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Post by cspot on Feb 3, 2018 17:09:55 GMT -5
Ok. I have had these cameras for a few weeks. The jury is still out on these as I have to see what the battery life and such is. Here is what I bought. With being a member I ordered these on a double discount and free shipping. Only paid about $620 for the 4 pack. www.sportsmansguide.com/product/index/cuddelink-long-range-ir-trail-game-camera-4-pack?a=2170827&_br_psugg_q=cuddebackFor those that don't know the system, bascially it takes pics and sends them all back to a home camera. From the home camera you can check all of the images from all cameras. The one's from the remote camera will be a thumbnail. If you want the full size pic then you have to go to the camera. One con to these is that the setup is a little involved. There is a ton of options on these cameras. The instructions are good though, but there is an order in which you have to deploy the cameras. Once you learn how it works it really isn't that bad. At first though it seems complicated. They could improve the "user friendly" features of this camera. Also I had one bad camera in the 4 pack. It took constant pictures even without being triggered. Cuddeback did replace it and paid for the shipping. The home camera was setup at the cabin basically as a survelence. It didn't take any pics except me when I checked it. Below is a couple of pics of the thumbnails from the remote cameras. You can definitely look at the pics and see what you are getting on cameras.  Untitled by cspot12, on Flickr  Untitled by cspot12, on Flickr  Untitled by cspot12, on Flickr  Untitled by cspot12, on Flickr  Untitled by cspot12, on Flickr It also has a pic for each camera that give you the status when you check the home camera. You can also check the status thru the camera too.  Untitled by cspot12, on Flickr So far I am happy with them. This will work well for camp as I can check the cams from the cabin when I arrive on Friday or Saturday night without having to disturb anything. It will also keep from as much intrusion during the summer for cam checks. |
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Post by bushmaster on Feb 3, 2018 17:23:02 GMT -5
How far is long range?
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Post by cspot on Feb 3, 2018 17:28:33 GMT -5
They say that you can go between 1/4 to 1 mile between cameras. In dense forest they say to expect 1/4 to 1/2 miles. You can even set up a camera as a repeater to go farther than that. If it is a repeater then it won't take pics. I think later this year they are going to have a repeater that is a good bit cheaper than a camera. Right now my farthest camera is about 1/4 mile, but my signal strength is still really good. Here is a link that shows how they work. www.cuddeback.com/cuddelink |
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Post by Dutch on Feb 3, 2018 17:37:51 GMT -5
I'm assuming that terrain could also be a huge limiter of effectiveness?
Honestly, when I check trail cams on Sunday's, it takes lots of time that I don't have, even on an atv.
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Post by cspot on Feb 3, 2018 17:44:54 GMT -5
I'm assuming that terrain could also be a huge limiter of effectiveness? Honestly, when I check trail cams on Sunday's, it takes lots of time that I don't have, even on an atv. No doubt. Foliage I am sure will affect it too. You can see the signal strength on the remote camera when you are walking to set it, so you would know if you are getting out too far. I am sure my battery life will suffer as well compared to a normal trail camera. |
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Post by cspot on Oct 15, 2018 18:59:01 GMT -5
Ok. Update on these cameras. They do work as advertised, but the battery life sucks in these thing. I am not using lithium but with Duracell alkaline I get about 6 or 7 weeks out of a set of batteries. They work very well at camp and do keep me from intruding on the property to check cameras. Like I mentioned in the 1st post about them too is that they aren't the most user friendly cameras in the world also.
If they can come up with the same system but improve battery life then it would be alot better.
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Post by Dutch on Oct 15, 2018 19:05:24 GMT -5
I bought a cuddy last spring. It will be my last. I'll go back to Moultrie. To darned complicated
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Post by davet on Oct 15, 2018 19:10:20 GMT -5
I have a Moultrie that I bot 7 years ago. I think it's still on the same set of batt's and they show 80% charge!!! I'm not kidding!!
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Post by cspot on Oct 15, 2018 19:11:53 GMT -5
I have a Moultrie that I bot 7 years ago. I think it's still on the same set of batt's and they show 80% charge!!! I'm not kidding!! Yes my Browning cameras the batteries seem to last forever. I usually change them once a year just so I don't have to worry about them going dead part way thru. |
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Post by cspot on Oct 15, 2018 19:12:46 GMT -5
I bought a cuddy last spring. It will be my last. I'll go back to Moultrie. To darned complicated Just find a 7 year old kid to set it up for you.  I agree though that these Cuddebacks are way more complicated than they need to be. |
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Post by ridgecommander on Oct 16, 2018 6:30:53 GMT -5
I have one Cuddeback and hate the thing.
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Post by bushmaster on Oct 16, 2018 19:43:53 GMT -5
I just purchased a Covert Blackhawk Lte cell cam. The thing is amazing and totally addictive. Real time photos sent to your cell and laptop. $7.99 per 1000 pics no contract. They have better plans with more pics but I'll do the math first based on my pics. Look into it.
They are a little pricey but my buddy found one on Ebay for me for 319.00.
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Post by cspot on Oct 16, 2018 19:58:34 GMT -5
I just purchased a Covert Blackhawk Lte cell cam. The thing is amazing and totally addictive. Real time photos sent to your cell and laptop. $7.99 per 1000 pics no contract. They have better plans with more pics but I'll do the math first based on my pics. Look into it. They are a little pricey but my buddy found one on Ebay for me for 319.00. I would love to have one for camp but no cell service down there. |
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Post by bushmaster on Oct 16, 2018 20:14:12 GMT -5
I use to be big into trailcams when they first come out. They had 35 millimeter cameras in them and you would have to get the film developed. I bought of the first IR ones as well. They just didn't hold up and I got out of it for years. I purchased a cheap moultrie a few years back and it lasted a few years. Started eating batteries in 2 days. Decided to buy a new one and opted for the cell cam. I did look at the Cuddie system though.
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Post by cspot on Nov 30, 2018 18:20:17 GMT -5
Ok. Here is an update on the Cuddelink with batteries. Finally I am doing a real test. I will update as the cameras die. First is the home camera. It says 0 images because I keep clearing it's card. It doesn't count the pics that it receives, but has received all the pics from the other camera. This camera takes few pics as I now have it on my back porch so I can check it without putting on a coat or boots. LOL. 22 days and the battery level is still good. This has lithium AA batteries.  Untitled by cspot12, on Flickr Next is a camera that I bought the optional battery pack that takes D batteries. As you can see it died after 430 images and 14 days. The batteries are alkaline as I don't think they make lithium D's?  Untitled by cspot12, on Flickr Next camera has the lithium AA batteries. This camera is set on a trail so it doesn't take ton of pictures. Wanted to see how long it will last.  Untitled by cspot12, on Flickr Last camera has the lithium AA batteries. So far this camera has taken over 800 images and has been going for 22 days.  Untitled by cspot12, on Flickr |
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Post by cspot on Dec 17, 2018 17:36:03 GMT -5
Ok. Next Updata First is the home camera. This had the lithium batteries and they were dead when I arrived at camp. From the pics it appears that they died on 12/6. This means that I got about 32 days out of the lithium. That isn't much better than I got out of the alkaline. The home camera isn't as big of a deal as it is easy to change batteries. I changed them so I could continue Next camera has the lithium AA batteries. This camera is set on a trail so it doesn't take ton of pictures. The battery level is still ok and it has taken 132 pics in 39 days.  Untitled by cspot12, on Flickr Last camera has the lithium AA batteries. So far this camera has taken over 950 images and has been going for 43 days.  Untitled by cspot12, on Flickr I am kinda expecting the other cameras to die soon especially the one that has over 950 images, but we will see. |
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Post by Dutch on Dec 17, 2018 19:06:25 GMT -5
Man, they are hard on batteries
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Post by cspot on Dec 17, 2018 19:10:49 GMT -5
Man, they are hard on batteries Yes they are. I love the concept and how they work, but rough on batteries. I am going to just start putting them out right before season and then taking them down about now. I will use a regular trail cam the rest of the year. The savings in batteries would be worth it to buy another camera. |
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Post by Dutch on Dec 17, 2018 19:12:36 GMT -5
I have one Cudde and it will be my last.
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Post by richard on Dec 25, 2018 5:30:10 GMT -5
[object Object]
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Post by davet on Dec 25, 2018 12:36:16 GMT -5
I have only 1 camera. It's a Moultrie that I bot about ten years ago. It's easy on the 6 (I think it's 6) D batteries I put in it. Heck, I just took out the D batteries this year as they were so old they started to leak. Yet......they still worked!!
It was a cheap (or inexpensive) camera way back then.....and it still works like a champ.
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Post by cspot on Dec 31, 2018 20:00:24 GMT -5
OK. Another Update. Location #2 is still going. This one is up to 174 images in 51 days. This is the only one still going, but it is on a trail that doesn't get a ton of use.  Untitled by cspot12, on Flickr Location #4 died after 45 days and 1264 images. The lithium helped, but not by a whole lot.  Untitled by cspot12, on Flickr |
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Post by Dutch on Dec 31, 2018 21:20:21 GMT -5
Those things eat batteries
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