Updates on Wireless back-up cameras?

[BAB]

Cris....here are answers to your questions. If you still have a few, pls PM me.
Sticky tape. Is the 3M heavy duty stuff. I have a roll and cut a new piece when I reinstalled the lens. It's two sided tape, and there is a clip inside the housing that also holds the lens in place....but the sticky tape does most of the work.
Wiring. No WAY was I cutting a 3/4" hole in my trailer for two small wires! I drilled about a 3/8" hole (bought a rubber grommet at HD for it), I'd already detached the housing for the clearance lamp so I knew I could easily pull wires since the camera is so close to the lamp. Used some Vulkem to seal.
Aluminum. I live very close to the A/S dealer where I bought my trailer (Out-of-Doors Mart in Colfax, NC). They gave me a number of pieces of scrap aluminum that I keep for "just in case I need it" work.
Camera Adjustment. Once I had the camera mounted on the trailer it was simple to adjust the "up and down" movement (you'll use the Allen wrench on this). It is a wide angle lens, so all you're really doing is figuring out how far up you want to tilt it.

I also have a "Swift Hitch" for hitching my trailer. (I am a tech geek.) I don't always use it, depends on where I'm parked. I solo travel, so having this is very helpful.

BTW, the Voyager works well on the IR at night. I have the sound turned ALL THE WAY OFF. It is very sensitive and distracting when you're on the road, but if you have a navigator when you're backing into a space they could whisper and you'd still hear them!

Good luck, this is a great piece of equipment and I've made great use of it in the last 18 months.

REMEMBER: you MUST have your clearance lights on for the Voyager to work. No power to the clearance light =s non operative camera!

[m.hony]

Originally Posted by PharmGeek

yes, it will be something for me to consider....once I have an AS...and once I get a bit more experience and determine my wants/needs.

Great info here..thanks.

It is more important to have a back up camera on the tow vehicle for hitching up right on the first try. If you buy a new tow vehicle you can have one factory installed. On the Express van (and probably other GM models) it is only a $200 option. We have decided to get it on all fleet vehicles from now on.
A back up camera on the trailer would be handy for backing into a campsite getting it right the first time. We have a neighbor with a camera on the back of his SOB.

[Silver Goose]

Originally Posted by andreasduess

The new GoPro Hero camera ... has built in WIFI with a range of approx 600ft. ... An accompanying Android/iOS app displays what the camera sees on your phone's screen. ...

Won't you need a WIFI router to enable connectivity between the camera and an Android/iOS device, or is an Ad Hoc network supported?

[Brokerchris]

Originally Posted by andreasduess

The new GoPro Hero camera GoPro Official Website: The World's Most Versatile Camera (not designed for this application, it's an outdoor video camera that's beloved by divers, snowboarders etc) has built in WIFI with a range of approx 600ft. An accompanying Android/iOS app displays what the camera sees on your phone's screen. While there is a 2 second delay while recording, that delay is almost unnoticeable when just using the camera for monitoring. The Hero cam comes with all kinds of accessories, including a suction mount guaranteed to hold up to 200mph windspeed. I am going to try this solution (we've got a couple of these camera at work) and will report back on feasibility.

Interested in this option - any luck? Looking for a backup camera from the back of the AS since my TV has rear backup integrated. Something wireless and easy install is preferred. I appreciate your help.

[Gilmurr]

I purchased a baby video monitor from Costco...$99.00 (or direct from Uniden Baby Monitors .
It consists of two units, both with rechargeable batteries. The camera is quite small and I mount it between the glass and screen at the rear of the trailer with Velcro. The monitor has a 3 1/2 in colour screen that I place on the steering column with Velcro (depending on vehicle, this may have to placed in a different location)

Reception is flawless...even from the back of trailer. The only issue is the image is reversed..left to right...but once you get used to it it is great. Also you are looking through the tinted glass so the image is a bit dark, but not so much as to be a problem Recharge at the end of day. It is great to drive with as you can see the tailgaters that you cannot see in the mirror and for pulling in if passing (not that that happens much!!)

[lsbrodsky]

Does a baby monitor get Bluetooth interference? I have found that my truck interferes with normal wireless back up cameras because of the Bluetooth capability that cannot be turned off.
Larry

[Gilmurr]

No interference at all. Our truck has bluetooth with our cell phone on at all times. It runs at 2.4 Ghz much like a cordless phone. I used it all summer and never had it break up.

[Gilmurr]

And this model can play lullabies....for those long road trips....no wait--we are not supposed sleep when driving are we!!

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by Gilmurr

And this model can play lullabies....for those long road trips....no wait--we are not supposed sleep when driving are we!!

That reminds me of an incident from my own past…

I had to travel for business with a coworker, and I got stuck driving. Every day for a week. Every time it was her turn to drive, it was always, "I'm really tired; I think I'll take a nap. You don't mind, do you?"

Well, of course I minded. So finally, when she announced once again that she was going to take a nap, I said, "That's a really good idea; I think I'll take one as well!" Then I closed my right eye, and kept right on driving. About six miles later, with my right eye closed the whole time and never once straying out from between the lines or running a stop sign, my coworker was so freaked out that she finally insisted on taking her turn to drive. She couldn't see that my left eye was open the whole time, and genuinely thought I was driving with both eyes closed.

To this day, that person will not ride in a car when I'm driving because she's terrified that I'll "fall asleep that the wheel" again.

[Brokerchris]

Any other ideas for wireless backup cams / marriage savers for the rear of the AS? I like the idea above but the reversed image sounds like it would be a bit of an adjustment, especially for a newbie tower

[Silver Goose]

Originally Posted by Brokerchris

... I like the idea above but the reversed image sounds like it would be a bit of an adjustment, especially for a newbie tower

The displays that come with many cameras have the ability to flip the image. In that way you can make it so the image mimics what you would otherwise see in the rearview mirror; what appears on the right is what's on the right. However, I suspect that specific baby monitors don't have this feature.

[dznf0g]

Originally Posted by Gilmurr

No interference at all. Our truck has bluetooth with our cell phone on at all times. It runs at 2.4 Ghz much like a cordless phone. I used it all summer and never had it break up.

Not really....although this unit transmits at 2.44 Ghz, like a bluetooth and cordless phones, it is DIGITAL. So it's not "like" those devices. An analog system, like mine, is the same as those devices, thus the interference. Digital is fairly new to this market, and is superior for penetrating metal shells. Price is dropping fast too.

[HiHoAgRV]

Originally Posted by Brokerchris

... but the reversed image sounds like it would be a bit of an adjustment, especially for a newbie tower

I guess we could glue the display to the inside of the back window. Looking at it in the rearview mirror would reverse the reverse image.

[SteveSueMac]

Originally Posted by HiHoAgRV

I guess we could glue the display to the inside of the back window. Looking at it in the rearview mirror would reverse the reverse image.

Very creative idea! Of course that wouldn't work for us with the Queen of Slobber in the back seat :-) won't be long before we wouldn't see anything on the screen!

I really want to find a good answer for this. I hate backing the trailer up blind. I'm ok using the mirrors and DW is an awesome guide - but 80% of what's behind me is unknown. And I like the idea of a 3 camera system that's running all the time so you can REALLY see all lanes aground you and what's behind you. Seems like the expensive Voyager will be the answer....

[HiHoAgRV]

Originally Posted by SteveSueMac

... And I like the idea of a 3 camera system that's running all the time so you can REALLY see all lanes aground you and what's behind you. ...

Well here you go!

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by HiHoAgRV

Well here you go!

YEAH! That's what you need, Google's self-driving car! Let the car do the driving, while you and the missus relax back in the trailer (if you live in a jurisdiction that allows riding in a trailer; some do, some don't).

[Silver Goose]

Actually that's one of the cars in their fleet that collects the images for Google Street View. It takes 360° shots at regular intervals as the car drives down the road and coordinates the images with the GPS coordinates.

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by Silver Goose

Actually that's one of the cars in their fleet that collects the images for Google Street View. It takes 360° shots at regular intervals as the car drives down the road and coordinates the images with the GPS coordinates.

I stand corrected, but Google does have some driverless cars, don't they? I remember seeing something about them on CBS News one morning.

[Silver Goose]

Yep, they've got several of them running around also... Heard the only accidents have been when the human panicked and took control. At least that's the story they're sticking with.

[cwf]

Love my RVS 4 way