Best Settings for VIOFO A229 Series Dash Cam

A229 Pro Resolution: 4K @ 30 fps (front) + 2K @ 30 fps (rear) + Full HD 30 fps (interior)

A229 Plus Resolution: 2K @ 60 fps (front) + 2K @ 30 fps (rear)

For the video resolution, our recommended setting for both variants is the highest resolution option. Note that lower resolutions or 60 frames per second significantly reduce detail, although if you wish to have a higher frame rate, our recommendation is 2560 x 1440P @ 60fps.

Bitrate: Medium

A high bitrate will increase video quality and smoothness, particularly when recording fast motion or high-contrast scenes. The amount of recording time available on your memory card may be reduced if you use high bitrate mode. Using a low bitrate saves space and allows you to record for longer periods of time.

Loop Recording: 3 Minutes

This is the length of the recording files on the camera, segmenting the constant recording of the camera according to the length set here. For us, three minutes strikes a good balance between finding the desired moment and scrolling through countless files. Note that longer footage is more difficult to compress, and will result in less space on the card overall, with a smaller history of footage to look through. Other brands only stick to 1:30 minute long clips for a short clip size. Keep in mind that when manual or impact recording is triggered, it will mark the full clip, regardless of the clip size.

Record Audio: ON

This activates or deactivates the microphone. Pressing the [mic ] button on the camera can also change this during recording, or it can be changed through audio commands.

When the camera is recording audio, then the MIC light on the camera will be blue.

Exposure: 0

You can adjust the EV (Exposure Value) for better recording results under different lighting conditions. The range is -2.0 to +2.0, and our recommended value is 0.0.

Increasing the exposure will result in brighter, more “blown out” and saturated videos, while decreasing the exposure will result in darker, more muted videos.

Rest assured that the camera can adjust to the current lighting without changing the exposure, to a lesser and reasonable extent.

HDR (High Dynamic Range): ON

HDR enables the A229 to deliver video with near-perfect exposure in varying lighting situations. It assists in overall night vision, and contrasts bright lights and dark shadows in the same video, providing clear visibility on both. It can enhance video quality, especially when it comes to the issue of the front license plate being overexposed at night, with bright headlights. We recommend this setting be turned on, although you must note that this cannot be enabled when the higher 60 fps frame rate is chosen.

G-sensor: LOW

The force required to prevent the file from being overwritten by loop-recording is determined by this setting, which sensor ranges from 'Low' to 'High'.

Setting the G-sensor to low will prevent small bumps in the road from triggering it, such as speed bumps or small potholes. If your vehicle already absorbs small impacts like this, then a higher G-sensor setting may be beneficial.

Date Stamp: ON

Imprints the time and date on your recorded video.

Time Lapse Recording: OFF

Time Lapse is a recording option that captures frames at a lower frequency than when the footage is played back. It's the opposite of slow motion where when the recording is played back, it appears to move faster. While it can conserve memory, Time Lapse is only considered as a leisure activity setting and not for use in order to collect evidence in the case of an incident, especially that it automatically deactivates the audio. Thus, we recommend it to be turned off for normal driving and parking mode conditions.

 IR LED: Auto

“ON” means the IR lights are always turned on, so the video is black and white. Auto means that the dash cam will decide whether or not to turn on/off infrared lights in different lighting conditions. Off indicates that all IR lights have been turned off.

If the Auto setting is not automatically switching the IR of the camera during different lighting situations, consider re-orienting the camera as the IR sensors may be caught on your vehicle’s upholstery.

Advanced Parking Mode: Your Preference

Under parking mode, you have three options:

1. Auto event detection: When a moving object or impact is detected during parking, the camera will automatically record for 1 minute. If there are no new movements, it will stop recording.

This is the most commonly selected option, and most energy efficient when nothing is happening.

2. Time lapse recording: Time-lapse recording captures a video at low frame rates of 1 / 2 / 3 / 5 / 10 / 15 fps, and it records continuously without audio.

3. Low bitrate recording: This mode records video at a low bitrate of 4MB/s for both the front and back cameras. It continuously records in mini le size with audio recorded.

*Note: We recommend the VIOFO HK4-C ACC hardwire kit cable for parking mode recording. The parking recording files name of the front camera is Year_Date_Time_**PF, Year_Date_Time_**PI for the interior camera and Year_Date_Time_**PR for the rear camera.

Enter Parking Mode Timer: OFF

Set the timer for entering parking mode. Note that this is only for the hardwire cable, if you use an external battery, this function won’t work. "OFF" means the camera will enter parking mode right away when the engine is off. "90s" means the camera will enter parking mode 90 seconds after the engine is off.

Parking Motion Detection: MID

This adjusts the detection sensitivity so that minor motion caused by wind or rain does not trigger a recording. If you find that these are still triggering motion recording, consider lowering the sensitivity.

Parking G-sensor: HIGH

When the G-sensor detects significant or sudden movement (such as an impact or collision), an event recording is initiated. In parking mode recording, we recommend setting it to High sensitivity.

Image Rotation: OFF

This turns the recording upside down. This can be used on the front, rear, or interior camera, in case it’s mounted upside down.

Custom Text Stamp: Your Preference

Imprints the customized text on the recorded video.

Car Number: Your Preference

This is useful for adding license plates or other identifying features.

Live Video Source: Your Preference

Choose between the Front camera / Interior camera / Rear camera / All cameras.

Wi-Fi: ON | 5GHz

Activates your Wi-Fi Connectivity. We recommend choosing the 5GHz Wi-Fi mode for faster connection, and faster video streaming.

Time Zone: Your Preference

The current time zone is set for GPS time and date calibration. Keep in mind that the time zone must be manually adjusted for daylight savings.

Date Format: Your Preference

You can choose the date format of the camera.

Time Synchronization: Your Preference

Time synchronization with mobile phone

Boot Delay: 0

When you turn on the camera, it will take a few seconds to boot up. The settings you can choose from are O / 5s / 10s.

LED: ON

This turns the LED light ON / OFF. This refers to the LED status lights on the front camera.

Beep sounds: ON

This setting turns on or off all notification sounds.

Voice Notification: ON

This feature provides a clear and concise voice notification based on your dash cam’s status. You can choose to turn on / off the voice notification. You can also change the language setting through the voice notification language option.

Voice Control: ON

This is a new feature on the A229 series. When Voice Control is turned on, you can control the dash camera with spoken commands to perform simple operations.

However, do note that the dash cam’s Voice command language should be consistent with its system language. Additionally, Voice Controls are available for the following languages: English, Chinese, Russian, Japanese, Vietnamese, and Thai.

Voice Command: ON

Through this setting, you can issue different voice commands to remote control the camera, including the following:

• • • Take Photo
    • Video Start
    • Video Stop
    • Turn On Audio
    • Turn Off Audio
    • Turn On Screen
    • Turn Off Screen
    • Lock the Video
    • Turn On WiFi
    • Turn Off WiFi

GPS: ON

If this option is disabled, your camera will no longer measure your speed and position, nor will it synchronize the time/date with the atomic clock. Note that it is only available when connected to a GPS signal.

Speed Unit: Your Preference

Sets the speed unit, either in kilometers per hour (KPH) or miles per hour (MPH) .

Screen Saver: ON

This turns the screen OFF after a set time.

Frequency: 60 HZ for USA and Canada

This is the setting for frequency adjustment to reduce flickering and banding in recorded video.

Language: Your Preference

This displays your preferred language setting in the A229 series. You can choose from the English, Chinese, Russian, Japanese, Vietnamese, and Thai languages.

Format MicroSD Card: Once a month

All data on the MicroSD card will be erased during the procedure. Once the Micro SD card is formatted, all information on it is lost and cannot be recovered, so make a backup of all important files. Formatting an SD card once a month will help with the life-span and longevity of the card, cleaning things up.

Reset Camera Setting: 30 Days

This restores camera settings to factory defaults after 30 days of inactivity.

Free Space on Card

Shows the microSD card’s remaining storage space.

Firmware Version

Displays current firmware version.