Furrion Vision S 5" backup camera on 2021 Montana -weak signal!

nellie1289 · 11-01-2020, 07:11 PM

So i sprung for this on my new 2021 Montana 3854BR. I have to say when it works its fine, but in 900 miles, i basically had 1 bar or no signal. It worked maybe 50 miles in total. What is the point of this system if it cant go 50 feet from the back of a 41 foot trailer to the truck cab 50 feet ahead of it. is this normal operation? i feel like I just set $550 on fire. Of course there is a lot of fiver between me and the signal but how would anyone not have this distance, its a minimum distance for a 3500 to the back of the fiver. Am i missing something here on the range of this? Of course Furrions manual is no help, it doesnt say how far the max distance is.

notanlines · 11-02-2020, 06:17 AM

Matt, wireless back up and rear view cameras are notorious for only working when parked, or intermittently on the road. Furrion used to recommend this antenna to help things out.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Wyldfire · 11-02-2020, 06:57 AM

https://youtu.be/5Z9KXXzXrqQ

Camping family · 11-02-2020, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nellie1289

So i sprung for this on my new 2021 Montana 3854BR. I have to say when it works its fine, but in 900 miles, i basically had 1 bar or no signal. It worked maybe 50 miles in total. What is the point of this system if it cant go 50 feet from the back of a 41 foot trailer to the truck cab 50 feet ahead of it. is this normal operation? i feel like I just set $550 on fire. Of course there is a lot of fiver between me and the signal but how would anyone not have this distance, its a minimum distance for a 3500 to the back of the fiver. Am i missing something here on the range of this? Of course Furrions manual is no help, it doesnt say how far the max distance is.

Had the same problem with my fiver 33 foot. Called furrion tech I was told it’s a common problem with newer trucks mine is a 2019 f250. They recommended a booster that goes between the 7 way and the truck seems to have fixed my issue.
Give them a call and see what they say.

**JRTJH** · 11-02-2020, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Camping family

Had the same problem with my fiver 33 foot. Called furrion tech I was told it’s a common problem with newer trucks mine is a 2019 f250. They recommended a booster that goes between the 7 way and the truck seems to have fixed my issue.
Give them a call and see what they say.

I'd take exception to that Furrion tech's statement. The rear camera has no idea how old or what brand your tow vehicle is. It's also a "common problem with older trucks"... It's a problem with "line of sight signal degredation" not the age of the truck....

They (Furrion) is correct, buying the booster is one way to increase the signal so it will "go through or around the big fiberglass/aluminum structure that's blocking the signal"....

nellie1289 · 11-02-2020, 09:55 AM

Would it be safe to say if i added the side cameras that I would get much better signal on those and they would work easier. Hate to chase good money after bad. THose would only be 15 feet away max

**JRTJH** · 11-02-2020, 10:50 AM

It depends entirely on how "safe" vs "probable" you want to be.... "Safe to say" when talking about anything with "FURRION" on it is a "best guess event"...

There's a reason why Keystone has changed from Atwood and Suburban appliances, VISIO TV's and Jensen stereos... As "cheaply made as they were" Furrion "underbid all of them and Keystone typically installs the "lowest bid equipment"... That's also why you'll find Lippert axles, Lippert awnings, Lippert frames and Lippert stabilizers/equalizers/springs/electric tongue jacks/electric landing gear on Keystone products.....

So, when it comes to Furrion, I'd say it's "probably going to be better" rather than "heck yeah, you'll be fine".....

nellie1289 · 02-08-2021, 11:50 AM

I have an amazon gift card burning a hole in my pocket so i decided to order the side cameras, for 272, lets see how this works. Since i am already pre plumbed for these and only have to remove 2 screws and slide the camera into the light already there(remove the blank) and already have the furrion 5 monitor and rear camera i figured i would give it a whirl. I will send it back if i dont like it, stand by for a report if these work.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Camping family · 02-08-2021, 01:57 PM

I have the same set up and installed myself. Works great

nellie1289 · 02-08-2021, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Camping family

I have the same set up and installed myself. Works great

Does your rear camera have strong enough got signal. Mine is super weak.

Camping family · 02-08-2021, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nellie1289

Does your rear camera have strong enough got signal. Mine is super weak.

I did have some issues with a weak signal and I purchased the booster from furrion that took care of the issues

nellie1289 · 02-08-2021, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Camping family

I did have some issues with a weak signal and I purchased the booster from furrion that took care of the issues

do you have a part number or link to this?

markcee · 02-08-2021, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nellie1289

So i sprung for this on my new 2021 Montana 3854BR. I have to say when it works its fine, but in 900 miles, i basically had 1 bar or no signal. It worked maybe 50 miles in total. What is the point of this system if it cant go 50 feet from the back of a 41 foot trailer to the truck cab 50 feet ahead of it. is this normal operation? i feel like I just set $550 on fire. Of course there is a lot of fiver between me and the signal but how would anyone not have this distance, its a minimum distance for a 3500 to the back of the fiver. Am i missing something here on the range of this? Of course Furrions manual is no help, it doesnt say how far the max distance is.

You have 8' on me, but I have no connectivity issues with my Furrion. I have the backup plus 2 side view cams. Perhaps contact them directly and see what they say.

nellie1289 · 02-09-2021, 10:01 PM

Well my Side Camera's came from amazon today, have to say installation cant get much easier on these. On my 2021 Montana I used this off Amazon, and paired with my backup camera model FOS05TASF(5" monitor and rear camera) it is a great combo(assuming I can get signal to the backup camera at the back consistently. If your Keystone trailer has the "furrion ready" side marker lights its literally pop the cover off, take two screws out, remove the blank, drop in the camera, and screw it back together. You push the pairing button and the monitor picks it up. I will post some simple pics off my camera. Here is the monitor and backup camera:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07D8ZNX2K...NsaWNrPXRydWU=

Furrion Vision S Wireless RV Amber LED Side Cameras: Includes 2 Side Cameras, Right and Left Side Running LED Lights with Infrared Night Vision and Wide Viewing Angle - FCE48TASH

Here is the side marker cameras.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

nellie1289 · 02-09-2021, 10:08 PM

Here are some simple pics

markcee · 02-10-2021, 05:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nellie1289

Well my Side Camera's came from amazon today, have to say installation cant get much easier on these. On my 2021 Montana I used this off Amazon, and paired with my backup camera model FOS05TASF(5" monitor and rear camera) it is a great combo(assuming I can get signal to the backup monitor consistently. If your Keystone trailer the "furrion ready" side marker lights its literally pop the cover off, take two screws out, remove the blank, drop in the camera, and screw it back together. You push the pairing button and the monitor picks it up.

I had to add one more step with my installation.....remove and remount the marker lights on the side of the trailer as they were mounted backwards at the factory....lol.

nellie1289 · 02-10-2021, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markcee

I had to add one more step with my installation.....remove and remount the marker lights on the side of the trailer as they were mounted backwards at the factory....lol.

kind of interesting that the marker lights they send you are LED, but the ones on the trailer are old school non led. What gives, lol. i guess i have a backup pair of side marker lights now.

dutchmensport · 02-10-2021, 05:10 PM

My Montana is 41.5 feet long and my 3500 dually is over 22 feet long. I installed the Furrion observation camera system on mine and it's worked pretty good. Never had any problems. Later, I installed the side camera's. Found out, the side cameras stay on only about 45 seconds and then they shut off. So, I can't turn on all 3 cameras and leave them. So, when backing up into a campsite, I have to keep hitting the monitor (tap it 3 times) to get the side cameras on.

About mounting? I realized if mine were mounted were the existing side running lights are located, the baggage door hinges would block part of the view in the monitor. To get around this, I left the original lights and simply added the side lights higher so nothing along the side of the camper would obstruct the view.

Except for timing-out every 45 seconds, the side cameras work nice. And the rear camera does stay on all the time, as long as my running lights (head lights) are turned on.

Actually, those doors closest to the light are the propane tank doors. Adding the second set of lights (camera) was extreamly easy, as all the wires were accessed from the inside of the compartment where the propane tanks are located. I simply drilled a very small hole for the wires to go thorugh and then simply spliced into the existing wires that feed the original yellow lights. Easy. Took much longer to plan it out. Install for both sides took about 30 minutes from start to finish. But it took me weeks to plan it out.

JDDilly · 02-10-2021, 05:19 PM

I had a Furrion system on my last rig (traded it a year ago) and it never worked correctly. The observation camera was always loosing signal while driving and the side cameras were just like yours. My next system will be from Haloview.

markcee · 02-10-2021, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dutchmensport

My Montana is 41.5 feet long and my 3500 dually is over 22 feet long. I installed the Furrion observation camera system on mine and it's worked pretty good. Never had any problems. Later, I installed the side camera's. Found out, the side cameras stay on only about 45 seconds and then they shut off. So, I can't turn on all 3 cameras and leave them. So, when backing up into a campsite, I have to keep hitting the monitor (tap it 3 times) to get the side cameras on.

I had the same 'issue' you describe and I came to find out it was a settings error on my part.

Below is a response I received from Furrion when I inquired about losing the side cams every couple of minutes and having to reset to get them back:

It sounds as though it is one of your settings that is causing the monitor to show a particular camera. If the setting on your monitor is made to be set in "quad mode" , "split" or "H mode" it should remain in that viewing preference, unless you have another option set to switch to that camera, such as motion detection or auto display mode set to that camera location. Please confirm that motion detection is off or set to "X" and that your display is auto set to view all four cameras. You can refer to the user guide, found and downloaded at the web address below.

In my case the issue was having the 'auto display' option set to the rearview cam. Once I set the auto display to all 4 cams I was good to go.

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