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BonS · 04-12-2018, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlaRider

Do you have an update or a review on the system yet?

Not yet. I've been working waaaaayy too much and my motorhome is stored in the Kansas City caves for the winter. I promise to follow up though.

JeffAZ · 04-13-2018, 12:11 AM

Looks interesting, will be watching for this.

And the video has very dramatic music, I now feel the need to go out and do something of great substance!

cody pruitt · 05-08-2018, 09:52 AM

The owleyes camera looks quite small compared to the quarter. That's a helpful picture. Let us know when you have a review or video to share.

BonS · 05-08-2018, 04:25 PM

Well, we're getting closer to getting the bus out from from storage. We just got our permanent home on the market today and that was sucking up all my spare time. I expect to be diving into the installation within a week or so. I'll take photos and chronicle the task.

Pigman1 · 05-08-2018, 06:05 PM

A rather impressive system. We sure could use more information on the recorder, if playback was available, the display (size, power requirements, etc), recording time, and the wireless feature (?? from processor to display?? ) or something else. Any night or low light capabilities?

A copy of the installation and instructions manual would be a great help.

BonS · 05-08-2018, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pigman1

A rather impressive system. We sure could use more information on the recorder, if playback was available, the display (size, power requirements, etc), recording time, and the wireless feature (?? from processor to display?? ) or something else. Any night or low light capabilities?

A copy of the installation and instructions manual would be a great help.

I'll sure know more after installation, but the manual references:

24 hour DVR loop recording and also G-sensor triggered recording with low/medium/high sensitivity settings. A micro SD card is the recording media.

There is a remote control. It accesses the menu system of the OwlEye and to change the birds-eye view manually. It's also used to look at video files, select them, play them back and to select a specific camera to go full screen while watching the video.

There is also a 1/2" square button that is mounted within arms reach and used to manipulate the view while driving. This hasn't been tested yet.

The remote control can also be used to alter the birds-eye view perspective. Blinkers, hazards and reverse gear can also be used to do the same. With blinkers/reverse gear the view can automatically bias the view towards the direction of travel giving a better view.

The camera recording system can be set to remain on while parked for security purposes.

The cameras are 1/3" HD sensors which is respectable. 1/4" sensors are worse for resolution as well as light gathering ability. Of course, 1/2" sensors are better than 1/3" all around.

The video system is 1280 x 720 @ 30 fps. The output from the controller is HDMI or VGA or composite video. Recordings are 1080P @ 15 fps.

Recordings require 3GB/hour, so 24 hour recording will consume 72GB. The manual mentions a 64GB SD card but doesn't mention a 128GB card so???

Power consumption when idle is less than 3ma. 4-channel DVR mode and surround view monitoring draws 500ma. If possible, running this on house batteries sounds like a good idea to me.

Any monitor that accepts VGA, composite or HDMI will work. I bought their 10.1" TFT LCD color monitor. It accepts HDMI/VGA/composite and a USB stick for video playback. I won't know how well it works until I get it in the motorhome in the daylight though. It looks plenty bright enough indoors but only time will tell.

Low light: You'll be impressed. There is no IR filtering with these camera so they are quite sensitive. I've experimented in a dark basement with the only light being the glow from the monitor and I can see myself quite well. I suppose that IR illumination can be added to enhance the already great performance if desired. If doing so, I'd put the illumination at the four corners of the RV to avoid casting glare around the camera lenses though. My existing backup camera has built in surround illumination and all I get is glare and can't see a thing at night.

Thinking forward, I'd rather have a joystick setup instead of the handheld remote control. If I don't like the automated views then I can see me making one someday. But that's just me.

Pigman1 · 05-08-2018, 08:39 PM

Thank you so much, BonS. Their web site is a bit thin on information, to say the least. A great rundown on the info you provided. Did you get this rundown direct from them or was it stuff in the package you received? I'll be waiting for any info you might be able to give us after you get it installed.

BonS · 05-08-2018, 08:53 PM

It's from the manual. English is clearly not the first language of the author of the manual. The description of operation is mostly there but it's takes some getting used to. 90% of the manual is about laying out the calibration tape around the RV and performing the actual calibration. It'll take a large open parking lot, long tape measures, a friend or two, and likely all day to get it done. Oh, and several critically-sized sets of stacked boxes strategically placed at special calibration locations to assist with distortion correction. I'll have to start looking to have those in hand before beginning. A replacement set of calibration tapes is $20 and are likely a one-use item. I'd hate to see a camera get bumped at the RV wash after calibration. Perhaps I should have a set of calibration tapes in storage just in case . . .

nehog · 05-16-2018, 07:12 PM

I'm impressed!

BonS · 05-20-2018, 05:33 PM

Well, I'm finally started on the OwlEye installation. First thing is to decide where the monitor is to be installed. The first picture shows my cockpit as it is before the installation. On my left is a tablet that I use for GPS and my VMSpc display. I'm not willing to give either of those up so I have to find a location that I can see while driving. My CC dash isn't at all cooperative. The second picture was my only other candidate and the dash blocks some of my view so that's out. Finally I looked up and decided to try to mount the display up high. I have to get into this space anyway when I run the video wires down from the roof. Taking apart the left cabinet revealed a large area and access to route wires down the A-pillar and into the dash to pick up the necessary wires.

The base of the monitor seems flimsy and uses two small screws to attach the base to the pedestal. I decided to discard the base and just use the pedestal. I epoxied two 1/4-20 threaded inserts in place and drilled two holed through the upper cabinet to mount the monitor pedestal. It's plenty strong now.

I'll be mounting the OwlEye controller in this same cabinet since the video cables drop right into this same space.

BonS · 05-20-2018, 05:38 PM

There is already a lot of wiring behind the A-pillar cover so the wiring for the OwlEye will use the same chase for the accessory wiring.

I haven't started to install the cameras yet. I did, however, scout the locations for the cameras. They're all going to be straight forward except for the passenger side. My awning-supports extend several inches from the side of the coach and will block the perimeter view of the camera if I don't do something. I've begun building a small mount that will extend the camera outward so it can see the full length of the coach. No pictures of it yet.

BonS · 05-20-2018, 05:40 PM

A few more pics. The first pic shows the threaded inserts epoxied into the pedestal. The second picture shows the 1/4"-20 screws projecting downward from the overhead compartment. And finally the mounted monitor.

Ray,IN · 05-21-2018, 01:44 PM

One of the custom-coach builders, Foretravel or Newell, offered this as an option a couple years ago. Hate the think of the added cost back then; but then again, if one can afford a custom coach what's a few thousand more?
This will sure make arriving at an RV park after dark and getting a back-in space a piece of cake.

BonS · 05-21-2018, 07:35 PM

Today was spent installing the controller and installing the miscellaneous wiring. If you've ever installed a radio then this would very similar. That said, I haven't yet installed a camera! Since I have an awning support arm that is in the way of the passenger side camera I made an extension to extend the camera just beyond it. The pictures show the camera mount. It's painted to match the coach where it will mount. I don't know if this is necessary or not but I want to do this once and not be sorry later. It'll be tucked up just under the awning cover so it will simply disappear when installed - at least that's what I tell myself.