huntlife77
Member
Anybody using the CuddeLink cameras?
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CuddeBack Cameras
- Thread starter huntlife77
- Start date
HIGH COUNTRY
Senior Member
Interesting
No -but I like the idea of linking multiple cameras to one home camera, and just paying for one cellular link.
Believe it said up to 16 cameras, each camera has to be within a half mile of another one.
I am two hours from hunting property, this could be a huge help.
Almost bought the moultrie modem, but I may wait for this one for next year...
No -but I like the idea of linking multiple cameras to one home camera, and just paying for one cellular link.
Believe it said up to 16 cameras, each camera has to be within a half mile of another one.
I am two hours from hunting property, this could be a huge help.
Almost bought the moultrie modem, but I may wait for this one for next year...
Preston00
Senior Member
Cuddelink
I have recently researched the Cuddeback Cuddelink cameras and it seems like a neat idea.
The first concern I have about this system would be battery life. Transmitting, receiving, and relaying take a lot of power. Supposedly they will have a solar panel specifically designed for these cameras within a year. Some people have already used an external solar charger and battery from Cabelas -- however they had to modify the tip by shaving it down so that it would fit. I'm not sure if the voltages and amps are exactly right for the camera.
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Cabe...VR54bCh3mdwfNEAQYBCABEgImhfD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
Cuddeback currently makes an extended battery pack that mounts onto the back of the camera -- but it is difficult to secure it like that.
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Cuddeback-Cuddepower-Battery-Booster/1999306.uts
Security is another concern. Cuddeback does not currently make a security enclosure for any of the cuddelink cameras. Another company makes one that they claim will fit it.
http://www.custom1enterprises.com/custom1enterprises_019.htm .
The dual flash camera is the better option of the two models that are cuddelink capable.
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Cudd...VCxHTCh1MGQDYEAQYAiABEgI4P_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
To make this unit Cuddelink capable you will need to add the cuddelink cap
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Cuddeback-CuddeLink-Cap/2522144.uts
You can have up to 16 cameras set up like this within 1/4 of a mile of the "home" designated camera. You will only have to check the home camera to check them all (instead of going to each one).
They will also have a Home Plus unit which hooks up to your laptop. You just have to be within range of one of your cameras to check them all with this unit. You can also use this unit as a repeater to bridge the gap between cameras if one is over a hill or too far away to receive a signal. This unit is supposed to be available in about 7 months.
https://www.opticsplanet.com/cuddeback-home-plus-trail-camera.html
They will also have a Cell Cap that will allow you to receive the pictures on your cell phone with a subscription.
http://www.cuddeback.com/accessories/model-2108
Here is the other model that is Cuddelink capable:
http://www.farmsteadarchery.com/cuddebackcuddelinkblackflash.aspx
If this system works as advertised, it will compete with the Buckeye Camera (BEC)
https://www.buckeyecameras.com/
I have recently researched the Cuddeback Cuddelink cameras and it seems like a neat idea.
The first concern I have about this system would be battery life. Transmitting, receiving, and relaying take a lot of power. Supposedly they will have a solar panel specifically designed for these cameras within a year. Some people have already used an external solar charger and battery from Cabelas -- however they had to modify the tip by shaving it down so that it would fit. I'm not sure if the voltages and amps are exactly right for the camera.
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Cabe...VR54bCh3mdwfNEAQYBCABEgImhfD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
Cuddeback currently makes an extended battery pack that mounts onto the back of the camera -- but it is difficult to secure it like that.
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Cuddeback-Cuddepower-Battery-Booster/1999306.uts
Security is another concern. Cuddeback does not currently make a security enclosure for any of the cuddelink cameras. Another company makes one that they claim will fit it.
http://www.custom1enterprises.com/custom1enterprises_019.htm .
The dual flash camera is the better option of the two models that are cuddelink capable.
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Cudd...VCxHTCh1MGQDYEAQYAiABEgI4P_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
To make this unit Cuddelink capable you will need to add the cuddelink cap
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Cuddeback-CuddeLink-Cap/2522144.uts
You can have up to 16 cameras set up like this within 1/4 of a mile of the "home" designated camera. You will only have to check the home camera to check them all (instead of going to each one).
They will also have a Home Plus unit which hooks up to your laptop. You just have to be within range of one of your cameras to check them all with this unit. You can also use this unit as a repeater to bridge the gap between cameras if one is over a hill or too far away to receive a signal. This unit is supposed to be available in about 7 months.
https://www.opticsplanet.com/cuddeback-home-plus-trail-camera.html
They will also have a Cell Cap that will allow you to receive the pictures on your cell phone with a subscription.
http://www.cuddeback.com/accessories/model-2108
Here is the other model that is Cuddelink capable:
http://www.farmsteadarchery.com/cuddebackcuddelinkblackflash.aspx
If this system works as advertised, it will compete with the Buckeye Camera (BEC)
https://www.buckeyecameras.com/
PappyHoel
Senior Member
That's all really cool stuff. However all that technology to hunt deer would ruin it for me. I'm a very technical guy too. I like to use a couple cameras with SD cards but that's it.
Wiley BRCM
Member
Love this concept and it will be the future of game cams. Buckeye sure is proud of their products! Whew! Hopefully the prices of Cuddeback and Buckeye products implementing this concept will come down over time. Hard to pop on any camera over $100 even with wireless networking built into them. As was pointed out, battery life will have to support the units which may be a challenge - so you don't have to pull a card, but if you have to change the batteries every 2-3 weeks it kinda defeats the purpose. Camera picture quality and durability needs to be selling points too. We're at the beginning of this concept. Will take some time for it to all work out.
Skyhawk
Senior Member
I had 2 Cuddelink dual flash cameras running this year. I too was curious as to how well it would work. I had the remote camera placed on a very active scrape and the home camera on a 30 yard wide food plot about 200 yards away. My impressions from a full deer season of use, good and bad:
The cameras are Big and HEAVY. They are almost twice the size of my latest Bushnell, Stealthcam and Brownings. 4 D cell batteries contribute to the weight. They do ok when using a strap to secure them to a tree. I tend to like the flexibility of using mounts that screw into the camera and the tree. These cameras will not work with those mounts. You must have the Cuddeback mount which I'm not a fan of.
The pics tend to be good but using black flash only has very limited range. The range using the red flash is reasonable. Daytime pics are good. Trigger sensitivity seems about where I would want it.
It took me some time to adjust to the Cuddeback method of camera setup. It is not as obvious as my other Browning, Moultrie or Bushnell cameras. Fortunately there are good youtube videos from Cuddeback for help with setup.
The Cuddelink is outstanding. The range is everything I wanted and then some. Even in thick river bottom vegetation, the range is very good. I tested the link to about 400 yards between cameras. You can lock a camera into a network, then monitor your signal strength as you move to your next location to ensure that you don't get out of range. Once the cameras link together, they retain that connection even after battery swap. No need to reestablish a connection.
The remote camera only transmits the first picture to the home camera when taking multiple shots for each trigger. This still gives you a pretty good shot of the deer while the more useful shot may be on the remote camera's SD card. I would pull the home camera's card every trip to the woods and pull the remote card only when I found something of interest that I wanted to see more pictures of.
Battery life was pretty good, and much better than I expected. From August to January, I replace batteries on each camera once. Since I do not use feeders, I only had 3-4 triggers (12-16 pics) most days. Each camera gives you a good status report as to battery life on the home camera's SD card.
In summary, If you like to stay away from cameras in prime locations and are close enough to check cards regularly, this is a good option. I hope to pick up a cellular link (coming out later this year) and another camera or two. The cellular option should be great to remotely monitor all cameras with only one cell plan.
The cameras are Big and HEAVY. They are almost twice the size of my latest Bushnell, Stealthcam and Brownings. 4 D cell batteries contribute to the weight. They do ok when using a strap to secure them to a tree. I tend to like the flexibility of using mounts that screw into the camera and the tree. These cameras will not work with those mounts. You must have the Cuddeback mount which I'm not a fan of.
The pics tend to be good but using black flash only has very limited range. The range using the red flash is reasonable. Daytime pics are good. Trigger sensitivity seems about where I would want it.
It took me some time to adjust to the Cuddeback method of camera setup. It is not as obvious as my other Browning, Moultrie or Bushnell cameras. Fortunately there are good youtube videos from Cuddeback for help with setup.
The Cuddelink is outstanding. The range is everything I wanted and then some. Even in thick river bottom vegetation, the range is very good. I tested the link to about 400 yards between cameras. You can lock a camera into a network, then monitor your signal strength as you move to your next location to ensure that you don't get out of range. Once the cameras link together, they retain that connection even after battery swap. No need to reestablish a connection.
The remote camera only transmits the first picture to the home camera when taking multiple shots for each trigger. This still gives you a pretty good shot of the deer while the more useful shot may be on the remote camera's SD card. I would pull the home camera's card every trip to the woods and pull the remote card only when I found something of interest that I wanted to see more pictures of.
Battery life was pretty good, and much better than I expected. From August to January, I replace batteries on each camera once. Since I do not use feeders, I only had 3-4 triggers (12-16 pics) most days. Each camera gives you a good status report as to battery life on the home camera's SD card.
In summary, If you like to stay away from cameras in prime locations and are close enough to check cards regularly, this is a good option. I hope to pick up a cellular link (coming out later this year) and another camera or two. The cellular option should be great to remotely monitor all cameras with only one cell plan.
