We here at Sticky Pod want to convey our knowledge and experience of which camera makes and models work best with the Sticky Pod when attached to any car, truck, van, boat, motorcycle, airplane, RV, motorhome, trailer or any other vehicle. Some cameras work great and others, by design, will just not work very well. First let's look at cameras mounted to a vehicle.

Cameras Mounted To A Vehicle

Sticky Pod car cameras can be the smallest bullet (lipstick) cameras up to the largest Hollywood film cameras mounted to any vehicle on the planet. However, some cameras clearly perform much better than others. The first thing we want you to realize is the materials that the camera itself is made of. All cameras are made out of plastic with a metal subframe under the plastic to hold everything together. These metal subframes are the key to making a camera work well with a Sticky Pod. The first thing you should look for in any camera, is one that has a metal mounting socket. That's the screw hole that you use to attach the Sticky Pod to your camera. Almost all cameras use them, but some very small cameras do not have room for them, so please be careful what you buy. As you will see when you go out to buy a camera (or in your existing camera), many of them have a plastic mounting socket. These cameras still have a metal subframe, but the manufacturer chose to use the plastic housing to support your camera on a mount. This is the worst type of mount for use with a Sticky Pod. The plastic flexes and you cannot tighten the camera to the Sticky Pod as it will strip the threads inside the camera. Since the plastic on the camera will flex, this produces shaky, unstable video while driving, and is not the fault of the Sticky Pod, but of the camera itself. We do provide you with video instructions on how to use your Sticky Pod and we do provide some examples of what you can do to minimize the shake of a camera with a plastic mounting socket. On the other hand, there are many makes and models of cameras that use metal mounting sockets. These cameras have a mounting socket that is connected directly to the metal subframe of the camera itself. This is an excellent camera to choose for it's strength and stability when mounted to a Sticky Pod. Not only can you get a good tight fit to your Sticky Pod, but these cameras produce far more stable and usable video, photographs or film. So before you buy, be sure to compare cameras and their physical features.

What To Do Next?

If you already have a camera with a plastic mounting socket, you can still use it with a Sticky Pod, but you may find the videos or photographs to be undesirable when using your camera at high speeds on the inside or outside of any vehicle. That's not to say that you should not try or that you cannot use the camera somewhere else. Sometimes the road you're driving on is very smooth and the camera will not bounce or vibrate. Other times, you will use your Sticky Pod in a stationary environment, such as surveillance from a window in your home or office. Remember, the Sticky Pod can stay in place for several days on a window or any other smooth non-porous surface. We also provide a tether for added safety in the event something happens when you're not around, something our competitors don't even offer and they never have. That should tell you something about us. Any way you look at it, the Sticky Pod will hold your camera in more places, for a longer time, than any other camera mount on the market today. The secrets in the suction cups.

If you already have a camera with a metal mounting socket, congratulations, you have a perfect fit for any environment. This type of camera has the strength and durability for many years of use and it works great with any Sticky Pod model.

Selecting Your Car Camera

As you can see from above, the best choice is the one that meets your physical requirements. If you're never going to use a Sticky Pod in or on a car while driving, then any camera with any style of mounting socket will work. However, it's not always easy to predict the future, so we highly recommend you select a camera with a metal mounting socket. Other factors to consider relate to the environment you will be placing your camera into. For example, if you plan on capturing videos or pictures from the outside of your vehicle while racing, a very good idea, then we recommend a camera that has the following physical features:

Metal mounting socket

Small and lightweight (many cameras today can weigh less than 1 pound)

Small battery (not the extended run batteries)

Lens filter (ability to attach a lens filter to help protect the camera lens)

You should then look for the following electronic features:

Digital or electronic image stabilization (more on this below)

MiniDV video tape format (all MiniDV produce DVD quality video)

i.Link or IEEE 1394 Firewire Port (to transfer the videos or pictures to your computer)

You should avoid buying digital video cameras with hard drives or DVD recording because of their inability to record in such a hostile environment. Every time you hit a bump, the camera will likely stop recording because of the jarring motion. It's a feature that's built into the camera to protect the hard drive or DVD write head.

The short list above encompasses a vast majority of cameras on the market today. Any local store will have several choices for you to choose from. Just be sure to get a look at the bottom of the camera before you buy. Do NOT trust what the store associate tells you about your new camera. You should verify it's physical and electronic features for yourself by taking a new one out of the box and review it right there in the store.

If racing is not your style, but catching your neighbor, dead beat ex-husband (wife) or stupid criminals red handed, then the Sticky Pod is the best choice for your surveillance cameras. Let's face it, the Sticky Pod doesn't just give you a place to mount your camera, it holds your camera rock steady for crystal clear digital videos and photographs from any distance and in any lighting condition. If you happen to get caught in the act during a stake out in your car, you can take off with tires burning and never worry about your camera for even a moment. Now when it comes to surveillance, there are some great camera choices on the market today. Unlike the racing conditions above, you can use the hard drive and DVD recording cameras with excellent results. Some of these cameras can record DVD quality videos for up to 37 hours! We want you to recognize that this is a huge amount of power in your hands. The best part is, the Sticky Pod can endure for much longer than 37 hours. We have had Sticky Pods mounted to flat or curved glass for more than a week at a time. They are that good! Here are the physical features we recommend for surveillance:

Metal mounting socket (you never know when you might have to speed off, but it's not necessary)

Large camera with a high optical zoom (be sure it's an optical zoom and not a digital zoom)

Large battery or AC/DC adapter (so you can plug it in for extended record times)

You should then look for the following electronic features:

Optical, digital or electronic image stabilization (many times this is not needed, but it's nice to have)

Hard drive or DVD recording format (hard drives can record up to 37 hours!)

i.Link or IEEE 1394 Firewire Port (to transfer the videos or pictures to your computer)

Low light digital video recording (consider night vision since most crimes happen at night)

Interval recording (creates time lapse video over many hours)

In this case, you want to buy cameras with a hard drive or DVD for recording. That doesn't mean that a video tape is bad, you just want to be sure the surveillance camera fits into the scenario you're recording. For example, if you want to record your car overnight from a window in your home, then a video tape that only lasts an hour will not do you any good. However, a camera that uses video tape and has interval recording capabilities will work very well for just such a scenario. The best solution for your surveillance needs always includes a good high resolution result. After all, if the police or judge cannot see the perps face, then the video is worthless. That's why it's important to have a good optical zoom on the camera you buy. Try to zoom in on the area or person you want to catch so you can clearly make out their face in the video or pictures. This also makes for a good reason to buy a camera with night vision capabilities. Once you have the criminal on video, then you can take action by contacting the police or local law enforcement and they will have all the proof they need to bring charges. If the person committed a crime, such as urinating in public, you will not have to press any charges. Just give the police the tape and they will take it from there. Since it's a crime against the community, your job is all done after you tell them who it is and turn over the tape.

Distinguishing Camera Features

What's the difference between optical zoom and digial zoom?

Optical zoom allows the camera to capture zoom images without a loss of picture quality. Digital zoom degrades the quality of the picture the more you zoom in on the subject. It will get to the point where you cannot even see the subject. That's why digital zoom is a worthless feature on all cameras and optical zoom is what you want to focus on (excuse the pun). In night time situations, the optical zoom is the only way to capture crystal clear images from a distance. The optical zoom also works very well with the night vision.

Why is digital or electronic image stabilization better than optical for racing?

Optical image stabilization uses two lenses to stabilize a given scene you have in your viewfinder. There's a second lens behind the one you can see on the outside of the camera that moves in the opposite direction of the cameras movement. This helps maintain a clear image of the scene in your viewfinder. The problem is, the stabilizing lens floats inside the camera and cannot handle the bumps and jarring from racing or just normal driving. The digital or electronic image stabilization does degrade the picture quality, but it's so slight that it's impossible for the naked eye to see.

Why do I need an i.Link or IEEE 1394 Firewire Port (always referred to as a firewire port)?

These are all one in the same, they are just referred to by either term. Just look for either one on the camera's features. The reason you want a firewire port is because of it's ability to transfer large amounts of video in a short amount of time. Just a few minutes of video tape will take up many gigabytes of hard drive space and transferring all that video to your computer can take a long time. The firewire port can transfer up to 400 megabytes of video per second. That's faster than the tape itself can run. That's a good thing. Also be sure your computer has a firewire port to accept the video from your camera.

Which Camera Brands Make Good Sticky Pod Car Cameras?

When you're ready to buy a camera, remember your operating environment. Ask yourself a handful of questions such as; Will I be using my Sticky Pod camera for surveillance? Will I be racing my Sticky Pod car camera? Will I be driving around town stopping road rage or making an independent film? Here are some camera brands we have worked with during our video productions:

Sony PD-150 and PD-170

Sony F900

Sony HVR-Z1U

Canon XL-2

Canon Optura 50

Panasonic DVX-100B

Panasonic HVX-200

Panasonic PV-DV401

Panasonic PD-DV203

So which ones worked well and which ones failed. A failure in this case is unusable video. Our operating environment is that of mounting the camera to the outside of a vehicle and driving up to highway speeds. The optical image stabilized cameras by Canon did not perform well. If we had to give a rating, 10 being the best, we would give the Canon Optura 50 a rating of 3, and the Canon XL-2 would rate a 6. The Sony cameras listed above are also optical image stabilized and performed the best of all the cameras listed. We would rate the Sony HVR-Z1U a 7, the PD-150 and PD-170 an 8, with the Sony F900 getting a 9 out of 10! The Panasonic HVX-200 is also an OIS (Optical Image Stabilized), however we would rate it a 7 out of 10.

Sony appears to have a better grip on optical image stabilization (OIS), but all the camera manufacturers are getting better at producing cameras that handle tough environments. Don't shy away from any of them, just use them in a manner that will produce stable usable video for your video productions. All cameras have their limitations, with a minimal amount of practice, you'll be a pro in no time.

The remaining cameras in the list above all have Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS), and provide a great picture under all operating environments. We would rate them an 8 out of 10 for the smaller cameras and a 9 out of 10 for the Panasonic DVX-100B.

Car Camera Summary

The first thing to consider when buying your car camera is what you want to do with it. Of course, we want you to buy a Sticky Pod with it and we hope this page helps you discover what works best for you. We're asking you to buy the Sticky Pod model that fits your scenario. So who buys Sticky Pods anyway? To see the customers and testimonials, be sure to visit our customers page.

The following is a list of Sticky Pod owners:

Independent Film Makers

Video Production Companies (mostly for the car, truck and corporate commercials you see on TV)

Research Organizations

Corporate Video Trainers

SCCA Racers

Drifting Racers

Police Officers

Private Investigators

Insurance Fraud Investigators

Scorned Women

People tired of road rage (they stick it on their trunk and point backwards)

Amateur Video Hobbyists

People taking vacations in their favorite car, truck, van, boat, RV, motorhome or trailer

Students taking video courses in school

Kids that make videos instead of playing video games

Bird watchers (nature watching)

Helicopter pilots

Airplane pilots

Military combat photographers (let the Sticky Pod get the shot in a fire fight)

Military battle commanders (Sticky Pod's are all metal and bullet proof, better they get shot than you)

Law firms (recreate accident scenes and verify drive times on camera)

The list goes on and on, and we find out more and more every day about our customers. We always encourage you to tell us about yourself and your adventures. Just send us some pictures of your Sticky Pod in the manner you use it and we will create a link back to your website and post your comments. Of course, Sticky Pod owners get to use our video gallery to upload videos and pictures.

Car Cover. This is one of the most popular auto accessories, especially for those who do not own a garage or carport. A car cover can protect an automobile from inclement weather and even from the occasional flyover of a bird. However, when purchasing a car cover, be sure to read the instructions carefully to avoid damaging the car or having the paint peel off from an improper application.

Seat Cover. One of the most popular auto accessories for your car’s interior is a seat cover. They can help to protect your car’s original seats from stains, cigarette burns, tears, etc.

Steering Wheel Cover. This product, which is designed to provide improved grip on your steering wheel, is created to help your interior in a number of ways. If you purchase a cloth steering wheel cover, it will protect your hands from grabbing an otherwise hot steering wheel after your car has been sitting in the sun. Additionally, a steering wheel cover is one of the more popular auto accessories because it helps to protect the steering wheel from scratches.

Floor Mats. Every automobile is susceptible to dirt, mud and anything else on the bottom of our shoes. In an effort to keep the floor clean, mats are ideal auto accessories.

Handheld Vacuum. Not commonly thought of as auto accessories, handheld vacuums are essential to keeping your interior clean. These handy little gadgets are ideal for cleaning seats and the floor of your car.

Hands-free Cell Phone Connector. Although it is not recommended that anyone drive while talking on the cell phone, there are often emergency situations or calls that need to be addressed and this is why a hands-free cell phone connector is one of the best auto accessories that you could have. Rather than shuffling for the phone, using a hands-free connector is much more convenient and will not distract you from driving.

Cell Phone Charger. This is one of the essential auto accessories if you own a cell phone. A cell phone charger connects to your phone and also to the cigarette lighter in order to recharge your cell phone’s battery. If you happen to encounter car trouble on the highway only to find that your cell phone battery is empty, you will be glad to have this handy little device to give you instant use of your cell phone.

Emergency Battery Charger. Owning one of these auto accessories could be one of the smartest purchases you make. They are charged at home using a regular outlet, then placed in your car. If your car’s battery runs down, you are out of luck unless you have an emergency charger. These will help get you back on the road quickly and without the help of a tow truck.

Child safety seat. If you have a child, the proper safety seat is a must-have for traveling. While you are on the go, you want the little one to be safe right along with you. A child safety seat is one of the best auto accessories in existence for both you and especially your child.

Harness seatbelt for your pet. If you have to take your pet to the veterinarian or on a road trip, but have difficulty finding a travel crate large enough to fit him/her, a harness-style seatbelt for your pet will be ideal for keeping your pet in the seat and will prevent it from wondering aimlessly throughout the automobile. This can be both distracting and dangerous to the driver and other pedestrians on the road.

Subwoofers. The bass. The loudness. The glory. The most obnoxious component in your system, and also, one of the most necessary.

If you've read my article about speakers, you're up to speed. If you haven't (and don't know anything about speakers or subwoofers), read it here.

Subwoofers reproduce the lowest frequencies of the audio spectrum, AKA bass. They are essential to both SQ and SPL systems, but for different reasons. Let's take a look now...

For SQ systems: Effectively reproduce the lowest frequencies making the music sound full and powerful. Instruments that play lower frequencies such as organs, drums and synthesizers will sound more realistic and powerful with a subwoofer installed.

For SPL systems: Because subwoofers are loud, they are the preferred speaker to make a whole lotta noise.

Also, because our ears are less sensitive to lower frequencies we need the extra bass for the system to sound balanced.

So, what do I have to look for to find a great woofer? I'll tell you!

Power Handling:

Just like with every other part in a stereo system, power handling is important for subwoofers as well. Earlier, in my article about speakers, I talked about how you can send more power to them to increase their volume, but decrease the distortion. The same is true of subwoofers, but be careful! Since lower frequency distortion is harder to perceive, it's easy to overdo it, and blow your subwoofers. Anyway, with that said, it is smart to buy an amp that can put out exactly what your subwoofers are designed to take, but take it easy!

Size:

Subwoofers come in many sizes, but the most common are 8", 10", 12", and 15". This is probably also noted in metric for the european brands. As you can imagine, the bigger woofers are the ones that will play louder and play lower. Of course, the smaller ones are more musical, more precise, and sound "tighter". What size you decide on usually has to do with your own preferences, as well as installation considerations. Remember! 18" subwoofers don't just fit anywhere!

Voice coil info:

SVC: Single voice coil

This means that the speaker has only one voice coil. In other words, only one input.

DVC: Dual voice coil

This means that the speaker has two voice coils, or two inputs.

Ummmmmmm, ok. Why does it matter?

I could go into details here, but I know you don't really care. Basically, it boils down to this: With a DVC subwoofer, there are more installation options. Look at it this way, a DVC "looks" like two subwoofers to your amplifier. With some nifty wiring tricks (called series and parallel), you can hook up many subwoofers to a single amp--even if the amp is a "mono" or a two channel amp. In addition, you can manipulate how many ohms the amp has to push. If you have an amp that is stable to a half ohm (like some old school Orion HCCA amps), you could potentially hook up 4-8 woofers to a single channel! Imagine the noise you could make!

Some words about boxes:

Boxes are essential to most subwoofers. In other words, consider a subwoofer's box just as important as the subwoofer itself. Why? Because most subwoofers need a box to operate properly, sound good, and not damage themselves. Subwoofers that don't need a box are called "free air" or "infinite baffle" subwoofers.

Like I said, most subwoofers need a box. So, let's talk about boxes!

First, what types of boxes are there?

Sealed: The simplest kind. Essentially, a sealed box is a box where the inside and outside are not linked. There are no holes, and care is taken to ensure that the box is completely sealed.

Ported: A ported box is a subwoofer box with at least one hole, or "port" in it. The goal of the ported box is to emphasize a certain frequency. These boxes are used because they are often louder than sealed boxes.

Bandpass: A bandpass box is similar to a ported box because it has ports; however, the bandpass box tries to de-emphasize certain frequencies, while emphasizing others. In other words, it works like a bandpass crossover. The bandpass box emphasizes a frequency band while de-emphasizing frequencies lower than and higher than the band.

Isobarik: These boxes aim to fit more than one subwoofer into a small box. The subwoofers are set up to work in tandem. Sometimes both subs move in the same direction at the same time, sometimes one sub pulls while the other pushes. There are advantages to this type of setup, but box design is difficult.

OK, so now you know everything about SUBZ, but here are the specs that you'll need to know to choose your subwoofer:

Power Handling: Subs are speakers, and as such can only handle so much power (or distortion) before they blow! Power handling is measured in watts, and is often given in two specifications: RMS and Max (or peak). The RMS rating is the most important. If a sub says it can handle 200 watts RMS and 400 watts Max, be sure the amp will provide 200 watts RMS as well. Not 400 watts RMS. While it's true that the sub can handle 400 watts, it can only handle that kind of power for a short time. If you hook that sub up to an amp that puts out 400 watts RMS, you will ruin that speaker pretty quickly--because it is constantly being exposed to 400 watts, not short bursts of 400 watts. You dig? Good.

Sensitivity: This term means exactly what you think it means. In short, a subwoofer with higher sensitivty will be louder than a subwoofer with lower sensitivty when they are hooked up to the same amp. The spec is measured in db.

Frequency response: You obviously want a subwoofer than can handle a wide range of frequencies. However, the subwoofer does the most work under 100hz. If the subwoofer plays all the way down to 20hz, you know you've got a great sub. The good news is that even if it doesn't go that low, most music doesn't either. Sooooo, you'll still be fine. I would say the it's more important to have a low-playing sub in systems with DVD players and 5.1 sound. Also, frequency response varies depending on the box that the subwoofer is installed in. Ummmm, so with this in mind, just pick a subwoofer that will handle the power, and sound how you want it to.

Cone Material: When it comes to subwoofers, this is actually a pretty important thing to pay attention to. Because subwoofers are big and powerful, you need a cone material that can withstand lots and lots of abuse. I personally am a big fan of metals such as alluminum. This is because aluminum is light and stiff, and likewise, produces very tight and musical sounding bass. I know that many subwoofer manufacturers use exotic sounding materials for their subwoofers, which makes it difficult to determine which material is the best.

Surround material: Here's my advice: Always get a subwoofer with a rubber surround. Rubber holds up the best in the auto environment.

Impedence: Measured in Ohms, this spec tells you how much resistance the speaker presents to your amp. Too much, and you get no volume, too little, and your subwoofer will fry your amp! This spec will help you decide which amp to hook up to your subwoofer, whether you want to bridge your amp, and whether you want to wire multiple subs into parallel or series. Also, subwoofers sometimes have more than one voice coil (aka DVC). This means that the subwoofer will have two inputs, each with the same impedence. Subwoofers with dual voice coils are more versatile to install, especially in multiple woofer systems.

A basic subwoofer install is fairly easy. If you buy a pre-fab sub box, mount the subs and power them, you're going to get good bass. To install professionally, and achieve the best sound, much planning and work must go into the whole process. This is a situation where if you don't feel confident in your ability to build a box, tune it, and hook it up, you should visit a car audio shop, and have them do it for you. This can be relatively cheap, or quite expensive.

If you are planning on doing the install yourself, but lack the box building skills, you can buy a pre-fab box. I would also strongly recommend an EQ device to fine tune the bass. This will help you overcome road noise (which ruins bass), and also cut back on "boominess" and "muddiness". In the end, this route is the best compromise between a custom box and a pre-fab box. You'll get great sound, and save money!

Do you have to commute long distances by car daily? Make your journey more enjoyable with your favorite music. With the latest car audio systems, it's as simple as it can be.

Car audio systems include CD players, speakers, headphones and amplifiers. I will be giving you detailed information on Alpine car audio amplifiers.

Amplifiers basically serve to deliver an amplified or boosted signal to the loudspeakers. The amplifier simply takes all the signals delivered to it and amplifies it. Let's take a closer look at Alpine's MRP-F240 Car Audio amplifier...

Alpine MRP-F240 Car Audio amplifier

This Alpine product has received excellent ratings. It comes with a lot of attractive features:

• It is a multi-channel amplifier and provides a 4-channel output.

• It works on an input signal voltage of 0.2-4 V and delivers an output of 360 Watt.

• It features a response bandwidth of 10- 50000Hz.

• It offers both speaker level and RCA inputs. This enables it to work with any radio or system.

• It has a Bass EQ and is Bass Engine ready. It is , therefore, perfect for all Alpine head units.

This product can be purchased online. It is priced very modestly at about 140 dollars. It definitely gives amazing value for money.

For installation of amplifiers in your car, it is recommended to use larger diameter RCA cables. These connect the low-level output of the radio to the low-level input of the amplifier.

This product has no drawbacks worth mentioning. It is a good amplifier for your car. It delivers power with clarity. There is no distortion or clipping and the sound comes really loud. These aspects are by and large, this product’s selling points. It has been quite a bestseller. All in all, a smart buy.

Alpine is a company that knows that the modern automobile is not just a means of transportation but also your personal luxury space. Alpine’s car audio systems fulfill your desire for the very best in sound systems through advanced technology, uncompromising design and a passion to make the dreams of all music-loving drivers a reality.

Alpine has something for all of the new audio formats and media options. Alpine has good stuff for ipod audio players, MP3 and WMA types. It also has products for satellite radio.

Alpine’s Technology
Alpine’s amazing sound is backed by their fundamental approach. This approach combines extensive research, advanced design and close attention to quality parts and materials to give you the best in-car sound.

Alpine’s car audio systems have ultra-sophisticated functions that allow you to perfectly tailor the sound to fit your car interior and the particular music. Not just that, Alpine gives you far greater control and more ease of use than ever before.

Alpine has a strong reputation for offering high quality audio performance, from input to output, and offers you a distinguished acoustic performance and balance. Alpine boasts an extensive range of audio, navigation and multi media products including the much talked about PLAY LOUD ‘Bass Engine’ stereos, V amplifiers and ‘DVD Car Navi’ GPS Navigation systems. Other products include CD, MP3, MD & Cassette Players, CD Changers and Packages.

Alpine Car Audio are famous worldwide for their CD changer range that are, without doubt, the best aftermarket CD changers available anywhere. They are built to last! From the stylish robust casing to the high quality electronic components used inside, they give skip-free, superb quality sound playback from CD, MP3 or, CD-R/RW (copied) discs. Their classic CHM-S630 '6 disc' changer is fully compatible with many factory fitted radios with the aid of a CD interface.

Alpine’s audio systems have evolved with audio video entertainment and now handles more than just audio. They are amazingly compatible with existing systems in the car. Mergers of OEM systems with Alpine’s aftermarket products expand the world of Alpine car audio entertainment even further.

There are cars that come with really high-end audio systems. So, gone are the days when high quality car audio was the exclusive enjoyment of those who chose the aftermarket route.

But, are there not still abundant reasons why an aftermarket car audio system is a better deal anyday? We'll take a look at those...

First, check the price of a car that offers certain very high-end audio as part of the dealer or manufacturer's package. They are often several times the price of a comparable system -- if not superior -- system in the open market. And there's a good reason for it.

When you want to buy a car, you're "ready" to spend bucks in thousands. But, when you go shopping specifically for a car audio unit, you usually think in hundreds (Unless you belong to the car audio elite). The dealer knows this and cashes in.

They tell you what and what has been thrown in. What they don't tell you is what you're throwing out -- your hard-earned cash!

Secondly, the dealer has certain overheads that has to be covered. And what better way than to bundle an overpriced car audio system as part of the deal. Don't take my word for it, compare prices and you'll see the glaring, but often overlooked truth.

If you want the best support for your car audio, a dedicated car audio shop will certainly cater to your needs better than a general car dealer and for simple reasons...

A car is made up of many systems. The car audio system is just one of them -- and by no way the most important to a car manufacturer or dealer. But for a car audio store, all they are involved in is car audio.

So, when training sales staff, they concentrate on car audio. In fact, I know one that has an ipod car integration specialist. When I had questions as regards ipod car integration, I was referred to him. You can imagine the quality of information he could deliver.

Now, I don't mean to pick on car dealers. We all need them. However, if the best in car audio is your thing, then don't expect someone who has myriads of unrelated issues (From pistons to car upholstery) to give you the best advice or service when it comes to car audio.

Buying a car DVD? Here are some things to keep you on track...

Make sure what you're opting for is future-proof. A system that foresees where this technology is heading to is certainly a better protection for your investment. For such systems, you can upgrade without penalty.

Make sure it is compatible with your headunit unless you have other plans like buying another headunit if your DVD cannot fit or if it does not let you take full advantage of your DVD.

Make sure it supports your DVD format. That is, make sure it can play DVD-RW if you need it to play DVD-RW. Some may not. How do you do that. Simple! Take a DVD-RW (or the desired format or formats) and make sure it can play it before you buy it.

Component systems are a lot more expensive and are also of a higher quality. They are also more flexible when it comes to installation. They can be installed in the dash, behind your headrest or in your car's ceilings among many positions.

Make sure you get a good antenna. It will ensure good reception while the vehicle is in motion. Dual antennas are usually better.

And, please, for your safety and others, make sure your DVD player is installed totally out of the driver's view. On the other hand, ensure that certain safety precautions are implemented. A good example is a connection that ensures the DVD player switches off once the ignition is on.

Do you find yourself on the road a lot? Do you go on those long road trips to go camping or visiting faraway relatives with your family? Long trips in your own car can really be boring and troublesome, especially if you travel with your family.

Children, especially young ones, can be really noisy and unruly if they become bored during a long trip. Trips like this can also endanger your family as it can be hard to concentrate on the road if your children are making that awful racket. Why don’t you install a car video system in your vehicle to make your car trips much more enjoyable?

Car video systems come standard on newer vehicles like many other things these days. Anything from GPS to CD changers can be enjoyed right off the bat if you purchase an high-end vehicle. But if you don’t have enough savings to buy a pricey vehicle, it would be cheaper to install it on the car you have right now.

I can understand if you’re hesitant to install car video systems in your car. You might think that it probably will cost a lot. Well It’s not as expensive as you might think. A year ago when I decided to buy a minivan, I also looked into car video systems available. I was thinking that it would really useful on a family oriented vehicle like a minivan. Too my surprise I found out that it only cost an additional two grand to have it installed in my car. Though it may still sound expensive it’s still worth the cost if car video systems help you survive those long and grueling road trips.

You can get a TV screen and DVD player when you invest in car video systems. I had no regrets with my decision to install one in my car. It really made a difference to those long road trips that I have to do ever year. I can now focus on the road without worrying about keeping the kids occupied. No more complains and crying from the backseats. My young ones eyes are focused on the cartoon characters doing whatever they do on the screen. Car video systems have really made long trips a lot more enjoyable for me and my family. We now look forward to more of these trips knowing fully that my family are all at ease inside the car.

Loud car stereos are stereos producing very loud music, usually 140 decibels and above. Though loud car stereos are a rage among the younger generation, these are potentially harmful. Prolonged listening to music over 85 decibels can cause permanent noise-induced hearing loss. Loud music in cars can also make you unaware of your surroundings and lead to serious accidents.

Car stereo sound is enhanced with the help of speakers, subwoofers and amplifiers that are available in a number of popular models. Most of the recognized car stereo companies manufacture and sell loud car stereos of various frequency ranges and intensity parameters. Their advertisements and promotion tactics have resulted in a number of young males opting for loud car stereo systems. Loud car stereos have become something trendy among the present generation of youngsters.

Reputed companies such as Blaupunkt, Sony, and Kenwood manufacture car stereo multi-channel amplifiers. These are designed to raise the car stereo system to new levels of loudness with minimal distortion. These can drive a subwoofer or a simple system at even higher volumes. Loud car stereos can be quite expensive, with some stereos costing up to $8000.

The craze for loud stereos in cars has led to the crude "sport" drag racing, which is gaining popularity. Here the participants compete head-to-head for two or three seconds at a time to establish whose sound system is loudest.

Loudness within prescribed sound limits yields good quality music. Beyond that, the music becomes distorted. When installing devices to boost the stereo sound in your car, it is important to check out the laws regarding loud music in cars in your state. There are many states in the U.S. that have strict regulations regarding loud music in cars. Taking into consideration the danger involved with distracted driving, there are provisions for imposing heavy fines as well.

In-car entertainment, especially an audio system, is one of the most customized components in an automobile. Many aficionados opt to replace their stock in-car audio system to add and improve functionality as well as enhance the sound quality for a superb audio experience inside the vehicle. Today, customizing car stereo systems has become a big business. Most enthusiasts want to build an excellent car audio system regardless of the cost. Customizing car stereos can be a very expensive project, but for those who value good acoustics, it is worth every penny.

When customizing a car audio system, the first component you should purchase is the head unit or the deck. The head unit is the main control center of the entire audio system, which usually includes a tuner, CD player, cassette player or a combination of these. Usually, the replacement head unit will not fit into the space where the existing unit rests, so you may have to buy a universal mounting kit. A universal wiring harness is also necessary to ensure easy installation.

Then you need to determine the kind of speakers you want. There are numerous types of speakers you can choose from, making it a bit difficult to make a decision. Be aware of how many speakers your head unit can handle. Two important things to check when buying speakers are power rating and size. Some owners prefer to put speakers in the trunk space.

Another important device in audio systems is the amplifier, which significantly improves the quality of the high volume sound of your system. The amp comes in a variety of sizes and capacities. Choose your amplifier depending on how much power you want for your sound system. Other accessories you can purchase include MP3 integration adapters, multiple CD changers, and bass boosters.

All these devices are available from audio equipment retailers. How much you spend depends on the brand and the quality of the equipment. When it comes to installation, it is better if you get the assistance of a professional to ensure that your custom car stereo is mounted and wired properly for best performance.

CD Car stereos have now become an indispensable accessory in cars. CD car stereos can play your favorite CDs, and these players are provided with a radio. Some of the CD car stereos are capable of playing MP3s. A CD car stereo system may consist of a stereo, a pair of speakers, satellite radios, subwoofers, amplifiers and navigation units. CD car stereos have many advantages. They allow you to access travel information such as congested areas easily and offer latest news and favorite sporting events.

There are several aspects to consider while buying a CD car stereo. One of the important features one should look for is the power of the stereo. The power output of the stereo is stated in watts, which decides the number of speakers it can run. For example, a car stereo listed as 4 x 52W can produce 52 watts of power and drive four speakers. Another important feature one should look for is a detachable front panel. This is an anti-theft device provided to ensure the security of your CD player. Nowadays, the detachable front panels come in stunning designs.

The main part of a CD Car stereo is the CD player. CD players should be compatible with both CD-R and CD-RW discs. CD changers are also important. They facilitate the user to hear up to 120 discs or more in whatever order they wish to program them or to skip from one track to another, or from one disc to another. The other audio products that you can buy to support your car stereo are in-built radio, speakers and subwoofer.

In-car entertainment has significantly improved over the past few years with various new technologies having been introduced. We definitely have come a long way since the AM radios and cassette players of earlier days. Today, most new vehicles have standard in-car audio equipment that typically includes a radio, tape player and a CD player, and a set of speakers strategically located around the vehicle?s cabin. In-car audio systems are usually the most common vehicle component that are upgraded using an aftermarket item.

If you are looking for a new car stereo and are on a tight budget, you will be pleased to know that there are discount car stereos readily available on the market. Of course, there are some important factors you should consider when shopping for car stereos. You should be aware that car audio equipment is available at a wide range of prices, performance and quality. If you are targeting a discounted car stereo, you can easily find dozens of options, including mass-produced head units and CD players.

A discount price doesn?t necessarily mean a compromise in quality. Look for an affordable car stereo that offers support for new audio technology, such as MP3 players as well as other audio formats. If you are looking for more punch in your sound, you can purchase a discount amplifier or booster. Some of the best features to look for in car stereos include automatic volume control, a generous power amp, a CD changer, subwoofer, and a generally functional head unit or center console with easily accessible buttons and a large display.

Such features may be available in discount car audio systems, so be on the lookout for these when you are shopping. To maximize your time, you can also try shopping online. Car audio equipment suppliers offer a lot of information about their products to help you choose the best one. In addition, some of these online suppliers do offer discounts you should look into.

A car's stereo is the centerpiece of the entire car audio system. In the past few years, many significant advancements in car audio technology have made this segment one of the most exciting. In fact, car audio equipment is the most likely to be replaced or upgraded using an aftermarket unit.

What if you are planning to replace or upgrade your car?s stereo but you are on a tight budget? What are your options? You can either settle for a discount or lower-priced car stereo with fewer features or you can try buying a used car stereo.

A used car stereo has an important advantage over a brand new unit: the lower price. Also, you can get lucky and buy a used, high-end audio system at a much lower price than you would otherwise shell out if you were to buy a brand new system. There are various places where you can shop for used audio systems. Pre-owned car stereos are available in stores that resell used consumer electronics.

Another source you can look into is online trading communities. You can also contact private sellers or individuals you know who are selling their car stereo equipment.

Shopping for a used car stereo can be rewarding and can save you a lot of money. However, there are some very important things to remember if you decide to buy a used car stereo. It is your responsibility as the buyer to make sure that the equipment is in the condition claimed by the seller. Do conduct research on car audio equipment using magazines or online resources so that you are aware of the best products and their features. Try out the equipment before buying. Make sure the used car stereo you choose has a reasonable price. Do not be lured by big names. With some knowledge and a bit of luck, you can find excellent quality used car stereos and save money.

MP3 car stereos play audio CDs, CD-R/RW discs and MP3 files. MP3 car stereos can play long hours of digital music. The key features of these stereos include programmable track memory, digital anti-skip memory, and professional digital stereo headphones. These players allow you to skip, search, play, pause, and repeat. MP3 car stereos are provided with AM/FM tuners that can store a number of FM and AM stations.

The leader of in-car MP3 technology is Kenwood, so a product from this company is a safe buy. Kenwood's KRC-M4524 is a very cost-effective entry-level MP3 player. Blaupunkt and Sony are other well known manufacturers of quality MP3 car stereos. Other brands to choose from are Pioneer, JVC, Alpine, Panasonic, Philips and Sanyo.

MP3 car stereos have high quality audio and require very little space for installation. Today, MP3 car stereos have SD, USB and iPod connections to provide better services.

When buying an MP3 car stereo, there are a few points to bear in mind. The first and foremost feature one should look for is the power of the stereo. Another standard feature is a detachable front panel, which ensures the security of your stereo. Other important elements are the cost and brand. An MP3 car stereo with a high-level output and a fader is ideal. A stereo with a high-level output will allow you to adjust the relative volume of the front and rear speakers. MP3 car stereos with four channels can drive four speakers.

We here at Sticky Pod want to convey our knowledge and experience of which camera makes and models work best with the Sticky Pod when attached to any car, truck, van, boat, motorcycle, airplane, RV, motorhome, trailer or any other vehicle. Some cameras work great and others, by design, will just not work very well. First let's look at cameras mounted to a vehicle.

Cameras Mounted To A Vehicle

Sticky Pod car cameras can be the smallest bullet (lipstick) cameras up to the largest Hollywood film cameras mounted to any vehicle on the planet. However, some cameras clearly perform much better than others. The first thing we want you to realize is the materials that the camera itself is made of. All cameras are made out of plastic with a metal subframe under the plastic to hold everything together. These metal subframes are the key to making a camera work well with a Sticky Pod. The first thing you should look for in any camera, is one that has a metal mounting socket. That's the screw hole that you use to attach the Sticky Pod to your camera. Almost all cameras use them, but some very small cameras do not have room for them, so please be careful what you buy. As you will see when you go out to buy a camera (or in your existing camera), many of them have a plastic mounting socket. These cameras still have a metal subframe, but the manufacturer chose to use the plastic housing to support your camera on a mount. This is the worst type of mount for use with a Sticky Pod. The plastic flexes and you cannot tighten the camera to the Sticky Pod as it will strip the threads inside the camera. Since the plastic on the camera will flex, this produces shaky, unstable video while driving, and is not the fault of the Sticky Pod, but of the camera itself. We do provide you with video instructions on how to use your Sticky Pod and we do provide some examples of what you can do to minimize the shake of a camera with a plastic mounting socket. On the other hand, there are many makes and models of cameras that use metal mounting sockets. These cameras have a mounting socket that is connected directly to the metal subframe of the camera itself. This is an excellent camera to choose for it's strength and stability when mounted to a Sticky Pod. Not only can you get a good tight fit to your Sticky Pod, but these cameras produce far more stable and usable video, photographs or film. So before you buy, be sure to compare cameras and their physical features.

What To Do Next?

If you already have a camera with a plastic mounting socket, you can still use it with a Sticky Pod, but you may find the videos or photographs to be undesirable when using your camera at high speeds on the inside or outside of any vehicle. That's not to say that you should not try or that you cannot use the camera somewhere else. Sometimes the road you're driving on is very smooth and the camera will not bounce or vibrate. Other times, you will use your Sticky Pod in a stationary environment, such as surveillance from a window in your home or office. Remember, the Sticky Pod can stay in place for several days on a window or any other smooth non-porous surface. We also provide a tether for added safety in the event something happens when you're not around, something our competitors don't even offer and they never have. That should tell you something about us. Any way you look at it, the Sticky Pod will hold your camera in more places, for a longer time, than any other camera mount on the market today. The secrets in the suction cups.

If you already have a camera with a metal mounting socket, congratulations, you have a perfect fit for any environment. This type of camera has the strength and durability for many years of use and it works great with any Sticky Pod model.

Selecting Your Car Camera

As you can see from above, the best choice is the one that meets your physical requirements. If you're never going to use a Sticky Pod in or on a car while driving, then any camera with any style of mounting socket will work. However, it's not always easy to predict the future, so we highly recommend you select a camera with a metal mounting socket. Other factors to consider relate to the environment you will be placing your camera into. For example, if you plan on capturing videos or pictures from the outside of your vehicle while racing, a very good idea, then we recommend a camera that has the following physical features:

Metal mounting socket

Small and lightweight (many cameras today can weigh less than 1 pound)

Small battery (not the extended run batteries)

Lens filter (ability to attach a lens filter to help protect the camera lens)

You should then look for the following electronic features:

Digital or electronic image stabilization (more on this below)

MiniDV video tape format (all MiniDV produce DVD quality video)

i.Link or IEEE 1394 Firewire Port (to transfer the videos or pictures to your computer)

You should avoid buying digital video cameras with hard drives or DVD recording because of their inability to record in such a hostile environment. Every time you hit a bump, the camera will likely stop recording because of the jarring motion. It's a feature that's built into the camera to protect the hard drive or DVD write head.

The short list above encompasses a vast majority of cameras on the market today. Any local store will have several choices for you to choose from. Just be sure to get a look at the bottom of the camera before you buy. Do NOT trust what the store associate tells you about your new camera. You should verify it's physical and electronic features for yourself by taking a new one out of the box and review it right there in the store.

If racing is not your style, but catching your neighbor, dead beat ex-husband (wife) or stupid criminals red handed, then the Sticky Pod is the best choice for your surveillance cameras. Let's face it, the Sticky Pod doesn't just give you a place to mount your camera, it holds your camera rock steady for crystal clear digital videos and photographs from any distance and in any lighting condition. If you happen to get caught in the act during a stake out in your car, you can take off with tires burning and never worry about your camera for even a moment. Now when it comes to surveillance, there are some great camera choices on the market today. Unlike the racing conditions above, you can use the hard drive and DVD recording cameras with excellent results. Some of these cameras can record DVD quality videos for up to 37 hours! We want you to recognize that this is a huge amount of power in your hands. The best part is, the Sticky Pod can endure for much longer than 37 hours. We have had Sticky Pods mounted to flat or curved glass for more than a week at a time. They are that good! Here are the physical features we recommend for surveillance:

Metal mounting socket (you never know when you might have to speed off, but it's not necessary)

Large camera with a high optical zoom (be sure it's an optical zoom and not a digital zoom)

Large battery or AC/DC adapter (so you can plug it in for extended record times)

You should then look for the following electronic features:

Optical, digital or electronic image stabilization (many times this is not needed, but it's nice to have)

Hard drive or DVD recording format (hard drives can record up to 37 hours!)

i.Link or IEEE 1394 Firewire Port (to transfer the videos or pictures to your computer)

Low light digital video recording (consider night vision since most crimes happen at night)

Interval recording (creates time lapse video over many hours)

In this case, you want to buy cameras with a hard drive or DVD for recording. That doesn't mean that a video tape is bad, you just want to be sure the surveillance camera fits into the scenario you're recording. For example, if you want to record your car overnight from a window in your home, then a video tape that only lasts an hour will not do you any good. However, a camera that uses video tape and has interval recording capabilities will work very well for just such a scenario. The best solution for your surveillance needs always includes a good high resolution result. After all, if the police or judge cannot see the perps face, then the video is worthless. That's why it's important to have a good optical zoom on the camera you buy. Try to zoom in on the area or person you want to catch so you can clearly make out their face in the video or pictures. This also makes for a good reason to buy a camera with night vision capabilities. Once you have the criminal on video, then you can take action by contacting the police or local law enforcement and they will have all the proof they need to bring charges. If the person committed a crime, such as urinating in public, you will not have to press any charges. Just give the police the tape and they will take it from there. Since it's a crime against the community, your job is all done after you tell them who it is and turn over the tape.

Distinguishing Camera Features

What's the difference between optical zoom and digial zoom?

Optical zoom allows the camera to capture zoom images without a loss of picture quality. Digital zoom degrades the quality of the picture the more you zoom in on the subject. It will get to the point where you cannot even see the subject. That's why digital zoom is a worthless feature on all cameras and optical zoom is what you want to focus on (excuse the pun). In night time situations, the optical zoom is the only way to capture crystal clear images from a distance. The optical zoom also works very well with the night vision.

Why is digital or electronic image stabilization better than optical for racing?

Optical image stabilization uses two lenses to stabilize a given scene you have in your viewfinder. There's a second lens behind the one you can see on the outside of the camera that moves in the opposite direction of the cameras movement. This helps maintain a clear image of the scene in your viewfinder. The problem is, the stabilizing lens floats inside the camera and cannot handle the bumps and jarring from racing or just normal driving. The digital or electronic image stabilization does degrade the picture quality, but it's so slight that it's impossible for the naked eye to see.

Why do I need an i.Link or IEEE 1394 Firewire Port (always referred to as a firewire port)?

These are all one in the same, they are just referred to by either term. Just look for either one on the camera's features. The reason you want a firewire port is because of it's ability to transfer large amounts of video in a short amount of time. Just a few minutes of video tape will take up many gigabytes of hard drive space and transferring all that video to your computer can take a long time. The firewire port can transfer up to 400 megabytes of video per second. That's faster than the tape itself can run. That's a good thing. Also be sure your computer has a firewire port to accept the video from your camera.

Which Camera Brands Make Good Sticky Pod Car Cameras?

When you're ready to buy a camera, remember your operating environment. Ask yourself a handful of questions such as; Will I be using my Sticky Pod camera for surveillance? Will I be racing my Sticky Pod car camera? Will I be driving around town stopping road rage or making an independent film? Here are some camera brands we have worked with during our video productions:

Sony PD-150 and PD-170

Sony F900

Sony HVR-Z1U

Canon XL-2

Canon Optura 50

Panasonic DVX-100B

Panasonic HVX-200

Panasonic PV-DV401

Panasonic PD-DV203

So which ones worked well and which ones failed. A failure in this case is unusable video. Our operating environment is that of mounting the camera to the outside of a vehicle and driving up to highway speeds. The optical image stabilized cameras by Canon did not perform well. If we had to give a rating, 10 being the best, we would give the Canon Optura 50 a rating of 3, and the Canon XL-2 would rate a 6. The Sony cameras listed above are also optical image stabilized and performed the best of all the cameras listed. We would rate the Sony HVR-Z1U a 7, the PD-150 and PD-170 an 8, with the Sony F900 getting a 9 out of 10! The Panasonic HVX-200 is also an OIS (Optical Image Stabilized), however we would rate it a 7 out of 10.

Sony appears to have a better grip on optical image stabilization (OIS), but all the camera manufacturers are getting better at producing cameras that handle tough environments. Don't shy away from any of them, just use them in a manner that will produce stable usable video for your video productions. All cameras have their limitations, with a minimal amount of practice, you'll be a pro in no time.

The remaining cameras in the list above all have Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS), and provide a great picture under all operating environments. We would rate them an 8 out of 10 for the smaller cameras and a 9 out of 10 for the Panasonic DVX-100B.

Car Camera Summary

The first thing to consider when buying your car camera is what you want to do with it. Of course, we want you to buy a Sticky Pod with it and we hope this page helps you discover what works best for you. We're asking you to buy the Sticky Pod model that fits your scenario. So who buys Sticky Pods anyway? To see the customers and testimonials, be sure to visit our customers page.

The following is a list of Sticky Pod owners:

Independent Film Makers

Video Production Companies (mostly for the car, truck and corporate commercials you see on TV)

Research Organizations

Corporate Video Trainers

SCCA Racers

Drifting Racers

Police Officers

Private Investigators

Insurance Fraud Investigators

Scorned Women

People tired of road rage (they stick it on their trunk and point backwards)

Amateur Video Hobbyists

People taking vacations in their favorite car, truck, van, boat, RV, motorhome or trailer

Students taking video courses in school

Kids that make videos instead of playing video games

Bird watchers (nature watching)

Helicopter pilots

Airplane pilots

Military combat photographers (let the Sticky Pod get the shot in a fire fight)

Military battle commanders (Sticky Pod's are all metal and bullet proof, better they get shot than you)

Law firms (recreate accident scenes and verify drive times on camera)

The list goes on and on, and we find out more and more every day about our customers. We always encourage you to tell us about yourself and your adventures. Just send us some pictures of your Sticky Pod in the manner you use it and we will create a link back to your website and post your comments. Of course, Sticky Pod owners get to use our video gallery to upload videos and pictures.