[Closed] Chilli tech bullet helmet cameras (or other cheap recommendations)

Sorry, no experience, but that looks great for the money. I think about buying something like this everytime I get cut up on the road. Following with interest.

I ordered one of those a couple of days ago. I'll let you know if it's shit.

Look good, my wife started commuting the 6 miles across town to the hospital at the start of lockdown, and is now hooked, I'd like something forward and rear facing for her.

It does look good. The reviews of the company are very good too. Even the odd dickhead who has made a mistake or cocked something up themselves seem to get sorted out by the owner. I have been after something like this for a while so will chance my arm. Cheers for the link OP. 👍

Thanks OP. I've been looking for a camera after a few close passes recently. Trying to find something that has more than 1 hour battery for a reasonable budget has been a challenge!

The offer has a dispatch date of 30th June, so I'll come back and update after that. I've ordered a spare battery too.

4 hours recording per battery (at unknown Res) for £39 for one or £66 for two sounds very interesting... Would cover practically all my rides.

Only danger is you lose half your life reviewing footage each day!

naaaa, its rare I check my fly6.
might do 2 just for the spare battery 🙂

anyone got one yet?

It's a pre-order promo, dispatch end of June.

I wonder if you can add overlays to the recording from power meter, hrm etc. to make a momento clip of a climb a bit more intresting without the "snazzy" background music!

I’ve got one it’s good 🙂

I ordered one earlier this month, with a predicted dispatch date of yesterday. Got an email from them to say there had been a delay in shipping so it is likely going to be the end of next week before it's posted. Very happy with the communication.  I'll try and remember to report back once I've had a play.

Glad to hear a positive report plus one!

Taken a punt on two of these, I have some of the Aldi Fly copy rear lights but nothing for the front. I have had a successful prosecution from the rear light/camera.

I wonder if you can add overlays to the recording from power meter, hrm etc. to make a momento clip of a climb a bit more intresting without the “snazzy” background music!

Could try the Garmin Virb Edit software. It lets you add overlays from GPS etc. Seems to work with videos from other cameras, not just Garmin. I have used it for GoPro videos. Though may need to convert it to the right format etc.
Or DashWare is a similar thing.

Can anyone offer an opinion as to the low light performance of these cameras?

Am I going to need to order an SD card to go with the camera?

Yep

Can anyone offer an opinion as to the low light performance of these cameras?

This is the pre-order for the new version, so probably no one has it yet.
I've ordered as well, so will try and update here once it arrives! Estimated despatch date 13/July now...

I got another update from Paul at Chilli saying that they are still waiting on delivery. They are hoping to have them by the end of next week. I'll update if I hear more next week. Or if it arrives. But again very happy for a further update. Nice to see they actually seem to care.

Thanks for observing this to me, Ossify; I'd got the wrong end of the stick.

My cam was delivered Friday. Only shot a few seconds of footage in the house, but it seems to work fine. I don't think it'll be any good for anything off-road, but I've only bought it for commuting, after reading the recent threads about folk having pretty thought provoking incidents.

Paul (Mr Chilli Tech) doesn't recommend these for mountain biking, and says in one of his videos on YouTube that they are mainly for recording incidents/commuting type rides as the video quality isn't the greatest.

I'll be recording my commute on Monday, so I'll try and post something more after that.

I can only say good things about Chilli though. He's been spot-on with communication throughout. The cam also came really neatly packaged. No excess nonsense.

Looking forward to getting mine, I already have a rear cam so will be fully tooled up when they arrive.

Anyone else received their camera(s) or still waiting on one?

I ordered a pair for me and a friend about 2 weeks ago, when the dispatch said end of June. Haven't received anything and now the order page says dispatch 13th of July. Not sure if that just applies to new orders or if they're all delayed.

Haven't heard anything from the company - an email to say "sorry, they're a bit delayed" would be fine. I sent them a quick message via their website (web form seems to be the only method of contact apart from calling them, which I'll do if I don't hear back soon) but no response.

@malv173 Interested to know how you got in touch with the guy 🙂

I ordered one, but thought on the ad it advised dispatch date was going to be the 13th of July, so hadn't chased it up.

I ordered on 20th June, it arrived today.

That bodes well. I ordered mine on the 22nd, so hopefully it'll come this week.

It's weird, cos that type of bullet cam (although without a replaceable battery) used to be about £13-£15 on Ebay, I've got one, and my brother bought one for motorbiking, but they've shot up in price, so that Chilli tech is a good deal.
I've got a Polaroid Cube now, and just ordered some cheap copies from China (£7!) so will post what they're like when they eventually turn up.

Mine arrived today. Yet to try it but will report back.

Is there any documentation anywhere? It all looks fairly self-explanatory, but it would be good to have a quick guide to what pressing the button does when and what the LED colours mean, etc. Nothing in the package or on the site as far as I can see, which is a just a little bit lame IMHO.

@thenorthwind they've got a playlist on YouTube.

There's one on setting the timestamp. Which you'll have to do pretty much before every ride! But someone has written a bit of code that updates it easily.

Also,  I've found when i switch mine on it automatically records.  I managed to record hours of pitch blackness instead of my commute on Monday 🤣🤣🤣

The quality is ok when static. We filmed our greyhounds to see what they get up to on their own.  Turns out, it's not much at all! I've hopefully recorded my first close pass today. I'll update this evening hopefully.

someone has written a bit of code that updates it easily.

Any links?

@malv173 Thanks for that.

Maybe I'm just old-fashioned, I mean I am in my 30s now, but I find it mildly irksome that I have to watch a series of videos when a list of operations like

Long press: turn on and record
Short press: stop recording
Solid blue light: on
Flashing blue light: recording
Flashing red light: charging
Solid red light: charged

would have taken 30 seconds to write and less time to read. I suppose I've done it now (from memory though so don't quote me on it).

Also, in one of the videos he says that all the cameras have been dispatched. Wouldn't have killed them to have sent that by email, y'know, to the people who've bought and paid for them. Their YouTube channel isn't even linked on the website AFAICS.

Anyone know what the second vented cap is for?

Vented one allows sound in, other one keeps water out.

Thanks!

Thanks @thenorthwind for the instructions (from memory I appreciate). I agree, wouldn't take much to have these on the website.

Will any old SD card do?

Example footage here - probably only the SD version is available straight away, HD versions appear after a while.

Essentially, not terrible, but not go-pro quality. Might be better in better light (this was recorded at about 6:30 this evening).

Anyone know what the right hand switch underneath the USB socket does?

It's mentioned on one of the videos. It let's it record whilst connected to power. It also stops it charging tho.

@roger_mellie no probs!

I think an SD card of a certain class (10??) is required - one of the videos on YouTube is on that topic.

Tried mine out on the way to the pub to pick up some beer. First thing I noticed is I put it upside down 😀 - I put it under the bars out of the way, with the button on the bottom. I didn't even think about it since it's round!

The video I recorded was pretty useless TBH. It seemed to have exposed for the sky, so cars, etc. were very dark and I couldn't read any number plates. I'm guessing there's no way to control the exposure, so I'll try pointing down more so it exposes more for the road. Could just be a teething issue.

First thing I noticed is I put it upside down 😀

Glad I am not the only one.

Mine seemed decent, seemed to struggle a bit more when it pissed down.

The software should allow you to flip it, under the bar is the preference for me.

Second ride, first close pass submitted to Hampshire Police, nice clear view of reg and incident, they ask for it not to go online so I'll wait till they fob me off with no action before I post.
As a side what's decent software for editing the avi's?

VLC is free and pretty good, but you shouldn't need to edit it. My local force (Avon & Somerset) Require three minutes before and after the incident, so I always send them two or three recordings (my cams are set to 3 minute chunks). They insist on the timestamp being correct though, not sure if other forces do so be aware of that.

I was hoping to just send one file, sent two though, on the online form they asked if the time stamp was correct and if not why not. Could be a bit of a pain if I need to set it before every ride.

Apparently you need to update the date stamp if you remove the battery or if it runs completely flat. I Facebook messaged them and got a pretty prompt reply...very prompt considering its the weekend.

Yes, yes I know, but I didn't hear him coming!

Is your camera to the left of the stem or the right? If the left he’s pretty flipping close.

@anagallis_arvensis
is that just a still from the video? decent image (but way too close!)

would you mind posting a short clip of footage from any other car pass? I'd like to see the real world quality of the footage before buying....

Thanks

Edit - I understand you have been asked not to show the close pass by police, so any other car to see video quality and ease of reading plates etc. ta!

Is your camera to the left of the stem or the right? If the left he’s pretty flipping close.

Camera is on left of stem under bars, it wasn't very fast but ****ing close, I had to move my arm to avoid the wing mirror!

would you mind posting a short clip of footage from any other car pass?

I'll try later, I have a very good clear image of the reg number from this video though. Wife took camera yesterday and I went through looking at reg numbers. It's a bit hit and miss with traffic coming the other way but anything approaching a close pass it works well.

Just reviewed my video to find another car pass and the preceding 3min video, this one, and 3min after have no other cars!! I deleted all the other stuff. The number plate in the one above is as clear as day though!

anagallis_arvensis

Just reviewed my video to find another car pass and the preceding 3min video, this one, and 3min after have no other cars!!

Bonus of quiet Hampshire lanes and reduced traffic during Covid
(except the New Forest was crazy busy yesterday as it was sunny...)
Thx for looking

Had an email today that's it's being shipped soon 🙂

Just spotted they also have a new rear camera up for sale now, a tad more expensive though.
Video with example footage at the end:

ordered a bullet cam yesterday, if I didnt already have a fly6 id also get one of these (the fly6 is probably due to die soon anyway....they seem to have built-in obsolescence).

Presumably mr chilli isn't getting these things designed for him. Has anyone tracked down the rear camera on banggood or alibaba?

Best I could find. Knowing what to search for seems a black art.
https://uk.banggood.com/WEIZU-T03-FHD-1080P-12MP-LED-Light-WiFI-Waterproof-App-Control-DVR-Bike-Sport-Camera-p-1483445.html?rmmds=search&cur_warehouse=CN

video here for you to see the quality, check out the Range Rover near start, you can clear pause and see reg plate quite clearly.

should be here when its uploaded, I think, hopefully!!!

Still says "we're processing this video, check back later" :-/

Yeah sorry about that, my boy closed browser to watch Disney Plus! Trying again.

try again

Jesus, it's not a quick process is it!

It's a tense wait.....

**** it, I give up, sorry

That looks pretty good to me, on a par with my Aldi rear cameras. I paused it several times and could see the number plates of parked cars, on coming and vehicles in front.

We have been away this week so still haven't tried mine.

That Range Rover that went straight through the mini roundabout you can see the reg number too which is side on, I didn't think it would work. Shame it doesn't catch the dumb look on the drivers face as they finally look my way and still don't manage to realise they've done anything wrong. Saw it coming a mile off though, it's a very bad junction. Mini roundabouts are bad enough on their own but put two together and no one has a clue!

There is one of those roundabouts near me and I have seen so many near misses. You can always anticipate it because people who haven't got a clue traverse the first stage too quickly.

They are a really bad design

Been hovering over these for a little while, but I had my first ever
Aggressive and deliberate close pass and cut in across me. Just missed the curb before the idiot carried on his way making v signs in the air. Prior to that he’d zoomed up behind me beeping - presumably because he thought I was too far out from the curb (I wasn’t - I was just to the left of the middle of my lane).

Clicked order on one of these as soon as I got back - ideally I’d be able to attach it to the go pro style hanger that sits under my Garmin out front mount - what comes in the box with the camera? I suspect this doesn’t come with it - but I didn’t really want to spend £15 on their new mount that replaces the front cap of the stem - which looks like it allows for a gopro style attachment.

Wondering if there is a cheaper solution they sell (but isn’t on their website) that would allow for this type of attachment without replacing the front of the stem.

what comes in the box with the camera?

Bar mount and helmet mount, you need to get a sim card.

Cheers - I’ve dropped them a message about gopro mounts so will see what they say. I’ll nick the micro sd card outs of my gopro for now - pretty sure that’s 16 or 32mb.

The rear camera posted up there looks like a Fly6 alternative but it'd struggle to work with any sort of seat pack unless you've got a yard of Seatpost showing. If you tried to mount it on the back of the seat pack the angle of the camera looks like it'd be pointing at the sky.

thepurist
Subscriber
The rear camera posted up there looks like a Fly6 alternative but it’d struggle to work with any sort of seat pack unless you’ve got a yard of Seatpost showing. If you tried to mount it on the back of the seat pack the angle of the camera looks like it’d be pointing at the sky.

I have the Aldi (Maxtek) rear light/cam and a seat large seat pack would obscure the lens. I friend of mine has his mounted on the seat tube so that it peaks out between the two rear stays.

Cycliq do not recommend mounting rear cams anywhere other than the seat post because the cameras become too susceptible to vibration (if on some kind of extended mount etc)

If anyone is wondering about the gopro mount idea, for £3.90 Chilli Tech provide an adapter that holds the light and has the mount that fits to a gopro mount you already have (e.g on the underneath of a gopro mount).

Can’t wait for it to arrive - hopefully Sod’s law says that I then never get a close pass again - but if I do it’ll be winging it’s way to the police sharpish.
All these aggressive drivers needs a wake up call that it’s not ok to drive like they do.

I’ve dropped them a message about gopro mounts

In my experience, they won't reply. You'll get more help from here.

In my experience, they won’t reply

I have had very prompt replies via Facebook messenger.

Yeah - they’ve already come back to me with the answer on the gopro mount above to be fair. They replied on a Saturday!

9 days after submitting the footage Hampshire Police have emailed and asked me to submit my video of the incident!!!

@rogermellie

In my experience, they won’t reply. You’ll get more help from here.

replied fast to contact via their contact form on website (I messaged late Sat, Paul replied on Sunday) and also to my response to their email reply (if that makes sense...)

@joebristol
Thanks for the heads up on that mount, have contacted them and they have added it to my order before despatch so no extra P&P charge

Will update once arrives

PS I have no link to Chillitech

No worries - a gopro style mount makes things much tidier for me as it’s all on one mount on the bars and leaves room for a light to go on the other side of the stem when the nights close in. £3.90 nice and cheap too!

Mine arrived over the weekend.

Usually I'm like a schoolboy with a new toy, but as I didn't have memory card ready I've not been able to use it.
Anybody got any recs for decent cards, or will anything do?

I got this

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B073JWXGNT?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

NBT here posting on bunnyhop's account, for clarity
I got the 64gb version of the card above for a tenner from amazon. Needs formatting to Fat32 but there's a video on the Chilli Tech youtube channel with links and instructions for a free app to do that