Your All-in-One Guide on Setting Up Your BlackVue Dash Cam

This section focuses on how to connect your BlackVue dash cam to the BlackVue App. Whether you are using a non-LTE or an LTE-enabled dash cam, this guide will show the different methods you can use to pair your BlackVue to your phone via Seamless Pairing and Wi-Fi Pairing.

Whether you are a long-time BlackVue user or have recently purchased a BlackVue dash cam, one of the features that may have persuaded you to shop a BlackVue is its dedicated mobile app – the app that enables you to watch, download, and share your road trip and footage; and connect to the BlackVue Cloud.

We understand how you can't say no to features like instant alert notifications, two-way communication, live auto upload, video backup, and event map - we all do!

But before you enjoy these features, you gotta set up everything first. To help you start, we will show you a step-by-step guide on how to get your BlackVue going - from connecting your dash cam to the BlackVue App, the methods available, registering your SIM Card, and also a walkthrough of the BlackVue Cloud.

Ready? Let’s go!

First, let us tell you how the BlackVue world was like without this feature. Without Seamless Pairing, users who want to access their dash cam’s files over Wi-Fi have to first connect to the dash cam from their phone’s Wi-Fi network menu. That means scanning available Wi-Fi networks, then manually entering the dash cam’s Wi-Fi password. Then, they can go back to the BlackVue App to access the dash cam via the “Connect to camera” menu.

However, even after closing the BlackVue app, the phone stays connected to the dash cam, which can cause the users’ phone to lose internet connectivity. Now, with Seamless Pairing, the connection process is done right from the BlackVue app.

Seamless Pairing technology is found in the X series and above versions of the DR750 Series and above, so majority of the BlackVue dash cams are already equipped with this feature.

After downloading the BlackVue app in the App Store or Google Play, here’s what you need to do to connect via Seamless Pairing:

1. In the BlackVue app, tap “Connect to camera”
2. The BlackVue app scans for your dash cam and automatically detects it (as long as it is powered, of course).
3. You confirm the connection by tapping the side of the dash cam with the proximity sensor.
4. And that’s it. You are now connected and the dash cam is saved in your app for even easier connection later.
5. Next time you want to connect via Wi-Fi, your BlackVue camera name will be listed. Pressing on the camera name will automatically cause your phone to search for, and connect to the BlackVue network.

Now, if your BlackVue model doesn't support Seamless Pairing, don’t worry as you can still connect them through Wi-Fi pairing. Wi-Fi only models include all cameras under the BlackVue S series like the DR900S or the DR750S or older, with the exception of the DR590X, which is still Wi-Fi only.

For manual pairing, the connection process is going to be a little more complicated, though rest assured once done, the camera will be registered in the same way, and just as simple.

Note: Although BlackVue introduced Seamless Pairing with the DR900X Plus series, the dash cam manufacturer has also updated the firmware of past models (when possible) to support the feature. Here is a list of models that support the feature:

• DR970X Series
• DR770X Series
• DR900X Plus Series with firmware 1.000 and up.
• DR750X Plus Series with firmware 1.003 and up.
• DR750X Series with firmware 1.008 and up.
• DR900X Series with firmware 1.008 and up.
• DR750-2CH LTE with firmware 1.008 and up.

Ready to connect? Here’s how to do it:

1. Similar to the first step above, let’s do the same in the camera tab of the BlackVue App, pressing on the “+ Camera button”. This time, select “Wi-Fi Only Model”.
2. Next, exit the BlackVue app, and navigate over to the settings of your phone.
3. In the Wi-Fi settings of your phone, choose your BlackVue dashcam from the network list. The dashcam’s default SSID begins with its model number (e.g. BlackVue DR770X-******).
4. Enter the password and tap join. The default Wi-Fi SSID and password is printed , underneath the mount of the front camera, or on the interior of the box.
5. Once connected to the camera WiFi, if it states “No internet connection” or a similar message, this is perfectly normal and we can continue.
6. Return to the app, and press continue. After this is done, the app will instruct you to leave the app, and disconnect from the camera’s Wi-Fi.
7. Finally, return to the app. The camera will be registered in your camera tab of the BlackVue app. You can complete the Cloud connection at any time by pressing the “Cloud connection steps” button in the bottom right of your camera’s profile.

Despite the fact that BlackVue has made advances to ease the mobile pairing and dash cam registration processes, they still wanted to make connecting its cameras to the Cloud even simpler for its users.

While tech-savvy car owners may not mind searching for and selecting a data SIM card or configuring a mobile hotspot in their vehicle, some may find the process as a challenge. Thus, they introduced the new BlackVue SIM Card.

The BlackVue SIM Card, which uses Telenor's global network, enables owners of BlackVue's latest dash cams with built-in LTE  like the DR970X-2CH LTE and the DR770X-2CH LTE to easily connect their model to the Cloud right out of the box.

Upon installation, the BlackVue SIM card activates automatically in the dash cam. It also includes a 1GB one-month free trial and supports B2, B4, and B12 Band networks.

If you don’t have a BlackVue SIM card but have a BlackVue LTE dash cam like the DR750X-2CH LTE, DR770X-2CH LTE, or the DR970X-2CH LTE, the connection method will just be the same for third-party sim cards.

Note: LTE devices are compatible with data-only third-party SIM cards from: T-Mobile, Bell, Rogers and Telus. For more specifics on what to look for when choosing a third party card, check out our guide here.

Also, if you are using a non-LTE BlackVue dash cam, you can use the external CM100G LTE module that we will also dive deeper into later on. Ready to use your BlackVue or compatible third-party SIM? Here’s how to use in connecting to the Cloud:

1. From the camera’s new profile you’ll see a bar beneath it that states “Cloud connection step ½”. Give that a press, and allow the app the GPS permissions it needs for registration.
2. On the next screen, the app will ask you to select a Cloud connection method. The top SIM card option is for whether you’re using a CM100G LTE module or an LTE dash cam. The other option is Wi-Fi hotspot, which should be used to pair the camera to any form of Wi-Fi in or around the vehicle.
3. For the LTE option, you’ll need either a BlackVue branded SIM card that comes included with new models, or a third-party SIM card. Again, the BlackVue SIM card is the easier option with plans available through BlackVue directly. The following registration will be for third party SIM cards.
4. For the non LTE dash cams, ensure that the SIM card is inserted into the CM100G LTE module. Use the supplied SIM card eject tool, and carefully remove the SIM card tray.
5. Next, place the nano SIM card into the SIM card tray, then carefully place the tray and SIM card back into its slot.
6. Next, time to activate your BlackVue SIM Card! In the Cloud Connection menu, select the SIM card option. Here, it will bring you to the Activate SIM card menu. The first field is the Network Carrier field.
7. Press the search button on the right side, and search for your network carrier. If your network carrier does not appear, select “other network carrier”.
   
   Note: If the APN field does not fill in automatically, then it must be filled manually. Most APN field information can be provided by your network carrier, or found online, for example, the APN that will work with Telus SIM cards is: “Sp.telus.com”.
   
   
8. Underneath this, there is a Username and Password option, for North American SIM cards, both of these fields can be left fully blank.
9. Finally, connect to the Cloud! Press the done button. After a couple minutes, you should hear “Cloud connected” from the camera, and in the app the Cloud icon next to the camera should turn blue, with the WiFi light on the camera turning yellow.
10. Once completed successfully, your BlackVue dash camera will default to the Cloud whenever you press on its camera profile

First, the CM100G LTE module should be opened and configured before being placed on the windshield. Every package of the CM100G LTE module comes with 2 useful tools - a small screwdriver, and a slim SIM card removal tool.  

Using the screwdriver, we can unscrew the bolt in the bottom right of the LTE module, and pull out the small tray it is fixed to.

Behind this tray, you should notice a small pinhole on the right side. Using the SIM card removal tool, press into the hole, and the SIM card tray should pop out.

Next, put the SIM card in the tray, the tray back in the module, and screw the cover shut. Once we’re all done, we can connect the module to the BlackVue dash cam.

Before registering your third party SIM card, the BlackVue dash camera itself will need to be registered and linked to the BlackVue Cloud account.

If you don’t have a BlackVue Cloud account yet, you can register for one here, or through the BlackVue app downloadable on iOS and Android devices. Once logged in to the app, we can start the dash camera registration through manual Wi-Fi or Seamless Pairing. If you need some refreshers on how to connect through these methods, our step-by-step guide is in Section 1 of this article!

Now that registration is completed, your camera name should show in your Cameras list. Once done, we can move on to registering the SIM card itself.

1. From the camera’s new profile you’ll see a bar beneath it that states “Cloud connection step ½”. Give that a press, and allow the app the GPS permissions it needs for registration.
2. On the next screen, the app will ask you to select a Cloud connection method. The top SIM card option is for since you are using a CM100G LTE Module. The other option is Wi-Fi hotspot, which should be used to pair the camera to any form of Wi-Fi in or around the vehicle.
3. For the LTE option, you’ll need either a BlackVue branded SIM card that comes included with new models, or a third-party SIM card. The BlackVue SIM card is the easier option with plans available through BlackVue directly. The following registration will be for third party SIM cards.
   
   Note: LTE devices are compatible with data-only third-party SIM cards from: T-Mobile, Bell, Rogers and Telus. For more specifics on what to look for when choosing a third party card, check out our guide here.
   
   
4. Ensure that the SIM card is inserted into the CM100G LTE module. Use the supplied SIM card eject tool, and carefully remove the SIM card tray.
5. Next, place the nano SIM card into the SIM card tray, then carefully place the tray and SIM card back into its slot.
6. Next, time to activate your BlackVue SIM Card! In the Cloud Connection menu, select the SIM card option. Here, it will bring you to the Activate SIM card menu. The first field is the Network Carrier field.
7. Press the search button on the right side, and search for your network carrier. If your network carrier does not appear, select “other network carrier”.

Note: If the APN field does not fill in automatically, then it must be filled manually. Most APN field information can be provided by your network carrier, or found online, for example, the APN that will work with Telus SIM cards is: “Sp.telus.com”.

1. Underneath this, there is a Username and Password option, for North American SIM cards, both of these fields can be left fully blank.
2. Finally, connect to the Cloud! Press the done button. After a couple minutes, you should hear “Cloud connected” from the camera, and in the app the Cloud icon next to the camera should turn blue, with the WiFi light on the camera turning yellow.
3. Once completed successfully, your BlackVue dash camera will default to the Cloud whenever you press on its camera profile!