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Digital Game Camers Frequently Asked Questions |
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- Does my camera have a motion sensor?
- Answer: It has an infrared sensor that detects changes in temperature, such as an animal’s body heat. It must sense a change in temperature to trigger the camera. A limb or other inanimate object will not trigger the camera.
- Why does my camera take pictures of landscape with no animals in them?
- Answer: There can be several answers to this question, some of the more common reasons are:
1. Mounting the camera on an unstable object that allows the camera to move, like a small tree that could move in the wind, for instance.
2. Having your camera mounted in an eastern or western direction. The heat from the rising or setting sun can trick the camera into thinking it senses an animal’s body heat.
3. Aiming the camera straight across a trail can cause this. The unit needs to be angled up the trail so a passing animal will be in it’s field of view longer and allow the camera more time to react.
4. Sometimes in night pictures the animal may be out of the range of the flash, but still within the range of the infrared sensor, and not be seen in the background. Look close for shining eyes, or use photo software to enhance your pictures.
5. Look closely for small animals, sometimes a small bird, a mouse or squirrel on the ground can be hard to see in the picture, but they still have enough body heat to trip the camera.
- How should I mount my camera?
- Answer: Find a nice sized tree or post to begin with. Make sure to mount it waist high and aim it away from the rising or setting sun. You’ll need some way of attaching it, we suggest using bungee straps or ratchet straps. If you want to lock it, we suggest a small padlock and aircraft cable. Make sure the camera is level with the ground and not aimed up or down.
- Will weather affect my camera?
- Answer: Yes and no. Hot weather will affect the range of your infrared sensor. It will make the distance it picks up body heat shorter if it is extremely hot outside. Cold weather will not affect the camera itself, but it does affect the batteries. Anytime the temperature goes below freezing, you should expect a shorter battery life.
- If I want to use the expanded memory, what brand memory card should I use?
- Answer: Sandisc, Kodak, and Panasonic are the three brands that we use. There are some brand cards that we have found difficult to use. Usually, if you will purchase a quality brand name card, you shouldn’t have any problems. If you do experience problems, try formatting your card on your computer. If this doesn’t help, give our technicians a call and they will assist you. You must have your camera powered off to install the card or it will not save to it. Once a memory card is installed, all pictures will be stored on the card. All pictures that are already saved to the internal memory will remain on the camera, but will not transfer to the card.
- How long can I expect the battery to last in my camera?
- Answer: If you are using a good quality dry cell, depending on the number of flashes and pictures, you should get three weeks at a minimum, many times longer. If you are using a rechargeable with a solar panel, it will extend your time by several weeks. There is really no “exact” time, due to all the variables.
- What delay time should I choose between pictures?
- Answer: There are several options depending on how you are using your camera. As a general rule, shorter delay times are used on trails, when animals are just passing by. Longer time delays are used on food plots and mineral licks or by feeders, when the animals will be lingering in the area. It also depends on how much animal traffic that you have in your area.
- What if my camera will not function correctly?
- Answer: Refer to page 8 in your instruction manual for troubleshooting info (manuals are available on the website under user instructions). If that doesn’t help, give our technicians a call 800-653-3334
- How do I view my pictures?
- Answer: Refer to your instruction manual on page 6 (manuals are available on the website under user instructions). It explains both ways to view your pictures, on a TV set and on a computer. If viewing on a TV, it may be helpful to have your TV manual handy. If viewing on a computer, the first thing you need to know is what operating system your computer is running. You must have Windows Millennium or XP to hook the camera up directly to your computer. If you have Windows 95 or 98, you must use a card reader to view your pictures. By following the steps on page 6, you shouldn’t have any problems. If you do, contact us.
- Can I use a solar panel on my unit?
- Answer: Yes and no, depending on the camera model you bought. The only cameras that do not have solar panel connectors are the Game Spy 100 and the Game Watcher 100. If your camera has connectors they are located on the bottom right hand side of the unit. As long as you are using a rechargeable battery, you can use one. Do not use a solar panel with a dry cell battery! NOTE: Remember the solar panel recharges the battery, the camera does not run off the solar panel.
- Can I use my camera to take video clips at night?
- Answer: No, at night the camera reverts back to taking still pictures. You will notice a still picture before each video clip. This is to allow you to view the time and date of each video clip, as it can’t keep that display on the picture during a clip.
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