A backup camera for $50!!!!!!!!!!!

[FatTire]

You can likely add cameras with a simple switch. My guess is that the system is built with NTSC cameras. That was the old standard definition TV signal like all the TVs we once had before all the digital and high definition stuff came out. NTSC for North America or PAL for Europe. I've wired up several cameras with a simple rotary switch to select the camera. Switching each cameras TV or composite signal with the monitor wired to the switch common.
The cameras pull so little power that you can just leave them all powered up all the time.
The mirror function is typically done in the camera not usually the monitor so it's not a big problem. If you want a rear camera or a front camera just be sure you get the right one unless the camera itself has a switch for the mirror function. It's usually just a pin on the camera chip that the chip reads when it's powered up. That way you won't have to mess with it when switching between cameras. Put all the rear facing cameras in mirror mode and leave the forward facing cameras in the normal mode.
Like this one. Amazon.com: Auto Safety High-definition Night Vision Car Rear View Camera 17 Degree Back-up and Parking Camera Universal Waterproof Truck Car Camera (Silver): Car Electronics
I used to make the things for a living, camera chips that is but I've built my fair share of cameras too.

OFF TOPIC: Just thinking about your location, does your background somehow tie into Grass Valley video switchers?

 

[PILOON]

I'm one of the early posters to this trend
My $50.00 installation still works just fine!
In my case I added a switch rather than relying on the camera switch as I found it 'flakey'.
At even -35deg C it still performs as the day I installed it! (but then I am cabbed)
My installation still shows nice clear pics other than the guide lines are somewhat out of proportion to the actual situation but I learned to compensate.
Face it my blower is wider than a typical car.
Downside is that the rear camera blinks red for every flash of my beacon from reflection of the blown snow. LOL. (can live with that)

 

[dickfoster]

OFF TOPIC: Just thinking about your location, does your background somehow tie into Grass Valley video switchers?

Nope. I used to work for a company called OmniVision Technologies which made CMOS camera chips that is in Silicon Valley with plants all over Asia.

I'm retired now and moved up here to get away from the crazy city rat race and all that goes with it.

I think they still are the world's largest maker of CMOS camera chips at least a third total. That means a lot or maybe even most of the camera doohickeys in products today as CCD is an older, less integrated therefore more expensive technology. Imaging with CMOS isn't easy to do. I think Sony who used to lead in CCD finally came around and went CMOS and Samsung does it now too but a lot of silicon folks nearly broke their picks in the attempt. Motorola tried and failed twice, Intel, Philips, TI, National spent untold millions in several false starts and never got diddly and just about everybody else with a CMOS fab line tried it and got schooled.

 

[tomplum]

So I see that Amazon has front view cameras which allow you to not have the grid lines. Plus if I see one with a more narrow field of view, would that be desirable?

 

[Sysop]

A narrower field of view does provide a less warped perspective onscreen.

 

[Xfaxman]

A visual aid for perspective of perspective.

I have 50 degree on the front and 180 degree on the back.

 

[dixstir]

I put one in my 2032R, its inside the cab and it works great, $20.00 and of course made in china. so I got 6 more and selling them to guys with skid loaders.

 

[shooterdon]

Sorry to resurrect this old thread. I used the search function and this came up. If there is a newer or more current thread please let me know. Thanks!

I have neck problems that make a rear camera a necessity for me. I want to be able to use the rear camera to assist with hooking up attachments as well as getting a view when using the 3pt attachments (brush hog, rake, tiller). I also need something on the front when using the bolt on pallet forks on the FEL. So I need a two channel system.

I have a open cab but will be adding a canopy. The tractor is stored in a garage.

Money is not a huge concern to get a "good" system but I prefer to keep the cost under $250. Some of the stuff I have found on Amazon has mixed reviews and reliability is something I am willing to pay for. I see in early threads where one person bought a spare monitor as they are inexpensive and that is an acceptable option as well.

What equipment would you gentlemen recommend based on your experience?

Thanks in advance for your advice.

 

[DieselBound]

The cheap parts noted here provide for two video inputs. Toggle/button on the monitor allows for switching.

Reminds me, I need to attach my replacement camera on the front of my tractor: busted the base mount on the first camera and am now looking to house the replacement camera in something that'll protect the camera).

 

[Industrial Toys]

Just thought I might mention this. I have been dealing with security cameras since the 70s. I was at a customer yesterday to service some cameras. I had not sold them and did not want to install them, but they were a security customer and so I did. It was an eight camera system under the name "First Alert". Bought from some Big Box store for cheap!. Cheaper than for what I used to sell one modest lense!

Anyway, two cameras were dead and the other had almost unusable images. The customer said she could not remember if the images had been better to start with. They were never viewed and just installed to meet a Health Canada regulatory mandate. Anyway, we had three new un-used ones and replaced the others. The un-used camera images were not bad.

Point is. I never knew that "cheap" cameras lost their images. These were maybe four years old. Any stuff I ever sold, never did.

I am curious if it's the electronics (probably capacitors) or the CCD (image device) but I'm guessing the latter. I tend to buy stuff that boasts using a SONY chip.

So beware. I think you generally get what you pay for. And my guess is, that you need only pay a little more to get a lot more quality in this area.