We’ve been running 20+ CuddeLink’s on a few different farms for years. I’ve noticed they’re starting to fail/break and in talking with one of my buddies at hunting camp seems like some of the other Cell cams that don’t operate on the link system have really come down on price as far as monthly subscriptions and for adding extra cameras which we need in our case. My Cuddy’s just eat batteries and I don’t know if it’s worth the extra investment to buy all back up battery packs and solar panels when we replace all the other cameras this year. Not to mention extra wires and other things that add bulk to each individual setup. Are you guys realistically getting six month plus battery life on these other single cams, you are running?
Slick
Well-Known Member
I use browning cell cams they use 8 AA batteries. I use lithium batteries the rechargeable ones because as you know they are expensive. Lithium is a different chemical then alkaline and cold weather does not affect lithium like it does alkaline. For sure without a doubt you will get 1 year in the browning cell cams. I have had several get 1.5 years. Link below of the cam I use.
browningtrailcameras.com
Defender Wireless Pro ScoutVerizon Version
*Check our Sale page for an exciting opportunity on this camera* Unfortunately we have sold through the AT&T Models of the Defender Pro Scout cameras. If you are looking for a similar model that works with the AT&T Network, please consider looking at our Browning Defender Pro Scout Max...
browningtrailcameras.com
Windlooker
Well-Known Member
Cuddles were frustrating me until I put solar panels on every one. Yea it cost a little but they go forever.
Oct-Lull
Well-Known Member
I dont get even close to 6 months on my Reveals or Spartans if they take many pictures. I do run pictures and video so I am sure that's a factor. I get a full season from my cuddelinks with the 6d battery packs which aren't expensive,if they aren't fighting to link. Solar pretty much just keeps going.
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tall@wide
PMA Member
Coverts are a pretty good option. I put them out in July, and they run thru the winter on the same batteries. The data plan is good too, I pay $30/ mo for 5 cameras and 5000 pictures. The downside to Coverts is they occasionally pick up deer before they are in the picture frame. Resulting in some blank pics. If you really want bulletproof cameras then you need to buy Reconyx. I still have some Reconyx sd card cams that I bought in the 2010-12 range and they still run perfect today.
Regardless of what camera you pick the is no reason not to have 100% of them on solar.
My cuddelinks are on year 2 of original batteries. $50 solar panel. No Brainer
My cuddelinks are on year 2 of original batteries. $50 solar panel. No Brainer
I’ve run Tactacam and Browning’s (selling my Browning’s due to losing a farm) but I’ve honestly had great luck with both. I found the Browning app was better for me versus the Tactacam app. I don’t seem to have much problems with batteries but run Lithiums in everything, and I like the Browning’s only require 8. I haven’t used the solar panels but for my farm 2 hours away, will more than likely get solar panels this next spring when I’m over there to do plots.
Trapshooter1
Well-Known Member
Run reveals, which I like very nice clear photos. Pretty economical on batteries. Unless in a very high traffic area.
Tried a Stealth Revolver this year. Now they are a battery hog. 16 batteries needed and I've killed 2 sets in say 3 months. BUT I really like being able to see in 360 especially on my food sources. I don't buy expensive batteries so 8.99 for a 24 pack. They take good photos.
Won't find a better camera for food sources.
Trails, pinch points the reveal meets all those needs. Night photos their about equal quality.
Tried a Stealth Revolver this year. Now they are a battery hog. 16 batteries needed and I've killed 2 sets in say 3 months. BUT I really like being able to see in 360 especially on my food sources. I don't buy expensive batteries so 8.99 for a 24 pack. They take good photos.
Won't find a better camera for food sources.
Trails, pinch points the reveal meets all those needs. Night photos their about equal quality.
You don’t have any issues, setting them up in the timber and wires getting chewed? Do You use the extra battery pack as well? I could see that working well in open fields or food plots where you’ll never move the camera. Maybe I’ll pick a few of them up to try.
Oct-Lull
Well-Known Member
They make a sun and shade panel, it's larger. They also make metal wrapped cables
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Windlooker
Well-Known Member
I have them in the timber and field edges. Solar panel only. No wire chews so far and impressive life. Been running original set of batteries with the panels since July.
Regular alkaline batteries or lithium?
Windlooker
Well-Known Member
I have regular D cell batteries. No lithium
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Oct-Lull
Well-Known Member
***Battery Information:***
**Preferred Alkaline Brand** = Rayovak High Energy
**External Battery Pack:**
* Do NOT mix alkaline and lithium. Run only alkaline in both internal & external units.
* Change all batteries at once, do NOT mix old & new batteries.
**Solar Panel:**
* Internal Battery 12AA = Rechargeable 2,000 mAh or better
* Internal Battery 4D = Alkaline
* Internal Battery 6D = Rechargeable 10,000 mAh
*The solar panel operates off a 9V system. Since a 12AA & 6D system are also 9V, you need to run rechargeable as the power pulls in tandem. The 4D is a 6V system, in this scenario the internals batteries are used 2nd as a backup, due to this they can be alkaline.*
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bwese
Active Member
How long batteries last is dependent on how many pics they take and signal strength to send. I've not used any other true cell cam besides spypoint link micro lte. I get roughly 3000-4500 pics on those cams per alkaline battery load before they quit sending. They'll take pics below 50% battery life but don't always send the pics when they get that low. I have two cams in a very poor signal areas and they will be below the 50% power mark after around 2000 pics.
Solar powered cams would be the way to go if one's cam locations would allow.
I run a bunch of CuddeLink and a couple tacticam. Never had any on battery on last more than a couple of months without solar.
Added solar to all my CLs and they have been running for months. I have both the older 3600 panels and the newest shade tolerant ones.
This year, I have tested a couple cams with the shade tolerant by running no batteries at all. In the timber. They have been running strong since August.
Also recommend swapping out the cable with the metal cable to protect from critters.
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Added solar to all my CLs and they have been running for months. I have both the older 3600 panels and the newest shade tolerant ones.
This year, I have tested a couple cams with the shade tolerant by running no batteries at all. In the timber. They have been running strong since August.
Also recommend swapping out the cable with the metal cable to protect from critters.
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NextBuk
Webmaster
Battery life will depend on brand, type, amount of pics sent, and signal strength. I prefer Spypoint and Moultrie Edge. I've had good luck with Reveal but they spook deer way more than the other cams. I believe a lot of problems guys complain about with cell cams are due to the SD card more than the camera itself. You have to use the best quality SD cards... high read/write rates are extremely important to long term performance. As cards fill up, a slower card takes more time to "find a spot to store the new pic" and that leads to missed sends. Anyway, I also really like the small size of Spypoint. A low profile helps hide them a lot easier. I run their rechargeable lithium packs, and they last many months unless it's over a corn pile or something where you get tons of pics each day. I also like that you get 100 free pics/month (250 if Insider member) with Spypoint and they don't remove all your cameras just for pausing a subscription. When I pause a Reveal cam, I have to re-add it as if it's starting from scratch, and that's a waste of time.
Another good option I used this year is the Powerplant rechargeable power pack. It's external and will connect to ANY trail camera, so I did not buy batteries all fall.
Another good option I used this year is the Powerplant rechargeable power pack. It's external and will connect to ANY trail camera, so I did not buy batteries all fall.