USB Snake Scope, PixArt PAC7302 Software Update

USB Super Snake Scope, PixArt PAP7501 Software Update

Last Update: 24 April 2012

USB Endoscope | Borescope Camera products based on the PixArt PAC7302 SoC device looks like this

and may have the name

USB Snake Scope
USB Endoscope
Tube Snake Inspection Camera

These cameras have one button on the handle.

If your camera looks like this but has two buttons on the handle, the camera is based on the PixArt PAP7501 SoC device. It might be called a Super Telescope Camera .

Perhaps you, as we did, found that while the driver installs and works for XP/Vista/Win7, the application software that comes with it is unimpressive, with irritations such as

The driver sometimes won't install from the SnakeScope mini-CD.
No Help file for the driver or video capture application
No information on the TWAIN driver software.
Incomprehensible error messages when the camera is not connected or the wrong video or audio device is selected.
Menu items meaningful to a programmer but not the typical user.
The SnapShot Reader window does not close when the capture application closes.
The SnapShot Reader window content stops updating, with a re-install the only obvious way to get it working again.
Annoying security messages about Win.ini updating when running under Vista and Windows 7.
No software support from PixArt or the original supplier of the camera

The updated software replaces and extends the AmCap video capture application that runs when you click the camera button. The PAC7302 USB driver software has a new installer that works correctly.

Looking for the original driver for a PAC7302 or PAP7501 ?

How to tell if this software will work for your USB Snake Scope camera.

The simplest way is to run the application capture program. If the Status bar shows "Telescope Driver" then the software update will likely work for you.

Look for a C:\Windows\PixArt\PAC7302 directory.

You can also run the Device Manager with the camera attatched.

The camera appears in the Imaging Devices class, and is called Telescope Driver, as shown above.

What do you get in the software update?

A new installer that runs under XP, Vista and Windows 7-32 and 7-64
A new video capture application with understandable menus, error messages and custom video overlay image options not present in the original application.

a COMPLETE Help file, including
- details of all available menu and video parameter options.
- how to create and install video overlay files.
- all the information you need on the TWAIN driver software.
Captured video file selection and playback from the new capture application.
Email snapshots or video sequences directly from the new capture application.
The SnapShot Reader window closes when the capture application closes.
SnapShot Reader window content updates correctly.
NO annoying security messages when running under Vista and Windows 7.

and most importantly

Software support from the Canadian developer.
Here's what people have said about our Technical support
- "It's nice to email a site and get someone with a brain. Much
  appreciated."
- "Simply the best and most comprehensive support I've ever had."
- "The software update went very well. It's for a USB microscope that I
  bought in Japan, but it has the same camera as the endoscope, so needs the
  same drivers. As I'm using Windows 7, the drivers that came with the
  microscope didn't work, but the PiXCL drivers were great."
- "I was most impressed with the speed and friendliness with
  which you responded to my request for assistance, especially since it
  was over a weekend. Thank you so much."
- "... the installation ran smoothly and as advertised. Excellent. I now
  know that the positive reviews were well-deserved."

Something this update cannot fix...

If you are using a Notebook class PC with an Atom N270 cpu running Windows XP (e.g. a Dell Mini 10), you may find that selecting the Endoscope causes an immediate Blue Screen of Death crash in ks.sys. This is not the fault of the endoscope driver, as it happens with any secondary video device, and appears to be a problem with the the Intel N270 cpu support libraries in the Windows kernel. The crash does not occur on Atom N550 cpu Notebooks. The only known fixes are either an upgrade to Vista or better, Windows Seven, or trying another PC.

Still have a question? Email Technical Support

How to get the software update

Purchase the software update for $39 via PayPal.
Log into the support and download page with the userID and password emailed to you once the PayPal transaction is complete. Please note this email is not an automatic process and may take up to 1 business day. On this page you will also find the Snake Scope OEM installer and driver software.
Download the software update and run the installer as instructed in the Support Pages.

Reboot your PC and the update is ready.
Remember that email Technical Support is always available.