560
USER MANUAL
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Getting Started . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
On Screen Displays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Ice Fishing Application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Open Water Applications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Battery Charging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Directional Viewing Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Product Performance Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Warranty. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Service Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
The 5.5 inch black and white CRT monitor has excellent resolution
allowing viewing with great clarity and detail. Controls for adjusting
vertical hold, contrast, and brightness are located at the rear of the
monitor behind the rubber plug. Adjustments can be made by
removing the plug and rotating the knob either clockwise or
counter clockwise to obtain the desired picture. The rubber plug
should remain in place in the recessed area at all times to prevent
moisture from entering the monitor housing.
INTRODUCTION
Thank you for purchasing the VS560 underwater viewing system
from MarCum Technologies.
Welcome to the world of underwater viewing. MarCum Technologies
has incorporated the latest technology in producing the most
compact and technologically advanced underwater viewing system
available. Hunt for underwater treasure or locate the “spot on the
spot” for great fishing.
The VS560 has a video-out jack located at the rear of the housing
under the rubber plug in the same recessed area as the monitor
adjustment controls. The video-out jack can be utilized by purchasing
a cable of desired length with male RCA jacks from a local retailer
of video or audio equipment. The cable can be plugged into either
a larger monitor or TV for a larger viewing image or can be used to
record onto a VCR or camcorder. To record onto a camcorder you
must have a camcorder with a video-in port.
There are hundreds of uses for your new VS560 underwater viewing
system. This feature laiden viewing system is the most user friendly
system available that is as easy to use in open water as it is on the
ice. Now you’ll actually be able to see what’s below the surface of
your favorite lake. Have fun and good viewing!
FEATURES
The underwater camera comes with an additional weight that
attaches to the bottom of the camera housing for open water use. A
down viewing strap is also included that attaches to the bottom of the
camera that allows the camera to be tilted for viewing from above.
The VS560 underwater viewing system utilizes on screen displays
that demonstrate the relative viewing direction, depth, temperature,
auto pan speeds, percentage of battery charge remaining & a low
battery warning icon. See the appropriate section of this manual for
specific information regarding the on screen displays.
A high quality padded soft-pack carrying case incorporates a built in
collapsible viewing shroud to enhance viewing in bright light
conditions. The front of the soft-pack can be opened to allow for view-
ing when not exposed to harsh light (i.e. when viewing in an enclosed
ice house). The versatile soft-pack system provides protection from
the elements as well as allows for the easy storage of all camera
accessories. A draw string pouch on the back of the soft-pack holds
the camera cable. A detachable camera pouch that houses the
underwater camera is located at the right rear corner of the soft-pack.
Two additional pouches with elastic bands are included for additional
accessory storage.
The VS560 offers a break through in underwater lighting utilizing
Dark Water Technology. This new lighting system greatly reduces the
particulate reflection seen in low light conditions with conventional
lighting systems. By greatly reducing the snowstorm effect, clarity
and viewing distance are enhanced. The use of visible LED light
incorporating Dark Water Technology creates the best viewing
opportunity when natural ambient light is not available.
The VS560 is available with a choice of either 60 or 120 feet of
Kevilar reinforced underwater camera cable. Your VS560 system
comes with a detachable camera that plugs and unplugs at the rear
of the monitor. A handy cable reel for convenient cable storage is
provided with the system.
The battery included with the system is a 12 volt, 7amp hour sealed
lead acid electrolyte battery that will provide approximately 8.5 hours
of viewing time when fully charged. Viewing time will vary depending
on the condition of the battery as well as the illumination mode used
(e.g. 9.0 hours without the lighting system and 8.0 hours when the
LED lighting is being used). A 500 mA DC wall charger is supplied
to recharge the battery to full capacity. Recharging the battery to full
capacity after every use is recommended. For further battery charg-
ing information, see the “Battery Charging” section of this manual.
The VS560 includes another break through from MarCum
Technologies. The VS560 incorporates a motor located within the
underwater camera housing that rotates the camera for a 360 degree
view. This innovative viewing feature can be controlled from the
monitor keypad or from a handy wireless remote.
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into the water to the desired depth and secure the cable in the cable
cleat mounted at the left rear corner of the monitor soft-pack. As with
all CRT displays, bright light can washout the display making viewing
difficult. If this occurs, rotate the system so that the light source is
not directly on the monitor screen. In extreme bright light conditions
it may be necessary to use the viewing shroud to shield the monitor
from the light source. To use the viewing shroud, remove the
protective cap from the face of the shroud located on the front of the
padded soft-pack. Grab the face of the view shroud and pull towards
you until all three collapsible parts are fully extended. The shroud is
not fully extended until you hear the telltale click of each part as it
locks into place. This clicking locks the shroud into position so it won’t
collapse on its own. To collapse the shroud to its original position,
push on the face of the shroud until all three parts collapse inside
each other and then the replace the protective cover.
GETTING STARTED
Remove your VS560 monitor from the soft-pack by first opening the
front of the case. This is accomplished by pulling the flap at the top
and sides of the soft-pack until the Velcro strips separate. Reach into
the soft-pack on top of the monitor and grab the molded inset handle
about halfway back. Pull the monitor forward tilting the top towards
you until it comes out of the soft-pack case. Place the monitor on a
flat surface and open the battery compartment door located on the
front lower section of the monitor case. This is done by gently apply-
ing downward pressure on the grooved finger inset at the top of the
battery door and pulling forward. Connect the battery leads to the
battery terminals (red lead (with fuse) to battery positive and black
lead to battery negative). Replace battery door and place monitor
back into padded soft-pack case. Close front of case by re-attaching
Velcro strips.
The depth of field (distance the camera can see underwater) depends
on the clarity of the water and available light at the depth the camera
is used. In extremely clear water the depth of field can be several feet
and in cloudy or muddy water the depth of view can be reduced to
only a few inches due to particles suspended in the water.
Then turn the soft-pack to the backside and remove the cable reel
from the back pouch. Reach into the lower left corner of the rear
pouch and undo the Velcro door. This allows access to the plug-in
port for the camera. Plug the camera cable into the upper plug-in
port. Take notice that the plug-in is not round but has a flat side. This
is designed to assist in lining up the pins with the sockets in the plug
and help eliminate the bending of connector pins. Do NOT force the
plug into the receptacle, you may have it mis-aligned. There will be
some resistance when plugging in the camera due to the molded
seal rings located on the plug, however, if lined up properly, this
should go together quite easily. The plug-in port marked ACC is a
dead port and will not operate the camera. You should not attempt to
plug the camera into this location.
ON SCREEN DISPLAYS
The VS560 utilizes a series of ON SCREEN icons to indicate user
options and system information.
Lighting Options - The VS560 utilizes visible LED light and incorpo-
rates Darkwater Technology to create improved clarity and viewing
distance. The VS560 lights can be turned on by depressing the
LIGHT key at the monitor or on the wireless remote. Depressing the
key a second time will turn the lights OFF.
Once that camera is plugged into the monitor, you can replace the
camera cable into the rear storage pouch and pull the drawstring for
a snug fit. Place the camera into the camera pouch and zip shut for
safe storage. You are now ready to head to the lake. Once you reach
your destination, remove the cable reel from the rear storage pouch
and remove the required length of cable. Open the front of the soft-
pack so that the monitor and keypad are fully exposed. Turn the
camera power on by depressing the ON button on the keypad.
The system will power up and the monitor screen will display “OVS
SYSTEM START-UP.” The camera will rotate on start up and the
lights will blink three times signifying the system is ready. Once the
start-up message clears from the screen the monitor will display the
picture that’s being transmitted by the camera. Lower the camera
Battery Status - The condition of charge remaining in your battery can
be monitored by depressing the BATT key located on the keypad.
The percentage of charge remaining will appear in the upper right
hand corner of the monitor and remain on the screen for a three
second interval.
Low Battery Warning - When the battery charge remaining falls below
10 percent, a low battery warning icon will flash in the upper right
corner of the monitor. The low battery icon will remain on the screen
and continue to flash until the system eventually shuts down. If the
battery charge remaining gets too low, the picture will get fuzzy or
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blurred before it completely shuts down. It’s recommended that the
battery be charged after every use and not remain in a discharged
state too long before recharging.
ICE FISHING APPLICATION
The VS560 is the perfect tool to enhance your ice fishing
experience. The VS560 offers 360 degree underwater viewing that
can be controlled from the monitor keypad or from a wireless remote.
The system needs to be calibrated for an accurate depth reading by
turning the unit on before the camera is lowered into the water. The
unit must go through its start up procedure which ends with the LED
lighting system blinking three times. After the system has completed
its start up sequence the unit is calibrated and the camera can be
lowered into the water. The soft-pack has a cable cleat located at the
left rear corner for setting camera depth. Lower the camera to the
desired depth and then place the cable into the slot in the cable cleat
and pull the cable until it locks into the bottom of the slot. You can
now raise and lower the camera depth without getting up or leaving
your ice house. Simply let out or retract the cable to set the desired
depth and then secure the cable in the cable cleat. The system also
includes a down viewing strap that screws into the bottom of the
camera. The cable can than be looped and placed into the slot and
pulled until the cable locks into place. By adjusting the size of the
loop in the cable (between the top of the camera and the cable slot)
you can change the angle of down view.
Viewing Direction - A viewing direction indicator will appear on screen
in the upper left hand corner of the monitor when the system first
fires up. The indicator will remain on screen indefinitely until the DIR
key is depressed on the keypad to remove it. To put the icon back up
on the screen, simply depress the DIR key on the keypad. The direc-
tion indicator has an arrow that points in the direction the camera is
viewing regardless of the monitor position. The direction indicator is
a relative system that has eight areas of relevancy. Each hash mark
comprising the directional indicator system represents an area of
viewing relevancy. The accuracy of this system is dependent on the
monitor being on a level surface. If the monitor is tilted more the ten
degrees the accuracy of the viewing indicator will not be accurate.
The relative viewing direction is accurate to a plus/minus 20 degrees.
Temperature - To activate the temperature feature depress the
DEPTH/TEMP key on the monitor keypad. The temperature of the
water at the camera depth will appear in the upper right hand cor-
ner of the monitor screen. Depress the DEPTH/TEMP key again to
remove the temperature display.
A suggestion on how best to utilize your viewing system while ice
fishing. Drill two holes 3 to 4 feet apart. Lower your bait into one hole
while placing the camera in the other hole pointing in the direction of
your fishing lure. Set the depth and angle of viewing so that your lure
appears in the middle of the viewing screen. Good Fish’n!
Depth - To display the depth of the camera, depress the DEPTH/
TEMP key on the monitor keypad. The depth of the camera will be
displayed in the upper right hand corner of the monitor screen. To
obtain an accurate reading, you must first calibrate the unit by turn-
ing the unit on while the camera is out of the water. Once the system
rotates and the LED’s finish blinking, the system is calibrated and
ready to go. This process needs to be repeated every time you use
the system. If you lower the camera into the water and then turn the
system on, the reading you receive will not be accurate.
OPEN WATER APPLICATION
A weight that attaches to the bottom of the camera has been
included with your system for use in open water. When using the
system from a boat or in water with current, it is recommended that
the weight be attached to help stabilize and keep the camera at the
selected depth. The camera should be used at slow speeds while
under propulsion from a trolling motor or outboard motor. Two
stainless bolts are provided to attach the weight to the bottom of the
camera. When using the additional weight, be careful to keep the
camera out of heavy weeds, brush, or large rocks. If the camera
becomes hung up, back up from the direction you were traveling and
slowly try to back the camera out of the snag. Do NOT pull upward
with force unless all other avenues have been pursued.
Pan Speed - To activate the pan speeds, depress the PAN SPEED key
located on the monitor keypad. An on-screen icon will appear in the
upper right hand corner of the monitor screen. You can cycle through
the three available pan speeds by depressing the key multiple times.
Pan Speed 1 is the slowest speed, Pan Speed 2 medium, and Pan
Speed 3 is the fastest. Pan Speeds can be used while in a search
mode and is especially effective for use in open water while studying
structure or looking for fish.
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BATTERY CHARGING
DIRECTIONAL VIEWING INDICATOR
Recharging the battery after every use is recommended. As a
general rule of thumb, charge the battery for twice the amount of time
as it was used. The VS560 underwater viewing system has a DC
charging port located just above the battery door on the right side
of the monitor face. The charger that was supplied with the VS560
system is a 500 mA DC charger with a male jack. To charge your
system, simply plug the male jack of the charger into the plug in port
in the face of the monitor and then plug the charger into a 110 volt
AC wall outlet. The 7-amp, 12-volt battery that was supplied with the
VS560 system should take about 15 hours to charge from a
completely discharged state. The charger incorporates a Charge
Alert feature to alert the user to when the battery reaches full capac-
ity. This is accomplished when the green LED light shuts off on the
face of the charger. The charger DOES NOT shut off automatically
but will output a trickle charge indefinitely.
The viewing direction indicator is located in the upper left-hand
corner of the monitor screen and utilizes an icon shaped as an arrow
to indicate the direction the camera is pointing. This is accomplished
by the use of two magnetic compasses that talk back and forth
through software that continuously calculate the differential.
There are two very important criteria to make the system work
accurately: 1) The monitor and camera must be level. The sensors
will not accommodate an angle greater than 10 degrees. Therefore
the monitor needs to be flat on the ice to work properly. If the
monitor is sitting at an angle of more than ten degrees, than the
viewing direction shown will not be accurate. The camera when hung
by the cable will be accurate. However, if you hold the camera in your
hand and are rotating the camera, it may not be level and therefore
you will notice an inaccuracy in the viewing indicator; 2) The sensors
that are located in the monitor and camera are affected by metal.
Like any compass, metal can cause the magnetic sensors to be
become inaccurate. When using the viewing indicator, make sure the
monitor and camera are not located near any metal objects.
However, it is recommended that the charger be disconnected from the moni-
tor when the Charge Alert green LED is no longer on. It is also recommended
that you remove the battery door while charging to allow for increased air
ventilation through out the battery compartment.
The viewing indicator utilizes eight different stop points in calculating
viewing direction. As a result of the limited stop points, there may
be some inaccuracies that result when the camera falls between the
various stop points. If used properly, the VS560 system provides an
excellent reference for determining relative viewing direction.
If your viewing image appears cloudy or fuzzy, check your battery
charge. One of the major symptoms of a dead or near-dead battery
is the degradation of your viewing image. Try charging your battery
or if the battery is unable to hold a charge, replace it with a new one
of the same specification. If you need to remove the battery, unplug
the two battery terminals from the battery. Unscrew both the screws
located in the upper right and left corner of the battery compartment.
This will allow you to remove the battery strap from the battery. After
removing the strap, lift the battery up slightly with a finger on either
side of the battery and slide the battery towards you. This should
allow for easy removal of the battery. To replace the battery, lift the
battery up and slide into the battery compartment until the front of
the battery drops down into the compartment. Replace the battery
strap by using the two screws supplied and tighten until moderate
resistance is felt.
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Product Performance Specifications
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 volt DC, 7 Amp hr.
Charger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 volt DC, 500 mA
Camera . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
One-Year Warranty
To activate your warranty, you must send the original sales
receipt or photo copy with the warranty card. The warranty will be
void without the accompanying sales receipt. For a period of one
year from date of purchase MarCum Technologies will provide
free parts and labor on any defects in materials or workman-
ship, with exception of the following conditions: damaged or cut
cables, lost components, damage due to unauthorized modifica-
tions, repairs, or misuse.
Image Sensor. . . . . . . . 1/3" Sony SUPER HAD CCD (B/W)
Resolution . . . . . . . . . . 400 horizontal lines
Light Sensitivity . . . . . . 0 lux with lights on
Field of View. . . . . . . . . 90 degrees
The manufacturer must perform all warranty work or repairs. If
your underwater viewing system requires service, call us at the
number listed below to receive a Return Authorization Number
(RMA) and return shipping address or go online to
www.marcumcustomerservice.com to process your service need.
DO NOT return the unit to our PO Box. This return procedure
has been implemented because we may be able to save you
the inconvenience of returning the unit. Some problems may
be resolvable by a technician over the phone. If the unit is
sent back to MarCum Technologies for repair, mark the Return
Authorization Number on the outside of the package and enclose
a letter stating the problem with your return address and daytime
phone number.
Monitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
CRT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.5" (diag.) flat screen
high resolution
Current Draw . . . . . . . . . . . . .
On (no lumination) . . . . 700 mA
Lights On . . . . . . . . . . . 800 mA
For your convenience save the original box and packing materi-
als for use if factory return is required. For warranty repair and/or
service call (763) 493-3748.
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Service Information
MarCum Technologies is dedicated to providing you with the
best customer service possible. We have designed a Web site
dedicated to providing you, our customer, with answers to your
questions, access to product accessories, repair information,
online owners manuals, etc. These services can be obtained
recommend that you take advantage of this service and utilize
it as your first line of contact. For those of you that don’t have
access to a computer, you can call our customer service
department at 763-493-3748, Monday through Friday from
9:00am to 5:00pm CST.
When returning product for repair, please obtain a return
authorization (RA) number by going online at
www.marcumcustomerservice.com or by calling 763-493-3748.
This number must be displayed on the outside of the box and
will be used as a reference number when checking on the
repair status. Always include a note with your return stating the
problem, RA# and return shipping address (No P.O. boxes, must
be UPS shippable address).
Please ship in original factory carton, please carefully package
adding adequate internal protection as required. We make every
attempt to complete our repairs within 48 hours of receipt. It is
our goal to have you back on the water fishing as quickly as
possible. Thank you in advance for your patience.
Ship product returns to:
MarCum Technologies Service Center
6713 Thesing Road
Brainerd, MN 56401
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