I've bought an Auto-Vox M6 mirror cam with reversing/rear view camera without a thought as to where to mount the rear view camera (doh!).  The instructions say to mount the clip behind the rear number plate but on the combi tailgate this puts it very close to the tailgate handle and it looks a bit vulnerable.  Has anyone else mounted a similar rear camera (not necessarily this model) and if so have you found a better location for it?  The inside screen is not recommended due to the camera LEDs which come on when reversing (I believe).  This is the camera. The rear camera is the small, separate cam. https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B072V3F5WC/

8 minutes ago, Octavia3 said:

I've bought an Auto-Vox M6 mirror cam with reversing/rear view camera without a thought as to where to mount the rear view camera (doh!).  The instructions say to mount the clip behind the rear number plate but on the combi tailgate this puts it very close to the tailgate handle and it looks a bit vulnerable.  Has anyone else mounted a similar rear camera (not necessarily this model) and if so have you found a better location for it?  The inside screen is not recommended due to the camera LEDs which come on when reversing (I believe).  This is the camera. The rear camera is the small, separate cam. https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B072V3F5WC/ 

 

Several people have bought cameras which are integrated into the handle, either 3rd party or OEM. This then allows the camera to be viewed on the screen of the entertainment unit (Amundsen or Columbus). Check out @SashaGrace thread for more info.

As above, I would do away with this system and get a boot handle one. For £16 it integrates like an OEM one.

Hi WG and Sasha and many thanks for your suggestion but I need a high definition dual dash cam with simultaneous front and rear recording - hence the Autovox M6.   I did look at the Skoda OEM reverse parking camera before I bought the dual dash cam, but unfortunately it does not perform the functions I need.  Unless I'm mistaken it does not record what's going on behind  (reverse parking function isn't my priority) and, more importantly, it isn't compatible with the entertainment unit which comes as standard on my car (French equipment, Active trim comes with the Swing unit).  If it could plug into the dashcam for recording then I might consider swapping it, as it's so neat, but I am not sure it would be compatible or easy to integrate into the dashcam.

 However, I've had a poke around this morning and I think I've found the best spot; I located the rear camera  at the end of the number plate and checked that the reverse parking view was still good before fixing it (which was a faff as French plates are riveted on).  With the offset position it isn't vulnerable to knocks when opening the tailgate.  As an aside, the camera works great and records front and rear as well as giving parking assist when I select reverse gear, so it all worked out okay. 

Edited 17 January, 20197 yr by Octavia3

Ah, I did not realise that you were using this for a rearview Dashcam. In that case, as you have placed it would work as it wouldn't need to be dead on the centreline of the car for that.

Yes, perhaps I should have explained at the beginning why I chose this instead of the "parking camera handle" option : I don't know if you drive a lot in France but if you have you'll know all about the tailgating problem.  They aren't being aggressive, it's just a bad habit over here and a major cause of accidents, as you can imagine.  Hence the dual front-and-rear camera recording. 

 

 

Edited 17 January, 20197 yr by Octavia3

I see what you mean now, it’s a dashcam. That’s pretty neat. Sadly I can only help from a parking camera perspective. Let us know your progress as it looks good. I normally see dashcams just mounted on the inside of rear screens in cars over here.

Will do.  I didn't have long on it today as Judith took the car off to Pilates, but the hard bit is over (getting the wires from the cabin to the tailgate camera).  I hope to get the wire from the rear pillar to the mirror and the power lead from the mirror to the fuse box tucked away tomorrow if I'm left to it!  A cigar lighter power lead is provided but I'm hardwiring it for various reasons.  One thing - I know the fuse box is a pain in the backside to access on RHD cars but on the LHD the driver's side mini glovebox pulls out to reveal the fuses with no faffing (unlike the passenger's side glovebox).  

On 17/01/2019 at 16:35, Octavia3 said:

Will do.  I didn't have long on it today as Judith took the car off to Pilates, but the hard bit is over (getting the wires from the cabin to the tailgate camera).  I hope to get the wire from the rear pillar to the mirror and the power lead from the mirror to the fuse box tucked away tomorrow if I'm left to it!  A cigar lighter power lead is provided but I'm hardwiring it for various reasons.  One thing - I know the fuse box is a pain in the backside to access on RHD cars but on the LHD the driver's side mini glovebox pulls out to reveal the fuses with no faffing (unlike the passenger's side glovebox).  

 

Just make sure your Cigar Lighter plug is just a plug with fuse and doesn’t contain a 12/5v dc/dc converter. If it’s the latter you will need something like 

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/Dc-dc-Converter-Regulator-12v-Stepdown-to-5v-3a-15w-Car-Power-Supply-Module-UK/1274078478?iid=142407861263&chn=ps&ul_ref=https%3A%2F%2Frover.ebay.com%2Frover%2F1%2F710-134428-41853-0%2F2%3Fmpre%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.ebay.co.uk%252Fp%252FDc-dc-Converter-Regulator-12v-Stepdown-to-5v-3a-15w-Car-Power-Supply-Module-UK%252F1274078478%253Fiid%253D142407861263%2526chn%253Dps%26itemid%3D142407861263%26targetid%3D596005771116%26device%3Dm%26adtype%3Dpla%26googleloc%3D9046377%26poi%3D%26campaignid%3D1660959484%26adgroupid%3D69691738731%26rlsatarget%3Dpla-596005771116%26abcId%3D1140486%26merchantid%3D113706095%26gclid%3DCjwKCAiAsoviBRAoEiwATm8OYISh2hDJslAHU1YBBpGtsm3K4MGbEWnJvwUFDVN8hGXOWApyORCljhoCa_8QAvD_BwE%26srcrot%3D710-134428-41853-0%26rvr_id%3D1825541853503%26rvr_ts%3D660966611680a688b7b62727fffc52f8

3 hours ago, KevC_Derby said:

Just make sure your Cigar Lighter plug is just a plug with fuse and doesn’t contain a 12/5v dc/dc converter.

Hi Kev - the supplied cigar lighter lead does indeed contain 5v transformer. For simplicity I bought this kit (see below) when I ordered the dashcam as it contains everything for hardwiring - the fused connection just piggybacks the existing fuse F40 and the lead has a micro usb that plugs into the mirror cam in place of the original cigar plug lead.  I fitted it today (in the perishing cold) and it's all working great. I've attached the fusebox pics and diagram just in case it's useful to anyone - being LHD my fuse box is behind the driver's mini glove box which just flips down for access to the fuses. There's plenty of space behind the fuse box to stash the spare cable and the transformer (cable tied to stop rattles).   

 

 

Edited 19 January, 20197 yr by Octavia3
updating description.

On 17/01/2019 at 09:11, Octavia3 said:

 

Yes I have that same camera mounted on the rear bottom diffuser. No drilling , just sticks on and easy access to boot via rubber grommet .  feed wire down under diffuser and up through grommet.  

On 24/01/2019 at 17:11, melbury said:

Yes I have that same camera mounted on the rear bottom diffuser. No drilling , just sticks on and easy access to boot via rubber grommet .  feed wire down under diffuser and up through grommet.  

 

 

Drat - too late.  That would have been easier than guiding the wires through the rear tailgate, too.  Never mind - thank you anyway. 

On 24/01/2019 at 16:11, melbury said:

Yes I have that same camera mounted on the rear bottom diffuser. No drilling , just sticks on and easy access to boot via rubber grommet .  feed wire down under diffuser and up through grommet.  

I like your thinking, but doesn't it just get covered in road crud?

does anyone know if you can get the camera on its own, I already have the recording kit with the camera in the rear window but this looks like it may be better.

 

John

49 minutes ago, jjc said:

does anyone know if you can get the camera on its own, I already have the recording kit with the camera in the rear window but this looks like it may be better.

 

Do you mean the little rear view camera?  I don't know if Auto-vox sell this one alone (I haven't done a search, but I didn't see it when I was researching) but there are plenty of other rear cameras available alone if you look on Amazon etc.  I think the main thing is to make sure it's at least 720 pixels if you're using one of these for recording as lower 420 pixel cameras don't pick out number plates so clearly - the lower definition ones are intended mainly for use as reversing aids.