Frequently Asked Questions

How Do I Mount The Camera?

How Do I Mount The Camera Battery?

Can I cut Off The Two Coaxial Power Connectors And Wire The Battery And Camera Direct?

Why Do I See Interference On My TV Screen?

Can I Use More Than One Camera At A Time?

How Far Will The Camera Transmit?

I See Other Camera Systems On The Internet. Are They The Same?

What Is The Difference Between The Camera System With Sound As Compared To The One Without Sound?

My Camera Was Working And Now It Is Not

If All Else Fails

How Do I Mount The Camera?

Because of the cameras small size and light weight we suggest using double sided foam tape like the kind used in mounting R/C servos. We have tested this in R/C Cars, R/C Airplanes, R/C Boats, and Model Trains and found it to be the easiest and most fool proof method of mounting the camera. No special brackets are needed and you can remove the camera easily to place it in another model.

How Do I Mount The Camera Battery?

For most applications the double sided foam tape will work. If you need a more secure method of mounting the battery you may need to use plastic wire ties and foam tape. We are working on a battery mounting system but unfortunately it will not be available until 2004.

Can I cut Off The Two Coaxial Power Connectors And Wire The Battery And Camera Direct?

NO......

DO NOT CUT OFF THE POWER CONNECTOR ON THE CAMERA

There is a small printed circuit board embedded in the plastic that surrounds the power connector on the camera.  The function of this PC board is to pass the 9 volts DC to the transmitter in the camera and also regulate the 9 volts down to 5 volts for the camera logic.  You will need to very carefully remove the black plastic from the power connector on the camera by using an exacto number 11 blade or a single edge razor blade so you can expose the small PC board.  Shave a little bit of plastic at a time until the PC board is exposed.  You can also remove the black plastic sheath from the wires that go to the camera using the exacto blade or razor blade exposing the three wires connected to the PC board.  This will make the wires more flexible.  When the PC board is exposed, unsolder the power connector from the PC board.  Be very careful while removing the black plastic.  If you put too much stress on the PC board you will pull the positive trace off of the PC board.  Make a note of where the center pin of the connector is soldered.  This is where you will solder the RED lead from the 9 volt battery clip.  The BLACK lead gets soldered to the other side of the PC board.  Cut the male coaxial power connector off of the 9 volt battery clip and slide off the black plastic sheath to expose the RED and BLACK wires connected to the 9 volt battery clip.
These two wires get soldered to the PC board.

This modification is not for the faint of heart.  You will need a good magnifying glass to see where to solder the wires on the small PC board.

If you decide that the modification is beyond your capabilities, send the camera and 9 volt battery clip along with a check for $15.00 to us and we will do the modification for you.  If you have any questions please feel free to call, 570-620-9080.

Make checks payable to SJT Enterprises and send camera and battery clip to:

SJT Enterprises
PO Box 753
Bartonsville, PA 18321

Why Do I See Interference On My TV Screen?

The interference that you are seeing on the TV screen is due to electrical noise. It could be from almost anything. Try moving the camera receiver to a different location. In the case of model trains, the brushes or commutator on the motor in the engine might be dirty, the locomotive wheels could be dirty, or the track may need cleaning. If the problem persists, contact us for help.

Can I Use More Than One Camera At A Time?

Yes.  There are four camera channels.  You can have up to 4 cameras on at one time.  We sell add on cameras.  You will need to specify what channel you want when you place your order.  If you need assistance please call our Tech Support line at 570-620-9080 from 9:00am - 9:00PM EDT 7 days a week.

How Far Will The Camera Transmit?

300 to 1000 feet or more is not uncommon. It really depends on surrounding objects, and antenna orientation. In R/C Airplanes and R/C Boats we have attained distances of more than 1000 feet.

I See Other Camera Systems On The Internet. Are They The Same?

Do not be confused by the systems that you see on the internet. Some of these systems sell for the same price or even less. We sell only first quality pre-tested systems. Some of the other systems are seconds and may not live up to their performance claims.  We are an American Company and We Service What We Sell. Customer Satisfaction is our Number One Goal and we speak Your language, english!!!.

1. Make sure everything is connected and turned on.

2. Replace the camera battery with a new one.

3. Replace the receiver battery with a new one if you are using one. The red light on the camera receiver will light even if the battery voltage is to low for it to operate correctly. Measuring the battery voltage while it is not connected to the receiver will give a false measurement. If you measure the battery voltage it must be connected to the camera receiver and should measure at least 8 volts. Using an A/C power supply is recommended. The camera receiver will only operate for about 15 minutes on a standard 9 volt battery.

4. Make sure your VCR is set up properly for A/V input not tuner.

5. Make sure that the Audio and Video output from the camera receiver are connected to the correct audio and video input on the VCR.

6. Play a pre-recorded tape on the VCR to make sure the TV is set up correctly.

Battery problems are the most frequent trouble. If you use a fresh alkaline battery for the camera it should provide 8 hours or more of continuous operation. We do not recommend using a regular 9 volt battery on the receiver this is why we supply each system with a power supply for the receiver . We sell extra A/C power supplies for the camera and receiver and they are only $10.00 each plus S&H. CAUTION If you reverse the polarity on the camera or the receiver you will cause irreparable damage. Make sure that the polarity is correct before using any power source.

If your questions have not been answered on this page please send us an email and we will help you in any way that we can. We may even use your question on this page to help other people.

Email To: cameras@ptd.net