On this page:

• Is the Thinkware T700 a good dash cam?
• How easy is it to use?
• Are the 4G features worth it?
• Should you buy the Thinkware T700?

Some fancy modern cars have built-in cameras that let you keep an eye on things via your phone using mobile data coverage. But what if you want to add these security tools to a cheaper or older vehicle?

Thinkware wants to fill this gap with the T700, a SIM-enabled dash cam that allows remote access for features like live streaming, incident alerts and footage stored on the SD card. But they’re a nice, if somewhat limited, set of features, especially for a product with an almost $800 asking price.

Is the Thinkware T700 a good dash cam?

The T700’s video quality is OK during the day, but it’s generally fuzzy with some compression and artefacting (a blocky appearance). At night, performance is borderline at best. The video is very high-contrast and often appears unfocused.

To its credit, the T700 does have a broad 140-degree viewing angle, which is wider than most dash cams on the market. A wired rear camera is included in the box too, giving you the option to fit a reverse cam if you’d like. But these don’t quite make up for the average looking video.

The thing is, while the T700 can do a reasonable job of capturing incidents during the day, the picture quality lacks detail. Identifiers like facial features or number plates aren’t guaranteed to be clear, which is a real problem if you need to use the footage in an insurance claim.

How easy is it to use?

Unlike other dashboard cameras we’ve road-tested, the T700 dash cam isn’t exactly user friendly. For example, it doesn’t have a built-in screen so you’re forced to link it to the accompanying smartphone app to navigate the settings.

This isn’t a huge issue in itself, especially since it reduces the size of the dash cam. But the app is badly designed and is often difficult to navigate.

The camera uses an adhesive mount to keep it in place on the windscreen, and it works well, provided you only want to tilt the viewing angle up and down as the mechanism doesn’t allow side to side adjustment.

It’s a frustrating shortcoming as you may want to swivel the camera a little to the left or right depending on where you’re able to mount it on your windscreen. Central mounting isn’t always an option and the T700 can’t accommodate that.

Are the 4G features worth it?

Mobile connectivity gives you remote access to the dash cam on Telstra or Vodafone 4G LTE networks (sorry Optus) via a Thinkware app. This feature requires a separate SIM with its own data plan and is only available in parking mode. It’s most useful when you want to keep an eye on things while you’re away from your vehicle.

After it’s all hooked up you can live stream to the app, receive incident updates (e.g. if the camera detects a collision) and transfer footage to your smartphone or tablet. It also tracks and logs vehicle movements such as acceleration, braking and more.

Though the T700 advertises real-time updates, it actually takes about 10 seconds before any activity reaches the app. It’s not a major delay but it’s one that’s more along the lines of real-timeish.

Features like these are typically reserved for expensive, modern cars but the T700 gives you the option to retroactively add them to older or cheaper vehicles. They’re not exactly ‘must-have’ tools but they’re certainly useful provided you can endure the convoluted set-up process.

First, the T700 needs to be hardwired to the car’s battery to keep operating once the car is turned off. It comes with a hardwire kit but you may need to get an auto electrician involved for this step.

Next, you need to connect the camera to the app. You’d think this would be the default app used to access the camera, but no. The remote access features use a separate Thinkware app, which means you need install, and swap between, two apps to fully operate the camera.

After that, you need to follow a complicated 12-step process to link the camera with your phone. It’s long and pretty messy – so much so that we’ve written out the steps below in case you’re having trouble.

Should you buy the Thinkware T700?

When it comes to the core dash cam functions, the T700 is an average performer at best. Video quality isn’t great, the app is often difficult to navigate, and it has limited viewing options when mounted.

Added remote access functions are nice but ultimately feel limited and a bit half-baked. Despite Thinkware’s best efforts, these features don’t help the T700 stand out from the pack, especially when you consider the $799 price tag.

The post First look: Thinkware T700 dash cam appeared first on ÌÇÐÄVlog.

On this page:

• How we test
• Test criteria explained

Our expert testers

ÌÇÐÄVlog maintains a highly professional NATA-accredited laboratory and the vast majority of our product testing is done in-house. Our testers are qualified and well-experienced in testing a wide range of products and many sit on Standards committees and belong to other professional and expert bodies.

For some products there are Australian or international standards, which usually form the basis of our testing for those products. In other cases, such as with dash cams, our testers and content producers work together to devise test methods based on the key aspects that matter to consumers.

How we choose what we review

With so many to choose from, what makes us pick one dash cam to test over another? As with most of our product testing, our aim is to test the popular brands and models on the market and what you’re most likely to see in stores.

We survey manufacturers to find out about their range of models and check market sales information and also any member requests to test specific models. We then put together a final list that goes to our buyers and they head out to the retailers and purchase each product, just as a normal consumer would. We do this so we can be sure the products are the same as any consumer would find them and not ‘tweaked’ in any way.

How we test

Performance

This is the most important aspect of our dash cam test – after all, if the recorded video isn’t clear enough to see details such as number plates and other identifying features of cars, it’s not much use to you. We look at:

• Picture quality in daylight:ÌýOur tester installs the dash cam in a car and drives a set route in clear daylight, then assesses the recorded video for clarity, fluidity of motion and colour accuracy.
• Picture quality at night:ÌýOur tester installs the dash cam in a car, drives a set route in different lighting conditions at night including well-lit main roads, tunnels and dark side streets. They assess the recorded video for clarity, fluidity of motion, colour accuracy, light balance and environmental details.
• Heat test: Our tester places each dash cam an in oven at 80°C for three hours, which is consistent with the temperatures you can get in a car in summer. He then assesses the recorded video to see if it works. If the camera fails, it earns a 0% score, with a higher score if he was able to reformat the card and continue to use the dashboard camera.
  

Up until recently, we conducted separate tests in low and artificial light. However, we decided to combine these tests into a single night driving picture quality test, which better reflects real-world use. The route covers similar dark, very dark and artificially lit environments (such as tunnels).

Ease of use

The lab tester assesses each model for quality of the supplied instructions, installing the camera in the car and attaching and detaching the camera from the mount (or windscreen), including adjusting the camera angle to the correct field of view. They also look at adjusting the settings on the camera viewing the recordings on the built-in display screen (if it has one) and accessing and viewing the recordings on a computer.

The ease of use score is weighted mainly towards the ease of attaching and detaching the camera from the mount or windscreen and adjusting the angle of view, as this is something you’re likely to do regularly and it’s where we see a lot of difference between models. The other factors tend to vary less between models.

Test criteria explained

The ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating is made up of:

• picture quality score in daylight (40%)
• picture quality score at night (30%)
• ease of useÌý(15%)
• heat test (15%).

Changes to 2021 dash cams test

Models tested in 2021 were assessed under different conditions due to COVID-19 travel limits restricting access to our labs. Though the stringent method was very similar to the typical one used to test dash cams before 2021, it does mean that the results for 2021 models are not directly comparable to dash cams tested in other years.

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The Air Hawk air compressor is a device that looks like a drill which has an air compressor built into it.Ìý

It can inflate tyres and comes with a variety of attachments for bicycle tyres and sports equipment, as well as a blow valve attachment for products like air mattresses. It looks remarkably similar to the Air Dragon also on the market.

ÌÇÐÄVlog verdict

The Air Hawk air compressor is a handy device if you’re stuck without access to another way of inflating your tyre. It’s relatively fast given how small it is compared to the air compressors we’ve tested in the past, and it’s very easy to use. We wouldn’t rely on it heavily, as it heats up fairly fast.Ìý

It’s suitable for adjustments to already partially inflated tyres so you can keep your tyres up to their specified range without needing to drive down to your local service station, or as a replacement for your hand pump on garden equipment or bicycle tyres. It may also suit people who regularly need to deflate and re-inflate their tyres depending on the surface they drive, such as sand.

Air Hawk Pro air compressor Price: $119

Testing the AirHawk

It comes in two versions: a Pro version with a charger for the battery that clips to the drill so you don’t need a cord trailing behind you, and a normal version that comes with a 12V car adaptor.Ìý

The Air Hawk claims to be faster and easier, hyping its qualities in comparison to finding a petrol station, using a bulky air compressor or the effort of using a hand pump.

Ease of use

Following the provided instructions, the Air Hawk is very easy to use. It’s light, at under a kilo, and once you plug in the battery or into the 12V car adaptor, it’s a simple process to attach it to the tyre using one of a variety of attachments, pull the trigger and start pumping up the tyre.Ìý

Even the normal version has a 3.4m cord so won’t require too much wrangling to get around to each of your tyres.Ìý

Both the Pro and normal versions only require a press of a button to change the pressure type (kPa, PSI and bar) which shows up on an LED gauge on the back of the device. It also lets you to pre-set a measure level and accurately shuts off once it gets to that level. And itÌýturns off automatically after 30 seconds if unused.

Both versions also have an LED light built in to help you find the tyre inflation point in the dark.

Speed

Compared to using “a bulky air compressor” the Air Hawk is about half as fast. To fill a tyre from flat took us about nine minutes, whereas using one of the air compressors from our latest test took around four minutes. The valve and hose did get hot pumping up the second tyre we were filling from empty, so it’s only suitable for doing single tyres from empty or adjustments to already partially inflated tyres. However, we’re sure it would be faster than using a hand pump.

Accuracy

The Air Hawk gives you the option of measuring the fill in PSI, kPa or bars, depending on how you like to read these measurements of air pressure. We found it was accurate within 1 PSI when measuring against a calibrated air pressure device.

Noise

At 82dBA, you wouldn’t want to use this over an extended period of time given how close you need to be to it when pumping a tyre, but it’s not designed for extended and constant use anyway so you shouldn’t need to worry about the high noise level.

Durability

With a plasticky trigger and wobbly buttons at the rear for changing measurement levels, we can’t say how long this device might last, or whether it might end up in the tip sooner rather than later with a lot of other TV shopping products, however it does only come with a one year warranty.

The post Air Hawk air compressor review appeared first on ÌÇÐÄVlog.

Engineers from the NRMA Insurance Research Centre tested six car harnesses for dogs and found only two would offer protection for you and your pet in a collision.

Buckle up, boy

An effective harness is critical when travelling with a dog.

• It keeps the animal safe and restrained.
• The driver is less likely to be distracted by their pet moving around.
• An unrestrained dog could injure other passengers in a collision.

Crash test puppy

NRMA’s testing was conducted by dropping weighted harnesses at speeds of up to 35km/h. The in-car testing was conducted using a specially modified crash test car at speeds of up to 20km/h.

Of the six harnesses tested, only two restrained the ‘dummy’. This was due to weak plastic buckles similar to those used on many backpacks.

Verdict

People who use a dog harness want to keep their pets safe. However, the testing has shown that most harnesses were effective at restraining pets while driving, but do little to prevent injury in a common low-speed crash.

The post Dog car harnesses appeared first on ÌÇÐÄVlog.

Not only does the modern car key start your car, it can also unlock the doors remotely and provides extra security thanks to transponder technology. All of this is great news until you lose or damage your keys – and discover you’re up for hefty replacement costs.

Lost means cost

Many car owners have no idea how much their keys are worth until they lose one, says car key industry expert and product manager at Locksmiths’ Supply Company, Tom Stokes. Most people are shocked when they discover they are up for hundreds of dollars and time off the road just for a key.

ÌÇÐÄVlog shadow shopped for replacement keys for 11 popular models atÌýcar dealershipsÌýin NSW and SA, and found the cost of a single replacement key ranges from $267 to $740. In addition to the cost, there are waiting times for ordering, cutting and coding the key – which could mean up to a full day off the road. A high price for losing something you have to carry with you on most days.

While the cost of a single replacement key is high, if you lose all the keys to your car, the costs and time off the road will increase significantly if the car’s computer has to be reset or completely replaced to match the new replacement keys.

We were quoted from $1800 to more than $5000 for work done on various models of car, during which time the owner would have no keys to the vehicle to get it back on the road.

Independent industry experts told us that increasingly complicated technology used inÌýcar accessories, including keys, is a sales growth area for dealerships but can be a high-tech headache for car owners.

Pricing for popular car keys

We shadow shopped for replacement car keys at 22 dealerships across NSW and SA, and compared their quotes with those of an auto locksmith in the same state. Below is a sample of what we found. In some cases you save over $100 by shopping around.Ìý

An independent alternative

Auto locksmiths offer a legitimate alternative service to a car dealership to cut and recode modern car keys for most models. An added bonus is that they can come to you, which means you avoid the hassle of travelling to a dealership, which is a major issue if you’ve lost all your keys. In many cases they’ll also charge less.

Northern NSW-based auto locksmith Adam Marotte has worked with modern car keys since their introduction to the Australian market. He says many people are simply unaware there’s an alternative to going through the dealership. “We can cut and code the keys on the spot for most models of car, and we carry the equipment and parts to do so,” Marotte says.

While auto locksmiths carry genuine keys, they also stock after-market keys (which may look different to the original). These work just as well, but cost less. Some carry diagnostic tools that can help reset the car’s computer if both keys are lost.

There are more than 100 auto locksmiths working across Australia, but Stokes says that most people just tend to call their dealership. Or if they look in their car manual it’ll often state that keys must be sourced from the manufacturer or dealer directly.

The Master Locksmiths Association can provide contact details for auto locksmiths at

Just one key?

If you’re buying a car, be sure to ask about the keys before you sign on the dotted line. While most dealers will provide a new car owner with two full sets of keys, there’s no legal requirement for them to do so.

Auto locksmith Chris Rose says he recently bought his daughter a new Ford and was only supplied with one fully remote keyless key – the second key was manual. When he asked for a second full remote key he was told it’d cost an extra $700. But the manual key involved a number of complicated steps to get the car running and is really an emergency key. Rose negotiated a second key as part of the sale, but notes this practice is on the increase.

ÌÇÐÄVlog member Teresa says she bought a demonstration car from a dealership and was only given one key after she paid. When she asked for the second key they said if the car is used the dealership doesn’t always get two keys. After finding out a replacement key would cost several hundred dollars, she argued with head office and finally received an extra key at no cost.

The keyless key

The latest innovation in modern car keys is the keyless, or proximity, key. It’s a device you can keep in your pocket or bag that’s recognised by the car, unlocks the door and allows you to start the car simply by pushing a button on the dashboard. It’s convenient if you have your hands full of shopping or the kids, but this can come at a cost.

These keys are generally more expensive than their remote relatives, ranging between $400 and $800, and several ÌÇÐÄVlog members have told us of their problems with this technology.

Graham said his key started having trouble being recognised by the car, resulting in him having to walk back and forth several times to get it to work.

A couple got into strife when the woman hopped out of the car with the key in her bag, leaving her husband to drive for another hour and stop before realising he was stranded and couldn’t start or lock the car again without the key.

More worryingly, a Queensland woman in early 2014, which used the keyless technology. The car didn’t recognise the key and wouldn’t allow her to start her car or open the doors or windows on a 41°C day. Manufacturers say black spots can sometimes block the signal between car and key.

Victorian locksmith Chris Rose says keyless keys are becoming a lot more common in new cars. “They can be convenient, but you have to ask yourself: is the hassle when something goes wrong worth the convenience of not having to pull a key out of your pocket?”

Smart but not strong

Our readers have complained about problems with their keys wearing out, developing faults or breaking, resulting in an expensive replacement.

ÌÇÐÄVlog member Daphne told us her Mazda 3 key needed a new battery, and after two attempts to replace it herself she went to her local dealership, which also couldn’t open the key. She says the dealership accused her of tampering with the key by gluing it shut after dropping it. When she demonstrated that both the keys she had for the car wouldn’t open properly, she was told she’d have to purchase a new key for more than $200.

Edward says he had a smart key for a Volkswagen where the plastic hook that allowed him to attach his key to a key ring snapped off.

When he asked if just the shell could be replaced with a new hook, he was told his only option was to order a new key at a cost of $600.

Danielle says when her Toyota key became loose she was left with just half the shell on the device, which resulted in the internal parts falling out and getting lost. The cost of a replacement key? Between $450 and $600.

Auto locksmith Chris Rose says a particularly Australian problem is beachgoers or surfers, who discover normal car keys aren’t waterproof. He’s been approached to make a number of special waterproof keys at an additional cost to drivers.

The right to repair

As car parts (including keys) are becoming increasingly reliant on the car’s computer, highly specialised equipment is needed to maintain and repair them. And some car keys now require unique PIN codes for the key to be “recognised” by the car’s computer during replacement.

In many cases these codes are not provided to car owners, and are held either by the dealers or in some cases the manufacturers overseas, effectively locking independent mechanics, auto electricians and auto locksmiths out of the market. Auto locksmiths can’t provide a replacement service for some car brands or have to invest in expensive diagnostic equipment to work without the code. This cost is passed on to customers.

In the US, independent car technicians can apply to access a register of PIN codes, which allows repairs, access to the car’s computer and the ability to re-set car keys. This in turn allows car owners to choose who does the servicing and to shop around.

Earlier last year, the previous Australian government called for a code of conduct to be established between independent automotive repairers and manufacturers. After a review, the Commonwealth Consumer Affairs Advisory Council urged the automotive industry to “develop, within a reasonable period of time, an outcome (such as a voluntary industry code of conduct) that ensures there is a process for independent repairers to access repair information”.

However, recently the car industry announced it was walking away from negotiations and intends to develop its own voluntary code of conduct.

In the meantime, there are concerns from independent auto locksmiths we spoke to that the industry is less accessible than ever.

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