1. Channels and Per-Camera Quality
Point one: does the system take the channel count your worst vehicle needs — and what is the per-camera resolution? Four full-HD channels (the TM4 spec) covers van-to-bus fleets; check that resolution is per-channel, not shared, and that spare inputs exist for expansion without a second device.
- Channel count for the worst vehicle, not the best
- Per-channel resolution confirmed
- Spare inputs for expansion
2. Power Logic: 12/24V and the Cutoff
Point two: 12/24V auto-sensing (mixed fleets fail fixed-voltage units), and parking-mode power logic with a low-voltage cutoff that protects the starting battery. Ask for the cutoff threshold in writing — a system without cutoff will strand a vehicle, and stranded-vehicle calls cost more than the unit.
- 12/24V auto-sensing
- Cutoff threshold documented
- Ignition-switched recording logic
3. Storage: Endurance, Capacity, Protection
Point three: high-endurance card support (surveillance-class write cycles), realistic capacity (256GB for a week of 4-channel), and physical protection — a locked faceplate beats an open slot in any vehicle where drivers or thieves can reach it. Ask whether the card survives vibration spec, not just bench spec.
- Surveillance-class endurance rating
- 256GB for a 4-channel week
- Locked faceplate against tampering
4. Night Vision: Every Channel, Full Color
Point four: night capability per channel — routes run in the dark, and rear/side incidents happen under the worst light. Full-color night vision on every channel (the TM-series standard) keeps all evidence usable; systems that only spec night vision on the front channel leave three blind channels after sunset.
- Night vision confirmed per channel
- Full color, not monochrome only
- Routes run at night = all-channel spec
5. 4G and Platform: The Dispatch Layer
Point five: if dispatch needs remote visibility, verify 4G live view on demand, GPS reporting, auto-upload of event clips, and CMSV6 platform compatibility — the industry standard that ties mixed fleets together without vendor lock-in. Confirm the SIM is unlocked and the data model is pull-based live view plus event upload, not always-on streaming that burns data budgets.
- 4G live view on demand
- GPS reporting continuous
- CMSV6 compatibility confirmed
- SIM unlocked, pull-based data model
6. Durability: Vibration, Washdown, Temperature
Point six: the environmental spec. Vibration-rated housings (coach and truck duty destroy rigid assemblies), washdown-safe camera bodies (fleet wash bays are weekly), and operating temperature spanning winter starts to summer cabins — -20°C to +70°C with supercapacitor backup power is the fleet-grade envelope. Anything less fails in the first season of real duty.
- Vibration-rated assemblies
- Washdown-safe cameras
- -20°C to +70°C, supercapacitor backup
7. Warranty and Spare-Part Terms
Point seven: the warranty in writing — 12 months minimum, replacement (not repair) turnaround, and spare-part availability after the warranty. Ask what happens in month 13: a supplier without spare parts stocked through the product's life leaves your fleet supporting itself. Our terms: 12-month replacement warranty, parts stocked through the product life, and engineer support on WhatsApp within a business day.
- 12-month replacement warranty
- Spare parts stocked long-term
- Engineer support within one business day
8. Ordering: The Checklist as the Purchase Order
Hand this checklist to any supplier and score the answers. The TM-series platform answers every point as standard: 4 full-HD channels, 12/24V auto-sensing with cutoff, locked 256GB storage, full-color night vision on all channels, optional 4G with CMSV6, fleet-grade environmental envelope, and 12-month replacement terms. MOQ 1 pc, fleet pricing from 10 units, worldwide shipping — the spec sheet is at phoenixcamera.group and samples ship on request.