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Rearview Camera is Affordable but Hard to Install
Dec 03 2008 by Sara Lacey
What if the car you desperately desire — or the car you already own — doesn’t come equipped with a backup camera? Don’t throw your arms up in the air and say, “I give up!” You’re a parent now; you better just eliminate that from your vernacular. Instead, check out Audiovox’s wireless rearview camera that can be installed on any car.
Audiovox’s AC250 Wireless Vehicle Rear Observation System (rearview camera) is available for $129.99, although a Google search found them priced as low as $89.99. An Audiovox spokesperson said the company wanted this camera to be affordable so people wouldn’t have a cost barrier preventing them from making their cars and families safer. Applause, please!
So far this year, children have been hurt or killed in 732 non-traffic-related automotive incidents, including backovers, trunk entrapments, window strangulations and more, according to our friends over at KidsandCars.org, which tracks non-traffic incidents and works to prevent them. Installing a rearview camera in your car could help prevent your kids from becoming a statistic. It should also be noted that the Kids and Cars website has endorsed Audiovox’s rearview camera. We love that.
The kind people at Audiovox sent me a sample camera to test, and I decided to install it myself. Included in the package is a camera, a monitor and a bunch of wires. The camera is mounted on your license plate and wired to your reverse lights. Whenever you back up, the camera turns on and sends a signal to a display screen that you can mount on your dash or windshield. When you shift out of reverse, the camera turns off. Audiovox includes detailed instructions, and there’s even a YouTube video showing the installation process to boot. In the video, it looks really easy to install.
While I had the right-sized screwdriver and electrical tape, my main hitch is that electrical stuff scares me. I gave the installation a good try, but I had problems when I had to connect the wiring through a very small hole behind the license plate. If you’re like me, what do you do? Call a handy friend, family member or get it professionally installed.
I’m so happy that Audiovox has created something for those of us who want safer cars without compromising my kid’s college fund. Now we can have our safety without compromise.
that’s an interesting device! i would like to have that in my car too. there are lots of technological innovations high flow cat these days, but this camera isn’t just for fun but a great car accessory to own.