Lexus periodically provides over the air update. Guessing the most recent update stops playing nice with the owl cam. What are you using now?

 

Here are my problems with the FITCAMX 4K:

—Since replacing the pre installed 64gb card with the 128 I have been consistently receiving “memory card abnormal or not installed” messages. Reinserting the card multiple times in futile attempts to remedy the problem has resulted in it becoming permanently jammed in the slot.

—Incompatibility with Apple Car Play. The camera is activated upon ignition. But to view live video on phone, the camera must be connected through one of the apps via the following steps: Disconnect Car Play…click on “connect camera”…go to phone settings and connect relevant Wi-Fi…return to app and activate camera. At that point a live stream can be viewed but if Car Play is reconnected the live video is terminated. (Btw, I have the CPLAY2air wireless adapter.)

—The video constantly freezes regardless of settings

Question: In the event of an incident, is it possible to immediately view recorded video of it on the phone, or does it need to be downloaded to a computer?

(An odd footnote: I originally thought the memory card had been omitted from the order and called Amazon. The customer rep surprisingly responded, “you may keep the product…we will issue you a full refund.” And they did. In any event, since the permanently jammed card has rendered it useless, I have now bought a new unit and plan to attempt another installation in a few days.

Any comments are appreciated.

 

That sucks to hear. If I have to choose one I pick function over form when it comes to dashcam. No point of picking something that looks oem if it's problematic and unreliable when you need it the most.

 

It is worth noting that the signs that the OP describes are all symptomatic of user error and the product should not be blamed. In another thread I’ve already pointed out that the manufacturer itself recommends 64gb as the maximum as 128 limits the mobile functionality and it can be glitchy. Also, there is 0 reason for the user to connect to the camera every single time, thus disconnecting the CarPlay functionality. The live view function is also bound to be glitchy given the amount of data it is sending over a wifi signal. I have no relationship to the product manufacturer or seller or anything along those lines, but I find it unfair to judge a product based off the experience of one user that ignored the manufacturer’s directions.

 

Where does the manufacturer recommend the 64gb as the maximum for the 4K version? In fact, the Amazon FITCAMX page explicitly recommends a 128gb card for 4K as do many user reviews.

I don’t want to manually connect the camera and view video every time I drive. Just on occasion. I was merely explaining what is involved, and the effect on CarPlay, on those occasions. Also, glitchy video is one thing, constant freezing requiring reconnection is another. The former is expected, the latter is not.

Finally, I admit to user error in eventually getting the memory card jammed in the slot. It occurred during repeated attempts to resolve the “abnormal card or card not inserted” message.

 

Not all SD cards are interchangeable. I tried to find on the Fitcamx web site the SD card specification requirements but couldn't find anything other than an image on the Fitcamx store page for the "Fitcamx Dash Cam for Lexus RX/NX/ES/UX" that seems to imply you need to use a SDSX micro SD with a UHS-I (Ultra High Speed 1 - they're using Roman Numerals in some of the marking formats) (a U with a 1 inside it means the same thing) UHS speed class with an A1 Application Performance Class Specification. (The UHS-I specification requires a minimum sequential writing speed of 10 MB/s which is the same as a non-UHS conforming card with a speed rating of 10 (C10) with a marking of a large C with a 10 inside it so you may see a card with both the UHS-1 and C10 ratings on it. The UHS-I bus interface also has a theoretical maximum transfer speed of up to 104 MB/s so a card with just a C10 speed rating isn't one that conforms to the UHS-I specification.)

From the quoted error message I would guess you have/had a high capacity (128 GB) microSD card that didn't conform the the UHS-I and A1 specifications the camera's SD cord slot was looking for.

Based on one of the Amazon customer reviews of the 4K Fitcamx version, the reviewer got a 256 GB SD card to work but had some difficulties with getting the card formatted so that the camera interface would accept and work with the larger capacity car. I also saw in a few reviews some hints that there may be something special about the formatting that only formatting in the camera's SD card slot initiated through the smart phone app results in an acceptably formatted card.

 

Thankyou for your comments.

A couple of points: There is nothing in the FITCAMX directions which specifies a 64gb card, other than it was the preinstalled card. In the notes on the Amazon page offering the 4K FITCAMX dash cam for a late model Lexus 350es it is stated “it is recommended to use maximum 128gb memory card” (which I gather means it should not exceed 128gb). And Amazon further suggests bundling the camera with a Samsung PRO Endurance 128gb card.


I read dozens of user reviews at numerous websites and the SanDisk 128gb High Endurance card appeared to be a popular choice for the 4K version. So that is the one I purchased and attempted to install.

If I am going to be lectured by TipsyTonio for supposedly not following the manufacturer’s instructions regarding the memory card, he should at least identify the source of those instructions.

 

Direct from the manufacturer. Have fun reading.

https://fitcamx.com/products/fitcamx...39781105729708

• FITCAMX dash cam supports up to 128GB SD card maximum.(128GB can only view video on the PC, and the maximum support for mobile APP view video is 64GB)

Given that all of your issues are on the mobile app, it’s clear that’s the source of your problem.

 

If you don’t mind , can you explain what a over the air update is ? I haven’t been using any Dashcam since this problem happened. It’s not looking good but I’m hoping one day I can go back to the owl cam.

 

Thanks, Tipsy, and I.guess I deserved the lecture. But it would have been helpful if that had been made clear on the Amazon page where I made the purchase and/or with the installation directions included with the product.

 

I totally agree it should’ve been more clear on Amazon. Don’t take it as a lecture; in the end, Amazon made it right so all is well and that’s what matter. Unfortunately with Chinese products this can happen as things get lost in translation. Hopefully the new one you ordered works as intended.

 

I hope so too, and thanks again for the useful info.

 

I've run 32gb for years. I run a 64 currently only cause i had one laying around. 32gb is way way WAY more than enough. extreme overkill.

if an event happens, you save the video as soon as you can. do it on the app in the car if it's an emergency and you need it now or just wait til you get home. there's been times where i needed an event and i pulled the card 2-3 days later and I had way way way more than enough wiggle room to get the video. so if you got a 32 or 64 card don't sweat it too much!