The Top 5 Dash Cams and How They Can Protect You

October 11, 2020 admin 0 Comments

Untraced hit and run accidents may see a dramatic reduction in the future as more and more drivers install dash cams in their cars.

Take a look at this recent footage taken from the rear dash cam of a Dallas driver:

Dash cams vary in size and style,but they are basically a camera designed to connect to your car’s dashboard and record events while driving. Some cameras are voice activated while others are operated by pushing one simple button. These cameras offer convenience and peace of mind to vehicle operators when they are driving because they remain ready to capture the unexpected,such as accidents. The use of dash cams can provide protection to drivers by recording details of what occurred at any given time.

The Use of Dash Cams Has Hugely Increased In Recent Years

These cameras have grown in popularity and are used by civilian drivers,bus drivers,driving instructors and police officers because they become a witness to the traffic surrounding the vehicle that you are operating. How popular have they become? The market for these cameras was valued at over USD 1910 million in 2019 and is projected to reach USD5117 million by 2025.

Dashboard cameras have come a long way since they were initially installed on police vehicles in the latter part of the 80s. Back then,these cameras were analog cameras without memory cards,recorded on VHS tapes. These devices transformed substantially during the 1990s when everyday people started to install them to record whatever occurred while they were driving. Many advances in technology have meant major improvements to these devices including a lower price point for a higher quality of technology.

People are choosing to install these devices on their vehicles because they provide comfort that they will be protected against many events. Some of these cameras provide early warnings for imminent dangers on the road. According to-,the use of these cameras can provide valuable footage to insurance companies,especially after an not-at-fault accident. Some other known benefits of a dash cam installation include:

– Anti theft – a would be car thief sees a dash camera and decides not to steal a car because they would be recorded and possibly identified;

– In the event of an accident,the camera would record the footage and prove which driver caused the incident.

– A dual camera,or one that records both the driver and the road ahead,can provide that the driver is not using their cell phone if they are pulled over for such an offence.

– In the case of improper police behavior,a driver can prove that they were not speeding or doing anything else illegal if they are improperly pulled over.

– The footage can provide valuable evidence of a hit and run to help track down the vehicle that caused the damage and left the scene.

– Companies use these cameras to provide valuable information as to the behavior of their drivers including proving their location at a certain time.

– Some cameras offer information such as the location of speed and red light cameras which can alert a driver to slow down.

1. Garmin Dash Cam 66W

We tried this one personally at-

This compact camera has been improved with a winder view angle. The video quality is 1440p with HDR (high dynamic range) of 60 FPS (frames per second). The viewing angle is 180 degrees and the unit can be integrated with GPS. The screen is LCD,320 x 240 and 2 inches.

PROS: This unit is easy to use

CONS: Battery life of 30 minutes,more expensive than other units of comparable quality.

Top Review Found:

A reviewer on Bestbuy.com had the following to say:

“I was very impressed with the ease of installation for the Garmin 66W Dashcam. The picture quality is excellent and the user interfaces,both on the Dashcam and the app,are very intuitive. The video is true 180-degree left to right and vertical video is sufficient to catch traffic lights,etc until almost under the light. Note that a memory card does NOT come with the Dashcam and must be purchased separately for the Dashcam to work. I got the largest that would fit,512GB. I am happy with the ease of viewing videos via the Dashcam or the app. File transfer via the app to my iPhone was very lengthy. I won’t say it was slow due to file size; it just took a long time. I have not removed the memory card for file transfer on my desktop but would be a computer limitation anyway â not related to the Dashcam. My installation is very clean in my 2016 F-150. An adapter cable for the rear view mirror added a USB connection usable for the Dashcam. Works great,automatic power-on with ignition,and no wires in the way or routed to power outlet. Overall,I am very happy with the Garmin 66W Dashcam and would recommend it to anybody.”Found at:https://www.bestbuy.com/site/reviews/garmin-dash-cam-66w/6351245


2. Garmin Dash Cam Mini

This mini dash cam comes at a good price with a video quality of 1080p at 30fps. There is a viewing angle of 140 degrees but no integrated GPS and no screen. The unit measures 3.1 x 5.3 x 2.9 cm or the size of a small car key. It fits in behind the mirror on your windshield and is plugged into your lighter socket or can be hardwired to the fuse box in your car and boots up on ignition or if a collision is detected.

Pros: small size,great price

Cons: no display screen and no battery; need a phone app to download footage from the camera when it is needed.

A reviewer on the gadgeteer said he liked that the camera was small,easy to install and didn’t provide distractions with the constant display. He said he would change it with a small micro SD card,fix the video splice glitch issue and improve the WiFi export speed for files. Found here:

https://the-gadgeteer.com/2019/12/30/garmin-dash-cam-mini-review/

3. The Thinkware U1000

This 4K dash cam “does it all”. It has 4K Ultra HD video quality,a viewing angle of 150 degrees and an integrated GPS. There is no screen.

Pros: the 4K video is very clear and the camera has many features. There is a front and rear camera option.

Cons: the camera needs to be hardwired,there is no built-in screen and it must be hardwired. The 4K video files can be really large.

One reviewer liked the fact that it was a good quality camera with an included rear camera. He liked the option that it could be run from the cigarette plug or be hardwired in. He stated that the product was easy to install and use. He didn’t like that the product was expensive and only had a micro SD.

Found here:https://the-gadgeteer.com/2019/11/12/thinkware-u1000-4k-dash-cam-bundle-review

4. Nextbase 522GW

A small camera with plenty of features including emergency SOS calling,Alexa,GPS and WiFi. The Video quality is 1440 p at 30 fps. The viewing angle is 140 degrees and there is an integrated GPS with a 3 inch HD touchscreen.

Pros: a good dash cam with plenty of features if you are looking for extra features,shoots with 2K resolution at 30 frames per second or at regular resolution 1080 full HD at 60 fps. This is a good camera for location,direction and speed. The emergency SOS feature could save lives.

Cons: the design is unattractive and too clunky. There may be too many features for some users.

Reviews:

A top reviewer on Best Buy wrote:

“I have had this camera for about a year now. At first i was overwhelmed with the setup part. You have to download the app and link it to your phone. This enhanced the features. It has emergency icons on it. If an accident occurs it can send the videos to local authority lawyers emergency contacts whoever you choose. This particular model also connects to rear view cameras. I unfortunately don’t have rear view cameras but i wish i did. Deleting the videos to save space can be tedious sometimes… But its a small price to pay to have a piece of mind. I have it right behind my rear view mirror mounted on the windshield. I keep it connected to stay charged all the time. It can easily be removed from the mount for reviewing videos. It records sound and image… Very clear image. Impressive quality for how small it is. I keep the lens clean and the windshield clean for best results. I have caught people running red lights swerving in the road and we have even played it back to settle arguments. Lol. Its definitely the best witness you will have. Its peripheral vision is really good. It says under the product details the distance in peripheral vision i cant remember exactly but it captures more than enough while driving. It also has a setting where you can record after you set your car in park as well. Just keep in mind it will fill the card up faster. All in all i love it. I would buy another. I’m thinking about getting my dad 1 as well. Only thing i recommend is buying the highest gb sd card you can find. It is alexa capable and you can take it with you in any vehicle as long as you have a mount that’s easy to move from car to car.”

Found at: https://www.bestbuy.com/site/nextbase-522gw-dash-cam-black/6346998.p?skuId=6346998

5. Nextbase 622GW

A plug and play 4K dash cam that works well for most users. This camera has a 4K video quality at 30 fps and 1080 at 120 fps. The viewing angle is 140 degrees and there is integrated GPS with a 3 inch touchscreen.

Pros: The Alexa voice assistant is built into this unit. It has integrated GPS for data on location and speed. There is emergency SOS and location support.

Cons: The unit is much larger than other GPS units.

This is the unit up from the Nextbase 522GW and is a great choice if you need 4K for your dashcam without needing it to be hardwired to your car. The better video quality is immediately noticeable if you compare this unit to the 522GW and has the support feature What3Words which has been proven to save lives. The app is easily connected to a smartphone over WiFi so you can watch your clips easily and download any you want to save.

Reviews:

A top review on Best Buy read:

“Really wanted a 4k dash cam so that I could zoom in on recordings,in case I needed a license plate detail or road-sign etc. Being able to review videos on your phone is a huge plus. Also,Alexa is pretty sweet – I use it (her?) to listen to music/get the weather and other basic functions. I’m sure I could open garage doors/etc as well. Parking Mode works as advertised. I’m using the Cabin View rear cam which I really like! Great in-car view to save funny family moments. Very happy and really nothing to complain about except it’s expensive!”

Found here:https://www.bestbuy.com/site/reviews/nextbase-622gw-4k-dash-cam-silver/6412920?variant=A

This roundup was provided by staff at:-

FAQs

August 26, 2020 admin 0 Comments

How young can children start playing tennis?

Children can begin to develop the skills necessary to play tennis during infancy as they develop agility, balance and coordination. Playing tennis, however, requires complex motor skills involving movement, tracking and timing. Children will do best when introduced to tennis after they have learned to throw and catch a ball, so that all activities associated with sending and receiving a ball are beneficial and develop the foundation for successful rallying skills.

What size racquet should my child use?

Children should be able to swing and maneuver a racquet without it controlling them. When standing straight with arms at their side, the racquet length should be from the floor to the end of the fingertips.

When can my child start competing?

Age-appropriate competition using simple games, contests, and rally and skill challenges are a good starting point for kids ages 5-8. These can be done on teams or as individuals, but results should not be documented nor rankings established. The focus should be on fun and development in a competitive environment. Documented results tend to discourage skill development and eliminate late developers.

How can I help my child practice?

Tennis is a rally game, so the more your child has an opportunity to rally, the faster he or she will develop. Set up a home court on the driveway, cul-de-sac, street, parking lot or playground, and rally with your child—just like playing catch or shooting baskets. And remember to keep your instruction to a minimum and have fun playing with your child.

Programs for Kids

August 26, 2020 admin 0 Comments

There are many opportunities for your child to get in the game. The goal of USTA youth tennis programs is to give kids a foundation on which to build a lifelong passion for tennis. The USTA is committed to building tennis participation among youth in our communities, and the offerings are designed for kids at any and all levels.

Tennis Festivals

Tennis Festivals are free events that provide an exciting and entertaining opportunity for kids to experience what tennis can offer. They offer a variety of kids tennis activities, interactive games and contests that appeal to a wide range of ages and skill levels. In addition to introducing tennis to the kids and teaching them about the game, Tennis Festivals offer parents the opportunity to learn how to get their kids involved in a local program.

Kids Tennis Clubs

Kids Tennis Clubs are offered at local schools, parks, youth centers and tennis facilities. This format lets kids “sample” the sport in a social and group environment. The Kids Tennis Club is structured like an organized extracurricular activity. These clubs offer kids the opportunity to have fun, gain confidence and meet new friends all while enhancing their social, educational and physical development. If a Kids Tennis Club isn’t offered in the local community, parents should encourage local youth-serving organizations to add tennis to their curriculum.

Play Days

Play Days are designed to give kids additional court time in a fun, low pressure, non-elimination setting where they can continue to develop and enhance their skills. For both novices and more experienced players, Play Days are a welcoming and fun way for kids to experience the social and competitive aspects of tennis. Organized by skill level, Play Days afford kids the chance to gain additional play experience by rotating opponents through short, continuous matches over a 2-3 hour period. Play Days promote a sense of achievement through a fun and spirited atmosphere.

USTA Jr. Team Tennis

USTA Jr. Team Tennis is a child’s first experience at organized play in a team setting. Through singles, doubles and mixed doubles formats, team competition helps kids develop a sense of individual contribution within a group. Junior Team Tennis promotes social skills and important values by fostering a spirit of cooperation and unity, as well as self-growth. Whether they win or lose, kids learn that succeeding is really more about how they play the game.

USTA Junior Tournament

USTA Junior Tournaments are a great way for kids to enjoy the thrill of competition by getting on the court, playing a variety of styles and making new friends. Competing in Junior Tennis Tournaments will help kids determine their personal goals for tennis—high school, college or pros. With a range of levels from novice to national competition, tournament participation encourages player development and advancement.

Tennis and kids

August 26, 2020 admin 0 Comments

10 and Under Tennis follows the same logic as other youth sports like baseball or soccer, which use kid-sized courts and kid-sized equipment.

Kids learn to play baseball by first playing T-ball; they use shorter, lighter bats and larger, softer balls.

Kids learning basketball shoot baskets with kid-sized balls on lowered backboards and they play soccer on smaller fields with smaller goals.

With youth Tennis, balls bounce lower, don’t move as fast through the air and are easier to hit. Racquets are sized for small hands and courts are smaller and easier to cover.  By using this format, the benefits are immediate.

Within a short time kids are rallying, playing, and excited to keep playing. That means kids will have more fun and less frustration. They’re playing real tennis and having real fun. And that’s what is most important.