The rear-view camera (aka backup camera) has only worked once or twice since we bought the trailer, and never while traveling. According to the dealership either the OneConnect or the Lippert app (they weren't sure which) will connect to the camera and we can use the phone as a monitor. Someone mentioned recently that maybe we should have purchased the GD router the dealership was selling. True?
The trailer will be out of warranty at the end of January, so we're planning a trip back to the dealership to have them take care of a few things. There is only one warranty item that is actually going to be worth the trip (four hours each way). Other than that item everything else I can either do myself or have the local mobile mechanic do for a lot less than what the trip would cost.
The camera, though, is a question. If it can't work without that router, I can buy a better camera system for a few hundred dollars. I suspect that what the dealership would install will be at least that much, and I still have the Furrion camera that will tie up a phone while traveling.
Soooo, this was a huge thorn in my side. And I LOVE how you say that the dealer didn't even know which app controlled the camera. I got really angry with the dealer that I'd just paid a huge sum of money to for what is my HOME, who did not know how the back up camera worked. One person said there is a blue light that comes on, but the camera installed on my rig had no blue light. Every person at the dealer who came out had a different take on how to make it work and they were all wrong. The service manager climbed up on a ladder, unscrewed it and checked the wiring. They even replaced the camera. Still could not make it work. I left the dealer without the camera working. Not one person at the dealer knew how to make it work. Pathetic.
I did finally manage to get it to work, but it is a huge pain. You have to install the One Control app, open it and scan the scan code on the camera, which you need an 8 foot ladder to do. Then after going thru a bunch of other steps to set it up, now you have to use it.
First hitch it to your truck and plug it in. Start the truck and turn on the lights. The camera is powered by the running lights on the trailer. Now open your phone and turn on the app, then log out of any wifi you are logged on to, then log your phone onto the wifi signal coming directly from the camera. Then you try to back up, and you get an error saying that as a safety precaution this feature doesn't work while the vehicle is in motion and to prove it is not in motion you have to go into the trailer and turn on the overhead lights using the soft switch in the control panel. The camera signal will return to your phone app. Now get back in your truck and back up. You think I'm kidding? Try it!
I complained to Grand Design and made a big enough stink that they sent me a replacement camera with a 7" monitor for my truck. Bad news was they lied when they said they'd send it to me, they sent it to the dealer. I was going to have to go in just to have that installed. So I raised a bigger stink and they shipped it to me. I installed it myself.
Now the camera transmits directly to the monitor. I have completely given up on the app for the rear view camera. I have a cell phone holder mounted to my dash from Bullet Point and have the monitor clipped into one of the arms. I have a 12v outlet on the top of my dash so I just plug it in up top, no cord hanging down. Any time I want to see what is behind me I just turn on my lights. It makes backing the trailer so much easier, and I like being able to see behind me when driving.
Oh, and to answer your other question, no, you don't need the GD router. I have a WifiRaner Osprey which is a Winegard product. But the camera does NOT connect to the router. It connects directly to the app or video display.