The Spypoint Cell Link gives you the ability to turn almost any of your existing trail cameras into a cellular camera.
The Cell Link uses an SD card attached to a flat cable to connect a non-cellular trail camera to the cellular Spypoint Cell-Link. Pictures are then sent to the Spypoint smartphone app. This app is where you will access photos, buy cellular data (from Spypoint, not from a phone carrier), and change cellular upload options.
The Spypoint Cell-Link uses a LTE Quectel EC21-VD (Verizon) or a EC21-AD (AT&T) module that allows this camera to operate on LTE towers. It is backwards compatible and should work on 4G/3G towers while they are still active.
Best Practices
Here are some things we have picked up so far. The Cell-Link will need a micro SD card (you will need to purchase separately). We have found that you need to format this card in your computer. You will also need to format the SD card that is connected to the cable in your computer.
When possible, have the cable exit the camera at the bottom of the camera. We have concerns that anytime something breaks the seal of a trail camera's gasket that the possibility of letting moisture into a camera amplifies significantly. Maybe this will be an issue, maybe it won't. Either way, having the cable exit the bottom of the camera will help prevent direct entry of water into the camera.
Confirmed compatible cameras:
- Bushnell Core cameras
- Stealth Cam G45NG Max
- Spypoint Force 20
- Browning Dark Ops Pro XD (with folding the cable)
- Browning Dark ops HD Max (with folding cable)
- Browning Patriot (with folding cable)
- Browning Recon Force 4K Edge (with folding cable)
- Browning Spec Ops Edge (with folding cable)
- Covert Hollywood (fold the cable down the side through the bottom)
- Reconyx Hyperfire
Confirmed incompatible cameras:
- N/A
Battery Life:
Picture & Video Resting Power (on): 0.09 mW
Picture Power Consumption to Transmit 1 Photo: 39.5 Ws
How to Make the Spypoint Cell-Link work with Browning Trail Cameras
The Problem: It took us a while, but we finally figured out why the Cell-Link was not working with Browning cameras (with Spypoint's help). We initially inserted the sd card, attached to the flat cable, closed the door, and latched it like we had all the other cameras. However, it never sent photos. Turns out, the pressure of latching the door tugged the flat cable down and away from the SD card slot. In turn, this pulled the SD card out of the slot ever-so-slightly. Without the SD card completely in the slot, the camera didn't send pictures.
How to fix: You will need to fold the cable up before allowing it to go out the bottom of the camera (pictured).