Viofo A129 Duo system dash cam review

If your car is in an accident, you are probably as likely to be hit from the back as the front, so front and rear dashcams make sense.

I have been testing Viofo’s A129 Duo system, and although the picture quality is very good, it hasn’t all been plain sailing. The instruction booklet is less than clear and hiding the wiring beneath the car’s kick plates and trim was a tedious business, although helped by the plastic trim tool supplied with the system.

The windscreen camera wasn’t a problem, but having sweated to persuade the cable for the rear camera into crevices as far as the rear window, it fell about eight inches too short. Admittedly, my Mercedes E Class Estate is quite a long car, and the six-metre cable would fit most saloons. Luckily an eight-metre version is available, so problem solved. For a while.

The adhesive pads which stick the cameras to the glass aren’t always up to the job and the rear camera kept falling off because its smaller adhesive pad couldn’t hold it. I’m on my third (larger) pad now, and so far so good.

Unlike most dashcams I have tried, the cameras don’t have speed camera warnings or any information while you are on the move. Three tiny lights glow on the front camera, which are only visible at night –during daylight you wouldn’t know it was working.

Hook the windscreen unit up to your computer and there is one file for each camera for each journey, and the colour picture definition is very good.

For £129.99 the A129 Duo, which has Sony Starvis IMX291 sensors in both units, built-in GPS and G-Sensor, is good value. But fitting it can be a bit tricky.