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Our Recommended Settings for the Thinkware U3000 4K UHD Dash Cam

Best Dash Cam Settings

The Thinkware U3000 is probably the best dash cam you’ll see this 2023 – thanks to its superior performance, video resolution, and maximum security features. Highlighting the best of Sony STARVIS 2 technology, built-in RADAR sensor, Super Night Vision 4.0, Thinkware Connected Cloud features, ADAS and a lot more, the U3000 is expected to provide drivers with advanced protection and convenience like no other.

We have been playing around with this dash cam, and we want you to experience how to get the best out of it! So, whether you are still deciding when to get your Thinkware U3000, or you have already purchased one from us, here’s our highly recommended dash cam settings so you can make the most out of your Thinkware experience.

Recommended Settings for the Thinkware U3000

The optimal settings of the Thinkware U3000 can be set according to your preferences using Thinkware’s mobile app or the PC viewer. The recommendations that we will provide are based on the mobile viewer. Note that the U3000 will stop recording while configuring settings on the smartphone app.

Part 1: Recommended Camera Settings

In this section, you will learn how to maximize your video camera resolution of this 4K dash cam, on top of its Sony STARVIS 2 and Super Night Vision 4.0. From the Thinkware Dash Cam Link App, tap Dash Cam settings > Camera Settings.

Resolution for front/rear: 4K @ 30 frames per second for the front, and 2K QHD @ 30 frames per second for the rear

For the U3000, you also have the option to scale it down to 2K @ 60 frames per second if you often drive on speeding highways. You may choose this if you wish for your footage to have less motion blurs, but overall, the video quality of 4K @ 30 fps is still highly recommended.

Brightness for front: Mid, depending on your windshield tint

Brightness for rear: Mid, depending on your windshield tint

Rotate rear camera: Disabled

(Continuous Mode) Super Night Vision 4.0: Enabled

(Parking Mode) Super Night Vision 4.0: Enabled

Image Quality: High, this is a new feature where you can choose between normal and high. Of course, high quality is best when recording evidence, although it will also consume more space on your micro SD card.

Part 2: Recommended Recording Settings:

To ensure all-around security for your car, these are our recommended settings for the U3000. From the Thinkware Dash Cam Link App, tap Dash Cam settings > Record Settings to manage the recording features settings.

Do note that for the parking mode settings, parking mode must be activated via hardwiring, or OBD II power cable – which comes in every package of the U3000. If continuous power is not supplied to the Thinkware U3000, the product will stop recording when the vehicle engine is turned off.

Voice Recording: Enabled - The U3000 comes equipped with a built-in microphone for recording audio in the cabin. We recommend turning this on for security purposes especially when you’re sharing a ride. However, if you live in an area where audio recording is prohibited, you can have this setting disabled. You can also easily turn on and off the audio of the voice recording of the camera through the microphone button on the front unit.

Set Privacy Recording: Disabled - This is a new feature that constantly wipes the SD card for your privacy, constantly looping over existing footage storing only a limited-time backlog. If you want to enable this, you can choose between 1 min, 2 min, 3 min, and G-Shock options which only saves impacts. Files will be saved that long after being recorded, and cleared afterwards.

Continuous Mode Incident Recording Sensitivity: Mid. If your vehicle rides pretty low, and you can feel most bumps on the road, then consider turning the sensitivity down.

Parking Mode: Motion Detection – although if you’re leaving your dash cam for a long time, you can also activate Energy Saving mode or RADAR mode.

When activated, Thinkware’s Energy Saving Parking mode saves a 20-sec video clip only after an impact has been detected. On the other hand, RADAR mode means that when a person or vehicle is detected in a low-power recording situation, the U3000 immediately wakes up and starts recording.

Parking Mode Waiting Time: 30 seconds. This is a new option to enable a couple minutes boot delay to parking mode.

Smart Parking Rec: Enabled, for thermal protection and external battery protection. When enabled, this setting prevents heat-related damage by automatically switching to a low-power mode if the temperature inside the vehicle gets too high during parking surveillance.

Impact Sensitivity in Parking Mode: Mid

Motion Detection Sensitivity: Mid

Radar Sensitivity: Mid

Use External Battery: This setting is only applicable if using the Thinkware iVOLT Xtra battery. Otherwise, leave this off.

Off Timer: Depends on your preference - the Thinkware U3000 has a built-in voltage monitor. With this setting, you can set a timer so that your dash cam will turn off after a specific duration of parking mode or the voltage cutoff, whichever comes first. To turn off the off timer, select Disabled.

Battery Protection: Enabled. This enables the cutoff options below.

Vehicle Type: Choose whether you’re using a regular car, a hybrid car, or an electric car

Battery Cutoff Voltage: 12V (11.6~13.2V)

Wintertime Battery Protection: November, December, January

Part 3: Recommended Road Safety Settings:

Safety is on top of our priority, and the U3000’s features like ADAS and Safety Camera Alerts can be your guide all throughout your drive. Tap Dash Cam settings > Road Safety Settings to manage the road safety features settings.

Safety Cameras: Enabled. With this, the camera will notify you when entering marked safety camera locations.

Mobile Zone Alert: Enabled

Vehicle Type: Choose whether you’re driving a sedan, SUV, Truck, or Bus. This is used to pre-set the calibration of the ADAS settings below.

Initialize ADAS: This calibrates the ADAS settings to your vehicle. This will need to be redone when changing your vehicle type.

LDWS (Lane Departure Warning): Mid

LDWS Speed: Depending on your usual routes’ speed limit, but our recommendation is 50kmh/ This alters at which speed ADAS is triggered.

FCWS (Forward Collision Warning): Mid

Low Speed FCWS: Mid

RCW (Rear Collision Warning): Mid

RCWS Speed: Depending on your usual routes’ speed limit, but our recommendation is 50kmh

Rear Collision Recording: Enabled

FVDW (Front Vehicle Departure Warning): Enabled

Part 4: Recommended System Settings:

For easier navigation and convenience, you can also configure the device’s actual System settings. Tap Dash Cam Settings > System Settings to configure the hardware system settings.

Language: Depends on your preference

Volume: Depends on your preference, but if you select 0 for the volume level, the voice guidance will be disabled.

Note that with the Thinkware U3000, audio messages’ volume are already separated between ADAS, Safety cameras, and System itself.

Security LED: Enabled

Rear Camera LED: Enabled

Time Zone: Select your date and time

Daylight Saving: Enabled

Speed Unit: mph or kph, depending on your location

Speed Stamp: Enabled. Disabling the Speed Stamp will remove all forms of speed-tracking from the video, mainly the speed-stamp recorded at the bottom of all driving recordings.

Wi-Fi Frequency Band: 5GHz

Internet: Enabled, this is important if you wish to connect to the Thinkware Connected Cloud features. If this isn’t enabled, the dash cam will not be able to connect to any internet source.

Experience the best of the Thinkware U3000, only here at BlackboxMyCar!

Check out the exclusive Thinkware U3000 Signature Bundle to get premium accessories including the BlackboxMyCar PowerCell 8, Thinkware CPL filter, Heat Blocking Film, BlackboxMyCar Guaranteed 256GB microSD card + Thinkware 64GB backup microSD card, BlackboxMyCar Essential Install Kit, and 1-Year Manufacturer Warranty + Bonus 1-Year Warranty – all bundled up for you!

Want to know more about the Thinkware U3000? Subscribe to our YouTube channel to see sample footage, check out our review of the dash cam here, or send us a message at info@blackboxmycar.com!