A question from a lurker

Morgans wrote:

Wal-Mart, for one. It is billed as a license plate backup camera, or
something like that. It fits right over the plate bolt holes.

My son got one for easy hook-up of trailer towing. It works!

Best thing is it doesn't have to be HD or even SD, just so you have an
identifiable image. You can get a CMOS camera w/audio that transmits on
2.4GHz to a matching receiver, that has a/v outputs, for about $50, ordered
from Hong Kong on eBay. OK, laugh, I got one, and it works!! Just be
forewarned that you do NOT wack of the oversized coaxial connector to the
transmitter/camera that connects to a 9V battery, because that also has a 5V
regulator built in - which the assholes don't tell you, so if you downsize
to a resonable sized set of plugs, the camera gets fried... Don't ask....
Anyway, it is very easy to have a ultra compact, cheap video camera these
days... The most expensive item is the monitor, and even then you're
talking $100..

"ManhattanMan" wrote

Anyway, it is very easy to have a ultra compact, cheap video camera these
days... The most expensive item is the monitor, and even then you're
talking $100..

His sseeteup has a good sized monitor, with it. Here is the link:

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4744711#Item+Description

I'm not quite sure what or how you managed to fry yours. Try again at an
explanation?
--
Jim in NC

Morgans wrote:
"ManhattanMan" wrote

Anyway, it is very easy to have a ultra compact, cheap video camera
these days... The most expensive item is the monitor, and even then
you're talking $100..

His sseeteup has a good sized monitor, with it. Here is the link:

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4744711#Item+Description

Looks like Wal Mart took a baby monitor and adapted it for automotive use -
very clever! 2.5" monitor most likely has a 2.4GHz receiver built in.

I'm not quite sure what or how you managed to fry yours. Try again
at an explanation?

Here's a picture of a similar camera I started with, the intent was to get
some live video from RC aircraft.
http://www.boostervision.com/boostervision/default.asp
Notice the fat coaxial female plug on the camera/transmitter module (amazing
what they pack away in that little 1" cube!).
This doesn't show the matching male pigtail plug with a battery connector to
snap on a 9V battery. This setup is very common for the budget cameras, and
out of a half dozen vendors, I've only seen one mention that the warranty
was void if that plug was tampered with. NOT ONE actually told the buyer
that the oversized plug contains a 5V regulator, and if you bypassed it, the
module will get very warm before cashing in a few minutes later.. I thought
I'd save some weight, since it was going into a light weight foamie model,
and you can guess the rest. Transmitter still sends a nice blank carrier,
but the CMOS camera is history - luckily it was a cheapie and I've moved on
to a good Sony CCD, seperate 200mw transmitter, and 5V regulator to match..
Here's a shot of it:
http://www.members.cox.net/drpics/pigicam2.jpg