Bryan H

I have the CHR550 and just installed a very nice CCD back-up camera. The image looks great when I use the manual view option through the CHR550. However, when the camera is turned on via the auto-reverse feature, the image is dim, making it very difficult to see if it is daytime (i.e. bright outside). Coastal Electronics says the dim image has nothing to do with the lockpick b/c it merely transmits the image to the screen without modifying it. They also say the lockpick provides the same voltage in the auto-reverse mode as well as the manual mode.

Has anyone else experienced a similar problem?

mml

i had all kinds of problems with mine until i did a firmware update, do you know if yours is up to date

MoveRight

No problems with mine. I have 5 cameras connected and the image quality is the same (suprisingly good) for each no matter how it is activated. I installed it around November of last year and did not have to update any firmware.

However, when it is an extremely bright day, the image quality does seem to suffer.

Good luck - might be tough to get to the bottom of this one without another module or camera to try swapping out...

Bryan H

I just bought the module in November...and the last firmware update (according to the Coastal Website) for the CHR550 was back in May, so I 'doubt' that's it. Wonder if the firmware version can be displayed on the unit? I'll have to check that.

I just can't think of any reason the auto-reverse appears to be in a dim mode while the manual image looks great.

MoveRight

Can't remember if it displays version info somewhere on the new "lockpick" tab it adds to display or not. Might try poking around in there.

Also might try connecting camera to the front, left, or right inputs to see if its across the board or isolated to one cicuit. Front can be auto-actvated by speed and left/right by turn signal.

Bryan H

I did verify that I have the latest firmware, v2. Haven't had a chance to do anything further. However, I did make a few observations:

1. When in auto-reverse mode, the image brightness is not affected by whether or not the headlights are on.
2. When in manual mode, the image is brighter when the headlights are off and dimmer when on (as expected).

Sure doesn't seem to be an installation issue to me (as Coastal Tech inferred during our phone call).

Bryan H

Any other thoughts?

ca412686

Hey, did u figure it out? I just installed mine and I'm having the same problem...

ca412686

I've tried all the power options that are available on the chr550 unit. Still goes dim in reverse. Anyone have any ideas???

ca412686

Ok guys, for those who are having problems, here's the fix.

My parts: 2011 JKU
CHR550
Generic eBay flush mount night camera

I talked with Carlos at Coastaltech and he suggested this.
He said I would have to cut 2 wires on the lockpick and add a female RCA plug.
You cut the red with white stripe and yellow with a black stripe. (there's 2 of the yellow, doesn't matter which one)

Then add the RCA plug to the radio side. Attach the camera to the new RCA plug.





It works perfect in reverse now and doesn't go dim. Only hitch, I can't view while driving, not a big deal though. Heres the rest of my install.












To those who are wondering, I can put a 5gallon bucket 1' behind and see the lip of it. Pretty good low vision.

Thanks to everyone on the other camera threads