12th Feb 2012

USB Snakescope Camera

Stick it where the sun don’t shine

Customer rating:
4.36 from
553 ratings

USB Snakescope with magnetic attachment

USB Snakescope with magnetic attachment

Some objects are capable of raising a titter on looks alone. Take the USB Snakescope for example. But before we make a load of childish, ‘you wanna look up my what?’ style jokes, it’s worth stating that this impressive borescopic still/video camera has thousands of extremely practical uses.

Thanks to its long, robust, semi-flexible insertion tube (no sniggering at the back) and adjustable twin LEDs, it can explore all kinds of difficult to reach nooks and crannies, even wet ones because both camera head and cable are waterproof. It’s ideal for shoving down your plughole! ‘Hooray, I can see me ring!’

Capable of producing images in VGA quality (640x480)

Capable of producing images in VGA quality (640x480)

Better still, it comes with idiot-proof software that allows you to view, tweak and archive your findings. It’s even got a clip-on magnetic attachment so you can retrieve lost screws and other metallic items that have dropped out of reach.

Car engine

"Anyone seen the Firebox kitten?"

No slouch in the camera department, the Snakescope is capable of producing images in VGA quality (640x480) so differentiating between lint and screwed up tenners is easy. Speaking of peering into areas where the sun don’t shine, this quality gizmo is ideal for exploring the recesses of your sofa and examining car engines, cavity walls, mouse holes, loft spaces and more. Actually we’re sure we’ve seen Jack Bauer using something similar. Maybe he’d lost his keys?

Description

Handy tool box

Yes, we realise the first place you’re going to stick the USB Snakescope is down your trousers, but once you’ve recovered from the disappointment you’ll discover that the possibilities are endless. Take it to work and you can use it to peer around corners (‘Quick, the boss!’) or spy on colleagues over your monitor, periscope style. In fact the only place the USB Snakescope can’t look is inside your innuendo-ridden mind. Shame.

more infoMore Info

5 Star product: Computer Shopper
Best Buy: Computer Shopper
Please Note:
  • Requires a PC running Windows XP, Vista or Windows 7 and a USB 1.1/2.0 port
  • USB powered
  • Video resolution 640x480
  • Camera head outer diameter is 14 mm (0.55 in)
  • Full length of the camera and cable is 2m80cm (cable is 2m)


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reviewsComments

reviewsReviews and FAQs

Press Reviews...

press review "A tight engine bay and big hands can cause problems for DIY mechanics. But not with this flexible camera from online gadget giant Firebox."
Auto Express - Feb '10
press review "The camera outputs reasonable 640x480 video and its software makes it easy to capture stills or video."
Computer Shopper - Dec '09
press review "Slithers in where other cameras can't. Use it to go exploring behind radiators and down the back of the sofa."
Stuff - Dec '09
press review "At the very least, Snakescope enables children to satisfy their inherent curiosity about what is inside every nook and cranny..."
The Sunday Times - Nov '09

Visitor Reviews...

Page: 1 | 2 | 3
visitor avatar I got one of these for christmas ahd I love it. Works great on my laptop (Dell XPS M1530 running windows 7) with no problems whatsoever. Picture quality is good and it's good fun. I also have a Samsung Galaxy Tab 10. 1 and try as I might I can't find drivers or an app for it. This makes me sad! Any idea if android software for it is on the way?
Jonni, Belfast - 8th January 2012
visitor avatar Well boys & girls, You can't even get a good hang over for £40 these days!! this does what it says on the tin, It gets into small spaces & lets you see whats there! but you must remember to re boot your system before it will work!! shame there are no installation instructions I managed by trial & error. Having said that I'm going to have a look around one of our aircraft engines with it tomorrow! one down side is the length of the USB lead as I will have to have a laptop/notebook very close by when doing an inspection, I'll maybe try a USB extension lead, It may loose some signal, we will see, other than that, I'm impressed with it!
Geoff W, United Kingdom - 13th October 2011
visitor avatar Didn't work on my laptop. Included driver disk is an app and not a driver. Unable to remove the software from my laptop either, crashed the hell out of it when trying to remove. Nicely made piece of kit, but not worth the hassle of buying and returning. Maybe it's my laptop, but it's only 3 years old and running XP.
Scott, Denham - 31st March 2011
Firebox says: Sorry to hear that Scott, if you haven't already got in touch please do contact us on info@firebox.com
visitor avatar I wasn't expecting much for the price, but in reality this camera has absolutely no use. The picture quality is horrible and the LED lights are nowhere near bright enough to light pitch black areas where the camera will be used. The lack of a manual focus is also very frustrating as generally items in view will be very close to the camera and there is no way to focus on these areas. To sum it up if you want a £30 paper weight this is the camera for the job!
Tom Boon, Uk - 27th February 2011
visitor avatar When I try and use the Snakescope, it says something like; stopping capture (device lost) select new capture device. It is generally a good product, if it was consistent, I've had it for 2 days and it has broke, what is up with it?
Kieran, England - 27th January 2011
Firebox says: Hi Kieran. There could be a couple of things that could help you out. You could try downloading the software again here http://www.teamforce.com.tw/tf2808.htm or the drivers again here: http://www.teamforce.com.tw/Telescope%20Driver.exe. Also, the Snakescope doesn't always work well if there is another web cam installed on the computer, so if you have a web cam installed it could be worth uninstalling it as well. If you're still having issues then drop us an e-mail to info@firebox.com with your order details and we'll look into it further.
visitor avatar Make your mind up firebox - waterproof or not ?(Adam 27th Dec - No it isn't, Jumpy 19th Dec - yes it is!).
Paul, Here - 26th January 2011
Firebox says: It is waterproof, but we wouldn't go diving with it.
visitor avatar Didn't expect a great deal for £20 but after reading the reviews thought worth a go, DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY, what a pile of rubbish, the item is as is says so cannot argue with that however the picture quality is poor and you can only really make out what you are looking at if the camera is completely still.
Paul, Ruislip - 21st January 2011
Firebox says: Sorry you didn't like it Paul, if you want to return it then drop us an e-mail with your order details to info@firebox.com
visitor avatar Is there any other way to download the software on my laptop as it doesn't have a CD drive (netbook).
Kieran Robinson, Widnes, England - 18th January 2011
Firebox says: Yes, you can download the software here: http://www.teamforce.com.tw/Telescope%20Driver.exe
visitor avatar Hardware is well made and robust, but the video capture software is VERY basic and outdated, has no help file, and generates security permission messages under Windows 7. The camera driver, though robust, scatters files all over the hard drive for no obvious reason. The snapshot window does not close when the video app closes. An updated driver and improved video capture app is available from www. Pixcl. Com.
Stewart DIBBS, Ottawa, Canada - 15th January 2011
visitor avatar Does it have to be plugged into the PC and if so how long is the wire?
Daniel Meyer M, England - 13th January 2011
Firebox says: It does. The cable is 2m long, the whole thing from the tip of the cable to the tip of the camera is 2m80cm.
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