Advice for installation:
1. Play around with the camera before you mount it. There are 3 buttons on each side and it could be a pain to learn to use it if it's already installed. It will quickly detach from the base, but I pulled out the wires from their hiding place playing with it and had to push them back.
2. It only comes with a 3M mounting back, so plan your wire routes and dry fit them before you mount either camera. It came with an extra 3M tape, but I wouldn't want to have to take the old one off.
3. Make sure you know which side is up on the rear camera! I was about to stick it to my rear window when when I glanced at the screen and realized it was upside down.
4. I tried a 64g from a camera and it didn't work. Crosstour stresses Max of 32g, but I doubt I'm the first to say "Let's try it anyway." It is worth a try, but don't order a larger size expecting it to work.
5. The top left "up?" button changes between front, rear and both PiP modes. I may have missed it in the instructions, but it was a nice quick way to change between modes.
Pros:
Quick responses to emails.
Video quality is great.
Setup was relatively easy.
Front camera adjusts up/down and left/right easily.
Rear camera is narrow and has a dial for easy adjustment up/down.
Front and Rear Video are seperate files (not PiP).
Possible Con:
It has only a 3M mount. I thought no suction mount would be a pain, but living in Florida, they don't hold and my old camera fell often. Plus, it makes the profile very small and allowed me more mounting options. This is FYI in case you absolutely will not use a sticky mount.
Hopefully Amazon doesn't degrade the video, because the quality is great. I would recommend the CR900. (Note: They highly reduced the video quality. I could read the tag the on car in the original.)
Update 4‐6‐18. Still very happy. Only issue is that my truck sits long period during motorcycle weather. I left it plugged in and the motion activation keeps killing my battery. Turn it off if the vehicle will sit long periods.
The camera set up is simple. You can set whether or not you want to record audio, adjust the time stamp, recording loop length, etc.
The videos from the front camera are in HD Fish Eye wide view with excellent color. Night driving has good results with picking up the lower lighting outside. I am highly satisfied with the video quality, as you can see in my video you can clearly see the licence plates from the cars near you.
After 4 days of driving I have used most of the space on a 32 gb card. The camera by default records on a loop, when it is full it will start writing over the oldest files. There is a button on the side of the camera to lock the video, if you push it while it is recording the camera will save that loop in a separate folder on the SD card and will not delete it. This makes it super easy to find specific recordings you want to view later.
All in all, this is a very good camera and I am impressed. I would highly recommended it!
Having previously bought the CR700, I was excited to see how the CR900 system worked. The set came with the main front unit integrated with a screen, the plate mount for the front screen with 3M attachment tape, rear view feeder camera unit, front screen power cord that uses the cigarette lighter receptacle and provides a USB outlet, rear camera cable, standard USB cable for data tethering to computer, and an instruction booklet.
The physical setup was pretty straight forward but requires a bit of planning around the car. before installing any of the items, plan the placement of the main camera and determine how the power cable and rear camera feeding cable will run around the paneling of the var. I ran mine underneath the sealing gasket and the lining sections of the vehicle to conceal the black wires. It also helps that the interior of my car is black in color. Also, for the attachment of the front camera, allow enough space in order to be able to slide the unit on and off the plate mount, and also allow the attachment of the USB cables. I suggest to Crosstour that some placement advice in the instruction booklet will help users to place both front and rear units, since the 3M tape is very strong and very difficult to remove. The unit comes with enough cable length to connect the front and rear cameras for sedans and SUV's, unless you have an unusually large vehicle.
The unit powers up very easily once you switch the car on, and setup using the screen menu is also relatively easy. Use the manual to help find all the different features. There are many setup features available in the model such as looping record duration, G-sensor sensitivity, motion settings, display preference, etc. I really like the feature where you can set the audio recording on and off, for privacy concerns. Whenever you start or switch off your vehicle, the unit will give you an audio chime to let you know that it is also turning on or off. That is a helpful feature.
You can either review your recording on the mini screen, or remove your micro-SD ( I recommend a high capacity 32GB or more, Class 10) and view it on your computer. The file structure is easy to access under CarDV and video footage is separated between front and rear cameras (as you can see from my screen shots). Images are very crisp and clear (I set mine to maximum definition of 1080p) and captures the movement of the vehicle with amazing clarity. The new integrated camera design eliminate shake totally.
In summary, I find the new CR900 to be very easy to use, and provides high quality footage of your journey without having to press any button to run once you have done your initial setup. It is very good value for the type of image clarity and video functions that it provides. Some planning on the installation and where to run the cables will go a long way to provide a hassle-free setup.
That is why when I saw they release this high-end model, this camera also offers rear dash cam, which I think is a plus. Compare to other dash cams like Rexing, or Blackvue that have front and rear, this one is much much cheaper, but the quality is awesome.
Update 08/11/2018
Just took this camera out for test drive before I hardwire it and have to said this item is great! It does exactly what it claims. I’ve received a package with a front and a rear camera, 3 stickers, 1 USB cable, 1 car charger and a wire for rear cam. The installation was simple. The menus and buttons are easy to navigate. The picture quality is surprisingly good !!!(Both the front and rear camera) please see the attached video.
Update 08/15/2018
Uploaded new clip after I hardwire them. The old one I forgot to take off the protection seal, so quality is bad.
Feature Product
- 【Dual 1080P Front and Rear Dash Cam】Combined with advanced sensor and 6 glass lens, both the front and rear lens record videos with crystal clear 1080P quality. Your car will be under all round protection against scratches/ collision. However, other dashcams at same price can only support 720P of rear camera.
- 【NOVATEK Chip Car Camera】The most important element of a dashcam is the chip which is actually the CPU and determines the basic performance of a car recorder such as resolution, frame etc. The night vision effect is also determined by this factor.
- 【Super Hawkeye Night Vision】Both the front and rear cameras adopt F1.8 aperture and high dynamic range(HDR). The former lets more light come in, the latter adjusts the imaging. You can get clearer footage and image than other dashcams at night. Car license plate number can be easily seen even in low light.
- 【External GPS Interface】Featuring a reserved GPS interface, this driving recorder can record your driving track , speed and longitude and latitude data after being connected with a GPS Antenna (Not included).
- 【Dual 170°Wide Angle Car Cam】Both the front and rear lens are 170°wide angle. So this dash cam provides a much wider vision. 6 lanes can be covered and blind spot can be reduced to great extent. This will be the only car cam adopting both 170°wide angle at this price level.
Description
Both front and rear camera is 1080P
This car cam adopts NOVATEK chip which can greatly improve its performance on definition especially night vision.
According to our contrast test, the video is really much better than others.
Dual F1.8 Aperture plus HDR
Both cameras adopt F1.8 super big aperture. Others: front：F1.8; rear: F2.2 or bigger.
Sufficient light is a prerequisite for generating high-definition images.
F1.8 aperture allows more light to get in thus bringing better and brighter image.
HDR automatically adjust the brightness of the clips. Suitable for situations like low light or back light.
Dual 170°wide angle
Both lens is 170°which provides a wider vision. You car gets all round protection.
6 glass lens
Glass lens can increase the light transmittance, reduce reflectivity and distortion.
Material of glass won't deform like resin lenses under high temperature.
External GPS supported
Reserved GPS interface makes it possible to install an external GPS module( not included in the package).
Adjustable lens
Adjustable lens provides flexibility during installation.
A variety of functions
Mirror image, loop recording, motion detection, G-sensor,license plate stamp, auto power off, screensaver.
These functions cover what you need for daily driving.
Specifications
Chip: NOVATEK 96665
Screen size: 3 inch LCD
Power interface: 5V 1.5A
GPS: Needs to be bought separately
Storage card: TF card(class 10, SDHC, 32GB max supported)
Packing list
1 front cam
1 rear cam
1 car charger
1 USB cable
1 cable for rear cam
1 adhesive
Before buying this newer CR900, I have the CR750 installed in our BMW X5. Both have dual camera feature.
The main difference aside from price, CR900 at $99.99, CR750 at $79.99, is the camera.
The CR900 comes with 2 separate 1080p Cameras, one for the FRONT VIEW, and the second one for REAR VIEW. Recording is set by default made for FRONT and REAR cameras. This is a very good feature, if (God forbid) you are hit from behind.
The CR750 comes with 1 single device with FRONT 1080p Camera and Passenger side 720p Camera. This is especially useful if you wish to record the passengers as well (best for Uber, Lyft, etc.) One good point of this over the newer CR900 is the backup battery (which CR900 does not have.)
Now, what's nice about the CR900. It comes with long cord that connects the Front Camera with the Rear Camera. I have this installed on a Toyota Prius, and the cable is just enough (I believe there should be extension cables available in case you need a longer cable). It does work well. Attached to the rear glass with the inlcuded sticker.
Recording is awesome! Both Front and Rear recordings are made in separate files, named A and B.
Unlike the CR750, this newer CR900 is a bit smaller, when installed, it does NOT use a Suction cup, instead it comes with ADHESIVE. It does work well. I guess that is why manufacturer described it as Hidden, as you can have this "hidden" behind the Rear View Mirror.
A good plus factor for both Crosstour Dashcams is the additional USB power built into the Lighter socket. This allows you to use that added power socket to charge your phone or GPS.
All in all, I would give this a 4.9 star out of 5. My recommendation would be to able to accept higher capacity SD card, right now it is limited to 32GB. Although, you will NEVER run out of storage space with the LOOP recording feature.
Good job Crosstour!
Purchased 2 of these Crosstour CR900 while on lightning deal. Both went on lightning deal within 3 days. I thought it was a great deal. Did my research, read the reviews. And even went online for other reviews. Seem promising. However, trouble began from unboxing. One of two dash cam had a blemish in the middle of the screen. So I requested a replacement. Received the replacement 4 days later. While awaiting for the replacement, I figured to read the directions. Directions needs more pictures to explain it better. Finally, decided to install since I have both my orders in (including replacement). Installing was simple (unless you get a hardwire kit) until when dealing with TF Card. Directions suggested to format on both computer and dash cam. So I formatted my 2 brand new class 10 32gb TF Card. After formatting, I thought I was all set. Much to my demise, I kept getting “memory error” on one of them. And my other set of dash cam did not record at all, while exhibiting no problems. In the end, this was too much to deal with along vague instructions. Returned all the dash cams including the replacement. I recommend looking somewhere else. Just keep in mind my experiences could differ from others. Lastly, I highly suggest contacting the company’s customer service. More than likely they’ll be glad to help you resolve your issue. Luckily, Crosstour is one of the best ones.
P.S. Just FYI I did reached out to Crosstour Representatives and received a response within 24 hrs.
P.S. Update (9/28/2018)- I have learned dash cams can be finicky at times. Problems can arise from many reasons like wrong brand of tf card, bad cables etc. I bought a new dash cam from a different brand after returning both Crosstour CR900. I was experiencing the same problem with it. I found out the rear camera cable was the culprit. It might of been my fault due to shoving it in the headliner for aesthetics. In turn, I can’t blame Crosstour. In fact, their customer representative contacted me several times to check if they can be of help. I have to admit their customer service is one of the best I’ve had experienced with since being a Prime member of 8+ years! And the reasons for 4 stars was that I only had it for a few days. But the quality of Crosstour CR900 seem promising.
P.S. Update (10/7/18)- Crosstour sent me a replacement (free of charge). This time I knew a lot more about dash cams. After using it for the day, I can definitely say this is High Quality. If I knew more about what to expect of dash cams before I bought the first two, I would’ve kept them. Great Dash Cams!!!
FYI- If your dash cam is not working properly, checkout two areas (tf card and cables) before returning.... more than likely these would be the culprits of your problems ie random restarts, memory errors etc.
First time buying a dashcam for my car and I made the right choice with this one. I did a lot of research on different dashcams and decided on this one for two reasons:
1. Price
2. Front and rear camera with both 170° view and 1080p video quality
Can't go wrong for those two reasons. Other brands offer less video quality for a higher price tag, don't have the same wide view on both cameras or offer a front and rear camera.
Easy to set up and took about an hour. Two things I with this dashcam offered: higher capacity SD storage and WiFi to transfer videos to phone. Even though, still does a great job. Easy to pop out the SD card and transfer videos to my Chromebook.
Videos come out clear in both daytime and nighttime time driving, can see license plates and street signs. Highly recommend.
I don't typically write reviews but here are my early impressions:
After my car was recently keyed while parked, I wished thatI had had a camera. The next day, I found this one. At about $100 in 2018 dollars, it's at a good price point for the feature set: 1080P, front and rear cameras included, G sensor, and surveillance mode when parked.
My order arrived within 2 days as usual (fulfillment by Amazon), but more importantly includes everything you would need for a basic installation. Note, if you need to use surveillance mode, it would be best to get an external power supply that cuts off the camera if you reach low voltages. This is what I will use when I complete the installation. Search for the following terms: "Dash Cam Hardwire Kit, Mini USB Port, DC 12V - 24V to 5V/2A Car Charger Cable Kit with Fuse, Low Voltage Protection" to find compatible parts.
Following my purchase, Crosstour sent me a message with some "Warm Tips" as follows:
① CR900 fails to fit with Mac system. Our engineers have urgently rewritten a program based on customer advice. Please contact us to get the firmware.
②The port with a USB logo is for the car charger and the USB cable, while the another one on the left is for the rear cam cable.
③Please do not install the rear camera out of the rear windshield because it’s not waterproof.
④This unit doesn’t come with a built-in battery, so please connect it with your cigarette lighter via the car charger in the package while recording. It’s a normal phenomenon that the cam will turn off immediately if no external power supply.
For #1, I don't know why I would ever need to use their software on my Mac. I can just remove the SD card and import the files directly. So this is no concern. The rest is pretty self-explanatory, but I appreciate the follow-up to make sure I had no issues with the purchase.
I tested the device by plugging it into an USB power source, testing out all menus, and recording a few clips. The video quality is clear, the display is adequate, and the buttons on each side are a bit clunky, but easy enough to figure out. It's no iPhone, but it is fairly intuitive once you realize that you have to quit recording in order to access the menus. The included instruction manual plus five minutes of fiddling was enough to have everything figured out on the first try. I have not yet installed, but rated this as "Easy to Install" for the following reasons: compact form factor, included 3M tape, included car charger, included a long length of mini USB-B cable which should be adequate to reach the rear glass of practically any vehicle (maybe a bit short for a Suburban, but I have oodles of length to spare in my 3 series). This is as close to plug-and-play as anyone could expect.
I chose this camera for its form factor, despite having a fairly large screen it can be mounted high on the windshield without obstructing your view or being too obvious to a casual observer. I contemplated getting one without a screen, but in retrospect am glad to have it. Navigating menus, changing settings, and getting a visual confirmation that the device has started when you start the car would all more difficult without the screen.
A few menu features worth noting:
***The "screen saver" function is set to 1 minute by default. Start your car, one minute later the screen switches off. This is ideal, as you don't want to draw attention to yourself with a video screen running while you drive (which would technically be illegal in many states). You can set the screen saver to a 5 minute delay, or to leave the display always on, if for some reason that is your preference.
***Audio recording is enabled by default. Be sure to research and understand any laws or privacy implications. After my research, I personally chose to leave the feature enabled.
***You can set different "loop" modes for the length of clips. 3 minutes is default, 5 minutes is max. I set it to 5 minutes so I'm less likely to overwrite important data immediately before or after a traffic incident.
***The default video mode is 50Hz. Set this to 60Hz if you are in a country with a 60Hz power grid (U.S. Standard). Not a super big deal if you forget to do this, but you may have some weird flickering issues during playback if you drive through an area with electric streetlights running at 60Hz.
In conclusion: the overall feel of the equipment is pretty standard for modern consumer electronics: "carefully assembled from cheap materials". There were no obvious visual defects, but it's also not quite the feel of a premium product. I'm okay with this, given the very reasonable price, and because it's not something I have to really look at, or handle, or think about on a daily basis. It's just there, it does its thing, and when you need the information stored, it will be immediately available. My only very very small gripe, is that the interface could be more intuitive, but I am saying that only because we've all been spoiled by modern touch screens. For a simple video recording device, this is perfectly adequate in every way, and a bargain for the price I paid.
Four and a half stars. Meets or exceeds expectations given the price. I would recommend it to anyone in need of front and rear video recording.
The CR900 is an upgrade from the previous CR700 series. This model features a high qualify front and rear camera with high definition video. It offers user-friendly options with ease of use. Everything was pretty much self-explanatory.
Let's start with the front camera. It is very well built. I like how big it is and gives off an appearance of something that is heavy duty. I love the fact that the mount is a 3M double sided tape unlike the previous models I used that utilized a suction cup. Those tend to wiggle and vibrate, but this one is solid. The body is also sleek in design and can easily be discreet. The video recording is very stable and also night time visibility is never a problem even on very low lighting areas.
The rear camera can also be easily installed as the front camera would. It attaches to your rear window using a 3M tape and it stays there. The rear camera also offers 1080 high definition video. A very long cable is provided so that you have enough slack to route it back to the front camera for dual recording. The addition of a rear camera makes me feel a lot safer knowing that I have video recording of the most important sides of my vehicle.
In conclusion, I absolutely like this upgrade and I can trust that it would help protect me and my family in times of an incident. I can recommend this dash cam to anybody who is on the market for a dash cam. The pricing for the qualify you're getting is the best back for your buck.
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