Cellular trail cams

Chas said:
When they work, Spypoints are pretty good....
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This sums up my experience as well. As painful as spypoint's support has been, I have been somewhat fortunate: bought my first cellular spyoint bnib off the EE probably 6-7 years ago...worked for about a year then an update crashed it...in the confusion and frustration of dealing with their support, I was sent 2 brand new cameras....put those out and they lasted about 3 years before they crapped out, literally within a month of each other...I contacted support and again, to my surprise, they sent out 2 brand new Link Dark cameras since my original ones were no longer available. Those are still out and functioning though the one seems to have communication issues with extended periods of cellular strength ranging from 100% to 25%. So can I complain, not really. Will I go with spypoint when these cams die, not likely.
 
As an added bonus, the Spypoint App is now frozen on my Iphone. I can bypass it using Google but it is a pain.

It is certainly a soft ware glitch that is ruining the Spypoint Flex G-36. Two of 4 are working perfectly, 1 sends 2-4 blanks a day, and the last 1 will send up to 15 for no apparent reason.

Here is the issue. You can set the camera on Sync times of 1 to 12 times a day. This is so it will save batteries apparently and dump a bunch of pictures on your phone all at once. This would be handy on a bait pile etc. rather than your phone going off every 10 seconds.

You can however set the camera to send on every activation. This is how mine are set as they are in the bush. In spite of this setting the faulty cameras will send to my phone once a day at the exact same time. This is at the daily sync time on the app. There is no way to turn off the daily sync time even though I am set on every activation not sync. The 1 camera sends a 2 pic multi shot once a day of nothing as that is what I have it set for; 2 pic multi shot on activation. The other faultily camera sometimes sends a dozen at sync time, all blanks shot one right after the other at sync time.

It wouldn't be the end of the world if these two cameras sent 2 pics each once a day at sync time but a rouge dump is very annoying.
 
Just an update on my dealing with Spypoint. I hiked in (disturbing the area and defeating the purpose of a cell cam) and retrieved the malfunctioning camera as instructed. Waited on chat for an eternity to be told that the new model of camera that updates firmware automatically needed a manual firmware update. I proved to them the camera was not working properly but jumped through the hoops.

Well the camera seemed to work fine in the house and out in the back yard so I foolishly reset it in the bush. Just like before, it worked great at first, started sending one or two blanks once a day and now went on a full runaway sending a picture of nothing every minute, exactly like before.

I am quite enjoying the 3 out of 4 cameras that are working properly but a 25% failure is unacceptable and the customer service is BS. I know they just don't want to be sending cameras out to everyone that can't figure out how to turn a camera on but they know that I know how to operate the camera and can clearly see the issues on my account.

Please don't put yourself through this frustration.
 
I had cams stolen so I stopped using them...

Now a buddy is looking for cell cams & seems SpyPoint is like Vortex? (Good return policy, but I'd just rather they simply work...)

Looking at Tactacam... Anyone else have more recommendations?
 
Yesterday I returned home from hunting and the replacement SpyPoint Flex G-36 was on the door step. Over a month, hours on chat and two trips into areas I don't want to disturb later, I finally get a replacement. I knew the camera was screwed up from the get go and it was like pulling teeth getting a replacement.

This is a damn shame as I am loving the other three G-36 cameras as I bought 2 2 packs.

I believe they thought they had all the glitches figured out with the new G-36 and truly believed it had to be something I was doing wrong. Pro tip, the people on chat do not seem to have the authority to send a new G-36 camera. Their job is to make certain you can operate the camera and make you go away. They are extremely consistent, to a point of robotic, asking the same questions and walking you through the same steps. You need to insist on chatting with a supervisor to actually get a new G-36.

The replacement for the SpyPoint Cell-Link on the other hand was exactly how it should have went. I explained to the person on chat what it was doing and they sent me a new one right away.

Anyway, in spite of the frustration the working cameras work great and the app/subscription options are the best in the business. My buddy has two of the Micro Link Spypoints and they have been working flawlessly for two years. The G-36 and the Micros get very good reviews. Everything is made in China these days so there is bound to be the odd dud. I just wish that SpyPoint customer service would realize that and not elevate the frustration.

Sometimes you just have to look to the heavens and ask why?

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I get what your saying in regards to customer service, but at the same time the number of complaints I've read from people who clearly haven't even read the operating instructions, and have no idea how these cameras work, they need to go through the steps, or they would have 1000's of returns of perfectly good cameras and the owners would receive replacements that they still don't understand. Frustrating for people who have done their homework, but I can't really blame them.
 
So I'm guessing these are still legal in Ontario and Alberta? Can't use em for hunting purposes in August to Dec in BC these days (or ever if you're in region 1, Vancouver Island)
 
I run a couple micro S LTE Spypoints and have had mixed results. I will run them until they die but will replace them with something else in the future due to the high frequency of negative reviews and a known horrible customer service. A friend of mine used the Vosker brand cell cams and has nothing but great things to say. One he uses for his gate security cam and a couple others in the bush. A little more $ I think but it seems like many other products, buy once, cry once...
 
FishHog said:
I get what your saying in regards to customer service, but at the same time the number of complaints I've read from people who clearly haven't even read the operating instructions, and have no idea how these cameras work, they need to go through the steps, or they would have 1000's of returns of perfectly good cameras and the owners would receive replacements that they still don't understand. Frustrating for people who have done their homework, but I can't really blame them.
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That is exactly right. When you enter a chat for the second or eight time, the person has no idea of your previous issues unfortunately. They are trained to go through the steps every time. What frustrated me the most is that they could see my account and the hundreds of blank pictures the camera was sending. They could also see that I have 3 other G 36 cameras that are identical and functioning fine so obviously I know how to use them. I also have several of the Cell-Links working fine.

I like to read the reviews and again you are exactly right. Many reviewers should never be allowed electronics of any kind and many expect a way too much from 100-200 dollar device. They are expecting Black Ops military grade surveillance for the price of a tank of gas.
 
sharpstick said:
I run a couple micro S LTE Spypoints and have had mixed results. I will run them until they die but will replace them with something else in the future due to the high frequency of negative reviews and a known horrible customer service. A friend of mine used the Vosker brand cell cams and has nothing but great things to say. One he uses for his gate security cam and a couple others in the bush. A little more $ I think but it seems like many other products, buy once, cry once...
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I thought the reviews for SpyPoint were bad until I read up on the Vosker. Only 46% positive compared to 70-80% on the SpyPoint.

My son and his buddies run TactaCam without issues. I should have tried those.

I run the cheap Amazon Meidase and Garde Pro for regular cameras and they are absolutely awesome. For 50-70 dollars they blow away most any brands. I am thinking there will be a cheap cellular version from this company (both brands appear to be made in the same place) in the near future or maybe there is and I haven't found them yet.
 
Cdnhunter117 said:
Spypoint would never reply to me or my calls so what I did is I purchased cheap amazon camera that work way better for half the price, and I will never go back to them, in fact, I always make this comment so they lose more business. All I wanted was them to answer a question but that was too hard.
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If you go to their website and use the support chat function, you get help pretty quickly.

I have several cameras and have had numerous problems, but they have been pretty decent replacing a lot of them.
 
I have numerous Spypoints, mainly Micros and a couple Darks. Still have a new Flex in the box as well as a couple more Micros, I haven't set up yet.

I have had some issues for sure, but they have sent me numerous replacements over the last few years. Easiest way to get help is by going to the website and doing the support chat. Two nights ago, I had a problem with one taking pictures of nothing all night. It kept taking pics until the batteries were dead. I got the camera and replaced the batteries and did a blank wall test and it did the same thing. About 20 minutes on the support/chat and they are sending me a new one.

A couple tips for Spypoint support, you need to have the camera in hand. They will want you to try new batteries and reload the firmware.

The firmware for the Micros hasn't changed for a bit now. Not sure I will upload new firmware if it comes available or not. A lot of people seem to have issues after installing new firmware.

When they work, they do work great. I would guess that some of the issues (maybe 50%??) people have, are user error. But yes, sometimes the cameras just crap out. Bad batteries or memory cards, etc.

I also currently have 2 Tactacam's out that are working good with no issues.

I've got a couple Stealth cameras still in the box, that I need to get out to try.

The one thing I try and keep in mind is that we buy these cameras for $150-$200 a piece. We expect them to take great pics triggered by movement, and then send those pics to a cell phone. For $150-$200 a piece, I don't think we are gonna get the best technology out there.
 
MK2750 said:
I like to read the reviews and again you are exactly right. Many reviewers should never be allowed electronics of any kind and many expect a way too much from 100-200 dollar device. They are expecting Black Ops military grade surveillance for the price of a tank of gas.
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Exactly.
 
Just had a buddy tell me about a work colleague who had 5 of the older non-cell trail cams set up to watch his camp AND EVERY ONE was stolen when the place was broken in to...

My guess that the perps knew there were cams & when the IR went off (glowing red), they stole the cams...

I've not noticed anyone talking about 'black' IR or 'no glow' IR on this thread... Can anyone comment on their cams & whether or not they have this tech?

Cheers
Jay
 
Jay said:
Just had a buddy tell me about a work colleague who had 5 of the older non-cell trail cams set up to watch his camp AND EVERY ONE was stolen when the place was broken in to...

My guess that the perps knew there were cams & when the IR went off (glowing red), they stole the cams...

I've not noticed anyone talking about 'black' IR or 'no glow' IR on this thread... Can anyone comment on their cams & whether or not they have this tech?

Cheers
Jay
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If given the choice, I would take no glow over low glow. Unfortunately many cell cameras were low glow until recently. In the non cellular versions I have both and animals certainly do notice the low glow more often although they do notice just the cameras themselves even with no lights on. The low glow seemed to take a way better night time images in the past but the no glow technology has become just as good in recent years.

I find if you elevate the cameras you get less Deer noticing the cameras but the pictures and videos are not as nice.

One other thing I noticed is that foxes, coyotes and wolves seem to be able to see the light from all cameras and the low glow really freaks them out. If the dozen or more cougars I have on camera, none have given them any notice.

Bears and elk seek them out for some reason day or night.

I camouflage all my cameras, especially the straps and that seems to help.

The two legged creatures are actually pretty good about leaving them alone. I have had a few cameras noticed and just receive a smile and a wave.
 
If you already have working trail cameras, Amazon.ca has the cell links on for $40. Mine worked well till a bear tore the cable to the camera. I filed a small notch in the bottom of the camera door to prevent undue stress on the cable when the door is closed.

https://www.amazon.ca/SPYPOINT-Cell...2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9waG9uZV9zZWFyY2hfYXRm&psc=1

Also a cheap price external antenna that has mostly favorable reviews and a lot cheaper than Spypoints

https://www.amazon.ca/Bingfu-Cellul...d=1700056048&sprefix=cell+link,aps,201&sr=8-5

I use home made screw in camera mounts and a 10 foot telescoping ladder and mount the cameras 15 feet up in a tree if possible. Seems to cause no issues with wildlife, harder to spot and or steal. Most people see the straps before they spot the cameras so I don't use the straps anymore.
 
I have a 4- year old SPYPOINT Link Micro that no longer connects to the cell network but still takes pictures. I have a SPYPOINT Flex that I got last fall and it works fine. The batteries drained twice when remote firmware updates were done. I also have 6 Cell Links that work fine. I discovered last year that the Cell Links were not compatible with WGI Prizim cameras sold by Canadian Tire. I also have 3 SPYPOINT Force 20 cameras and they can be finicky when paired with the Cell Links… the data cable can disconnect when closing the camera door.

The best time to call SPYPOINT support is after the hunting season. It can be very frustrating talking with them as they aren’t hunters and probably don’t own any SPYPOINT products. They follow a very strict script and have little technical knowledge. You will need to have the device in hand fir them to help you. Write down the ticket number related to the call for future reference. If they can’t solve the problem after confirm fresh batteries, proper Micro SD card, and firmware then they will send you a new device (if under warranty).
 
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