For years now, I have had a dashcam, primarily as an insurance for driving on Indian roads where anything can happen at any time. It also serves as a deterrent against rash driving as you know big brother is watching. The Crossbeats DC03 Dashcam takes the power of a dashcam to a whole new level, offering both front and rear cameras with GPS and other features at a reasonable cost.
The Crossbeats DC03 Dashcam is compact and sticks easily to the windshield. It has an extension for the rear windshield and I thought it best to get it installed properly to avoid the tangle of wires that would otherwise make a mess inside the car. Set up is easy and the rear cam comes alive the moment you plug it into the main head unit. The device has a few buttons on it that lets you access the settings and use the dashcam easily. Remember, it will not work without a micro-SD card, so keep that ready.
For adjusting settings on video quality and for downloading the footage you will need to download the Kacam app. Once you connect the phone to the cam using Wi-Fi, you will be able to control the dashcam settings via the app. The Wi-Fi set-up is easy, but you have to reconnect every time you want to link the devices. Also, the Wi-Fi option is not on by default and you need to use the buttons on the camera to switch it on each time.
The setup switches on on its own every time the car starts and starts recording from both cameras. On the screen, you can see both the visuals live along with the speed of the vehicle, which matches with Google Maps. Using the app you can configure the screen and see just one camera or both, and even decide which one to see large or small.
As the cam is working you can see the location of your car on GPS if the two are connected by Wi-Fi. I would have loved a way to see where the car is even when I am not near it. I know this would need a SIM, but this is a real use case for me and many others. But what you can do is go back to the library of images and click on any clip to see where the car was at that point in time.
The Dashcam can also record audio via a built-in microphone. (Image credit: Nandagopal Rajan/The Indian Express)
The app gives a lot of settings to play with and you will finally figure out what works best for you. In fact, I switched to a Timelapse mode for a quick trip I made on Diwali so that there was a record of my travels. The 4K video quality is really good and this makes great sense for travel vloggers who want to add a new dimension to their videos. Even at night, the video quality was decent. Also, the rear camera can be set up inside the car too if that is what you want and the camera can even record audio.
I really loved the ADAS features which give a beeping alert when your car gets too close to another vehicle or when it drifts off lane. My driver did not initially know what was happening and then he too realised the benefit of this feature.
Story continues below this ad
My only ask would have been easy syncing with the phone that does not need some intervention all the time. Also, the real test of a dashcam is how it performs over a period of time. Also, a dedicated app from the brand would give more confidence to users.
At Rs 9,999, the Crossbeats DC03 Dashcam is an easy-to-use option for those who want to keep a record of their travels and have insurance in case something goes wrong on the road. I am a strong believer in the power of the webcam, especially on Indian roads where you could be the victim of road rage or rash driving at any time. Get one now.
© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd
