Escort M1 Dash Cam User Manual
Introduction
Congratulations on your purchase of the Escort M1 dash cam. The Escort M1 provides peace of mind by continuously recording the road in crystal clear, 1080P HD video. Working alongside your Escort (and Beltronics) radar/laser detector, the M1 offers cutting-edge features, phenomenal video quality, and ease of use, making it a perfect companion for your ride. Please read this User Manual to familiarize yourself with the various features of the Escort M1.
Compatibility
Please refer to the M1 compatibility chart below to ensure it works with your Escort (and Beltronics) radar/laser detector:
| Brand | Models | Accessory Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Beltronics | GT-1, GT-7, GT-360 | No Additional Accessory Required |
| Beltronics | GX65, Pro 100, Pro 200, Pro 300, Pro 500, RX55, RX65, STi Driver, STi Magnum, V6, V8, V10, Vector 895, 940, 945, 955, 965, 990 | Requires Optional ESCORT StickyCup Mounting Bracket |
| Escort | ESCORT iX, ESCORT iXc, MAX 360, MAX 360c, Passport Max, Passport Max II, Passport Max 2, RedLine EX | No Additional Accessory Required |
| Escort | ESCORT C65, Passport, Passport 8500, Passport 8500 X50, Passport 8500 X50 Black, Passport S55, Passport X70, Passport X80, Redline, Solo S2, Solo S3, Solo S4 | Requires Optional ESCORT StickyCup Mounting Bracket |
| Escort International | MAX 360c INTL | No Additional Accessory Required |
| NOT Compatible | SmartCord Live, ZW5, 9500i, 9500ix, Passport iQ, S75G | NOT Compatible |
M1 Features
- Wi-Fi Connectivity to the Escort M1 App: Review or edit video files recorded on the micro SD memory card and transfer them to your smartphone via the Escort M1 App. Refer to the "Downloading the M1 App" and "Connecting to Wi-Fi" sections for details.
- 1080P Full HD: The Escort M1 records the road ahead in 1080P HD, offering excellent image quality, enhanced night vision, and Wide Dynamic Range (WDR).
- 160° Viewing Angle: An ultra wide-angle view provides a full perspective of the road and your periphery while minimizing edge distortion.
- Continuous Loop Recording: Footage is stored in 1, 2, or 3-minute clips. When the memory card fills up, the camera automatically deletes the oldest clips to make room for new ones.
- Emergency Recording (Automatic or Manual): To protect a clip from being overwritten, press the Power/Emergency Recording button. Clips are also automatically protected if an impact is detected.
- G-Sensor: A 3-axis accelerometer senses sudden accelerations, stops, and collisions, automatically protecting footage surrounding the incident.
- Wide Dynamic Range (WDR): Optimized to maximize video clarity in daylight or night-time conditions.
- Space-saving, Simple Installation: Mount the M1 dash cam on your Escort (or Beltronics) radar/laser detector and it will automatically start recording without complex configuration. Refer to the Installation Guide section for details.
- Ready to Use: Includes a 16GB micro SD memory card and power connector for your Escort (or Beltronics) radar/laser detector.
- Built-in Microphone: Records audio along with your video. The microphone can be toggled off via the M1 App if you prefer not to record audio.
- Auto Record and Auto Power Off: The M1 turns on and starts recording as soon as power is applied. When power is removed, the M1 safely stops recording and shuts down.
Product Service and Support
To obtain service:
- Contact ESCORT at 1-800-543-1608 to obtain a Return Authorization Number.
- Properly pack your product, including your name, complete return address, a written description of the problem, your daytime telephone number, and a copy of the original proof of purchase or receipt.
- Label the outside of the package clearly with your Return Authorization Number.
- Ship the product prepaid (insured, for your protection) to: ESCORT, Inc., 5440 West Chester Rd., West Chester, OH 45069.
Register your product at: www.escortradar.com/pages/registration
Full manual available at: www.escortradar.com
Installation Instructions
I. What's Included with the Escort M1
- A. Lock Washer x 1
- B. Standard Washer x 1
- C. Camera Mount Arm x 1
- D. 45mm M1 Bolt for Sticky Cup Mount x1
- E. Escort M1 x 1
Note: Your M1 is pre-mounted on the (C) Camera Mount Arm.
II. What to reuse from your Detector Sticky Cup Mount
- F. Sticky Cup Mount Thumb Screw x 1
- G. Sticky Cup Mount x 1
Note: The 45mm M1 Bolt for the Sticky Cup Mount will replace the existing carriage bolt on your detector Sticky Cup Mount.
Diagram: Installation of the M1 to your Detector's Sticky Cup Mount
Diagram showing the attachment of the Escort M1 Dash Cam to a detector's sticky cup mount. Components labeled include: Longer Carriage Bolt - Included with M1, Sticky Cup Mount - Included with your detector, Camera Mount Arm & Washers - Included with M1, Sticky Cup Mount Thumb Screw - Included with your detector, Escort M1 Dash Cam.
III. Mounting the Sticky Suction Cup in your vehicle and adjusting the detector and M1 angles
- Remove the backing from the Sticky Cup mount, if not already removed.
- Ensure the M1 is centered on your windshield and not the detector. This provides a symmetrical recording view to capture both edges of the windshield. Mount the detector and M1 away from windshield wipers and heavily tinted areas that might obstruct the radar antenna, laser, and camera lenses.
- Firmly press the Sticky Cup onto the windshield and flip the locking clamp to secure.
- Slide the detector onto the mounting bracket until fully engaged. If using a magnet type mount, the magnet holds the detector in place.
- Loosen the Sticky Cup Mount Thumb Screw to adjust the detector mounting angle. For optimal detection and performance, mount the detector level and high enough to provide a clear view of the road from front and rear. Once adjusted, tighten the Sticky Cup Mount Thumb Screw to secure the detector.
- Next, loosen the Camera Mount Thumb Screw and adjust the camera to be level with the detector, then retighten the screw.
IV. Connecting Power to your M1 dash cam and Detector
- Connect the pigtail RJ-11 power cord from the M1 to your Detector.
- Plug your Detector's SmartCord into the M1's RJ-11 receptacle and connect the cigarette lighter plug to your vehicle's 12V power outlet.
- Turn the ignition key ON. Both the Detector and M1 will power up and become operational.
Controls and Connections
Diagram: Escort M1 Dash Cam Controls
Diagram showing the front and back of the Escort M1 Dash Cam with controls labeled. Front: Camera Lens, Buzzer, Wi-Fi On/Off Button, Camera Mount Thread. Back: Status Indicator LED, Microphone, MIC/USB ports, Power/Emergency File Lock Button, Camera Reset Button (recessed), Micro-USB Connector (for video download to computer), MicroSD Card Slot, RJ-11 Power Cord (connects to your detector).
Basic Operation
Powering On the Dash Cam
When plugged in, the camera will power on and start recording automatically.
WARNING!
- Do not remove the micro SD memory card while the M1 is on and recording. This will corrupt the video clip being recorded.
- Do not insert the micro SD memory card while the M1 is on. Always insert the micro SD memory card while the M1 is off.
The Micro SD Memory Card
The device comes with a micro SD memory card. To remove the card, press firmly on it to push it further into the slot. It will click and pop out upon release. Insert a new card by pressing it into the slot until it locks in place. This camera is compatible with micro SD memory cards up to 32GB.
IMPORTANT: Please format the micro SD memory card within the camera before use. Connect to the M1 App and select "Format SD Memory Card" under Camera Settings. Class 10 high endurance cards from reputable brands are recommended for constant video recording.
Continuous Loop Recording
Once the memory card is full, the camera will continuously overwrite the oldest video clip. To protect a clip from being overwritten, press the Power/Emergency Record Button.
Emergency Recording
An Emergency Recording is triggered when the Power/Emergency Record Button is pressed or when the G-Sensor registers an impact. Emergency Recordings create locked video clips that are not overwritten by Continuous Loop Recording. Adjacent video clips are locked if the incident happens within 30 seconds of the beginning or end of a file, ensuring important footage is not lost.
Buttons, Status Indicator LED, & Buzzer
The M1 uses a Status Indicator LED and Buzzer to communicate its operational/recording status. Please refer to the details in the table below:
1. Controls & Indicators
| Operation | M1 Dash Cam Unit | Status Indicator LED | Buzzer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Using M1 Dash Cam inside your vehicle: | |||
| Power Button Important: Power Button is not used to turn on the M1 Dash Cam. Simply connect the power cord that came with your detector to your M1 Dash Cam and start your engine. | When the engine starts and power is supplied to the M1 Dash Cam, the camera will start recording automatically. This will also turn Wi-Fi ON automatically. | LED stays steady RED for 3 seconds and then changes to blinking GREEN during recording. | Short, single beep will sound. |
| Single press of the Power Button while recording | Locks the video as an Emergency Recording clip. Emergency recording clip will not be overwritten by newer video clips. | LED blinks GREEN and RED alternately while the file is being saved. Once the Emergency Recording clip is saved, the LED will revert back to recording status with blinking GREEN. | Short, single beep on press of the Power Button, followed by 2-second beep at the end of file save completion. |
| Press & hold Power Button for greater than 2 seconds | Turns the camera and Wi-Fi OFF. | LED stays on steady RED for 2 seconds until power is cut off. | Short, single beep will sound. |
| Wi-Fi Button | |||
| Single press of Wi-Fi Button | Turns Wi-Fi OFF to conserve battery power on your connected Android or iOS smartphone/tablet. | LED will blink RED indefinitely until the Wi-Fi Button is pressed again to turn Wi-Fi ON. Note: video recording continues unaffected by Wi-Fi status. | 2-second beep will sound. |
| Connecting M1 Dash Cam to a computer via USB: | |||
| 1) Connect M1 Dash Cam to your computer via USB cable 2) Start a media player software on your computer, such as the Windows® Media Player or Mac® QuickTime Player™ | Your M1 Dash Cam will be recognized as an external drive. Click on the external drive to view folders within them and review/edit video files. | LED stays on steady GREEN while the M1 Dash Cam stays connected to your computer and powered ON. | Short, single beep will sound, once M1 Dash Cam is recognized as an external drive. |
| Showing Error Status | M1 Dash Cam is a simple, plug & play device where very few errors occur. | Camera will not start recording. Please check your microSD memory card. | |
| Errors are typically related to one of the following: | Corrective Action: | ||
| a) memory card is full with Emergency Recording clips | a) Delete or transfer Emergency Recording clips to PC. | LED stays on steady RED until the problem is corrected. | Continuous, 3 consecutive beeps with 2 seconds of silence in between. |
| b) memory card not properly inserted into memory card slot | b) Re-insert memory card correctly until it locks in place. | ||
| c) memory card cannot be recognized by M1 Dash Cam | c) If re-inserting memory card in above b) does not correct the problem, try reformatting the microSD memory card from the M1 Dash Cam App. |
Downloading the Escort M1 App
Download the Escort M1 App from the App Store or Google Play and install it on your smartphone.
App Store icon: [App Store logo]
Google Play icon: [Google Play logo]
Connecting the M1 to Your Smartphone
Once you have installed the Escort M1 App, follow the steps below to connect the M1 to your smartphone:
Connecting M1 Dash Cam to your Android or iOS smartphone via M1 Dash Cam App:
- Connect to M1 Dash Cam using the Wi-Fi menu on your smartphone. Alternatively, open the "M1 Dash Cam" App and tap the Wi-Fi icon, which will direct you to the Wi-Fi menu setting on your Android smartphone.
- Find the Wi-Fi SSID "Escort M1" and enter the password "12345678."
- After your smartphone Wi-Fi is connected to M1, the Escort M1 status turns green.
- You can stay on this screen to change settings or access video files. Otherwise, click the "check" button at the top to go to the Home Screen.
Reference Screens:
Wi-Fi screen showing connection status.
Camera Selection screen.
Connected status screen.
Ready to connect screen.
Wi-Fi networks list showing "Escort M1" as connected.
Tap to go to home screen button.
Escort M1 App Settings
The following settings can be changed via the Escort M1 App:
Camera Settings
- Video Resolution: Allows selection of one of three resolutions: 1080P Full HD (1920x1080 30 Frames per Second - default), 720P HD 60fps (1280x720 60 Frames per Second), or 720P HD 30fps (1280x720 30 Frames per Second). Note: Higher resolutions provide a sharper image but use more memory.
- Video Stamp: Turn the video stamp on/off and set one of three time stamp formats: YYYY/MM/DD (Default), MM/DD/YYYY, or DD/MM/YYYY.
- Wide Dynamic Range (WDR): Turn WDR on or off. When WDR is on (default), the camera automatically adjusts luminance to avoid underexposure or overexposure.
- Loop Recording: Control the duration of each video clip (1 minute, 3 minutes, or 5 minutes). Shorter clips are generally preferred for easier transfer and editing.
- Auto Recording: Turn Auto Recording on or off. When on (default), the dash cam powers up and starts recording automatically when power is supplied. If off, you must press the Power/Emergency Record Button to start recording.
- Camera Date/Time: Set the dash cam date/time by syncing with your smartphone (default) or manually.
Other Settings
- G-Sensor Sensitivity: Set sensitivity from 1-3 or turn it off. Level 1 is easiest to activate; Level 3 is hardest. The G-Sensor detects collisions and automatically locks the recording.
- Record Audio: Record audio with video (default), turn it off, or record audio only for emergency video clips.
- Exposure Value: Adjust the dash cam's exposure value (default is 0.0). Positive values make the picture brighter; negative values make it darker.
- Restore Camera Default Settings: Resets dash cam settings to factory defaults. Note: This does not erase data on your memory card.
- Format SD Memory Card: Formats the inserted micro SD Card. NOTE: This action will permanently delete all data on the card. It is recommended to format any new card and periodically format existing cards.
- Wi-Fi Mode: Choose between Access Point (AP) Mode (default) or Station Mode. In AP Mode, you can access video clips and change settings via your smartphone. In Station Mode (Android users only), you can access both the dash cam and the internet simultaneously.
App Settings
- Auto Connect on Startup: When on (default), the smartphone automatically connects to the dash cam whenever the App is launched.
- File Sorting: Sort recorded video clips from Latest to Oldest (default) or Oldest to Latest.
Connecting to a Computer
The M1 can connect to a computer via the micro USB port on the back of the unit using the included micro USB to USB Type A cable. Alternatively, you can remove the micro SD Card and plug it directly into a computer (may require an adapter, not included). Most video players, such as Microsoft® Windows Media Player™ and Apple® QuickTime™, can play, edit, and save video files.
Dash Cam Software Update Instructions
For optimal performance, check www.escortradar.com/ periodically for software updates.
- Connect the dash cam to your computer using the included USB to micro USB cable.
- Power on the dash cam and select "Connect to Computer" using the record/select button.
- The camera will be listed as ESCORT M1 in Windows Explorer.
- Download the update file (FW96658A.bin) from www.escortradar.com/ and save it. Note: You do not need to open this file.
- Copy/paste or drag the update file (FW96658A.bin) into the root directory of the ESCORT M1 folder. Note: The file name must be FW96658A.bin to update the firmware.
- Disconnect the dash cam from the computer; it will turn off.
- Reconnect the dash cam with the USB cable. The dash cam will turn on and automatically update the firmware.
- You will hear several beeps and see the LED flashing red. Once the beeps and flashing stop, the firmware update is complete. The firmware update file will be deleted automatically.
Troubleshooting
If your unit is not operating properly, please follow these troubleshooting steps:
- Ensure the power cord to the M1 and the pigtail cord from the M1 to the detector are properly connected.
- Make sure the socket of your vehicle's cigarette lighter is clean and free of corrosion.
- Ensure the power cord's cigarette lighter adapter is firmly seated in your cigarette lighter, and the power LED is on.
- Make sure the micro SD memory card is properly inserted into the memory card slot.
For detailed and up-to-date FAQs, please visit www.escortradar.com/support/faqs.
Trademark Acknowledgement, Warnings, and Regulatory Information
©2017 ESCORT Inc. ESCORT®, M1®, and Sticky Cup Mount™ are trademarks of ESCORT, Inc.
FCC NOTE: Modifications not expressly approved by the manufacturer could void the user's FCC granted authority to operate the equipment. This device complies with part 15 of the FCC rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.
DISPOSAL OF ELECTRONICS EQUIPMENT: This product may contain hazardous substances that could impact health and the environment if not disposed of properly. The crossed out wheeled bin symbol ♻️ indicates that the product should not be disposed of with household waste. It should be handed over to an applicable collection point for the recycling of electrical equipment. Proper disposal helps prevent potential negative impacts on the environment.
For more information on collection, reuse, and recycling systems, please contact your local civic office or the shop where it was originally purchased.
Symbols: ROHS compliant ✔️, Wi-Fi ?
