how to format usb drive for tesla sentry mode

#How to format usb drive for tesla sentry mode full#
#How to format usb drive for tesla sentry mode software#

That's right - the same cameras used to record accident footage will (eventually) enable full self-driving in the future.įor the most part, the Tesla dashcam setup is a 30-second process, but there are a few things you'll need first. The three cameras, front, right repeater, and left repeater, are just three of the eight on-board cameras used to enable Tesla's Autopilot. The system simultaneously records from three different angles for an optimal unobstructed view of its surroundings. This has led to a string of arrests as vandals and thieves keep getting caught red-handed as Tesla's cameras record their dirty deeds. The Silicon Valley automaker has even added a feature dubbed 'Sentry Mode' that allows the cameras to continue recording even with the vehicle off.

With this always-running, free-to-use system, Tesla owners have been able to capture some gnarly accidents, prove insurance fraud, and even help identify hit and run suspects. Using proprietary Autopilot cameras, Tesla owners can store and record live footage at no additional cost. Why tempt fate though with a cheap drive if the idea is to protect one of your most valuable purchases?Ĭheck out our TeslaCam package if you want a seamless plug-and-play option for getting started with TeslaCam.Tesla, a company already known for their disruptive tech, has one underappreciated feature that deserves mention - their built-in dashcam. Will any flash drive that is formatted correctly work with TeslaCam? Yes…at least initially. The one I recommend in this article is not too much more expensive than some of the fancy flash drives out there (in some cases it's much cheaper), but is worlds better for all the reasons mentioned above. I think that buying a drive that will last for a long time and will work when I need it to was enough of a rationale to spend a little extra money to get a good one. The ones that are USB 3.0 and are cheap will break. Typically, the cheapest ones are USB 2.0, meaning much slower read/write speeds. They were also the ones that died that same week I tested them. There are some CHEAP usb flash drives on Amazon. Some of the tested enclosures broke by the time I was done testing them for the week – yes…they only made it a week. The enclosures/readers I selected as the highest-rated were the ones that tended to stay the coolest, be less likely to break from repeated use, and seemed to have the overall best build quality. It withstands a great amount of heat, which is perfect for in-car environments and also constant recording. The microSD, while small, is extremely durable. Durabilityīoth strength/build quality and also effectiveness of the drive were rated here. Do you want to connect to a mobile device to view footage? Does your computer have USB A ports or USB C ports? The answers to these questions will help guide your selection of a capable reader. The amount of flexibility you need is really case-by-case. I extensively tested both the options I included in my TeslaCam package – both exceeded expectations. Using a MicroSD card makes it very easy to insert into an SD adapter (which many computers will read) and/or using a USB reader that has both USB A and USB C to connect to both the car and to your computer or mobile device. You want to be able to access your TeslaCam footage as easily as possible.

#How to format usb drive for tesla sentry mode software#

I had some missing footage in situations where I know I either saved DashCam files or had enabled Sentry mode, although that might have been a software issue and not the drive itself.Īll that said, the combination of the microSD and the USB card reader was unstoppable. They would start out strong, but then fizzled out to a point that they would somewhat regularly give me the gray X on the camera icon until I unplugged and re-plugged the drive. If you are a frequent Sentry Mode user, that burden becomes even greater as the cameras are then always recording. The majority of the drives that I tested just couldn't keep up with the four-camera recording that was required of TeslaCam.

This is the most important category of them all (in my opinion) and therefore carried the most weight in my selection. Cost – is it comparable to the options available on the market? If the drive fails, how does replacement cost compare to initial investment?.Durability – is the drive designed for constant data writing? Does the reader overheat from constant use?.Flexibility – does it have the capability to be used in various capacities? Does it connect using a standard that is widely accepted?.Whether it's capturing what happened in an accident using DashCam or determining who broke into your car with Sentry Mode, knowing that your USB drive will not give out on you when you need it most is priority one. Reliability – the features for which we use these USB drives are important.