OK community, you have all been very helpful with my questions so far so here’s another one; back up cameras, which ones do you have? Do they work? Does yours have sound? What brands are best? Thanks in advance for all your responses. I
Backup cameras
- Thread starter craig r
- Start date
The cameras themselves are pretty much all the same, the monitor and software however, that's where the differences lie.
Finding an unobtrusive place to mount the monitor is the most important factor IMO. On a bright day with sun coming in the windshield it can be difficult to see the monitor if backlit like that. I started off with the P.O.'s dashboard mount but soon moved the monitor down so I could see the screen better.
I have a Kenwood camera, not sure what monitor is, generic I think.
Larry
Finding an unobtrusive place to mount the monitor is the most important factor IMO. On a bright day with sun coming in the windshield it can be difficult to see the monitor if backlit like that. I started off with the P.O.'s dashboard mount but soon moved the monitor down so I could see the screen better.
I have a Kenwood camera, not sure what monitor is, generic I think.
Larry
Mine is just a "no name" unit I bought on-sale years ago. The resolution isn't great so maybe I might look at a new one soon.
Couple of suggestions from an electronics guy who spent 40 years in RF communications.
- Wireless is nice for installing, but the low power licence-free frequencies they work on are very crowded so expect drop-outs, frozen screens and blank screens.
- Wired cameras are much more reliable in operation.
- Many units use power from the backup lights to activate the rear camera. I used power from the clearance lights so I can turn ON the backup camera by just turning ON the running lights.
- I installed my rear camera above the rear window looking down. It gives me a better field of vision and the camera lens stays cleaner on rainy days.
- I installed the display above the inside rear-view mirror. Its out of the way, doesn't get sun glare and isn't distracting when running at night.
JWID.
Couple of suggestions from an electronics guy who spent 40 years in RF communications.
- Wireless is nice for installing, but the low power licence-free frequencies they work on are very crowded so expect drop-outs, frozen screens and blank screens.
- Wired cameras are much more reliable in operation.
- Many units use power from the backup lights to activate the rear camera. I used power from the clearance lights so I can turn ON the backup camera by just turning ON the running lights.
- I installed my rear camera above the rear window looking down. It gives me a better field of vision and the camera lens stays cleaner on rainy days.
- I installed the display above the inside rear-view mirror. Its out of the way, doesn't get sun glare and isn't distracting when running at night.
JWID.
Backup camera - Haloview MC7108
I've been running a Haloview MC7108 wireless backup camera system for a couple of months and it's worked out quite well. I also purchased a mount so that I could install the monitor in place of the rear view mirror. A lot of folks power their backup cameras from the backup light circuit, but I...
www.gmcmotorhome.org
I'm leaning more and more toward a Garmin navigator that works with one of their wireless backup cameras. I'm thinking of making the install modular, so I can use it on the RV, the 2500HD, the Loadstar, etc.
I bought a cheap $16 backup cam on ebay that emits a wifi signal and connects to your phone or tablet through an app. It's useful since I use these for navigation and music anyway. As said above, yes it does cut it and freeze up often, I would never use this on my daily driver, but on the motorhome it's good enough since I rarely use it when I'm driving and I have other repairs and upgrades I need to worry about. One day I'll get the Garmin system mentioned above that I could also use in my daily driver.
One thing I do recommend and I use way more often, is a panoramic center mirror. I found one that just clips onto the standard mirror and it gives me a great field of view of what's behind me in and out of the coach, especially since it's difficult to turn around when I'm driving.
One thing I do recommend and I use way more often, is a panoramic center mirror. I found one that just clips onto the standard mirror and it gives me a great field of view of what's behind me in and out of the coach, especially since it's difficult to turn around when I'm driving.
