CuddeLink Introduction Manual
Manual Number 10.0.0
What CuddeLink Does
Hunters know the importance and benefits of using multiple trail cameras. But checking these cameras can be a time consuming task that takes away from hunting time and pollutes the area with human scent. The fact that multiple cameras can take hours to check also means that cameras are not checked as often as hunters may like. The result is conventional trail cameras are scouting 24 hours a day but hunters don’t have enough time to retrieve the information the trail cameras provide.
Cuddeback’s patent pending CuddeLink eliminates checking multiple cameras. CuddeLink is a wireless network of trail cameras that transmit their images to 1 camera. The depository camera is called the HOME camera, and the transmitting cameras are called REMOTE cameras. So instead of checking all your cameras, you only check one.
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Stop checking multiple trail cameras.
With CuddeLink, you check one, you checked them all!
CuddeLink Advantages
CuddeLink allows you to use your trail cameras to scout more effectively without alarming animals:
Easy to Use - CuddeLink is cutting edge technology but using it is not difficult. Deploying
CuddeLink cameras is very much like deploying conventional trail cameras.
More Convenient – check your cameras more conveniently by placing the Home camera in the most convenient location, such as a vehicle parking spot, tree stand, blind, or in a building.
More Often – because you only check 1 camera and this camera can be conveniently placed, you can check your cameras more often, even numerous times per day such as before you hunt, mid-day, nights, or anytime you desire.
No Intrusion – allows you to check trail cameras without intruding on the animals.
No Sound – if you don’t intrude, you don’t startle the animals with sound.
No Human Scent – if you don’t intrude, you don’t leave any human scent. When human activity is removed animals move more naturally and potentially move more in daylight.
No Fees - CuddeLink proprietary wireless technology does not have a monthly fee.
Cell Remote Access* - CuddeLink allow images to be accessed remotely via cell service (fees
apply). But instead of multiple cell phone service fees you only need 1 service for up to 16 cameras.
Internet Access* - In some situations CuddeLink images can be remotely accessed over the internet. No fees apply.
*Additional product required. See Appendix A.
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TERMS
CuddeLink is Cuddeback’s trademark name for Cuddeback’s network enabled trail cameras.
CL is an abbreviation for CuddeLink.
Network refers to a collection of CuddeLink cameras that are in radio contact with each other.
Home refers to the camera or device that collects all images.
Remote refers to cameras that transmit images to the HOME.
Repeater refers to a device that acts as a relay station on a CuddeLink network. The REPEATER does not take pictures, it only transmits images from one node to the next node.
Node is a general name for any home, remote and repeater on the network.
Daisy Chain is 2 or more cameras that are linked together via the CuddeLink network.
Link is 1 connection from 1 camera to the next camera.
Full Resolution Image is the full size image recorded by the camera. These images are saved on the Remote camera’s SD card.
Thumbnail Image is a compressed image that is much smaller than the original image taken by the camera. These are the images transferred to Home. The full resolution image is available on the Remote camera so you do have access to it if needed.
CuddeLink thumbnail images are smaller than the full resolution saved on the
Remote camera’s
SD card. The thumbnail images are still high quality and look great on small screens, such as a smart phone or tablet.
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CuddeLink Network
This diagram shows a simple CuddeLink network. Home camera (1) collects images from the 5
Remote cameras (2 thru 6) . The images taken by the Remote cameras are wirelessly sent to the
Home camera. So instead of checking all 6 cameras you only check the Home camera.
The CuddeLink Home can be placed in the most convenient location:
Vehicle parking spot
In tree stand or blind
In a building, cabin, home, or garage, as shown in this example
Anywhere you would place a conventional trail camera
You check the Home camera the same way you check a conventional trail camera. Pull the SD card and view the images, or swap out the card for viewing latter.
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How far can CuddeLink go?
Your first question is mostly likely how far can a CuddeLink camera talk? The easy answer is 1/4 to 1/3 of a mile camera-to-camera. But, the cameras will automatically daisy chain to extend range.
0 1/4 1/2 3/4 mile
Typical camera-to-camera range is 1/4 mile in a forest.
Range can be much further in a some terrain & conditions.
With 16 cameras the theoretical range is 4 miles from Home to the furthest remote. However, a more reasonable deployment scenario is 2 to 3 miles in a forest, allowing CuddeLink cameras to be deployed on properties from a back yard to over 2000 acres. In open terrain void of hills and dense forest the camera-to-camera range is much further, perhaps over 1 mile and can daisy chain for many miles.
How do I connect cameras?
Next, you may ask how do I connect the cameras to each other and how do I create the daisy
chain? The good news is CuddeLink does all the connecting for you. All you need to do is deploy the cameras and verify you have a signal. Connectivity is verified much like on a cell phone, you look at a signal strength meter and if a signal is present you can deploy the camera. On average, it takes about 1 minute longer to deploy a CuddeLink camera versus a conventional trail camera.
How fast does it take images to get from a Remote to Home?
Wireless data transferring it not instantaneous, as you are no doubt aware from your experience with Wi-Fi and cell phone. CuddeLink images are transferred to Home in the order in which they are taken. Images can get Home as fast as a few minutes after being taken to as long as hours depending upon how many images the Remote cameras take.
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What About Hills?
Radio signals cannot travel through earth so hills will block the CuddeLink signal. The solution is to put a CuddeLink camera on top the hill to relay the images.
The hill is blocking R2 from talking to R1
R3 is added to relay the signals from R2 to R1
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What if my remote cameras are too far apart?
Lets suppose you want to deploy Remote 1 and Remote 3 as shown below.
The cameras are too far apart to connect. What do you do? In this situation you install another camera between Remote 1 & 3 to relay the images from R1 to R3.
Ideally this would be a place where you want a camera. But lets assume you did not want a camera in this location. You have 3 options:
1. Use a camera anyway.
2. Use a camera in REPEATER mode. In repeater mode the camera will act as a CuddeLink relay but will not record any images.
3. Use a CuddeLink Repeater. This is a lower cost solution that solves the problem without wasting a camera in an undesired location.
How long do the batteries last?
CuddeLink cameras do require more power than conventional trail cameras. Power usage will increase as more images are transferred. To extend battery life all CuddeLink cameras have the ability to operate from external battery power or solar power. Depending upon the camera model batteries can last for many months to indefinitely with solar power. See each camera’s specifications for estimated battery life. Refer to Appendix A for specifications.
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Images on SD Card
The CuddeLink Home camera will save the images from the Remote cameras on the SD card.
Images are sorted and saved in folders for each camera.
In this screen shot there are folders named LOC__001 thru LOC_007. These folders correspond to remote cameras 1 thru 7. Within these folders are the images from the Remote cameras.
(The CuddeLink.html file is explained on the next page).
Insert photos
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Camera Status
With CuddeLink you won’t be checking your cameras very often. To keep you informed of camera status CuddeLink Remote cameras will send a status report to the Home camera. This report will let you know when it is time to visit cameras to change batteries or SD card.
1. Camera Mode (Home, Camera, Repeater)
2. Location ID number programmed by user
3. Camera ID programmed by the user
4. CuddeLink Signal Level
5. Links (number of daisy chain links this camera is from Home)
6. Battery Level (monitor this to know when to replace batteries)
7. Images queued to be transferred Home
8. Images on SD card
9. Free space on SD card (monitor this to know when to replace or clear SD card)
10. Camera model and firmware version
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IMAGE COLLECTION METHODS
There is 4 ways to retrieve and view CuddeLink images.
Home Camera SD Card
The easiest way to retrieve CuddeLink images is from the Home camera’s SD card. This is the standard method of image viewing. Images from Remote cameras are transferred to the Home camera and stored on the Home camera’s SD card. To view the images from all your Remote cameras all you do is visit the Home camera and pull the SD card and view as if it were a conventional trail camera.
Pull the Home camera’s SD card and view the images they way you normally would
This viewing method is very simple and is very much like viewing a conventional trail camera.
This is a great time saver and allows you to check all your cameras by only checking one.
We recommend placing this camera in a easy to check location, such as your vehicle parking spot, near your stand, or even in your home or cabin if your property has that.
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PC Image Collection
If your home camera can be located in a building with access to AC power you have to option to have CuddeLink transfer all images directly to a Windows PC. Instead of pulling the SD card from the Home camera all you do is view the images on your PC.
This is accomplished by using a CuddeLink Home Only or Home Plus product as the CuddeLink
Home. The Home connects to a Windows PC via USB cable and the PC will copy images from the
Home SD card and save them on the PC’s hard drive.
1. Images from R1, R2, and R3 are sent to Home Plus H.
2. Images are then automatically transferred to the Windows PC via a USB cable.
3. To view images use a Windows image viewing program or Cuddeback’s Trophy Room program. Windows will have a default viewer to view the images. Trophy Room will simplify the process and provide many benefits.
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Internet Connected Windows PC
If you use the PC Image Collection method described on the previous page you may be able to access the images over the Internet with a phone, tablet, or any computer.
If this PC is connected to the Internet via any standard method (Cable, Cellular, DSP, etc.) then your CuddeLink images can easily be accessed via the Internet. You will be required to install
Microsoft One Drive (free download). One Drive will do all the work for you and allows you to access the CuddeLink images saved in the One Drive folders.
You can use any type of device to access the images over the Internet: Apple, Windows, or
Android devices.
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Cell Service
Cuddeback offers the CuddeLink Cell-Cap that attaches to select CuddeLink cameras and Home units which allows images to be emailed or texted to a cell phone or computer. This method requires a cell phone service contract with additional cell connection fees, but only 1 cell phone connection is required to transmit images from up to 16 cameras.
1. Image from Remotes R1, R2, and R3 are sent to Home camera H.
2. The cell modem in H will email the images to your email address or send them via text to any
cell phone.
Note—see Appendix A for current list of Cuddeback cell products.
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What if I want more than 16 cameras?
CuddeLink is limited to 1 Home and 15 Remote cameras. If you want to use more than 15 remotes cameras you will need to setup a second CuddeLink network.
Each network must be assigned a unique CL CHANNEL. CuddeLink has 16 channels to choose from.
The Home cameras can be next to each other or apart. The Remote camera can be near each
other or apart. There isn’t any restrictions on camera placement.
If you want Cell connectivity each Home will need a cell cap. This will require 2 cell service
fees.
Large Properties
If you have a very large property you can use multiple CuddeLink networks. For example, say you have a large piece of property which would require too many cameras to connect end to end.
Break the property into smaller areas and deploy a network in each area. You will be required to check multiple cameras, but far less than if you had to check all the cameras. You can also use multiple cell cameras to prevent having to check the Home cameras.
On large properties you can deploy multiple networks.
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Tree Stand Use
Checking cameras before a hunt can waste time and spook game. With CuddeLink you can deploy the Home camera near your stand. You can now check your CuddeLink trail cameras without disturbing your hunting area.
This hunter has his CuddeLink Home strapped to the tree above his stand. Now he can check his trail cameras from the comfort of his stand without alarming game or leaving human scent around his food plot.
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Appendix A - CuddeLink Products
You will need a least 2 CuddeLink cameras to build a network. You can have up to 16 cameras on a network (1 Home and 15 Remotes). Each CuddeLink network consist of 2 components: the
Home camera and the Remote cameras.
Home Camera - any CuddeLink camera can be a Home camera. A setting is used to tell the camera it will be Home. Only 1 camera is Home.
Remote Camera - any CuddeLink camera can be a remote camera. A setting is used to tell the camera it will be a Remote. You can have 1 to 15 Remote cameras connected to Home.
Repeater - A Repeater is used to reply images from 1 Remote camera to the next Remote. A
Repeater does not take pictures. A camera can be deployed as a Repeater, or you can use a dedicated Repeater. Dedicated Repeaters are lower cost than CuddeLink cameras.
Home Plus - Home Plus is a multi-functional product that can work as Home or as a dedicated
Repeater. Home Plus is lower cost than a CuddeLink camera. Home Plus can serve as Home, as a cellular service Home, as Home linked to a PC/Internet, or as a Repeater.
CuddeLink Cell - CuddeLink Cell Caps allowing receiving images over the cellular network. The
CuddeLink CELL-CAP installs onto the CuddeLink Dual Flash camera or Home Plus. The CELL-CAP also has the CuddeLink radio built in.
CuddePower - Cuddeback has a selection of power options that allow CuddeLink cameras to run for many month, or indefinitely, between battery changes.
Beauty shot of products or line dwg with product names identified
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CuddeLink Products (June 2017)
Model Name Notes Remote Home Repeater
PC /
Internet
Compatible
Cell
Compatible
1361 Dual Flash
Requires
CuddeLink Cap
Yes Yes Yes No Yes
1451
CuddeLink
IR
J Camera with
CuddeLink
Yes
1452
CuddeLink
Black Flash
J Camera with
CuddeLink
2092 CL-CAP
Adds CuddeLink to
Model 1361
Yes
—
* Home Only Not a camera
No
Yes
Yes
—
Yes
Yes
Yes
—
No
No
No
—
Yes
No
No
—
Yes
* Home Plus Not a camera
* CC-CAP
Adds Cell Service to Dual Flash &
Home products.
Includes
CuddeLink
No
—
Yes
—
Yes
—
Yes
—
Yes
—
*Home Only, Home Plus, and Cellular products will be available in late 2017 or early 2018. All currently sold CuddeLink products will be compatible with these forthcoming products.
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CuddeLink Dual Flash Battery Life Estimates
With 4 D batteries—typical 60 to 90 days of battery life. We refer to these as internal
batteries.
With CuddePower (6 D batteries) - The external 6 batteries will have a battery life of 3 to 6 months. After the external batteries are depleted the internal D batteries can run the camera for an additional 2 to 3 months for a combined battery life of 6 to 9 months.
External Batteries
Internal Batteries
The CuddePower battery pack is the primary battery source and is used first. When the external batteries are depleted the internal batteries take over.
We recommend replacing the external batteries as soon as the externals are depleted.
This allows the internal batteries to perform as backup-power and are only used when the externals are depleted.
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The CuddeLink Dual Flash Camera
The CuddeLink Dual Flash camera is sold without the CuddeLink radio. This allows you to choose between the CuddeLink CL-CAP or the CuddeLink CELL-CAP module. This also allows you to change any CuddeLink Dual Flash to cell capability.
You build a CuddeLink camera by purchasing a Cuddeback Dual flash and a CuddeLink CL-CAP.
Remember, this camera can be a Remote or Home by simply programming a setting.
Install CuddeLink radio by removing the dummy cap and attaching the CuddeLink cap.
Dual Flash model 1361
CuddeLink CL-CAP model 2092
Remove Cap
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Coming Soon
CuddeLink Cellular - The CuddeLink CELL-CAP adds cell service to a CuddeLink network.
Home Plus - Home Plus functions as a Home, repeater, and is cellular compatible.
Home Plus with Cell - Use Home Plus with Cellular for a low cost and effective way to add cellular to a CuddeLink network. Home Plus is not a camera. It can be placed where cell signal is strongest
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Non Typical, Inc.
●
www.cuddeback.com
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