Frequently Asked Questions

What is a tethered underwater video camera? Our cameras are designed to bring you live video from depths up to 1000ft. The camera head is powered from the surface by a 12 volt feed. The video is returned up the same umbilical cable which is then fed to a monitor/recorder/PVR or any device that accept composite video input.

You have so many cameras, how do I choose the right one for me? Each and every one of our cameras has its strengths for certain applications. For example the Delta Vision cameras are excellent at getting into small dark spaces (Tanks, wells, ect.). The LX-1000 is a great choice as a low cost high quality pole camera for applications like swim training, and manhole inspections. You can refer to our camera comparison chart or you can contact one of our marine video experts online or by phone.

How do you control the camera? There are no motors with a tethered underwater video camera. The direction of the camera head can be determined by attaching the drift fin which will point the ca mara into the current. If you are drifting and there is not much current you can twist the cable from the surface and the camera head will rotate. This is possible due to the tortional strength of our umbilical cable. The camera can also be mounted to a telescoping handle, down rigger or attached to a high speed tow wing.

Does the camera point down or horizontal? One of the most unique features of our cameras is the viewing angle adjuster. Using our viewing angle adjuster you can set the camera's attitude prior to deployment. You can set it to look down, horizontal or any point in between. This allows you to use the same camera as a towed camera or a drift camera.

Do I need lighting? All of our camera are very light sensitive and will operate on natural light to a depth of around 100ft (depending on water conditions). If you are going deeper or using the camera at night then you will want to use auxiliary lighting. All cameras come with auxiliary lighting for those deployments.

How deep can the camera go?
We build drop cameras with as much as 1000 feet of cable. Beyond 500 feet we have to add special video amplifiers which add cost to the system. We also can provide "slip ring" type reels which make handling the camera and cable much easier.

Can I attach the camera to a down rigger? Yes, the cameras can be attached to a down rigger.

Can I troll with the camera? Yes. The best camera for high speed surface trolling is the Deep Blue Pro. By utilizing the HST-100 hight speed tow wing accessory, You can tow the Deep Blue up to 11 knots

Is color or black & white better? In the past black & white camera where a better choice in low light conditions. Over the last decade the light sensitivity of color cameras has increased greatly. For most all applications color cameras are a better choice to bring you a natural video image to the surface.

What about IR? There are many camera manufactures that would love to sell you a black and white IR camera. Fact is, the frequency of IR light is too high for underwater applcations.We use visible Blue LED's for illumination in our black & white cameras. The Blue wavelength will penetrate water much farther than IR. If you are looking to perform a fish study and behavior is a consideration our Delta Vision Industrial B&W with visible Red light LED's is a good choice. Of coarse we have the IR available for those who want IR.

Can I connect the camera to my laptop? Yes, by using a USB video capture device any of our cameras can easily be connected to a laptop for viewing/recording the video image.

Can I take still photos? Video cameras are not the best for taking still photos. Video is 29.97 frames per second. So your effective shutter speed is 1/30 which is not ideal for still frame grabs with motion. The effective pixel array of our standard definition cameras is about 380K which is only about 1/20th of the pixel array of a modern still image camera.

How long is the cable? The standard length is 50ft. You can add cable up to 1000ft.

Can I add cable after my purchase? We like to keep umbilical cables as one continuous piece for strength integrity. You can send you camera back to us to "trade in" your cable for a longer piece in the future if you would like. Add the bulkhead cable entry option and you can have a short and a long cable if you wish. We can provide standard cable lengths up to 1000ft. Longer by special order.

What are the power requirements? All of our cameras operate on 12 volts DC. All cameras come with a direct to DC connector (cigarette adapter) and an AC/DC power converter. Typical current consumption is about 250mA.

How far can you see? All of our cameras work above and below water. Above water the camera can see as far as you can. Below water the viewing distance is limited only by water clarity. If you can see 10ft with a mask on the camera will see the same distance. However, some divers have reported seeing things on the recorded video that they did not see at while diving with the camera. At certain depths the camera may be able to see up to 5% farther than a human.

Can I connect the camera to another monitor? Yes, any monitor with composite video input will work with our cameras.

Why would I choose SplashCam over other manufactures? The biggest consideration is product value. What do you get for every dollar spent? Ocean Systems has been manufacturing and distributing submersible marine electronics for over 20 years. We are recognized as leaders in the field of marine video equipment. All of our products come standard with a industry leading Two Year Factory Warranty. We also have a no questions asked 30 day money back guaranty. When you go with SplashCam you go with the best.

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