Scout to have dashcams. But better than….

[Latrant]

Dashcams in all Scouts are a must. But they need to be better:

1. Recording always all around in at least 4K (8K better) with HDR. Many dashcams do not have HDR and license plates of other cars are blurred underway, especially at night. Should work with VIOFO or THINKWARE or Blackview or all to get it to be cutting edge.

2. Telephoto front along with standard wide view. VIOFO has this option and it works well but you sacrifice a rear camera, which makes no sense.

3. ‘Sentry Mode’ or ‘Gearguard’ or ‘Parking Mode’ that has sound.

4. Live Two way Communication via Dashcams if something is going on.

5. 6 or more views running always.

6. Sound - Tesla doesn’t record sound. Neither does Rivian. This matters. You can speak a license plate even if video doesn’t pick it up during a hit and run with interior sound. Exterior sound can be important to record if there is someone outside your car in an ‘event’.

7. Easily removable storage. USB sticks are cheap and in an accident can give to police. Redundant recording on an SSD and thumb drive to keep your copy and give to police or to others in an accident.

8. Instant connectivity to vehicle dashcam for live viewing.

9. Cloud storage and instant review of parked or previous footage. Share from there and you may solve 7 above.

10. Battery usage rate while parked, recording, say , for a week in an Airport parking garage.

11. Buffered parking recording with motion and radar detection, like THINKWARE U3000 only better.

I hope Scout is considering this. You could also record cool off road or other experience.

Watch ‘Wham Bam Teslacam’ or ‘Wham Bam Dashcam’ to get an idea of how useful this can be.

Also SafeDriveSolutions and Vortex Radar (Dashcam reviews)!

Scout is looking great but I hope this and other suggestions don’t get overlooked!

Latrant WhIM!

 

[J Alynn]

Dashcams in all Scouts are a must. But they need to be better:

1. Recording always all around in at least 4K (8K better) with HDR. Many dashcams do not have HDR and license plates of other cars are blurred underway, especially at night. Should work with VIOFO or THINKWARE or Blackview or all to get it to be cutting edge.

2. Telephoto front along with standard wide view. VIOFO has this option and it works well but you sacrifice a rear camera, which makes no sense.

3. ‘Sentry Mode’ or ‘Gearguard’ or ‘Parking Mode’ that has sound.

4. Live Two way Communication via Dashcams if something is going on.

5. 6 or more views running always.

6. Sound - Tesla doesn’t record sound. Neither does Rivian. This matters. You can speak a license plate even if video doesn’t pick it up during a hit and run with interior sound. Exterior sound can be important to record if there is someone outside your car in an ‘event’.

7. Easily removable storage. USB sticks are cheap and in an accident can give to police. Redundant recording on an SSD and thumb drive to keep your copy and give to police or to others in an accident.

8. Instant connectivity to vehicle dashcam for live viewing.

9. Cloud storage and instant review of parked or previous footage. Share from there and you may solve 7 above.

10. Battery usage rate while parked, recording, say , for a week in an Airport parking garage.

11. Buffered parking recording with motion and radar detection, like THINKWARE U3000 only better.

I hope Scout is considering this. You could also record cool off road or other experience.

Watch ‘Wham Bam Teslacam’ or ‘Wham Bam Dashcam’ to get an idea of how useful this can be.

Also SafeDriveSolutions and Vortex Radar (Dashcam reviews)!

Scout is looking great but I hope this and other suggestions don’t get overlooked!

Latrant WhIM!

I don’t care either way on this but gotta ask where some of you all live. Granted I’m fortunate and have a garage but I am amazed at the fear people have where they live and I’m sorry these are such issues for you all. Granted I don’t leave anything in my car-did learn that the hard way 26 years ago. As long as it doesn’t add substantial cost this is a nice have but guess I’m fortunate to live in Lancaster County and have very few issues.

 

[Latrant]

I don’t care either way on this but gotta ask where some of you all live. Granted I’m fortunate and have a garage but I am amazed at the fear people have where they live and I’m sorry these are such issues for you all. Granted I don’t leave anything in my car-did learn that the hard way 26 years ago. As long as it doesn’t add substantial cost this is a nice have but guess I’m fortunate to live in Lancaster County and have very few issues.

Lancaster is nice. I live in Cleveland suburbs, have a garage and my daughter lives in Philly. I used to practice with UPMC in Western PA for twelve years in Hermitage and Greenville right on the the Ohio border, but I’m a native Clevelander.

Not really fear but when things happen, nice to have the recorded facts. I haven’t had a car broken into since I went to college at CWRU in Cleveland in the 80’s! My girlfriend at the time had her car broken into too. Nothing in it to take, just newbies stripping the column for practice and my crappy 1980 Toyota Corolla car radio was stolen.

But, when accidents happen or damage has been done to the car, it’s nice to have accurate video of what happened.

We have had damage to a hood and front fascia while parked with no explanation and no Dashcam at the time. I now have 2/4 cars with dashcams and trying to convince my daughters to install in the two cars I gave them.

Not fear, just mitigating risk. Plus, you can record cool events without having to have a GoPro on your dash, like off roading, obstacle courses or the random shooting star I’ve seen on Wham Bam Teslacam YouTube channel.

 

[dleepnw]

Wow, thats a long wish list. I just hope its good enough quality that you can make out license plate numbers and doesn't limit advanced driver assistance features.

 

[Scoutsie]

These are great ideas for ensuring that wealthy customers have live views of their rides being stolen or vandalized, but these are going to be expensive to implement right now. Recording in 4K or 8K doesn’t happen because the cameras are expensive and the files are big. Big files are going to be a PitA to upload quickly and efficiently on the fly with an unreliable connection (if you’re not in the city, mobile service is a crapshoot and if this was a Starlink service, I would personally hard pass, but YMMV). If there’s also an audio layer in the video file, the files are going to be that much larger. There’s also a new layer of complexity with audio and mic sensitivity, mic placement, etc. How does audio mixing happen, is it handled by AI, etc etc etc.

Could see what happens with H.266 encoding (which is supposed to support 360 degree video and compresses 50% better than HEVC), but this is ambitious. I think it’s worthwhile if you can afford it and auto insurers won’t mind if it proves to be effective, but it sounds ambitious.

 

[Latrant]

Wow, thats a long wish list. I just hope its good enough quality that you can make out license plate numbers and doesn't limit advanced driver assistance features.

Hey dleepnw,

Tesla’s ADAS and FSD , so called, seems to work fine and separately from the, at least 4 , camera views always running.

Most features I mention already exist in the VIOFO A229 Pro 3 channel I have installed myself in one daughter’s car. It was a pain and I had to install a battery (with extended battery ) for the parking mode time I wanted. Hardwired into the firebox with a fuse tap. I’m a Doctor for 34 years but electronics capable. It was a pain. Tesla integrates all this. I don’t own a Tesla because I like knobs, buttons, stalks, comfort and practicality.

Last I knew, there is no interior sound and cameras are only 1K in a Tesla but perhaps improved in the model 3 highland and upcoming Model Y Juniper.

Latrant

 

[Latrant]

These are great ideas for ensuring that wealthy customers have live views of their rides being stolen or vandalized, but these are going to be expensive to implement right now. Recording in 4K or 8K doesn’t happen because the cameras are expensive and the files are big. Big files are going to be a PitA to upload quickly and efficiently on the fly with an unreliable connection (if you’re not in the city, mobile service is a crapshoot and if this was a Starlink service, I would personally hard pass, but YMMV). If there’s also an audio layer in the video file, the files are going to be that much larger. There’s also a new layer of complexity with audio and mic sensitivity, mic placement, etc. How does audio mixing happen, is it handled by AI, etc etc etc.

Could see what happens with H.266 encoding (which is supposed to support 360 degree video and compresses 50% better than HEVC), but this is ambitious. I think it’s worthwhile if you can afford it and auto insurers won’t mind if it proves to be effective, but it sounds ambitious.

Hey Scoutsie,

Most of the features I mention already exist on either Tesla using inexpensive attached SSDs, Rivian’s too, for storage, H.264 or .265 and Rivian’s, I believe in version 2 R1T 2025 now has 4K cameras.

Tesla has all the remote connectivity and access to live views now and for years at 1K. No sound. Rivian too.

VIOFO a229 Pro 3 channel has HDR, 4K front and 2K rear with 1K interior as well as Telephoto as an option but you lose the rear channel for the Telephoto. I installed this in my daughter’s CR-V

Parking is handled by battery backup.

Exterior sound could be off by default but buffered to record the last 30 seconds in case of an accident. Current dashcams, on low power mode, in parking mode, already buffer the last 30 seconds or 10 Seconds of video and are able to record that when an event happens.

Installing this is a pain. $272 for the dashcam last Cyber Monday. $349 backup battery for 24 hours. Another $329 if you want to double that. THINKWARE U3000 installed on my wife’s car has an even lower power usage in parking mode that lasts a week. Also has front and rear ‘ radar’ while in low power ‘asleep’ parking mode’. But that dashcam has no telephoto while underway, no HDR, but it’s 4K front, 2 k rear (if I remember) but no interior cam.

Files can be a reasonable size and storage is relatively cheap with 512mb internal microSD (extra cost) and the a329 Pro allows an external usb C 2TB or more SSD (extra cost). However, you give up a channel (2 channel only).

All these dashcams have interior sound and even separate Bluetooth ‘button’ to take a pic, secure/lock a video from being overwritten on loop recording, or turn interior sound on and off.

Installation with components hanging off windshields is clunky. Tesla does this really well and Rivian pretty well.

Not just for the wealthy if your insurance goes up because the other driver wasn’t honest in an accident or hits and runs.

Connectivity in Tesla and Rivian seems to work really well, even parked. EV battery usage seems just fine. However, I don’t know in remote areas how well this works. LTE/4G last I knew. Another extra cost. Seems to work but not sure.

In my setup I have a Verizon WiFi Hotspot running but it shuts off after no use in about 3 hours so it’s not a great solution for connectivity. Blackvue does this built into the dashcam well with great cloud service, but no HDR or telephoto.

Tesla and Rivian do all of this well but no HDR and no sound. Rivian currently has 4K. Tesla 1K.

IF Scout doesn’t implement these features by 2027, Scout will be behind Rivian, and Tesla.

Latrant

 

[J Alynn]

So reading this, and I’m certainly no expert, this sounds like a $1200 option after SM makes a small profit, $1500 if they want a typical 50% mark up. I see a value for some but I’ve been with my insurance company for 25+ years and have accident forgiveness on my policy essentially until I die at this point. If I’m hit or vandalized it’s the same PITA dealing with fall out either way. At $1200-$1500 I’m cool if it’s a stand alone option but for my situation I’d rather use that money for other features. But perhaps I’m naive based on where I live.

 

[Latrant]

So reading this, and I’m certainly no expert, this sounds like a $1200 option after SM makes a small profit, $1500 if they want a typical 50% mark up. I see a value for some but I’ve been with my insurance company for 25+ years and have accident forgiveness on my policy essentially until I die at this point. If I’m hit or vandalized it’s the same PITA dealing with fall out either way. At $1200-$1500 I’m cool if it’s a stand alone option but for my situation I’d rather use that money for other features. But perhaps I’m naive based on where I live.

J Alynn,

I’d buy that option.

Of course, Rivian and Tesla build it in.

IMHO, all competitors will build it in and if Scout doesn’t, they’ll be behind their competitors.

It’s similar to No CarPlay. I have several Family Members who won’t buy a Tesla, Rivian or now GM EV with no CarPlay integration. Or a rear wiper on an SUV.

Not everyone has nor will the marketing of ‘accident forgiveness’ definitely continue or not everyone has under insured/uninsured motorists coverage hitting your car. Better to prove it wasn’t your fault than He said/He said and ‘split’ the bill when it wasn’t your fault at all. Better not to pay your deductible if it wasn’t your fault.

Additionally, TESLA’s ADAS (FSD) utilizes these cameras solely for FSD now. The Dashcam functionalities were added as a benefit later but Tesla owners I know love them. Watch Wham Bam Teslacam and you might be convinced.

Any EV with ADAS cameras, zonal architecture with central computing and a huge battery to draw from already has much of this built in as an underutilized sunk cost.

Then again, in Lancaster you may feel it unnecessary. In Cleveland Burbs I need it less than on the highway or downtown Cleveland.

Cheers!

Latrant

 

[DBHowe]

Lancaster is nice. I live in Cleveland suburbs, have a garage and my daughter lives in Philly. I used to practice with UPMC in Western PA for twelve years in Hermitage and Greenville right on the the Ohio border, but I’m a native Clevelander.

Not really fear but when things happen, nice to have the recorded facts. I haven’t had a car broken into since I went to college at CWRU in Cleveland in the 80’s! My girlfriend at the time had her car broken into too. Nothing in it to take, just newbies stripping the column for practice and my crappy 1980 Toyota Corolla car radio was stolen.

But, when accidents happen or damage has been done to the car, it’s nice to have accurate video of what happened.

We have had damage to a hood and front fascia while parked with no explanation and no Dashcam at the time. I now have 2/4 cars with dashcams and trying to convince my daughters to install in the two cars I gave them.

Not fear, just mitigating risk. Plus, you can record cool events without having to have a GoPro on your dash, like off roading, obstacle courses or the random shooting star I’ve seen on Wham Bam Teslacam YouTube channel.

Latrant - agreed. Fear is an emotionally charged word. It's really more and issue of awareness.

 

[Latrant]

So reading this, and I’m certainly no expert, this sounds like a $1200 option after SM makes a small profit, $1500 if they want a typical 50% mark up. I see a value for some but I’ve been with my insurance company for 25+ years and have accident forgiveness on my policy essentially until I die at this point. If I’m hit or vandalized it’s the same PITA dealing with fall out either way. At $1200-$1500 I’m cool if it’s a stand alone option but for my situation I’d rather use that money for other features. But perhaps I’m naive based on where I live.

Hmm J Alynn, my reply didn’t go through:

With ADAS cameras, zonal architecture and central computing, most of this is already built in and a sunk cost.

Tesla FSD uses only cameras (no LIDAR or sonic sensors anymore) and the dashcam functionality to include live two way, sentry mode parking, EV main battery usage are added as a feature to systems already installed for FSD as an underutilized sunk cost. Just reprogrammed for the benefit of the owner as a previous OTA update.

Storage by SSD usb C costs and connectivity plan costs but that brings other features.

I’d buy any option that provides this.

IF Scout doesn’t include this by 2027, it will be instantly behind competitors.

Plus, these cameras are needed for 360 views and manual parking as well as clearance when off roading.

Rivian does all of this as does Tesla.

Also, blind spot camera in the screen helpful as in other EV’s.

You can review Dashcam footage in the on board screen.

Like you, I have most insurance situations covered by USAA. But no guarantee ‘accident forgiveness’ will continue as a marketing offer if it becomes unprofitable for an insurance company.

I don’t want to pay my deductible if accident wasn’t my fault. Plus if damage happens, I’d like to know how/why.

Latrant

 

[eddiet1212]

Yes, as an option

 

[pwrofgrayskull]

Sounds great and I’d likely be thankful to have these features during ownership. Problem is I don’t want to see base prices driven up even higher, so some of this likely needs to be optional.

To put my money where it’d be most frequently used, there’s also a good chance I would elect to add different off road options instead depending on cost. Again, cost would be my biggest concern here. The world doesn’t need another $70k+ base SUV or truck, there’s already plenty in my opinion.

 

[J Alynn]

I despise subscription based features but at a reasonable cost I could see the cameras being part of that. I imagine if you buy like I would and two years later get transferred to a more risk like area you could pay a subscription fee. I know that nobody wants to see that but it would help offset install cost up front in all vehicles or maybe there a fee to upload the cloud based footage when off-roading. No different than youth sports who have photographer shoot images then charge a few bucks per download to have memory photos. Just a thought but probably not a popular thought

 

[pwrofgrayskull]

I despise subscription based features but at a reasonable cost I could see the cans being part of that. I imagine if you buy like I would and two years later get transferred to a more risk like area you could pay a subscription fee. I know that nobody wants to see that but it would help offset install cost up front in all vehicles or maybe there a fee to upload the cloud based footage when off-roading. No different than youth sports who have photographer shoot images then charge a few bucks per download to have memory photos. Just a thought but probably not a popular thought

I too detest subscription-based features. I often avoid them simply out of spite no matter how much it inconveniences me. However I see where you’re going with that thought. I’m all for anything that can aid with overall efficiencies and cost control.

 

[dleepnw]

Hey dleepnw,

Tesla’s ADAS and FSD , so called, seems to work fine and separately from the, at least 4 , camera views always running.

Most features I mention already exist in the VIOFO A229 Pro 3 channel I have installed myself in one daughter’s car. It was a pain and I had to install a battery (with extended battery ) for the parking mode time I wanted. Hardwired into the firebox with a fuse tap. I’m a Doctor for 34 years but electronics capable. It was a pain. Tesla integrates all this. I don’t own a Tesla because I like knobs, buttons, stalks, comfort and practicality.

Last I knew, there is no interior sound and cameras are only 1K in a Tesla but perhaps improved in the model 3 highland and upcoming Model Y Juniper.

Latrant

i probably should have been more specific. i own an Gen1 R1T and the camera quality is not good, ie. i cannot make out license plates unless its close to the camera and ideal conditions. Rivian improved it with Gen2 cameras being much higher quality.

just hoping Scout accounts for this from the start because its frustrating to have all this tech then be limited by short-sighted planning on the hardware.

and while im at it, Scout, please also take into consideration the ECU horsepower. another area Rivian misjudged in Gen1 and now the advanced driver system is limited going forward after less than 2 years. again they corrected this for Gen2 with a new system that's multiple times better. maybe this will already be a built it contingency for Scout since they using the new Rivian network architecture.

yes, i know tech gets outdated quickly but Rivian advertised their system to expand and evolve over time and they promised a lot and its got handcuffs already.