Successful installation of wireless backup / rearview camera

longdog · 08-24-2008, 10:42 AM

2007 19 foot Safari SE Bambi
TV: 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland

I thought I would post on the successful installation of a wireless backup/rearview camera in the application described above.

I am a new 'streamer and during the first 600 miles of towing, discovered that I really did like having the use of my rear view mirror, particularly for backing in to sites or for merging into traffic.

The wired Backup Camera system described in the Airstream Manual is no longer made. I contacted the manufacturer, who told me of many wireless cameras available.

I purchased the Wireless License Plate Backup Camera and Receiver for GPS System #8909B from 4ucam.com. This system is compatible with my Garmin Nuvi 5000 GPS, and with any other video display system with an A/V input. The cost was $99. The 4ucam.com website also offers other wireless cameras with and without monitors for other applications.

The 4ucam website states in various places that the 8909B license plate camera has a limited range. Depending on where you look this distance is anywhere from 20 to 30 feet. Other cameras are available with longer ranges (up to 100 feet).

I installed the 8909B by using an inline splitter on the red wire to the license plate light. This required a smaller splitter than the one provided by 4ucam. The camera mounts over the license plate itself, and I had to drill a hole in the plate to allow the combined power/antenna pigtail to dangle behind the plate and then run up into the license plate light assembly. I think that the pigtail could be put under the skin of the AS, but the hole in the plate is still required.

The camera instructions say to wire the camera into the reverse lights. In an application in which the camera is mounted to a vehicle with backup lights, this would turn the camera on only when the reverse lights come on. Since the AS doesn't have backup lights, and since I wanted to use it as a rearview camera, I wired the unit into the license plate light. The camera is on as long as the running lights are on. I would guess that this increased use might shorten the life of the camera and infrared LEDs, but I couldn't think of another easy alternative.

With my 19 foot Bambi and my Jeep Grand Cherokee, the distance from the camera antenna to the receiver antenna is about 25 feet. The video quality is excellent over that distance.

I will keep you posted on the durability and performance of the camera.

longdog · 10-03-2008, 01:17 PM

OK, now I'm at least 600 miles more experienced than my previous post.

After installing the wireless backup camera as described, I have to report that I am overall pretty satisfied, but am planning to make some improvements.

As installed (with the license-plate camera option), the daytime video quality is quite good, particularly in campgrounds. On the highway, it seems that the signal gets a bit degraded by radio interference. The main problem is loss of resolution, followed by snowing. Sometimes this degrades to loss of horizontal control, but the image is still interpretable and better than having no camera at all. Also, from time to time the receiver picks up signals from security cameras.

The night time infrared video is excellent when backing up in campgrounds. On highways, the video is washed out by headlight glare, although the glaring lights are still better than nothing at all to tell you that something is riding your bumper or about to pass.

I think that all of these problems could be alleviated by installing the remote-mount camera sold by the same vendor. This camera can be mounted on top of the trailer and has a longer antenna. This is my next step, but I would recommend it as a first step for those of you who want the safety of a good rear-view system.