I would certainly make sure any attachment is magnetic before I used it, so retrieval would be possible. And if I get another one it will have a semi-flexible end, as a matter of fact that alone is a good reason to get another one (along with improved resolution over the one I have). Worf's caution about malware is also important, a lot of stuff from China contains surprises in the software.

 

Sometimes it's baffling to sort through the choices, so maybe this will save some time for people who are interested.

I bought one of these for $15 on Amazon:


It worked better than expected but you would not want use it for surgery. The plus: The end is about the diameter of a soda straw and fits just about anywhere. The light is plenty and it's adjustable with a dial on the cable end. The minus: It's really tough to keep "up" on the view = "up" on the subject, and the depth of field is pretty shallow. You will also need an adapter from USB female to USB micro male for most devices. But what do you want for $15? Verdict: Useful and amazing, but limited.

I use a dedicated cheapo android tablet for car work so the security damage domain is limited. But I couldn't use the CD that came with the borescope, so I downloaded a free USB camera app from the Google Play Store, "UsbWebCamera" by Serenegiant. It has an impressive feature set and has not yet seized control of the tablet. Of course, YMMV.

 

Ugh. Links inexplicably not working due to human error.

Search for this:

GCA 5.5mm Diameter USB Waterproof 6 Led Endoscope Borescope Inspection Wire

 

Just purchased this a week ago on special at $ 60 and haven't used it yet. It plugs into any computer and you install the software. Another friend on Rennlist here has one like mine and it worked fine. So I decided to treat myself !
http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/ma...4574p.html#srp

 

I got my "phone" endoscope. Only $6 from newfrog and delivered straight from Malaysia along with other dirt-cheap tech toys.

Turns out to be a "PC" endoscope as the connector doesn't make contacts with my phone. Works on the PC. Maybe I could fix that but not caring. Still, gets a picture and has LEDs around the tip. Should serve a purpose when I've got one.

 

Ordered one of these as the price included delivery to anywhere on the planet. Downloaded the recommended camera from software- niet! Read the instructions in the box and there it says your phone must support "OTG"- what this basically means is there is an interface capability needed to support external cameras- more expensive phones have this lesser ones do not and mine is...?

I do not need the latest and greatest gadgets so try to purchase capable items that do what I need them to do. My mobile is a Huawei P8 lite- I need a telephone, like having good camera and like to use Whatsapp and that is about it really. Did not see this need listed on the seller's website and first I knew was when reading the literature. Checked- does not support OTG - bummer!

I dare say one can make it work on the lap top so loaded the supplied mini CD- did not autorun. So, looked into the file, there was an autorun file and a setup file so ran the setup file- a few seconds later icon appeared on desk top- plugged in the endoscope, lights operate, clicked icon on desktop- eror message- urrgh. OK so tried a referenced website but the referenced link was for the android app.

I suppose one could try to modify the phone but chances are doing this will "brick it". I already have a separate endoscope kit but it does not take pics [or so it seems].

So at the moment I can plug it in to my laptop and get a light but then I have plenty of LED torches! I are say the thing will work but not on my kit at the moment!

You get what you pay for in life!

 

Getting two gadgets to play nice with each other is hit or miss. I remember saying this to a friend in gadget-induced hell, a well-off professional who had tried to economize: "Lyman, a man of your means should not gamble with his happiness."

Taking that advice myself, I bought a cheap stand-alone system.

 

I'm a technical professional and I'm here to help.

"OTG" means "On the Go" which is an odd way to say that the USB port can be either a "Host" or a "Device." A real difference is if the socket supplies power or accepts power.

For example, when your phone is plugged into a computer by USB, it's acting like a Device. Likely getting charged that way, too. When the camera gets plugged in to the phone, the camera needs the phone to power it. OTG ports have a 5th pin (normal USB has 4) so the plugee can request power, or not.

And thanks for posting... That could be my problem, too. It worked fine on the laptop and a much bigger screen for viewing, too.

 

Glen,

How did you get it to work on the laptop? I have a pretty decent high end Lenovo laptop running windows 8.1 [I declined the free at the time upgrade]. When I pluggged the device into a USB port it loaded something and the scope lights came on. Whether there is some software buried in WIn8 that supports external camera operation no idea but the software crap on the supplied mini CD did not.

Doubtless there will be free software somewhere that may make it run that or I have something already on board but just not aware of it that wil do the job.

Rgds

Fred

 

Fred,

I'm running Win10. It has a Camera app that allowed me to select the 'scope and see the video live. You may need to download it from MS.

 

Has anyone seen one of these that is compatible with IOS. Would like to use it with my iPad but all that I found on Amazon are Windows or Android compatible only.

 

IOS is inherently incompatibile for things like this, lacking a USB port...which is an open compatible interface.

 

I've used the "CameraFi" app for various cameras on Android phones, works well.

 

Glen,

Got it! I tried the camera app in Win8 but it used the inbuilt camera - today I found there was a hidden menu with option to select "other camera"- thanks.

Now have to work out whether I can work anything on my android to get OTG functional without bricking it.

Rgds

Fred

 

Yup. My USB borescope is such a PITA to use that I always use my half-decade older lower-spec stand-alone borescope first.

Of course, at this point I will not use my USB 'scope until I find non-virus-laden software for it. I'm not expecting the device to function if it's software is running in a VM.