FLIR Scout II Series Thermal Imager Operator's Manual
Introduction
FLIR's Scout II Series thermal handheld cameras provide hikers, hunters, and outdoorsmen the ability to see clearly in total darkness, offering valuable information during any nighttime excursion.
The Scout II Series camera enables the outdoorsman to:
- See animals and difficult terrain in reduced visibility or total darkness.
- See through smoke, dust, and light fog.
- See camouflage and foliage in any lighting conditions.
- See more and farther than with low-light night vision goggles.
The Scout II Series camera creates images from heat, not light. This capability is impossible for the naked eye or even image-intensified (I²) night vision devices. It allows clear vision even in the absence of visible light. People, animals, and objects emit their own heat, creating contrast that is clearly visible with the Scout II Series camera under the most adverse conditions.
Image Description: Two side-by-side images are shown. The left image, labeled 'Visible Image', is dark and shows the faint silhouette of deer. The right image, labeled 'Scout II Series Camera Image', shows the same deer clearly rendered in thermal detail, highlighting their heat signatures.
Scout II Series Camera Features
Image Description: A FLIR Scout II Series thermal imager is shown. It is a compact, handheld device with a lens at the front, an eyepiece at the rear, and various buttons and ports on the body.
- Rugged design: Built to withstand the demands of outdoor use.
- Microbolometer sensor: Provides excellent image quality and clarity.
- Scout II 320: 336x256 pixel resolution, 17° horizontal field of view.
- Scout II 240: 240x180 pixel resolution, 24° horizontal field of view.
- Palm-Sized Portability and Light Weight: Weighs only 12 Ounces.
- Embedded LED Task Light ?.
- USB Cable for battery charging ?.
- USB/Video Adapter Cable for video out (Scout II 320 only).
- Rechargeable Internal Li-Ion battery: Provides up to 5 hours of camera operation on a single charge.
⚠️ Caution!
- Do not disassemble the camera enclosure. Disassembly can cause permanent damage and will void the warranty.
- Do not point the camera directly at extremely high-intensity radiation sources, such as the sun, lasers, or arc welders.
- Be careful not to leave fingerprints on the camera's infrared optics. Clean only with low-pressure fresh water and a lens cloth.
Getting Started
The Scout II Series camera is available with the features, options, and accessories described in this manual. Refer to the packing list enclosed with your camera shipment to determine the actual contents of your camera package.
In addition to the camera and Quick Start card, the following items are included in the camera package:
- Molle-Compatible Belt Holster
- Lens Cover
- Wrist Strap
- USB Cable ?
- USB/Video Adapter Cable (Scout II 320 only)
- USB Power Adapter Set
The following optional accessories are available for the Scout II Series cameras:
- Floating Lanyard
- Camera Carrying Pouch
Charging the Camera
⚠️ Caution! To ensure proper charging, Scout II Series cameras should be turned OFF throughout the charging cycle. Charging MUST only be done when the camera temperature is between 0 to 40°C (32 to 104°F), or battery damage may occur.
The camera battery should be fully charged prior to use. To charge the camera, lift the cover from the USB port ?, plug in the USB cable provided with the camera, and plug the other cable end into a USB power source.
- When charging correctly, the charging indicator will be lit orange.
- When fully charged, the charging indicator will light solid green. The initial charge time is approximately 5 hours.
Image Description: An image shows the USB port on the camera. Another image shows two cameras, one with an orange charging indicator light and another with a green charging indicator light.
Using USB/Analog Video Adapter Cable (Scout II 320 only)
To obtain analog video out, insert the adapter cable into the USB connector. The camera will detect the adapter cable and provide the video stream. Use an RCA cable to connect to a monitor or a video recorder.
Image Description: A FLIR camera is shown with a USB/Video adapter cable connected to its USB port. A placeholder indicates a customer-supplied RCA cable would connect to the adapter.
When using the USB/Analog Video Adapter cable to record video or supply video to a remote monitor, it may be useful to turn off the Auto Shutdown feature of the camera.
Scout II Series Power Management
Your Scout II Series camera is equipped with a power management system that provides up to five hours of continuous operation. When left in the Off state, the battery will hold a charge for up to two months. To make the best use of the camera, it is important to understand its basic power states.
- When the camera is turned on from the Off state, it takes about five seconds to become operational. During the boot-up process, the FLIR splash screen is shown, followed by the software version displayed briefly. Pressing the Power button ? will toggle the camera between On and Off.
- The camera shuts down automatically after about five minutes if no buttons are pushed. The message 'Auto shutdown ⏳' is shown in the display, and after counting down for 30 seconds, the camera will shut down.
Camera States
| Camera State ? | How do you know? ? |
|---|---|
| Off | The display is off and the Task Light ? comes on when the Brightness button ? is pressed. |
| On | The display is on and the LED Task Light ? is disabled. If the image appears blank, ensure the lens cover is removed. |
Auto Shutdown Operation ⏳
Auto Shutdown is a feature of the Scout II Series camera that helps prevent premature battery drain by inadvertently leaving the camera on.
Auto Shutdown turns the camera off if the following conditions are met:
- The camera is On ?.
- No buttons have been pressed for about five minutes.
Once these conditions are met, you will see the message 'Auto shutdown ⏳', and after counting down for 30 seconds, the camera will shut down.
Press any button during this countdown to terminate Auto Shutdown and resume normal operation.
? Note: Pressing any button during an Auto Shutdown countdown will only terminate the countdown and abort the shutdown. The normal function of the button will not occur.
Scout II/LS-X/LS-XR/Ocean Scout End User Tool
The Scout II/LS-X/LS-XR/Ocean Scout end user tool is a graphical user interface (GUI) used with the following FLIR handheld thermal imaging cameras:
- Scout II Series
- LS Series
- Ocean Scout
These cameras are similar in design and may be referred to generally as “Cayman” cameras.
The software allows a user to make minor configuration changes to one of these cameras. For example, a user can turn camera sounds on or off, or change the amount of time before the camera shuts down automatically. The tool can also be used to perform a camera firmware upgrade if one becomes available in the future.
To download the GUI, go to FLIR Software Downloads. (Original link was http://?id=53129).
Image Description: Two screenshots of the FLIR End User Tool GUI are shown. The first screenshot displays the 'Status Summary' and 'Configuration' tabs, showing connection status and application navigation. The second screenshot shows the 'Configuration Features' panel, with options such as 'Auto Shutdown', 'InstAlert', 'Button Backlight', 'Composite Video', 'Maritime Red', and 'Video Format' (NTSC/PAL).
Operating Your Scout II Series Camera
Camera Features and Controls
Image Description: A FLIR Scout II Series thermal imager is depicted with labels pointing to its various features and controls: Power button ?, Display Brightness/Task Light On/Off button ?, 2x zoom/Freeze Frame button ?/⏸️, Eyepiece ?️, LED Task Light ?, USB/Charging/Analog video out port ?, White hot/Black hot/InstAlert button ?, and Adjustable Diopter ?️.
Buttons and Controls
Power Button ?
Turn the camera On and Off.
Display Brightness Button ?
Use this button to cycle through the five levels of display brightness. Each press of the button advances to the next level of brightness. When the highest brightness level is reached, subsequent button presses advance to the next lower brightness levels. When the lowest brightness level is reached, subsequent button presses advance to the next higher brightness level. One of the following icons is displayed for approximately 3 seconds after the button is pressed, indicating the current brightness level: [Brightness Level Icons Description: A series of icons representing increasing brightness from left to right].
? Note: When the Scout II Series camera is powered Off, the Display Brightness button, when held on, turns on the LED Task Light ?.
White Hot/Black Hot/InstAlert™ Button ?
Use this button to toggle between the two video and the four InstAlert™ color palettes. In the default White Hot palette, hotter objects appear as white or light grey. In Black Hot, hotter objects appear as black or dark grey. In the InstAlert™ palettes, the hottest objects in the scene are highlighted in red to simplify detection of animals, people, and objects. There are four pre-set levels of InstAlert™ that you can select based on the specific scene being viewed. All of the InstAlert™ palettes are based on the white hot palette.
While white hot is the most commonly used and visually intuitive method of viewing thermal imagery, black hot can often enhance contrast of certain objects or provide better visual perspective in some conditions. When switching between palettes, the appropriate icon is displayed for approximately 3 seconds.
Image Description: Icons representing color palettes are shown: White hot (W), Black hot (B), and InstAlert™ 1, 2, 3, 4.
Zoom Button (Scout II 320 only) ?
Use this button to switch the camera between no zoom (full resolution) and 2x zoom. The central part of the image is magnified twice its normal size when 2x is selected. When zoom has been selected, the icon is continuously shown in the display.
Image Description: An icon showing '2X' is displayed, indicating zoom is active.
Freeze Frame Button (Scout II 240 only) ⏸️
Use this button to freeze the video so that a single frame may be inspected closely.
Diopter Controls ?️
Image Description: A close-up of the camera's eyepiece shows the adjustable diopter lever. The text indicates the 'Adjustable Diopter neutral position' when the lever points away from the camera front.
The diopter adjustment lever allows you to adjust for optimum image sharpness in the eyepiece. When the diopter adjustment lever is pointing straight away from the front of the camera, it is in the neutral position. Adjust the diopter setting for the sharpest image in the viewfinder.
Battery ?
Your Scout II Series camera is equipped with a sophisticated power system using a rechargeable internal Li-Ion battery.
Battery Status Indicator: While the camera is On, a battery status indicator is always shown in the corner of the display image. This indicator provides an estimation of the remaining battery charge.
Image Description: Icons representing battery status are shown: full charge (green bar), half charge (yellow bar), plugged in (plug symbol).
Auto Shutdown Operation ⏳
Auto Shutdown is a feature of the Scout II Series camera that helps to guard against draining the battery prematurely by inadvertently leaving the camera on.
Auto Shutdown turns the camera off if the following conditions are met:
- The camera is On ?.
- No buttons have been pressed for about five minutes.
Once these conditions are met, you will see the message 'Auto shutdown ⏳', and after counting down for 30 seconds, the camera will shut down.
Press any button during this countdown to terminate Auto Shutdown and resume normal operation.
? Note: Pressing any button during an Auto Shutdown countdown will only terminate the countdown and abort the shutdown. The normal function of the button will not occur.
Technical Data
Scout II Series Model Features
| Scout Model | Scout II 240 | Scout II 320 |
|---|---|---|
| Scout II Series Handheld Thermal Camera with video resolution of 240 × 180 pixels with freeze frame capability. | ||
| Scout II Series Handheld Thermal Camera with video resolution of 336 × 256 pixels with 2x digital electronic zoom. | ||
| Included with all camera models | Lens Cover, USB Cable, Wrist Strap, Operator's Manual, and Soft Carrying Pouch | |
| Feature | Details | |
| Start up ▶️ | < 5 seconds | |
| Thermal Sensitivity ?, Waveband 〰️ | < 50 mK @ f/1.0, 7.5 μm to 13.5 μm | |
| Detector Type ? | VOx Microbolometer | |
| Resolution / Display ?️ | Scout II 240—240 x 180 pixels; Scout II 320—336 x 256 pixels; 640x480 pixels LCD | |
| Refresh Rate | Scout II 240, < 9Hz; Scout II 320, < 9Hz | |
| Video Output ? | NTSC/PAL switchable using GUI available from FLIR website. (Scout II 320 models only—Composite video out through USB port via USB/Video Adapter Cable to customer supplied RCA cable.) | |
| Image Processing ⚙️ | FLIR Proprietary Digital Detail Enhancement | |
| Focus, Zoom ? | Fixed focus (Scout II 320 models only—2x electronic zoom) | |
| Display Palettes ? | White Hot, Black Hot, InstAlert™; selectable | |
| Task Light ? | LED enabled during power off state | |
| Power | Details | |
| Battery Type ? | Internal Li-Ion | |
| Battery Life Operating ⏳ | Greater than 5 Hours at 25°C | |
Environmental
| Parameter | Scout II 240 and Scout II 320 |
|---|---|
| Camera Operational Temp. ?️ | -4°F to 122°F (-20°C to 50°C) |
| Storage Temp. ? | -40°F to 140°F (-40°C to 60°C) |
| Ingress Protection Rating ?️ | IP-67, submersible up to 1 meter |
| Drop Test Rating ? | 1 meter drop |
Physical
| Parameter | Scout II 240, Scout II 320 |
|---|---|
| Weight, including lens ⚖️ | 12 oz. (340 g) |
| Size (L × W × H) ? | 6.70" × 2.31" × 2.44" (172 × 58.7 × 62 mm) |
Field of View ?️?️
| Parameter | Scout II 240, Scout II 320 |
|---|---|
| Field of View (FoV) | Scout II 240: 24° × 18° NTSC; Scout II 320: 17° × 13° NTSC |
Range Detection ?
| Parameter | Detect Man (1.8 m × 0.5 m) |
|---|---|
| Scout II 240 | 383 yd. (350 m) |
| Scout II 320 | 600 yd. (550 m) |
¹ Actual range may vary depending on camera set-up, environmental conditions, and user experience.
Proper Disposal of Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE)
The European Union (EU) has enacted Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive 2002/96/EC (WEEE), which aims to prevent EEE waste from arising; to encourage reuse, recycling, and recovery of EEE waste; and to promote environmental responsibility.
In accordance with these regulations, all EEE products labeled with the "crossed out wheeled bin" ♻️, either on the product itself or in the product literature, must not be disposed of in regular rubbish bins, mixed with regular household or other commercial waste, or by other regular municipal waste collection means. Instead, and in order to prevent possible harm to the environment or human health, all EEE products (including any cables that came with the product) should be responsibly discarded or recycled.
To identify a responsible disposal method where you live, please contact your local waste collection or recycling service, your original place of purchase or product supplier, or the responsible government authority in your area. Business users should contact their supplier or refer to their purchase contract.
Important Instructions and Notices to the User
Modification of this device without the express authorization of FLIR Commercial Systems, Inc. may void the user's authority under FCC rules to operate this device.
Note 1: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation.
This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that the interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:
- Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna ?;
- Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver ↔️;
- Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that of the receiver ?; and/or
- Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/television technician for help.
Industry Canada Notice:
This Class B digital apparatus complies with Canadian ICES-003.
Avis d'Industrie Canada:
Cet appareil numérique de la classe B est conforme à la norme NMB-003 du Canada.
Important Safety Instructions
- DO NOT DISASSEMBLE THE DEVICE.
- Read and follow all instructions.
- Heed all warnings.
- Only use the attachments/accessories specified by the manufacturer.
- All service must be provided by the manufacturer.
Battery Safety Information
The Scout II Series camera is a sealed unit with sensitive electronics and contains no user-serviceable parts. Service or repair is to be performed only by the manufacturer. The camera unit must not be opened or modified by the user or owner in any manner or for any reason.
The battery used in this device may present a risk of fire or chemical burn if mistreated. Do not disassemble the camera, store above 60°C, or incinerate. The battery is factory replaceable only; return the camera to the manufacturer for battery replacement.
