HD Front Camera setup for under $75, no Tazer required?

[redracer]

Alright, let's do this...


All I need is another OEM camera to mount on the front.

One thing that I would mention as a word of caution... is that cameras made for rear view mounting usually have their image flipped inside of the camera itself. It's important to buy a camera "programmed" for front view to get the correct orientation. It's this reason that I'd suggest buying the gladiator front camera for this test.... along with the gladiator grille so that it can mount in the correct place.

I actually have the gladiator grille inserts sitting right next to me. I'm playing with modeling a raspberry pi camera mount for this space so that I can 3d print an adapter. This is for yet another experiment... I'm thinking as a test to just use the pi camera wifi to a tablet / phone until we can figure out the factory cameras.

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[redracer]

Alright, let's do this...

All I need is another OEM camera to mount on the front.

Oh, wait...

That SDI switch that you chose probably will not work. In the description it mentions ReClock technology. This tells me that it is actually processing the SDI signal to match the clocking of the inputs to allow the switching to happen seamlessly. This is great for SDI signals. This would not work at all for our purposes of being a dumb switch for a different technology. It basically would never pass the power along to the cameras as it's an active device.

From the links that you provided and my quick glancing at them, I'd suggest the monoprice switcher might be the better choice. Whatever you choose, it needs to be a passive device.

 

[redracer]

Thinking of being passive, this might be a good choice....

https://www.amazon.com/Manual-Switch-Composite-Selector-Coaxial/dp/B0762D4KKW

 

[Marco#1]

One thing that I would mention as a word of caution... is that cameras made for rear view mounting usually have their image flipped inside of the camera itself. It's important to buy a camera "programmed" for front view to get the correct orientation. It's this reason that I'd suggest buying the gladiator front camera for this test...

You're right, I completely forgot about that. Interestingly enough, the Gladiator front camera and rear camera have the same part number...

Thinking of being passive, this might be a good choice....

https://www.amazon.com/Manual-Switch-Composite-Selector-Coaxial/dp/B0762D4KKW

I get the feeling this one won't allow me to control the input with a remote switch. I'm not sure why, but that's just the feeling I get. I'm going to cancel the order for the other switcher now and order the Monoprice switcher. Thanks!

 

[Marco#1]

Thinking of being passive, this might be a good choice....

https://www.amazon.com/Manual-Switch-Composite-Selector-Coaxial/dp/B0762D4KKW

Someone showed me this, but I have no idea where I can buy one.

http://media-in-motion.co.uk/univer...onnections-2-x-video-inputs-1-x-video-output/

 

[Lapis]

I believe the 8.4" headunit in the jeep can reverse the camera, pretty sure i saw a setting for it. Of course that means you'd either need to leave the rear or front reversed to quickly change back and forth

 

[Marco#1]

I believe the 8.4" headunit in the jeep can reverse the camera, pretty sure i saw a setting for it. Of course that means you'd either need to leave the rear or front reversed to quickly change back and forth

It's an option, but definitely not convenient.

 

[Marco#1]

Okay, here's an update...

Thinking of being passive, this might be a good choice....

https://www.amazon.com/Manual-Switch-Composite-Selector-Coaxial/dp/B0762D4KKW

I ended up buying this stuff from Amazon yesterday. It's not the most efficient setup given the Fakra to BNC connectors and a switch that I'm going to have to disassemble to modify for my purposes, this setup costs about $50 per Jeep. Pair it all up with a Gladiator's OEM from camera and mount and we are around the $215 range:

Then this morning I ordered this from Germany. Cost me $100, which is twice as much but is ready to go as is (if it works). I envision this being controlled by the Aux switches some of us already have, but any 12v signal controlled by a simple SPST switch would work.

Pair this with the Gladiator's OEM front camera and mount and we are in the $265 range per Jeep. This is half the cost of the Tazer solution, but I would be interested in reverse engineering the Fakra switcher and see if we could get the cost per unit down below $50. Then sourcing an alternative to the OEM camera and we could see a total price below $100, which is pretty close to the $75 target.

Next question is if the rear camera image is flipped (mirrored) in the camera or in the head unit. If the head unit does it, then we have an issue because it will produce a mirror image of any video source we connect to it. Whatever camera we use will have to send the opposite of whatever the rear camera sends, so the head unit can flip it again and it will look right. If the mirror image is created in the camera, then we are all set. There is a chance the OEM Video Processing Unit in the gladiator does this, but we won't know until I can test. I really need an OEM front camera.

 

[Renhilio]

I don’t have much to add here from a technical perspective, but want to really give you guys a hat tip for this investigative work. This thread has been a great informative read, and I’m subscribed to see how you guys make out.

 

[Marco#1]

I don’t have much to add here from a technical perspective, but want to really give you guys a hat tip for this investigative work. This thread has been a great informative read, and I’m subscribed to see how you guys make out.

Thanks. I've already spent more than most options already available, but I think it's worth it to the community to keep working to find a great solution that everyone can reproduce with great results at a reasonable cost. If I spend $800 researching and testing different products it will be worth it if I can deliver a great solution that everyone can reproduce for under $100.

I feel like I'm getting close...

 

[Memphis Peej]

Fascinating! Great work and you both obviously have a great deal of technical knowledge. Eagerly following.

 

[Marco#1]

Got all my parts today. Hopefully I can do some testing tomorrow. Still need another OEM camera. I don't know where to find an aftermarket one. At least not with a Fakra connection.

 

[Obi.Wan.Shawnobi]

Although that would mean I would toss all the stuff I've already bought.

So even if you pull this off, how would you keep the "rear camera feed" active? With the Tazer, you can have it stay high indefinitely. that would be sweet with the mentioned mod.

 

[Obi.Wan.Shawnobi]

i have an old GoPro. cant i just live feed that on my phone or dedicate a tablet for it?

 

[vavaroutsos]

I found this, but it's expensive.

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