Is the Marcum VS 560,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[Gofishleech]

is this camera worht the money? I like the features. Can I hook it up to a regular tv?

[CraigM]

Yes you can hook it up to a tv with the proper cord. Is it worth the extra money? If I had it to do all over again, I would get the VS 460 and save the $100.00. The remote flat does not work (i heard they are working on a fix). The direction indicator, temp and depth features are ok but I find that I dont use them much. I feel the best feature is the way the camera pans without having to twist the cable. Overall I'm happy with the unit. My biggest dissapointment with it is the remote. Other than that, it is a great camera.

[Gofishleech]

Thanks Graig, I did expect more response from a Marcum sponsored HSOforum, is this unit not worth the money??

[Dave]

Craig answered your question about connecting to a TV already, yes, you can. My opinion about the other features, I like the directional arrow the most. Once set to view your jigs, you'll know at a glance which line you're viewing, which direction fish are moving in from and maybe which direction that rock pile is you're seeing off into the distance; you'll know which direction to go drill holes. It's quite handy and think that's worth a chunk of change right off the bat.

The temperature display is handy but, honestly, I haven't really paid much attention to temp changes on where I fish. Maybe I should and I might catch more.

The battery level status is comparable to a flasher charge indictaor. Nice to have, not necessary but, it comes with the package so I'll take it.

I don't have any complaints about the remote because I'm not expecting that remote to work like my TV remote; after some testing for a couple of years. Maybe some are expecting too much "control" from directions other than pointed straight at the remote sensor; how a TV remote control works. I just set up my 560 in my house again and will try and give you some specific examples.

Standing 18-feet straight in front (I ran out of room) of the 560, pointed remote straight at the sensor, worked fine.

Moved six feet to the left, remote had trouble when the front cover is closed. With the cover open, remote worked good. The plastic viewing shroud, when the case front is up in the velcro'd position, seems to be blocking the remote signal at that angle from the left. Standing 3-feet to the left the remote worked well, again.

Now, I moved six feet to the right of straight ahead, the remote worked fine since no plastic shroud blocks the remote signal.

The 560 remote has to be pointed at, and have a clear view to the sensor, from not an extreme angle. For example, I took my TV remote and pointed it at the ceiling, 90-degrees from the TV, the TV channel changed. The 560 remote will not work at that extreme angle. I also moved so a 4-inch wood railing was between the 560 and the remote; the rail blocked the signal and the remote wouldn't work.

Maybe some are expecting a remote sensitivity of a TV remote I don't know. Once I knew the remote's limitations, I was good to go. So, in my opinion, MY remote on the 560 is working satisfactory to me.

Like I said earlier, I find the directional arrow the most important. Now, my sons, they like the remote control feature the best.

*addition from an edit*

Craig, I just noticed, you're from Andover as well. Shoot me an email and we can get together and figure out that remote problem you're having. I'd be happy to help.

[berke99]

When inside, I like opening the front cover on my 560 while using it. Last weekend I hooked it up to my ice house tv. It was great watching the bigger screen. I also just put a new battery in my remote, the remote seem to work a lot better that it did in the past. I do like the camera, just not sure about the cost though.

[CraigM]

My remote will only work if the cover is open and you are within 2 feet of the screen. I did not try new batteries though. I did read on here that others have had issues with the remote also so I didn't figure it was worth messing with. Dave, I will shoot you an e-mail next week as I'm getting ready to head to Upper Red and will be back Sunday eve. I am happy with the camera and glad I bought it. It's like anything, everyone won't use all the extra features but they are nice to have sometimes. The reason I don't use the directional arrow much is it seems you have to pan the camera quite a ways before the arrow moves and then it moves a big chunk at a time. That may be because I have been using it in my sleeper house and it may have a harder time reading the signal through the floor.