Dashcam - use of Mercedes camera.

[tode]

Been thinking of getting a dashcam for quite a while, but difficult to find good quality and discrete (and cheap).

It occurred to me that the Mercedes camera used for "Lane Assist" and "Speed Limit Assist" must be on all the time when driving - so would there be a way of hooking up a recorder to this camera instead of buying another of doubtful quality?

 

[Developer]

Been thinking of getting a dashcam for quite a while, but difficult to find good quality and discrete (and cheap).

It occurred to me that the Mercedes camera used for "Lane Assist" and "Speed Limit Assist" must be on all the time when driving - so would there be a way of hooking up a recorder to this camera instead of buying another of doubtful quality?

I'm liking this - my camera gives a pin sharp image, though only in black and white, and it only works at night, so some changes would be required.

I'd be interested, if it were possible, though I guess recording the data may be tricky.

 

[tode]

It occurred to me after the car was on Star recently - while scanning through the car's functions, there came up a crystal-clear picture of the garage, from the MB camera.

And I would imagine that it must be quite wide-angle to capture the speed limit signs.

I have no idea where one could find a recorder that records in loop though.

 

[turbopete]

I'm liking this - my camera gives a pin sharp image, though only in black and white, and it only works at night, so some changes would be required.

I'd be interested, if it were possible, though I guess recording the data may be tricky.

id imagine hooking up to a hard drive that ran in tandem with the camera would do the trick, John

 

[tode]

It also occurs to me that Mercedes are missing a trick here - everything is ready in these cars, just needs a little recorder tucked away somewhere.

 

[turbopete]

theyre a good idea BUT it does make me wonder about the legalities of such systems as, in essence, you are SECRETLY (unlike CCTV) filming people (as you travel etc) WITHOUT their consent

Here the car park attendants have such cameras in their vehicles or attached to their uniform etc in case of assault or other issues, BUT the ones in their vehicles are CLEARLY LABELLED that the vehicle has video recording equipment fitted and in use!

 

[whitenemesis]

There are no legal issues with filming people in public places, it's what one does with the footage that can cause issues.

Aftermarket dash-cams are being supported by the Police (unofficially)

 

[television]

Yes the camera used in the front screen could be switched to drive another source, not so hard to do, and a possible dummy load to stop warnings coming up. The camera will have a standard PAL output.

 

[tode]

Yes the camera used in the front screen could be switched to drive another source, not so hard to do, and a possible dummy load to stop warnings coming up. The camera will have a standard PAL output.

Hi Malcolm: Would you have to disconnect the camera from the lane & speed recognition part, or would it be possible to "share" the signal?

I presume that the signal is analysed in the Comand unit?

 

[Wirral_guy]

If someone can work out how to get the feed out then something like this (quick search only, probably many choices out there) would do the job:

2-Channel-Car-DVR-SD-Card-Recording

Dave

 

[television]

Hi Malcolm: Would you have to disconnect the camera from the lane & speed recognition part, or would it be possible to "share" the signal?

I presume that the signal is analysed in the Comand unit?

Is there any way to view what the camera is seeing when in the speed and white line are being used. The only snag being that that if there is a mode where its possible to see that would have to be left switched on.

Comand has no video out, so nothing from there other than the rear screen option.

The best way would be to use a standard PAL video split amp from the camera, leaving one output coupled as it was to the Comand or night vision and the other to your video recording device.

I will give this some thought as I have a camera in my car for the night vision

Camera's just need a plus feed and a ground.

 

[tode]

If someone can work out how to get the feed out then something like this (quick search only, probably many choices out there) would do the job:

2-Channel-Car-DVR-SD-Card-Recording

Dave

That should do the job, but a little pricey. :sad:

 

[tode]

Is there any way to view what the camera is seeing when in the speed and white line are being used. The only snag being that that if there is a mode where its possible to see that would have to be left switched on.

Comand has no video out, so nothing from there other than the rear screen option.

The best way would be to use a standard PAL video split amp from the camera, leaving one output coupled as it was to the Comand or night vision and the other to your video recording device.

I will give this some thought as I have a camera in my car for the night vision

Camera's just need a plus feed and a ground.

As far as I know, there is no way of showing the road image other than switching to night vision (at night ), unlike the Audis where you can have the IR image in the day.

When the night vision is on, the lane & the speed assist still function, so it can do three things at once.

The camera must be on all the time, because the speed limit recognition works as soon as you start moving. (Afaik, lane assist is only active above 50 - 60 kph).

 

[television]

That should do the job, but a little pricey. :sad:

Does it over write as well when full

 

[tode]

Does it over write as well when full

Supposedly: "Supporting SD cards up to 32GB, this DVR can record in loop and overwrite old data automatically when the memory is full."

I've just been looking at the car again ( ), and with the housing for the night vision, the auto-wipers and all the other bits, there's really not much room to tuck away a webcam discretely without coming into the field of view.

 

[television]

As these camera's are so small there could be room for 2, I will take a look as soon as possible and they are so cheap to buy.

This is something that I could well do

 

[Irresistance]

Yeah well that device from eBay does have one very crappy "feature":

Video Resolution: 360x240

Yeah... well - at that resolution it's next to useless. 640 (x480) is base minimum, ideal is 720p. Full HD is somewhat overkill for most uses and takes up too much disk space... but 360x240 is what I had on my iPaq from 2001....

Another option if you have a phone cradle mounted on the windscreen is to use your smartphone as the dashcam. There are apps available that do just that. Video quality may not be too great, but it certainly is a very portable solution - no fiddling with (micro!) sd cards and the like - you have the recordings directly on the phone.

Frankly, what I think TomTom should do is offer a Video/Audio-in port on their nav devices, and sell a good camera as an extra for like say 50 quid. Would sell like hotcakes!

 

[Triv]

Something like this?

http://item.mobileweb.ebay.co.uk/viewitem?sbk=1&nav=SEARCH&itemId=350766042930

Disconnect it's camera, piggyback off the wiring from your existing camera onto the board on the recorder, effectively replacing one camera with the other.
You could keep it in the glovebox or mount it so you can see the screen.

Could that be done?

 

[tode]

Something like this?

http://item.mobileweb.ebay.co.uk/viewitem?sbk=1&nav=SEARCH&itemId=350766042930

Disconnect it's camera, piggyback off the wiring from your existing camera onto the board on the recorder, effectively replacing one camera with the other.
You could keep it in the glovebox or mount it so you can see the screen.

Could that be done?

Couln't get your link to work, but I've already thought about using a cheapish camera to do just that.

What I don't know, is what format the MB camera has. I had presumed that it must be fairly high definition in order to analyse the road signs, but this may not be the case . . .

Anyone any idea ?

 

[Triv]

I wondered that too.
I also wondered whether, if piggybacked onto existing wiring, the night motion trigger would trip the alarm.