Underwater cameras in a wheelhouse

[OutlawBiz]

I just 'upgraded' shacks and my 'new' IC Lake of the Woods has a 12v cig lighter outlet next to a coax jack on the wall between 2 holes. I assume it was intended for use with an underwater camera setup and that the coax feeds the coax box up front near the big TV!?

I don't have a camera to test this theory with (my AquaVu Micro II doesn't have video outs). Can anyone verify this?

What is the 'cheapest' way to get an underwater video signal to my 27" TV up front if this coax connection does work? I hate to invest a bunch into an AquaVu when I already have the Micro II. Any 'aftermarket' camera setups that will work? Ideas?

[OutlawBiz]

Seriously...no one on here uses an underwater camera in their Ice Castles pre-wired outlet!?

[Fishalittle]

Mostly fish on red and cameras are hit and miss up there. Rely more on my flasher. I am very interested if you find a solution that doesn't involve the bulky vexilar camera on the floor feeding the outlet. Please update if you find what you are looking for.

[OutlawBiz]

Mostly fish on red and cameras are hit and miss up there. Rely more on my flasher. I am very interested if you find a solution that doesn't involve the bulky vexilar camera on the floor feeding the outlet. Please update if you find what you are looking for.

Agreed! I rely on my flasher too...but, the kids (and me) really get a kick out of seeing fish come in on the camera / TV! Helps break up sometimes otherwise 'slow' fishing days.

I REALLY don't want to have a bulky camera unit sitting around either...but would enjoy getting video up to the TV. SOMEONE out there has to have a slick / clean / easy setup...

[Hawg]

This is a guess but does that little micro av thing do that?

[OutlawBiz]

This is a guess but does that little micro av thing do that?

I have the AquaVu Micro II. My model doesn't have the DVR / video out capabilities. Have to step into the more expensive model for that.

The problem is the Ice Castles have a pre-wired 'jack' with coax connection NOT RCA video type plug. So, need to figure out how to either convert an RCA type plug to coax or an inexpensive camera with coax output. There supposedly is an F-Type Coax-to-RCA Adapter that will do this...need to look into it further.

[eagle_3464]

Menards carries the RCA to F-coax adapter. The ones they have snap into a wall plate. I am putting two of them in my wheel house. Running coax in my walls to a selector switch and then to the TV. I will plug my Fish Scout into the wall jack adapter. Someday I may upgrade to one of the micro's.

[walleye44]

I just 'upgraded' shacks and my 'new' IC Lake of the Woods has a 12v cig lighter outlet next to a coax jack on the wall between 2 holes. I assume it was intended for use with an underwater camera setup and that the coax feeds the coax box up front near the big TV!?

I don't have a camera to test this theory with (my AquaVu Micro II doesn't have video outs). Can anyone verify this?

What is the 'cheapest' way to get an underwater video signal to my 27" TV up front if this coax connection does work? I hate to invest a bunch into an AquaVu when I already have the Micro II. Any 'aftermarket' camera setups that will work? Ideas?

Go to Aqua-Vu HSOforum & look at this.

AV Multi-Vu - Add Underwater Camera Functionality To Any RCA-Enabled Sonar Or TV/LCD

Another first from Aqua-Vu—the original Underwater Viewing System—Multi-Vu adds underwater camera and video functionality to any RCA-enabled sonar or TV/LCD monitor. Multi-Vu is ideal for viewing underwater video on your boat’s sonar or for use in permanent ice fishing shelter applications. Full system includes Camera Control Box with waterproof 12-volt power supply cable and a high-resolution Sony 1/3-inch CCD HD Image Sensing underwater camera with 100 feet of heavy-duty cable. Camera also features adjustable LED Lighting System and Aqua-Vu’s exclusive FishCam body.

[OutlawBiz]

AV Multi-Vu - Add Underwater Camera Functionality To Any RCA-Enabled Sonar Or TV/LCD

This is EXACTLY what I was looking for (I think)! I just didn't realize AquaVu made it. Just need to get the converter for RCA to coax and should be in business. Thanks walleye44!

[PurpleFloyd]

One thing that I would suggest is a panning camera vs a stationary lens model. I bought a CFish camera last season and in shallow water it is an amazing tool. The benefit with a camera like this is you can set it to constantly rotate so you can see fish coming in from every angle to the house. Then, if you want to zero in on a particular fish by a particular hole you can dial it in with the remote.

With the Cfish, the cord and housing remain motionless while the camera is turning which s key to not scaring fish. Those that pan the camera by turning the cord would not be as desirable.

[OutlawBiz]

Very cool concept...never heard of them! Is the CFish camera color or b/w? HSOforum shows b/w on the monitor in their pics.

[walleye44]

Aqua-Vu Mo-Pod 3 to go with the camera is a nice touch to. You can wireless remote around to see the fish. Cut & paste from their HSOforum.

"The Motorized Ice Pod 3 holds your underwater camera stable at any depth, and allows you to rotate the camera with a wireless remote control to follow the action or locate your lure. It operates on 2 AA batteries."

[Hawg]

I've rotated my camera to follow fish and never seen them shy away or be scared of it.

[PurpleFloyd]

Very cool concept...never heard of them! Is the CFish camera color or b/w? HSOforum shows b/w on the monitor in their pics.

It is black and white but under water on the ice the color is really not a lot different than the black and white. I suppose it might benefit you to see the color of the vegetation to know if the plants are alive or dying but other than that I haven't found it to be a liability.

[Boar]

I have the micro 2in my ic also and have a 37 led tv and it hooks up fine and never had to buy anythi g to adap. Its just my wife hooked it up and have no idea how she did it.

[OutlawBiz]

I have the micro 2in my ic also and have a 37 led tv and it hooks up fine and never had to buy anythi g to adap. Its just my wife hooked it up and have no idea how she did it.

I doubt you have the Micro II. There are no video outputs on the Micro II (I know, I have one). You must have the Micro 5. Does yours have a sunsheild, record button / DVR, 5" monitor etc.? I suspect it does, and it also has video outputs allowing it to be hooked up to a TV easily. They are also $599 compared to $249 for the Micro II.

[damdiver]

I used to have a Lake of The Woods (just like yours ) and I put the camera down the hole right beneath the TV and ran the cable straight up to the TV instead of using the coax setup on the side.

I have a Vexilar Fishphone and it has an rca out.

[Boar]

I gots dis von. Just havento turn ur head sideways.

[Boar]

Yup not the 2

[OutlawBiz]

Got my new CFish R-1 in the mail today, can't wait to get it all hooked up and tried out! After seing how the camera rotates INSIDE the housing via remote rather than trying to 'twist' the cable by hand or adding motorized tri-pods etc. I was excited to check it out.

Now I just have to look into the RCA to F-type (coax) converter so I can hopefully utilize the pre-wired coax jack in my IC to feed camera video signal up to my wall hung TV.

Standby for results...

[eagle_3464]

If your wall jack has a female RF you could use something like this along with a short RCA cable with male ends. You will likely need something like this on both ends because you can't just plug into the RF jack on your TV. You will need to connect to a video input on your TV. To find an adapter like this just google "RCA Female to F Type Male Coaxial Video Adapter Coupler Joiner".

[OutlawBiz]

If your wall jack has a female RF you could use something like this along with a short RCA cable with male ends. You will likely need something like this on both ends because you can't just plug into the RF jack on your TV. You will need to connect to a video input on your TV. To find an adapter like this just google "RCA Female to F Type Male Coaxial Video Adapter Coupler Joiner".

Eagle...that is EXACTLY what I bought (2 pack) at RadioShack...$4.29! Just waiting for he camera to take its 1st charge so I can test it all out.

[PurpleFloyd]

Got my new CFish R-1 in the mail today, can't wait to get it all hooked up and tried out! After seing how the camera rotates INSIDE the housing via remote rather than trying to 'twist' the cable by hand or adding motorized tri-pods etc. I was excited to check it out.

Now I just have to look into the RCA to F-type (coax) converter so I can hopefully utilize the pre-wired coax jack in my IC to feed camera video signal up to my wall hung TV.

Standby for results...

I think you will be happy with it but one thing to consider is depth and water clarity. If you are fishing in 10 feet or less and the water is clear it is fantastic. If the water is cloudy or deep, then it tends to be less effective. But the camera and the way it pans like you said is what sold me on it and the price is low enough that it makes sense.

[OutlawBiz]

UPDATE:

I hooked the CFish up in the shack in the driveway to see how it worked. I initially hooked it up utilizing the pre-wired jack that IC put between 2 holes near the floor on the wheel housing and then used the small converter F-Jack-Coax plugs on both ends and hooked it up to my 32" LCD TV mounted near the front of the shack. Flipped the TV to AV input and shazaam...video!

The pic is incredible when viewing images from up-close to maybe 2' out. Outside of 2' or so the pic becomes a tad more grainy but still decent! Not sure how being submerged will affect the pic...but just sitting on the table of the shack it looks great. So far I'm happy!

I wish I knew if the camera was capable of outputting color to the TV...but the CFish monitor is B/W and I'm assuming the monitor is converting the camera signal to B/W to the video out port.