Nextbase Dashcam as reversing camera?

[Tricuspid]

Thinking about getting a dashcam for a while now, and as I’ve been rear-ended twice in the last few years I would definitely want one with a rear facing camera.

Went looking in Halfords today, and they sell a Nextbase 512GW with matching rear camera for about £150, which doesn’t seem bad.

Nextbase website says it can be used as a reversing camera, but no info on how. Curious if anyone has one of these, because if it’s any more than a single button press to activate it (ie scrolling through menus or something) then you’re going to have a lot of irate people behind you as you fanny about switching it on so you can park.

[Dash-Cam Man]

If it’s like 99.9% of 2 channel dash cameras, with the rear acting as a reverse camera too, the rear camera will simply have two cables. One cable will connect to the front dash camera, and the the other cable (usually coloured pink or red with a black trace) will connect to a reverse signal. This would simply require you finding the reverse signal in the rear light cluster connection block, and tracing the wire to a suitable place where you could slice into the rear reverse signal wire using wire strippers, and neatly solder in the reverse signal wire from the rear dash camera.

When the rear dash camera gets a positive signal from the reverse light, it will change the screen on the Nextbase front dash camera from front view to rear view, when you pop the vehicle out of reverse, the front camera should return back to displaying only a front view picture within the integrated lcd, with sometimes the rear picture (PIP) in the top left.

Hope this helps.

Thanks, Jay

[Tricuspid]

As far as I can see there’s only the cable linkungbthe two cameras. Assuming there was a second cable, how does that work with LED lights / CANBUS systems?

Incidentally if there’s something other than the Nextbase that would work better I’d appreciate a recommendation.

[lost in espace]

I got a dashcam with rear view camera for £23 I think off ebay, it works quite well.

[ninjag]

I've got a feeling it simply connects to the main camera and it's a manual option to switch the mode from PIP or full screen. I've also heard that the rear camera doesn't mirror the image when in rear-camera view. Not sure if a firmware update has come out to fix this. Doesn't the main camera also reduce the front resolution when the rear camera is connect because the processor isn't powerful enough?

Unless you need to use it as a reversing/rear camera I'd be more inclined to have two separate (and identical) dash cams for front and rear because if one of them fail at least you have something running independently as a backup. Plus if the front fails you can simply dismount the rear and mount it on the front. Also, you've get full quality image for the rear rather than a typically reduced resolution or bitrate.

[Tricuspid]

You’re right about the reduced resolution (though I’m old enough to remember when 1080p on your television was incredible, never mind a tiny camera!). Two cameras would work, and require less wiring, but half the point for me is the reversing. I can live with the image the wrong way round, it’s more about seeing what’s behind & if I’m fully in the bay.

[ninjag]

Tricuspid said:

You’re right about the reduced resolution (though I’m old enough to remember when 1080p on your television was incredible, never mind a tiny camera!). Two cameras would work, and require less wiring, but half the point for me is the reversing. I can live with the image the wrong way round, it’s more about seeing what’s behind & if I’m fully in the bay.

Reversing camera is handy, I find I can go ultra close when parking compared to the sensors. Although you'll be missing the guides which aren't massively important but I find the lateral ones good for leaving me enough space for the auto remote tailgate.

[Tricuspid]

I eventually got a reply to my enquiry with Nextbase ... the guy was quite vague but it seems that several button presses would be needed to activate the rear view image. That sounded like a lot of faffing and a recipe for angry people held up while I tt about with the camera, so decided against that route. I also didn't fancy having the thing stuck to the window all the time.

Currently looking at replacing the mirror with one with a screen built in. I don't like the clip on-ones (ugly) but there are OEM style mirrors which use the existing mount so I'm currently trying that option

[stuarthat]

It’s simple it’s pip slightly to the left .

[Register1]

lost in espace said:

I got a dashcam with rear view camera for £23 I think off ebay, it works quite well.

Linky please ?

R1