General Tools DCS1800HP - Wireless Recording Video Inspection System with VGA Resolution Probe

The DCS1800HP Wireless Recording Video Inspection Camera/Borescope with High-Performance Probe is ideal for aircraft inspection, machinery and production line inspection, and general maintenance/repair/operations (MRO) tasks.

The DCS1800HP has three main components: the DCS1800 Handheld Wireless Recording Video Borescope Console, the P16181HP VGA Resolution Probe, and the DCS1800-RT Wireless Probe Handle/Controller (that connects the console and probe). The P16181HP is 1m (39 in.) long and has a diameter of 5.5mm (0.22 in.). In addition to a VGA resolution camera, the probe has three buttons on its controller that enable you to brighten, rotate and remove reflections from video and images to improve their clarity and readability. The probe is compatible with the following systems and components from General:

• The DCS1800, DCS1600, DCS1700, DCS800 and DCS2000 Recording Video Borescope Inspection System consoles
• The H16, H17, and H8 Handheld Recording Consoles (the DCS1600, DCS1700 and DCS800 systems without a probe).

The DCS1800-TR expands the universe of probes compatible with the DCS1800 console to include dozens of General's high-performance wired probes. It provides both the connector needed to interface with a high-performance wired probe, and the transmitter needed to send the video it captures to the DCS1800 console.

A thumbwheel on the right side of the DCS1800-TR allows you to adjust the brightness of the LEDs illuminating the camera at the end of the probe. Separately, the ability to detach the monitor from the probe also increases application flexibility by, for example, enabling two-handed operation.

The DCS1800 console has three operating modes: Preview, Playback and Menu:

• In Preview mode, video framed by the camera’s field of view is displayed in real time on the console’s LCD. The console automatically enters this mode when powered on. A front-panel button allows you to double the size of a target (a zoom level of 2X). The same button allows you to “mirror” video, making it possible to read serial numbers seen and “reversed” by an attached probe with a mirrored viewing tip. In Preview mode, real-time video also can be exported through an included video cable to any NTSC- or PAL-format TV monitor with RCA input jacks.
   
• Operating in Preview mode, the DCS1800 console also allows you to record inspection video clips and photos at VGA (640 x 480 pixel) resolution on an included SD memory card by pressing icon-labeled buttons on the console’s front panel. The remaining front-panel buttons enable access to Playback and Menu modes/
  
  In Playback mode, you can browse the SD card for saved video and picture files and view the media on the console’s LCD or a larger TV monitor. Video clips and photos 3also can be viewed on a PC by removing the SD card and plugging it into the computer directly or through a card reader. Because videos are saved as .avi files and photos as .jpg files, applications found on most PCs (Microsoft Windows Media Player and Microsoft Office Picture Manager) can open the files. The 4GB SD memory card included in the DCS1800HP case can store at least 4 hours of video, recorded at 15 Mbytes/minute, in addition to hundreds of photos.
   
• In Menu mode, you use familiar scrolling motions and responses to dialog boxes to navigate a main menu with six submenus. When selected, submenu items execute “housekeeping” functions such as deleting files, setting the date and time, enabling or disabling date and time stamps, choosing any of 28 languages for display indications, selecting a Video out format and adjusting the triggering time of the console’s Auto Power Off (APO) function.

Key Features

• Slim (5.5mm diameter), IP67 waterproof probe with high-quality VGA resolution (640 x 480 pixel) camera at its tip, and light boost, anti-reflection and 90° image rotation buttons on its controller. Camera lighting is provided by six adjustable- brightness white LEDs—four facing front and two at an angle to reduce glare.
• Operating flexibility is maximized when console is detached from probe. In this mode, video captured by probe can be sent wirelessly through probe handle/ controller to console from up to 33 ft. (10m) away on any of four channels.
• Console has 3.5 in. diagonal color LCD for viewing probe video instantly and saved video clips and pictures later
• Compatible with dozens of high-performance camera-tipped probes
• 28 available menu languages
• Familiar menu-driven user interface for viewing and recording photos and voice- annotated video clips on standard SD memory card (4GB card included) and playing back media on console, TV or PC
• Console and probe handle/controller powered by separate rechargeable Lithium-ion batteries with 4-hour capacity