Glossary
Glossary
A quick reference for the terms you'll come across throughout our website, from plugs and connectors to camera, audio and 4WD specs.
Aviation Plug
A round, 4 pin connector with a screw thread that locks the two ends together. This is a very common connector used by brands such as Safety Dave and Sphere, and generic camera brands.
DIN Plug
A round, multi pin connector named after the German industry body that defined the standard. This is the connector Polaris uses, built to our own pin configuration, so not every DIN plug on the market will match ours.
RCA Plug
The common red, white and yellow plug and socket connectors used to carry analog audio and video signals, with a single yellow plug used for video only. Polaris products don't use RCA plugs directly, but we do stock adaptors that convert an aviation or DIN plug into a single yellow RCA carrying the video signal.
4 Pin BMW Style Connector
A compact, round 4 pin connector used in backup cameras, dash cams and commercial safety systems, combining power, ground and video into a single cable to keep wiring simple. Adaptors using this connector often include a built in voltage reducer to supply a regulated 5V feed, protecting the camera sensor from heat damage and power spikes.
Female
When you see "female" next to a plug type, it refers to whether the plug has pins or not. Female connectors have holes and no pins.
Male
When you see "male" next to a plug type, it refers to whether the plug has pins or not. Male connectors have pins inside the plug.
Fakra
A small, colour coded antenna connector commonly used on external GPS antennas.
SMA
A screw on antenna connector commonly used for GPS and 4G or mobile antennas.
Video & Camera Terms
AHD (Analog High Definition)
A video format that carries a sharp, high definition picture over a standard analog cable. Used by most of our reverse and caravan cameras.
CVBS (Composite Video)
An older, standard definition analog video format. Many of our cameras are AHD/CVBS switchable so they work with both newer and older head units and monitors.
NTSC / PAL
Two different video frame rate standards (NTSC runs at 30 frames per second, PAL at 25). Our cameras are set to NTSC as most factory head units only accept NTSC format.
Lens Angle (Field of View)
How wide an area the camera can see, measured in degrees. A wider angle, such as 170°, shows more of the scene but with slightly more distortion at the edges.
CMOS
The type of image sensor chip inside a camera that captures the picture.
DSP (Digital Signal Processor)
The chip inside a camera that processes the raw image sensor data into a usable video signal.
WDR (Wide Dynamic Range)
A camera feature that balances very bright and very dark areas in the same shot, such as driving toward the sun, so detail isn't lost.
Minimum Illumination / Lux
A measurement of how little light a camera needs to still produce a usable image. Lower Lux numbers mean better low light and night performance.
IP Rating (Ingress Protection)
A two number code, such as IP68 or IP69K, rating how well a device resists dust and water. Higher numbers mean better protection, with IP69K rated for high pressure water jets.
Shock Rating (G-rating)
How much vibration or physical impact a camera or component can withstand before failing. Relevant for off road and 4WD use.
Resolution
The sharpness of a screen or camera, expressed as pixel dimensions such as 1920x1080. Higher numbers mean a clearer picture.
Audio Terms
MOSFET
A type of transistor used inside car amplifiers, often mentioned as part of describing amplifier build quality.
Class AB (Amplifier)
An amplifier design that balances sound quality and power efficiency. The most common type used in car audio head units.
D/A Converter (DAC)
The component that converts a digital audio signal into the analog signal your speakers actually play.
Crossover / LPF / HPF (Low-Pass / High-Pass Filter)
Settings that split audio into frequency ranges so, for example, only bass reaches a subwoofer and only higher frequencies reach smaller speakers.
THD (Total Harmonic Distortion)
A measurement of how clean an audio signal is. Lower THD means less unwanted distortion.
Crosstalk / Channel Separation
A measurement of how much audio bleeds between the left and right channels. Higher separation means a clearer, more distinct stereo sound.
Noise Floor
The background electrical hiss level of a system when no audio is playing. Lower is better.
Frequency Response
The range of audio pitches, from deep bass to high treble, a device can reproduce.
Voltage Gain
How much an amplifier boosts the strength of an audio signal.
A2DP (Bluetooth Audio Streaming)
The Bluetooth profile that allows stereo music to stream wirelessly from a phone to the head unit.
RDS (Radio Data System)
A feature that displays station names and info as text on an FM radio display.
Connectors & Wiring Terms
CANbus (Controller Area Network)
The internal communication network your vehicle's computer systems use to talk to each other. A CANbus module allows an aftermarket accessory, like a head unit, to safely communicate with the vehicle's factory electronics such as steering wheel controls, 360 degree camera and more.
ISO Harness
A standardised wiring plug that lets a head unit connect directly into a vehicle's factory wiring loom without cutting wires.
SWC (Steering Wheel Control) Interface
A module that lets the buttons on your steering wheel control the new head unit, just as they did with the factory unit.
Trigger Wire
A wire that signals a device to switch on automatically. A head unit's trigger wire, for example, activates it the moment the vehicle is put into reverse.
Chrome Socket / WOZA Kit
Our brand's caravan and trailer quick connect plug and socket system, used to link a tow vehicle's camera system to a caravan camera.
Patch Harness / Patch Lead
A cable that patches, or connects, an aftermarket accessory into a factory wiring point without needing to cut or splice wires.
Wi-Fi & Electronics Terms
Dual Band Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi that can operate on two different frequencies, 2.4GHz and 5GHz, for better range or speed depending on conditions.
WPA / WPA2 / WPS
Different security and encryption standards that protect a Wi-Fi network from unauthorised access.
GPS L1 Frequency
The specific radio frequency band that GPS satellites broadcast on, used by the device's GPS receiver to determine location.
PCB (Printed Circuit Board)
The board that all of a device's electronic components are mounted on. More layers generally means a more robust, higher quality build.
OSD (On-Screen Display)
The menu and settings interface shown on a screen.
Anti-Shock (Mechanical & Electronic)
Design features that protect a device's components from vibration and physical knocks, both physically and through the circuitry.
Load Dump Protection
Protects electronics from sudden voltage spikes that can occur in a vehicle's electrical system, such as from the alternator.
DC Offset Detection / Clipping Detection
Safety features that automatically detect wiring faults or an overdriven, distorted audio signal and protect the equipment.
Dash Cam Terms
G-Sensor
A sensor that detects sudden impacts, like a collision, and automatically locks that footage so it isn't overwritten.
Loop Recording
Continuous recording where the oldest footage is automatically overwritten by new footage once storage is full.
Sentry Mode / Parking Mode
A dash cam feature that continues monitoring and recording while the vehicle is parked and the engine is off.
Camping & 12V Appliance Terms
Refrigerant (e.g. R290, R600a)
The gas used inside a compressor cooled fridge, ice maker, or slushie machine to produce genuine refrigeration, colder and more reliable than thermoelectric cooling.
Compressor Cooling
A true refrigeration method, the same technology used in home fridges, as opposed to less effective thermoelectric cooling.
mAh (Milliamp Hours)
The unit used to measure battery capacity. A higher number means the battery can power devices for longer before needing a recharge.
USB-C PD (Power Delivery)
A fast charging standard used over USB-C cables.
Barometer
A sensor that measures air pressure, used in devices like the 4x4 Multi-Gauge to estimate altitude.
Pitch & Roll
Measurements of how far a vehicle is tilted forward or backward (pitch) or side to side (roll), shown on off road gauge displays.
