Seek Thermal Compact Series cameras Hardware and Firmware list

[Fraser]

I have just taken delivery of a ‘customer return’ Seek Thermal Compact Dongle format camera. As is often the case with such returns the unit works perfectly

I bought the very first generation of the Seek Thermal phone camera when it was first released but was disappointed with its imaging performance. This newer model with its manual focus and later generation hardware appears a far better product.

I would like to document the different hardware versions that have been released by Seek Thermal so have created this thread to collect the data and document it in one place on the forum.

I will collect data on all versions of the Seek Dongle through this thread and list them in this first post for future reference by the forum membership. I am grateful to anyone who participates in this little exercise.

How to get to the required data :

Connect your camera to your phone or tablet and start the application. In the settings menu, go to the “About” option. The various software and hardware versions are then shown. The camera information is included.

I will start this data collection process with my cameras data set as an example in the next post.


Data Set:


Seek Thermal ‘Classic’ Dongle (original Fixed Focus model)

Serial Number          Hardware      TH        TLID   Date of Purchase




Seek Thermal Compact Dongle

Serial Number          Hardware    TH        TLID    Date of Purchase

1E1380N2xxxx               V7        V2          V0         Not Known



Seek Thermal Compact XR Dongle

Serial Number          Hardware      TH        TLID    Date of Purchase




Seek Thermal Compact Pro Dongle

Serial Number          Hardware      TH        TLID    Date of Purchase

[Fraser]

Example entry...... Only a partial serial number is needed. I left off the 4 last characters and replaced them with an ‘x’

The year the camera was bought would also be useful information but not essential.
Only provide information that you are comfortable sharing in public. You can leave out the serial number completely if desired. The serial number may give an indication of build date, which is why I have included it.

Model : Compact

Serial Number          Hardware    TH        TLID

1E1380N2xxxx               V7        V2          V0


Year purchased (New Purchases only) :

[Fraser]

Initial thoughts on the version information are that the Hardware is the PCBA and the TH could be the microbolometer version. There is talk of a second generation microbolometer in the Compact and a Compact XR that does not have the “Patent Pixels” and more recent models do seem to produce a better image than the original Gen 1 model that I bought. “TH:V2” could, potentially indicate a Version 2 microbolometer ?

Fraser

[Fraser]

It appears there is no interest in profiling the versions of Seek Thermal Dongle cameras. No worries, it was just a thought. I will park that idea. Seek Dongle type cameras have never ‘lit a fire in my belly’ so I can understand the lack of interest.

Now the Seek Reveal series.... they have gained my interest so I have a full set of the consumer versions in my collection. They will be the focus of my ongoing investigations into the imaging sensor, it’s supply rail and and related noise issues 

On to more useful activities now 

Fraser

[IwuzBornanerd]

Patience, patience, my friend. 
I was going to post during supper last night but my back wouldn't let me...  But if I'm the only one, your assessment is still good.

But there might just be little to document.  All 3 of my non-pro units, from 2015 & 2017 read the same as yours except that TLID is -1

The SF (Sept 2019) & FF (Dec 2017) pro also have -1 for TLID but HW is v0 & TH is v3

Camera SW for all no-pro units is 1.3.0.0 and for the pro units it is 1.0.3.0

[Fraser]

Maybe I was hasty 

There were lots of reads and nil responses which seemed a little unusual.

As you say, there may be nothing to document in reality 

The image from my latest acquisition, a standard Compact, seems pretty good so I thought it would be interesting to see if the camera version numbers would identify different microbolometer generations.

Anyway. Thank you for taking the time to write your cameras details here  Now I am wondering what the TH and TLID describe 

Fraser

[Cat]

Some more data

Seek Thermal Compact (android, adjustable focus, no FF)
Serial Number          Hardware    TH        TLID    Date of Purchase
0B1310HSRD4x               V7        V2          -1        Not Known (2017?)


Seek Thermal Compact Pro (android, FF)
Serial Number          Hardware    TH        TLID    Date of Purchase
1C0BA13FS85x               V0         V3         -1        Not Known

[IwuzBornanerd]

Fraser, what does the app say about that J3 core?

[Fraser]

The J3 is back in its host camera at the moment. I will have to check when I get time to open her up again.

Fraser

[Ultrapurple]

Just for the heck of it I X-Rayed my Seek Reveal Pro yesterday. The result wasn't great, but not unexpected because the machine I used doesn't have high enough energy X-Rays to penetrate much metal, particularly the Li-Ion battery that obscures most of the PCB (although I was surprised how much detail I could see through the aluminium head casting). Still, here it is.

The Seek Reveal is slightly longer than the maximum dimension of the solid state sensor on my X-Ray machine so I put it at 45° to make best use of the available area. That's why if you look closely there's some noise on a grid at 45­° to the subject. (I hadn't bothered to calibrate the machine before the exposure).

[Fraser]

That image is really useful to me as I need to tap the screw holes that secure the front aluminium section to the camera chassis and was wondering about the structure within the screw holes. That image shows me permissible penetration depth etc . All three of my standard reveal cameras used security screws to retain the front section so I will tap the holes M2 and fit some stainless steel socket head machine screws instead

If you get a chance, could you take an image of the aluminium front section and it’s screws in the plastic chassis, with the plastic chassis visible ? That would make measurements useful to me

I am missing my Faxitron MX20 at the moment, but at least it went to a good home and I did not use it enough to justify its presence in my inventory.

Thanks again

Fraser

[MegaHurtz]

Purchased from Amazonia Mar 2021.

[MikeR]

App 2.2.7.0
Image processing software 2.10.4.0
CompactXR
Serial #1F1B50P7T7xx
Camera Hardware
HW v7 TH:v4 TLID:0
Camera Software
4.8.2.1

I use the XR model for its narrow FoV making pano's using the iPhone app -> take series of photos, drop into affinity photo, add photos, stitch...