Cabelas Advanced Anglers Pro Series Underwater Viewing System Help

[Wavemaster]

While getting packed for my fishing trip, I tested my fully charged Cabelas Advanced Anglers Pro Series Underwater Viewing System and the camera is not working properly. There is some condensation inside the camera. The camera just flickers and is not viewable. The monitor is working fine. I tried contacting Cabelas main site, but they said they could not help as I purchased it from Cabelas.ca. I tried calling long distance to Cabelas.ca and was put on for a long time and I eventually hanged up. Next I sent them an email with my invoice number asking if I could purchase a replacement camera only. I am now waiting for a response.

My camera is the 7 inch model with the 65ft of cable. I see on their website they only have the 5.5 inch model with 50ft of camera cable. Our Ice is finally here and now I have no camera to fish with

Does anyone know if I can get a replacement camera for my model or if the 5.5inch model camera will fit my model? Any Advice?

[fastribs85]

idk if the camera is the same for both moniters im sure it is but i have one and havent used it in years pos if you ask me bought it cause it was cheaper then the name brand ones and i regret getting it because after one year the moniter went bad cost me another 150. honestly probably going to have to end up calling whoever actually makes it for them sorry to say and you probably wont be able to get an answer till monday at the earliest

[bobberbill]

My AA camera fom Cabelas stoped working. Monitor was fine. Cabelas refunded my money and I got a Marcum. Mine was a 5" and they told me there was too many failures and they werent going to handle them anymore. I see now they have AA units with an upgraded cam..Check your warranty. Mine had 2 years..

[iceauger57]

i have a older under water system i bought from cabela's and found that the cable going into the under water camera head had to be giggled around some times to get a picture on the screen maybe the enclosed connection is coming loose?

[neveruminda]

depending on age, Cabela's N.A. would likely provide a prompt replacement unit   
they recently allowed my return and upgrade of failing fishing electronics purchased in 2012

hope  .ca does the same for you , good luck!

[Fatfish]

Just a note to guys ,all you have to do at Cabelas to get treated real good is to keep your receipt. They will do everything to make you happy. I  took back different items,and they allways been good to me. No questions ask. Just keep your receipt. Now they even have an insurance on those pricey items.For a couple of bucks,it can be insured,even misuse.  Jerry

[Wavemaster]

Thanks for all the replies guys. Unfortunately the camera is still fogged up and Cabelas.ca has yet to respond to my email. I really liked the camera when it was working. Had it for 3 seasons but only got to use it about 10 times total

[mpike2day]

The cheap cabelas camera is absolute junk.  My friend had 3 crap out and never actually got to fish a whole day with it. They replaced it with a more expensive cabelas cam and we will find out on the 16th.  My old aqua view still works good for me.  If I was to buy again it would be marcum.

[bobberbill]

Don't wait for an E-mail..give em a call..They're good to work with..

[Kevin23]

Try cabelas' live support if they still have it.

[walleye34]

I had one of those cameras....same thing happened,  never even fished with it.  Do yourself a favor and return it, get your money back.  Spend the extra and buy a marcum.  I havent looked back.  Marcum is simply the best in underwater viewing.  Cabelas attempt at a cheap underwater camera failed miserably.  The day I took mine back there was 2 other people in the lineup at grand forks Cabelas doing the exact same thing as me.

[Wavemaster]

Well after waiting 5 days with no reply to my email, I called them. Customer service said they would send an email with what I had asked to their parts specialist and would check with the warranty and if I could get a replacement. She said they will definitely get back to me this time within 24 to 48 hrs.

Do you think Cabelas should fix the camera or replace it as It's only used about 10 times even though I had bought it from them 3 years ago? After researching this I see many others had trouble with this camera. Would it be worth it if I had to puchase the replacement camera if they are improved? Should I try calling head office?

Thanks for all the help and advice. I just want to get it working again as our ice is now good!

[beenfarr]

When I bought my Marcum camera the guy at Cabela's steered me away from their camera because he said the camera leaks.  I guess I owe that guy one.

Ben

[Wavemaster]

Cabelas finally got back to me. They said I cannot get a replacement only. Does anyone know if there are any other cameras that will hook up to my monitor?

[RiverDewey]

The camera uses a standard composite video output.  The monitor (5.5" and 7" B/W) uses a standard composite video input.  I am not sure about the panning unit.  However, the Cabelas camera does not use a standard RCA video connector.  It uses a 5 pin DIN connector.  All 5 leads are used (2 for power for the lights).  My 7" monitor has RCA input/output connectors on the back which is actually nice for using the monitor for other things should you choose.  The output is especially nice if you want to connect a DVR to record your fishing adventures.

Back to the camera.  You could use a different underwater camera, but you might have to make an adapter cable to go from the output of the video camera (such as the ones sold on Ebay) to the 5 pin DIN connector.  The connectors themselves can be purchased for a buck or two on Ebay as well.  Look up "5 pin DIN connector".  Soldering will be required!

In the short term, here are some things you can try:  Unplug the battery from the unit.  Using a small strap wrench, unscrew the plastic cap which holds the lens on.  You will notice that on the side of the camera it states "Do not open" LOL.  Do so slowly and carefully so as to not scratch the front lens or crack the cap.  Once off, you can carefully clean and dry out the inside of the lens. Holding the camera by the fin with the camera lens facing down, slowly shake the water out of the camera housing.  Do so over a towel and/or carpeting.  The camera may come out.  If it does, spray off the excess water with "canned air".  Then leave it under a warm desk lamp or in front of a warm forced air heat register for a couple of hours to a day.  Make sure the unit does not get too hot (hot to the touch).  You can now test the camera to see if it still works.  Be sure to not touch any of the electrical contacts on the circuit board while you are testing it.  (An option to the above procedure would be to use distilled water in a squirt bottle to wash off some of the electronics on the back of the camera.  I have not tried that but would be tempted to do so if the camera does not work on the first go around).

Re-install the camera back in the housing and screw the cap back on the front.  Make sure you have it in correctly so the image is viewed correctly!  You will need to use some [clear] silicone aquarium caulk or some other sealant that can withstand high pressure on the threads (remember that if you extend the camera all the way down to 65 feet, it is being subjected to almost 30 psi).  While you are at it, you might just as well seal the front lens to plastic ring/cap on the outside, but be sure to make it a small bead, out of the way of the infrared lights and the camera lens.  Also, take off the 4-5 bolts near the cable connector.  This will remove what is essentially a cable strain relief.  Clean and caulk the area where the cable goes into the camera.  I believe that is where the panning camera has had many leakage problems. 

Yeah, the monitor is cheaply made, but overall the camera works great on clear lakes if you are interested in either fish or how they react to your lure/bait.

Good luck.  I hope this helps someone.  Tight lines.

RiverDewey

[RiverDewey]

BTW, if you use the Cabelas Camera system outside ice fishing, you may find that the monitor can get high humidity or even condensation in it.  Drying it out in a warm area for hours to days will usually bring it back to life.

Picture of the Cabelas underwater camera with the camera printed circuit board pulled out.


Camera board:


InfraRed (IR) lights:

[Wavemaster]

Thank you! I will give it a try.

[Wavemaster]

I opened the camera up and let it dry out. Once dry, I tested it but had to move the cable around to get a picture as the connection must have been loose as well. The picture is good now that the moisture is gone. I just have to pull the cable straight for it to work. I put lots of silicone around it, re sealed it, and covered everything but the lens itself with silicone. It should never leak again!! Once it dries, I will have to tape the cable to the fin to make it straight as that is the only way I can the camera will get a picture for some reason. I think this just might work.

[bobberbill]

May want to contact Cabela's support and let them know what you had to do to make it work, and remind them you got a defective unit. That much money you spent you shouldn't have to tear it apart and fix it.

[Wavemaster]

May want to contact Cabela's support and let them know what you had to do to make it work, and remind them you got a defective unit. That much money you spent you shouldn't have to tear it apart and fix it.

I agree with you 100% bobberbill. I am going to do that. I am VERY disappointed with this experience. It took a lot of phone calls emails and waiting just to get a reply from the parts specialist. All they told me was warranty is only 1 year on this product and I could take it to an electronics shop to see if they could fix it. They also said they only stock replacement cameras for current models only and that my camera was too old. I wrote them back yesterday and told them I thought the camera on the 5.5 inch model (which they still currently sell) was the exact same as my 7 inch model. Both these models were available when I purchased mine and they are identical systems with the same camera. Every thing looks to be the same except the screen size and the cable length!

[montyst509]

I bought a 5.5 model used cheap with the condensation problem, going to take apart and fix bit i did find the din cable pin diagram in the instructions I downloaded from Cabelas.

http://www.cabelas.com/assets/product_files/pdf/019011_instructions.pdf