Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Around the Campfire => Topic started by: Pat B on December 28, 2017, 10:30:48 am
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I have a Stealth Cam STC P-12 and it only works sometimes. I've changed batteries, changed SD card and reformatted SD card. Sometimes I get lots of pics, sometimes nothing. Any suggestions? Also can someone recommend a relatively inexpensive trail cam that seems to have less problems and is simple to use.
I've had a few brands. All seem to work well at first but sooner or later something screws up.
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I had a Stealth that started out OK but got where it wouldn't trigger most of the time. I bought a Browning for about $100 that has been working flawlessly so far this year. I don't keep it out all the time so I may not have run it through its paces yet. It triggers on stuff up to 40 yards away.
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Sounds like a problem with the motion sensor to me, maybe try cleaning it off with an alcohol wipe.
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Trevor, it is too inconsistent to be the sensor.IMO. From reading what others on line have said the SD cards are a real problem but some of these folks have replaced and reformatted the cards with no relief.
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I bought a new stealth cam this fall and I'm not very happy with it. It doesn't take many pictures and they aren't as clear as they should be. I had a Moultrie running year round for 4+ years and it worked great until the strap rotted away and it laid on the wet ground for several weeks. The battery compartment was soaked. I am going to get a Browning and give that a try. I have done a lot of research on them and they have great reviews.
I'd say go with Moultrie or Browning. They will be similar price and quality. Go with the fastest trigger speed and highest mega pixel in your price range Pat. Look up some reviews online and see what kind of ratings they get.
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I have a "Wildgame" camera that has worked pretty well for a few years, about 5 months per year and a Browning that I have used one year for about 5 months. This season I have had too many distractions to put up and tend any cameras, but during previous years I have gotten good service from both these cameras. I have also had other trail cameras going back to the days of actual film, and some of them worked pretty well and some not well. The main problems I have had has been cards quitting, sensors not working properly (usually sensing a different field size than the pictures included) and batteries dying without giving me a notice. It's especially bad when the battery meter says there is a 30% charge, and takes no pictures till the batteries are changed. The Browning has not done any of that, and the Wildgame camera has only let me down on battery charge readings.
WA
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I picked up 3 Primos Bullet Proof cameras.. They are small and simple to use. They have an off, on and movie switch. You have to program the SD card in your computer for date and time but I don't worry about that as I check and clear the cards everyday. They take only 4 AA batteries and they seem to last a good while.
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I have two wildgame innovations cameras that my kids got me for Christmas several years ago. They work fair but I've had trouble with both of them after they were a couple years old. Luckily I still had box and daughter in law had credit card receipts. I emailed wildgame and they gave me a return to manufacturer number. I sent the broken ones in and they sent me new ones back. They weren't exactly the same model. In fact the second time I sent one in they replaced it with a pretty cheap looking model. I tried it and was less than satisfied. I emailed them back and explained the situation. The person who was handling it didn't understand why they sent me that model. I returned it and they sent me a model more comparable to my original. I did have to pay the return shipping for all of the cameras I sent in. I think there are probably better cameras but I was happy with their service. Probably wouldn't have been without the box and reciept.
Bjrogg
PS about the same time my kids gave me the first wildgame. My brother and dad bought a few Cuddie backs. My brother told me the wildgame were cheap camera. I think they had three or four cameras between them. They all quit. They could send them back for repair for $100 apiece. I think all of them had the pins in the card reader slot broken. They wouldn't sell the card reader slot and my brother just bought different company's cameras. He has two Moultrie now but they were pretty pricey for me. They do seem to be nice cameras though. Better than mine.
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I doubt it's the actual SD card since you've replaced it. Could be making a bad connection, if you put the card into a computer are you seeing corrupt files? Something that might be a factor is the temperature, A friend of mine recently had issues with some electronics and it was because of the recent cold snap we've had.
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Pat, Browning makes a camera under $75. My kid has had it for 3 years and its flawless. The batteries last forever and it take great color pics. Its as easy as turning it on, closing it up and getting out of the way within 30 seconds. I put it out Dec 2nd to find out if a deer I had wounded was still around and what he looked like, health wise. By Dec 27th I had 181 pics on it and only a few were void of a critter.
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JEB sent me a new Primos Bullet Proof 2, about as simple as you can get. Haven't had time to set it up and out yet but maybe today.
Thanks everyone for your suggestions.
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JEB sent me a new Primos Bullet Proof 2, about as simple as you can get. Haven't had time to set it up and out yet but maybe today.
Thanks everyone for your suggestions.
Pat one thing I like to do is just set mine up in the house or shop and see how they work there. It kinda gives me a idea how quick or slow they are. How far away they trigger from and I can fine tune settings before I put them out. It's actually helped me figure out where to place them a quite a bit.
Bjrogg
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Thanks for the info, BJ. I'll set it up in the house and see if we have any monkeys sneaking around. ;D
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You might capture a bearded sasquatch Pat ;D
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Hi Pat. I don't know how you are using a game cam in this weather. You have to be shooting over their heads with the camera having to be above snow level. We have not had this kinda weather round here in a while. I like the Moultrie A series cameras. I have an old A-5 and a newer A series. I got the new one because the old one quit taking night pics. After it was stored away in the house for a while it dried out and started working again. I think moisture is the main enemy of these things. I keep them out all year long and change cards daily sometimes. I usually run one year round at the house. I would say take extra precaution during wet weather change outs and if you feel it has been compromised with moisture bring it inside to dry out before using it again. When I don't have them out hunting I plan to alternate mine at the house making sure I watch for moisture and giving them a dry out period after a storm or anytime I think moisture may have been introduce during a card change out.
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I set it up in the living room yesterday and checked the card today. No pics. I tried a second card(used with other trail cam) set it up in the living room, 2 hours there were 160 pics of my wife and myself. I deleted those and set the camera up on our salt lick. I'll check it tomorrow. This salt lick has been here for 20 or more years and has become a meeting place. :G (B) (-_)
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I checked the card today and nothing was on it. I'll put it back out and give it a few days before I check again. Starting tonight we are going to get a warm up with no below freezing temps all of next week. After a couple of weeks below freezing we might get more movement with this January thaw.
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Pat you said the one card didn't work and then the one that did you deleted pictures and put it outside and got zero pictures. Did you format the cards?
Bjrogg
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It's the same card that worked inside. I just put it back in the camera and brought it outside. I'm not sure exactly how to format a card. Between us, my wife and I have 3 digital cameras. I've found that the cards I use in these cameras don't always work in the trail cams. This card and the one that didn't work in the trail cam both worked in my other trail cam. I think I'll buy a new card just for the trail cam.
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I second what PatB says about trail cam cards and regular cam cards not being compatible. I have in the past found that if I took one of my trail cam cards and used it in my regular camera it would no longer work in the trail cam. Since I have not tried that with my Browning, I don't know whether that is true with it .
WA
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You will probably need to format the memory cards. Your instructions should explain how to do that. It's usually fairly simple. Switching cards from different cameras can goof them up and you have to format them again.
Memory cards are pretty cheap. I have 2 for my camera. I swap them out whenever I go check it.
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I agree with Clint. I just format my cards on my computer. I click on file, then click on sd card. Then I left click might even be double clicks on some of these. Then it brings up a box with options one of them is format. When you format it wil erase card. I also do like Clint and have two cards I switch out when I check. Also my trail camera says to always turn off power before removing card and not turn it on again until card is put back in. I'm terrible on computer but once you figure it out it easy.
Bjrogg
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I think having at least 2 cards dedicated to the trail cam is the way to go.
I always turn off the camera before removing the card and don't turn it back on until the card is installed.
I'm heading to town today so I'll pick up another card just for the trail cam.
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Formatting means prepare your disk to be usable by your software system
Devices using different software systems ( pc, smartphones, cameras ecc..) are usually able to read/write only a limited set of "formats" and may not be able to use others
So you must check on your device instructions which type of formatting your disk needs to be usable by that specific device.
Usually cameras and video recorders have a function to format the inserted card in a way they like (check the functions menu).
Remember. Format WILL ERASE every data on your card !