Cheapish wireless back up camera any ideas?

[Red]

Saw this in Kargen's (Checkers) Sunday Ad. Its a color wireless backup camera

http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductD...tNumber=PKC0RA

Has a 2.5" LCD monitor, plugs into the cig lighter outlet. Sale price is 60 bucks each after rebate. I was thinking of picking up one for Rommie since the view out the back is rather small. But I'm wondering if there are any other possible applications for it? Replacement side mirrors? Mobile mini camera to watch airflow experiments? e.g. yarn under the car kind of things?

Any thoughts?

[SVOboy]

Replacement side mirrors and aero experiments woo!

I would put one on my bike for commuting,

[DifferentPointofView]

I think that is cheaper than wal-mart...

[NoCO2]

Wow, that's awesome! I liked this first, but it doesn't show you WHAT is there, just that there is something there. I might just get one of those things and then maybe these small color cameras I found at Fry's for side mirrors...that would be awesome!

[Red]

After some further research I've found out the following about it
Its a rebadged VR3 Wireless back up cam gen2 (newer than the one at walmart)
Its got an effective range of 20ft
Wireless operates on a 2.4ghz signal so you may get interference with other devices and may pick up CCTV signals
Picture quality degrades over distance. 19-20ft is what people are finding to be the limit then it begins to get a bit choppy.
Its got a fish eye lens. Goes for width over height
Its no night vision camera, but if your back lights are bright stuff is still visible.
Its not 100% water proof but apparently you can pry off the lens cover and reseal it with silicon.

All told I think I'm going to grab one and play with it.

[DifferentPointofView]

honestly I don't like buying any equipment like that from wal-mart cause stuff tends to be really cheaply made. (hence, Wal-mart Fall-apart).

But for something as simple as a backup camera, I wouldn't mind getting one just for this application.

[ankit]

I can vouch for VR3. I have their FM transmitter for my ipod (which I got new off of ebay for almost half the price of Walmart) and it has not given me any problems. I was expecting the worst because it is a cheaper item than the other transmitters on the market, but received the best.

The ebay seller even has a tech-support phone number IIRC.

[wanna bECO]

I just wanna chime in with my first post hereon the forums. I have had one of these cameras for 2.5 years. in fact, I paid about $160 for mine from heartland america 2 years ago xmas. I have it hooked up to my headlight, so when the lights are on, the camera is on. I always have a ton of crap in the back of my ford escort for my work and visibility is totally limited. I bought the camera to use basically as a rear view mirror and it works great. I have been lurking for about a week and thought that if you are going to remove your side mirrors this camera is a must. hook it p to running lights or something. the directions have you hook it up to your reverse gear switch. After all this time let me tell you what I have found.

pro... good pic, no maintenance, and easy install.

con... even in phx, it got water in it after some rain. seal yours BEFORE you install.
the swivel mounty thing loosened after a short while and I am too dumb to figure out how to put tape around it to keep it from moving.

I suggest everyone get one of these if they remove their side mirrors. Get it at costco.. they are cheap there and they have the best return policy. I am not technical so I will be asking a ton of questions, so bare with me and my posts.....
hope this helped.

[Blue07CivicEX]

Also note you can only use one of these in a 30ft area due to interference.

[ebacherville]

wow wish we had a checkers near by.. nearest one has got to be 2 hours away