Thread: OEM quality 7" tablet with steering wheel controls and backup camera

Originally Posted by jmullan99

Yes, that is correct. You need a wifi router to make connecting easy.

I actually use a cellular based wifi router to give me internet in the car. But you don't need internet for the camera.

Most wifi cameras have their own mini web server that you can access within your own network. Point your tablet browser to the camera's IP address (or a name if it has one, the instructions will tell you).

Great!! Any recommendation on IP camera? I will like to test this out ASAP then! :-)

Only that if your intent is to mount it on the exterior get an outdoor camera. Otherwise, they're mostly the same. I have not had any or a year or two and the market is always evolving.

Cheers.

Originally Posted by anandah

Thanks for a prompt response. So just to clarify, internet connection isnt required for the IP camera to interface with the tablet?

Thanks. I looked around for a decent IP camera that could be installed around license plate of a car, but most of them appear quite bulky. I just dont see how any of that will fit and even if it does, it would protrude out, look bad and would get full flurry of rain etc. So I am now thinking to get a normal RCA backup camera and a video server to convert that signal to IP over wireless network. I am guessing that will work. Any suggestions for such video server? Will this on amazon work? http://www.amazon.com/IP-Network-Ser...pr_product_top
Any other options?

I have one of those somewhere.... Yes, it will work. The built-in web interface isn't the best for manipulating in a car, but you can set up a short cut so you can directly call up each camera directly. There are many articles out there about using that device.

Cheers.

Originally Posted by jmullan99

I have one of those somewhere.... Yes, it will work. The built-in web interface isn't the best for manipulating in a car, but you can set up a short cut so you can directly call up each camera directly. There are many articles out there about using that device.

Cheers.

With disparate components increasing, I am wondering what would be the best way to power them. Router, video server and camera need to be really in play when car is in reverse. Powering camera is straightforward with reverse light. Question is about the rest 2, router and video server. I am guessing that if I power them also via reverse light, it would be useless for the purpose as it might take too long for router to start and tablet, video server to connect to the network. I mean, I dont wanna sit for minutes before getting picture on the screen . So may be at least the router and may be that video server need to be powered up with ignition. My car is Infiniti G35 2005 sedan. So I am wondering about the best way to manage powering cycle. Would router drain my entire battery if I just wire it directly from battery? Do I have to power it with ignition? And if I intend to keep router in trunk, what would be best option for it? Run power wires to back or is there something in backside of the car which would allow to draw power from there on ignition?
I am searching on the site and there are multiple posts, but way too involved and ambitious for me. Any help will be really appreciated.

Personally I would run a power wire to the trunk from the fuse block. There are usually empty spots in the fuse block. Some on all the time. Some on with ignition.

Add a fuse somewhere in the line. Those items will not need a lot of juice. A 10 amp fuse will be good.

The biggest problem will be how much voltage the devices need. If they work on 12 volts then your good. You could power a small inverter and run them on their power adapters. so when ignition comes on then the router and camera server power up. A small 90-100 watt inverter would work fine.

As for the camera there is no reason you couldn't power it up with ignition because you are going to click on the shortcut for the camera when you want to see it. i don't know how you would get the tablet to switch to it when you go into reverse so thooking.g tl reverse light is probably unnecessary.

Originally Posted by jmullan99

Personally I would run a power wire to the trunk from the fuse block. There are usually empty spots in the fuse block. Some on all the time. Some on with ignition.

Add a fuse somewhere in the line. Those items will not need a lot of juice. A 10 amp fuse will be good.

The biggest problem will be how much voltage the devices need. If they work on 12 volts then your good. You could power a small inverter and run them on their power adapters. so when ignition comes on then the router and camera server power up. A small 90-100 watt inverter would work fine.

As for the camera there is no reason you couldn't power it up with ignition because you are going to click on the shortcut for the camera when you want to see it. i don't know how you would get the tablet to switch to it when you go into reverse so thooking.g tl reverse light is probably unnecessary.

Thanks a lot. I really appreciate this. I was just doing a bit of proof of concept with a normal IP camera to see how long it will take for camera and router to come up and all the devices to connect to the network once power is switched on. It takes almost a min before everything settles down and picture can be seen. So even if I have all of these start up with ignition, I will have to wait about a min or so to see picture. One min doesnt seem much but in real situations it would be quite inconvenient to wait before reversing. hmm. Has anyone had success till now with backup IP camera? I am sure I can not have these devices powered on always as that will kill battery overnight or so (Will it?).
I have ordered things on amazon and will update my findings with real components when they get here (may be a week or so). But at this moment this looks tough.

Originally Posted by anandah

...One min doesn't seem much but in real situations it would be quite inconvenient to wait before reversing. hmm.

Yes, one minute does seem a bit long. And I'm not sure how to overcome that.

Originally Posted by anandah

Has anyone had success till now with backup IP camera? I am sure I can not have these devices powered on always as that will kill battery overnight or so (Will it?).

This depends on a lot of things. Condition of the battery, how often you run the car, time of year (temperature). A decent battery in the middle of summer could likely take the discharge overnight of a steady couple amps. A day or two with a so-so battery in the dead of winter, maybe not.

Originally Posted by anandah

I have ordered things on amazon and will update my findings with real components when they get here (may be a week or so). But at this moment this looks tough.

Can't wait to hear your results.

John