Troubleshooting – SeeSnake Distance Counters

This technical reference covers each generation of SeeSnake distance counter, including compatibility troubleshooting common issues.

Quick Symptom Guide

• Random text on screen — (ABC Plumbing, ROOTS, BELLY, etc.) CountIR or CountPlus
• Two distance/time overlays visible — CountIR or CountPlus with a digital monitor
• Distance frozen or inaccurate — CountIR or CountPlus
• Four dashes (——) instead of distance — CountPlus or TruSense Counter
• Distance counts backward — TruSense Counter
• ERROR1 or ERROR2 on screen — CountIR
• Inaccurate distance count — CountIR or CountPlus

How SeeSnake Counters Work

All three counter generations share the same core approach: no moving parts, drum rotation detection (infrared or magnetic), and distance calculations derived from three factors set at power-on — drum type, cable diameter, and how much cable is inside the drum when the system starts. Counters sit inline in the signal path between the camera head and the monitor.

Because distance is calculated from cable length inside the drum at power-on, powering a system on with cable already deployed in a pipe will produce an inaccurate count for that run. This is the single most common cause of distance errors across all three counter generations.

Zero Points

All counters support an absolute zero and a user zero. CountPlus and TruSense Counter also support a temp zero.

Absolute zero — set automatically when the system powers on. Assumes all cable is inside the drum. This is the baseline for all distance calculations; it cannot be manually reset during a run.

User zero — set by the operator once the camera is in position (typically after it drops into the main line). Resets the displayed distance to zero at that point without affecting the absolute zero baseline. Setting user zero does not correct an inaccurate absolute zero — it only offsets the displayed count from the current position forward.

• CountIR: Distance key, short press
• CountPlus and TruSense Counter: Distance key, long press (~2 seconds)

Temp zero (CountPlus and TruSense Counter only) — measures the distance between two points in a pipe. Short press to set, short press again to clear and return to normal distance. The temporary distance appears in brackets on screen.

Note: Most users are unaware of the long press vs. short press distinction on CountPlus and TruSense Counter and use a short press habitually. A short press sets temp zero rather than user zero — the count is still accurate, but it resets on the next short press. This is a common source of confusion on support calls.

CountIR (3-Button Keypad, 2001–2008)

Used on: Standard and Mini camera reels

Compatible with: All SeeSnake monitors (1994–present); RIDGID micro CA-300 and micro CA-350

The CountIR uses an infrared emitter and receiver to detect drum rotation. It includes internal video overlay hardware that embeds distance, time/date, and user-programmed text directly into the video stream — what you see on screen is what gets recorded, regardless of which monitor is connected. An internal CR2032 coin-cell battery preserves time/date settings and drum/cable parameters when the system is powered off.

User-programmable text storage holds up to 30 pages of job names, addresses, or notes. This text displays as an overlay on the video image. If it’s visible and unwanted, it must be hidden via the keypad — it doesn’t clear automatically.

Important compatibility note: The CountIR contains a video overlay chip that blocks TruSense bi-directional communication between the camera head and the monitor. If a TruSense camera head is retrofitted onto an older reel that still has a CountIR, the system will produce a video image but none of the following TruSense features will function:

• TiltSense
• Digital Self-Leveling (DSL)
• Camera head software updates
• HDR mode toggle (HDR imaging remains active but cannot be disabled)

Retrofitting a TruSense camera head onto an older reel requires upgrading to a TruSense Counter at the same time.

CountIR — Common Issues

Random text on screen (ABC Plumbing, ROOTS, BELLY, etc.)
The text overlay is on. Press and hold the Clock key to hide it.

Two sets of distance/time visible on screen
Both the CountIR overlay and the monitor’s own overlay are active simultaneously. Turn off the unneeded CountIR overlays using the keypad. On digital monitors, the monitor overlay is generally higher quality and worth keeping; disable the CountIR overlay.

Distance frozen or jumping erratically
The IR window on the back of the counter may be dirty or obstructed. Clean with a damp cloth and retest.

Inaccurate distance

• System was powered on with cable already in the pipe — absolute zero is set incorrectly
• Drum/cable parameters are incorrect or have been lost due to a dead battery

ERROR1 — Distance Out of Bounds
Appears when the calculated distance goes negative or exceeds the programmed cable length by approximately 40 feet.

• System powered on with cable already in the pipe
• Drum/cable parameters lost due to dead battery
• Parameters not re-entered after battery replacement
• Cable repaired or replaced without updating cable length parameter

Jobsite workaround if battery can’t be replaced immediately: set time/date and drum/cable parameters manually each time the system is powered on.

ERROR2 — Drum/Cable Parameters Not Set
Appears when required parameters are missing, typically after a dead battery or new battery installation without reprogramming.

• Dead internal battery
• New battery installed without reprogramming drum/cable parameters

For battery replacement steps: CountPlus and CountIR — Battery Replacement and Error Messages

CountPlus (9-Button Keypad)

Two versions: v1 (2008) and v2 (2010–present)

Used on:

• Standard and Mini reels — external CountPlus unit (v1 or v2)
• rM200 and microREEL CA — CountPlus v2 hardware and software integrated into the internal PCB

Compatible with: All SeeSnake monitors (1994–present); RIDGID micro CA-300 and micro CA-350

The CountPlus uses magnetic drum rotation detection. Like the CountIR, it includes internal video overlay hardware that embeds distance, time/date, and text directly into the video stream (v1 and v2). V2 adds a digital data line that sends count data directly to compatible monitors, enabling higher-quality monitor-generated overlays. V2 units display “DataLink” at startup to indicate the digital connection is active.

On digital monitors, the v2 CountPlus sends distance via the DataLink connection and the monitor generates its own overlay. The embedded CountPlus overlay is turned off by default at power-up on digital monitors. Both overlays can be toggled independently using the CountPlus keypad.

Note: The CS1000 and CS10 can receive and display digital distance data from the CountPlus v2 DataLink connection, but they cannot overlay that data onto the recorded video. For CS1000 and CS10 users who need distance on their recordings, the CountPlus embedded overlay must be enabled.

Important compatibility note: The CountPlus contains the same video overlay chip as the CountIR, which blocks TruSense bi-directional communication. See the CountIR compatibility note above — the same limitations apply. Retrofitting a TruSense camera head onto any reel with a CountPlus requires upgrading to a TruSense Counter.

CountPlus — Common Issues

Random text on screen (ABC Plumbing, ROOTS, BELLY, etc.)
The text overlay is on. Press the Text key to turn it off.

Two sets of distance/time visible on screen
Both the CountPlus embedded overlay and the monitor overlay are active. Disable the CountPlus overlay using the Text or Distance key, or disable the monitor overlay via Menu > Reel Options > Show Overlay = OFF.

Dead battery behavior
A dead internal battery (CR2450) may cause any of the following:

• Loss of time/date
• Loss of drum/cable parameters
• Inaccurate or unstable distance readings
• Dead battery indicator on the monitor screen

Distance frozen or not incrementing (Standard and Mini reels only)
Confirm both drum magnets are present. Magnets are held by a black plastic retainer that attaches to the drum with four screws. If the magnets are intact and distance still doesn’t increment, the counter is likely faulty.

Inaccurate distance

• System powered on with cable already in the pipe
• Drum/cable parameters lost due to dead battery

Monitor displays four dashes (——) instead of distance
Digital count data is not reaching the monitor. This typically indicates a faulty counter, but rule out the following first:

• Test with a different monitor to isolate the counter
• If the issue appeared immediately after a monitor software update, reboot to the previous version: Menu > Info/About > Reboot to previous version

Jobsite workaround:

• Press the Distance key on the CountPlus to enable the embedded overlay
• Pull out a short length of cable to confirm the count is incrementing
• Hide the dashes by disabling the monitor distance overlay: Menu > Reel Options > Show Overlay = OFF

For battery replacement steps: CountPlus and CountIR — Battery Replacement and Error Messages

TruSense Counter (No Keypad, 2017–Present)

Used on: All TruSense camera systems, including microREEL APX and microDRAIN APX

Compatible with:

• CSx series monitors (2017–present) — full TruSense feature support
• CS6, CS6 Pak, CS65 — distance display only; no TruSense features
• CS1000 and CS10 — distance visible in monitor UI but cannot be overlaid onto recorded video
• Analog monitors and LT-1000 — distance not supported

The TruSense Counter has no overlay hardware, no keypad, and no internal battery. It provides a digital, bi-directional data connection between TruSense camera heads and CSx series monitors. Drum and cable parameters are factory-programmed and permanent — there are no user-adjustable settings.

Because the TruSense Counter has no video overlay chip, it does not block bi-directional TruSense communication. This is the critical difference from CountIR and CountPlus: TruSense features (TiltSense, Digital Self-Leveling, camera head software updates, HDR toggle) are only available when a TruSense Counter is in the signal path.

Older Standard and Mini reels with a CountIR or CountPlus can use the TruSense Counter, but a compatible CS or CSx series monitor is required to display distance.

TruSense Counter — Common Issues

Distance counts backward
The counter circuit board is installed in the wrong orientation. This can occur after a counter board replacement, whether in the field or at a repair center. Remove the board and reinstall it in the correct orientation.

Monitor displays dashes (——) instead of distance
See CountPlus — four dashes above. Same diagnostic steps apply.

Distance frozen or not incrementing
See CountPlus — distance frozen above. Check drum magnets first.

If none of these steps resolve the issue, contact SeeScan Service at 858-244-6689 (Monday–Friday, 8am–4pm PT) or submit a ticket at help.seesnake.com.