[Npbk]

Whoa, I didn't actually go through the checkout process to see how much the available MirrorTaps cost. I didn't think it'd cost that much. I ended up buying the one on Amazon for $9. I'll just mount the box behind the mirror and the USB port will be available right at the top for anything, whether it be a dashcam or a radar detector.

Very interesting idea to mount it behind the mirror. Can you elaborate more on how and where you connect it? Did you have to give up functions like auto dimming mirror? Also how are you going to connect a dashcam or a radar detector to a USB port? As far as I know most dashcams don't have a usb plug. Thanks.

 

[BeyondtheTech]

Very interesting idea to mount it behind the mirror. Can you elaborate more on how and where you connect it? Did you have to give up functions like auto dimming mirror? Also how are you going to connect a dashcam or a radar detector to a USB port? As far as I know most dashcams don't have a usb plug. Thanks.

The dashcam I was looking at was the A119 sold on Amazon for $99. It's low profile, got GPS logging, 1440p recording, 160-degree view, and is powered with a mini-USB cable.

I would do the same as the MirrorTap would do - the cable that connects to the back of Pilot's auto-dimming mirror is exposed that you can insert the positive and negative leads without soldering or cutting anything. I just have to use a volt meter to confirm where to connect them. It would just split the power and would not affect the mirror's capabilities.

I don't have a lead foot, so I'd probably not need a radar detector, and since they're mostly 12V, I wouldn't need the converter, I'd just build a straight cable with in-line fuse just like the MirrorTap.

 

[Npbk]

.

Thanks for all the information. I am going to buy A119 as well. I waited for A119s but it seems more like a joke with the current version of firmware, comparing to A119. I guess you are going to connect it with a miniUSB to USB adapter.

Do you mean we can tap the power converter in the power supply for auto dimming mirror, without disabling the auto dimming mirror? Also a post from another thread mentioned soldering it to the auto dimming mirror power supply. Did you mean soldering is not necessary?

Edit: the review videos of A119s with firmware 1.3 has rolled out and it now seems to be very slightly better than A119.

 

[BeyondtheTech]

Thanks for all the information. I am going to buy A119 as well. I waited for A119s but it seems more like a joke with the current version of firmware, comparing to A119. I guess you are going to connect it with a miniUSB to USB adapter.

Do you mean we can tap the power converter in the power supply for auto dimming mirror, without disabling the auto dimming mirror? Also a post from another thread mentioned soldering it to the auto dimming mirror power supply. Did you mean soldering is not necessary?

Soldering is not necessary if you just tap into the connector. Take a look at the sample photos here (this is not the Pilot's rear-view mirror or its actual connections):

https://store.blendmount.com/mirror...es-power-cord10-longrj-11-2-amp-inline-fuse-with-military-grade-taps-p3601.aspx

 

[Npbk]

Soldering is not necessary if you just tap into the connector. Take a look at the sample photos here (this is not the Pilot's rear-view mirror or its actual connections):

https://store.blendmount.com/mirror...es-power-cord10-longrj-11-2-amp-inline-fuse-with-military-grade-taps-p3601.aspx

View attachment 100313

View attachment 100321

I see what you mean. I saw the instruction for installing auto dimming mirror from another thread. The 7 pin connector is behind the panel on top of the mirror. Once you finish the installation, can you please post what pins you tap into on this forum? It will help a lot of people who don't want to take off the A pillar cover and run the cable down to the fuses.

 

[BeyondtheTech]

I decided to order a more compact solution and a 2A inline fuse.

I'll be sure to provide the pinouts as soon as "borrow back" the volt meter from my friend I lent it to.

 

[hoang51]

I am going to buy A119 as well. I waited for A119s but it seems more like a joke with the current version of firmware, comparing to A119. I guess you are going to connect it with a miniUSB to USB adapter.

The dashcam I was looking at was the A119 sold on Amazon for $99. It's low profile, got GPS logging, 1440p recording, 160-degree view, and is powered with a mini-USB cable.

https://www.amazon.com/Blueskysea-VIOFO-Screen-Capacitor-Novatek/dp/B01IEQUABA

I bought my A119 (actually bought two) from eBay from Adorama for $89 a piece. They already raised their price up by now and the cheapest is at $94.96 from a USA seller in Texas. Before settling with eBay, I was looking at Amazon, among other places and they were all selling it for a normal price of $99. So for those who are looking for Viofo's A119, check eBay.

I decided to order a more compact solution and a 2A inline fuse.
...
I'll be sure to provide the pinouts as soon as "borrow back" the volt meter from my friend I lent it to.

I was deciding between 3 choices of power source for the A119: mirror, USB port in the front console, or run it down to the fuse box. I didn't like the thought of running down the A pillars. I'll probably have to check this new technique out by tapping into the mirror with a 12V to 5V USB socket.

WARNING: According to this thread here, there appears to be a power issue when the Pilot (Elite?) is in reverse or Auto Idle-Stop feature. The 12V power goes dead momentarily for the power dimming mirror in any of those two cases.

Workaround: Tap into another power source by utilizing the map light console here.

 

[Pierre007]

You can still get the A119 from Adorama on their site for $89 but shipping is about $5.00.

Used the empty fuse at location 12 of the drivers side fuse box and it's powered even with Auto-Idle Stop. It stays on after shutdown until on of the front doors open.

 

[knight3136]

I wonder how much a custom auto shop will charge to do this. Does anyone have any idea? For those who were able to do it how long did it take and how much did you spend?

 

[BeyondtheTech]

I was going to buy the A119S but after seeing a stupid girl in my rear-view mirror almost hitting me today ... because she was actually trying to do a selfie, I have to get a front and rear dashcam setup.

 

[Npbk]

Buying an A119s for front and an A118c for the rear should be good for your purpose. They just dont have real parking mode.

 

[hoang51]

I wonder how much a custom auto shop will charge to do this. Does anyone have any idea? For those who were able to do it how long did it take and how much did you spend?

Only you can find out yourself by calling around and ask what's their pricing. They'll give you an estimate, but be prepared to pay more if it takes longer time than estimated.

I was going to buy the A119S but after seeing a stupid girl in my rear-view mirror almost hitting me today ... because she was actually trying to do a selfie, I have to get a front and rear dashcam setup.

I avoided the A119S for the front because of the resolution difference as it can only do 1080P whereas A119 can do 1440P. I hope you've seen the comparison between both A119 and A119S here, where it further shows that A119S isn't much more improved over the A119 as once thought. But for serving purpose of a rear camera in the dark, it might be useful according to the thread aforementioned as one person stated that the A119S is better than the A118C. I might have to consider A119S for rear video recording purposes, especially at night.

 

[hoang51]

So currently, there's a deal on Viofo A119S (without GPS) for $79.80 + S/H $4.95 at Adorama for a limited time (sale started on 01/17/2017), but I do not know when it will end. This sale is about $25 cheaper than the normal deal (~$110). Viofo A119S with GPS is $99 + free S/H. I went ahead and bought two A119S without GPS (I already have front mounted A119 with GPS) so that I can mount them rear facing for the purpose of night time recording in two different cars, as the regular A119 is very limited recording at night time, especially when facing the rear. There's a YouTube video comparing A119 and A119S, although front mounted, but still big difference in terms of how much you can see more at night:

Video comparing A119 and A119S

Edit: I decided to go ahead and purchase Viofo A119S with GPS instead so that way, the GPS data can be provided as a redundancy, in case the front facing A119 is somehow disconnected (no signal, accidentally, or purposely). Going to cancel the A119S without GPS via e-mail. Shouldn't be time sensitive because the order is backordered.

 

[Pierre007]

Couldn't resist Adorama's price on the 119s and gambled that they will update it with firmware that will improve its performance at some future date. BTW, they had it at $99 with free shipping.

 

[BeyondtheTech]

Buying an A119s for front and an A118c for the rear should be good for your purpose. They just dont have real parking mode.

I really like the parking mode, so if the SpyTec/Viofo A11x series don't have it, I'll probably go with the EBORN HD Dash Cam. Also $99, has GPS, WDR, and includes a 32GB MicroSD card.

 

[hoang51]

Couldn't resist Adorama's price on the 119s and gambled that they will update it with firmware that will improve its performance at some future date. BTW, they had it at $99 with free shipping.

I updated my post to reflect the cost of buying A119S with GPS after checking it out earlier but prior to seeing your post. Thanks for the catch though.

 

[Npbk]

So currently, there's a deal on Viofo A119S (without GPS) for $79.80 + S/H $4.95 at Adorama for a limited time (sale started on 01/17/2017), but I do not know when it will end. This sale is about $25 cheaper than the normal deal (~$110). Viofo A119S with GPS is $99 + free S/H. I went ahead and bought two A119S without GPS (I already have front mounted A119 with GPS) so that I can mount them rear facing for the purpose of night time recording in two different cars, as the regular A119 is very limited recording at night time, especially when facing the rear. There's a YouTube video comparing A119 and A119S, although front mounted, but still big difference in terms of how much you can see more at night:

Video comparing A119 and A119S

Edit: I decided to go ahead and purchase Viofo A119S with GPS instead so that way, the GPS data can be provided as a redundancy, in case the front facing A119 is somehow disconnected (no signal, accidentally, or purposely). Going to cancel the A119S without GPS via e-mail. Shouldn't be time sensitive because the order is backordered.

This video is one of the first batch videos. I was very disappointed at that time. Although it seems more lighted up where it's very dark but the A119s' video is very grainy in night and day. It makes it harder to read plate. However, recently a video was released with firmware 1.3 for A119s. There seems to be great improvement in video quality. It's on par with a119 now. I hope / believe with more firmware updates the A119s will justify the usage of sony sensor.

I really like the parking mode, so if the SpyTec/Viofo A11x series don't have it, I'll probably go with the EBORN HD Dash Cam. Also $99, has GPS, WDR, and includes a 32GB MicroSD card.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01GNMBC4G/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A3MAY9ZV1R28CD

I think I misled you. The viofo A119 has motion sensing as parking mode, just like the eborn one you posted. I said they were not real parking mode because they don't have prebuffing. They start recording after detecting a movement or impact. Very likely it's too late to catch the original movement that can prove someone's fault. Unfortunately most cameras with prebuffing cost more than twice of the A119. Dashcamtalk recommends these three cams with prebuffing: Thinkware F50, Blackvue DR3500-FHD, BlackVue DR650S-1CH

 

[Sirr6]

Is anyone having issues on their touring or elite when it goes into idle stop? I want to install a dash cam but read that when the car idle stops the cam also stops. I read from a few sites that this happens when a radar is installed. I have a valentine one I've been wanting to install but would get annoyed everytime the car shuts off and the radar shuts down too.

 

[Pierre007]

I used an empty slot on the drivers side fuse box (#12) and my Passport 9500ix does not cut out when idle stop kicks in. Unit stays powered until one of the front doors is opened which to me is not a problem. I used an add a fuse so I could have the pigtail to wire in the Passport and will use the second slot to add the Viofo A119S which is on order.

 

[Sirr6]

Just got my add a fuse. I have a 2017 touring. Which number do I tap into? And what fuse amp do I use? 10? 7.5?