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Cell cameras w/ poor cell service. Are they going to work?

1

1simplemann

Well-Known Member
SH Member
Joined
Sep 6, 2014
Messages
966
What do guys do when it's poor cell service? Most of the areas I hunt have 1 bar of service. Sometimes it's zero, sometimes it's 2 but usually that's brief. It's hard to get a text out usually especially w/ a pic attached. It does work eventually but you have to be patient. Plain texts usually go through. Anyway, I bought some cameras w/ the intention of letting them soak. A lot of these spots are boat only access so it's not like I can go check them easily plus I want to stay out of there anyway. My idea was put some antenna Boosters if I need to but I'm not in love w/ that idea either since they would be very noticeable and invite theft. Are they like cell phones? The Reveals that I bought a have 2 big antennas. Does that improve service?
 
In my, albeit limited, experience they have still worked for me, sporadically. Sometimes you get pictures in a timely fashion, sometimes in a big dump when they do come through. I'd still take time to look at the card when you do pull it, seemed like not every picture got through, but I could just have a poor memory.
 
My experience in poor cell service locations you almost have to run regular non cell cams. As mentioned above, too many times a cell cam in a bad reception area won’t send pics in a timely manner, if at all. Sometimes you get a big dump of pics. Lots of times you get nothing sent. As much as it sucks, I’d rather run regular non cell cams and just make a point to check them 2-3 times a season, usually when hunting that area, to freshen up batteries and pull SD cards. Then keep an inventory of dates/times/weather/etc of when bucks showed up on camera in that area.
 
If you haven’t done so already I would try and bring a Verizon phone and Att phone together to the areas so u can see which works better (where I hunt one can def work a lot better than the other and vice versa

I have had good luck with Tactacam cell cams getting better signal than my phone with the same carrier on occasion. I have also had the opposite haha.

I try and bring a few options cell (both carriers and non cell with me and see what works at the spot I want to use it.)
 
Good point on trying multiple carriers. I will try that. For right now it's going to have to be these 2 cell cams that I Have. I will try to put them in the best service spots that I have. For sure I have one 2 bar spot so One camera is going there. I'll keep looking for a another. However I have one spot that I would love to have some sort of camera. There is One for sure shooter in there and one up and comer. Problem is it's a 20 minute drive, 22 minute boat ride and a 22 hike just to get there. No other access.
 
Better than you may think with sketchy service. I have some spots that are a struggle with even basic SMS but the cell cams still work.

As stated above though, sometimes there is a lag, often days.

I've also tried places that flat out don't work.
 
The other thing to think about in a bad cell area is if the cam will eat through batteries always searching for a better signal. ive had this happen with several cams. They will even send some pics but since the camera is programmed to keep trying to get a better signal, they will eat through those expensive lithiums in a week. These were spy point cams that did this. Put them in another spot with fresh batteries and they were fine for a year again. It was definitely the poor signal spot that killed them. maybe other brands are smart enough not to keep searching for signal? I dunno.
 
elk yinzer said:
Better than you may think with sketchy service. I have some spots that are a struggle with even basic SMS but the cell cams still work.

As stated above though, sometimes there is a lag, often days.

I've also tried places that flat out don't work.
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That was my hope. These Reveals have 2 big antennas so I was hoping maybe that it was a little better than my phone and just enough to send pics. Fingers crossed. He's a Big'n and I sure would like to keep tabs on him.
 
philsanchez76 said:
The other thing to think about in a bad cell area is if the cam will eat through batteries always searching for a better signal. ive had this happen with several cams. They will even send some pics but since the camera is programmed to keep trying to get a better signal, they will eat through those expensive lithiums in a week. These were spy point cams that did this. Put them in another spot with fresh batteries and they were fine for a year again. It was definitely the poor signal spot that killed them. maybe other brands are smart enough not to keep searching for signal? I dunno.
Click to expand...
Hopefully the solar panel that comes w/ them will keep the battery charged.
 
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