This article helps users estimate how many hours of video they can expect to record on an AD Plus device. The estimate is based on camera configuration, video settings, and SD card capacity. This guidance is intended to support planning and expectation setting, not to provide an exact guarantee.
How many hours of video can I expect to record on my device?
Recording duration varies depending on multiple factors. The sections below outline the key variables and recommended settings for common AD Plus installations.
What affects recording duration
The total number of recording hours depends on the following variables:
-
Number of active camera channels
For example, a standard 2-lens install versus a 4-channel install with side or rear views. -
Camera roles and capabilities
Channels used for AI detection (road/ADAS and driver/DMS) are always configured at maximum supported resolution and frame rate to ensure detection accuracy, so they cannot be reduced to save space. -
Resolution and frame rate
Higher resolution and higher FPS increase storage usage. -
Video quality and bitrate mode
Quality can often be reduced on non-AI channels to save space. Variable bitrate (VBR) is commonly used. -
Storage capacity
One or two micro SD cards may be installed. Dual card installations increase available storage.
Because these factors differ between installations, estimates should always be treated as directional guidance.
Default configuration: AD Plus 2.0 (dual-lens, built-in cameras)
The AD Plus 2.0 is a 4-channel dual-lens dashcam with a built-in road-facing camera (ADAS) and a built-in IR driver-facing camera (DSC, in-cab). Driver monitoring (DMS) is provided by an external C29N IP camera on CH4. A standard installation uses three active channels (CH1, CH2, CH4).
Note on roles: The built-in driver-facing camera (CH2) provides in-cab DSC recording. Driver monitoring (DMS) detection runs on the C29N IP camera (CH4). The C29N's maximum resolution is 800P (1280×800) at 20 fps, which is the setting used for the DMS channel.
Channel configuration (standard dual-lens install)
| Channel | Source | Role | Main stream | Substream |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CH1 | Road-facing lens — built-in | ADAS / Road | 1920×1080 @ 25 fps | D1 (720×480) @ 10 fps |
| CH2 | Driver-facing IR lens — built-in | DSC / In-cab | 1080×1080 @ 20 fps | D1 (720×480) @ 10 fps |
| CH4 | C29N — IP camera (IPC) | DMS | 1280×800 (800P) @ 20 fps | D1 (720×480) @ 10 fps |
- Codec / bitrate: H.264, Variable Bitrate (VBR) on all channels.
- Audio: ADPCM, built-in microphone (recorded on the road channel, CH1).
- AI channels: CH1 (ADAS) and CH4 (DMS, C29N) are AI-detection channels and are held at maximum supported resolution and frame rate — do not reduce these.
- Storage: 2 × Micro SD, Class 10 minimum; 256 GB recommended (higher capacities supported).
Example scenarios
The configuration table above applies to a typical AD Plus 2.0 dual-lens deployment. Estimated recording duration will vary for other configurations, such as:
- A 4-channel AD Plus 2.0 installation that adds a side or rear view on CH3.
- A single SD card versus a dual SD card setup.
Important notes
- All estimates are guidance only and not a guarantee.
- Actual recording duration can be affected by device type, connected peripherals, and processing constraints.
- Very low resolutions such as CIF (352×288) or QCIF (176×144) are not recommended, as they provide limited usable footage. D1 (720×480) is the recommended minimum for substream recording.
Always validate final configurations against device specifications and operational requirements.