Reviews about "Karkam Kombo 2", description, characteristics

The "Combo" series, due to its popularity and popularity, was further developed in the form of a hybrid "three in one" - it's "Karkam (Carcam) Kombo 2 Plus" (radar detector / GPS-informer / DVR). That is, the developers were able to include in a single gadget three useful devices, and not at the expense of the compactness of the device. Let's try to figure out what came out of this and whether the universal novelty of the money spent on it is worth it.

So, the subject of today's review is the hybrid Karkam Kombo 2. Reviews and opinions of users, advantages and disadvantages of the model, as well as the basic characteristics of the gadget will be discussed in this article.

Contents of delivery

The device is packed in a dense and surprisingly high-quality box with a beautiful design, which for most of the company's devices is a rarity. In general, the Karkam series is the first model that has a sensible package with an attractive appearance.

The interior is very well organized, so the dimensions of the box can be called small. As for information, here everything is not as smooth as we would like. The available information does not allow to properly assess the characteristics of the gadget or at least its appearance. Typically, such devices are painted on the packaging in the front and profile, given a small but specification, and in our case we see one image of the device and the main hybrid indicators, that is, the presence of GPS, DVR, radar detector, and only.

Customers' comments about Karkum Kombo 2 on this issue are simply teeming with discontent. For offline purchase, you have to additionally pull the manager to find at least some specification for the device, or even pre-visit the official manufacturer's resource to analyze the capabilities of the gadget. This approach clearly does not add points to the brand.

Equipment:

• The device itself;
• A data cable for connecting to a PC;
• Power supply loop to the automotive network;
• Bracket on the suction cup;
• Holder on double-sided scotch tape;
• user's manual;
• Warranty card;
• Reminder to the driver;
• Booklets (advertising and casual feedback about the DVR "Karkam Kombo2").

Documentation

Separately it is worth noting the informative nature of the operation manual: all aspects of working with the gadget are thoroughly painted from and to. Nevertheless, some users experienced discrepancies with the manual and real data. The owners' feedback to the Karkam Kombo II DVR has repeatedly noted the fact that the menu of the gadget is sometimes very different from the one described in the instructions. Here the whole thing is in the firmware: the manual is designed in full accordance with its earlier version, while the latest updates, though not at the root, but change the position of the branches and sub-points.

The driver's note serves as a kind of mini-instruction, which identifies the main features of the device and the basic settings items. This is a fairly clever move, which eliminates the learning of 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 climb into all these specific jungle gadgets, but just basic functions that just fully open the memo.

Appearance

"Karkam (Carcam) Kombo 2" was really compact and convenient device, where the occupied area is clearly less than if it were a separate video recorder and a 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 earlier morning, noon or late evening.

Directly under the screen there are four function buttons: menu call, step down and up through the interface and "OK". A little to the right is a small blue LED that notifies the user when the unit is on. It does not interfere with the driver during the movement, which can not be said about a similar "firefly" on the connector for the cigarette lighter. Users repeatedly left negative comments on the "Karkam Kombo 2" about this. The diode on the tail of the connector with its brightness distracts the driver, so you have to either cover it with something, or try to turn it around (which is not always possible).

Interfaces

On the left side of the device is located on the button on / off the gadget, which also performs the role of tuning the sensitivity of the detector or even allows you to turn it off. A little further on the body is a small hot-reset button and an interface for micro-SD cards.

The right end is assigned to a mini-USB slot for synchronization with a PC and recharging the device, as well as a normal AV-out. From the top you can see the grooves for attaching the device to the windshield where, if necessary, you can remove the detector from the bracket in one move. Judging by the reviews on the Karkam Kombo 2, the grooves are competently designed and reliably kept the gadget, not allowing it to jump out while the car is moving.

On the bottom of the detector are the original holes, where you can think that the device is equipped with some active cooling system. There are no references to this in the documentation, but during operation, if you listen, you can hear a sound very similar to the rotation of the fan blades.

On the rear of the device is the lens of a heterodyne receiver, which is just a detector of police radar. A half of the back of the device is occupied by the camera's eye. Working angle of the matrix varies within 160 degrees, which is very good. As for the GPS-module, it is hidden somewhere in the bowels of the gadget.

Housing

The case of the device is surprisingly fine and well assembled. Judging by the reviews on the "Karkam Kombo 2", during the operation of the gadget no loopholes, creaks or crunches were noticed. Even visually you can see that the body is made of high-quality plastic.

The design turned out to be non-mark, but users should avoid contact with lenses, optics and a screen: they collect fingerprints, which then are very difficult to get rid of. The device can be rotated 360 degrees, so it's not difficult to direct the DVR to the desired object (for example, the traffic police officer), as well as record the accompanying audio track.

Testing

Field tests showed that in the urban environment the gadget behaved quite adequately: it defined radars and warned about the speed limits. False positives, of course, were, but with rare exceptions, the detector reacted to the photo cells of the doors of shops and parking sensors in front of the cars.

As for the route, things are somewhat worse here. The device almost every time signaled the danger, seeing the next refueling, equipped with photocells.

Detector

Despite the existing shortcomings in the selectivity of the signal, the device with an enviable consistency determined all police cells: suspension radar, devices on tripods, all sorts of "hairdryers" and other equipment for relocation. And the detection was done about a kilometer, which is quite enough to reduce the speed.

Reviews on the Karkam Kombo 2 about the operation of the radar detector and the GPS module are mostly positive, and minor flaws such as triggering on photocells and parktronics can not be called critical for this segment, because as many as half of competing devices have the same problems.

DVR

To the work of DVR there are no serious questions. The device perfectly copes with the shooting in daylight in the Full HD-resolution and perfectly distinguishes the numbers of the cars ahead. At night, things are a bit worse: a weak ISO sensitivity of 400 units does not allow us to see the license plate number of cars, but if we pose with the settings (exposure parameters), we can get a completely tolerable twilight picture, where the information, if not easily, is more or less correct Read.

Summarizing

Such hybrid gadgets as "Karkam Kombo 2", as a rule, receive only the basic functionality of each embedded device. In our case, this is not quite so. The tests showed that we are dealing with a full-fledged radar detector with a GPS module and a DVR, which are simply enclosed in one enclosure. 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 a very positive impression of the device, even despite the existing shortcomings. The device, definitely, deserves your attention and is worth it to be bought.

Approximate cost of the device is about 10 000 rubles.