Cell cams junk or not

[hunter399]

So for Christmas ....wife bought me a cell trail cam.
I setup bought the unlimited pics for a year.
Now I'm kinda pissed off ,it sent pics for three days.Then pooped out currently not sending pics and has not checked in with the app since the 6/25 .
According to moultrie I have to drive there and reset it.
Which really makes me angry,the point of having it was to save gas and time.
Anyway anybody have any experience with moultrie cell cams.
Are they junk,is this pretty common.
It's Verizon service,it's in a spot with really good cell coverage.

[jrebel]

After a lot of research I finally decided to buy the SPYPOINT lte micro s.   I trialed it at home with the free 100 pics it comes with and was very pleased.   It is only a 10 or 12 megapixel cam but it has the option to request full he photos for pics you want more / better clarity and those pictures are amazing.   My research made it clear that the model with solar charger and rechargeable batteries was a must.   The non rechargeable version were averaging 4-6 weeks on a set of 8aa batteries.   Mine has been hung and operational for about three weeks and again I am very impressed.   The unlinked plan with a few extras cost me about 100 dollars a year.  I purchased a bear box and hanging strap / mount so I could hang it higher in a tree and still Jane a good angle…..didn’t want the critters messing with this camera!!   Cost for the package was just under $200.   

I want more but I don’t have great cell service at the property so I am limited where I can hang them.   

[hunter399]

After a lot of research I finally decided to buy the SPYPOINT lte micro s.   I trialed it at home with the free 100 pics it comes with and was very pleased.   It is only a 10 or 12 megapixel cam but it has the option to request full he photos for pics you want more / better clarity and those pictures are amazing.   My research made it clear that the model with solar charger and rechargeable batteries was a must.   The non rechargeable version were averaging 4-6 weeks on a set of 8aa batteries.   Mine has been hung and operational for about three weeks and again I am very impressed.   The unlinked plan with a few extras cost me about 100 dollars a year.  I purchased a bear box and hanging strap / mount so I could hang it higher in a tree and still Jane a good angle…..didn’t want the critters messing with this camera!!   Cost for the package was just under $200.   

I want more but I don’t have great cell service at the property so I am limited where I can hang them.   

I have a few friends at work that said spy point was the way to go.
I think I might of got ripped on the moultrie.

[Elkslayer]

I've had the Moultrie XV-6000 out since last fall. The only issue I've had with it is once the batteries drop below 50% it seems to not send photos as frequent.
Overall, moultrie has been one of the better brands in my experience.

[Wet Chicken]

I'm trying the SpyPoint Cell Link, turns any non cellular camera into a cellular one. Seems to be working at home, and deploying it Saturday. Hope it works. $50.

[Birdguy]

I have had a Moultrie 7000i (Verizon) since Dec 2019. It has been at our cabin since. First year I had zero issues got lots of pics and loved it!! This spring I started getting literally hundreds of pictures a day of nothing. The wind in Okanogan has been very significant this year but I am still shocked that it takes so many pics. Just two weeks ago is stopped sending pics, Moultrie says the SD card is the issue. I have to take a drive to fix it. That said I have loved the camera and if i find them on sale again I would buy more. My son bought two Delta cams (Moultrie newest one) but Bass Pro sold him AT&T and the coverage is not the same, but Bass Pro will not take it back since I registered it. Moultrie will take it back and exchange it for a Verizon model.

[hunter399]

I haven't went to reset it and format the card yet.
I will update sometime this week with how the reset go.
And if there is any animals on the SD.
In the three day it was working ,all I had on it was a few birds and some sun/shade pics of nothing.
I will update soon.
I didn't want to go there this weekend with so many people in the woods.

[spoonman]

No experience with those but my Tactacam reveals have been amazing! I’d say the best cam on the market in the $100 range !

[hunter399]

So got up there to reset the cam only to find out the battery are dead!!!!!!!!
Brand new engergizer lithium battery (12 of them)
I didn't think I would need new battery in three days.
About 150 pics of birds and wind.
I was freaking pissed off when I was there.
So now I'm looking into 12v battery or solar or something different.
What really took me over the deep end is the big dent licked out of my new salt block knowing deer or Elk or whatever likes salt had been there.
I'm going to put one of my traditional cams up ,I thought the cell option would be a good thing since its so far from my house.
I calmed down a little with a little berry picking.
And ohh ya I felt so much better after picking up some 4th of July trash. People that leave trash are trash.

[hunter399]

🗑
After putting 100 spot in gas to go up there,I felt a little better I left with some berrys. Not so happy about the trash.

[idaho guy]

Hunter-can you set camera to just send photos one or two times max per day? I have spypoint link micro and had similiar experience with immediate dead batteries then switched to once per day actual photo transmission and lasted a few months. Just and idea to try 

[hunter399]

Hunter-can you set camera to just send photos one or two times max per day? I have spypoint link micro and had similiar experience with immediate dead batteries then switched to once per day actual photo transmission and lasted a few months. Just and idea to try 

Ya did have it on immediately photo transmission.
I might have to try that,I have to get new battery.
I didn't think of that,thanks.

[eastfork]

I quite a few spypoints. And they have worked great for me.  Follow there instructions and make sure you use the recommended sd cards and batteries.  I have noticed thou that if in a low signal area they seem to use batteries a little faster but I have no other complaints

[spoonman]

I run tactacam reveal cell cams and they are great. Not the best pics but battery life is good and easy to setup. I have a few friends that run them also that have had nothing but good luck with them! Only problem is they are very difficult to find in stock. Hard to beat for $100

[hunter399]

Hunter-can you set camera to just send photos one or two times max per day? I have spypoint link micro and had similiar experience with immediate dead batteries then switched to once per day actual photo transmission and lasted a few months. Just and idea to try 

This took care of my problem ....
Thanks again.

[spin05]

After a lot of research I finally decided to buy the SPYPOINT lte micro s.   I trialed it at home with the free 100 pics it comes with and was very pleased.   It is only a 10 or 12 megapixel cam but it has the option to request full he photos for pics you want more / better clarity and those pictures are amazing.   My research made it clear that the model with solar charger and rechargeable batteries was a must.   The non rechargeable version were averaging 4-6 weeks on a set of 8aa batteries.   Mine has been hung and operational for about three weeks and again I am very impressed.   The unlinked plan with a few extras cost me about 100 dollars a year.  I purchased a bear box and hanging strap / mount so I could hang it higher in a tree and still Jane a good angle…..didn’t want the critters messing with this camera!!   Cost for the package was just under $200.   

I want more but I don’t have great cell service at the property so I am limited where I can hang them.

We have 3 of these. One finally bit the bullet after spending the entire winter outside in the Okanagon.  There kinda of finicky. You mast A) Use good expensive lithum batteries. B) format the mino SD card to FAT32 the long way not the shortcut. C) Make sure its up to date with the latest firmware. I had good luck with mine last elk season.  It seemed thou after i pulled it there was a couple photos i swear it never sent over cell but had the pics on the card.  Oh and never switch cards. Always down load whats on it. And put it right back in the camera.

[Machias]

I'm trying the SpyPoint Cell Link, turns any non cellular camera into a cellular one. Seems to be working at home, and deploying it Saturday. Hope it works. $50.

How they working out for you?  @Wet Chicken

Thinking about trying a couple of these out.

[Machias]

So got up there to reset the cam only to find out the battery are dead!!!!!!!!
Brand new engergizer lithium battery (12 of them)
I didn't think I would need new battery in three days.
About 150 pics of birds and wind.

I get about 3+ months out of my Spypoint Micro batteries.  I have it send photos 6 times a day.

[hunter399]

It's been working on ,on 1 a day transmission.
Made this the other day ,it took me about an hour to tack it together and paint it.
Holds my battery box ,with a solar charger.
Made it out of a tree stand step.
They give a long cord ,you can just put it on the ground.
But I want it up high .

[Birdguy]

That is a great looking holder, I hope it works out for you! Our 7000Vi is still doing amazing, it has been up at our place in Okanogan since December of 2019, probably have over 10000 pics on it so far. I replaced batteries in July of 2020, December of 2020 and again in July of 2021. My SD card did crap out on me in June of 2021 so we had to go swap that but otherwise it has been great! I had mine on immediate download of pictures for the  first year plus. I did change it this spring when the winds over there caused massive pictures to 4 times a day and pics every 5 minutes. I will be deploying my new Delta in a coupe weeks to see what is around with all the fires. I will say that Moultrie has made everything right by me as a customer over the years.

My hunting partner has a couple tactacams and if I could have found them when I was looking (SOLD OUT) I would have bought a couple because they seem to work very well too.

[Wet Chicken]

I'm trying the SpyPoint Cell Link, turns any non cellular camera into a cellular one. Seems to be working at home, and deploying it Saturday. Hope it works. $50.

How they working out for you?  @Wet Chicken

Thinking about trying a couple of these out.

I really don't know.  They seem to work at home, and when you set them up, but out in the field I've had problems. The SD card is easily dislodged when you shut the door, cell reception comes n goes even in good reception areas, and the cable connecting the devices can easily broken. Right when I think I have it figured out I don't get any pics, and swear it's junk, only to find out when I go get it the apples haven't been touched. I really don't know what I think about them.

[carpsniperg2]

I've been playing with the cell link as well. I have had mine pop out randomly in the card slow and then it stops. Other then that its been working great so far. My stupid cams do a ton of blank pics but it just sends them anyways. Not the links fault.

[hunterednate]

Question for you cell-cam guys: can you set your cam to take timed photos instead of motion-sensored photos? Like instead of taking a pic every time an animal walks by, can you program it to take a photo at 9 am and 3 pm every day and that's it? Thanks!

[Skyvalhunter]

Not on any of the cams I use

[Machias]

Question for you cell-cam guys: can you set your cam to take timed photos instead of motion-sensored photos? Like instead of taking a pic every time an animal walks by, can you program it to take a photo at 9 am and 3 pm every day and that's it? Thanks!

Yes, I do that with my Spartan camera.  It takes a photo 8 times a day.  I have it take a photo at Noon, midnight, 0500, 0700, 0900, 1900, 2000, and 2200.

[Machias]

I'm trying the SpyPoint Cell Link, turns any non cellular camera into a cellular one. Seems to be working at home, and deploying it Saturday. Hope it works. $50.

How they working out for you?  @Wet Chicken

Thinking about trying a couple of these out.

I really don't know.  They seem to work at home, and when you set them up, but out in the field I've had problems. The SD card is easily dislodged when you shut the door, cell reception comes n goes even in good reception areas, and the cable connecting the devices can easily broken. Right when I think I have it figured out I don't get any pics, and swear it's junk, only to find out when I go get it the apples haven't been touched. I really don't know what I think about them.

Thanks

[Rainier10]

Watched a cool show this weekend "cell cam revolution" on the sportsman channel that did an hour show on all different cell cameras talking about their different features.

[hunterednate]

Question for you cell-cam guys: can you set your cam to take timed photos instead of motion-sensored photos? Like instead of taking a pic every time an animal walks by, can you program it to take a photo at 9 am and 3 pm every day and that's it? Thanks!

Yes, I do that with my Spartan camera.  It takes a photo 8 times a day.  I have it take a photo at Noon, midnight, 0500, 0700, 0900, 1900, 2000, and 2200.

Cool! Thanks. How do you like that model overall?

[Machias]

Question for you cell-cam guys: can you set your cam to take timed photos instead of motion-sensored photos? Like instead of taking a pic every time an animal walks by, can you program it to take a photo at 9 am and 3 pm every day and that's it? Thanks!

Yes, I do that with my Spartan camera.  It takes a photo 8 times a day.  I have it take a photo at Noon, midnight, 0500, 0700, 0900, 1900, 2000, and 2200.

Cool! Thanks. How do you like that model overall?

Love it, I've had it for about 6+ years now.  But it was WAAAAY more expensive than all the new cellular trail cameras.  When I bought this one it was one of the first ones out.  I think it was $450ish. I bought it at a Sports Show in PA and got it for $369 at the show....if I remember right.  However, it has more than paid for itself over the years in saved gas and time.

[hunterednate]

Question for you cell-cam guys: can you set your cam to take timed photos instead of motion-sensored photos? Like instead of taking a pic every time an animal walks by, can you program it to take a photo at 9 am and 3 pm every day and that's it? Thanks!

Yes, I do that with my Spartan camera.  It takes a photo 8 times a day.  I have it take a photo at Noon, midnight, 0500, 0700, 0900, 1900, 2000, and 2200.

Cool! Thanks. How do you like that model overall?

Love it, I've had it for about 6+ years now.  But it was WAAAAY more expensive than all the new cellular trail cameras.  When I bought this one it was one of the first ones out.  I think it was $450ish. I bought it at a Sports Show in PA and got it for $369 at the show....if I remember right.  However, it has more than paid for itself over the years in saved gas and time.

Great! Thanks for the info.