The Combo series, due to its popularity and demand, has been further developed in the face of a three-in-one hybrid - this is Carcam Combo 2 Plus (radar detector / GPS informer / video recorder). That is, the developers managed to include three useful devices in one gadget at once, and not to the detriment of the compactness of the device. Let's try to figure out what came of it and whether the universal novelty is worth the money spent on it.
So, the subject of today's review is the hybrid "Karkam Combo 2". Reviews and opinions of users, advantages and disadvantages of the model, as well as the main characteristics of the gadget will be discussed in this article.
Package set
The device is packed in a dense and surprisingly high-quality box with a beautiful design, which is a rarity for most of the company's devices. In general, this is the first model in the Karkam series that has a smart package with an attractive appearance.
The interior decoration is very well organized, so the dimensions of the box can be called small. As for information content, it's not all right here.smoothly as desired. The available information does not allow us to properly assess the characteristics of the gadget, or at least its appearance. As a rule, such devices are signed on the packaging in front and profile, a specification is given, albeit a small one, but in our case we see one image of the device and the main hybrid indicators, that is, the presence of GPS, a DVR, a radar detector, and nothing more.
Customer reviews about "Karkam Combo 2" on this occasion are simply teeming with dissatisfaction. For an offline purchase, you have to additionally pull the manager so that he can find at least some specification for the device, or even visit the manufacturer’s official resource in advance to analyze the capabilities of the gadget. This approach clearly does not add points to the brand.
Package:
- device itself;
- data cable for PC connection;
- power cable to car network;
- suction cup bracket;
- holder on double-sided tape;
- instruction manual;
- warranty card;
- memo to the driver;
- booklets (advertising and random reviews about the video recorder "Karkam Kombo2").
Documentation
Separately, it is worth noting the informativeness of the instruction manual: all aspects of working with the gadget are thoroughly described inside and out. Nevertheless, there were discrepancies with the manual and real data for some users. Owner reviews on the Karkam Combo II DVR have repeatedly noted the fact that the gadget menu is sometimes strongdifferent from what is described in the instructions. It's all about the firmware here: the manual is designed in full accordance with its earlier version, while the latest updates, albeit not radically, change the position of branches and subparagraphs.
The memo to the driver acts as a kind of mini-instruction, which indicates the main features of the device and the basic settings. This is a rather competent move, which eliminates the need to study a multi-sheet manual. Reviews on the video recorder "Karkam Combo 2" on this occasion are extremely positive. Some car owners simply do not need to get into all these specific jungles of the gadget, but only the basic functions are enough, which the memo fully reveals.
Appearance
"Carcam (Carcam) Combo 2" turned out to be a really compact and convenient device, where the footprint is clearly less than if it were a separate DVR and radar detector. The front of the device, where the display is located, has a small visor that protects well from sunlight. Thanks to this, information from the gadget is easy to read at any time, whether it is early morning, noon or late evening.
Four function buttons are located directly below the screen: call the menu, step up and down the interface and "OK". A little to the right is a small blue LED that notifies the user that the device is turned on. It does not interfere with the driver at all while driving, which cannot be said about a similar “firefly”on the cigarette lighter connector. Users have repeatedly left negative reviews on "Karkam Combo 2" about this. The diode on the connector loop distracts the driver with its brightness, so you either have to cover it with something or try to turn it upside down (which is not always possible).
Interfaces
On the left side of the device there is an on/off button for the gadget, which also acts as a detector sensitivity adjustment or even allows you to turn it off. A little further along the body is a small hot reset button and an interface for micro-SD cards.
The right end is reserved for a mini-USB slot for synchronization with a PC and recharging the device, as well as a regular AV output. From above, you can see the grooves for mounting the device on the windshield, where, if necessary, you can remove the detector from the bracket with one movement. Judging by the reviews on Karkam Combo 2, the grooves are well-designed and securely hold the gadget, preventing it from popping out while the car is moving.
On the bottom of the detector there are original holes where you might think that the device is equipped with some kind of active cooling system. There is no mention of this in the documentation, but during operation, if you listen, you hear a sound very similar to the rotation of the fan blades.
On the back of the device is a lens of a heterodyne receiver, which is precisely the detector of police radars. A good half of the back of the device is occupied by the peephole of the DVR camera. Working anglematrix fluctuates within 160 degrees, which is very good. As for the GPS module, it is hidden somewhere in the bowels of the gadget.
Case
The case of the device is surprisingly well and qualitatively assembled. Judging by the reviews on Karkam Combo 2, no backlashes, squeaks or crunches were noticed during the operation of the gadget. Even visually it is clear that the case is made of high-quality plastic.
The design turned out to be non-marking, but it is better for users to avoid contact with lenses, optics and the screen: they collect fingerprints, which are then very difficult to get rid of. The device can be rotated 360 degrees, so directing the DVR to the desired object (for example, a traffic police officer) will not be difficult, as well as recording an accompanying audio track.
Testing
Field tests showed that in the urban environment the gadget behaved quite worthy: it detected radars and warned of speed limits. Of course, there were false positives, but with rare exceptions, the detector reacted to photocells in store doors and parking sensors in front of cars.
As for the track, things are somewhat worse here. The device almost every time signaled danger when it saw another gas station equipped with photocells.
Detector
direction finding equipment. Moreover, the detection was completed in about a kilometer, which is quite enough to slow down.
Reviews on "Karkam Combo 2" regarding the operation of the radar detector and the GPS module are mostly positive, and minor flaws like triggering photocells and parking sensors cannot be called critical for this segment, because a good half of competing devices have those same problem.
Video recorder
There are no serious questions about the operation of the DVR. The device perfectly copes with shooting in the daytime in Full HD-resolution and perfectly distinguishes the numbers of cars in front. At night, things are a little worse: low light sensitivity (ISO 400 units) does not allow you to see the license plates of cars, but if you fiddle with the settings (exposure parameters), you can get a quite tolerable twilight picture, where the information, if not easily, then more or less correctly read.
Summing up
Such hybrid gadgets as Karkam Combo 2, as a rule, receive only the basic functionality of each built-in device. In our case, this is not entirely true. Tests have shown that we are dealing with a full-fledged radar detector with a GPS module and a video recorder, which are simply enclosed in one case. Such synergy did not harm the device at all, but only benefited the driver. Here we have both cost savings and free space on the windshield.
Judging by the feedback from users, most of them have developed a purelya positive impression of the device, even despite the shortcomings. The device definitely deserves your attention and is worth buying.
The estimated cost of the device is about 10,000 rubles.
