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Tech News and Commentary
Dave and the team discuss CES’s Omicron problems, people’s mistrust of big tech companies, TikTok having the most traffic of any domain in the world, DoorDash’s WeDash program, TikTok’s ads, and more.
Ken in North Miami, Florida listens to the Podcasts and asked: “Just bought a new Chevy Colorado pickup truck. I’m looking for a wireless camera that I can mount on the front because I’ve never owned a pickup truck and I find myself with the back of the truck sticking out in the parking lot. What are your recommendations for a wireless camera for the front of the truck?”
Ken, your best bet is a backup camera. There’s no rule that says that it needs to be installed on the back.
The easiest ones to get working will be the license plate mounted ones which will wirelessly broadcast to the cabin. For example an EchoMaster camera and screen can be had for under $150 and can be mounted with 2 screws.
If you don’t trust wireless cameras, there are wired cameras that are very inexpensive and will come right on without any delay, unlike their wireless cousins.
A Natika camera can be installed in the front of the car and hidden away and you can get them for around $40. The big catch there is that there’s no monitor. You need to buy that separately.
One issue you may run into is that most of these cameras are made to be installed in the rear of the car where you can’t see, rather than in the front, where you can. That means that some assume that you will want them to turn on when the car goes into reverse. That means that you may need to have the camera wired to turn on when you flip a switch.
Look into Metra, iBeam, Kenwood, and Thinkware. They all make rear-view cameras that can be adjusted to be used as front view cameras. They all have roughly a 170 degree field of vision, they are all weatherproof, and they will all end up costing you somewhere between $100 and $150 plus installation.
Other than that, wired cameras are fairly comparable as there’s really not that much in the way of features other than better or worse night vision.
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