Originally Posted by Overboost

Ok guys, a little advice needed and a short little rant...

I am trying to figure out the proper wiring of the backup cam for the Avant-3 coming next month. I was able to speak via chat box with one of the Avin reps but I honestly don't know if they are BMW savvy and leave me with more questions than before I spoke with them.

I guess maybe I am approaching this a little differently than just a back up camera. I want to have that rear image and front image recording whenever the ignition or radio is on through the DVR app in the android system.

For instance, when I asked about the wiring they say to wire the camera power to the reverse light signal at the rear reverse light. How in the **** will the camera be powered up and working (for recording purposes) when in drive or even running? The guys just seem to be generic keyboard warriors and cannot give me straight answers.

Another question I asked them about is the reverse trigger event. They tell me I have to wire the single trigger wire on the back of the Avant-3 to indicate a reverse event. It is my understanding that the CAN bus adapter knows the reverse event and should be able to switch screen simply on the reverse CAN message. (I know one of our members Crowz told me he didn't have to wire any trigger for his Seicane unit for the reverse camera screen to switch). So I asked him why I need to provide the analog signal when the CAN bus adapter already knows when the reverse event is triggered and he told me "oh, we don't do it that way". WTF?

I have tried to contact the Avin engineering staff and get little response if any. You can't physically speak with anyone on the phone, so I have reached out to Tommy directly via email and get no response. I guess like all these Chinese systems, you just need to sort this all out on your own. I will assume that the Avin rep is correct about needing the analog signal and my question is where others have pulled this analog signal for reverse event?

I believe our LCI reverse lights are a PWM output and have read many problems trying to use that signal. Some have used relays and wiring but it just seems there must be an easier way. When I asked the rep about any bulb check error messages he went silent like he has no idea what I am talking about.

Has anyone pulled a direct 12V reverse signal from the trailer module or PDC module or are they iBus/CAN messaged based signals? How about the PDC button in the control strip below the HVAC controls?

Ultimately I will wait to install this head unit before adding wires and/or relays but come on, there has to be other installers that have done this work in a more logical, professional manner instead of just slinging wires...

When the support staff of a $600-$700 product is that elusive and quite honestly that clueless, I makes me second guess my decision to go with their android product.

Frustration is my "word of the day"