how to hook up cameras

D_roc · 09-29-2007, 12:58 PM

ok i'm pretty much bought everything except for the mb and also have a question before i buy it. How do i hook up a rear view camera do i have to add a capture card or is there some thing specifically build for it. i'm thinking about hooking up 2 cameras one for the rear view and another infrared on the front so i can see more clearly at night (lotta kida in my road at night anc bearly see them even with HID lights)
thanks
D

underwaterdan · 09-29-2007, 06:06 PM

I believe you can save some $$ and use a USB cam - the only problem with that is the PC has to load before your rear view cam works. Depending on your LCD you should be able to plug in RCA jacks into the LCD... So maybe you would need a combo of both. I just want you to be sure that this is just from my past research and I haven't implemented this yet, but I have done a lot of reading because I want to do the same. You can easily buy a RCA to USB adapter if you already have a camera and want it to be USB and RCA - get a splitter and use the adapter...

Pint · 09-30-2007, 07:17 PM

I went with proper reversing camera.
I hooked up a rear vew cam directly to a xenarc screen. The advantages are
- the camera's designed for the outside of the car and waterproof.
- it wires up to the reversing lights and sends a signal when the cars in reverse gear.
- The screen cuts to the camera feed when it detects a signal without any intervention.

Where are you going to mount the screen? Is it going to be tricky keeping your eyes on the road and the screen.

Other cars (BMW's) use heat sensing camera's for the front.

i would buy an infra red camera first to see if it is any good as a front camera (without actually fitting it). If it is, go out and buy another camera for the back. If not use it as your reversing camera.

D_roc · 09-30-2007, 09:30 PM

yea i'm going to hook a infared cam on the front and in the back too. so all i have to do is hook the backup camera's power wires to the backup lights?

Pint · 10-01-2007, 12:03 AM

Yes - In my case the reversing camera is powered by the reverse light.
I was just saying by one infra red camera to begin with to see if you get a decent view ahead of the car on your screen. You may not see any further than you head lights anyway.