Wifi reversing cameras

[dave friday]

Hi all,anyone fitted one of the above? Any good?
Ta.

[CovKid]

Nope and can't see any advantage. So this means you must have your phone with you and charged up to see the output from the rear cam yes? Seems a lot of faffing. There are plenty of wired ones at less cost that don't need a phone and have a built in screen.

Wifi cams much better suited to CCTV I'd say.

Almeria?? Boy I'd give anything to go out there!

[dave friday]

Hi Cov, I use my Spanish phone as a speedo and it's plugged in (5volt) ,having another screen would be a bit much !
Yes it's good here in the mountains,if your out this way pop in!

[greasemonkey]

Hi, first post here but have just fitted one and its very good

I bought a set off Amazon totalling about 45 quid.

The screen is a pop up one so discrete when not in use, the rear camera I've mounted with 3M tape on the boot lip next the the number plate and the wiring runs in behind the number plate flap to the reverse lights for power.

A wireless sender and receiver are then fitted to both unit's to communicate.

Works a treat and you get a very nice view of what's directly behind the van when reversing in tight spots or you have kids running around at a camp site for eg.

The camera also has IR lights so is fully usable at night too.

If you're interested I can post the links to the individual components, but just a search on Amazon for rear view camera brings up lots of stuff.

Hello by the way, recent Atlantic owner, been lurking a while but will be hopefully posting more as I get to know the van better

[dave friday]

Hi Grease,and welcome ,yes the Amazon listing would be good.
Ta.

[greaseweasel]

Yeah no problem - prices are as of today.

The camera itself = £8.60:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B003 ... UTF8&psc=1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Foldable screen = £15:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B009 ... UTF8&psc=1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Wireless sender/receiver = £15:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00A ... UTF8&psc=1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I spent a good while researching these and checking the online reviews and these 3 together seemed to be a good bet.
I haven't got any long term testing so can't comment on whether it'll all still be working this time next year, but initial impressions have been very good and the quality of it all has been a pleasant surprise with prices such as those.

As an aside, I wired mine into a side light. The reason is I can flick them on anytime and not just when I'm in reverse.
I doubt this will be particularly needed, but thought you never know

[CovKid]

I still don't see the advantage of a wireless rear cam unless I've missed something obvious here. Surely if each end has to be provided with 12v, it might as well be hard wired in the first place and no additional power is needed.

[greasemonkey]

Wireless just has the benefit of not having to route the wiring under carpets/units etc.

It's not really an advantage, just a convenience.

[CovKid]

Yes there is that I suppose. I was just thinking that by the time you've routed supply cables and presumably fitted fuses, it would actually be more hassle than running one simple cable. Mine is hard wired. Where it might be useful is if you can pick up camera output indoors. I guess if I was going wireless, I'd be looking to see if that could be done but if theres no mention, it may not be worth it.

[Oldiebut goodie]

I have one wireless one at no. plate level and one wired one 8 ft up below the top of the roof on my Merc. and can switch between the 2 - the high up one acts as a rear-view mirror and the lower one is for little legs and close-up parking. Wireless one is wired to the reversing lights - about 9 inches of cable and no fuse. Current drain is minimal. The receiver is in the headlining behind a flip up visor which is the monitor - power being taken from the monitor supply. Good reception over the 20 ft or so.
Our vans being so much shorter and easier to get into wiring channels it was just as easy to use a wired one as I couldn't see my dinghy in the side mirrors or rear view mirror when towing without one. I haven't found the need for a low level one though.
Can't see the point of using a phone as a receiver though - just as easy to use a dedicated sun visor monitor which tucks up after use and isn't left on display for thieving tow rags.

[BOXY]

My vote would be for wired as well.



My screen fits over the rear view mirror so feels more natural when reversing. I got a second camera off e-bay this week for about a fiver, because at that price its stupid not to use the second video input. All I've got to do is decide where to fit it?

[CovKid]

Mine has both front and rear cam, the front being integral and the rear connected to same unit via the same sort of cable you'd use for an extended 3.5mm headphone extender cable. I think at most it took me 20-30 mins to connect everything up. The only real leap front to back was across the centre floor area which I tucked neatly inside the floor outer trim, so four or five screws was all I had to undo.

Clearly if you do go the wifi route its not exactly 'wireless' as you have to get the 12v from somewhere - and at both ends. It seems a lot more work to me than just connecting the camera directly. For that reason i don't really see where the gain is at all. It can't be to save time as it will undoubtedly take a lot longer to fit and even if the cam cable were not long enough, it can be extended very easily and cheaply. I added a metre to mine - thanks 99p shop

I did use to have a remote cctv system in there to monitor things at night but all it did was introduce a level of paranoia I didn't have before so i removed it.

If you had a trailer/caravan which you periodically hooked up and needed a cam on that, or an articulated lorry (which I suspect these were really designed for, and where the run is prohibitive if not impractical) then yes it makes a lot of sense, but not on a fixed, single unit like a camper.

[dave friday]

Thanks all,I'm going to go for the wired type...previously I've taken the wiring under the van (for all the gauges) but I might do it inside for the camera!
Ta,Barry.

[Jim San]

I had a few fitted. I had 2 Cameras fail and they weren't cheapo ones either. I gave up after the 3 rd one bit the dust (blasted it apart with a jet washer!!).

When the cameras worked the picture was excellent, day and night. I never bothered getting another as the delay of the picture appearing bothered me and I found reverse sensors much much better and more reliable.