What's hot in wireless game cameras?

[hogpatrol]

This question is for those that use wireless versions. I no longer use the ones that you have to go to the camera and retrieve the SD card. Search function turned up old threads and the way the cameras improve over the years, the year old reviews are no longer applicable. I've used the Bushnell and Spypoint versions and my Bushnells will revert to non wireless next year. The Spypoints server systems aren't reliable. Photos won't show up until days after they were taken. I now have one that went south and the RMA warranty process isn't what I would call customer friendly.
Assuming good cell service, is there anything out there that's relatively bulletproof and one that doesn't charge cell phone prices for transmission plans?

 

[Judd]

HP - last year me and two buddies decided we were going to try them all (or at least most) to figure out for ourselves were the best and least maintenance. This all started because the other two guys had battled the SpyPoint crap for the previous season.

I decided I wanted to try the Snyper cameras. They were alright, pictures were good and super high quality on the application but their SDLC was not being ran by a software guy. Example - Opening weekend of rifle season here in TX they pushed an update that broke everything. Required a firmware update that HAD to be done at the camera...I hunted that weekend thinking something minor and went home (4 hours from the camera) with plans to return in two weeks. So yep, I was without a cellular camera for the first two weeks of the season. Keep in mind these cameras has worked flawlessly from August until November and then it bombed. I called and they admitted to pushing an update and said it didn’t break everyone’s camera but mine were affected. They gave me a new firmware version and two weeks later I got one camera running but the other one I took home. I eventually got them back up and running but the exact same thing happened in January.

After some questions, I came away with the conclusion they were testing stuff in production.

One buddy chose Ridgetec - This guy had the least amount of problems and his cameras have been out for over a year with no issues...it just works and shockingly enough...you can control far more remotely than any of the cameras we tried. They also have a pool of points that you can use for all your cameras versus a plan for each camera. Pretty cool setup.

The other buddy did a little bit of everything Moultrie, Spartan and Stealth. All did fair but each had their oddities that he didn’t like. One of those and it was either the Spartan or Stealth was a pain in the rear to setup.

Needless to say, I’ve sold my Snyper and bought Ridgetec. I’ve got them but haven’t got them out yet.

Good luck! One thing I will say about the Snyper...their customer service was great throughout and did what I felt was the best they could under the circumstances.

 

[hogpatrol]

Thanks for that reply and review. I just remembered I had one Snyper and they went from ten dollars a month to fifteen and I got rid of it. Like you said, the software was a FAIL too. Looked at the Tactacam but it looks like they're on the pay extra for a Bone Collector endorsement program. Will check out the Ridgetec.

 

[Judd]

Herd 360 is the best place to purchase with his discount code of 16% off...I called and talked to him, nice guy that seems like would be really helpful should he be needed.

You mention the Tacticam...it looks just like the Snyper. I really wonder how many of these cameras are all the same and the software is the difference. Who knows.

 

[338 dude]

I have not bought them yet but plan to try the cudde link cameras there’s no cell phone service in my area but the way Cudde link works remote cameras all send pictures to the base camera I will put the base camera within 100 yards of my house and it will lock onto my Wi-Fi and have phone reception through that with the other cameras creating a sort of daisychain and hope to cover my entire 50 acres. Also you only have one cell plan for the base camera being as all the other cameras send pictures to it

 

[Gundog]

I would check out Exodus Cameras.
Their Render Camera's are excellent.
Solar Panel accessory cuts down on battery use.
If your camera is stolen they replace it at 50% off their cost.
Small company run by hunters with excellent customer service.
Sold factory direct.

https://exodusoutdoorgear.com/

 

[Rsadams]

I have not bought them yet but plan to try the cudde link cameras there’s no cell phone service in my area but the way Cudde link works remote cameras all send pictures to the base camera I will put the base camera within 100 yards of my house and it will lock onto my Wi-Fi and have phone reception through that with the other cameras creating a sort of daisychain and hope to cover my entire 50 acres. Also you only have one cell plan for the base camera being as all the other cameras send pictures to it

So you can keep going further out and the cameras will use each other for their WiFi signal...??? If so I'm definitely interested...

 

[338 dude]

So you can keep going further out and the cameras will use each other for their WiFi signal...??? If so I'm definitely interested...

Yes that is exactly the way I understand itThey just send pics to the next closest camera then from that camera to the next closest until they reach the base station camera which it will connect to my Wi-Fi Think of it this way the base camera is merely a cell phone around here my cell phone has no signal unless it connects to my Wi-Fi network the base camera should be exactly the same

 

[hogpatrol]

Update on SpyPoint cameras. Have tried everything known to mankind to get three of six cameras working. Tech support refers you to their support webpage. RMA requirements are many including them troubleshooting a non working/dead camera (I don't know how they do that). Bottom line, not recommended.