Falcon Technology

Steve - it sounds to me that there is something wrong with the magnet.  Mine actually grabs the plate from about three inches away and when it's on the van it feels really secure - that said, it was on that flat bit at the back.  I won't be using mine until a week on Thursday, so I will hang fire until after Tuesday and see what they have to say to you before I fix the plate permanently.

Well, that's a 100-mile round trip to have van service done with a two-night sleepover to get the most out of the Journey and from start, to finish, the camera never gave me cause for concern. Of course, I've never owned a rearview camera before so I have nothing to compare it with the magnet held well and the battery lasted. The steel plate could do with a redesign but apart from that no problems.The tablet that you use to receive the picture on can be a different reaction used the tablet i got with the Swift Elegance (unable to class that as a rearview camera) and it works just suffered when i went near an area with a strong wi-fi signal it knocked out the signal from the camera only happened once as i was coming out of the storage, just had to tap the file and it started up again.

Steve

Steve - thanks - that's reassuring.  I will be using mine on Thursday when we go to Woodhall Spa for a few days - so that should be a good test.  Did you hear anything from Falcon about possibly re-designing the plate?  Might be wrong but I suspect they are just a re-seller and not the manufacturer so that's probably an unlikely option.

Hi R&R, no I've not been able to get in touch as yet, Not Falcons fault more mine, but i think you may be right regarding the design.Hold the front page just been in touch with Lee from Falcon and the new plates have been redesigned and include a lip along the bottom to prevent the camera from sliding of the plate they also have the hole drilled for attaching a quick release safety wire to just in case. I wondered what that hole was for!!!

Steve

Thanks Steve - just spoken to Lee.  He tells me that of the hundreds they have sold, only one, to their knowledge has fallen off - and that fell off with the plate attached!  Nevertheless, just to be on the safe side, I have ordered the revised plate which they are sending out today.

Better to be safe than sorry! Couldn't do with another insurance claim, some cretin ran into my car over the last two weeks and left it. Leaving no notification of apology and contact details and with a casual look it's easy to miss so didn't notice till it got its yearly wash. Nobody to claim excess back off so that's £400 down.

Steve

I did eventually get my hands on one from Go Outdoors but I couldn't get the WiFi to work and neither could Go Outdoors when I took it back and got a refund. They were going to let me know about finding another or getting the one I returned working but I have heard nothing since.

peedee

PD - I know you're pretty switched on technologically, but did you switch the Wifi settings on your phone / tablet over to the camera Wifi - it's called Sonic something or other.  Mine finds it straightaway - in fact I was fiddling with it a few minutes ago prior to our trip on Thursday - works a treat.

Yup tried it on my phone and tablet, even Go Outdoors couldn't find it. As they have not phoned me,  they have either forgotten about it or have no solution or an alternative to offer. I have been driving a motorhome 17 years without one so a few more days or weeks until I find another one isn't going to bother me.

peedee

I suppose, having started this thread off, I ought to add my experience of actually using the rear view camera.  It's OK, but I wouldn't buy it again.  It does everything it says it does - fixes firmly to the metal plate on the van - gives a clear picture with no interference - and works as it should at an extended range (VW Touareg and Bailey Barcelona) and has an adequate battery life- so technically, I can't fault it.  The main problem, however, is that because it has such a wide angle lens, distances are grossly distorted and take some getting used to.  A car which, in reality is probably about two cars lengths behind, appears to be in the far distance at at least 10 car's lengths - probably more. Secondly, viewing it on even a large iPhone (6sPlus with a 5" screen), it's difficult to see any detail (at least for someone like me who needs glasses for reading - but not distance).  It may work better on an iPad, but that's not terribly convenient to mount in a car.

Certainly not a replacement for a good set of mirrors.