Anyone use Cuddelink?
- Thread starter Ohanaman
- Start date
catscratch
Well-Known Member
Look on HabitatTalk. There is really long thread over there about the system, everything you could want to know (good and bad). Cuddeback has a rep responding to that thread who is very helpful! I had one of the camera's for a year....
swat1018
Well-Known Member
I have 5 J-Series long range IR cams and a cell home. It isn't without flaws, but works pretty well. I'd say real well, if I can get some battery issues worked out. The transmission ranges between cams and to home from the cams has been better than advertised for me. I have 2 cameras that are at least a half mile from my home unit, with plenty of signal to spare. I did place my home on the high spot of the farm.
Ed Brodt
Member
We are running 4 G-cameras and one J camera. Battery life was an issue until we went with the solar option. Now it is a non issue. Range is beyond excellent in winter and acceptable in summer. Covering 40 acres. I also recommend visiting Habitat Talk http://www.habitat-talk.com/index.php?threads/cuddebacks-cuddelink.7859/
swat1018
Well-Known Member
I've heard mixed reviews on the solar. Are you running solar on your J camera? If so, how is it?
Ed Brodt
Member
The J camera was the first one we tried with solar. We put solar on that one in mid August. it is set for surveillance mode due to being at our front gate. I just checked this camera last Thursday and batteries are still going strong. This camera gets a lot of direct sun. Took awhile to find the solar for the G cameras. They went on in mid October. Again checked these cameras last Thursday and they are still up and running with the exception of the home camera which indicated low external batteries. This camera is the most concealed of all and it gets limited direct sun. So at 90 days those batteries in the solar unit need to be recharged.
MilkweedManiac
New Member
Definitely subscribe to the habitat-talk feed. They announced just a few weeks ago that Cuddelink will now be compatible with a power bank that snaps onto the back. It's supposed to sky rocket battery life, and could also pair with the solar panel.
I am running 2 solar setups on a couple of J1415s. I just got them and wanted to test during the winter to put through its paces properly. So far, I have 20+ days on it, so we will see how it goes.
Another tip, I'm running 12 Eneloop rechargeable batteries in one camera (no solar panel) and was able to get 60+ days out of it. For being rechargeable and hitting negative 10 degrees at one point through that stint, I'm impressed.
I am running 2 solar setups on a couple of J1415s. I just got them and wanted to test during the winter to put through its paces properly. So far, I have 20+ days on it, so we will see how it goes.
Another tip, I'm running 12 Eneloop rechargeable batteries in one camera (no solar panel) and was able to get 60+ days out of it. For being rechargeable and hitting negative 10 degrees at one point through that stint, I'm impressed.
Ed Brodt
Member
I have been running four G -Cameras and one J model camera system for a little over a year now. Workes perfectly on our 40 acre place. Heavy tree canopy and rolling to steep terrain. Battery life sucked until we were able to get their solar set up. The J model camera has been running solar since last August and has never lost power. We got the solar set up installed on the G models in October and they have run flawlessly since then. Since we went with solar we have not had to replace a single battery. So in my opinion the solar set up is a must. Picture quality is good. Lots of programming options as well. Much, much better that what we were using.
swat1018
Well-Known Member
Did you buy the solar kit from Cudde? I have 5 J's and love them, other than battery life. I need to figure out exactly what you did!
Ed Brodt
Member
We started out trying Cabellas solar system. Their solar panel was too small to keep the camera running. A Cuddeback field Rep referred us to these two places to buy the Cuddeback solar system. (1) kyle@whaletalesarchery.com 262-965-2825 talk to Kyle or
Tyler (2) farmsteadarchery.com farmstead archery Talk to john 920-208-1027. The G and J cameras take a slightly different solar set up so make sure they understand what camera you have.
swat1018
Well-Known Member
Is it a panel plus rechargables for in the camera?
Ed Brodt
Member
Here is the J series solar system. https://www.cuddeback.com/products/cuddepower-solar-kit
Here is the G series solar system. https://www.cuddeback.com/uploads/products/d8038cbe246ddef3c27c887bfb2d6653.jpg
Here is the G series solar system. https://www.cuddeback.com/uploads/products/d8038cbe246ddef3c27c887bfb2d6653.jpg
HB_Hunter
Well-Known Member
Yes sir. I’m deploying four cameras today. Here’s the setup:
Home unit connected directly to a wall outlet.
Two j series with normal alkaline batteries.
Two j series connected to a home brew solar panel with a 12v rechargeable battery onboard. Each also have 12 energizer rechargeable batteries in the camera.
I’m going to put one solar panel in full sun and the other in partial shade.
I’m also interested to see how the spring green up changes the signals from the cameras back home.
One thing I did notice while testing this in my house is that the j series make a loud click sometimes.
swat1018
Well-Known Member
I just ordered 3 to try out.
HB_Hunter
Well-Known Member
Is it in full sun? How many pictures does it average in a week? What are the CuddeLink settings?
Ed Brodt
Member
This one gets morning and mid-day full sun. Late afternoon it gets ambient light. It takes an average of about 150 pics per week. It is set on surveillance mode due to being aimed to cover our front gate. My home camera is on a mineral lick and gets less sun and takes about 250 pics a week plus captures all the pics from 4 other cameras. It has been running for 4 months now on the Cuddeback solar panel.
