Electronic Gadgeteers anyone?

[skaken@gmail.com]

Just bought myself a brand new European Wagon version of the Mazda 6, and I love it. Some en genius, crazy Japanese guy(it is a guy, I have seen his picture) have made this piece of art, and I will buy him a beer some day if he crosses my path.
But when I am sitting there, enjoying my ride, I get a whole lot of ideas.(No, I have not been drinking yet...) My wife is also going to drive this extremely new car. Would a rear view camera be a good idea..? Yes, it might be. (Can not say that I have seen this installed or as accessorize anywhere?)
This again leads to a couple of new questions, which I hope some of you Mazda-Guru's can answer;
-I do not want to make a hole in my nice car. Any suggestions to where(and what kind of camera that is suitable perhaps) it can be installed? Is there any preferable place to run the wire from the outside and in without getting water, dirt and squirrels in at the same time? (I prefer it to be subtle/out of sight)
-I probably need some electrical schematics of this car(maybe there are some laying around on the forum? I'll check) Is there any difference between those made in US/Japan when it comes to the wiring?
- New thought all of a sudden. If I am going to stick my head in to the electrical system and spend some time there(yes, I have been to school for a couple of years, and know that the red and the black wire are not friends, but haven't been puzzled with car electrical systems to often), why not build a security system that actually works? Hmmm... I am thinking of a four way camera system, with a solid state DVR(should be 4 channels on that one), and maybe a dual layer radar sensor for trigging purposes? That way I can use the outer perimeter/early warning signal on the radar to trig recording, and the inner layer to trig a GSM transceiver which calls me up/sends me a SMS or something. I am writing as I am thinking right now.
Placement of the cameras would be:
-In the rear(not sure of this one...subtle license plate camera?)
-In the front(Bullet camera, approximately 2-3cm wide, day/night)
-In the A-posts(Pinhole cameras, 1mm hole or so, pointing backwards and looking out on the side crossover) Had to run out to check this one, grabbing a cigarette! Equipment and possibility's have to be checked, though, along with considering power consumption a bit closer.
I am looking back at what I just wrote, and I might seem raving mad, but I really think this should work. Consider it. Who ever pay attention to these car alarm sirens going of all the time(because there are never any false alarms, are there?), and quite frankly... people seldom cares about what's not theirs. Nothing new there. Worst thing happening here is 20-40 sec. recording, even worse a SMS that I should check my car. AND if anyone(God help them all) bumps into my car, and runs away, I have their faces and their license plate! And if something happens, we need to have a button for emergency recording, of course. I myself like this idea better and better! Think of the nice picture in front!
That was hell of a lot of writing guys. Did not plan for that one. What do you think? Is this a fairly easy task when it comes to roaming around in doors, pulling cables behind boards and so on? I think I need your Mazda-brains here.

[michaelsteinbach]

I have seen this camera security system idea implemented on a Hummer before, to catch a guy who kept keying it.

If you have the NAV system, the same NAV is used in the CX-9 (I think) and has an Aux2 input which includes video input. The video input is disabled on the 6 and it requires a separate module to enable (according to a pdf on the NAV unit that I can no longer find). I have also seen an aftermarket kit to add the camera to the 6...which I can't find right now. I'll let you know if i find it.

[skaken@gmail.com]

QUOTE (michaelsteinbach @ Mar 29 2009, 06:04 AM)

I have seen this camera security system idea implemented on a Hummer before, to catch a guy who kept keying it.

If you have the NAV system, the same NAV is used in the CX-9 (I think) and has an Aux2 input which includes video input. The video input is disabled on the 6 and it requires a separate module to enable (according to a pdf on the NAV unit that I can no longer find). I have also seen an aftermarket kit to add the camera to the 6...which I can't find right now. I'll let you know if i find it.[/b]

Cheers for your input on the input's, michaelsteinbach! (And very nice if you find that link)

It is important that I do not alter my car in a way that is to visible, destructive or cheap looking. (On that Hummer you could have placed a dome camera on top of the roof, and it would not stick out... )
I do not have a NAV system either, so I have to think of another way to display the pictures. The way I see it, I have three options;
-External display placed somewhere in the dashboard. I do not think so...
-Rear view mirror with built in TFT/LCD monitor. Then it has to be a original Mazda mirror with auto dimming as it is now.
-In the sun visor above the drivers seat they have placed a mirror w/light. (tell me that this isn't done for women and their make-up? When did you check your eyebrows there lately?) This tells me two things. We have a wire there somewhere, and it should fit with a 6-7 inches monitor. I'll even install one with mirror functionality, so I can check my eyebrows in the morning. Do they sell these original 6 sun visors anywhere? (In case I have to alter it into pieces)

A quick suggestion list of parts needed(these are not necessarily what we end up with, only suggested by our friend Google, so feel free to improve):

SS DVR:
http://www.boyovta.com/products/dvr/vtr1000.html
(has everything I want, but is a bit pricey...)

Radar sensor:
http://www.amazon.com/Install-Essentials-5...8498&sr=1-1
(This I have to hook-up to the electric lock system, controlling it with the key. Help..?)

Front camera:
http://www.anykeeper.com/Bullet-Camera,1%2...m-lens_P116160/
(right size/spec's and should fit nicely behind Mazda logo in front. Maybe a small size IR camera would have been better?)

Rear camera(?):
http://www.boyovta.com/products/license_pl...era/vtl351.html
(I am not sure about this one. Again, feel free to promote better ideas)

Pinhole camera:
http://www.anykeeper.com/1%2f3-Color-SONY-...e-Lens_P117791/

Turned out to be a mid-size project, but still great fun! Not to mention the benefits if someone keyed my car... I would heat up my Kukri-knife until it is glowing red and hunt the poor b****** down....

[michaelsteinbach]

The front camera is easy, just mout it inside the windshield behind the mirror or on the dash like police have.
For the side cameras, I would try to find as wide of a field of view as i could find and install them in the plastic trim panel behind the rear door, that way you're not drilling into the body or anything and all you need to revert to stock is a new plastic panel.
I like how that DVR unit records 30 seconds before and after an accident. Would come in handy in case someone tried to blame you for something they caused, etc.
There are tons of LCD sun visors available out there. You'll probably have to get stock visors from the dealership part dept to modify.


Where do you live that would require the need for such an elaborate security system for your car?

[skaken@gmail.com]

Sorry about that, michaelsteinbach! Have been into the personal settings, and written some gibberish, amongst my home country.
I live in Norway, and we have a serious problem with non-tame, mushroom-eating, Mazda stealing, bearded people running around with huge axes here.
We are not building a Mazda 6 Police car, my good man! (Is there anyone of those out there, by the way...? No cameras will be visible except possibly the one in the rear. (we also have something called frost here, that will not do anything good for the view out of the window)
I think that it will be the same, if not better, if I implement the pinhole cameras in the A-post's plastic covers(above the tweeters, applying a very small hole) This way I get all the faces in the car, and partly the outside on the opposite side. But I do not know for sure yet, we are still brainstorming!

The sun visors with monitor are mostly from China, and looks cheap... (I am very picky on these things)

It is not always what you need, but what you can do/would have been really cool! As I stated before I have no confidence in a regular car alarm system that gives you two minutes of siren when it goes off. I want the car to give me a call, and film the whole incident for me to check out(an easy way of ruling out faulty alarms/adjusting the system to). As you mentioned we also have the bonus of evidence if something happens or you are involved in a accident. But of course we have the eastern Europe mobsters committing a whole lot of criminal activity here at the time to.

[andythilo]

Umm, even if you do get all this hooked up, how are you gonna record the video?

[michaelsteinbach]

QUOTE (AndyThilo @ Mar 30 2009, 03:15 PM)

Umm, even if you do get all this hooked up, how are you gonna record the video?[/b]

QUOTE (Skaken @ Mar 28 2009, 08:28 PM)

... I am thinking of a four way camera system, with a solid state DVR...[/b]

[skaken@gmail.com]

The complexity of the wiring is not the problem(four coax with some power between cameras and the DVR), but yes I have to remove some panels and so on.. Until now we have been looking at different equipment which can be suitable. We are getting there!
I am more puzzled by the electrical schematics(did not find any 2009 Wagon/Euro, and I probably need some good advice from one of you guys), and how to hook this up to the power lock. Also what circuit I preferably may get my power from.(maybe I will connect some sort of power-drain circuit to the mains of this DVR to if I leave for a long time, to ensure that I do not drain my battery, but I won't know for sure before I have all the details. I'm carefully picking equipment that has low power consumption and of good quality)

[para]

For what its worth, I added a tariler wiring module and the little black box the converts 5 wires into 4 was drawing a tiny bit of current all the time (even w/o a trailer connected). It put enough of a draw that when I was on cruise control and used my blinker the cruise would shut off.

Bottom line, the wiring in these new gen 6's seem to be very tempermental and finicky. Keep you eye out for any odd changes in any of the systems after you wire it up.

[skaken@gmail.com]

QUOTE (para @ Apr 2 2009, 10:39 PM)

For what its worth, I added a tariler wiring module and the little black box the converts 5 wires into 4 was drawing a tiny bit of current all the time (even w/o a trailer connected). It put enough of a draw that when I was on cruise control and used my blinker the cruise would shut off.

Bottom line, the wiring in these new gen 6's seem to be very tempermental and finicky. Keep you eye out for any odd changes in any of the systems after you wire it up.[/b]

Thanks for the heads-up, para! I be sure to check, and re-check before doing anything at all!