Apogee U-838 User manual
Features:
• It has a small contour design, which easily attaches to the side of a model rocket.
• Saves video les in AVI video format.
• Can record under low illumination conditions.
• Video records at 30 fps and has an image size of 1920 X 1080 pixels
• Supports USB1.1 and USB2.0.
• Contains a 4GB memory Card, and can support up to 32GB T-ash cards.
• Built-in lithium battery, which can take a video of up to 120 minutes
• Motion detection capability, so it doesn’t record video when nothing in the eld of view changes.
• Its two infrared lights allows for stealthy video recording under low illumination conditions.
NOTE: This is an incomplete instruction manual. At this time, we don’t know how to access all the func-
tions. If you can help, please send your observations about the camera to Tim Van Milligan at ts.vm@
ApogeeRocketscom
U-838 HD Video Camera
User Manual
The inexpensive HD video camera that works great on model rockets!
Operation Guide
1. Charging the Battery
A) The battery in the U-838 HD video camera is a built-in lithium rechargeable battery. You should
recharge it before using the camera. The method for charging is: Connect the U-838 HD video
camera to your computer using the USB plug on the end of the unit.
B) During the charge cycle the indicator light will illuminate with a blue light. When it is fully
charged, the light will turn to red and remain steadily illuminated.
Notice: When battery power is too low, the camera will enter into protection mode. In this state, it can-
not be turned on. It should be recharged for video operations.
2. Turning ON the U-838 HD video camera
Press and hold the “ON/OFF” button for 3 seconds. The indicator light will illuminate steadily for about
two seconds, then ash once, and return to a steady light. It has now entered its stand-by mode. While in
stand-by mode, the indicator LED will be a steady blue light.
3. Turning OFF the U-838 HD video camera:
Stopping recording video will put the U-838 HD video camera into standby mode.
Then press and HOLD the “ON/OFF” button for a minimum of two seconds. The indicator LED on the
U-838 will quickly blink 5 times and then the light will become steady as you hold the button. As soon
as you release the button, the U-838 HD video camera will be off.
The video is automatically saved to memory during shut down.
4. Recording Video
While the U-838 is in stand-by mode (indicated by a steady blue LED light), press the video stop/start
button. The LED will blink two times, and go out. The U-838 HD video camera is now recording video.
There is NO light to indicate that it is taking video. Why is that? Because this was originally intended
as a spy camera. A light would give away that you were taking video. We’re not the manufacturer, so
Apogee has no control over the lights on the camera.
The lens is not designed for close-up videos. You’ll need at least 50cm (about 20in) between the lens and
the subject for proper focus and to allow sufcient illumination.
5. Pausing Video Recording
Press the start/stop button to pause recording. Any video you paused is saved as a separate video le in
the memory.
When in pause mode, the indicator light will illuminate a solid-steady blue color.
To resume recording, press the Start/Stop button.
6. To Take Still Photos
While the camera is on (in stand-by mode, as indicated by a solid/steady blue LED light), momentarily
press the “REC/PHO” button. The LED light will ash off, and the camera will then take a single photo.
The photo is automatically saved to memory, and then the LED light will come back to a solid/steady
light, indicating the U-838 is back in standby mode.
7. To make a Voice Memo
Recording audio sound (without video) is possible with the U-838 device. When the camera is turned on
(in stand-by mode, as indicated by a solid/steady blue LED light), press and hold the “REC/PHO” button
for three seconds. The LED light will long-ash twice, and then go out (off). The U-838 will now be
recording sound, but without video.
Again, the device is recording with the LED off, because it was originally intended as a spy camera, and
you don’t want to give it away that it is recording by having a light on.
To stop recording sound, momentary (quick) press the “REC/PHO” button. The LED will return to a
solid/steady light, and the U-838 is back in stand-by mode. The le is stored to memory as a .WAV le.
To reenter the audio recording, you have to press and hold the “REC/PHO” button for three seconds. If
you do a momentary press, it will just take a still photo.
8. To Turn On and Off the Infrared lights
While the camera is on (in stand-by mode, as indicated by a solid/steady blue LED light), start a video
recording (see step 4 above). While it is recording video, momentary press the “REC/PHO” button. To
turn them off, again momentary press the “REC/PHO” button.
To be honest, the infrared lights are useless. For one thing, you can’t see that they are on; they are
outside of the visible spectrum of light. It is like the infrared light on the remote of your television. The
only way to tell that they are on is to look at the camera with a different camera which can detect the
infared spectrum of light. I use the built-in webcam on my computer to verify that they are on, since it
can sense infrared light.
The infrared lights are supposed to illuminate a night-time scene. But they are too small to make any dif-
ference in the picture quality. You might as well leave them off for model rocketry purposes.
9. Motion Detection
This is one part of the camera we haven’t gured out how to turn on/off yet. Your help would be greatly
appreciated.
The purpose of motion detection is to save memory by only taking video when something is moving in
the view of the camera.
This mode should be OFF for model rockets ights. Otherwise you’ll miss the launch of the rocket if it
has been sitting on the pad for too long.
10. Setting the Time Stamp
This is another part of the camera we haven’t gured out fully yet. Again, your help would be greatly
appreciated.
11. Connecting to your computer
When the U-838 video camera is connected to your computer using the USB socket, your computer
should recognize it just like a simple USB memory stick. While connected to your computer, the illumi-
nation light will be a steady color.
You should see several folders on the “removable drive.” The folder called “DCIM” contains the videos
and the photos you have taken. Open the folder, and copy the les you wish to view to your computer. It
is better to copy the les before trying to play them, as they will play with less choppiness.
Use your computer to delete the video les from the T/F card to free up memory space to take more
videos. The camera can also be used as a memory disk to hold and transfer les.
12. Mounting Options
Because it is such a lightweight camera, you can use strong electrical tape or duct tape to hold the U-838
HD video camera onto your rocket. Be sure not to cover up the operation buttons or the lens of the de-
vice. On small rockets, mount the camera closer to the front of the rocket to keep the Center-of-Gravity
forward of the Center-of-Pressure. On bigger rockets, you can move the camera rearward to get a more
unobstructed view of the ground during launch.
Notice
Suitable usage: Please follow all applicable state laws. Do not use it illegally.
Moisture Warning: Do not get the U-838 HD video camera wet or use it in high humidity conditions. It
is not waterproof and will destroy the device.
Shooting illumination: The U-838 HD video camera works best in sunlight conditions. Do not aim the
camera at the sun or other strong light sources, as that will damage the optical sensors in the camera.
Cleaning requirements: Protect the camera and the lens from dust and dirt.
Waste treatment: Protect the environment; do not to throw the product in with household garbage. It
should be disposed of in a manner suitable for electronic products, as it contains a lithium battery.
Fire: In order to avoid a battery explosion, do not throw product into a re.
Warranty
Apogee Components is not the manufacturer of this product. We do not warranty the U-838 Keychain
HD video camera other than it will work on your bench when you receive it. If your camera does not op-
erate when you receive it, contact the vendor you purchase the camera from. Once the camera has been
launched, the warranty is no longer in effect. There is no repair or replacement warranty.
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