FAQ
TL;DR: 96 % of owners spend under $45 on the PACHMET/Andonstar-style G600 and still call it “a really useful tool” [Elektroda, CMS, post #17562563] “The delay is so slight you can solder” [Elektroda, bestler, post #17574147]
Why it matters: You can decide if a low-cost digital scope fits hobby-level electronics before buying.
Quick Facts
• Street price: US $31-41, shipping extra [Elektroda, CMS, post #17562563]
• Screen: 4.3 in TFT, ~800 × 600 px [Elektroda, Anonymous, post #17564443]
• Claimed magnification: 1-600×; practical ~200× usable [Elektroda, CMS, post #17562563]
• Battery: Li-ion 2500 mAh; 4-6 h runtime per charge [Elektroda, bestler, post #17665307]
• Firmware stored in 25Q80 SPI-Flash (8 Mbit) [Elektroda, CMS, post #17562563]
1. What is the real resolution of the display and camera?
The built-in panel is a basic 4.3-inch TFT at roughly 800 × 600 pixels, not Full-HD [Elektroda, Anonymous, post #17564443] The sensor saves 5 MP stills, but live USB video streams at 640 × 480 px; interpolation inflates file size [Elektroda, nasu, post #17726960]
2. How much of the advertised 600× magnification is actually useful?
Users report clean, readable detail up to about 200×. Beyond that the image softens and depth of field collapses [Elektroda, CMS, post #17562563]
3. How long does one charge last?
Fresh units run 4-6 hours: 2.5-3 h used 75 % of the battery for CMS; Top Gun logged 5 h on the last bar [Elektroda, CMS, #17665543; Top Gun, #17671184].
4. Is video lag a problem while soldering?
Lag measures under 100 ms in webcam tests—short enough that owners describe it as “slight” and workable for hand-eye tasks [Elektroda, bestler, post #17574147]
5. Can I connect the G600 to a PC or external monitor?
Yes. Plug the USB cable and select PC-Camera; any webcam app (e.g., Windows 10 Camera, OBS) shows live video [Elektroda, CMS, post #17672827] No native HDMI or AV output exists.
6. My unit freezes while saving to micro-SD. How can I fix this?
Format the card to FAT32 on a computer, 32 kB allocation. Cards set to plain FAT cause frequent black-screen hangs during capture [Elektroda, mrozilla, post #18245132] Use Class 10 media ≤32 GB.
7. The scope hangs on the splash screen. How do I reflash it?
- Desolder the onboard 25Q80 Flash.
- Program a verified dump from a working unit with an SPI programmer.
- Resolder, reconnect battery, reboot. CMS succeeded using a 25Q32 replacement chip [Elektroda, CMS, post #17562563]
8. Which stand is best?
The cast-aluminum pillar stand adds stability and 10 cm extra clearance for hot-air work. CMS calls it “a bull’s-eye” upgrade; plastic suction stands wobble [Elektroda, CMS, post #17624131]
9. How do I stop LED glare on shiny solder?
Dim the ring light with the side potentiometer or switch it off and place two desk lamps at 45 °. Users report glare-free images using this cross-lighting method [Elektroda, nasu, post #17727559]
10. Can I comfortably solder 0402 parts under this microscope?
You can, but the flat image and limited depth make tip positioning harder than with a stereo microscope. Several members still prefer a 20× binocular scope for daily work [Elektroda, slavo666, post #17564774]
11. How can I take shake-free photos?
Press OK and release; the firmware delays capture by ~3 s, allowing vibrations to settle [Elektroda, CMS, post #17562563] For critical shots, rest elbows or use a remote trigger via USB.
12. What are the most common failure points?
Edge cases include: firmware corruption that blanks the SPI-Flash, causing perpetual boot hang [Elektroda, CMS, post #17562563]; SD-card write freezes with non-FAT32 media [Elektroda, mrozilla, post #18245132]; and early battery packs that drop from full to one bar instantly [Elektroda, juniorK123, post #17665554] Reflashing, proper formatting, and two full charge-discharge cycles solve most issues.
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