Rlsbowhunt
5 year old buck +
I have 4 of the solar panels with 48 of the rechargable batteries that come in the kit and anouther set of 48 if any one is interested
Cuddeback's Cuddelink
- Thread starter Peplin Creek
- Start date
12pointer
5 year old buck +
I have 8 G series cameras with all powerhouse flash modules, all with booster packs, and a home unit and I am in for well over $3K! I am very happy with battery life, as I put my cameras out April 20th and they made it the whole season without needing to replace batteries. The down side is.... that I didn't need to replace batteries because my cameras took 1/3 the pictures that my Moultrie cameras took on the same trails. Next year I will try mounting them even closer to the game (20 feet or less). However, my other concern especially with mounting them close to the trails is the shutter noise. I am very hard of hearing (I wear hearing aids) and I can hear the camera take pictures from 20 feet away, so if I can hear it I am sure the deer can too....
John -- I've said it before and I'll reiterate it again; I appreciate all of your help, feedback, and expertise on this thread. I imagine you aren't the one implementing this policy (i.e. not releasing update notes due to IP concerns), so this is not aimed at you. Rather, it would be applicable to your stakeholders if you want to pass it along.
Generally speaking, there are no IP concerns regarding release notes. These upgrade details are typically broad in nature and necessary for consumer information to aid in their use and satisfaction of Cudde's devices. Look at every other device out there, and anything with firmware updates actually state what the need/requirement is for the update. This is my business day in and day out as a cybersecurity expert, and this policy is like equating Netgear/Linksys/etc not releasing update information because they might tip off adversaries to gaps they are closing.
If you step back and look at that example, it's ridiculous. The goal is to inform the customer of the NEED to update firmware even if it isn't convenient so that they can get the full value out of the manufacturer's product. Cudde should be thinking the same thing -- make me understand why I need to drive 3 hours each way to update my cameras rather than complaining about the PIR distance or the battery life (btw neither of which I've done).
Just my $0.02 for your leadership team to attract and retain positively vocal customers.
roymunson
5 year old buck +
Ok, so as I'm generally impatient and can't work my way thru 60+ pages of this, can anyone hit the bullet points in review?
I hunt a property where one of the guys uses them and likes them. Although he doesn't implement the cell function.
That's what has me interested. I know he likes the cameras, but would like to hear from some other real world users rather than just 1 guy that I know who may be blinded to see only what he wants.
I hunt a property where one of the guys uses them and likes them. Although he doesn't implement the cell function.
That's what has me interested. I know he likes the cameras, but would like to hear from some other real world users rather than just 1 guy that I know who may be blinded to see only what he wants.
swat1018
5 year old buck +
I have 5 J-series cameras, and a cell home. I have been using them a couple months. I have 2 farms about 6 hours from where I live. I have a network set up on the farm where my cabin is, and plan to set up another network on the other farm, now.
The good: The network features works well as I have them set up, better than advertised. I have my cell home on the roof of my cabin, which is the highest point on the 210 acres. All of the 5 remote cameras make it back to home without daisy chaining through other cams. Two cameras are around a half mile from the cabin, with no issues. When I'm at the farm, I usually pull the card from the home unit and look at the pics before going out. There have been times my stand choice changed due to fresh info. I also own 3 covert code black cell cams, most of the farm has no cell coverage, so I could only use them in certain areas.
The bad: I am not convinced the sensing or sensing range of the J cameras are not good enough, or as not as good as most descent game cams. The battery consumption on the cameras are a challenge, but not any worse than most cell equipped cams. I feel cuddeback has a descent solution. It may sound silly, but the straps that come with the cameras are a joke.
All in all, they serve the purpose I bought them for. I need to get some more battery boosters, or solar, which I will do. They allow me way more flexibility than a cell camera, and it's nice having 5 cameras (up to 15) on one cell plan.
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I have a 5 camera system G series dual flash with a home unit. The system works great for me. I was going to purchase the cell home unit, but I will be building my house on the property in the spring. Overall, a great camera system. I have not had any issues with range or detection. Battery life could be really improved. I just bought enough solar panels 6 volt 12ah batteries to put on two cameras and test the battery life. I will keep this forum updated on how they work out. I have two of the cameras in my 7 acre sanctuary. It is very nice to see what goes on in there when there is not any pressure. It amazes me how many mature bucks are up on their feet all day long, not just during the rut. If I can get the battery life I am looking for out of the solar panels and larger batteries, I will be adding at least 5 more cameras to the system. That will cover my entire farm very nice. When I build my house I will have the home camera mounted on the side of the house with power cord and it will be hooked to my computer. If I do this right I should be able to access real time pictures from my website.
John can you help me get the latest firmware? The website shows 7.0 for the G series home cellular but my status reports are showing 7.3 is there a newer version? I also have the J-1415 and some are 6.4 and some are 6.7 but I don't even see them listed in the firmware map on the website?
swat1018
5 year old buck +
I'm running 7.3, I believe it's the latest.
john volkman
5 year old buck +
ill send you a pm
Potter co notill
5 year old buck +
I have 6 G series cams 1 J series Cam and a Home cell.
2 G series Powerhouse IR
2 G series Powerhouse Black Flash
2 G series Double barrel
1 J Series Long Range IR
I got the 3 diff G series to see which I liked better and so far the Powerhouse IR hands down has a better detection distance than the other 2, I think the black flash is horrible and misses detecting animals, I know this from fresh snow and can see fresh tracks of other animals when it actually does detect an animal. I don't know if the flash range affects the detection range or not but there is a difference in my opinion.
I have my home cell unit on top of the mountain 20ft in a tree as cell service is spotty here, and it works really well. I only had 1 day in the beginning where I did not get any pic or a daily report. I also have the battery packs on the home and G series cams. Im currently on 78 days on the batteries with 2600 pics going through the home cell unit and temps have been down to single digits for a few days.
The J -Series batteries went dead after 50 days and only had 70 pics on it. I was only running the 12 Alkaline batteries in it. I will not buy anymore J Cams
I live 4 hours from where these are at and I truly believe this system is a game changer. You can base hunting certain stands based on what is going on with sighting's on the cameras. Plus the fact you don't have to go pull cards and walk all over impacting your hunting area with scent.
My only complaint is they should make a bear box that holds the battery pack and G series cam, I have to deal with black bears ripping down my cams and I can see them ripping the battery packs off the trees reducing my battery life
john volkman
5 year old buck +
there is a safe for the g series and they are available now, the battery pack would need to be attached to the tree outside of the safe, but it could still be plugged in to the Camera. If a bear tore the battery pack off the tree the camera would keep running on the internal batteries.
The flash module has no bearing on detection range/width, you can move it to centered or wide on the outside of the lens. You can actually swap out flash models on the g series very easily if you prefer. You can change it to dual flash , Black, IR or strobe. The powerhouse black flash should be slightly less illumination than the J series IR you have.
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Potter co notill
5 year old buck +
I know there is a safe for the camera I actually have one but prefer the ones from custom1enterprises better as they are better quality. My problem is the battery pack does me no good if its eaten by a bear or ripped off the tree.
Yes I agree the flash module shouldn't have anything to do with detection distance, I'm just stating that mine that are IR detect farther then the rest, is it a fluke I don't know
FredG
5 year old buck +
My take on the sensing issues...
Environmental issues aside, the height the camera is set at coupled with the tilt angle of the camera is the determining factor for the sensing pattern. The Cuddebacks have a fresnel lens array that provides a 7 zone detecting pattern horizontally across the whole field of view of the camera when the width selector is in the down position. When the selector is moved up it becomes a 3 zone horizontal array that blanks out sensing for about 1/4 of the field of view on each side (subject centering). The vertical field of view of the PIR sensor array is roughly the center 1/3 of the camera's vertical field of view when shooting in the 4/3 format... a larger portion of the vertical field of view of the camera when shooting in the 16/9 format. The ideal setting height is the center mass of your intended subject with the camera pointed straight out horizontally. The sensing pattern will then be essentially a trip wire with maximum range and it will be very effective. Any variations in height and tilt from "ideal" which may be necessary or desirable come with some unavoidable compromises in the sensing pattern either close in or at a distance (or both). Plan for the blind spots when you set the cam and be sure to use the 5 minute walk test period when you arm the camera to make sure you're getting the coverage you want before you leave.
Just my 2 cents worth.
Environmental issues aside, the height the camera is set at coupled with the tilt angle of the camera is the determining factor for the sensing pattern. The Cuddebacks have a fresnel lens array that provides a 7 zone detecting pattern horizontally across the whole field of view of the camera when the width selector is in the down position. When the selector is moved up it becomes a 3 zone horizontal array that blanks out sensing for about 1/4 of the field of view on each side (subject centering). The vertical field of view of the PIR sensor array is roughly the center 1/3 of the camera's vertical field of view when shooting in the 4/3 format... a larger portion of the vertical field of view of the camera when shooting in the 16/9 format. The ideal setting height is the center mass of your intended subject with the camera pointed straight out horizontally. The sensing pattern will then be essentially a trip wire with maximum range and it will be very effective. Any variations in height and tilt from "ideal" which may be necessary or desirable come with some unavoidable compromises in the sensing pattern either close in or at a distance (or both). Plan for the blind spots when you set the cam and be sure to use the 5 minute walk test period when you arm the camera to make sure you're getting the coverage you want before you leave.
Just my 2 cents worth.
swat1018
5 year old buck +
I agree with Fred. I think some of my sensing issues are me and my setup. Does anyone else think the strap with the hook and buckle is a joke? I have a hard time even keeping that thing tight. I would suggest going to a buckle that you can pull tight like Browning and Moultrie. I would think one piece of hardware (that is more effective) would be less expensive to manufacture than 3 (Hook, ring, buckle).
Potter co notill
5 year old buck +
Yes the strap with hook and buckle are a joke
Booner21
5 year old buck +
The locations I am sure I want a camera ie won't be moving got two 3in deck screws with a Milwaukee impact. Can shim to get correct tilt no problem with tightness.
Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
swat1018
5 year old buck +
I agree, I've done similar. Kinda silly to have to go through that because their mounting solution is so poor.
john volkman
5 year old buck +
Check out the Genius Pan Tilt Lock Mount Model 3488... this is an accessory but if you are having issues with the standard mount this will fix your issues , i use these or the pole mount with all of my cameras. I know some of you are going to say it should be included with the cams but i dont know of any company that includes anything other than a standard mount . i agree i would like to see us use a strap with a buckle though. the actual mount is sufficient in my opinion strap could use an upgrade.
swat1018
5 year old buck +
My complaint is the strap, it is junk. The rest is fine.
