Dashcam - use of Mercedes camera.

[tode]

It'll be interesting to compare the two . .

 

[Gkinghorn]

Have you got the software that shows you Google maps as you go so you can see all sorts statistics and auto joins all the files on the fly so it looks like 1 continuous journey? I also suggest you update to the latest firmware for it..it changes regularly..and don't update the fw from the micro usb it ...I stuck my GPS thing sideways on the rain sensor... I do need to shorten the wire though....

Sent from my SM-P605 using Tapatalk

 

[Troon]

Have you got the software that shows you Google maps as you go so you can see all sorts statistics and auto joins all the files on the fly so it looks like 1 continuous journey?

The de facto standard is Registrator Viewer - an excellent piece of software and free.

 

[Gkinghorn]

But not on a Mac though there is Mac sw out there...it's on the Dashcam forum

Sent from my SM-P605 using Tapatalk

 

[M-B Dave]

But not on a Mac though there is Mac sw out there...it's on the Dashcam forum

Yes, the DashCam Viewer for Mac is excellent, have now switched from Pittasoft BlackVue Viewer, and am not going back

For anyone interested: http://earthshinesw.com/dashcam-viewer/

 

[Teflon]

I'd like to resurrect the original question that Tode posted, since I've been trying to crack this nut ever since I bought my car in October. I can sort all the recording issues, but not the Mercedes part, since I have no access to wiring diagrams and disassembly instructions.

Here's the plan...........

• My car has the Speed Limit Assist, which means it has a 24 hour day and night camera looking at the world.
• I have a mate who runs a business doing very high end CCTV systems, not the usual stuff from Maplins. This means my house is wired with multiple 2Mp and 3Mp cameras (better than HD), plus an 8Tb recording server that I can access from my phone.
• I've looked at all the available commercial dash cams, including the stuff the can he source direct from manufacturer in China at rates far better than the EBay stuff. I've looked at everything from BlackVue HD and Road Warrior to bargain basement VGA from Shanghai.
• I don't need anything with a playback screen. I don't want any of that 480 lines rubbish. In fact, I don't want anything visible.
• I want a minimum of HD recording, with high framerate and long storage before it wraps over, so that rules out things like BlackVue.
• Ideally I want a concealed high capacity SSD SATA disc, using recording gear that my chum can source.
• In an ideal world, I'd like it to be a feed from the Speed Assist camera, plugged into the USB in my glovebox.......... but we can all dream.
• More realistically, I'll settle for getting a feed from the in-built camera and we can work out the rest.
• I might even be able to combine the recorder with GPS, since most of the high end 12V stuff for commercial use has this option.

Malcolm suggests that the camera is PAL, which isn't going to be good enough for me.

But having consulted my expert after noting the distance it can spot a speed limit sign to show up on the speedo, it can't possibly be that poor. It must be pretty high resolution and hopefully digital, in which case no need for A/D conversion (which I could source if I really need it).

The sort of recording stuff that people have posted on this thread so far is for PAL/NTSC or normal resolutuion analogue cameras with a BNC connection. I'm looking for much better than this in terms of frame rate, resolution and capacity, hence the SSD comment.

If the in-built camera proves to be too low resolution or won't deal with the high frame rate I want, we'll move to plan 2. This will be high-res miniature bullet camera, either mounted alongside the original or very discretely outside the trim.

So someone, please tell me as much info about the camera behind my mirror as possible............

• What's it's resolution?
• Is it D or A?
• Where on the car can we break into the output and how do I get the trim off to access?
• Where can I find a 12 permanent and a 12V ignition switched supply in the head lining behind the rear view mirror? What colours are the wires and what fuses are they on?
• Some disassembly drawing please, so that I can get to the back of the winscreen location without damage to my pride and joy.
• Plus anything else that will help.

In return for any help I'm prepared to act as pilot project and/or guineau pig and fettle a solution that I'll post if it's workabale. I might even be able to tag low cost orders of the recording/GPS equipment onto his orders to China or UK firms for the big boy equipment. Or else I can give you the info to source your own kit.


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[television]

Just the simple things first, on your car you can remove the A pillar covers by prising off the air bag warnings covers, there is a 10mm nut, take this off and the covers pull inwards from the top and you lift them out. You can now feed wires up from the removable side panels from the end of the dash, so adding all time live and switched cables is no problem, going along the top the will push up under the front of the headlining out of sight.

The camera built in,,, I cannot be 100% what format it is as there is no way to find out without reading any ID markings on it.

On my 216 the camera is all complete with amps etc, or I am very sure that it is as about 15 cables go to it, in the EPC its called a multi purpose camera.

You cannot normally just tap into a video device by adding another cable in parallel, by all means try it, but its more normal to have a splitter amp.

 

[television]

I have printed off the circuit diagram of the camera for you

 

[Teflon]

I have printed off the circuit diagram of the camera for you

Many thanks. Is it a PM?


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[television]

Yes please this throws a whole new light on the subject of using the cars camera, one may not have to go near the camera to get to the output.

 

[PovertySpec]

remove the A pillar covers by prising off the air bag warnings covers, there is a 10mm nut, take this off and the covers pull inwards from the top and you lift them out. You can now feed wires up from the removable side panels from the end of the dash, so adding all time live and switched cables is no problem, going along the top the will push up under the front of the headlining out of sight

Hi Television. Do you know if that's the same sort of set up on an E Class W211 57 plate?

I've been using one of these as a crash-cam for the last couple of months and although it's inexpensive it ain't cheap n nasty.

I'm looking to permanently wire one in to the front and to the rear of my new car.

Perhaps wiring one in to the courtesy lights at the front and somewhere (?) at the back. Top of the rear screen preferably.

 

[Troon]

Hi Television. Do you know if that's the same sort of set up on an E Class W211 57 plate?

I've been using one of these as a crash-cam for the last couple of months and although it's inexpensive it ain't cheap n nasty.

I'm looking to permanently wire one in to the front and to the rear of my new car.

Perhaps wiring one in to the courtesy lights at the front and somewhere (?) at the back. Top of the rear screen preferably.

I have a Mini 0801 wired in front of the RVM in my S211:

This is wired from the rear of the 12V socket in the centre console (ignition-live) via a 5V converter, and up the driver's side A-pillar then pushed up under the front of the headlining and hidden behind the cover in front of the mirror, whence the wire emerges to plug into the base.

The G1W is a little bigger but thinner: I'd imagine it'd fit there just as well as mine does, which is not visible at all from the driver's seat.

 

[PovertySpec]

Thanks for the input. I almost bought an ambrella cam before I saw the GW1

It not being visible to me in the driver's seat is a pre-requisite.

Doing away with the suction cup mount and sticking it to the back of the mirror is one option but I won't know until I collect my car.

Found this on the bay, ought to do the job.

Hopefully that's small enough to fit somewhere up in the headlining and I can take 12V from the interior light?

 

[Troon]

That looks very similar to the converter I linked to. You ought to be able to find room for it in the overhead console: just make sure you secure it so it doesn't rattle. Wiring diagram here (PDF). Mine (wired to the 12V socket, remember) is cable-tied to the cross-car beam behind the IP-end fusebox.

I would stick it to the window: the closer to the glass it is, the better the image will be.

 

[PovertySpec]

Similar in all but price

The suction mount the GW1 came with is quite small but I'd like to see if I could do away with it altogether, lose the white circle you can see from the outside.

Have to wait until the car arrives before I can start to have play.

Next project will be something like this if I can find a decent looking double DIN fascia.

Also shocked to see someone left the battery out of a milk float in the boot of my car. It's enormous!

Should make installing a sub woofer much easier.

 

[M-B Dave]

The suction mount the GW1 came with is quite small but I'd like to see if I could do away with it altogether, lose the white circle you can see from the outside.

I bought this recently, just in case - someone mentioned it on DashCamTalk. I really don't like suction mounts, so this one is a great alternative.
My cams (BlackVue 400-IIs) are mounted in their factory holders and I have a spare one for a hire car, when I travel, with plenty of extra stickers, but at this price I thought - might as well, could be useful ...

 

[television]

PovertySpec I can check on the 211 A pillars later this evening, they all come off, but not all in the same way.

I hate suction devices and a shortened my holder, I also used black sticky pads as the do not show.