pep boys has a rear camera with monitor on sale for $99.99

[fourfourto]

In this sundays paper they have the add.
Definatly a low cost option if you were thinking of a rear camera.

[Steve - SanJose]

Wow for that price worth experimenting.

S.

[DDWH]

My sister-in-law got one of those for Christmas....seemed like it was well constructed and nice. Her hubby still hasn't installed it so I can't comment on how well it works....but heck for 99 bucks!

[fourfourto]

I have a scan of the add but once again no pics on weekend?.

Looks like it might fit above mirror, or against the front pillar.

[f5fstop]

http://akimages.crossmediaservices.com/dyn_li/600.0.90.0/Retailers/pepboys/060402_REV0402_P3B_1BK.JPG

[MahBabyBlue]

http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/imax/images/imax_camera3.jpg

And the screen

http://images.picturequest.com/common/detail/35/04/22570435.jpg

[fourfourto]

Heres the add.

[ChevyHighPerformance]

I bought one and tried it out on the lab bench.

The monitor has an active matrix screen with about 90,000 pixels (r+b+g). Brightness seems good. The housing disassembles and there ar a few potentiometers on the back of the circuit board only marked VR1, 2, 3... (Could be brightness, contrast, color, etc. Not sure.) Monitor has on/off button and a camera view rotation that pages through 4 different views (up - down, right-left). If anyone has a good mounting spot please post.

Camera has decent light sensitivity. Field of view isn't bad at 110 degeree horizontal and 80 degree vertical. I though about mounting it just above the hitch on the bumper. Any thoughts?

There are three power connections ground, +12 volt ACC power, and +12 volt reverse light. The reverse connection only monitors voltage so that when you go into reverse the system automatically comes on. The camera and monitor draw about 0.27 amps total. When the the reverse connection is off, about 0.05 amps is drawn to power the camera and monitor's memory. If you connect the ACC and reverse together to an ACC source, you have to manually turn the monitor off and on. If you connect the ACC input to switched power, then the camera rotation setting will be lost every time you interrupt power. The constant current draw is 0.05 amps - so if you park the H3 for ~ 1- 2 months it will drain your battery.

[PackerFever]

Does the ad mention when the special expires? I looked on their site but it didn't have any info, does it metnion anything about ordering online? I can pick it up in Denver but not planning on going down there for a week or so.

Cheapest I saw this same one on ebay was $149.00

[Steve - SanJose]

Originally posted by ChevyHighPerformance:
I bought one and tried it out on the lab bench.

The monitor has an active matrix screen with about 90,000 pixels (r+b+g). Brightness seems good. The housing disassembles and there ar a few potentiometers on the back of the circuit board only marked VR1, 2, 3... (Could be brightness, contrast, color, etc. Not sure.) Monitor has on/off button and a camera view rotation that pages through 4 different views (up - down, right-left). If anyone has a good mounting spot please post.

Camera has decent light sensitivity. Field of view isn't bad at 110 degeree horizontal and 80 degree vertical. I though about mounting it just above the hitch on the bumper. Any thoughts?

There are three power connections ground, +12 volt ACC power, and +12 volt reverse light. The reverse connection only monitors voltage so that when you go into reverse the system automatically comes on. The camera and monitor draw about 0.27 amps total. When the the reverse connection is off, about 0.05 amps is drawn to power the camera and monitor's memory. If you connect the ACC and reverse together to an ACC source, you have to manually turn the monitor off and on. If you connect the ACC input to switched power, then the camera rotation setting will be lost every time you interrupt power. The constant current draw is 0.05 amps - so if you park the H3 for ~ 1- 2 months it will drain your battery.

Still sounds promising. But needs to get out of the lab and on the back of a truck for real world testing hopefully.

S.

[fourfourto]

Does the ad mention when the special expires?


Probobly sunday till saturday.I threw out add.

[Ipedog]

I think I saw somewhere that it expired on the 8th.

[DWPC]

Originally posted by ChevyHighPerformance:
I bought one and tried it out on the lab bench...
I'm not sure I follow what "camera rotation" means. Does it divide a large image into 4 views and scroll through them? Does the camera rotation setting you mention select one view as the normal image?

It would be great if you posted pics of the actual image(s) after installation and some installation tips on wire routing, conn points etc.

[ChevyHighPerformance]

Originally posted by DWPC:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by ChevyHighPerformance:
I bought one and tried it out on the lab bench...
I'm not sure I follow what "camera rotation" means. Does it divide a large image into 4 views and scroll through them? Does the camera rotation setting you mention select one view as the normal image?

It would be great if you posted pics of the actual image(s) after installation and some installation tips on wire routing, conn points etc. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

The monitor can electronically rotate and flip the image. For example, if you have to mount the camera upside down, the monitor can flip the image so it looks right side up. Or if you want to reverse the right-left view (as if you are using the rear view mirror or looking directly).

[Tommy36998]

Expiration date 04/08/2006

[Steve - SanJose]

Originally posted by Tommy36998:
Expiration date 04/08/2006

Then what happens, is the regular price 149? Still waiting to hear about Phase II of the experiment-installing and using it on a truck to see if it works.

S.

[Aphextwinop]

The price is worth the experiment. I'm getting one tomorrow.


Aphex

[HummerNewbie]

Originally posted by Aphextwinop:
The price is worth the experiment. I'm getting one tomorrow.

They have pep boys up there now?

[Steve - SanJose]

How did the $99 rear camera experiment go? Or did it go into the trash? At that price it sure seemed like a worthwhile experiment.


S.

[evldave]

I was in Chicago on a trip and swung by the pep boys there. They were all out of stock and said it was special order. They checked inventory across the US and the only shop showing inventory was in New York somewhere. I'm curious to see if anyone had luck actually finding one of these.

[ChevyHighPerformance]

I have the camera mounted (just to the right of the hitch and recessed for protection) and the monitor mounted - just not wired up yet. I can see 1 foot behind (adjustable) the rear bumper and still still pretty high objects behind me. I might keep it on all the time to help see the little cars that drive behind me.

[Steve - SanJose]

ChevHiPerf,

So is it fully hooked up and working? Are you happy with the results? The price is right for sure. http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

S.