# Start Driving and Mapping - HDC/HDC-S
## How long does it take for the dashcam to start mapping?
* Once the dashcam has power from your vehicle, it will automatically start mapping.
* May take about 60 seconds for the lights on the dashcam to turn on once your car is turned on.
* It may take a minute for the dashcam to get a GPS lock. If you are in a location with clear lines of sight to the sky and you still don’t have a GPS lock, make sure the dashcam isn’t next to anything that could interfere with the GPS signal.
## When can I map my drives?
* Drive like you normally do; simply keep the dashcam [mounted properly.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxEy4-lG0EM\&t=31s)
* The dashcam automatically stops mapping when it’s no longer day time.
* If it’s raining or snowing, focus on the road and the dashcam will take care of the rest.
## Does my phone need to be paired to the dashcam to map?
* No, your phone does not even need to be in the vehicle your dashcam is mapping.
* When your phone is in the car, use it for whatever you want - calls, music, podcasts, etc.
* The HDC can map disconnected from your phone for 8-10 hours of driving.
## When should I connect my phone to the dashcam?
* You must connect to the dashcam to offload map imagery to the Hivemapper app.
* Some professional drivers do this everyday, more casual drivers connect every few days to offload map imagery to their phone.
* When your app is connected to the dashcam it will automatically download map imagery from the dashcam (left column) to your phone (middle column) as shown in the example below.
{% hint style="info" %}
If your dashcam isn’t turning on or functioning properly after you have followed the above steps and given it time to update, send a note to .
{% endhint %}
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