December 28, 2023

VIOFO A229 Plus and A229 Pro’s Quad GPS feature - how does it work?

When VIOFO announced that they will be releasing an upgraded version of the A229, we were eager to see what specific features have been added to the new A229 Plus and Pro dash cams! We’re impressed to know that they are the first models to have dual Sony STARVIS 2 sensors, while also carrying dual-band Wi-Fi, Voice Controls, advanced parking modes, Super Night Vision 2.0 and more.

However, there’s one fresh feature of the A229 Plus and A229 Pro that made us curious, especially because we haven’t heard of or encountered it before in any other models or devices. We’re talking about Quad-Module GPS. In this blog, we’ll dive deeper into this dash cam upgrade, discuss how it works, and identify how it will be useful in your daily driving experience.

What is the Quad-Mode GPS in the VIOFO A229 series?

According to VIOFO, this new feature of the A229 Pro and A229 Plus provides ultra-precise GPS that supports four satellite location systems, namely GPS, BeiDou, Galileo, and GLONASS. The Quad-Mode GPS enables faster positioning as well as enhanced precision and stability, which is very useful while streaming or tracking video evidence.

Because of its accuracy, when you watch the dashcam video on the VIOFO app or Dashcam Viewer software, the Quad-Mode GPS will provide complete location, speed, and time data for the vehicle, making evidence during incidents more solid than ever.

GPS, BeiDou, Galileo, & GLONASS - how do they differ, and how do they work?

The Global Positioning System, or GPS, is a satellite navigation system that gives exact location data through a network of satellites, with coverage varying based on location. BeiDou is China's regional satellite navigation system that covers the Asia-Pacific area. Meanwhile, the European Union created Galileo, and Russia operated GLONASS.

These satellites are in orbit around the Earth circling around. That is, the balance of satellite velocity and gravitational pull prevents them from being destroyed by the Earth's atmosphere or "bouncing off" into the vast expanse of deep space.

Meanwhile, the mechanism by which these satellites determine your location is known as trilateration. Each satellite emits signals inside its rings as it attempts to calculate your distance from it, and more satellites would aid in the process becoming more accurate.

Because the satellites have internal clocks, tracking your whereabouts becomes possible, where the receivers of these signals could be our mobile phones and dash cams. At this point, the importance of having multiple GPS systems – such as Quad-Mode – available in your receivers becomes clear, allowing you to acquire even more exact and reliable mapping results.

How can the A229’s Quad-Mode GPS be useful in driving?

Each of these satellite positioning systems contributes to the overall accuracy of the GPS module in the VIOFO A229 Pro and Plus.

Because of the Quad-Mode, their ability to receive signals from many satellite constellations improves the chances of maintaining a continuous and precise GPS signal, even in urban canyons or tall-building cities. This is especially important for route mapping, and providing reliable data in the event of an incident or accident, perfect for first-time parents, ride-sharing, and fleets!

Beyond providing evidence, Quad-Mode GPS also assures that the VIOFO dashcam can provide accurate position information while also enabling functionalities like speed monitoring, and dependable event recording.