New to cell cams

[JohnPlav]

Life is getting much busier lately and I'm thinking about putting a cell camera up at 2 of my more distant spots.  Basically just want to keep an eye on things, and avoid extra trips down to pull cards.

I'm assuming there's the initial cost, then some kind of monthly charge.  Also, there's good reception at both spots.  Anything else I should be thinking about?  Or brands to avoid?

A quick look through the forum shows lots of Tactacams in use.  

 

 

[2BuckBizCT]

@phade can probably chime in on some of the newer/other brands, but I have 1 Spartan and 2 Tactacams. The spartan is the best quality pics by far, but Tactacam works fine and cheaper. Spartan IIRC I pay $36 every 3 months, so basically $150/year. Tactacam I pay $160/year but that's total for both cams. I also pay extra $5 every once in a while for 50 HD pics.

[mowin]

Stay away from stealth Cams. Absolutely the most horrible customer service ever.  Others will agree.

I run Tactacam. I've got 6. Two are the original version which are going on there 6 yr.  I don't keep mine up all yr because I don't feel like paying for 6 cams all yr. 

[2BuckBizCT]

5 minutes ago, mowin said:

Stay away from stealth Cams. Absolutely the most horrible customer service ever.  Others will agree.

I run Tactacam. I've got 6. Two are the original version which are going on there 6 yr.  I don't keep mine up all yr because I don't feel like paying for 6 cams all yr. 

I do year-round because I am always scared if I ever turn them off for months at a time they won't restart lol (and I love daily critter pics)

Edited July 10, 2024 by 2BuckBizCT

[Bucksnbows]

I’m a newer user of cell cams now in year two. Only bad things to say about StealthCam and only great things to say about Tactacam Reveals. Simple to use and very intuitive in how to operate them. There are a variety of plans available, but I have the year round plan and am running 3 cams currently and will add two more soon. I still have a solid 20 working regular cams, so I’m not ready to give up on all of those just yet. 

[mowin]

1 hour ago, 2BuckBizCT said:

I do year-round because I am always scared if I ever turn them off for months at a time they won't restart lol (and I love daily critter pics)

I've had to call CS for my original cams to upgrade the firmware, but it was fairly easy. 

[Bolt Action]

I'm in my second year of running 4 spypoint cameras. I bought them cheap used through marketplace. $80 total I think? The base picture transmission package is 100 pictures per 30 days at no cost. If you want to go up from their plans start as low as $5 and the top end is unlimited pictures for 15 bucks a month. no contract required by there is a discount with a service contract. Pictures are good enough for me to get an idea of what's walking around down there. 

[Bucksnbows]

I’ve been more than happy with picture quality. I’m not running an art gallery, I’m trying to inventory game and sometimes rare animals like red shouldered hawks or bobcats or grouse that many don’t get to see often. Some of the pix below are HD just to be clear.  All Reveals. 

[NYRturkeycall]

Depending on what you want in image quality versus how much you're willing to spend and how many cams you are going to run, I would recommend tactacam if you're running 1 or 2 and you don't mind paying the price for each camera..... Keep in mind if you need more pictures on one versus the other, both cameras have to be on the same plan.  Other than that, spypoint for me gets great reception, their LM2 is supposed to be a good camera (I run the Micro LTEs and the flex)and you get a hundred pics free every month on each camera. If you're running three or more, You should go with spypoint.. you can sign up for their whatever membership it is if needed which is 250 pictures per camera for unlimited amount of cameras for a hundred bucks a year. And I think that also includes a memory of 12 rolling months where the pictures at a time... But the beauty of spy point is if all your need is 100 pictures each month the only cost is the camera, ever. And batteries.

[phade]

Sorry for being brief my my grandfather passed yesterday so the family has been attending to that.

Reveal is reliably the best choice for value vs performance. Spartan has a better product overall IMO but that is a different price point. 

I have some Reveal 2 kits left that I can make you a deal on if you are interested. I do leave to go out of town Friday though but back around the 21/22nd. 

[2BuckBizCT]

Just now, phade said:

Sorry for being brief my my grandfather passed yesterday so the family has been attending to that.

Reveal is reliably the best choice for value vs performance. Spartan has a better product overall IMO but that is a different price point. 

I have some Reveal 2 kits left that I can make you a deal on if you are interested. I do leave to go out of town Friday though but back around the 21/22nd. 

Sorry for your loss. The joke about an Iowa farm on the investment thread was way before you gave this news. 

[phade]

2 minutes ago, 2BuckBizCT said:

Sorry for your loss. The joke about an Iowa farm on the investment thread was way before you gave this news. 

Have t read it yet lol. 😂 but now I have to.

[Stubborn1vt]

Sorry for your loss @phade.  Thanks for adding your expertise.

[JohnPlav]

Thanks guys!  @phade sorry for your loss.  Let’s talk when you get back.  

[mowin]

@phade.. sorry to hear about your grandfather.  

@JohnPlav, sorry to hijack your thread.