Vexilar Fish Scout User Manual

UNDERWATER CAMERA SYSTEM

Contents

Vexilar — Pioneers in Marine Electronics 2
Introduction 3
Fish Scout Features 4
About Your Fish Scout 5
Fish Scout Camera 6
Camera Mounting Options 7
Battery and Charge Indicator Location 8
Battery Charging Instructions 9
Soft Pack Features 10 -11
Fish Scout Operation 12 - 15
Fish Scout Camera LED Lighting 16
DTD Operation 16
Calibrating Your DTD Display 17
Ice Fishing & Open Water Use 18
D-130 Battery Status Indicator 20
Fish Scout Care & Specifications 21
Vexilar Accessories 22 - 23
Trouble Shooting 24
Contact Vexilar & Warranty Information 25

VEXILAR FISH SCOUT

OWNER’S MANUAL

Fish Scout Configurations

The Vexilar Fish Scout underwater camera and monitor system is offered in two basic
configurations:

• Fish Scout Standard (#FS800 & FS2000DT)
Includes camera, 7” color monitor, and carrying case with soft pack

• Fish Scout Double Vision Underwater Camera And Monitor
Includes color camera, 7” color monitor and carrying case with soft pack. The
Double Vision case allows you to attach any FL series flasher above the camera,
giving you the ultimate view of what’s below.

• DTD Option: This is a camera only feature that adapts to any Fish Scout Monitor to
display depth, temperature and direction. It is available on all Fish Scout systems.

Only the gray/black camera housing with the DTD decal is capable of showing

Depth, Temperature and Direction. Also, a camera control box is required to fit
between the end of the camera cable and the monitor input.

MNL011C RV2

1

VEXILAR — PIONEERS IN
MARINE ELECTRONICS

Established in 1960, Vexilar, Inc. has been a leading innovator of marine electronics in
the sport fishing industry for over 50 years. Some of their innovations include:

• The first straight-line paper graph for sportfishing (model 155)

• The first CRT (television) display (model 660)

• The first color display (model DE-12)

• The first fish alarm (model 120-SOS)

• The first Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) (model 480)

• The first self-leveling ice fishing transducer design (Ice-Ducer)

• The first split-screen zoom flasher (model FL-18)

• The first shoot-through-aluminum transducer design (AlumaDucer)

• The first Tri-Beam ice fishing transducer (Ice-Ducer)

• The first wi-fi sonar system (SonarPhone)

The FL series three-color flashers continue to lead the way in real-time high definition
flasher performance. Quality products backed by great customer service is the bedrock
of Vexilar, Inc. The Fish Scout Underwater Camera systems continue this great tradition.

A Long History of Vexilar Products

2

INTRODUCTION

Fis h scout

Fi s h sc o ut
Do u bl e Vis io n

Congratulations, and thank you for purchasing a Fish Scout, Fish Scout Double Vision,
Fish Scout Double Vision without sonar or one of our Fish Scout systems with DTD (Depth,
Temperature and Direction). All Fish Scout systems are basically the same in operation,
so this Owner’s Manual will cover all current Fish Scout camera systems. For care and
operation of your Vexilar FL Flasher system on your Double Vision system, please review
the Vexilar FL flasher series Owner’s Manual. For this manual, we will be referring to both
the Fish Scout Underwater Viewing Systems and the Fish Scout Double Vision Underwater
Camera Systems as “Fish Scout” and will highlight items that relate to the DTD systems.

Vexilar has incorporated cutting edge technology in producing the most advanced and
versatile underwater viewing systems possible. Your new Fish Scout monitor and camera
can be used to view underwater structure, view bottom composition, watch fish and see
how fish react to your lure presentation. You can even discover sunken treasures or just
inspect the bottom of your boat. Vexilar’s mission is to create a tough and reliable product
you can enjoy for years. The Fish Scout Color Underwater Camera will be fun to use in
both open water and on the ice when safe conditions permit. Underwater viewing is a
great educational tool for young and old to experience the underwater world without
getting wet.

3

FISH SCOUT FEATURES

• FS2000DT: Sony 1⁄4” CCD Super HAD 90 degree camera performs like two
separate camera systems in one. You will receive a high definition color image
when light conditions permit or it automatically shifts to black and white mode if
you are in low light conditions.

• FS800: CMOS7959 (color) 90 degree camera. It too will automatically shift to
the black and white mode if in low light conditions.

• 7“ High resolution LCD monitor equipped with thermostatically controlled heater
that engages at –4°F to enhance your viewing experience in extremely cold
conditions. This monitor also has a built-in light contrast sensor to automatically
brighten or dim the display as the light conditions change. Newer monitors may
also have a battery status display option.

• Tri-light lighting camera system not only gives you two variable power super bright
LED white lights for night viewing, but also side and directional internal lights so
you can easily see the direction the camera is pointed in the dark.

• Cable: 80 feet (FS2000DT) / 50 feet (FS800) Super thin, high strength, camera
cable with depth marking. You will find the cable is easy to wind and easy to keep
from tangling. The buckle on the handle allows you to clip the cable wrap to your
Fish Scout’s soft pack carrying case.

• The camera is designed to be used effectively in many ways: Resting on the
bottom, hanging at a 90 degree angle down to 80 feet, Down-View option for
looking straight downward, trolling where you can use of the optional tail fin and
the use of a rigid arm to suspend the camera at any angle. The Vexilar camera
housing has a special DOUBLE chamber system, so the outer protective shell
DOES take-on water for better balance and smaller profile and the inner lexan
camera chamber is 100% water proof.

• Easy touch keypad control panel automatically lights up in low light.

• On screen monitor adjustments by using menu keys.

• Video output jack. (connects to any camcorder that has a AV-IN port)

• Waterproof and weatherproof cable connections.

• Padded soft pack carrying case with cable and camera pouch.

• Super strong ABS molded internal frame holds the battery with an easy-charge
jack and a battery status indicator along with a Master Power Switch.

• 9 amp hour, 12v rechargeable battery with 1-amp V-410 Vexilar digital charger.

• Low power consumption allows you to view for over 10 hours on a full charge,
and over 8 hours using the Double Vision system.

• 2-Year limited warranty. Battery warranty is pro-rated.

4

ABOUT YOUR FISH SCOUT

The Monitor

The Fish Scout features a high resolution 1414
by 234, 7 inch LCD with two viewing options,
a 16:9 wide screen monitor display or the more
traditional 4:3 perspective for close-up viewing.
Your Fish Scout gives you a bright, sharp and
clear view under most conditions, but if the
water is stained, dirty or has a lot of suspended
materials, the viewing WILL BE limited. The

daylight viewable display should not require
a sun shield for most outdoor viewing. When viewing outdoors, the brightness can be
increased or decreased to improve your viewing experience manually, but your Fish Scout
system is equipped with an internal light sensor that will automatically adjust your display
for ideal viewing. You will find that the best visibility will always be achieved when you
turn the display away from direct sunlight. Light conditions under water will dictate if you
see your image as color or black and white. The system automatically shifts from color in
good light conditions to black and white display, this is the normal operation of the system
to maximize your display contrast.

The ultra-thin monitor housing is sealed with a rubber gasket and all plug-in connections
are potted to protect the internal electronics from the harsh elements. The Fish Scout
may be used in the outdoor elements under most conditions, but cannot be submerged
underwater. The digital keypad on the monitor activates an on-screen menu display for
making adjustments to the monitor brightness, contrast, color and camera perspective.
In addition to adjusting the display screen settings, the digital keypad also controls
underwater lighting with 38 levels of lighting intensity. It also turns your monitor and
camera on and off and even tells you when you have power to your system. It is important
to know that your Master Power ON/OFF Switch, located in the back of the unit, controls
all power drain to your battery, so it must be in the off position when not in use to prevent
over-draining your battery and voiding your battery warranty.

Important: You will need to turn OFF the Master Power Switch in the back of the unit to

shut off all power drain from your system. Leaving your Master Power Switch ON means
you have power running to your system and this will over-discharge the battery in about
three weeks. You will want to keep the Master Power Switch in the OFF position when not
in use. This is NOT covered by your warranty.

While operating in cold temperatures (under –4°F), the Fish Scout utilizes a thermostatically
controlled LCD heating element that allows the display to operate at peak performance.
You may experience some delay in start up on extremely cold days, this is normal. When

5

you turn on your monitor in cold weather it will flash red & green when the internal sensor
on the heating element detects the monitor temperature is below -4°F degrees. The red
light will continue to flash until the heating element has heated up the monitor enough
to give you the best image possible. The heating cycle will vary, but can take up to five
minutes for the light to stop flashing. This is normal on very cold days. Because the liquid in
the LCD can freeze, prolonged exposure to extreme temps can result in monitor damage.

Remember: A flashing red & green light and a delay in the monitor coming on when

temperatures are very cold is normal and is done to protect the LCD monitor. On very cold
days, expect the display to be a little blurry at first as the camera display may take a few
minutes to reach its optimum performance brightness. This procedure is done to protect
your investment and avoid excessive battery drain. Storing your camera in a warm place
at all times is ideal.

The Fish Scout Camera

In order to create an ultra clear, high-resolution picture,
Vexilar matched it with a high quality camera. The Fish
Scout uses a ultra low lux CCD camera. This camera
offers a wide 90° viewing angle, giving you a wide
coverage area for maximum visibility.

This camera has a very wide performance range,
giving you great picture quality. It offers both a color
camera, during good lighting conditions and automatically changes to a black and white
camera display for low light conditions. The Fish Scout camera sensor will automatically
switch between a color display or black and white depending on light conditions. The Fish
Scout will automatically switch between color modes depending on the light conditions.
You can check this yourself by turning on the camera and watching as you lower the
system under a table for example. While you may not be able to see much detail under
a dark table with the human eye, the low lux performance of your camera clearly shows
you in great detail what is under the table. While in the water, a cloud passing in front of
the sun could change the monitor from a color image to black and white, this is normal.
Note that the image you see out of the water with your camera is not the same as what
you will see under the water. Water distorts the perspective you normally expect to see.
Your Fish Scout camera is designed to function BELOW the water, not above it, for the
best image possible.

Your Vexilar Fish Scout camera has two high intensity white LEDs for low-light conditions.
This lighting control is easily accessible from the monitor control panel. These lights are
specifically positioned to flood all 90 degrees of your camera viewing angle with light.
The monitor control panel also lets you change the intensity of the lights by simply pressing
the plus or minus keys right after you hit the LED “ON” button on the far left side. A good
rule to remember is to use the least amount of additional light as possible to reduce the
amount of reflective particles seen in the water. Sharing your video images is easy with

6

the pre-wired video-out RCA plug. The yellow video output jack located on the rear of the
monitor makes it possible to add an external monitor such as a big screen TV or a video
recording devise. Remember, not all camcorders have an AV-IN option so be sure to
check your camcorder before you head out on the water.

The camera and power cables have a custom-built waterproof and sealed connector. It is
critical you unscrew the connector

Unscrew to Separate

before trying to disconnect. This
connection routes power and
signals to your camera, so you

Waterproof Monitor to Camera Connection

want to make sure this connection
is tight at all times when in use. Your system has a super thin, super strong transmission
cable. It is NOT a good thing if you cut or damage your cable as water in the cable will,
over time destroy the cable. If you have any doubts as to the damage to your cable,
please contact the Vexilar service center for specific instructions. See page 24.

Camera Mounting Options

Trolling Fin

Your Fish Scout comes with two cable holding options.
One is an elbow suspension arm attached directly to
the bottom of your internal ABS frame. The elbow arm
is ideal for when you wish to look down an ice fishing
hole directly next to the monitor. The elbow support
arm easily folds out of way when not in use. The “egg”

Elbow Arm

attaches to your cable and allows you to suspend the camera at
whatever depth you wish to hold. By simply rotating the cable
and dropping the egg back into the round slot on the elbow
arm, you can hold the camera at any depth or direction.

or Pole Mount

Another option is to use the folding over-the-hole suspension
arm. This arm is kept in the long pocket on the side of your Fish
Scout soft pack case. This is used when you want to suspend
the camera over the ice fishing hole away from

the monitor. This is a common application since
having the camera too close to where you are fishing will result in the
fish getting tangled in the cable. By using the larger over-hole suspension
arm, you can place the camera in a secure viewing position four to eight

Suspension Arm

feet from where you are fishing to avoid
hooking the cable while fishing. The
over-the-hole suspension arm also has a
compass mounted in the arm so you will
be able to know which direction your
camera is pointing with a (DTD systems
only) camera system.

Down View

7

The camera incorporates a custom designed zinc cast waterproof housing. The amount of
weight in this camera housing is balanced and designed to give you good camera control
while still-fishing or trolling. The housing WILL fill with water, to make for better balance
in the water. It is normal for water to drain out of the housing for a few seconds when it
is removed from the water. The optional tail fin (included) screws into position in the back
of the housing.

With the trolling fin on the camera housing, you are also able to attach it to a long pole
to hold the camera at various angles. This feature is popular with marinas and boat
owners who want to see the bottom of a boat or look for something nearly impossible
to see underwater without a camera. The actual pole is not available from Vexilar but is
commonly found at hardware stores in the paint or the window cleaning departments.

The housing is also designed to make it easy to attach to your cable and use in the
popular Down-Viewing perspective.

Battery and Charge Indicator Location

Following Vexilar’s superior standards, the Fish Scout monitor face is protected with a
padded soft pack case. Inside the soft pack is a molded ABS hard frame with an enclosed
battery compartment and D-130 battery status indicator
(FS2000DT DV systems only) to help keep track of power
consumption. You also have a Master Power Switch which
is critical to eliminate battery drain when not in use. Any
time your Master Power Switch is in the “ON” position,
your battery will be draining, so the Master Switch should
be turned “OFF“ whenever you are not using your system.

The sealed 9 amp rechargeable lead-acid battery can provide over 10 hours of
continuous use with ideal conditions on the Fish Scout, and over 8 hours on the Double
Vision systems. Battery run time will vary depending on the condition of the battery, use
of underwater LED lighting, level of display brightness and the ambient temperature (LCD
heater system). The 1 amp, fully automatic charger will quickly charge the battery back to
full capacity. See page 9 for complete battery charging and care instructions.

To remove the battery from the case for replacement,
simply remove the ABS hard frame from the soft pack case.

Remove Screws to Access

Battery Compartment

Then remove the two screws securing the bottom battery
door and swing it open. When replacing the battery and
reinstalling the door, be sure to be careful with the wire
positions so nothing gets pinched as the door is screwed
back into place.

8

Battery Charging CHARGE AFTER EACH USE

1 Amp Digital Automatic Charger

(model V-410 / 1 Amp)

1. Allow the battery to warm up before charging. This makes it

easier for the charger to charge the battery and the battery is
more accepting of a charge.

2. Plug the charger into a wall outlet, verify that it is operating

by noting the illuminated RED light.

3. Connect the charger to the Easy Charge Jack attached to the

unit. The charger’s light will switch to RED, indicating that it is
connected correctly and the battery is charging.

If your charger is NOT equipped with an Easy Charge Jack,
remove the battery and connect connect the terminals to the
battery with the RED (+) connected to positive and BLACK
connected to negative (–). The charger’s light will switch to
RED, indicating that it is connected correctly and the battery

Easy Charge Jack

is charging.

FLASHING RED INDICATES A REVERSE CONNECTION.

4. Keep the charger plugged in and connected until the GREEN light turns on. This

indicates the battery is at full charge.

5. Unplug the charger from the wall outlet and disconnect from the battery.

Charging times will vary depending on how much the battery has been drained. If the
battery has been completely drained (approx. 8 to 10 hours of use on a 9 amp battery)
the battery will require about 9 hours of charging. Once the battery is fully charged
and the charger’s light returns to RED, the charger is then operating in a “Maintenance
Mode”. At this stage, the charger can remain connected to the battery indefinitely and the
battery will be maintained at full charge.

BATTERY DO’S BATTERY DON’TS

• Allow the battery to FULLY recharge after each
use. Recharge after every use.

• Give cold batteries extra time to charge. Charge
at room temperature if you can.

• Keep flames, sparks, and metal objects away
from batteries and terminals.

• Charge periodically during battery storage.

• Disconnect the battery when not in use.

• OVER DISCHARGE the battery, You should never
drain a battery to the point where your Fish Scout
stops.

• DISCONNECT exposed battery clips before
switching the charger OFF.

• Damage the battery or terminals by dropping.

• Use another device to determine if your battery is
fully charged. Go by the charger’s light alone.

DID YOU KNOW? Did you know? If you leave your main power switch on , in two weeks

the power drain from your D-130 will drain your battery to a point it may no longer accept
a charge. This battery miss-use is NOT covered under your warranty. Charge your battery
after every use and make sure the Master power switch is off before storing your unit.
>> Remember to charge after each use. The Battery has a Pro-Rated Warranty.

9