Howdy All,

Is the REC 6 cd Nav unit compatible with rear view cameras?

Is anyone running with one?

Thanks
Jim

Howdy All,

Is the REC 6 cd Nav unit compatible with rear view cameras?

Is anyone running with one?

Thanks
Jim

I was wondering that I know you can have the sensors put in but im not sure about the camera its the same one in the commander right? They can have them Ill have to look into this also let me know if you find anything out.

The REC unit does have a camera input on the back of it.

Jim

The REC unit does have a camera input on the back of it.

Jim

I went to the dealership directly and spoke with the parts manager. Nothing in their available catalogue seems to work with the NAV unit and camera imput.

...it was a VERY frustrating conversation.

The Jeep's going in today for it's iPod integration kit...which they admit they've never installed before... This should be interesting.

Let's pretend. Let's say I bought an aftermarket camera. Let's saay it is one that bolts on to where your rear licence plate is attached (US and Canada). Let's say I have the REC radio and it has the capability of plugging in the camera and the REC radio uses the entertainment selection to bring the picture onto the REC's screen.

Um, how does one fish the wire from the rear hatch door? Where do you place it? It looks like an aftermarket cam is expecting a fixed non-movable location as would be the case with sedans that don't have the licence plat holder as part of the trunk lid. Not sure a cam wire would survive the elements from the moment it stops being within the hatch and gets buried somewhere in the vehicle.

Inquiring minds want to know. :)

DanCMH:

The iPod Integration kit would be $427 installed for me (Canada). Ouch! I am going to try burning 6 MP3 CDs and trying that first. Dang, the kit costs more than the iPod for crissakes.

nearly normal jimmy has a pdf document that tells how to install the kit. I am scared to try removing the A pillar covers, the top of the dash, etc. to access the radio.

Please let us know how the kit works for you.

DanCMH:

The iPod Integration kit would be $427 installed for me (Canada). Ouch! I am going to try burning 6 MP3 CDs and trying that first. Dang, the kit costs more than the iPod for crissakes.

nearly normal jimmy has a pdf document that tells how to install the kit. I am scared to try removing the A pillar covers, the top of the dash, etc. to access the radio.

Please let us know how the kit works for you.

My kit and installation wasnt nearly that much...maybe 300 dollars installed...and I had that added into the monthly payments for the vehicle so I dont really notice it. Granted it would have been cheaper if I'd have done it myself but I have zero luck when it comes to do-it-yourself Jeep projects. Hell I'm hesitant to buy mud flaps because of the one hole I'd need to drill on each one.

I dont have a lot of faith in my dealership. (That's a long story in itself.) To cover as many bases as I could, I printed out the .pdf file of the install from Jimmy's site and left it on the front seat with a few printed descriptions from this site stating how things SHOULD work. I even left my own iPod with them to test with since I doubt they thought ahead enough to have one themselves on site.

It's going to be a long day. The rental I got for the day is a purple PT Cruiser that smels like cat pee. It's like driving Barney around town with a bladder infection.

If you can use tupperware and a philips head screwdriver, you can install your own integration kit. :)

Pillars pop right off after removing 2 screws. (Maybe pop off a little too easy ;) )

Dash Panel snaps right off etc... I think there are a total of 6 screws involved to get to the radio and 4 to remove it.
(Buy yourself a trim panel removel kit to pop things off) (http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=95214)

Then you just plug in the connectors and run the wires to the glove box.

It's a great first project to get to know your Jeep and how it is built and likes to be assembled/dis-assembled.

The integration unit itslef is a bit clunky to use and will erase your radio and Sirius presets everytime you use it. MAJOR bummer!!!! But if you have an iPod it is a nice addition.

You can get one for about $170usd online.

Jim

Let's pretend. Let's say I bought an aftermarket camera. Let's saay it is one that bolts on to where your rear licence plate is attached (US and Canada). Let's say I have the REC radio and it has the capability of plugging in the camera and the REC radio uses the entertainment selection to bring the picture onto the REC's screen.

Um, how does one fish the wire from the rear hatch door? Where do you place it? It looks like an aftermarket cam is expecting a fixed non-movable location as would be the case with sedans that don't have the licence plat holder as part of the trunk lid. Not sure a cam wire would survive the elements from the moment it stops being within the hatch and gets buried somewhere in the vehicle.

Inquiring minds want to know. :)

I guess, for some reason, I am under the impression the REC and the camera are CAN-BUS compatible and they just hook into the CAN-BUS system at some point or another. As such, no extra long wires are neccesssary. How do they do it on the Grand Cherrokee?

I guess, for some reason, I am under the impression the REC and the camera are CAN-BUS compatible and they just hook into the CAN-BUS system at some point or another. As such, no extra long wires are neccesssary. How do they do it on the Grand Cherrokee?

What I saw on nearly normal jim's site is that the REC (newest version rec) has an input that is just for the rear camera.
Here is his link. http://www.wkjeeps.com/wk_nav.htm#PINOUT and http://www.wkjeeps.com/nav/Nav_rec_rear_02.jpg So I don't think the camera can be added to the CAN BUS, looks as though its connected directly to the rec head unit.

If you can use tupperware and a philips head screwdriver, you can install your own integration kit. :)

Pillars pop right off after removing 2 screws. (Maybe pop off a little too easy ;) )

Dash Panel snaps right off etc... I think there are a total of 6 screws involved to get to the radio and 4 to remove it.
(Buy yourself a trim panel removel kit to pop things off) (http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=95214)

Then you just plug in the connectors and run the wires to the glove box.

It's a great first project to get to know your Jeep and how it is built and likes to be assembled/dis-assembled.

The integration unit itslef is a bit clunky to use and will erase your radio and Sirius presets everytime you use it. MAJOR bummer!!!! But if you have an iPod it is a nice addition.

You can get one for about $170usd online.

Jim

Tupperware scares me. My family was killed when I was a child by a rogue band of crazy tupperware door to door sales ladies...

I know the presets thing is going to suck but I'll live with it if this works and they dont screw it up...

Tupperware scares me. .

Well... it is the only one with the patented Burp Seal. :hammertime:

Well... it is the only one with the patented Burp Seal. :hammertime:

Exactly... Plastic shouldnt burp. It's against God's will. I read that once in the Old Testament somewhere...

Oh my, now I am really scared. The housewife next door got in an argument with some Tupperware. She would have been 35 on her next birthday. And this talk about wrath of God stuff? Oh my, not me - no sir. :p

Back to the point at hand with the Let's Pretend. I saw an aftermarket as I had described and with the shorter rear window and me having the REC radio, I thought this might be a nice gadget to have. I had read somewhere that a camera could utilize a plug on the REC radio and the REC radio would make the camera signal appear when you select the entertainment system tab is all. Then I got to thinking, how do I string a wire from the hatch, out into the cold night air and back into the vehicle, around, say, the spare tire, under the carpet, under the console and on up to the back of the REC radio.

It's bridging the outside gap from the ligtgate to the body/frame that has me mostly concerned. :confused:

Beware the Tupperware.

how do I string a wire from the hatch, out into the cold night air and back into the vehicle, around, say, the spare tire, under the carpet, under the console and on up to the back of the REC radio.

You don't go outside. You pop all the panels off and string it in the walls of the Patriot.
Download the wire diagram pdf from the site in my link and scroll thru the pics. You will see a couple runs of wire from the front to the back. Pop off the panels and follow those.

:icon_rolleyes:... is this thing on?

There should already be a rubber "grommet thing" (technical term) that connects your liftgate to the body of the patriot. just pop the panels like jim said and run the wire through it (run the camera wire from the plate, I'm assuming its located just above it, through the license plate light lense holes. yes you will need to do some mod to the light lense) .
As far as the plug on the after market camera is concerned, if you know what wire is what you can use the info already at your fingertips in jims site to connect it to the REC
As far as getting the REC to do something with the camera signal once its plugged into the back... um... Jim?

DanCMH:

The iPod Integration kit would be $427 installed for me (Canada). Ouch! I am going to try burning 6 MP3 CDs and trying that first. Dang, the kit costs more than the iPod for crissakes.

nearly normal jimmy has a pdf document that tells how to install the kit. I am scared to try removing the A pillar covers, the top of the dash, etc. to access the radio.

Please let us know how the kit works for you.

I expected the kit to work like the folder heirarchy on the mp3 cd's. It doesnt. At first I was sure it wasnt working at all but now I see that is but it's clunky as hell to navigate. I've only had it a few hours so I want to play with it a bit before I pronounce it crap but it's not what I expected. I can see that realistically it's going to be useful to play playlists and shuffling. Finding one artist or one album is not quick or simple.

I need to play with it a bit more but I'm already starting to think I might have it removed.

I've only had it a few hours so I want to play with it a bit before I pronounce it crap

I guess I was being nice with 'clunky' :)

I expected the kit to work like the folder heirarchy on the mp3 cd's.

I like the way it works. It's logical.

I need to play with it a bit more but I'm already starting to think I might have it removed.

Put it in the closet then stick it back in before trade in/resale. Looks good on the 'options' list. ... and of course siigghhh eBay.

I would just unplug my iPod and not use it, but it still erases presets even with no iPod.
:doh:

Jim

As far as getting the REC to do something with the camera signal once its plugged into the back?

The pinouts say cam/ret, cam/sig, cam/shld so it may just be looking for a 1v video signal like comes out of the yellow RCA adaptor on miniDV cameras or the back of a VCR. Which might make sense since their is no CANBUS integration.

Just about every aftermarket rear view cam has an analog video out I believe.

If that's true, maybe there is a video sensor in the REC and if it senses the cam signal it gives the option to turn it on somewhere somehow.

We have to obtain the plug for the REC cam connections and splice it into an RCA video cable. Plug it into a camera or vcr and push play. See what happens......(?)

Ding ding ding.....

We have a winner......

http://www.wkjeeps.com/wk_parkview_camera.htm

and for sale here
http://www.justforjeeps.com/pacapa.html

Ding ding ding.....

We have a winner......

http://www.wkjeeps.com/wk_parkview_camera.htm

and for sale here
http://www.justforjeeps.com/pacapa.html

Damn you're good. If you were closer I'd hire you to put it in for me too... :)

Ding ding ding.....

We have a winner......

http://www.wkjeeps.com/wk_parkview_camera.htm

and for sale here
http://www.justforjeeps.com/pacapa.html

:notworthy:
You can find just about anything Jim!

Looking at the pin outs it looks fairly easy to mod an aftermarket cam to work.. The only "factory part" needed is the Radio connector c3 to plug into the back of the rec unit (could do it with out but I don't want worry about shorts). I just wish I knew the voltage of the "cam signal" (i think this is what jim said the rec would look for to tell if a camera is hooked up or not) that goes into pin 2 on the rec unit.... could be 12v or could be less and whether the volts are present at "key on" or only when in reverse... any ideas?

. The only "factory part" needed is the Radio connector c3 to plug into the back of the rec unit

It's a part listed on the wkjeeps page.


I just wish I knew the voltage of the "cam signal"

Composite video is 1volt peak to peak



One thing I wonder about in re: to a third party camera is where to run the camera return. Maybe it would not be needed. The camera draws power from the tail light. $200 bucks isn't bad to get the official Mopar one. Would make it as painless as possible.

It's a part listed on the wkjeeps page.




Composite video is 1volt peak to peak



One thing I wonder about in re: to a third party camera is where to run the camera return. Maybe it would not be needed. The camera draws power from the tail light. $200 bucks isn't bad to get the official Mopar one. Would make it as painless as possible.

Hmmm... I was thinking that the cam return was the video sig from the cam to the rec and the cam signal was a "hey there is a camera connected" signal to the rec. But now you have me wondering
maybe the mopar one is the way to go. I wonder how much mod would have to be done to make the wk cam work on the mk. I am gonna look at them at the dealer tomorrow to see what the similarities and differences are...

. I wonder how much mod would have to be done to make the wk cam work on the mk. .

I think it sounds like it mounts near the license plate with the supplied bracket so it may be vehicle independant.



I was thinking that the cam return was the video sig from the cam to the rec and the cam signal was a "hey there is a camera connected" signal to the rec.

In this thread (http://www.dodge-nitro.com/dodge-nitro/showthread.php?t=365)(post 6) they are talking about hooking up video to the REC unit using the C3 camera plug. They mention video signal and ground, but nothing to hook to the cam return signal, so it may not be needed to just send it video from a camera.

In broadcast video 'camera return' is normally know as a signal that flows from the control unit BACK to the camera. But that might not relate to this nomenclature at all.

I think it sounds like it mounts near the license plate with the supplied bracket so it may be vehicle independant.


Nope. I'm wrong. It mounts inside the Liftgate trim/handle of the Grand Cherokee.

Gotta be someplace on the Pat it could go also

In this thread (http://www.dodge-nitro.com/dodge-nitro/showthread.php?t=365)(post 6) they are talking about hooking up video to the REC unit using the C3 camera plug. They mention video signal and ground, but nothing to hook to the cam return signal, so it may not be needed to just send it video from a camera.
I read a little of that thread and they said, "Simply connect to the radio C3 socket at pin #6 for the video signal and pin #7 for the video ground.
." Which makes me even more confused because there are only 3 pins in the C# connector... :)
In broadcast video 'camera return' is normally know as a signal that flows from the control unit BACK to the camera. But that might not relate to this nomenclature at all.
Again, I learn something new. Thanks

Man! I wish I had mine already! There is so much I want to do... I just got my vent visors today LOL Don't even have the jeep yet!

Ok, I went to the dealer today and looked at the liftgate handles on the Pat and GC. There are more similar (on the outside at least) than I thought they would be. Now all I need to do are: 1. get my pat delivered :), 2. decide if I want to spend a couple hundred bucks on this (probably will).

So did you all ever have any luck with this? What happened?