Isata 3: Possible Fix for RVS 7" Camera Display Image Quality and Glare

[Judge64]

So several of us have been talking about how surprisingly poor the camera system is on our 2024 Isata 3 Freedom Editions as well as the 24FW and 24RW.

I have been talking to RVS Support about how poor the quality is of the images on their display regardless of changing the brightness, contrast and saturation settings. I told them it reminded me of when Plasma TV's came out. The picture was great in a dark room but in a room with bright ambient light the picture would be washed out and there would be glare and reflections on the screen making it almost unwatchable.

Support asked me to send them a picture of of my display with the images so they could see what's going on. I did them one better. I sent them a couple pictures from the RVS display and one I had from my previous coach, a Thor Super C. Thor tends to use low end accessories but I was happy enough with the camera system they installed, which was an ASA Voyager Camera System and Display.

Now what has baffled me is that the RVS Display and Voyager Display have darn near the same specs but as you will see in the pictures below, the difference in the picture quality is night and day for the most part.

RVS wasn't much help other than saying that their sales rep in Indiana suggested an anti-glare screen protector that Rand McNally makes for their GPS units. I suspect RVS knows they have a glare issue with their display because they have a little shield installed around the display to block out some light. I have a Garmin Chartplotter on my boat that is flat with nothing on the display and I can see the images perfectly in direct Florida sunlight.

The problem with the anti-glare protector RVS recommended is Rand McNally wanted $10 for the screen protector and $11 for shipping so I ordered something from Amazon to see if it would make a difference.

When I went out to the coach this morning to install the anti-glare screen protector, it was too big so I was either going to have to cut it send it back and check for other options.

As I was looking at the display very closely, I saw a tiny bubble in the lower right corner of the unit..... and then it hit me...... there was a plastic screen protector from the manufacturer still installed on the display FFS!!!!!!!


It was a real pain to remove the plastic protector... especially trying to use something that would not scratch the display..... but I did get it off. After I did get the plastic shipping protector off, I found a little pull tab in the upper right corner (see the red arrow in the pic below) that was impossible to see looking at the display.


So anyway..... the display looks a little better now with the protector off. I will know for sure when we go back out on Thursday for a two day trip. I can certainly see how a plain plastic screen protector would enhance the glare and distort the image in the display. I'll work with the settings again to see if I can fine tune it better now that the plastic is off the display.

I can still see some glare just sitting in the garage without a lot of direct ambient light and while the images do look better, I am going to try and find a 7" x 3" anti-glare screen protector to see if that even helps more.

Also.... there is supposed to be a remote with this system according to RVS to make it easier to change setting and switch images. I'm not sure if the bulk units that Dynamax purchases come with the remote or not. I did not get a remote in my black bag of accessories.

If you are unhappy with your camera display performance, I would look to see if the factory plastic protector is still over the screen. I'm betting it is since it is next to impossible to see that it is installed.



The first three pictures below are the ones I sent to RVS Support comparing images in their display to an image in the Voyager display. The next picture shows the pull tab on the factory screen protector remove with a red arrow pointing out the little pull tab. The last picture is the same images as above but without the factory protector.


I hope everyone out there has the plastic protector still on their display from the factory and this helps!!!!

[kenandterry]

It’s a good thing you included photo number 3 or I would’ve never known there was a Spyder back there. Heck, I would’ve never known there was a trailer back there.

Good luck getting this corrected.

[Judge64]

Originally Posted by kenandterry

It’s a good thing you included photo number 3 or I would’ve never known there was a Spyder back there. Heck, I would’ve never known there was a trailer back there.

Good luck getting this corrected.

The Spyder wasn't on the back of the Isata 3 in the first two pictures..... just the spare tire carrier and a couple of e-bikes. But your point is well taken..... you can hardly tell what's behind you the way it is..... or hopefully the way it was now that the plastic protector is removed!!!!!

[JLeising]

My 2012 may not be the same RVS system, but FYI, I found that the “washed out” display picture was caused by the camera. I added a low cost camera from Amazon to one of the other inputs on my RVS multiplexer; switching to that camera yields a much improved picture. Switching back to the RVS camera gives the “washed out” picture (similar to yours).
FYI, Jim

[Judge64]

Originally Posted by JLeising

My 2012 may not be the same RVS system, but FYI, I found that the “washed out” display picture was caused by the camera. I added a low cost camera from Amazon to one of the other inputs on my RVS multiplexer; switching to that camera yields a much improved picture. Switching back to the RVS camera gives the “washed out” picture (similar to yours).
FYI, Jim

Thanks for the info……

The camera shouldn’t be my issue. They are 720P HD cameras based on my research. Looks more like the display is the issue but if I eliminate the display, I’ll look at the cameras next.

[xrpb11a]

I checked my display this morning and the film protector was still on.
While I went in search of wooden toothpicks, DW had it off the screen in under 10 seconds without tools. (If you consider long fingernails "not tools"...)

Originally Posted by Judge64

As I was looking at the display very closely, I saw a tiny bubble in the lower right corner of the unit..... and then it hit me...... there was a plastic screen protector from the manufacturer still installed on the display FFS!!!!!!!

It was a real pain to remove the plastic protector... especially trying to use something that would not scratch the display..... but I did get it off.

[Judge64]

Removing the factory plastic protector helped but there is still an appreciable amount of glare….. and skies were overcast while I was driving today.

I’ll add the anti-glare screen protector next week to see if it helps but I’m afraid the brightness and clarity levels are just below the bar on this particular system.

[bclemens]

Not sure if the 10" is plug and play...I assume it would be. You are welcome to inquire with parts about an upgrade program.

[Judge64]

Thanks Brian……

I asked RVS if they offered a better display to replace this 7” model. They list one that is a 7” HD display and I asked about interconnectivity. The price is a bit over the top at ~$500 just for the display.

RVS Support told me to try the ant-glare screen protector but didn’t directly answer my question about other monitor options.

I’ll try the anti-glare protector and then send them updated pictures and then press them on other monitors or options to improve the quality.

I’m a little dumbfounded because the ASA Voyager Camera system on my Super C was much better and the display specs are almost identical. I know my cameras are 720P based in my testing with the configuration settings in the display.

I know from feedback of other owners that this isn’t isolated to my coach. I’ll keep pressing RVS. In the end it may be just something I need to learn to live with and its far enough down the list not to tarnish my opinion of the coach.

[DJP2]

Not only is the display hard to see, the picture is distorted if you have more than one camera on the display at a time. What good are side mounted cameras if they are not activated by the turn signal. I really like the 2 rear cameras, but when you have the camera pointing down at bumper on the display and put the rv in reverse the camera pointing straight back than comes on the display. I think it makes more sense to see what's directly behind you not looking off into the distance when backing up into a campsite.
Maybe you can change what camera angle is displayed, but the instructions are very vague.

[JLeising]

Again, I experienced very significant picture improvement when I switched to a different (non-RVS) camera. I believe the issue with mine was not camera resolution but black scale - not enough dynamic range in the camera between light and dark. From an earlier post I made on a different thread:

On my 2012 Solera, I used a “standard” 12 volt backup camera from Amazon:

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

I found an RVS manual for the multiplexer in mine online. Mine uses a 5 pin connection to the multiplexer. The manual identified the multiplexer pins. I tapped into the video terminal and connected an RCA style connector to that pin and to multiplexer ground. Connected camera power lead to the multiplexer 12 volt pin. Works quite well - picture is MUCH better than with the OEM camera.

For about $40 for the camera and some effort to jumper the camera into the multiplexer, maybe worth a try?

FYI, Jim