Cellular Cams..

["J"]

Got a question for you experienced cell cam aficionados. Buddy asked this question too me and I couldn’t think of any legitimate answers .
His cell camera is a spypoint. His carrier is Verizon. He has 4 bars on his phone at the camera location, but camera won’t go above 25% signal.
Have y’all experienced something like this? It’s not sending pictures with only 25%.

 

[Jackalope]

Got a question for you experienced cell cam aficionados. Buddy asked this question too me and I couldn’t think of any legitimate answers .
His cell camera is a spypoint. His carrier is Verizon. He has 4 bars on his phone at the camera location, but camera won’t go above 25% signal.
Have y’all experienced something like this? It’s not sending pictures with only 25%.

He needs to check his cameras antenna and perhaps clean the contacts. Try that first.

 

["J"]

He needs to check his cameras antenna and perhaps clean the contacts. Try that first.

Wow, never thought about that. Simple fix if it’s that. Thanks Joe!

 

[giles]

Is he running lithium batteries? I could see this being a problem with alkaline batteries.

 

[Fletch]

Has this camera worked before?? Maybe it needs a software update... I assume the carrier for the camera is Verizon...

 

[Quantum673]

How old is the camera? First thing I would do is check the software on the camera to see if it needs updated.

If software is updated then the next thing would be to make sure antennae is clean and tight.

next I would get the SIM card replaced by Verizon. They should also be able to refresh the network on the device.

 

["J"]

Has this camera worked before?? Maybe it needs a software update... I assume the carrier for the camera is Verizon...

Yes it worked before, different farm better reception. Verizon cell camera also. Are the software updates downloaded too the camera like the phones? Or do you have too manually update them?

 

["J"]

Is he running lithium batteries? I could see this being a problem with alkaline batteries.

How so?

 

[giles]

How so?

These cameras are designed to run at full battery power. Lithium batteries are designed to be full power until they aren't. That is why all the manufactures suggest you use them. If the battery life is weakening on an alkaline. It could easily be the problem.

Like a weak car battery being able to run the radio, but not enough to start the car.

 

[Fletch]

Yes it worked before, different farm better reception. Verizon cell camera also. Are the software updates downloaded too the camera like the phones? Or do you have too manually update them?

J... I'm not real familiar with Spypoint, but I do know that software updates have been a problem in the past for guys... My friend called Spypoint before and had them do the update, but not sure if they'll do that any more... Ask your friend to call and see if they'll do it... Otherwise I believe you have to down load software to an SD card and do it manually.. What size SD card does he have??? SD cards can also cause problems... Have him reformat the SD card.... Although they say to use lithium batteries before alkaline I don't think it matters as long as the batteries have a good charge...
I ran several cell cams this year on alkalines, they just didn't last as long as lithiums...

 

["J"]

These cameras are designed to run at full battery power. Lithium batteries are designed to be full power until they aren't. That is why all the manufactures suggest you use them. If the battery life is weakening on an alkaline. It could easily be the problem.

Like a weak car battery being able to run the radio, but not enough to start the car.

He replaced the batteries today with no change.

 

["J"]

J... I'm not real familiar with Spypoint, but I do know that software updates have been a problem in the past for guys... My friend called Spypoint before and had them do the update, but not sure if they'll do that any more... Ask your friend to call and see if they'll do it... Otherwise I believe you have to down load software to an SD card and do it manually.. What size SD card does he have??? SD cards can also cause problems... Have him reformat the SD card.... Although they say to use lithium batteries before alkaline I don't think it matters as long as the batteries have a good charge...
I ran several cell cams this year on alkalines, they just didn't last as long as lithiums...

He’s got the right card, he knew about the version10 and has a 32gig card. It worked for moths perfectly until he relocated it too a new farm. He’s emailing Spypoint in the morning.

 

[giles]

He replaced the batteries today with no change.

I'm gonna go with what Jon said. Something with the antenna got bumped around during the move.

 

[Fletch]

He’s got the right card, he knew about the version10 and has a 32gig card. It worked for moths perfectly until he relocated it too a new farm. He’s emailing Spypoint in the morning.

Have him re-format the card, they can get corrupted... My cousin's Spypoint did...

 

[Fletch]

If he can access the sim card have him take it out and wipe it off and replace it... I've also heard of them becoming dislodged in a move...

 

[jagermeister]

Yes it worked before, different farm better reception. Verizon cell camera also. Are the software updates downloaded too the camera like the phones? Or do you have too manually update them?

Depends on the model of camera. On some of their newer models, the Flex for example, you can do a firmware update directly through the app. The other models require you to download and save the firmware update files onto a blank (formatted) SD card, and then insert that card into the camera to perform the update. If you go to Spypoint’s support page, you can look up the camera model, view and download the latest firmware version, and view the update instructions. Pull up the camera in the app to view the current firmware version that is installed.

The batteries shouldn’t have anything to do with your problem. It’s probably either in need of a firmware update or the antenna is bad/bad connection.

 

[Outdoorsfellar]

I wonder if Verizon is the issue. Oh, yote just walked by ...

 

["J"]

Depends on the model of camera. On some of their newer models, the Flex for example, you can do a firmware update directly through the app. The other models require you to download and save the firmware update files onto a blank (formatted) SD card, and then insert that card into the camera to perform the update. If you go to Spypoint’s support page, you can look up the camera model, view and download the latest firmware version, and view the update instructions. Pull up the camera in the app to view the current firmware version that is installed.

The batteries shouldn’t have anything to do with your problem. It’s probably either in need of a firmware update or the antenna is bad/bad connection.

Yeah, I’m thinking firmware if it’s not the antenna. I went too the site, looked at his and the latest update, and it isn’t anything close too what his currently shows. And I sent him the link on how too download and upload too the camera. He said he’s pretty sure the antenna is tight and he’ll check and clean it tomorrow.

 

[Quantum673]

I would put my money on the software need a updated. If that does not fix it the next thing I would do is put the SIM card in another Cellular Capable device like a tablet and see what the signal strength is on that. If the tablet has good signal then you know the issue is the camera and not the SIM card. Make sure not to put the SIM in a phone though. Since it is on a data only plan it can mess things up if they put the SIM in a voice capable device.

 

["J"]

Thanks for all the input. I definitely learned some things, he did as well. He’ll be doing the update and pulling the antenna too clean it, regardless if it needs it or not. When he gets done with it I’ll post the results. Although it may be after muzzy season though. Between Xmas and work he’s maxed out on time…