Peplin Creek
5 year old buck +
This seems like it could be really cool. If it's priced right, this could be a game changer for the average joe hunter.
http://www.cuddeback.com/cuddelink
http://www.cuddeback.com/cuddelink
I just stumbled on it but to it appears like should work similar to the BEC system. Yes, it does look like you have to buy the camera and cap. Roughly $270 total if both units aren't on sale. I am curious to really see real results with setup and true overall functionality. I run 4 cell cameras now. so the fact that their cell service that comes out next year says 16 cameras on one data plan has my curiosity peaked. But even just being able to link up cameras back to one unit could be enough for me
The way I read it you have to buy the camera then the adapter to send the pics to the other cameras am I seeing that right? I also got in an argument with my dad about there's no way they will let you daisy chain the cameras together pretty sure I lost that battle haha
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The first company to come out with a system to adapt to make any camera daisy-chain will dominate the trail camera market.
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This makes sense I guess. Conserves battery... I'm in your train of thought. I would like to see one in action first.Spoiler Alert!
They only transmit low resolution thumb nails. You still need to visit the cameras to get full resolution pics.
I would want to see one of those images before pulling the trigger.
View attachment 14083
I hope it works and I don't wish any ill on the system. But you better put a diesel generator on the 1 camera that is talking to the other 15 cameras!
-John
The first company to come out with a system to adapt to make any camera daisy-chain will dominate the trail camera market.
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??? BEC has been doing this for a very long time. They certainly didn't dominate the market because of the up front cost. It works great for BEC because they focus on reliability unlike the low cost cameras. My old Orion series runs for many, many months when the programming load is well balanced with the solar panel before I need to visit the camera. The potential issue I see with the cuddeback system is reliability. At that price point, it is hard to see how they will be able to achieve the reliability that BEC has but time will tell. The "daisy chain" function (which is called a "repeater" function buy BEC but is actually a packet routing) depends on reliability. If a single camera in the chain fails, data from all cameras further in the chain can't make it through.
One issue I had when using this function with my Orions is battery issues. A camera uses power both to take pictures and to send them. If a camera is sending pictures it takes and also routing packets from cameras further away in the daisy-chain, it significantly increases battery use. What I found was that the routing camera battery would drain much faster than terminal cameras and if it fails, the network is broken. The terminal cameras continue to take pictures until memory is full and then stop. Once I restore the battery in the routing camera the terminal cameras would begin to transmit all the pictures they had queued up. The problem is that with this heavy load of pictures to transmit back to back, the batteries in the terminal cameras would deplete and then the routing camera (having forwarded so many pictures back) would have its battery deplete. In essence, the battery issue would cascade. I resolved this by placing very large solar panels on each of the routing cameras so they essentially have perpetual power.
One more word of caution. Check the spec distance of the radios used. My older Orions have 5 mile radios. The spec number is the theoretical distance the link can be closed in perfect conditions say from mountain top to mountain top with direct line of sight. In practical environmental conditions with vegetation, weather, and interference, the maximum practical distance is less than a mile. The newer X-series BEC cameras have lower powered radios and don't reach as far (although they are less expensive). I don't know what the spec is on the Cuddeback radios, but I'd check that and keep in mind that practical distances are significantly less than the spec value and depend largely on your conditions.
Just some things to think about regarding wireless cameras in general. If someone does try these, please report back and let us know how well they work for you and how you are using them.
Thanks,
jack
I get that buddy. I should have written it a little clearer, if possible:
The first company to make an adapter for ANY trail camera to daisy-chain to a home base will dominate the market.
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Could be as simple as a WiFi/blue tooth wireless camera card. No need for a direct interface.
But in the end, cost, complexity, reliability mean the market for this is small. It has to work and be easy to set up. Not that many folks want the hassle of working with batteries, solar, antennas, etc. If it is plug and play, more would try.