Reviewing and Testing the Vantrue P2 Thermal Dashcam

[EricSan]

sounds like there is a compatible exterior mount camera for the P2 which is out of stock.
What is the model?

Seems easy enough to try the rear camera for the N4S and N4PS cameras to see if they work. I was thinking of trying that, but didn’t get to it before I installed the camera

for many people this may make the difference between do-it-yourself or paying for a professional installation.

I was thinking that, too. @Hack_man asked for finished install pics of the wiring and mine looks a bit like a mess right now 😗 as my goal was functional, not hidden wires.

 

[EricSan]

You could try turning PlatePix off to render a brighter video, just for the purpose of showing what the thermal cam is looking at.

I want to put the N5S back into the car so I can a side-by-side comparison with the P2. They both feature the same front sensor/camera, so this will allow me to compare overall exposure and aiming. I suspect I just need to tweak the P2 main camera angle/settings a bit. I'm waiting for the local police to pull me over now with so many things dangling from my windshield... 🤣

 

[EricSan]

On a whim and inspired by a recent post made by @Hack_man, I decided to connect the RC-09 rear waterproof camera that is compatible with the N4S, N4PS, and S1PM to the P2. It didn't go well. The display for the rear camera was black, and it made the display from the front camera rotate by 90 degrees on the P2 main display unit. The display unit also froze intermittently. It clearly wasn't happy...

So, this has me thinking: @Jeff_Vantrue, there are now a variety of rear cameras that all use the very same IMX675 sensor and can produce a 2560x1440 video. It would be interesting and perhaps more simple for all of them to cross compatible with each of your main camera models. Just a thought.

 

[Hack_man]

On a whim and inspired by a recent post made by @Hack_man, I decided to connect the RC-09 rear waterproof camera that is compatible with the N4S, N4PS, and S1PM to the P2. It didn't go well. The display for the rear camera was black, and it made the display from the front camera rotate by 90 degrees on the P@ main display unit. The display unit also froze intermittently. It clearly wasn't happy...

Darn
But a valiant attempt!

 

[Jeff_Vantrue]

Thank you @Jeff_Vantrue for that response!
I see my post got translated a bit but it sounds like there is a compatible exterior mount camera for the P2 which is out of stock.
What is the model?

Hi Hack_man,

Thank you for your question. This model has not been officially launched or released yet, so we’re not able to share the specific model name at this time.

We’ll keep the community updated once more information becomes available.

Best regards,
Jeff_Vantrue

 

[Karagandinez]

I think you did a great job on the installation. Your commentary with photos shows that the P2 thermal cam is much more challenging to install than a regular dashcam, and for many people this may make the difference between do-it-yourself or paying for a professional installation.

I don't think there are many users who would install a thermal imager themselves.
The newer the car, the harder it is to find a way to route the cable from the engine bay into the cabin.
Personally, I haven't yet figured out how to run the cable from the thermal imager into the cabin to the monitor...
Plus, the outdoor temperature here is above +32°C, which doesn't exactly encourage installing a thermal imager.

 

[kamkar]

I don't think there are many users who would install a thermal imager themselves.

I would, but of course i am also old school self reliant guy.
And the firewall, i will breech that some way, even if i have to resort to old school Viking ways to breech the wall. 😏
Actually i have already deduced what i would do, my car have oval holes on the grill with a horizontal support going across them.
My plan is to cut the horizontal support on one of those holes and then put thermal there, even if thermal is a little larger i think it should still be able to wedge in.

As the old hit song go.

Ain't No Mountain High Enough.


OMG just realized this old hit,,,,,,, old indeed actually as old as myself ( 1966 )

 

[Karagandinez]

Actually i have already deduced what i would do, my car have oval holes on the grill with a horizontal support going across them.
My plan is to cut the horizontal support on one of those holes and then put thermal there, even if thermal is a little larger i think it should still be able to wedge in.

Installing a thermal imager is not a problem.
The problem lies elsewhere:

The newer the car, the harder it is to find a way to route the cable from the engine bay into the cabin.

 

[kamkar]

I will have a look around next time i lift the hood.
My old red car had several not used firewall pass thru, where i assume AC and other things would go if it had not been a botton of the barrel model.
The new car is also a bottom of barrel model, even if it do have AC and a radio.

But if there are no hole, i can make the hole, i do, well i think i still do, have the rubber grommets you put in a hole in a metal so wires and what not going thru there do not get damaged ( used that often modifying computers in the old days when that was the main hobby )

But i do understand that many do not have the tools or for that matter the bravery / technical know how to do such things, my nephew ( +35 YO ) i am sure have no idea what the hell a spark plug is, hell he never even had a driving licence, or that is he did for moped when he was 16

 

[jsmith]

I don't think there are many users who would install a thermal imager themselves.
The newer the car, the harder it is to find a way to route the cable from the engine bay into the cabin.
Personally, I haven't yet figured out how to run the cable from the thermal imager into the cabin to the monitor...
Plus, the outdoor temperature here is above +32°C, which doesn't exactly encourage installing a thermal imager.

I think that's the hard sell on this model. The video does show routing the cable via the exterior through the door. Every car is so different, and my 2015 Volvo had way too much insulation that I wasn't going to keep screwing with trying to get the wire through the firewall. People said try to use a coat hanger, but I decided to call it. I did another route.

@EricSan has a newer Volvo and he had other options available. Goes to show each model and even different years of the same models have variances.

If I were to venture a guess, 75-80% of people buying this thermal camera will pay a professional. It's not a DIY project most are undertaking, given the number of people too hesitant to even install a regular dashcam. In certain cities, @Jeff_Vantrue / Vantrue have authorized installers.

 

[kamkar]

And the firewall, i will breech that some way

It would seem i dont have to, there is one pass thry ATM just hosting 1 wire, i am sure i could shimmy by here if need be.

Looking in the engine " room " there also seem to be a not used pass thru the firewall. but somehow it is hidden behind some felt ???? in the engine compartment.
Mind you that one would route to directly behind the glove box, which in this car is substantial, and from what i could gather today you can not just " pull " put the glove box itself just like that ( me snap finters )
So it would seem a few T20 screws would have to be undone to get to behind glove box.

Where the steering column go thru the firewall,,,,,, cough cough 😳 French engineering.

 

[Hack_man]

@EricSan has your thermal smart notified you of any animals or pedestrians? I've been driving around a bit and have not received notifications. I have the detection speeds set to the low limit. It's possible the proper conditions were not met but I was driving in busy areas. It looks like Vantrure replaced Vantrue Intelligence (front camera) with Thermal Smart (Thermal Camera) but I would expect similar functionality. The S1 Pro detection was very responsive.

 

[jsmith]

@EricSan has your thermal smart notified you of any animals or pedestrians? I've been driving around a bit and have not received notifications. I have the detection speeds set to the low limit. It's possible the proper conditions were not met but I was driving in busy areas. It looks like Vantrure replaced Vantrue Intelligence (front camera) with Thermal Smart (Thermal Camera) but I would expect similar functionality. The S1 Pro detection was very responsive.

I had a rabbit run in front of my car but no notification. According to Wendy, the camera may not detect smaller animals. I'm guessing something like a Deer, Moose, Wolf, Coyote, Dog, etc.

 

[Hack_man]

I had a rabbit run in front of my car but no notification. According to Wendy, the camera may not detect smaller animals. I'm guessing something like a Deer, Moose, Wolf, Coyote, Dog, etc.

It would be interesting to have an S1 Pro side by side with the P2 to see the difference between Vantrue Intelligence (VI) used in the S1 Pro and Thermal Smart in the P2. I would have expected Vantrue to allow the use of both detection systems, one for day (VI) and one for night (Thermal Smart) but VI is not offered in the P2. I also wonder why there are Detection setting speeds (Min and Max) for Thermal Smart and how to decide the proper settings.

It's really neat that you can measure the distance to an object on the screen. I have to get my head around how that works since the camera is receiving IR emitted by the object and is not measuring a round trip RF signal like a Radar which converts the time travelled of a transmitted signal into distance.

 

[jsmith]

It would be interesting to have an S1 Pro side by side with the P2 to see the difference between Vantrue Intelligence (VI) used in the S1 Pro and Thermal Smart in the P2. I would have expected Vantrue to allow the use of both detection systems, one for day (VI) and one for night (Thermal Smart) but VI is not offered in the P2. I also wonder why there are Detection setting speeds (Min and Max) for Thermal Smart and how to decide the proper settings.

It's really neat that you can measure the distance to an object on the screen. I have to get my head around how that works since the camera is receiving IR emitted by the object and is not measuring a round trip RF signal like a Radar which converts the time travelled of a transmitted signal into distance.

I honestly never messed with the S1 Pro Vantrue Intelligence feature as most times those features on cameras are gimmicky. Were they in fact very accurate and intuitive?

The speed settings on the Thermal Camera are presumably customizable to allow the user to choose when to receive alerts. I'm not sure the best settings and have played with them some.

None the less, I am hoping a deer or some animal would be spotted to test out the camera. Of course, not run in front of my car, but just be spotted and see if an alert signals. So far, only small animals and they aren't triggering anything.

 

[Hack_man]

I honestly never messed with the S1 Pro Vantrue Intelligence feature as most times those features on cameras are gimmicky. Were they in fact very accurate and intuitive?

The speed settings on the Thermal Camera are presumably customizable to allow the user to choose when to receive alerts. I'm not sure the best settings and have played with them some.

None the less, I am hoping a deer or some animal would be spotted to test out the camera. Of course, not run in front of my car, but just be spotted and see if an alert signals. So far, only small animals and they aren't triggering anything.

I would say the Vantrue Intelligence feature (S1 Pro) is a bit trigger happy. It definitely works but can be annoying at times - especially in a really busy area where there are numerous alerts. I should try changing the sensitivity.

So far nothing has triggered the Thermal Smart alert on the P2 and I have driven in some busy areas. I feel like there is either a problem or my user error setting it up.

A good test would be to have the S1 Pro and P2 side by side with both detection systems enabled. I would have to remove and reapply the adhesive backing on the S1 Pro GPS mount to transfer it to the my vehicle with the P2.