Forum Discussion

drillagent's avatar
drillagent
Explorer
Jan 18, 2015

Outrun your rear camera?

So, DW and I went to the Midwest RV Show in Kansas City yesterday and stopped by a booth run by one of the local vehicle mod shops. They said they could definitely install a new Titan fuel tank in my tow vehicle, but I would have to call for pricing. While I was at it, I asked if they could install a wireless rear view camera into my 5er. The gentleman there said they could, but they prefer to install wired cameras because at highway speeds there is the tendency to "outrun the wireless signal". ???? Is that even possible? I'm no physics guru, but I thought radio waves traveled at the speed of light? Has anyone ever heard of this before or had it happen to them?
  • We_Cant_Wait's avatar
    We_Cant_Wait
    Explorer
    Jan 18, 2015
    Bottom line, the issue could be that the distance between the rear of the 5th wheel and the cab of the truck could well be too far for the signal to reach without some sort of signal booster, and this is what they're referring to.
  • dballentine's avatar
    dballentine
    Explorer
    Jan 18, 2015
    It's due to a combination of distance, a big metal box in the way, and the low power that wireless cameras must use to avoid being licensed. By the time the signal reaches the truck, it's too weak to be useable.

    It's the same reason that Tire Minder systems come with a repeater (relay) to be installed in the nose of the trailer.
  • gbopp's avatar
    gbopp
    Explorer
    Jan 18, 2015
    I agree with Harvard, it's just a metaphor they use to explain the poor quality of the wireless camera.

    I guess it's like trying to outrun the beam from police radar. It doesn't happen.
  • Racine96's avatar
    Racine96
    Explorer
    Jan 18, 2015
    Someone was talking about what they don't know. I have a wireless one which I keep on most of the time with no interruptions.
  • Harvard's avatar
    Harvard
    Explorer
    Jan 18, 2015
    Probably a metaphor to explain mixed results. We have a 28 foot Class C (non metallic walls) and I tried a wireless camera. I just gave up on it because of poor reception (from tail light area to the cab).
  • Bionic_Man's avatar
    Bionic_Man
    Explorer
    Jan 18, 2015
    I haven't seen many positive reports of wireless rear cameras on a 5er. "Outrunnin" the signal doesn't make sense to me, but there really isn't line of sight, which would be my guess as to why they have trouble with reception.
  • ScottG's avatar
    ScottG
    Nomad
    Jan 18, 2015
    I guess it's possible if your towing very, very fast LOL!
    FWIW, I have terrible luck with wireless cams working just on the back of my truck. Once I installed a wired cam (Rostra) I never had a problem again.

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