The need for video inspection systems for contractors has long been there. For years, contractors spent countless hours( or even days) dismantling walls, hvac systems, plumbing systems, etc with the hope of ultimately diagnosing what went wrong with the system in the first place. Some daring contractors even modified later-generation consumer video cameras with aluminum cladding and waterproofing membranes and proceeded to shove them into spaces they were never designed to go. Those devices, obviously, met with limited success. Eventually, thanks to the cell phone industry's quest to incorporate state-of-the-art video optics and circuitry into smart phones, video technology progressed to the point where small- lensed video optics could be affordably incorporated into 'real' video inspection systems for contractors. Note the emphasis on the word 'affordable'. Sure, there are other video inspection systems from other manufacturers on the market-but at a much higher price point for almost the same performance as a more reasonably priced unit. While the U.S. economy is showing signs of rebounding from one of the most oppressive down cycles ever, contractors are still more than reluctant to pour money into new or replacement equipment until receipts grow much more rapidly. A plumber whose seen his business decline 30-40% in the past two years is undoubtedly scaling back new equipment purchases. That $750 video inspection tool from another manufacturer is far less attractive in the face of this new business climate. But what if there was a more affordable alternative? How about something at the $300 price point? Enter the General Tools & Instruments Seeker DCS 400 Video Inspection System.

If you're a contractor engaged in HVAC or cable pulling-or any segment whereby you need to 'see before you do', you're probably already familiar with video inspection systems. These systems allow you to peek inside a wall to determine if a plumbing vent line is close by so you can tie in. You can see what obstacles are ahead of your cable routing job and make changes (or, if you're very lucky- make none). The bottom line is: if you need to 'see' what isn't in plain view, you need a video inspection system. We were excited to put the Seeker DCS 400 through its paces, as we had many projects that called for this system. We needed to discover pipe locations in a small bath remodel, verify possible obstructions to our rewiring project and locate 'missing' cable connections in an attic.

The DCS400: Feature Rich

The DCS 400 is a pistol-grip unit that incorporates an operating-facing detachable display and a 3.28 ft. long camera tipped probe. The probe is equipped with an adjustable LED light. The wireless color LCD display is 3.5 " wide and can be detached for remote viewing-up to 32 feet away! The probe, or the line attached to and extending away from the pistol grip, can be configured to 18 ft. with an optional accessory. The DCS 400 affords you the ability to discover those impending nightmares behind the walls live, in still photo(JPEG), or in recorded video format (AVI). It can record an impressive 3 hours of video and is NTSC or PAL compatible. The on screen menu supports ten languages, including English, Spanish, French, German, Chinese, Portuguese, Italian, Japanese, Dutch and Russian.

The DCS 400 resides in a sturdy plastic case lined with foam to further protect the unit while it bounces down the road in the back of a pick up. When you open the case, you'll discover; the camera tipped probe and pistol grip base unit, the LCD monitor, monitor adaptor, video output cable, usb cable, accessory magnet/hook/mirror, cd-rom, SD card and a magnetic base stand.

Using the DCS 400

The first thing you'll need to do after unpacking the unit is install four new 'AA' batteries in the base unit. Next, install the probe to the base unit taking care to match up the alignment grooves. Once aligned, seat the probe to the base by tightening the knob. Take a moment to inspect the back of the LCD display and note the attachment point. Now, mate the display with the base unit by sliding the display downward on the base unit. Again, the display can be left off, but we opted to see immediately what the probe was discovering as it penetrated into the abyssal realm of joists, chases and crawl spaces. Now, with the LCD attached, its time to power it up with the adaptor. A red LED will turn off after the display has been full charged. Those 4 'AA' batteries do not power the display. If you would like to show your clients a larger live video image, you can attach a cable to the VIDEO OUT port on the display and attach the other end to a tv or larger monitor. If you are ready to explore with the probe, simply switch the ON/OFF switch on the base unit. You can adjust the amount of light pouring from the twin LED lights on the end of the probe by adjusting the switch. The image tends to wash out a little if you saturate what your viewing with too much light. Conversely, too little light at the end of the probe and you'll be guessing as to what your viewing. After switching on the probe, activate the display by pressing and holding the power button for a few seconds. The light will illuminate green. You must display CH4 (channel 4) for the video to display on the monitor. This will be verified on the on-screen menu. Arrow 'up' on the side of the display to either record video or take still pictures. This, too, will be verified on the on-screen menu. Navigating the DCS 400 with the menu system is quite easy. Now that the controls are set, you are ready to explore and diagnose what ails your client's home. The magnet and hook accessories are truly neat features. You can discover where an errant part has fallen off to or move or retrieve a small diameter (coax type) cable.

The Bottom Line

We liked the DCS 400 Video Inspection System. It did what General Tools and Instruments said it would do. While video clarity is on par with more expensive units,

the DCS lacks an 'up is up' feature found on those aforementioned units. The camera doesn't have a gyro system to allow it to maintain an up position while the probe line rotates around. So, when the line moves, the image moves along with it. In some instances, it can become a little confusing as to what you're viewing. However, if you exercise a bit of common sense, you'll be able to discern what you're viewing. Take care to 'level' the probe line before you penetrate a surface by focusing on a something you can clearly see is level-and then enter the inspection hole. The more you use the DCS 400, the less of an issue this will become as you become more adept at managing the unit's capabilities. We recommend the DCS-400 for inclusion in your tool locker.

-Editor

For more information, contact: General Tools & Instruments