Cellular trail cam question

[eastfork]

I've decided to try one of these out. Lookimg for input, suggestions, and experiences from others. I have no preference of brand or anything right now. Thanks for all thoughts

[Machias]

Check out the Spypoint or Spartans.  I would go with a Verizon model and make sure the area you want to deploy the camera has at least 1 bar.  Also, get in the habit of putting it up high, like with steps or the strap on steps and then remove the steps, might help with theft.

P.S.  Make sure you don't buy one on sale if it is a 3G.  Won't work any longer.

[Magnum_Willys]

I looked at Spypoint but reviews on Amazon were generally horrible. Scared me off.  Hoping new bushnell works but it may take a bit to get bugs out too.

[Machias]

I've had a Spartan for right around 4 years.  LOVE it!!!

[Wacenturion]

I looked at Spypoint but reviews on Amazon were generally horrible. Scared me off.  Hoping new bushnell works but it may take a bit to get bugs out too.

Check out reviews on Trailcampro.  Spypoint Link-s and Link Dark had the highest ratings.  Some of the negative reviews are for the earlier Evo.

I have had Spartans for several years, but just purchased two spypoints, as they have free service up to 100 photos a month, no addition charge on my Verizon account.  Picture quality is compressed so photos not as good as Spartan, but 4G Spartan reviews were terrible on Trailcampro.

[Wacenturion]

Spartan vs. Spypoint nighttime pictures.  Quality the same if you pull them off the SD card, but compressed on Spypoint to make it easier to send, so not the same quality.  More evident in daytime pictures.  But for me Spypoints work considering the cost saving and the fact they run off of 8 batteries instead of 12 like the Spartans.  Link-S has it's own solar panel built in which is nice,

[Machias]

Thanks for the comparison photos!  I'll be buying a couple of Spypoints myself before spring.  I also looked at the reviews and ratings from TrailCameraPro.

[Wacenturion]

Thanks for the comparison photos!  I'll be buying a couple of Spypoints myself before spring.  I also looked at the reviews and ratings from TrailCameraPro.

The Spypoint's are working well.  Easy to set up and activate.  Pictures are not quite the quality, but I can still determine everything I need to from them.  I like the reduction from 12 to 8 batteries as well as the built in solar on the Link-S.  Having a free, up to 100 photos a month saves another $5 Verizon device charge and monthly premium credit cost from HCO.  Adds up on several cams.  Of course if you have a location that gets more than a 100 photos a month, a slight fee to move up in total picture number is available. 

[Wacenturion]

A couple daytime photos from the Link-S. 
1st.....my first fox squirrel photo on the property
2nd....turkeys

[Machias]

Fox Squirrels!!!!  Oh yea, love hunting those!!!

[Machias]

Thanks for the comparison photos!  I'll be buying a couple of Spypoints myself before spring.  I also looked at the reviews and ratings from TrailCameraPro.

The Spypoint's are working well.  Easy to set up and activate.  Pictures are not quite the quality, but I can still determine everything I need to from them.  I like the reduction from 12 to 8 batteries as well as the built in solar on the Link-S.  Having a free, up to 100 photos a month saves another $5 Verizon device charge and monthly premium credit cost from HCO.  Adds up on several cams.  Of course if you have a location that gets more than a 100 photos a month, a slight fee to move up in total picture number is available. 

Are you able to manipulate/update the settings remotely?

[Wacenturion]

Thanks for the comparison photos!  I'll be buying a couple of Spypoints myself before spring.  I also looked at the reviews and ratings from TrailCameraPro.

The Spypoint's are working well.  Easy to set up and activate.  Pictures are not quite the quality, but I can still determine everything I need to from them.  I like the reduction from 12 to 8 batteries as well as the built in solar on the Link-S.  Having a free, up to 100 photos a month saves another $5 Verizon device charge and monthly premium credit cost from HCO.  Adds up on several cams.  Of course if you have a location that gets more than a 100 photos a month, a slight fee to move up in total picture number is available. 

Are you able to manipulate/update the settings remotely?

Yes, very easy.  Also can set cam to send photos in bunches from 2 to 6 times a day which really saves on battery use.  Of course you can get individual photos as they are taken, but battery use is higher.  I have them set to send 6 times a day, every 4 hours.  Pretty much manipulate any setting from your phone ap or home computer.

[Machias]

 

[eastfork]

Thanks for all the info guys!!! Very much appreciated!!!

[eastfork]

Thanks for all the info guys!!! Very much appreciated!!!

[Transka]

I use covert black hawk but whatever you do DO NOT GET 3G NETWORK CAMERAS!!!!!

[Southpole]

Do any of these cameras have AT&T as a carrier? There's zero coverage for Verizon at our place in Curlew 

[Wacenturion]

Do any of these cameras have AT&T as a carrier? There's zero coverage for Verizon at our place in Curlew 

Spypoint has AT&T cams.  It's not what your phone carrier is, but rather the carrier reception where your cam is located.  As an example, I have Spypoint Verizon cams as there are several large Verizon towers within a couple of miles of me.  I also have Verizon as my phone carrier because of those towers and the ease of phone reception, facetime etc.


I could however have AT&T as my cell phone provider if I didn't want the phone reception or facetime, and the Verizon Spypoint for that area would send pictures to my AT&T phone.

Check out the Spypoint site.  The Dark and Link-s cams have excellent reviews.  Probably would avoid the earlier Evo's.

[Southpole]

Do any of these cameras have AT&T as a carrier? There's zero coverage for Verizon at our place in Curlew 

Spypoint has AT&T cams.  It's not what your phone carrier is, but rather the carrier reception where your cam is located.  As an example, I have Spypoint Verizon cams as there are several large Verizon towers within a couple of miles of me.  I also have Verizon as my phone carrier because of those towers and the ease of phone reception, facetime etc.


I could however have AT&T as my cell phone provider if I didn't want the phone reception or facetime, and the Verizon Spypoint for that area would send pictures to my AT&T phone.

Check out the Spypoint site.  The Dark and Link-s cams have excellent reviews.  Probably would avoid the earlier Evo's.

Thanks!

[Southpole]

I really got to start getting up earlier AND don't ignore the camera alert sound 

[T-ROY]

i see this is a few months old, but i did see that spy point came out with links micro recently  for 150 bucks, any body try one yet??

[blackpowderhunter]

i see this is a few months old, but i did see that spy point came out with links micro recently  for 150 bucks, any body try one yet??

curious about this as well

[Machias]

I'm waiting for Trail Camera Pro to finish their assessment.  Those guys do a thorough review.

[blackpowderhunter]

I'm waiting for Trail Camea Pro to finish their assessment.  Those guys do a thorough review.

i was just on their site this morning actually looking for it

[Machias]

I'm waiting for Trail Camea Pro to finish their assessment.  Those guys do a thorough review.

i was just on their site this morning actually looking for it

Still in progress

[HoofsandWings]

I found the pictures I received gave me an idea of what was going on and when.
I think the image depends on the signal strength. Also, if you elect to have the image transmitted immediately or batch during the night.
Besides, in my opinion, the purpose of having a cellular  camera is to see what is going on. When I retrieve the camera, I will have the same pictures, but at a high resolution.

And if you plan on never retrieving the camera, high resolutions make sense.

[Bango skank]

I'm waiting for Trail Camea Pro to finish their assessment.  Those guys do a thorough review.

i was just on their site this morning actually looking for it

Still in progress

They have already reviewed the battery life as terrible.  Like a month and a half.  Makes it useless to me.  I leave my cams to soak way longer than that.  The only one with good battery life is the link s, the $500 camera.  My luck a bear would destroy it in a week.

[HoofsandWings]

My modems have lasted for several months. they sent me hundreds of photos.

[Bango skank]

My modems have lasted for several months. they sent me hundreds of photos.

What do you mean your modems have lasted? Are you calling batteries modems? And are you running the new link micro? Thats the camera being talked about here.

[HoofsandWings]

Oops sorry, I did not get the single camera part of the thread.
My moultrie modem and camera sent me pictures over a long period of time.

[Machias]

Trail Camera Pro has finsihed their review on the Spypoint Micro:

https://www.trailcampro.com/collections/cellular-trail-cameras/products/spypoint-link-micro-verizon

[blackpowderhunter]

Trail Camera Pro has finsihed their review on the Spypoint Micro:

https://www.trailcampro.com/collections/cellular-trail-cameras/products/spypoint-link-micro-verizon

thanks for the update 

[eastfork]

Update time. So......the spy point has a lot of work. And I'm not sure what to do. Seems it send pictures fairly inconstent. 
And the biggest issue I have is it totally misses animals. Like a small herd of elk. Had spy point set up on a tree with another non cellular cam. The other cam had way more pics. From deer, elk and cougar.  The spy point flat out missed them. Not only did it not send them, it failed to even take a picture and save it to SD card. So, in short, it works, but it's working only part time. So if that is worth it to u, then by all means be happy. But I find it totally unexplainable and unacceptable.  Now I don't know what to do!!!

[Piscatory_5]

I have 2 of them and they seem to work ok. First time user of trail cams though so no experience. I've gotten picture of deer elk and squirrel, and some with nothing.

[Tbar]

Moultrie or Spartan.  We run all 3 brands and spypoint underperforms at just about every level including batteries.

[Birdguy]

Anyone with the Moultrie Cell cameras care to update with how it is going? I see the 7000i is on sale at Cabelas and Bass Pro for $99.97 after sale and $50 mail in rebate. That seems quite reasonable for what it is and I would love to know what is going on at our cabin from 350 miles away. I may start a new thread but see folks on this one use them. We have used Moultrie cams for years but not cellular ones. Thank you!