Which Browning trail cameras you should consider in 2024?

I own two Browning trail cameras - Browning Spec Ops Advantage (BTC-8A) and Browning Strike Force HD Pro. I have not acquired more Browning trail cameras because they are all limited to 20-second nighttime video clip length. This is a deal breaker as I almost exclusively record video with non-cellular trail cameras. 

But if the 20-second nighttime video is not a detergent for you, it depends on the situation and subject I want to monitor with a trail camera. 


For very skittish animals, I would choose either a Browning Patriot (Amazon US affiliate link: https://amzn.to/3R8zTq6) or Browning Dark Ops Pro DCL (Amazon US affiliate link: https://amzn.to/3R4yPUq). These cameras have "Invisible Infrared" and "Dual Lenses". Dual lenses eliminate the need for a moving IR filter and, thus, are more silent than single-lens trail cameras. 


I prefer trail cameras with "Invisible Infrared." It is not as good as "Low Glow Infrared," but it might avoid scaring the animal who might not ever return in front of your trail camera when disturbed by glowing red lights. 


Here is the complete list of Browning "Invisible Infrared" trail cameras as of December 2023:

Defender Ridgeline - Wireless trail camera - Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/47UjsFn 

Patriot - Dual-Lens - Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3GraGCr

Spec Opc Elite HP4 - Amazon US: https://amzn.to/415716J

Dark Ops HD Max - Amazon US: https://amzn.to/4a4k903

Dark Ops Pro DCL - Dual lens - Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3R4yPUq

Spec Ops Elite HP5

Defender Vision

Dark Ops Pro X 1080 - Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3T1slrY


Collection of Browning "Invisible Infrared" trail cameras on Amazon US - https://amzn.to/3Ta75jW. 


From Browning's "Low Glow Infrared" trail cameras, I would mention Browning Strike Force Pro DCL (Amazon US affiliate link - https://amzn.to/47XVxEy) and Browning Strike Force Pro X 1080 (Amazon US affiliate link - https://amzn.to/3Gr5DSx). These two cameras have adjustable metal mounts, allowing you to mount them high up and point them down. 


Collection of Browning "Low Glow Infrared" trail cameras on Amazon US - https://amzn.to/3GrWycb.  

Best trail camera for video - Zecre PH860

With a non-cellular trail camera, I exclusively record videos. Video clips, significantly longer video clips, give much more information than a picture. You can observe animal behavior over a more extended period, capturing multiple animals on the trail. For example, a pack of wolves on the track - with pictures, you get an image of the first animal and others right after the first, but you most likely will miss the last animal. Or miss a critical behavior longer into an interaction. I can easily recall three videos where I would have missed vital information or key behavior if I had only recorded short clips or photos. 

Example 1: Common cranes singing. The singing happened about 45 seconds into the original clip. 

Example 2: Wild boar piglets freeze when their mother alerts them. This happened around one minute into the recording. 

Since I'm recording longer than usual video clips, I always look for trail cameras with the following options. 

  • Support recording long video clips both day and night time. Minimum of 90-second clips. 

  • Support larger memory cards. 64GB at least, 256 or greater preferred. 

  • No Glow 940NM Infrared to avoid disturbing the animals. 

  • And, of course, decent video and audio quality. A good audio in a video clip is equally essential. 

Over the years, I have gone through 3 different trail camera models. Meanwhile, my current most used trail camera, the Chinese E2 trail camera (available at Amazon - https://amzn.to/3uzXBUQ), is a perfect and budget-friendly option. It has some room for improvement that I will not go into the details of now. 

So, a year ago, I found the Zecre PH860 dual-lens trail camera from Alibaba. It ticked all the proper checkboxes - 10-minute video clips, 512GB SD-card support, 940NM IR. So, I ordered one for testing. After running it for almost a year in the field, this camera will be my go-to trail camera for video recording. 

While Zecre PH860 does not use the more modern h264 or h265 video codecs, it uses older MJPEG codecs; it still will record up to 5 hours of video on a 128GB card. 512GB card will fit about 20 hours of video. I check my cameras every 2-4 months, and this amount of video is plenty for me.

Zeemage - a solution for your cellular trail cameras

For almost a year, I have been using a service called Zeemage (https://zeemage.com/). Zeemage is a web-based solution that enables live gallery-based access to all your cellular trail camera images by sending them to a Zeemage service via email.

You can generate one or more email addresses in Zeemage and send your trail camera images directly from cameras to these email addresses or forward them from your mailbox. When you have done it, the pictures and videos from different cameras will appear in the gallery. You no longer need to go through emails and open attachments separately. You can review tens or hundreds of images within minutes with no hassle.

Gallery view

Zeemage processes images, videos, text files, and just regular emails from trail cameras. You can map different cameras based on keywords in emails - for example, specific strings in the subject. I have set up 20 cameras to use a single Zeemage email address with different string identifiers.

Later, you can use filters to generate different views in the gallery or build unique views in the control room.

Control panel

For login, Zeemage is using either Google or Apple logins. It is a subscription-based service with different volume and price point options.

Go to https://zeemage.com and sign up for a trial. I highly recommend you try it. With almost 20 cellular cameras, Zeemage made my life much easier. 

Disclosure: I helped to test the solution, and for that, I received a complimentary subscription to the solution.

Purchase your next trail camera with help from my comprehensive Trail Camera Buying Guide!

Are you on the hunt for the perfect trail camera? Whether you're a seasoned wildlife enthusiast or just starting out, finding the right trail camera can be daunting. With many options available in the market, how do you decide which fits your needs best? 

Why This Guide?

Written in October 2023, this guide is a culmination of extensive research and hands-on experience. It's designed to help you navigate the complex world of trail cameras, ensuring you make an informed decision you won't regret.

What's Inside?

  1. Introduction to Trail Cameras: Dive into what trail cameras are, their primary purpose, and why they're an essential tool for wildlife enthusiasts and hunters alike.

  2. Connectivity Options: Understand the difference between cellular and non-cellular trail cameras, and which one is right for you.

  3. Image & Video Quality: Learn about the importance of image sensors, resolution, and why more megapixels don't always mean better quality.

  4. Power & Storage Options: Get insights into battery options, external power sources, and storage capacities to ensure you never miss a moment.

  5. Weather Sealing & Accessories: Discover how to protect your camera from the elements and the additional accessories that can enhance its functionality.

  6. Setup & Maintenance: Ensure your trail camera is easy to maintain over the years.

  7. Warranty & Customer Support: Because post-purchase support is just as crucial.

How Will This Guide Help You?

This eBook isn't just a list of technical specifications. It's a comprehensive guide that covers everything from the basics to the nitty-gritty details of trail cameras. By the end of it, you'll have a clear understanding of:

  • The features you should prioritize based on your needs.

  • The common pitfalls to avoid when choosing a trail camera.

  • How to get the best value for your money.

Conclusion

Don't leave your next trail camera purchase to chance. Equip yourself with the knowledge and insights from our "Trail Camera Buying Guide" and ensure you make a choice you're happy with. Whether you're capturing the majestic movements of wildlife or ensuring the security of a specific area, this guide will help you find the perfect trail camera tailored to your needs.

You can purchase the guide from my STAN store - https://stan.store/kallepihelgas/p/get-the-guide-now-q2w8e 

Pros and cons for short video clips versus longer video clips when using trail cameras.

Here's a comparison of the pros and cons of short video clips versus longer video clips when using trail cameras:

Short Video Clips:

Pros:

  1. Storage Efficiency: Short clips take up less storage space, allowing you to capture more individual events over a more extended period without clearing or replacing the memory card.

  2. Battery Conservation: Recording shorter clips can conserve battery life, which is especially important if you plan to leave the camera unattended for extended periods.

  3. Quick Review: Short clips can be reviewed more quickly, allowing for faster assessment of captured footage.

  4. Minimized Unnecessary Footage: Short clips can prevent long recordings of uneventful moments if an animal lingers with little activity.

Cons:

  1. Incomplete Observations: There's a risk of cutting off interesting behaviors prematurely, leading to fragmented or incomplete data.

  2. Increased Wear: If an animal remains in the detection zone, the camera might be triggered repeatedly, leading to wear and potential missed moments between clips.

  3. Lack of Context: Short clips might not provide enough context to understand the lead-up or aftermath of specific behaviors.

Longer Video Clips:

Pros:

  1. Extended Observations: Allows for a comprehensive view of animal behaviors, interactions, and patterns over an extended period.

  2. Complete Context: Provides a broader context for specific behaviors, helping to understand what led to or followed an event.

  3. Reduced Fragmentation: There is less risk of splitting behaviors between multiple clips, offering a continuous view of activity.

  4. Conserves Camera Activations: Reduces the stop-start wear on the camera if animals remain within its detection zone.

Cons:

  1. Storage Consumption: Longer clips quickly fill up storage, potentially missing later events if the storage becomes full.

  2. Battery Drain: Extended recording times can deplete the camera's battery faster.

  3. Time-Consuming Review: Analyzing longer clips requires more time and can be tedious if there are extended periods of inactivity.

  4. Potential for Unnecessary Footage: Longer clips might capture extended periods with little to no activity if animals are inactive or leave the frame.

In conclusion, the choice between short and long video clips depends on the observation's specific goals, the trail camera's capacity, and the expected wildlife activity in the chosen location. It's essential to strike a balance based on these factors to optimize the camera's performance and the quality of captured footage.

Best SD Cards for Trail Cameras

What Are the Best SD Cards for Trail Cameras?

The short answer is that it depends. It depends on how you will use your trail camera and what kind of cards your camera supports. Many trail cameras only support SD cards up to 32GB, so check the camera specifications before purchasing. I will cover different use cases.

Disclosure: This post contains Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Case 1: You have a camera that can connect over a mobile network and deliver the images to an email or a dedicated app. Most cameras have a function that will automatically delete older images when the memory card is full. I recommend enabling it. If you are interested in historical photos, I recommend a smaller card. 

Samsung 32GB EVO Plus with Adapter 

I have personally used these for many years in different trail cameras. They are usually inexpensive. 

Buy from: Amazon US  / Amazon UK / Amazon IT

Samsung PRO Endurance 32GB MicroSDXC Memory Card with Adapter

I have not used 32GB versions of this card, but I use 128GB and 256GB cards in my trail cameras for video. 

Buy from: Amazon US / Amazon DE / Amazon UK / Amazon FR / Amazon ES / Amazon IT

SanDisk 32GB Ultra microSDHC UHS-I Memory Card with Adapter

I have personally used these for many years in different trail cameras. They are usually inexpensive. 

Buy a single card: Amazon US / Amazon DE / Amazon UK / Amazon FR / Amazon ES / Amazon IT

Buy a two-pack card: Amazon US / Amazon DE / Amazon UK / Amazon IT

SanDisk 32GB Ultra SDHC UHS-I Memory Card

This card is a regular full-size SD card, not a microSD card. If your camera uses full-size SD cards, I recommend using this card. It avoids issues that may come from using a microSD to SD adapter. I use these cards in some of my LTE trail cameras. 

Buy from: Amazon US / Amazon DE / Amazon UK / Amazon FR / Amazon ES / Amazon IT

Case 2: You are taking a lot of images, and you want to keep them.

A larger SD card is useful here, but check your camera specifications for SD card support. Many cameras only support up to 32GB cards. 

Samsung EVO Select Micro SD-Memory-Card + Adapter, 128GB

This card will fit a lot of images.

Buy from: Amazon US / Amazon DE / Amazon UK / Amazon ES / Amazon IT

Samsung 128GB EVO Plus Class 10 Micro SDXC with Adapter

This card will fit a lot of images.

Buy from: Amazon US / Amazon DE / Amazon UK / Amazon FR / Amazon ES / Amazon IT

SanDisk 128GB Ultra microSDXC UHS-I Memory Card with Adapter

This card is highly rated and has excellent performance. This card will fit thousands of images. Again, check your camera specifications for SD card support. Many cameras only support up to 32GB cards.

Buy from: Amazon US / Amazon DE / Amazon UK / Amazon FR / Amazon ES / Amazon IT

SanDisk 128GB Ultra SDXC UHS-I Memory Card

This card is a regular full-size SD card, not a microSD card. If your camera uses full-size SD cards, I recommend using this card. It avoids issues that may come from using a microSD to SD adapter.

Buy from: Amazon US / Amazon DE / Amazon UK / Amazon FR / Amazon ES / Amazon IT

Case 3: You are using your trail camera to record videos. Recording videos is my most frequent use case. I recommend 128GB/256GB or 512GB "Endurance" cards. Endurance cards are designed explicitly for devices that record video.

Samsung PRO Endurance MicroSDXC Memory Card with Adapter

In addition to trail cameras, these cards work in dash cams, security cams, etc. Depending on video resolution and bitrate, these cards can store several hours of video. I use both 128GB and 256GB cards in my trail cameras. 

Buy 128GB card: Amazon US / Amazon DE / Amazon UK / Amazon FR / Amazon ES / Amazon IT

Buy 256GB card: Amazon US / Amazon DE / Amazon UK / Amazon FR / Amazon ES / Amazon IT

SanDisk High Endurance Video MicroSDXC Card with Adapter

In addition to trail cameras, these cards work in dash cams, security cams, etc. Depending on video resolution and bitrate, these cards can store several hours of video. I use SanDisk High Endurance 256GB cards in my trail cameras. 

Buy 128GB card: Amazon US / Amazon DE / Amazon UK / Amazon FR / Amazon ES / Amazon IT

Buy 256GB card: Amazon US / Amazon DE / Amazon UK / Amazon FR / Amazon ES / Amazon IT

SanDisk MAX Endurance microSDXC Card with Adapter

Premium line SanDisk Endurance SD cards. In addition to trail cameras, these cards work in dash cams, security cams, etc. Depending on video resolution and bitrate, these cards can store several hours of video. I have not used these cards in my trail cameras. 

Buy 128GB card: Amazon US / Amazon DE / Amazon UK / Amazon FR / Amazon ES / Amazon IT

Buy 256GB card: Amazon US / Amazon DE / Amazon UK / Amazon FR / Amazon ES / Amazon IT

SanDisk Ultra SDXC UHS-I Memory Card

NB! This card is not an "Endurance" card. This card is a regular full-size SD card, not a microSD card. If your camera uses full-size SD cards and you have issues using microSD cards with an adapter, I recommend you try this card. 

Buy 128GB card: Amazon US / Amazon DE / Amazon UK / Amazon FR / Amazon ES / Amazon IT

Buy 256GB card: Amazon US / Amazon DE / Amazon UK / Amazon FR / Amazon ES / Amazon IT

Rajakaamera seadistamine

Panen kirja mõned soovitused rajakaamerate seadistamisel.

Pilt või video?

Peaaegu kõik rajakaamerad võimaldavad salvestada pilte ja/või video klippe.

Faile edastavad kaamerad

Minu soovitus on faile edastatava kaamera puhul kasutada enamasti pilte. Pildid võtavad vähem ruumi ja nende edastamine on kiirem. Video failid võivad olla suured ja kulutavad admeside mahtu ja võivad täita ka saaja emaili postikasti. Näiteks 5 sekundine video fail resolutsiooniga 640x320 Suntek HC801LTE kaamerast on 2.72MB suur. 3G võrkude sulgemisega Eestis on sunnitud kõik vanemad 3G kaamerad 2G võrku, mis on aeglane.

Faile mitte edastavad kaamerad

Minu soovitus on selliste kaamerate puhul kasutada video faile. Videod võimaldavad tabada palju rohkem loomade tegevust. Video failide puhul kasutan mina minimaalselt 1 minuti pikkuseid lõike ja maksimaalselt 3 minuti pikkuseid lõike. Lühemate failide puhul on oht “magada maha” midagi huvitavat. Video faili resolutsioon võiks olla 1080p (1920x1080) või 720p (1280x720). Rajakaamera valiku juures tuleks tähele panna, kui suurt mälukaarti rajakaamera toetab. Väga paljud kaamerad toetavad ainult kuni 32GB mälukaarti. Minu tugev soovitus on kasutada selliseid kaameraid, mis toetavad vähemalt 128GB või suuremaid mälukaarte. Mina kasutan enamasti 128GB või 256GB mälukaarte, mis võimaldab salvestada päris suure koguse video faile.

Salvestuse intervall

Faile edastavad kaamerad

Minu soovitus on kasutada minimaalselt 5 minutit ja maksimaalselt 15 minutit. Liiga väike intervall võib põhjustada liialt palju faile, mida on vaja edastada ja see kulutab palju akut ning kulutab ka andemside mahtu.

Faile mitte edastavad kaamerad

Kuna kaamera salvestab pika kestvusega video faile, siis minu soovitus on kasutada 1 minutist intervalli. Suuremat intervalli võiks kasutada kui kaamera lindistab nö tühje kaadreid - puulehed liikusid ees või päike paistis kaamera peale.

Pildi/video resolutsioon

Piltide puhul ma üle 12 megapiksli pilte ei kasutaks. Enamasti on kaamerate sensorid kuni 12 megapikslit ja kõik suuremad failid on enamasti tarkvaraliselt suurendatud.

Video failide puhul minu soovitus on kasutada 1080p (1920x1080) või 720p (1280x720) resolutsiooniga video faile.

Infrapuna (IR) LED võimsus

Minu soovitus on kasutada nö “maximum/high performance” varianti. See küll kulutab rohkem akut, kuid annab enamasti pimedas parema tulemuse.

Mälukaardi management/mälukaardi ülekirjutamine (overwrite)

Osadel kaameratel on võimalus seadistada kaamera nii, et kui mälukaart hakkab täis saama siis vanemad failid kustutatakse automaatselt. Mina olen osadel oma faile edastavatel kaameratel selle sätte sisse lülitanud. See tähendab, et selles kaameras ei saa mälukaart kunagi täis.

Emaili seadete konfigureerimine faile edastatavatel kaameratel

Olen eraldi postitustes kirja pannud seaded, mis on vaja seadistada, et kaamerad hakkaksid saatma emaile.

Telia mobiilne võrk (sh Super kõnekaart)

Elisa mobiilne võrk

Tele2 mobiilne võrk

How do I backup my images and videos

Over the years, I have accumulated terabytes of image files and video files. In this post, I’ll describe how I back up and safeguard my images and videos.

  • I store my files on a primary file server.

  • The primary file server synchronizes with the secondary and two cloud backup providers.

  • The secondary file server is the primary server for the trail camera images and videos.

  • Trail camera images and videos are not synchronized to the primary file server but to cloud backup providers only.

File servers

  • File servers are running Windows OS.

  • Data disks use RAID-5 protection.

  • File servers are located in two separate physical locations.

File sync

  • File sync over VPN is on-demand bases.

  • The secondary file server is not online 24/7.

  • For VPN, wireguard (https://www.wireguard.com/) is used.

Cloud backup providers

Rajakaamera seadistamine Elisa mobiilivõrgus

Panen kirja seaded, mis peaks toimima rajakaameras kui on kasutusel Elisa SIM kaart.

Emaili/SMTP serveri seaded:

Server IP/name: smtp.elisa.ee
Port: 465
SSL/TLS: Valima peaks SSL
Account/Sender: sinu.email@gmail.com või sinu.email@mingidomeen.ee
Password: mingisuvalineparool

Saatmisel peab olema sisselogimine välja lülitatud.

Ma ei ole neid seaded ise testinud, sest kasutan Telia SIM kaarte, aga need peaks töötama.

Rajakaamera seadistamine Tele2 mobiilivõrgus

Panen kirja seaded, mis peaks töötama rajakaameras kui kasutada Tele2-e SIM kaarti.

Emaili/SMTP serveri seaded:

Server IP/name: smtp.tele2.ee
Port: 25
SSL/TLS: Kui SMTP/Emaili sättedes on selline valik siis peaks see olema OFF või None. Ei tohiks olla valitud SSL, TLS või STARTTLS.
Account/Sender: sinu.email@gmail.com või sinu.email@mingidomeen.ee
Password: mingisuvalineparool

Saatmisel peab olema sisselogimine välja lülitatud.

Ma ei ole neid seaded ise testinud, sest kasutan Telia SIM kaarte, aga olen üsna kindel, et need peaks töötama.

Workaround for Suntek HC-801LTE and HC-810LTE picture sending problem

I have two HC-801LTE trail cameras and one HC-810LTE trail camera. I wrote the review about them sometimes which is here. As I wrote there all of the cameras have an issue - after some time they stop sending pictures to email. When the camera is restarted the picture delivery is resumed.

In log file you see error lines:

2021/04/14 20:22:08 : AT+QFDEL="RAM:*"
2021/04/14 20:22:08 : +CME ERROR: 418

and

2021/04/14 20:22:12 : AT+QFUPL="RAM:PICT_20210414_2022.jpg",96238,200,1
2021/04/14 20:22:12 : +CME ERROR: 423

Based on the log file it seems that the camera is attaching the resized image from the memory - RAM:PICT_20210414_1715.jpg. In the case of a video file, the file is attached from the SD card - SD:\DCIM\100NVTIM\IMAG0045.mov.

I have long suspected that the camera has some sort of memory leak that causes the memory to fill. Since the images are also delivered from memory (RAM) this could be the cause of emails not being able to send after some time.

Since video files are delivered from an SD card this issue does not appear - the camera keeps sending the video files for much longer than image files. If you use VGA resolution and a 5-second video clip the file size is about 2,8MB. This is significantly larger than the image files, but at least the camera will not stop sending files after a few weeks.

I have tried to explain the problem to Suntek support but with no luck. All they tell me is to try different SMTP settings.

Rajakaamera seadistamine Telia mobiilivõrgus

Seoses rajakaamera@neti.ee mittetöötamisega on mulle tulnud päris mitmeid palveid rajakaameraid uuesti emaile saatma panna. Panen siia kirja väikese juhendi, mis võiks abiks olla erinevate kaamerate konfigureerimisel. Kaamera peaks kasutama Telia või Super SIM kaarti. Tele2 või Elisa puhul need seaded ei toimi.

Emaili/SMTP serveri seaded:

Server IP/name: gprsmail.emt.ee
Port: 25
SSL/TLS: Kui SMTP/Emaili sättedes on selline valik siis peaks see olema OFF või None. Ei tohiks olla valitud SSL, TLS või STARTTLS.
Account/Sender: sinu.email@gmail.com või sinu.email@mingidomeen.ee
Password: mingisuvalineparool

“Account/Sender” väljas võib olla tegelikult mingi täiesti suvaline emaili aadress. Minu soovitus on kasutada töötavat emaili aadressit. Mina oma kaamerate jaoks registreerisin online.ee keskkonnas selleks spetsiaalse emaili aadressi, mida ma ka igapäevaselt kontrollin. Kui te seda emaili aadressi ei kontrolli või ei logi sisse siis mingi aja jooksul võib online.ee selle emaili aadressi kinni panna. Kõige lihtsam variant on sinna panna sama emaili aadress kuhu te tahate saada pilte. Töötava emaili aadressi kasutamine võimaldab saada veateateid juhul kui emaili saatmine mingil põhjusel ebaõnnestub - näiteks saaja postkast on täis või saaja email pole enam töötav.

Willfine ja Burrel kaamerates saab emaili/smtp muudatusi teha otse kaameras. Suntek kaamerate puhul on vaja muudatused teha vastavas programmis (MMSCONFIG), mis tuli kaasa kaameraga või mille saab alla laadida siit lehelt - http://www.cnsuntek.com/en/newsdetail.aspx?code=0301&id=135. MMSCONFIG töötab kindlasti HC-801 ja HC-810 kaamerate jaoks. Arvatavasti töötab see ka teiste Suntek kaamerate jaoks.

Hunt iga põõsa taga / Wolf behind every bush

Eelmine aasta enne aastavahetust paigaldasin kaks rajakaamerat oma kodumetsadest kaugele. Eesmärk jäädvustada Eesti rahvuslooma hunti.

Kuigi jahimeeste ja karjakasvataje juttu järgi on iga põõsa taga hunt või lausa kaks jäi 2020 aastal minu rajakaamerate ette hunt ainult ühe korra ja seda ka Harjumaal. Läänemaal ma 2020 aastal hunti ei näinud ja ei tabanud ka minu rajakaamerad rahvuslooma kordagi. Sellest ka otsus kaamerad paigaldad kaugemale Läänemaa põhjaserva.

Kaamerad paigaldasin suurte soode äärde inimeste poolt vähe käidavatesse kohtadesse. Eelnevalt tegin eeltöö Maaameti kaardiga otsides välja sobivad asukohad. Järgmiseks läksin kohale, uurisin kohta lähemalt ja paigaldasin kaamera kohta, kus mulle tundus, et loomad võiks liikuda.

Esialgne plaan oli kahe kuu pärast tulla tagasi ja kaameraid kontrollida, aga tänu korralikule talvele ja muudele kokkusattumustele õnnestus kaameraid kontrollida alles kolm kuud peale nende paigaldamist.

Panin mõlemast kaamerast kokku lühikesed videod.

————

Last year before the end of the year, I placed two trail cameras far away from my home woods. The goal was to capture the Estonian national animal, the wolf.

According to hunters and farmers, there is a wolf or even two behind every bush. I captured only one picture of a wolf with my trail camera in 2020 in Harju county. In Lääne county in 2020, I could not see or capture any wolves with my trail cameras. That’s why I decided to place trail cameras on the north side of Lääne county.

I placed my trail cameras next to extensive bogs, away from humans. I used maps from the Estonian Land Board to do some pre-work, and when I had selected the potential locations, I went there, did local recensions, and placed the cameras where I thought the animals would pass by.

The initial plan was to check the camera after two months, but I checked the cameras after three months due to proper winter and other coincidences.

I combined short videos from both cameras.




Suntek HC-801LTE trail camera and Suntek HC-810LTE trail camera review

I own two HC-801LTE cameras and one HC-810LTE camera. Like the name indicates, all these cameras are LTE cellular cameras using the Quectel EC25 series LTE Cat 4 module. Quectel EC25 delivers maximum data rates up to 150Mbps downlink and 50Mbps uplink. These are some of the most budget-friendly LTE cellular cameras out there. I paid about 100 EUR per camera.

HC-801LTE (left) and HC-810LTE (right)

HC-801LTE (left) and HC-810LTE (right)

The cameras are identical in size and the only thing that looks different is the front side.

The basic configuration can be done from the camera. LTE configuration is best to do from PC application and then copy the configuration to SD-card.

Both of these models have quite similar specs.
HC-801LTE - http://www.cnsuntek.com/en/p_details.aspx?code=07&id=94
HC-810LTE - http://www.cnsuntek.com/en/p_details.aspx?code=07&id=101

Although HC-810LTE specs claim a 9V external battery, I’m running all three cameras with 12V external batteries.

Problems

  • They have stopped sending pictures after some time and the only way to get them send again is to restart them.

  • The IR LEDs do not cover the whole frame during nighttime.

  • I noticed fog inside the lens on one of the cameras.

  • Cameras do not update their date and time from the cellular network.

SMS commands
Both cameras support SMS commands.

*530* - Camera Start Start Working
*531* - Camera Sleep Stop Working
*500* - Camera takes a picture, then sends it to configured phone or email
*520* - Get Pic information. The camera sends a text with a picture number, SD card capacity, battery level.

Sample gallery
HC-801LTE sample pictures
HC-810LTE sample pictures

Conclusion

The daytime pictures are good. Nighttime pictures could be better. The IR LEDs do not cover the whole frame and the edges are dark. I have considered covering up the edge motion sensors and use only a center (60 degrees) motion sensor so the animal would be more in the middle when the camera is triggered. The camera is also capable to send up to 30-second video via email. The video quality is good.

Would I buy more of these cameras? No. The point for LTE cellular cameras is that they can be deployed to remote locations for months. If these cameras need a restart every once in a while it would defeat the purpose of the cellular camera. Maybe this will be fixed in the future with a firmware update. But in general, I’m keeping eye on Suntek cameras as most offer very good value. Their non-cellular model cost as low as 40 euros. I have some of their non-cellular models also - HC-801A, HC-801B, and HC-810A.

Kolm kuud purdel / Three months at the log crossing

Kevadel kui vesi alanes kraavis loomad enam nii palju purret ei kasutanud. Panin kokku kolme kuu külastajatest video.

—-

In spring when water level went down in the stream the animals used the log for crossing less and less. I combined a video of three months of visitors


Elu kopra oja ääres - osa 1 / Life at the beaver stream - part 1

Hiljuti leidsin ühe koha, kus koprad olid tegustsenud väga aktiivselt. Paigaldasin sinna rajakaamera ja mul õnnestus tabada päris mitmeid erinevaid loomi ja linde kes ka seal kraavi ääres peale kobraste liikusid. Jätsin rajakaamera sinna ja lähen seda kontrollima uuesti Aprilli lõpus.

————

Recently I discovered a location where beavers had been very active. I placed a trail camera and I managed to capture several different animals and birds who also were wondering there besides the beavers. I left the trail camera there and I will be checking it in end of April.


Sild - Veebruar 2020 / The Bridge - February 2020 edition

Järgmine kuu on möödas ja panin kokku lühikese video loomadest, kes kasutasid mahakukkunud puud kraavi ületamiseks või jalutasid niisama kaamera eest läbi. Seekord oli näha - rebast, šaakalit, mink, metsnugis, mäger ja kährik. Alates 2:50 kuni 3:00 on videos kuulda ka isast kodukakku.

_______

Another month has passed and I assembled a short video of animals who were using the log to cross the ditch or just walked by. This time the list is following - red fox, golden jackal, mink, pine marten, badger and raccoon dog. Starting from 2:50 until 3:00 you can hear male tawny owl calling.

Sild - Jaanuar 2020 / The bridge - January 2020

Kuu aega on möödas, kui ma esimest korda kontrollisin kraaviületus koha kaamerat. Eile kontrollisin ma seda kaamerat uuesti. See kord oli kaamera eest läbi käinud järgmised loomad - ilves, mink, kährik, mäger, rebane, metskits, nirk, ja šaakal.

———-

One month has passed since I first time checked the camera on the ditch crossing. Yesterday I checked it again. This time the visitors were - lynx, mink, raccoon dog, badger, red fox, roe deer, weasel and golden jackal.