Author Topic: backup cams  (Read 6885 times)

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Offline namvet

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backup cams
« on: July 31, 2011, 12:41:15 PM »
im going to install one on my truck and was wondering if anyone here has one and how you like or dislike it. the market is flooded with them and im still looking and reading reviews. they come in wired and wireless. monitors range in size fro 3 to 10" color LCD's. camera mounting is really straight forward with many attaching to license plates...ie



one of many. this goes for 129. these systems are stock with navi's on higher end cars. they can add as much as 2750 to the list. not avail on lower models. many user's complain the wirless get's interference and can pickup buiding camera's if your to close. the monitors (wireless) can stick to the dash, windshield or just about anywhere. some cams come with night vision. a plus. others come with a heater for winter driving
also I found out there's a bill pending to make these mandatory on all makes/models



yesterday I spent a few hours installing these backup lights. the stocks kinda suck. these have 100W halogen and really added some major light. maybe, i hope bright enough for the cam







"THERE ARE NO GREAT MEN. THERE ARE ONLY GREAT CHALLENGES THAT ORDINARY MEN ARE FORCED BY CIRCUMSTANCES TO MEET" - ADM WILLIAM F HALSEY

Offline TVDOC

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Re: backup cams
« Reply #1 on: July 31, 2011, 12:52:43 PM »
Mine's built in to the Nav radio, and it works fine (the image is a little fuzzy, but it's a "fish-eye" lens).  The vehicle also has an audable (and LED) priximity alarm for backing up.

However, I've been driving for 54 years and managed not to back into (or  over) anything yet........it's nice, but I'm still relying on the old "Mark One eyeball".

doc
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Offline namvet

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Re: backup cams
« Reply #2 on: July 31, 2011, 01:29:41 PM »
Mine's built in to the Nav radio, and it works fine (the image is a little fuzzy, but it's a "fish-eye" lens).  The vehicle also has an audable (and LED) priximity alarm for backing up.

However, I've been driving for 54 years and managed not to back into (or  over) anything yet........it's nice, but I'm still relying on the old "Mark One eyeball".

doc

the street I live on has no city lighting so its pitch black. more than once ive come close to slamming into cars parked on the street. also I want it for crowded parking lots. ive had dip shits walk behind me as I back up.

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Offline rich_t

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Re: backup cams
« Reply #3 on: July 31, 2011, 01:32:43 PM »
Expensive alternative to side and rear view mirrors.

But I can see where one could come in damn handy on occasion.
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Offline namvet

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Re: backup cams
« Reply #4 on: July 31, 2011, 01:34:48 PM »
Expensive alternative to side and rear view mirrors.

But I can see where one could come in damn handy on occasion.

they can't see what's directly behind and close to you. like a kid

"THERE ARE NO GREAT MEN. THERE ARE ONLY GREAT CHALLENGES THAT ORDINARY MEN ARE FORCED BY CIRCUMSTANCES TO MEET" - ADM WILLIAM F HALSEY

Offline rich_t

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Re: backup cams
« Reply #5 on: July 31, 2011, 01:41:25 PM »
they can't see what's directly behind and close to you. like a kid

Thus my comment of:  But I can see where one could come in damn handy on occasion.
"The American people will never knowingly adopt socialism. But, under the name of 'liberalism,' they will adopt every fragment of the socialist program, until one day America will be a socialist nation, without knowing how it happened." --Norman Thomas, 1944

Offline BEG

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Re: backup cams
« Reply #6 on: July 31, 2011, 02:15:49 PM »
My car (Infiniti FX) has one built in, it also has cameras on the sides and front. I set it on the front camera when I'm pulling in a tight space and I couldn't live without the back up camera, I love it. It has made me camera-free challenged though, I think I couldn't drive a car with out one now.

Offline namvet

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Re: backup cams
« Reply #7 on: July 31, 2011, 02:19:33 PM »
My car (Infiniti FX) has one built in, it also has cameras on the sides and front. I set it on the front camera when I'm pulling in a tight space and I couldn't live without the back up camera, I love it. It has made me camera-free challenged though, I think I couldn't drive a car with out one now.

yeah the built in systems are great. about 2 years ago i backed out one night and the neighbors kid left his bike at the end of my drive way. I turned into a pretzel. so I need one

"THERE ARE NO GREAT MEN. THERE ARE ONLY GREAT CHALLENGES THAT ORDINARY MEN ARE FORCED BY CIRCUMSTANCES TO MEET" - ADM WILLIAM F HALSEY

Offline TVDOC

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Re: backup cams
« Reply #8 on: July 31, 2011, 02:24:36 PM »
As a scientist, I suppose I should be embracing all of this new technology, but I'm old and set in my ways, and clung to (for a long time)  a resistance to getting a aftermarket nav system for when my wife and I travel.......my remark to our kids is "I'm not too damn old to read a map".  

We travel quite a bit since we retired, and our kids live all over the country, so a couple of years ago my youngest son gave me a nav unit for my birthday, and I quickly discovered that it overcame a lot of my vision deficiencies while driving at night.  I love it......so when we traded cars a couple of weeks ago, we got one with the system built-in, and since it's integrated into the radio it has a much larger screen, and is easier to read in bright sunlight.

I suppose that the backup camera will be advantageous as well, when I get used to it, or find it more and more difficult to look back over my shoulder while backing out of the garage.  I can see the advantage in parking lots, as more than once, I've had people appear out of nowhere behind me while I'm getting ready to depart a parking space, particularly if there are large vehicles parked on both sides of me blocking the view.

I'm getting there.......

doc
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Offline namvet

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Re: backup cams
« Reply #9 on: July 31, 2011, 02:39:21 PM »
As a scientist, I suppose I should be embracing all of this new technology, but I'm old and set in my ways, and clung to (for a long time)  a resistance to getting a aftermarket nav system for when my wife and I travel.......my remark to our kids is "I'm not too damn old to read a map".  

We travel quite a bit since we retired, and our kids live all over the country, so a couple of years ago my youngest son gave me a nav unit for my birthday, and I quickly discovered that it overcame a lot of my vision deficiencies while driving at night.  I love it......so when we traded cars a couple of weeks ago, we got one with the system built-in, and since it's integrated into the radio it has a much larger screen, and is easier to read in bright sunlight.

I suppose that the backup camera will be advantageous as well, when I get used to it, or find it more and more difficult to look back over my shoulder while backing out of the garage.  I can see the advantage in parking lots, as more than once, I've had people appear out of nowhere behind me while I'm getting ready to depart a parking space, particularly if there are large vehicles parked on both sides of me blocking the view.

I'm getting there.......

doc

the one i test drove was a Honda CRV NAVI. it uses a CD. no uplink. but frankly I don't think I would use the Navi. googles map still works. and a printer. this was AWD. I checked with my agent and full coverage was 180 every 6 mons. that's cheaper than my truck. which is only liability !!!

im getting the BU cam no matter what


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Offline TVDOC

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Re: backup cams
« Reply #10 on: July 31, 2011, 02:45:55 PM »
the one i test drove was a Honda CRV NAVI. it uses a CD. no uplink. but frankly I don't think I would use the Navi. googles map still works. and a printer. this was AWD. I checked with my agent and full coverage was 180 every 6 mons. that's cheaper than my truck. which is only liability !!!

im getting the BU cam no matter what



Ours is a Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited, and it has no uplink either.  The radio has a 30 gig hard drive where the nav information is stored (and you can load CD music on the HD as well).

If you update the map database, it's done by inserting a update CD in the drive.  The updates are pricy from Chrysler though.  Ours doesn't need it yet.

doc
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Offline namvet

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Re: backup cams
« Reply #11 on: July 31, 2011, 02:46:23 PM »
[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RD9iXd079XE[/youtube]

where to begin

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Offline namvet

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Re: backup cams
« Reply #12 on: July 31, 2011, 02:48:21 PM »
Ours is a Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited, and it has no uplink either.  The radio has a 30 gig hard drive where the nav information is stored (and you can load CD music on the HD as well).

If you update the map database, it's done by inserting a update CD in the drive.  The updates are pricy from Chrysler though.  Ours doesn't need it yet.

doc

Honda told me 140 bucks for updated CD's every 2 years.

"THERE ARE NO GREAT MEN. THERE ARE ONLY GREAT CHALLENGES THAT ORDINARY MEN ARE FORCED BY CIRCUMSTANCES TO MEET" - ADM WILLIAM F HALSEY

Offline TVDOC

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Re: backup cams
« Reply #13 on: July 31, 2011, 02:52:43 PM »
Honda told me 140 bucks for updated CD's every 2 years.

Chrysler's are $199......

I don't think that they are keyed to the VIN so I should be able to buy a used one off of Craigslist or something and get it for a lot less.....although later.  Theirs come out every two years as well.  These companies likely all use the same source for the software.

doc
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Offline CG6468

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Re: backup cams
« Reply #14 on: July 31, 2011, 02:55:15 PM »
the one i test drove was a Honda CRV NAVI. it uses a CD. no uplink. but frankly I don't think I would use the Navi. googles map still works. and a printer. this was AWD. I checked with my agent and full coverage was 180 every 6 mons. that's cheaper than my truck. which is only liability !!!

im getting the BU cam no matter what

I have a 2007 Honda Ridgeline, and the NAVI was a real problem for others who got it.  Good concept, but poor design and electronics, I guess.

Now I have a cap on the Ridgeline, and I could use a backup camera, so I'm interested in this thread.
Illinois, south of the gun controllers in Chi town

Offline namvet

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Re: backup cams
« Reply #15 on: July 31, 2011, 02:59:45 PM »
Chrysler's are $199......

I don't think that they are keyed to the VIN so I should be able to buy a used one off of Craigslist or something and get it for a lot less.....although later.  Theirs come out every two years as well.  These companies likely all use the same source for the software.

doc

unless they decide to copy write it

"THERE ARE NO GREAT MEN. THERE ARE ONLY GREAT CHALLENGES THAT ORDINARY MEN ARE FORCED BY CIRCUMSTANCES TO MEET" - ADM WILLIAM F HALSEY

Offline namvet

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Re: backup cams
« Reply #16 on: July 31, 2011, 03:03:09 PM »
I have a 2007 Honda Ridgeline, and the NAVI was a real problem for others who got it.  Good concept, but poor design and electronics, I guess.

Now I have a cap on the Ridgeline, and I could use a backup camera, so I'm interested in this thread.

me to !!!!

"THERE ARE NO GREAT MEN. THERE ARE ONLY GREAT CHALLENGES THAT ORDINARY MEN ARE FORCED BY CIRCUMSTANCES TO MEET" - ADM WILLIAM F HALSEY

Offline CG6468

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Re: backup cams
« Reply #17 on: July 31, 2011, 03:15:25 PM »
me to !!!!

What? Own a Ridge or interested in this thread?  :wink:
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Offline namvet

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Re: backup cams
« Reply #18 on: July 31, 2011, 03:33:58 PM »
What? Own a Ridge or interested in this thread?  :wink:

thread. im keeping my truck

"THERE ARE NO GREAT MEN. THERE ARE ONLY GREAT CHALLENGES THAT ORDINARY MEN ARE FORCED BY CIRCUMSTANCES TO MEET" - ADM WILLIAM F HALSEY

Offline Chris_

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Re: backup cams
« Reply #19 on: July 31, 2011, 04:21:37 PM »
Those are some serious backup lights.  Did the cat help you put them on? :rofl:

I've noticed side mirrors seem to be getting smaller and smaller while vehicles are getting larger. 
If you want to worship an orange pile of garbage with a reckless disregard for everything, get on down to Arbys & try our loaded curly fries.

Offline namvet

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Re: backup cams
« Reply #20 on: July 31, 2011, 04:28:42 PM »
Those are some serious backup lights.  Did the cat help you put them on? :rofl:

I've noticed side mirrors seem to be getting smaller and smaller while vehicles are getting larger. 

he tried to supervise. had his nose right in it. so i told him to piss off.  :-)

I think your right about the mirrors. mine are large. that's a 95 model.

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Offline Chris_

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Re: backup cams
« Reply #21 on: July 31, 2011, 04:32:38 PM »
I drove a 2011 Taurus for a couple days (company car) and had a hard time getting used to it.  The windows are smaller and higher and it makes it more difficult to see out of.  The rear view mirror was practically useless.
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Offline namvet

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Re: backup cams
« Reply #22 on: July 31, 2011, 04:38:07 PM »
I drove a 2011 Taurus for a couple days (company car) and had a hard time getting used to it.  The windows are smaller and higher and it makes it more difficult to see out of.  The rear view mirror was practically useless.

I rented a Honda civic last week a few days while my truck was in the shop. pretty much the same problems. and i felt like my ass was about 2" off the pavement

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Offline Chris_

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Re: backup cams
« Reply #23 on: July 31, 2011, 04:42:19 PM »
I drove a 2005 Civic for a week and hated it.  My legs and feet would barely fit.
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Offline namvet

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Re: backup cams
« Reply #24 on: July 31, 2011, 04:49:24 PM »
I drove a 2005 Civic for a week and hated it.  My legs and feet would barely fit.

same here. for midgets only. but I have to admit performance wise it ran like a raped ape

"THERE ARE NO GREAT MEN. THERE ARE ONLY GREAT CHALLENGES THAT ORDINARY MEN ARE FORCED BY CIRCUMSTANCES TO MEET" - ADM WILLIAM F HALSEY