Vantrue Pilot 2 Thermal Camera unboxing and review

[Hack_man]

Vantrue provided me with a P2 Thermal Dashcam for review.
This camera system is unique because it includes a heat detecting Thermal Image sensor intended to improve visibility of people and animals in poor conditions (Rain/Fog).
It adds Apple CarPlay to older vehicles

Critical Specs:

Front + Cabin + Rear Camera Module
Sensor front: Sony IMX675 5MP 2nd Generation STARIVS CMOS Sensor
Cabin: Sony IMX662 2MP 2nd Generation CMOS Sensor
Rear: Sony IMX675 5MP 2nd Generation STARIVS CMOS Sensor

Thermal Camera:
12um WLP High-performance Vanadium Oxide Uncooled Infrared Detector
Waterproof IP67

Maximum Video Resolution
Front+Cabin+Rear: 1440P+1080P+1440P 30FPS
Front+Rear: 1440P+1440P 30FPS
Front+Cabin: 1440P+1080P 30FPS
Front: 2560x1440P 30FPS

WIFI Module 2.4G/5.0G Hz WIFI6

Screen: 6.25" IPS Touchscreen Display
HDR
PlatePix

4 Infrared Lights for Cabin Camera

Unboxing:

Thermal Camera with and without Silicon Boot

Front Cameras Comparison of Vantrue N4S (top) and P2 (bottom)

Rear Camera

Front Display

 

[Hack_man]

Continued....

The USB-C connector on the Front Camera has polarity indents. The USB-C connector will only attach to the cable in one direction.
The same polarity indents are on the display end.

I will be installing this system in a 1983 Chevy Pickup Truck.
It should be relatively easy to install the Exterior mounted Thermal Camera since I have decent access thru the firewall.

The Front Display weighs 473 gm including its mount. For reference, my 3d Gen iPhone SE weighs 167 gm.

 

[jsmith]

@Hack_man

How did you install the Camera? Did you go through the firewall or simply just install through the door like in the Vantrue Video

 

[Hack_man]

@Hack_man

How did you install the Camera? Did you go through the firewall or simply just install through the door like in the Vantrue Video

I am in the process of TRYING to install it.
Just my luck there is a nest of hornets or yellow jackets under the hood! I already got nailed with bee stings.

🐝🐝🐝

I should have plenty of firewall holes in this old truck to pass a cable thru but I have to get those darn bees out!

 

[jsmith]

I am in the process of TRYING to install it.
Just my luck there is a nest of hornets or yellow jackets under the hood! I already got nailed with bee stings.

🐝🐝🐝

I should have plenty of firewall holes in this old truck to pass a cable thru but I have to get those darn bees out!

Sounds like a youtube video is in the process of being made! Break out that bee keeper suit and some yellow jacket spray!

Unfortunately, stinging creatures love building nests under dark and forgotten places (hood)! I take it the old truck hasn't been used much!

 

[Hack_man]

Sounds like a youtube video is in the process of being made! Break out that bee keeper suit and some yellow jacket spray!

Unfortunately, stinging creatures love building nests under dark and forgotten places (hood)! I take it the old truck hasn't been used much!

It's mostly a plow and occasional work truck so yes it sits a lot.
My neighbor is a beekeeper with a suit, maybe he will take pity on me and help....

 

[Hack_man]

Until I kick out the trespassing bees, I'll take a few indoor pics.
I was curious what an oven coil would look like with the thermal camera compared to the regular lens. The front two coils were briefly turned on.
There was a quick warning message when the burner was very hot stating that the source was too strong.

 

[EricSan]

Just my luck there is a nest of hornets or yellow jackets under the hood! I already got nailed with bee stings.

Wow - that's a bummer! I've tripped on bees nests in interesting places, but never in my car. Ouch!
Glad to see a few of these turning up with the usual cast of characters! I'm curious to explore the functionality and see how things run!

 

[Hack_man]

Well I officially evicted the offending yellow jackets

Now on to the more fun stuff.

I installed the thermal camera on the top of my bumper and ran the cable thru the grill into the engine compartment.

There was a nice hole in the firewall I used to enter the cabin

The Display found a home under the Cig lighter compartment.
I got lucky and the truck's sheet metal dash panel was already drilled with the exact hole pattern in the Display base. Gotta love old trucks.
I'm guessing this is the first 1983 Chevy Truck with a thermal dashcam in history.

 

[jsmith]

@Hack_man

Sounds/ Looks like you're on a farm? How much land do you got?

 

[Hack_man]

@Hack_man

Sounds/ Looks like you're on a farm? How much land do you got?

Only a couple acres but there is lots of farmland around me. The truck has a good life plowing, hauling firewood, dump runs.
Now it's got CarPlay thanks to the P2!

 

[lufa6977]

View attachment 92809

Mad Max mode, I see. 🙂

Even got an old Realistic radio...I remember those very well.

.
.

 

[kamkar]

That bring back memories, my friends old 58 Apache stepside, the wire harness was like 7 wires as i recall.
Too bad he never got that car rolling, it was quite sweet, and the 1994 small block in it no slouch, probably wayyyyyy too much for the 3 speed transmission i reckon was the original one ( not much experience with US cars for this EURO boy )
You had to feather the throttle in that SOB.

 

[Hack_man]

Mad Max mode, I see. 🙂

Even got an old Realistic radio...I remember those very well.

.
.

That's kind of funny I never thought of my truck as a Mad Max mobile but I see what you mean. I was wondering if anybody would notice the vintage Realistic Radio!

I'm showing below the exact same image (2K front and thermal cameras) about a half hour after sunset.
The Thermal camera definitely has a smaller unspecified FOV compared with the front camera's FOV = 158 degrees.
You can see the heat signature of the car engines and brakes.

 

[jsmith]

That's kind of funny I never thought of my truck as a Mad Max mobile but I see what you mean. I was wondering if anybody would notice the vintage Realistic Radio!

I'm showing below the exact same image (2K front and thermal cameras) about a half hour after sunset.
The Thermal camera definitely has a smaller unspecified FOV compared with the front camera's FOV = 158 degrees.
You can see the heat signature of the car engines and brakes.
View attachment 92921


View attachment 92920

@Hack_man

Is it normal to only see heat signatures in the Thermal Camera? The screen shows far more clarity, but when viewing videos, it seems objects with a heat signature are the only ones able to be discerned.

 

[Hack_man]

@Hack_man

Is it normal to only see heat signatures in the Thermal Camera? The screen shows far more clarity, but when viewing videos, it seems objects with a heat signature are the only ones able to be discerned.

I'll try to get a snapshot of the display to compare. I think you are right that there appears to be more detail in the display.

 

[jsmith]

I'll try to get a snapshot of the display to compare. I think you are right that there appears to be more detail in the display.

I've watched screen while driving and you can make out a lot more. I go to watch the video and only heat signatures and lots of objects unable to be identified are present. I need to do the same. Get a picture of the screen or video and compare it to the actual thermal video from camera.

 

[Hack_man]

I'm having a hard time figuring out how to mount the rear camera thanks to the sliding rear window. There is no good way to mount a rear camera in the cab in this truck. I use the opening sometimes to carry extra long items like 10 foot PVC pipe or trim boards.

The cabin camera actually does a pretty decent job of capturing rear view footage. although you could not read a license plate with it.

 

[EricSan]

I'll try to get a snapshot of the display to compare. I think you are right that there appears to be more detail in the display.

I was having this same thought as I was driving around this evening. Gotta be careful to keep an eye on the road while checking out the thermal display...

The cabin camera actually does a pretty decent job of capturing rear view footage. although you could not read a license plate with it.

Hey, that is a pretty good view out the back from the cabin camera! I wonder if one of the suction cup mounts I picked up would adhere to the metal just above your rear window. I'll play around and see if I can get a decent angle that might work for you.

 

[Hack_man]

I was having this same thought as I was driving around this evening. Gotta be careful to keep an eye on the road while checking out the thermal display...


Hey, that is a pretty good view out the back from the cabin camera! I wonder if one of the suction cup mounts I picked up would adhere to the metal just above your rear window. I'll play around and see if I can get a decent angle that might work for you.

Hmmm, I wonder if that might work with the suction cup/rear camera. I think an exterior mount rear bumper camera is the only proper solution for a pickup truck if you want decent video. But this cabin camera does better than I expected.

On a side note, I had trouble setting the PlatePix and HDR timers using the touch screen. I'm not sure if it was my fat fingers but it was frustrating trying to get the numbers dialed in because the scrolling was uneven and fidgety and covered by my fingers.