Ring wireless rear view camera - any good?

SimonWJ
SimonWJ Forum Participant Posts: 15
edited May 2019 in Parts & Accessories #1

I'm thinking of fitting a rear view camera, not for help with reversing but simply to give a view of the road behind, just like the rear view mirror when there’s no rig hooked up. Ring make a relatively inexpensive one that seems to be just 'plug & play' as the camera has a built in transmitter and the screen has a built in receiver. The model number is RGBW430 and it’s priced around £85

Has anyone any experience of this specific kit that they could share?

Comments

  • richardandros
    richardandros Club Member Posts: 2,682 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2019 #2

    I don't have experience of this one but have the Falcon Technology one which seems similar, albeit somewhat more expensive. Both mine and this one have wide angle lenses which aren't ideal for 'rear view' (as opposed to 'reversing') use and according to a specialist company I spoke to, rear view cameras should be no more than 60 degrees - otherwise you get a very distorted impression of distances.

    Another point - since changing my caravan to one with an aluminium clad body, the signal doesn't get through even though both vans are about the same length (8m).

    I am now looking at a wired system with a narrow lens angle but the bottom line is that no camera is a substitute for a good set of mirrors.

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,387 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2019 #3

    Another point - since changing my caravan to one with an aluminium clad body, the signal doesn't get through even though both vans are about the same length (8m).

    I also have the Falcon wireless one as well and have had the same problems. I took it up with Falcon who kindly changed my camera. The one I have now is a little better but it needs to be fully charged to work properly. This only gives it a short life because it appears as though the WiFi signal gets progressively weaker as the battery discharges. I remain none to happy with it.

    peedee

  • SimonWJ
    SimonWJ Forum Participant Posts: 15
    edited May 2019 #4

    Many thanks, guys. 

     

    Indeed I do wonder about the angle of view but at 110 degrees it’s less than most reversing cameras although still much wider than would be ideal for a rear view camera. As far as I can tell, the camera is intended to be wired to the caravan's power supply rather than powered by its own battery but I must check that. A battery powered camera would be no good as far as I’d be concerned  

    And to be clear, it’s not intended to be a substitute for mirrors but rather to give an additional view of what’s behind, akin to a regular rear view mirror. 

  • SimonWJ
    SimonWJ Forum Participant Posts: 15
    edited May 2019 #5

    I contacted Ring to ask them if this camera could be used continuously as a rear view camera. Their first reply was that as it was connected to the reversing light circuit it wouldn’t stay on continuously. So I pointed out that that wasn’t my question. They then said it was probably against the law to use it continuously (which it isn’t). I then asked again if the camera could be used continuously and they came back with the answer that it couldn’t. My feeling is that they simply didn’t know and it was easier to say it couldn’t than be bothered to find out. And naturally they said it would affect the warranty although how they’d know to which wire in the car it was connected, I don’t know. 

    Perhaps something to try. It’s not that expensive and the convenience of the wireless sender and receiver being integrated into the units is appealing. Anything else on the market that I’ve seen has separate wireless units that need to be fitted and connected. 

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