discussion / Camera Traps  / 20 May 2021

Cellular and Lora camera traps

Dear all,

I'm looking for feedback from field experience using cellular and/or LoRA camera trap. How is the reliability of those systems and how strong have to be the network connection?

Example of products:

https://www.trailcampro.com/products/copy-of-covert-lora-lb-v3-verizon (If other camera I'm interested) How effective the lora connection is between the base station and the cameras?

https://www.piegephotographique.fr/boutique/fr/appareils-gsm-a-renvoi-de-photos/382-spypoint-link-micro-lte-camo-0887157020019.html (anyone test this one?)

Context:

The area concern by the utilization of those camera traps are inaccessible with for some of them poor connection (It why Lora camera were interested because base emission can be placed on a connection point while cameras are not necessary connected to network). The relief is strong with heavy rain, so product have to be reliable.

 

Thank you,

All the best,

Antoine.




Hi Antoine,

I am intrigued myself about how well a LoRa-based trail camera might work. I wonder if the 'LoRa' element is a more traditional radio connection? And of course the system still appears to rely on a cellular connection at the base station end. But interesting nonetheless. 

On the radio side, there's also the CuddeLink model: https://www.cuddeback.com/cuddelink

However, I'd be sitting down when you look at the price. 

I've had reasonable success with older model 3G cameras such as the Bolymedia MG983G-30M. From memory, it couldn't transfer video files larger than 10sec in length and it gets a bit glitchy if the batteries are running low. But, it worked well enough for me at the time.  

If you do end up looking closer at the 'LoRa' model, please let us know how it works.

Cheers,

Rob

Hi Antoine,

I had not seen these before, but I'll echo Rob in wondering if the radio links in these are truly what most would consider 'LoRa'.  That tech/protocol generally has very low data transfer rates and would be quite challenged in sending pictures.  That said, what they call it may not be relevant if it works for you. I would just be cautious of thinking it could integrate with other 'LoRa' devices or networks.  Some other web sites that mention this system describe the radio link as 'proprietary'.

Kyler

Antoineede they are a mesh style of camera, one links to the other and then send pictures back to the home unit where you either send them via cellular or you check the sd card. The cover Lora and cuddielink cameras do this but they play hell on battieries.

I had a cuddelink system and got rid of it , the home unit was to hook up to a pc and then from there you could easily wept a scrip to send to txt message or email etc but they scrapped that idea