Hardware & Setup

Technical reference hardware for commercial and multi-vehicle deployments.

ViewDrive is designed to work with readily available Android, networking and storage hardware.

For commercial deployments, we maintain a supported reference stack based on hardware we have tested and use in real-world ViewDrive installations.

Using our reference hardware provides a known baseline for performance, configuration and technical support.

Operators are free to source equipment independently and alternative hardware may also work. However, for larger commercial deployments, we recommend testing alternative equipment before committing to multiple devices or a full installation.

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Device

ViewDrive can be used on a wide range of Android devices. However, camera quality, processing power, and thermal performance vary significantly between manufacturers and models.

Modern, higher-spec phones generally deliver better video quality, smoother overlays, and more reliable long-duration recording, while older or lower-powered devices may produce reduced results.

For this reason, we have selected and fully tested a mid-range, widely available device from a reputable manufacturer as our approved reference device — the Samsung Galaxy S23. We use a reference device so we can test, optimise, and support ViewDrive against a known hardware baseline, ensuring consistent performance and predictable results across different deployments.

The Galaxy S23 has been extensively tested for:

  • Dual-camera picture-in-picture recording

  • Live telemetry overlay (speed, G-force, GPS)

  • Stable performance during continuous use

  • Reliable operation in high-temperature or high-vibration environments

  • Fast and consistent Wi-Fi file transfer

Using a single approved device allows us to ensure consistent results, predictable performance, and reliable support across all subscription tiers of ViewDrive.

Note: The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE model is not compatible at this stage.

However, before contacting support, please ensure your device is capable of running the latest version of Android supported by Google, as outdated operating systems can impact stability and compatibility.

An Android recording device is required for all subscriptions.

Using Another Android Device?

Other Android phones may work with ViewDrive.

For individual users, the simplest way to check compatibility is to download ViewDrive from Google Play and test the device free of charge.

For commercial deployments, we recommend testing one device before purchasing multiple units.

If you are considering a different Android model for a fleet deployment, contact us and we can help assess its suitability.

Test ViewDrive Free →
Ask About Device Compatibility →

Phone Vehicle Mounting

Correct phone mounting is essential for stable footage, accurate picture-in-picture alignment, and safe operation.

The mounting solution must hold the device securely in position throughout a session, without flex or movement under vibration or load.

For standard road and commercial deployments, our current reference mounting setup is:

Normal Windscreen / Dash Mounting

ViewDrive Reference Mounting Setup

Our recommended ViewDrive mounting configuration uses the Quad Lock 360 system:

Why We Recommend the Small Arm

We specifically recommend the Dual Pivot Small arm rather than the Medium version.

Keeping the phone closer to the suction base creates a shorter mounting assembly, helping to reduce movement and vibration while driving and providing a more stable camera position.

The dual-pivot design still provides enough adjustment to position the phone correctly for both the road and driver views.

Important

For the ViewDrive reference configuration, use:

Small Arm — not Medium
Original Universal Adaptor — not MAG

This combination provides a rigid, vibration-resistant mounting solution that is:

  • Extremely stable under hard driving

  • Fully removable for shared or rotating vehicles

  • Well suited to fleet, track, and event use

Alternative mounting solutions may be used, but they must provide a secure, non-flexing installation capable of holding the device firmly in position for the duration of a session.

Motorsport & Track Environments

In motorsport and track-day environments, camera and phone mounting may be subject to event-specific regulations, circuit rules or scrutineering requirements, which can vary between organisers and venues.

Operators and drivers are responsible for ensuring that any mounting system used with ViewDrive:

  • Complies with the rules of the organising body, venue or circuit

  • Is securely installed and does not present a safety risk

  • Is approved by event officials or scrutineers where required

In competitive or regulated environments, organisers may require hard-mounted solutions, such as roll-cage or chassis-mounted systems, and in some cases a secondary safety tether.

Where suction mounting is not permitted, an alternative hard-mounted or organiser-approved solution will therefore be required.

Systems from manufacturers such as RAM Mounts and 67 Designs can provide rigid mounting options and are referenced as examples only.

Minimising Vibration

Whichever mounting system is used, we recommend keeping the mounting arm as short as practically possible.

Reducing the distance between the fixing point and the phone helps minimise leverage, movement and vibration during demanding driving, resulting in a more stable camera position and better video.

Use the shortest suitable arm that still allows the phone to be correctly positioned for both the road and driver views.

Important — Motorsport Mounting

ViewDrive does not certify or approve mounting equipment for motorsport use. References to mounting systems or manufacturers on this website are recommendations based on our experience with ViewDrive and should not be interpreted as confirmation that a particular installation complies with the requirements of any circuit, event or governing body.

Mounting requirements can vary by vehicle, venue, event and organiser. The operator and driver are responsible for confirming that the complete installation is permitted, securely fitted and approved by the relevant organiser, circuit or scrutineer before use.

For managed commercial deployments, ViewDrive can help specify and install an appropriate mounting solution; however, final approval for use in a regulated motorsport environment remains with the relevant organiser, circuit or scrutineer.

Commercial Network Architecture

For commercial operations, ViewDrive can automatically transfer completed recordings from devices over a local Wi-Fi network to central storage.

This setup is designed for multi-device environments where several ViewDrive devices may be transferring files simultaneously, as well as commercial operations using one or more devices that require reliable, seamless Wi-Fi transfer to a central location.

This could range from a single device operating across multiple vehicles to a large-scale operation with numerous vehicles recording and transferring simultaneously.

The basic architecture is:

ViewDrive Devices

↓

Wi-Fi Access Points

↓

Local Network

↓

PC / NAS Storage

Each vehicle operates independently.

When a recording is completed and the device connects to the ViewDrive network, the finished file can be transferred automatically to central storage without removing SD cards, connecting USB cables or manually collecting files from individual vehicles.

The size of the network depends on:

  • Number of vehicles

  • Operating area

  • Site layout

  • Wi-Fi coverage requirements

  • Typical video file sizes

  • Number of simultaneous transfers

  • Required storage capacity

Supported Commercial Reference Stack

The hardware listed on this page represents the ViewDrive supported reference stack, based on real-world deployments and live operator use.

  • Using this reference setup allows us to:

  • Ensure consistent performance and reliability

  • Provide faster, more effective technical support

  • Validate updates against a known hardware baseline

    Operators are free to source hardware independently or use alternative equipment. However, full support and guaranteed compatibility are provided only for the supported reference hardware listed. This approach allows ViewDrive to remain flexible while ensuring professional-grade reliability for commercial operators.

Outdoor Wi-Fi Access Points

Ubiquiti U7-Pro-Outdoor (UniFi WiFi 7 Access Point)

A high-performance, weatherproof access point designed to provide reliable outdoor Wi-Fi coverage across pit-lane and event environments.

The U7-Pro-Outdoor delivers fast, stable wireless performance for simultaneous uploads from multiple vehicles, making it well suited to commercial and multi-vehicle ViewDrive deployments where reliability and throughput are critical.

Multiple U7-Pro-Outdoor units can be deployed together to create seamless coverage across larger sites or busy operating areas.

Key specs (at a glance):

  • Wi-Fi standard: Wi-Fi 7 (future-ready performance)

  • Outdoor rated: Weatherproof design for permanent or temporary installs

  • Capacity: Built for high-density, multi-device environments

  • Power: Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) for simple installation

Exact access point selection may vary depending on site layout, vehicle count, and operating area.

Network Routing & Control (System Brain)

Ubiquiti UniFi Cloud Gateway (UCG-Ultra)

The UniFi Cloud Gateway acts as the central brain of the network, providing:

• Routing and DHCP

• Device management

• UniFi controller functionality

This allows operators to centrally manage access points, monitor network activity, and maintain stable communication between vehicles and local storage.

PoE Switching & Network Backbone

Ubiquiti USW-Pro-Max-16-PoE (180W)

This PoE switch forms the physical backbone of the system, providing:

  • Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) to all outdoor access points

  • High-speed wired connectivity between network components

  • A single, central location for network cabling

  • Simplified installation and fault finding

A PoE-based system allows both power and network connectivity to reach access points using a single Ethernet cable.

Smaller deployments may not require this exact switch specification.

Central Storage

Synology DS925+ NAS (Diskless)

For larger commercial deployments, our reference storage platform is the Synology DS925+ NAS.

A NAS acts as the central collection point for ViewDrive recordings arriving from multiple vehicles.

Our reference configuration uses:

  • Synology DS925+

  • 4 × 4TB NAS-rated hard drives

  • RAID-6 / SHR-2 protection

  • Approximately 8TB usable storage

The NAS provides:

  • Centralised file collection

  • Shared access to completed recordings

  • Fast local playback

  • Reduced manual file handling

  • Storage redundancy

Smaller operations may use a PC or laptop instead of a NAS.

High-Speed Internal Network Link

Where multiple large video files may arrive at the same time, the connection between the network switch and storage system can become an important performance consideration.

Our larger reference deployments can therefore use a 10GbE connection between the network and NAS.

Typical components include:

  • Synology E10G22-T1-Mini 10GbE network adaptor

  • Compatible SFP+ to 10GBASE-T connection

  • Cat6A Ethernet cabling

This reduces the risk of the storage connection becoming a bottleneck during periods of high simultaneous file transfer.

This level of networking is not required for every ViewDrive deployment.

Protection & Power Continuity

Ubiquiti ETH-SP-G2 Ethernet Surge Protectors

Installed per access-point line to protect against lightning and electrical surges in outdoor environments.

APC Back-UPS 700VA (405W)

Provides short-term backup power, allowing safe shutdown of network equipment during power loss and reducing the risk of data corruption.

Cabling & Deployment Practicalities

Commercial ViewDrive networks may also require:

  • Outdoor-rated Cat6 or Cat6A cabling

  • Short internal network patch cables

  • Cable reels for temporary deployments

  • Suitable weather protection

  • Flight cases or equipment enclosures

  • Power distribution

For repeated event deployments, correctly labelled cable reels and a pre-configured equipment enclosure can significantly reduce setup and pack-down time.

Most operators also use a flight case or rugged enclosure to house the NAS, switch, router, and power equipment.

Scaling the Reference Setup

The equipment listed above represents the ViewDrive supported reference stack, not a mandatory shopping list for every installation.

A five-vehicle dealership does not require the same infrastructure as a large driving experience venue operating dozens of vehicles.

The system can be scaled according to:

  • Number of vehicles

  • Number of simultaneous recordings

  • Transfer frequency

  • Operating area

  • Site layout

  • Storage requirements

  • Whether the installation is permanent or temporary

We recommend specifying commercial installations around the actual operating environment rather than simply purchasing every component listed above.

Extending the ViewDrive Workflow

Local storage doesn’t have to be the end of the ViewDrive workflow.

For commercial deployments, completed recordings can form part of a wider end-to-end media delivery system, taking video from the vehicle through to the customer without manual file handling.

ViewDrive Media Delivery

For operators who want ViewDrive to manage the customer-delivery process too, ViewDrive Media Delivery is a separate, optional software service that extends the workflow beyond local file transfer.

Finished recordings can be matched to individual customers and automatically delivered by email through a branded media page configured around your organisation, event or campaign.

Record → Transfer → Match → Deliver

Learn About Media Delivery →

Your Own Systems

ViewDrive can also form part of an operator’s existing technology infrastructure.

For organisations with their own cloud storage, media platform or customer-delivery systems, the ViewDrive file-transfer workflow can form part of a wider deployment without requiring ViewDrive Media Delivery.

This gives commercial operators the flexibility to use ViewDrive for capture and automated local transfer while retaining their own downstream media and customer workflows.Build It Yourself or Let Us Build It

ViewDrive gives commercial operators the flexibility to build and manage their own hardware setup or have us provide the complete deployment.

Build It Yourself

Technical operators can source and configure their own equipment using the ViewDrive Supported Hardwarespecification on this page.

The hardware listed represents our current reference stack — equipment we have selected, tested and use as a known baseline for ViewDrive commercial deployments.

For larger installations, we recommend contacting us before purchasing phones, mounts, networking or storage equipment in volume.

Let Us Build It

ViewDrive can provide a complete Managed Deployment Service, taking care of the hardware and technical setup for you.

Depending on your operation, this can include:

  • Hardware specification and sourcing

  • Android devices and ViewDrive configuration

  • Vehicle mounting

  • Wi-Fi access points and networking

  • PC or NAS storage

  • File-transfer configuration

  • Custom graphic overlays

  • Installation and positioning

  • System and vehicle testing

  • On-site commissioning

  • Team training and handover

We can configure the system around your vehicles, site and workflow, then install and test it ready for operation.

One system. Supplied, configured and ready to use.

Discuss a Managed Deployment →

Important Notes

All hardware is purchased separately from ViewDrive App subscriptions unless specifically included as part of a quoted Managed Deployment or event package.

Operators are free to source supported hardware independently from suitable suppliers, or ViewDrive can source equipment as part of a Managed Deployment.

The equipment listed on this page represents our current supported reference specification. Quantities and exact configurations can be scaled according to the number of vehicles, site layout, operating area, expected simultaneous transfers and storage requirements.

Not every commercial deployment requires every component listed. A single-vehicle or small installation may require little more than a compatible Android device and secure mount, while larger multi-vehicle operations may require additional Wi-Fi access points, networking, storage and power equipment.

Hardware models and specifications may change over time as manufacturers update or discontinue products and as ViewDrive continues to test alternative equipment.

For commercial deployments, we strongly recommend contacting ViewDrive before purchasing hardware in volume.

Hardware & Installation Disclaimer

The devices, mounting equipment, networking components and storage systems listed on this page represent the ViewDrive supported reference specification, based on our own testing and deployment experience.

The information provided is intended as technical guidance and does not guarantee that a particular component or configuration will be suitable for every vehicle, venue, event, network or operating environment.

Operators are responsible for ensuring that equipment is correctly installed, securely mounted, safely operated and suitable for its intended environment, including compliance with any applicable vehicle, venue, circuit, motorsport, electrical or event-specific requirements.

Alternative phones, mounts, networking equipment and storage hardware may work with ViewDrive but should be tested before being purchased or deployed at scale. ViewDrive cannot guarantee compatibility or performance with hardware that has not been tested as part of our supported specification.

Where ViewDrive provides a Managed Deployment, we will specify, configure and test the system for the agreed operating environment. However, operators remain responsible for any site-specific, vehicle-specific, venue, circuit, motorsport or regulatory approvals required for its use.

Hardware recommendations and supported specifications may be updated as products, software and operating requirements change.

If you are planning a commercial or multi-vehicle deployment, contact ViewDrive before purchasing equipment and we can confirm the current recommended specification for your operation.