Stealth Cam Troubleshooting Tips for Beginners!
Trail cameras are already quite expensive. And fixing any trouble means adding more expenses to that. But trail cameras are electric devices, and just like any other such device, these cameras will require maintenance sometimes.
And you know what that means? Take out your camera and take it for service and then take it back to its spot. That’s a crazy amount of trouble if you ask me. So, why not save some time and money and fix those issues yourself?
That’s why I’ve decided to discuss troubleshooting some trail camera brands. And today, I’m going to explain Stealth Cam troubleshooting as it is one of the popular trail camera brands.
What Is A Stealth Cam?
Trail cameras were not a familiar gadget a few decades ago. On top of that, the available cameras lacked good cameras and overall quality. Then Stealth Cam entered the trail camera market and introduced new features.
Soon the trail camera market became more competitive. And Stealth Cam trail cameras lacked upgrades. But the company turned things around and started to bring out new upgraded trail cameras. Now, the company manufactures some of the best trail cameras with high-resolution cameras with extended detection range and fast trigger speed.
Stealth Cam Troubleshooting
No matter how expensive or excellent the camera is, staying out there for days and months will make it go through trouble more than any other electronic device. You may notice a sudden change in photo quality, or perhaps the camera will stop taking pictures or videos, or maybe the night vision isn’t working.
But there is no reason to panic or worry because these issues are not difficult to solve. It’s all about making sure the settings are correct. You only have to know what to do and how to do it.
Problem: The camera Doesn’t Take Pictures
The most irritating one among all the issues is this one. You set up your camera and leave it alone for days and months, only to realize that the camera isn’t taking pictures.
Solution:
Sometimes the camera doesn’t take pictures if the weather is too cold. If you realize the camera works inside the home during cold weather but doesn’t work outside, the weather is the issue. Try using Energizer Lithium batteries instead of AA batteries.
Problem: Pictures Do Not Show on SD Card
In some cases, users face the issue of photos not getting saved on the SD card. What should you do if that happens?
Solution:
First of all, always check if the SD card is set in its place. It would be best if you run a few tests at home before you leave. That’s the best way to ensure that the camera and the SD card are working. It is necessary to format SD cards before reinstalling them into the cameras.
Another solution is to use a separate SD card for each camera if you are using more than one. Using the same SD card for multiple cameras or swapping SD cards between cameras can lead to this issue. Try numbering and marking the cameras and SD cards so that you won’t accidentally switch them.
Problem: Night Vision Does Not Work
Night vision is a ‘photo saver’ when it comes to taking perfect shots at night. But if your camera instruction says it has night vision, but you barely get any clear pictures or no pictures at night, that means the feature isn’t working.
Solution:
When the night mode is active, you will notice small faint red LEDs around the lens. If the lights are off, use your mobile app to turn it on.
Trail cameras have a detection range between 30-120 feet, depending on the brand. If you have a camera with a low range, you cannot expect it to work for wide ranges.
If everything seems to be correct, check on the batteries. Night vision tends to malfunction if the batteries are low on power.
Problem: SD Card Won’t Format
Often SD cards malfunction when you try to format them. It can still happen even if you try using a new SD card. Try the following to solve this problem.
Solution:
You can try a few tricks to solve this issue. One of them is removing the batteries and SD card and letting it rest for a day. This trick usually solves the problem.
If not, you need to hard reset the SD card. To do that, you need to remove the power source of your trail camera. Then push and hold the power button for ten seconds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How To Clean A Trail Camera?
Trail cameras are left out in the woods or open areas for a long time. Over time, it will endure rain, dirt, scratches, and bites of animals and birds. These things are responsible for shortening the camera’s lifespan. That’s why you must clean the camera inside out every time you retrieve it.
Use a clean rag to clean the outer area. Then check the exterior space for scratches, bites, or saliva. You can use a Q-tip to clean it without damaging anything. Don’t forget to clean the lens to make sure the camera takes high-resolution pictures.
Q. When And How Should I Format the SD Card?
You should format your trail camera SD card every time you retrieve the camera and download all the photos. It keeps the storage clean to allow more pictures and videos to be stored.
To format the memory card, try the followings:
- Insert the SD card into your computer using a card reader.
- Go to “My Computer.”
- The SD card file will show as it gets plugged in.
- Right-click on the file will open options.
- Click to select “Format.”
Final Words
Trail cameras are not cheap. So, losing your camera within a short amount of time is both frustrating and heartbreaking.
That’s why knowing basic Stealth Cam troubleshooting is helpful for anyone, especially those who use Stealth Cam trail cameras. It will help you solve any such issues if they happen out of the blue. However, you must know your camera inside out to understand what could be causing the problems.
You don’t need to be an expert, and these issues barely require any tools to solve. But if troubleshooting your Stealth Cam seems complicated, you should leave it to a more experienced hand.
Read More: Stealth Cam Reviews & Buying Guide
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