Reveal Tactacam 3.0 Pro... anything I should know?

[Panhandler80]

Received this unit for Christmas. Any tips, tricks or quirks I should know about? I've never used a cellular trail cam.

REVEAL PRO 3.0

Track game effortlessly with the Tactacam REVEAL Pro 3.0 cellular trail camera! No-Glow IR, HD images, GPS & long battery life keep you connected all season long

www.tactacam.com

 

[budmen]

Pretty simple been running tacticams for years they do like batteries im gonna start investing in solar panels for them. Try not to face east when setting up I try to set them facing south. App is extremely easy to use and share with people

Sent from my SM-S918U using Tapatalk

 

[Donjuan]

I’d consider the lithium packs and also turn down the sensitivity on the camera settings. They like to take a lot of pictures

 

[toddh]

Good cameras. The 3.0 isn't the best on batteries.

 

[Erict]

I check pics from about 15 of these daily.

- You can increase battery life by adjusting your settings, I'm pretty sure this is well addressed in the Tactacam FAQ online, as you probably don't get a paper manual with the cam anymore.

- Use it for a while and if you like it, get a solar panel for it. They work great. Panel charges panel batteries and the cam runs off them as long as they have juice, otherwise they revert to the AA batteries. With good sun exposure, you could probably go years without replacing batteries.

- You have the option to take multi-shots. Unless things have changed, only the first shot gets sent over the cell network and the remainder are only stored on the SD card.

- Sent picture quality seems to vary from good to fair, but rarely excellent or poor. Sent pictures are always lower quality than you will get by taking them off the SD card.

-The antenna screw in connection is somewhat fragile and not easy to fix if you break it.

-Use the type of SD card recommended and start with a fresh format.

- Update the firmware on the camera before using it.

- I like viewing the pics on a full size computer monitor, but if you want to change camera settings you will need to do it through the app on your phone, ipad, etc.

Good luck.

 

[Speaks]

My 3 burns batteries about 3x as fast as my 2, is otherwise great though. I will add solar next year.

 

[Gravel Road]

My 3 sucks compared to the 2 except for cell reception. I need T mobile and only the 3 has that option. I will probably switch to the Gardepro cam next year
Good luck with the new camera and hope you have success with it.

 

[Panhandler80]

I check pics from about 15 of these daily.

- You can increase battery life by adjusting your settings, I'm pretty sure this is well addressed in the Tactacam FAQ online, as you probably don't get a paper manual with the cam anymore.

- Use it for a while and if you like it, get a solar panel for it. They work great. Panel charges panel batteries and the cam runs off them as long as they have juice, otherwise they revert to the AA batteries. With good sun exposure, you could probably go years without replacing batteries.

- You have the option to take multi-shots. Unless things have changed, only the first shot gets sent over the cell network and the remainder are only stored on the SD card.

- Sent picture quality seems to vary from good to fair, but rarely excellent or poor. Sent pictures are always lower quality than you will get by taking them off the SD card.

-The antenna screw in connection is somewhat fragile and not easy to fix if you break it.

-Use the type of SD card recommended and start with a fresh format.

- Update the firmware on the camera before using it.

- I like viewing the pics on a full size computer monitor, but if you want to change camera settings you will need to do it through the app on your phone, ipad, etc.

Good luck.

Wow. Some good info there. I just downloaded the app and bought the "Pro" data plan, plus the $4/month "Xtra Add-On." If I'm reading things correctly the Xtra add on allows unlimited on-demand download of pictures. I guess without it there's just a daily dump to the app???

Anyway, a lot more technology that I'm used to, but hopefully I'll get it all dialed in. At impasse currently because I need batteries to continue synching everything up. Hope to put it out mid-day today. We'll see!

 

[budmen]

You can set it to send pictures as soon as it takes them or daily at a set time. All options available in the app. The Xtra just makes it so u can take an on demand photo at anytime and you get full hd pictures the sent pics are not the best quality

Sent from my SM-S918U using Tapatalk

 

[Panhandler80]

You can set it to send pictures as soon as it takes them or daily at a set time. All options available in the app. The Xtra just makes it so u can take an on demand photo at anytime and you get full hd pictures the sent pics are not the best quality

Sent from my SM-S918U using Tapatalk

Ah... well, then I guess I can delete the extra $4 / mo.

 

[Panhandler80]

Well, I’ll be damned if I can get this thing going. Typical for me. I’m sure it’s not the unit. During set up we did a test picture and I got to my phone. I think I have the unit on now, but I can’t get anything to happen. I go to the gallery and it says no pictures taken yet.

I think it may be going now. I put it outside for a GPS signal. Initially, this was the screen. Then the second picture is where it says work mode and has a countdown timer.

Next questions

1. I clicked on “On demand Photo” and it said I must go to Camera Settings and click “Instant.” I don’t see “instant” in any of the setting fields.

2. Tried to select photo bursts to be downloaded but it says I must have subscribed to “Xtra Add on”…. Which I have! Maybe I haven’t selected / activated somehow?

Almost too much tech for my dumb ass. But was present and would like to appear appreciative.

 

[Panhandler80]

Well. I think she’s running. Can’t figure out “on demand” pic, or where to find actual settings from app, but it took one pic on my way in this PM

 

[Erict]

I hope you removed the temporary scratch protector before putting it out - it will take better pics without it.




PS - if you can't figure something out, call Tactacam - you should be able to speak to a live human being quickly and they have always been real patient and helpful.

 

[ShortMagFan]

I have a few of the 2.0 cameras on feeders/bait piles.

With the solar panel that has an integrated battery + a lithium battery pack they’ve been out since late September and are all still showing 100pct battery.

My settings are a single picture spaced a minute apart and I have them set up so the solar panel gets a good amount of direct sunlight.

The most active camera has over 5000 pictures over the last 30 days and has never dropped below 100pct battery

 

[Panhandler80]

I got it running. Everything works great. You guys were right about batteries, though. 1 day and it says 53% currently

Two weeks from peak Chase here, but this guy already a little horned up!