" Tesla Sentry Mode " feature install using Blackvue Cameras as security / surveillance recorder

[BRBlue]

Very nice. Does the in vehicle Wi-Fi require a subscription? Does it have enough data to handle video streams?

I’m considering a rear view video mirror for trips when I’m fully loaded with cargo and/or have the backup camera blocked by anything mounted on my spare. Do you know if the rear camera would support a mirror/monitor set up?

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[Theherofails]

Very nice. Does the in vehicle Wi-Fi require a subscription? Does it have enough data to handle video streams?

I’m considering a rear view video mirror for trips when I’m fully loaded with cargo and/or have the backup camera blocked by anything mounted on my spare. Do you know if the rear camera would support a mirror/monitor set up?

The in vehicle wifi costs roughly $20/mo or so (regional pricing so can't be sure for you). I'll likely drop the in vehicle wifi down to priority 3 after the free trial is up. The cellphone hotspot is 5G, so much better speeds.

Installing a rear view mirror cam should be pretty easy. The bronco trim pieces are easy to remove and I haven't found a single fastener (screw or bolt) to remove yet, other than removing the driver grab handle for a second. This vehicle really is like Lego.. part of that is by design, and part of that is the fact that Ford uses plastic for ALL trim inside the vehicle, so you don't have to baby it too much. It's flexible, so you don't even have to remove a lot of it. You can just push the cable/wire right in.

Mounting the camera external will be fairly easy too I think. You could likely install it right on top of the third brake light as long as you go with a brand that has a weatherproof housing for the camera. You can run the wire right out the tailgate by snaking it along the path of the third brake light I would think.

This mod is on my list as well, so when I do it, I'll share it here. My rear window is tinted limo, so it's all but useless.

 

[ShroederK]

Sorry if I missed it but did you add shock sensors and code up some arduino magic or was it built in to the cameras you were using?

 

[Theherofails]

Sorry if I missed it but did you add shock sensors and code up some arduino magic or was it built in to the cameras you were using?

The cameras come with shock and motion sensing included. These are cloud enabled cameras, so you configure your sensitivity in the app. Seems to work really well - even just trying the door handle is enough to get it to trigger in parking mode. Any attempt to reach into the vehicle with the doors open/off results in the camera writing the previous 10 seconds of video to the memory card, plus all video until the event is over. This allows you to see review the video and see what happened before the actual triggering event.

Even if they manage not to trigger the sensors, the cameras are recording at 1FPS at all times so you should still be able to see some evidence.

The one thing where an Arduino, Pi or even a standard alarm would come into play is an audible alert to attempt to scare off the intruder. The camera install is silent and not very noticeable at all, even from inside the vehicle. If I don't point it out to people, they generally won't notice it.

 

[ShroederK]

The cameras come with shock and motion sensing included. These are cloud enabled cameras, so you configure your sensitivity in the app. Seems to work really well - even just trying the door handle is enough to get it to trigger in parking mode. Any attempt to reach into the vehicle with the doors open/off results in the camera writing the previous 10 seconds of video to the memory card, plus all video until the event is over. This allows you to see review the video and see what happened before the actual triggering event.

Even if they manage not to trigger the sensors, the cameras are recording at 1FPS at all times so you should still be able to see some evidence.

The one thing where an Arduino, Pi or even a standard alarm would come into play is an audible alert to attempt to scare off the intruder. The camera install is silent and not very noticeable at all, even from inside the vehicle. If I don't point it out to people, they generally won't notice it.

Awesome! I was thinking about doing the same thing but was thinking I’d have to put something together from scratch. Those cameras make it much easier. It’ll be nice to put a face to the forehead smudges on my windows

 

[BlarneyStoned]

Front & Internal Camera (inside view)

Hey I recognize that cul-de-sac, spent 15 years living next to South Mountain. It was driving on Baseline and the 101 that convinced me to get a dashcam years ago.

 

[Theherofails]

Hey I recognize that cul-de-sac, spent 15 years living next to South Mountain. It was driving on Baseline and the 101 that convinced me to get a dashcam years ago.

Yep! Thats the area Good eye.

 

[Seanette]

Good write up but you really just need this.

I'd be worrying about damaging the vehicle's paint.

 

[Panzer948]

Nice work OP. I didn't see your post earlier when I made mine about the mirror tap question. I have the same Backvue 900 coming tomorrow but splurged on the wifi hotspot that comes with it. I will only have two cameras (no 700 series) though so still trying to decide where to mount the rear one (I have a soft top). I may mount it on the windshield facing back toward the seats to record both interior and rear window area. Or mount it on the rollbar and have ability to rotate it front or back, depending on situation. Will figure that out when it arrives. Long story short, the parking/sentry mode is half of why I want this setup. I am using that in a couple of other vehicles; but they are not convertibles so feel it is even more important in a Bronco. This will be my first time using wifi for cloud alerts and monitoring, so looking forward to that aspect of it.

Now to go find that fuse box... Any pics?

 

[Theherofails]

Nice work OP. I didn't see your post earlier when I made mine about the mirror tap question. I have the same Backvue 900 coming tomorrow but splurged on the wifi hotspot that comes with it. I will only have two cameras (no 700 series) though so still trying to decide where to mount the rear one (I have a soft top). I may mount it on the windshield facing back toward the seats to record both interior and rear window area. Or mount it on the rollbar and have ability to rotate it front or back, depending on situation. Will figure that out when it arrives. Long story short, the parking/sentry mode is half of why I want this setup. I am using that in a couple of other vehicles; but they are not convertibles so feel it is even more important in a Bronco. This will be my first time using wifi for cloud alerts and monitoring, so looking forward to that aspect of it.

Now to go find that fuse box... Any pics?

I'm in my bronco. Here ya go. This whole panel comes off and is hinged at the bottom. Grab under the steering wheel and pull gently. You'll have to pop the tabs out, so it takes a little pressure and you'll hear discomforting noises, but it goes back together fine.

 

[Draughon]

After having a few people get a little TOO comfortable with the Bronco, I made the plan on replicating the Sentry Mode found in Teslas to the best of my ability.

Cameras:
DR900X PLUS 2 Channel with IR
DR750X PLUS 1 Channel
You could also use the DR750X PLUS 3 channel package for the same cost. The reason I used two different cameras was for the ability to record trail runs in 4K without having to also run a GoPro. The DR750X is a 1440p camera. You can see the quality difference in the examples below.


Misc Equipment:
Micro2 Fuse Taps
Wifi Hotspot with 12v charger & optional USB-C battery bank.


What it does:
This system is hardwired to backup power which in turn is charged off the internal vehicle battery. The backup power has the capability to be charged via solar panels I have for the roof when overlanding.

While driving, it's just your average dashcam setup. The magic happens when you park and the system goes into 'parking mode' - AKA, Sentry mode. Until I return to the vehicle, all cameras are recording 1FPS and will automatically activate and record videos of any motion (internally) or if the vehicle is tampered with in any fashion internally or externally (all cameras) via shock sensors. This works with the doors and roof on or off, and all cameras are shielded from direct rain. I have the option of external motion activated alerts if needed.

Any incidents are immediately transmitted over a wifi hotspot to the cloud and I get an emergency ping on my phone with the ability to view live video from anywhere.

For the wifi hotspot, I am using a spare cell phone plugged into a 10,000mAH battery pack via USB C, which in turn is topped off by the vehicle battery. This gives me approx. 1 week of standby power for wifi.

The system is set up to first attempt to use my home wifi. If it's unavailable, it falls back to the built in vehicle WIFI. If that is unavailable as well, it falls back to the wifi hotspot. This saves data when parked at home but assures instant notifications on the move.

The entire setup is designed to switch off if the vehicle battery crosses a voltage threshold to make sure I don't come out to a dead battery.

The Install:

Zero wires visible as I piggybacked off the rearview mirror harness and entered the vehicle trim that way. A little tricky to route it around the window frame but a trim tool helps greatly here.

Free Pro Tip: Despite the onboard vehicle owners manual stating the in vehicle fuse panel is behind the glove box, it is not. Those instructions and photos are actually from the Bronco Sport. You have to remove the entire bottom dash piece below the steering wheel and the the in vehicle fux box is tucked back by the A pillar. Most of the fuses are the new Micro3, which I could not tap. The left side is the older Micro2 and are available to tap for both intermittent and constant 12v.


Front & Internal Camera (inside view)

	As you can see, this setup is totally stealth from the exterior due to ceramic coating on windshield.

Rear Camera

	Rear Camera is mounted directly to the rear window with enough slack to allow the window to open without tension on the power cable.
	Totally stealth from the rear as well.
	This is the only visible cable in the entire install. There is absolutely no way to hide this cable going to the rear window, but Ford didn't try hide theirs either so it all blends.

Front Camera Test Footage:


Rear Camera Test Footage:


Inside Camera Screenshot (Infrared/Night Vision)

I don't have the skill to install this, but would LOVE to have this in my Bronco when it gets here...sometime in late 2184 if my calculations are correct.

 

[Draughon]

Good write up but you really just need this.

Def something for the extra AUX switches - along with oil slick, tire spikes, smoke screen, etc.

 

[604Bronco]

Great write up!

It's unfortunate that we need this sort of thing on vehicles nowadays. I give it a couple years and this will be standard equipment. Heck, the vehicles already have cameras all over it - Why not allow for recording? Makes it a lot easier when it's a "he said" vs. "she said" situation.

 

[Panzer948]

I'm in my bronco. Here ya go. This whole panel comes off and is hinged at the bottom. Grab under the steering wheel and pull gently. You'll have to pop the tabs out, so it takes a little pressure and you'll hear discomforting noises, but it goes back together fine.

Thanks, I am going to go ahead and run the ign on and power on all the time wires from the fuse box to the mirror area today in preparation for the dash cam coming in tomorrow. I also need a ign on power for a radar detector but may use mirror tap for that. Thanks for these tips!

Yesterday evening I wired up my Rigid 360 backlit lights on the A Pillar and wired them to the Aux 5 (main light) and Aux 6 (back light) with no issues. My only problem with that setup is the silver plated bracket that doesn't give enough space away from the antenna, and looks cheap to boot. I may make a separate post about that issue...

 

[Theherofails]

Thanks, I am going to go ahead and run the ign on and power on all the time wires from the fuse box to the mirror area today in preparation for the dash cam coming in tomorrow. I also need a ign on power for a radar detector but may use mirror tap for that. Thanks for these tips!

Yesterday evening I wired up my Rigid 360 backlit lights on the A Pillar and wired them to the Aux 5 (main light) and Aux 6 (back light) with no issues. My only problem with that setup is the silver plated bracket that doesn't give enough space away from the antenna, and looks cheap to boot. I may make a separate post about that issue...

If I go rigid, I'll use their dual pod mount as it looks quality.

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