U1000 issues
There are some pretty fundamental issues with the software on the U1000 which, unfortunately, you don't know about until you have paid out your quite considerable amount of money and purchased the system, had it installed, and then try to use it.
Don't get me wrong, it seems like a nice bit of kit as far as the camera goes, problem is that it is so user unfriendly its unbelievable, they have not allowed for the fact that this is going to be used by normal people, rather than just super techies. I don't think Im stupid with regard to IT, Im not a super techie either, just a normal bloke who wants the product I purchased to work for me without having all the frustration I have had to try and get it working over the last couple of weeks, yeah - weeks..
If I had my time again I would not purchase this unit because of the problematic software issues.
Big Problem Number 1
Setting up a hotspot is a nightmare, I finally found a very good talk through on the net and if you follow their instruction EXACTLY then you can get it done. My system is currently talking to a Huawei in car hotspot and its working OK. main thing to realise is that you MUST set up a hotspot on your phone first and then add the Huawei hotspot 2nd. Don't do what I did and just go straight for the car hotspot, you will end up in a mess of trouble.
Which brings me to the main issue - once you have set up a hotspot in the cloud app you cant get at it to edit the details etc unless you connect via a smartphone hotspot. If you join to the unit via WiFI, you cant access the hotspot details to edit or erase them you can only do this when you access the unit via a smartphone hotspot. Problem is, if like me you managed to enter the details of a hotspot that is not a smartphone it won't work and you cannot then connect via a hotspot - even your smartphone hotspot, so you cannot gets rid of the hotspot details you mistakenly managed to enter. Nightmare.
My work around was to factory reset the U1000, twice, then to delete the app from my smartphone, then to download the app again, (make sure you download from the store not just re-install the same app), then do it all again properly as learned from experience, rather than have the manual tell you. It took me a couple of attempts over a couple of hours, but it is now working to the car hot spot.
Big Problem Number 2
My system was professional installed in my BMW with hardwire rear camera so I could use the parking mode. When the car is switched off the unit goes to parking mode - great - but you cannot then get to any of the set up of the unit either by wifi connection or Hotspot connection. Yes you can connect to the unit via the web, but you have no way of changing any settings on the unit. The only way you can do this is when the unit is connected to the primary power feed i.e. the engine is running. Stop the engine and within a brief moment you are in "parking mode" and disconnected from the unit.
Now I don't like sitting with the engine idling while I mess around trying to work out how to get this thing working, it don't do the car any good at all, but I have no way of turning on the main power lead to the camera without having the engine running, once I kill the engine I cant just have the ignition on, beamers don't work that way.
So all in all it was a bit of a nightmare, there was no ciggy lighter lead in the box, just the cable harness, so I had to go out and purchase a ciggy lighter lead, another load of cash, then plug that into the camera so I could program the unit. The problem with this work around, OK not Thinkware's fault, is that the beamer shuts down the electrics after about 10 mins to the ciggy power, so you have to be quick and that is not easy to do with the Thinkware system.
If I hear that message saying connect to a wifi network with the name Thinkware one more time I think Im going to book myself into rehab.
So let's see if we get a response from the Thinkware support people to this tome, from the look of it I won't hold my breath.
My first 2 recommendations to Thinkware, (there are more but they will have to come later) is this -
1 - put together a factual and accurate procedure for the first time connecting user covering wifi and multiple hot spot connections. I know it is out there on the net but you have to search for it and it took me a long while to find it, stick the instructions in the box with the product and write it in such a way that you don't need to be a support engineer to get it.
2 . Either allow a wifi connection to edit settings etc while in parking mode, or give the ability to over-ride parking mode to allow for set up to be carried out while on secondary power, or at least delay parking mode for (say) 10 mins to allow me to set up the p[articular parking mode I want for that occasion. I don't want to have to sit there and plug in another lead to program the unit.
3 Tell people like me that whilst you push the "live View" features of the unit when using the hotspot connection unfortunately you cannot get live camera view from afar unless you are in the continuous recording Parking Mode. So the extra large amount of money I paid for the Radar option, which only works in Energy Saving Mode, which does not support live view, is a waste of money. Unfortunately you have a choice, energy saving parking mode without live view (which I want and why I purchased the unit), or non-energy saving mode and continuous parking recording which eats your battery and fills up the sim card in no time flat. - Im very disappointed
All that said, I have got my unit installed and working, just wish I knew what I know now before I purchased it.
Comments
4 comments
Hello There,
Thank you for putting together this detailed review of your Thinkware U1000 System. We were sorry to hear about the troubles that ensued when attempting to register and set up the device with your Mobile Hotspot Device. We will definitely pass along these suggestions regarding the Hotspot Instructions in the box, WIFI enabled in Parking Mode and the option for both Cloud and Energy Savings at the same time, to our development team in Korea. We are unable to confirm if these suggestions will be implemented in the future, however, we believe these would be beneficial additions to the U1000 System that most users would like to see :)
If you are still having any trouble with the cloud or hotspot connection on the U1000 please reach out to our team at support@thinkware.com or 1-844-865-9273 so we can resolve this as quickly as possible for you!
Very fair and valid points. I would like to see a firmware upgrade with above suggestions, especially a cloud live view option during energy saving 2=0 mode as I also paid for the radar addon.
I was sold my U1000 system two days ago (April '22) by Car Toys who charged me $500 for installation and a 4 year guaranty. It does not work and I have spent many hours trying to get it working. The rear camera is not visible and does not record files. Hot Spot and WiFi set up have been a nightmare - it will not stay connected and it is imposible to download recorded files through the IOS App or to set up a cloud account using the manuals provided. This is the unfriendliest app I have ever used and I am not tech challenged. At this point I am willing to give Car Toys one more visit to resolve the problems but I am ready to dispute the credit card charge and return the system. I would love for this system to work as advertised but I don't believe it ever will. I am ready to go back to me $59 unit that has worked flawlessly for the last 3 years.
Nice camera but like the others I have had it is NOT user friendly. I wonder when there will be one on the market that will be simple to use. I should be able to start up my vehicle and the U1000 should automatically connect to my smart phone to watch live view while driving. When parked in my driveway with engine off should automatically connect to house wifi. Need a map to understand how the system works when connected to wifi-hotspot or whatever. What does each function do? The end.
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