Our 2000- 320 camera is DOA. P O added a cable on the roof to a camera and its DOA. Your thoughts on wireless vs hardwired. Thank you
Well Ernie this is an often debated subject. Some will claim perfect success with a very cheap off-shore system. Many will say the wireless connection is iffy. With a 42 ft coach you would likely be pushing your luck. Some use old wiring.
I got a wired system from Tadi Brothers, new video, audio, and power cables came with it. A dual camera for the rear, one looking down and the other looking back, and a right side camera that comes on when the right turn signal is on. I got a "7 inch" multiple camera color monitor that is mounted right where the OEM monitor was. I used a switch to power it up, not ignition dependent. Later I added a small camera on the front of the coach looking down. I can see exactly where the front of the coach is. I like that.
Tadi Brothers had what I wanted at a competitive price and their support and service was first class. I would use them again. Order Your Wireless Backup Camera from Tadibrothers Today! (https://www.tadibrothers.com/)
RVCams is another frequently mentioned source. RV Cams: Backup Camera Systems (All) (https://www.rvcams.com/)
Tim at RVCams. He's helped many a Foretravel owner. We opted for wired (and added in side cameras).
Quad Camera install (https://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=42234.msg422651#msg422651)
Currently I'm quite pleased with our current hardwired camera. Has been useful seeing right side blind spot. I would replace with the same again today if that means anything. IR infra red for night time is nice also. Another perk is it is also a security recording camera if you want. It is hard wired and IMO preferred. Good image. Some also have audio which is a nice feature, if parking the spotter can talk to you threw camera without a radio. 👍👍
Scott
Thank you all. Great suggestions. This will be better than Brenda sticking her head out of bedroom window to see if the Jeep is still there.
For less than $50, we got a great color camera and 7" monitor. Still works fine years later. Nice to split the screen with the curb side the next most important. Night vision is also excellent. Ebay is a good source. They all come from the same place so why pay more? I also took advantage of the existing wiring.
Pierce
When I replaced the silent black/white rear view camera with a sound & color camera, I needed another wire from front to back for the sound. I pulled a reused TV coax cable inside the driver side wall/ceiling extruded aluminum rail where the original camera coax was. I also pulled a single wire for the sound. Using grounded coax cable provides a clear picture in the monitor on the dash. I reused the original black/white camera to look straight down at the hitch for backing up.
The wall/ceiling extruded aluminum rail is accessed at the rear by removing a panel at the driver side inside the rear over head cabinet. I did not replace the driver side panel for easy access and also removed the passenger side panel. This provides additional storage space in the cabinet.
Note: it is tricky to fish a 40 foot electrician's tape from rear to front, but it can be done.
We bought our coach in 2013, and the oem camera and display were dead. We replaced it with a wireless setup from Camping World because we didn't know any better. It has worked well for us. Like others, I simply installed the display where the old monitor was. If I had lots of money I'd get FOT or MOT to make up a better method, but what's there works well enough.
I put in a wired HD camera system. It doesn't have sound which I think I would like. I really like the sharpness of the HD image.
I tired to used the existing wiring but it just wouldn't produce an image, so I ran the connectorized cables that came with the camera through the ceiling/wall raceway. Hardest part was finding a path from the raceway down to the dash; not easy on a Grand Villa.
Amazon.com: Fookoo Ⅱ HD Wired Backup Camera System Kit, 7 inch 1080P... (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07JQ8ZQ39/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
Wow- this is like selecting wallpaper
Tadi brothers- I ordered their wireless camera for 299.00. As soon as I filled out the form and my account was debited, I received a note with reference number. I bookmarked that and when I went back to print it- file gone. Nice. No email confirmation. No live body on their " customer service " lines. I left a message- nothing. I think this company- which was good in the past, has now gone south. Along with my cash. I'm going to order from Amazon. If that system ever appears, I will just sell it.
Remember if you order through Amazon to use the Foretravel link.
I noticed that the same thing happened on another Foretravel site. I check the seller rating on ebay and order there or Amazon. Amazon is great for the larger ticket stuff as it ships for free and you can read all the reviews. I've picked up a lot of tips from the reviews. Ebay ships many items for free but also charges sales tax. I've had good luck with the Asian sellers like Bang Good also.
Pierce
Go to credit card company and file claim to get your $$ back within 90 days
Amazon shipping link (https://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=41421.msg412812#msg412812)
Here 'tis.
P
Erniee - here was the write up I did on the wireless system I installed in my coach: Wireless backup / trailer hitch camera install (https://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=42377.0)
Update: I had a call from someone at Tadi Brothers. I told him everything and he said- oh, that went out of stock, yesterday and it's on back order. I told him to cancel. He said we have it in another warehouse. I said why did you tell me it's on back order? He stated we have many warehouses. I said, well, ship it to me. Send me a confirmation, etc. He texted he would send a text with all that information. I'm waiting. Probably receive my Amazon camera tomorrow.
So if you open Amazon with the link provided by Pierce the Foretravel forum will receive a small amount of credit from your purchase and that is used to help support the Foretravel Forum that we all use.
This helps keep costs down and provides monies for necessary upgrades as needed . I have no clue how it works after that but that is the link I use for all my purchases for everything.
Scott
I bought a Voyager from MOT 3 years ago for 700 something..I wanted what I was told was the best at the time and I just hope I got it.. I paid them nearly that much again to install it as my in house electric and gadget man was on medical leave and I wanted it neat. I got all I wanted but sometimes kick myself when I see members with 50.00 units and seem pleased. It is what it is.. Mine is hard wired and Clyde used the existing coax. Works great but for what I have in it one would hope so. I wish I had researched more and found a less expensive way out but I seem to do that occasionally. Close with they did a good job and sold a good product and looks like it came factory. Guess I have a dose of wanting great for very little cost.
No matter where you purchase them, they are typically Chinese cameras with Japanese Sony sensors and have good to outstanding video but comparing user reviews on Amazon does make a difference. The same for dash cams. I purchased a couple and when I view the video on a 55 inch 4K tv, the images are excellent. As with the rear cameras, reading the reviews on Amazon along with their advice makes sure you get the right one. And if that's not enough, YouTube has lots of video reviews often with side by side comparisons.
I got into the import/export business back in '71 when I discovered that I could by a Revox tape recorder at a department store in Basel, Switzerland for $250 when they were fair traded here for $1000. Same with my Omega Speedmaster that went to the moon. $110 in Basel, $$$$ here at an Omega dealer. The difference between what something costs in Asia and sells for here is much, much greater. The independent tire dealer who fills a container with the exact same tire overseas is another example.
Pierce
So- I haven't received even a peep from Tadi bro. I called and as usual- got a voicemail stating that nobody was there to take the call. They are happy as can be to take my 300 bucks. I left my name and number and told them the reason for the call. I also said " that social media is a wonderful tool- especially for the consumer". Within 3 minutes- a return call, emails instructing me about their camera installation and low and behold- a tracking number that the item actually shipped.
What is the old adage about that squeaky wheel?
Should not need a squeaky wheel. Any seller that buys cheap and sells expensive should provide service and not just ignore their customers. Probably a boiler room operation. Some even sell without having the merchandise and just order from another wholesaler. Gives them lead time not to have to respond right away. That's why so many ebay sellers take so long to ship.
I've had some that boast "USA warehouse" take a long time to arrive and when it does, there is a U.S. Customs sticker on the box.
Pierce
Tadi Brothers.
The camera system arrived. After we install the Dish Traveller, I will install that system.
Ernie, there many ways to mount your Trav'ler. Barry (of Barry and Cindy) suggested this method to me many years ago and it has worked well. A flat aluminum plate becomes the base for the Trav'ler, easy to seal without distorting the Trav'ler bottom plate. The plate is long enough to span across adjacent roof frame members. And by cutting a pair of rails to fit the roof curve wherever you want to place the dish keeps it level and secure and leaves some clearance between the plate and the roof itself. This let us mount the dish about 10" off center and still be level.