Front-and-rear covers most drivers. But if you tour remote tracks, run a work vehicle, drive rideshare or tow a big rig, two cameras leave gaps — the sides of the vehicle, the cabin, and a true view out the back. That's where a multi-channel dash cam system comes in. With the Thinkware Multiplexer, you can turn a single compatible Thinkware dash cam into a 3, 4 or even 5-channel recording setup, capturing every angle around your vehicle on one camera and one memory card.
This guide explains exactly how it works, which Thinkware cameras it fits, the add-on cameras you can run, and the real-world builds we'd recommend for touring, fleet, rideshare and heavy vehicles here in Australia.
What is a multi-channel dash cam system?
A standard dash cam is one channel (front). Add a rear camera and you have two channels. A multi-channel system goes further — adding side cameras, an interior cabin camera and an external rear camera so you record a full picture of what's happening around and inside the vehicle.
The Thinkware Multiplexer (model MULTMOD) is the small box that makes it possible. It connects to your dash cam's rear input and provides four extra camera ports (CAM 1 to CAM 4). Your dash cam is always Channel 1, and the multiplexer merges everything into a single Full HD split-screen file that saves to your existing microSD card, using your normal driving and parking-mode settings.
Which Thinkware dash cams work with the multiplexer?
This is the most important thing to get right. The multiplexer is an analogue system, so it works with Thinkware's cameras that use an analogue rear input. From our range, that's four cameras:
- Thinkware U1000 Plus — 4K front with the full Thinkware cloud suite (see price)
- Thinkware Q200 — compact 2K front-and-rear (see price)
- Thinkware F790 — the fleet-grade Full HD workhorse (see price)
- Thinkware T700 — built-in 4G LTE for always-connected fleets (see price)
It does not work with the U3000, U3000 Pro or Q1000. Those newer flagships use a different digital rear-camera system, so they can't run the multiplexer. If you want a multi-camera build, start with one of the four cameras above.
How 3, 4 and 5-channel setups work
Because your dash cam counts as the first channel, you choose how many extra cameras to add:
- 3-channel — front camera + 2 add-on cameras
- 4-channel — front camera + 3 add-on cameras
- 5-channel — front camera + 4 add-on cameras (the maximum)
A typical 5-channel touring or fleet build is: front camera, two exterior side cameras, one exterior rear camera and one interior cabin camera. Every angle is recorded together and time-synced, so if something happens you have the full picture in one file. A piano-code switch on the base of the multiplexer sets how those channels are laid out on screen.
Watch how it installs
Here's the official Thinkware walkthrough covering the hardwiring, camera connections, the channel switch and cable routing. It's a proper hardwired install that taps into your fuse box for parking-mode power, so we strongly recommend having it fitted professionally:
The add-on cameras explained
You mix and match the following cameras depending on the coverage you need. All of them record Full HD 1080p and connect through the multiplexer.
Interior cabin camera — MULTIR
The Thinkware MULTIR (see price) is a wide 160° cabin camera with built-in infrared LEDs, so it records the driver and passengers in colour by day and clear black-and-white at night. It's the essential channel for rideshare, taxi and fleet drivers who need accountability inside the vehicle.
Exterior side camera — MULTSC
The Thinkware MULTSC (see price) is an IP68 waterproof camera that mounts on the side of the vehicle to cover the blind spots front-and-rear cameras miss. It's configurable for left or right, so you can run one on each side of a wide 4WD, truck or van for complete coverage.
External rear camera — MULTEC5 and MULTEC20
The MULTEC5 (see price) is an IP68 waterproof rear camera with a 7m total cable reach — ideal for cars, utes, 4WDs and shorter vans that need a true rear view mounted outside on a tailgate, bar or canopy. For longer vehicles, the MULTEC20 (see price) is the same camera with a 20m lead to reach the back of trucks, buses, motorhomes, caravans and trailers.
Interior rear-window camera — F2PT7RA
The F2PT7RA (see price) mounts inside on the rear glass and films through the back window — the simplest, tidiest way to add a rear view when your vehicle has a clear, untinted rear window.
Internal or external rear camera: which should you choose?
The multiplexer gives you two ways to record the rear, and the right one depends on your vehicle. An internal rear-window camera like the F2PT7RA mounts inside on the back glass — quick to fit, protected from the weather and hidden from thieves. It's the best choice for sedans, hatchbacks and SUVs with a clear, untinted rear window.
An external rear camera like the MULTEC5 or MULTEC20 mounts outside on the tailgate, bar or canopy. It's the answer when the rear window is heavily tinted, blocked by a loaded boot, canopy or cargo barrier, or simply not there — think utes, vans, 4WDs with a wheel carrier, trucks and caravans. Being IP68 waterproof, it's built to live outside through mud, dust and rain. For long vehicles, choose the MULTEC20's 20m lead over the MULTEC5's shorter run.
Example builds for Australian drivers
4WD and touring (5-channel)
Front camera + two MULTSC side cameras + one MULTEC5 external rear + one MULTIR cabin camera. You cover the sides for tight tracks and campsites, a weatherproof rear view for the tailgate or spare-wheel carrier, and the cabin. Pair it with the U1000 Plus for 4K up front and cloud features.
Rideshare and taxi (3-channel)
Front camera + rear-window camera + MULTIR cabin camera. Front, rear and interior — everything a rideshare or taxi driver needs for passenger disputes and incidents. The Q200 or F790 are cost-effective bases here.
Trucks, buses and caravans (4–5 channel)
Front camera + two side cameras + one MULTEC20 external rear with its long 20m lead. Ideal for long rigid vehicles and towing rigs where the rear camera has to reach a long way back. The T700 adds built-in 4G so a fleet manager can stay connected.
Vans and work vehicles (4-channel)
Front camera + two side cameras + one external rear camera. Covers the flanks and rear doors of a busy trade or delivery van, protecting against door dings, side-swipes and reversing claims.
What you need to install it
Two things beyond the cameras themselves. First, the multiplexer must be hardwired — it needs a Thinkware hardwiring cable to power the whole system for both driving and parking mode. Second, because you're running multiple cameras onto one card, we'd recommend a larger, high-endurance microSD card rated for continuous recording. Some cameras also use a small model-specific adaptor (a U1000 Plus adaptor is included in the multiplexer box). If you're not sure exactly what your vehicle and camera need, ask our team and we'll spec the full build for you.
Frequently asked questions
Does adding more cameras reduce the video quality?
Each channel records at Full HD 1080p, and the multiplexer combines them into one split-screen file — so more cameras share the frame. It's designed for coverage and evidence across many angles rather than maximum detail on any single one, which is exactly what touring, fleet and rideshare drivers need.
Can I use my existing Thinkware camera?
If it's a U1000 Plus, Q200, F790 or T700, yes. If it's a U3000, U3000 Pro or Q1000, no — those use a different rear-camera system and aren't compatible with the multiplexer.
Do all the cameras record in parking mode?
Yes. Once hardwired, the whole multi-channel system follows your dash cam's normal driving and parking-mode settings, all saved to the one microSD card.
Should I fit it myself?
Because it's a hardwired install that connects to your fuse box and routes cables through the vehicle, we recommend professional installation for a clean, reliable result. It's not a plug-and-play accessory.
Ready to build your system?
Start with the Thinkware Multiplexer, add the cameras that suit your vehicle, and pair them with a compatible Thinkware dash cam. Not sure where to begin? Talk to our team and we'll match the right 3, 4 or 5-channel build to how you drive.