Thread: iCam

Looks like I may be out on my own here.

I will keep the forum up to date with my progress

Steve

I see just a few issues with this setup.

• Is it waterproof?
• Wireless Range
• Power (will it always be on? - or each time you power it on you'll have to re-establish the wireless network)
• Time taken to switch to the app and display feed
• Limited angle of view (60º)

I looked into a similar system before electing to go with a hardwired camera(s)

It would be a great system if you can overcome those points. Please let us know how you go. Good luck!

Hi

Thanks for the input.

I am in the early stages of this

Is it waterproof?;
Not sure yet, will visit Jaycar to check

Wireless Range;
plenty

Power (will it always be on? - or each time you power it on you'll have to re-establish the wireless network);
Power is an issue, they have batteries which only last 2 hours, so it will need to be plugged into the car power supply somehow.

I have an ELM327 WIFI adaptor and never have trouble getting to re-connect, so I am not too concerned about that issue.

Time taken to switch to the app and display feed;
Could be an issue.

Limited angle of view (60º);
Another possible issue, reversing cameras tend to use fisheye lenses, so i would probably need 2 of these to get good coverage.

I think my first step is to visit Jaycar and have a close look at these cameras.

With your hard wired camera, does it display on the iPad or does it need a separate display?

Regards
Steve

Have you read this review? It seems the picture quality is pretty iffy at best. Add to that to get any sort of decent wide angle coverage you'll need two cameras (plus cradles etc) and your looking at $260+ Thats a lot to invest for a 'bleeding edge' solution.

I'm waiting on a cable to be delivered before I install my wide-angle (120º) camera. I've gone for a small 4" screen dedicated to showing the camera feed. Eventually I'll be adding a second 'narrow' angle (90º) camera when I find one at a reasonable price. This will be switched to always on so I can get a rear view picture of the traffic behind my truck. (I have a canopy that blocks my view)

Seems like the "craptastic" Trex mini camera is out of the picture ... so to speak.

I found this unit, PYLE PLCM10 License Plate Mount Rearview Camera, not sure if it is available in OZ though.

It seems to use wifi, with a transponder, but doing more and more reading the general opinion is that wifi is pretty crap in a car.

Given how hard it is to connect an iPad to a wired camera, it seems my options may be limited

I am trying to avoid finishing up with multiple screens/devices for reversng camera, tyre pressure monitors, GPS/Mapping, music etc

Steve

I wanted to reduce the number of screens too. AT one stage I was looking at this:7" Android GPS with AV in for reversing camera You *should* be able to use it with OBDII diagnostic software. I use an iPad also, but as you know they don't have a input for a wired camera.

You could also consider smaller GPS units with AV-input or a flip screen tuner

A GPS may be the way to go, I was considering updating my venerable Garmin Streetpilot anyway .

The dezl 560LT looks like a pretty nice unit, I can plug a hard wired camera into it.

Steve

Just a thought.. if you grab one of the cheap Chinese navigators, you can run oziexplorer on it for off-road navigation (plus add a camera)