Best Radar DVR - Roadgid, Onlooker or Inspector?

For video recorders, the main indicator of work is the camera angle and the sensitivity of the matrix. The minimum requirement for equipment in this category is 90 degrees. This angle allows you to fix the space directly in front of the hood of the car. The best camera angle is 120 degrees. Values ​​higher than this indicate better optics.

The second feature of gadgets that directly affects the quality of the picture is the matrix parameters. Comparison in this nomination is clearly demonstrated by the table of characteristics of the optical part:

As you can see, on the recording of the SilverStone F1 HYBRID S-BOT PRO DVR combo, you can see small details. Only this model has the best matrix sensitivity and Super HD picture quality. Universal radar detectors brands Onlooker, Roadgid, Daocam and iBOX have similar characteristics. With a larger viewing angle, their matrix allows you to get only Full HD picture. But the Inspector MapS model differs from them in a smaller camera viewing angle, although it is quite enough for the DVR to work correctly.

The presence of a second camera dramatically expands the area of ​​control over the situation on the road or in the car. The availability of technical capability allows using the monitoring system as a video parking sensors. In this nomination, the device parameters are as follows:

As you can see, four out of six combo DVRs have a second recording channel and a camera outside the main body. These are Onlooker, Roadgid, Daocam and iBOX. The last one lags behind the second camera in frame rate. iBOX Nova LaserVision WiFi Signature Dual has 25 fps. As for the SilverStone and Inspector models, they do not have a second video channel for recording. In this nomination they are absolute outsiders.

The factor affects the volume of the stored information array.As you know, DVRs have an overwrite function in the settings. When the free space in the allocated area of ​​the disk fills up, the internal program records each subsequent video over the file with the earliest date. The depth of the archive of video recording documents depends on the size of the memory card. Our comparison participants support the following micro SD volumes:

As you can see, Inspector MapS became the leader in this rating (for comparison results). In half of its capabilities, the characteristics of the tablet combo video recorder Onlooker M84 Pro. The rest of the participants are decently inferior to these models in terms of the supported volume of micro SD cards. To be fair, 64 GB is enough to store the current videos of the Roadgid X9 Hybrid GT 2CH combo. But the Roadgid, Daocam and iBOX models have a second video recording channel, which also requires space on the memory disk. For this reason, the trinity ended up at the end of the comparison list.

If the DVR has internal power, it can perform its functions while parked in a parking lot. By studying the characteristics of our models, we came to the following conclusions:

The Onlooker M84 Pro has the most impressive battery - it will be quite enough for the device to work for a long time without connecting to the on-board network. The second place in the rating (for comparison results) of the nomination is taken by the SilverStone combo device. The radar detector model from Inspector has a battery of only 230 mAh. Even weaker is the battery of the Roadgid X9 Hybrid GT 2CH. Daocam and iBOX brand devices have a built-in capacitor. Its capacity is only enough to correctly save the recording file and complete the program after disconnecting from the on-board network.

Many out of habit believe that combo radar detectors are rather weak and impractical models. This is not the case, and the participants in our comparison confirm this. Device receivers allow you to determine the control equipment in different ranges. The presence in the models of the GPS positioning function makes it possible to work with databases of stationary monitoring points. The following comparison table clearly demonstrates the capabilities of the participants:

All models have the function of a satellite informer that warns of approaching stationary control points. Regular database updates are supported. The antenna of the SilverStone model has a special amplifier, thanks to which the device perfectly detects low-power radars, including “from the back”.Similar capabilities are demonstrated by combo radar detectors of iBOX, Inspector and Roadgid and Daocam brands. The detector part of Onlooker looks somewhat more modest, due to the lack of a laser receiver. For this reason, it is not able to detect police speed control devices such as Poliscan, Laser, AMATA, LISD.

The characteristic of the chip plays a primary role in the quality of the operation of the DVR with a radar detector. The processor must simultaneously provide at least two functions of combo devices. Therefore, the absence of freezes and other malfunctions in the operation of gadgets depends on its architecture and power (clock frequency). Our comparison participants have the following equipment:

We see the best features in the Onlooker M84 Pro - given the versatility of the DVR combo, a processor with such characteristics does an excellent job with its tasks. The second place in the rating (for comparison results) should have been shared by SilverStone and Roadgid - they have identical processors. However, the first model does not have a second video recording channel, which means that the processor will work with less load, due to which the stability of the system will increase significantly.In fourth place is the Inspector combo DVR - its processor does an excellent job with high-quality processing of one video channel and the operation of the anti-radar unit. The list is closed by Daocam and iBOX. Their processors are completely identical and two-thirds weaker than the previous participant. It is worth noting that this did not affect the quality of the device. Studying the reviews on these models, we were not able to find critical remarks on the fact of the processor.

In this nomination, everything is very clear. Car gadgets can only work properly under certain conditions. The characteristics of the models are as follows:

As you can see, the iBOX Nova LaserVision WiFi Signature Dual combo DVR turned out to be the most resistant to frost. Next comes the three models with the same frost resistance. These are representatives of Onlooker, SilverStone and Daocam brands. The characteristics of resistance to low temperatures look worse for the combo radar detector from the Inspector trademark. The Roadgid model shows instability even at +5°C.As for stability in the heat, all models, with the exception of the same Roadgid, have excellent thermal stability indicators and start from a critical mark of +55 degrees.

The size of the monitor affects the perception of graphic information about the operation of the radar detector and the recorder no less than the sound. In addition, with a large monitor it is more convenient to work with the device menu and view records from the archive. The screens of the models from our comparison have the following diagonal size:

As expected, the Onlooker tablet became the leader. The 7-inch screen is extremely convenient for implementing other device functions (see the next category). This is followed by 4 models in a row with the same display parameters of 3 inches. These are SilverStone, Inspector, Roadgid and Daocam. But the iBOX model has only 2.4 inches diagonally. This size is sufficient to work as a registrar or radar detector, but when using a remote camera as a video parking sensor, it is not very convenient.

We tried to systematize the interface features and other features of the comparison participants in our following table:

The leader of the Onlooker nomination has certain advantages in the form of driver assistants, video parking sensors, as well as other applications on the Android OS (the same navigator). Roadgid, Daocam, iBOX, Inspector models, in addition to the options already discussed above, have a wireless interface, through which the owner gets remote access to the archive and gadget control, convenient updating of databases for GPS informers. Thanks to the second camera and the technical solution (displaying a picture when the reverse gear is turned on), the models also have video parking sensors. All of the above advantages are completely absent from the SilverStone combo DVR. In this nomination, he is an absolute outsider.

The price of a DVR with a radar detector will be much more profitable than buying such combo gadgets separately. At least when it comes to our comparison participants. The rating attractiveness of the models is as follows:

In this nomination, we were somewhat surprised by the leadership. We expected to see the most attractive price tag for devices that do not work with a remote camera.However, in our case, the manufacturer factor played a role - the Chinese brand Daocam is actively conquering the Russian market, which clearly shows the comparability of its characteristics with more expensive models. All other models show a well-founded increase in cost with an increase in quality characteristics and functionality.

By calculating the average score of all nominations, we determined the leader of the comparison. The pivot table looks like this:

By a decent margin, the winner of the comparison was the Onlooker M84 Pro. He not only won in five nominations, but in the rest, the rating of the combo DVR turned out to be at an extremely high level. A particular advantage of the model is a set of additional functions, including intelligent security systems.

Second in terms of points in the ranking is the Roadgid X9 Hybrid GT 2CH. It also has fairly high performance, and is inferior to the leader in terms of additional functionality. Daocam Combo wifi 2ch and SilverStone F1 HYBRID S-BOT PRO essentially tied for third place. And this despite the fact that the first model showed the best price offer among the comparison participants.

The most frost-resistant combo radar detector iBOX Nova LaserVision WiFi Signature Dual took the fifth position. Inspector MapS was in last place. In fairness, it should be noted that the gap in points for all models is insignificant, and only the comparison leader clearly dominates the rating.