc. Now having been introduced to this multiplexer I'm completely spoiled. These are not things that I need of course but I want them. At this point maybe I'll wait for a U1000 compatibility or just go with two systems :).
Please make a Blackvue multiplexer as I've already have two 2CH and could just add 2 more cameras like side view.
We'll let BlackVue know :)
Surely someone's built a 12v 4k DVR system that lets you plug 4k camera in. Crazy if not.
Do you recommend any camera which can cover all the recording while driving even though all windows?
Sounds like the Multiplexer would be your best bet
Do you sell in UK?
We primarily sell in North America, where we are located. We do situationally sell internationally, but will charge in full for shipping, contact our sales team if you would like a direct quote.
When are they going to make this compatable with their flagship dash cams so it can utilize thinkware cloud/connect?
Thanks for the feedback, that would mainly fall on Thinkware directly, and we've unfortunately heard no plans of making the multiplexer compatible with flagship cameras
@@blackboxmycar Thank you ! I will reach out to thinkware :)
No problem :)
I have a hybrid Toyota can I used the big battery of the car when its on surveillance mode or park and not using a separate battery thanks
No the hybrid battery is over 400 volts. The starter battery on hybrid is 12v but very small. Highly recommend you buy backup battery.
How do you determine if you need an external battery? Also why is the Q850 not included on here?
I would recommend an external battery pack for the Thinkware multiplexer, as the camera system will draw a significant amount of power with so many cameras in one. The Q850 is not mentioned here it was not out when this video was out, and I do not believe it has the proper connection types for the multiplexer
@blackboxmycar they told me you cant use an external battery pack with the multiplexer?
@@conman20000 Sorry to hear that, who were you speaking to? Wiring is a bit challenging since you have to splice 2 cables together for the multiplexer system to connect to a battery, but we've done it many times before
@@blackboxmycar I was talking to a thinkware rep.
@@conman20000 Ah, I can assure you that it can be!
can i fit an ivolt battery to run the multiplexer and the dashcam at the same time , if so how?
Yes, this is possible, however you will need to connect the power cable of both the multiplexer and camera to the battery pack's output slot, which will be challenging. Consult a local electrician for this if concerned.
How to connect the reverse dashcam to the reverse light?
This is not an option
Hi Joseph, can I combine this with U3000 ? Thank you
Hi there. Unfortunately the Thinkware Multiplexer cannot be combined with the Thinkware U3000. We recommend connecting to the Thinkware F200 Pro.
Hey do you think this will ever be compatible with the U1000? I'm looking to buy the U1000, for 4k footage, but want the multiplexer so I could add a cabin camera. I'm worried I'll have to spend another $300 or so on another 3CH dashcam when I start doing Uber
We would say probably not for compatibility with the U1000, at least for the foreseeable future. If you want a 3CH, we'd say go straight into a 3CH dash cam. You don't necessarily need 4K for Uber. We'd recommend something like a VIOFO T130 for that purpose.
What is the recommended amp fuse slot you need to attach the multiplexer yellow acc cable?
We recommend connecting to a fuse rated between 10A-30A!
Can you use the OBT 2 port to power the camera and use the multiplexer? Or do both have to be hardwired?
You can use an OBD power cable for the camera, however the multiplexer itself would need to be hardwired
So it's 1080p for all for multiplex cameras right? Essentially making each cameras recording 480. Such a low resolution really defeats the purpose having cameras for identification. you can't make out plates or faces more than 10 feet away. Call me when we have 1080 per channel.
I hope you guys make one that's Universal for all dash cameras
One day, one day 🤞
hello I have a viofo a129 pro camera I wanted to know if I can put Thinkware Multiplexer on it
Unfortunately not. It's only for certain Thinkware dash cams.
Tesla level monitoring minus the Tesla😂
Quick question, is this capable of using more than one screen. Like sending the side cam signals to each screen?
Haha, yes it's a pretty comprehensive system!
Unfortunately it does not have the option to broadcast multiple feeds, all recordings will be clipped together.
Is this compatible with rexing 3 channel cams?
Pretty sure it isn't, but we haven't tested it.
Hi, can I have this set up with ivolt battery and enable parking mode?
Hey Sam, from what we've discussed with Thinkware, unfortunately you cannot. However, we will be testing it next week physically ourselves so if we have an update, we'll be sure to let you know.
Also what app shows all the camera views at once?
You'll need to use the Thinkware Dash Cam Link app
It combines the views into one view, you cannot view each separately
Great review and answered almost all of my questions!!
I just have one question left and am hopeful you can help me out.
There’s times where I’ll need to turn my camera system off. Is there a way to shut the system down while driving without having a mess of cables in my face all the time? I’m hoping to have some kind of off switch near the steering column.
Thanks!!
Hi there, glad you liked the review. The multiplexer would be connected to an F200 Pro, which can then be used to control the system. You can't necessarily stop recording with the F200 Pro, but you can press the record button to stop audio recording or trigger manual recording. The idea is that it will be fully recording while the vehicle is on.
You can consider unplugging the F200 Pro from power, which will stop all recording, or wiring in an in-line switch manually to the power cable. Footage can also always be cleared through the camera's wifi, either specific clips, or a full wipe through formatting.
@@blackboxmycar the inline switch is what I decided to go with. Great suggestion thanks!
Hope it goes well!
@@blackboxmycar turned out great! I was also able to very slightly modify the external cameras to hide them in the base of my side view mirrors for a “stealth” install and use a tiny bit of liquid gasket to seal everything up
off topic: Do you have Waylens accessories? Looking for a power cable for a Secure360 dashcam, thanks!
Unfortunately not - we don't carry anything from that brand.
Is it possible to connect this multiplex system to a small ‘hard drive’ in order to record direct to that ‘hard drive’ for larger storage?
I like the idea of the ability to record the four sides of the vehicle, however also believe that tha ability to have a larger storage device that the videos are recorded to would be even more advantageous given the amount of video that will be recorded.
Unfortunately not at the moment, but it's feedback we can definitely provide to Thinkware that users are looking for.
I have a thinkware F770 and U1000, are they compatible to be multiplexed?
Unfortunately those cannot be multiplexed.
can I using the side camera under the mirror for parking assistant ?
Yep, absolutely!
@@blackboxmycar
And will it be possible to connect them to an external monitor that will be in the car?
I have the same question. I am about to purchase this system and want to add the exterior cameras u dermeath the mirror. Will the system allow me to change the viewing angle or flip it since It will not be mounted like you all displayed in the video?
Hello, i need some help ...recently bought a 70 mai Pro Plus dash cam. which microSD card do you recommend?
Hey Paul, we typically recommend the SanDisk A1 SD card for customers. However, we haven't extensively tested the 70mai Pro ourselves so we are unsure how well it'll be working long-term.
6:42 : Why are you measuring voltage outputs in amperes ?
Amperes provide valuable data for assessing the efficiency of an electrical device
mAh is capacity
Do you know if this will work with the new u3000?
Unfortunately it will not. The most modern camera this will work with is the Thinkware Q200, recording 2k.
@@blackboxmycar thanks for the reply hopefully they come out with a multiplexer for the u3000.
hello, does it also work for T700? thank you very much
Unfortunately not. Only the Thinkware F200 PRO, F790, X800 and X700.
@@blackboxmycar ok thanks !!!
I just saw another vid on RUclips where it works with the T700.
@@cfingal001 , link please...
few questions
1. can you view each individual camera view with the app
2. can you view all 5 simultaneously on the app at once ?
3. what is the durability for the exterior infrared cameras and side cameras can it withstand going through the car wash and heavy rain ?
Hi there, to answer your questions:
1+2) Unfortunately not. The system automatically combines 4 of the views into 1 (sides + interior and rear), and 1 front view.
3) These exterior cameras are built to be installed outdoors, so it shouldn't be a problem.
@@blackboxmycar awesome thank you!!!!
looks like my Multiplexer Box broke in same day. I can see only 2 channel .
Sorry to hear that. If you purchased it from us, please contact us at info[at]blackboxmycar.com and we'll be quick to replace it.
it just combines multiple video feeds into one (resizing the multiple inputs to the resolution of the rear camera input), there is no reason for it to not work with all their main units
the only thing that matters is the output resolution, so a 1080p multiplexer should work with any unit that works with 1080p rear camera
and I assume even main units that support 2K rear camera will still work with 1080p rear camera
it's kinda useless products as it is if it only works with the low-end main units
should have been quite the opposite, make a main unit with 4K rear cam support and make a 4K or at least 2K multiplex....ideally the mutliplex should be able to select what resolution to have the output set to and thus be compatible with all head units
Thank you for the feedback there. Thinkware directly may have more input on this, and why the multiplexer is not compatible with their higher-end models. Each of the Thinkware Multiplexer cameras records in 1080p Full HD and sends a 1080p Full HD feed to the Multiplexer. The size of each video from the secondary cameras is then reduced by half to 960 x 540 to fit the screen.
@@blackboxmycar might be because the multiplexer is an old product. Seems like all the supported main units use 3.5mm jack for the rear camera cable. The newer dash cam models seems to use microUSB. So maybe the old ones are analogue signal and the newer ones are digital signal.
Anyway after watching the RetroCarGuy530 review and seeing the greatly increased power consumption when using the mutliplexer compared to 2ch setup it makes it kinda useless for my intended use case (was looking into 4ch parking mode since I had the side of my car vandalized recently)
Too bad the multiplexer doesn't work with the newer cameras and reduces the quality to 1080p.
Unfortunate, but it's a step in the right direction! We'll need to wait and see just what they come up with in the future.
@@blackboxmycar I never understood why more dash cams didn't have 4 channel designs. Why would you NOT want to record the left and right sides of the vehicle in addition to front and back? Most of the dash cams that I see now that have 3 channel (front/inside/rear) that allow the 2 front cameras to swivel aren't the best quality but I like the design a bit better. You just have to remember to swivel the camera if you're trying to record something which isn't always feasible.
I prefer to have my cameras mounted in the interior because of nasty weather.