Cuddeback Cuddelink System

Anyone else using these cameras? We're going on our second year with a home camera and 9 others. We have 5 repeaters set up in between cameras to improve connection. Last year, the cameras were chewing up batteries in less than 2 weeks. So we bought 10, 6 battery booster packs. That helped but throughout that time, we were having heck with the cameras reliably sending images.

Cuddeback's only solution was solar panels with lithium batteries (which were back-ordered all last season), so we recently bought and connected 10 of those set ups. Cameras are sending photos more regularly, now. But we're still having problems with battery charge causing the loss of our home camera, and all others.

We've worked with Cuddeback over the phone and online for more than a year. Really frustrated with this system. We're over $6k in and can't get it to run consistently.

Anyone else have the system and any recommendations to improve performance? Thanks!

p.s. - have had great luck with Cuddeback cameras for years. But wanted something live to save trips pulling cards.

What are you setting your delay time between pics at?

May have figured it out. Maybe. The home camera shows 724 images but no charge. All other cameras show charge +. And, we're missing one of the 10 cameras. It "went" bad. Between those two and figuring out why the home is getting power depleted so quickly, I'm hopeful we can figure this out. My buddy who runs the cameras may need a little guidance.

When operating properly, we get 4 sets (every 6 hours) of 4-12 photos each. So 16-48 pics 4x/day.

Recently, we've gotten the same 9 photos, 3 minutes apart, for an hour. Then nothing. Hard to figure out.

I put 2 G model cameras plus a cell home point out about 3 months ago. Cudde was the only option I could use as the cell coverage is above my area, so the cameras are down low and the cell point is on top of the hill, so far, works great.

I only had 2 of the Solar/Lithium combos to start out (1 camera and the Cell Home Point), they haven't missed a beat, the camera on batteries alone died after about 3 weeks. I just put a Solar/Lithium combo on it, so I'm hoping I'm done.

There's alot to be desired with how their service works vs others (no remote control of camera settings namely), but as I said, it was my only choice. Count me as happy.

I've got 4 Js and a cell home. They worked well at the old lease, and I'll have to see how they do at the new one.

All of my cameras with solar panels run over 180 days and the home unit with the extra battery pack lasted over 220 days.

Thx for the replies.

I'm beginning to think we're attempting to cover too much acreage with 10 cameras and five repeaters. (1,809 ac)

Think we'll try ~ one section with this set-up. See what happens.

No doubt the cameras can chew up batteries, but as Tlew and I posted, the Lithium/Solar combo seems to be the ticket. I think once you get your power issues settled, you'll be able to focus on maybe adjusting your layout or adding some repeaters. You are certainly testing their networking capability.

Good luck!

I have 4 cameras and a home unit, and cover around 100 acre as of my 400, looking to get more cameras to cover more ground. I use solar panels on all the cameras, unfortunately there isn’t a solar panel for the home/cell unit. It eats a set of 4 D cells about every 35 days. I have had three of the cameras run for over 250 days with solar panels without stop, and one ran dead after being in the shade too long. Got it back up this weekend and cut some limbs to give it more juice.

Only thing I don’t like about the system is it sends pics every 25-30 minutes and during season can get backed up pretty bad, not a “real-time” system at all, but helpful for sure. Would probably get 4 more to cover about another 100 acres for my place.

I think 10 cameras for over 1000 acres is stretching it pretty thin.

Sure there is, same one you put on the cameras, I have one on mine, G-Series.

https://www.swfa.com/cuddeback-cuddepower-solar-kit.html

Interestingly enough, when I went to provide a link to my G Model Cell Home point, I don't see it shown on Cudde's site right now?

Charlie, thanks for showing me that. I am not 100% sure they even sell my home unit anymore, it is a combo home/cell unit that doesn't have a camera. But the base home unit does show a power port on the bottom, so I would imagine mine does too. I bet you have the same unit as mine, since neither of us could find it on their home page anymore.

Yes, that’s what I have, has 3 antennas. Odd it’s not showing anymore, I thought it was relatively new with the other G series.

Awesome, will need to pick up one of the solar panels for the G units then. I have all J type cameras, they take a different solar panel array. Glad to see they increased the options.