The Cuddeback camera was designed in 1984 to capture fine details of animals as fast as deer. The scouting camera has changed since then and is now digital, but there are some consistencies, such as a fast trigger speed and long battery life. The camera also provides center technology, which can catch an image near the center of an object quickly. As with all cameras, you may experience some issues that need to be troubleshooted, but you can run some tests to help solve these problems.
Perform Power-On Test
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Step 1
Turn the rotary knob to "Off." Remove the SD card and batteries. Wait for about 15 seconds and reinsert the SD card along with new alkaline batteries.
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Step 2
Observe the LCD screen. Write down all the characters that appear on the screen. The camera should display four numbers. If the numbers do not appear, the camera requires service. This is fault code FC01. If the numbers appear, then after a few seconds the screen should show "--". While this is present on the screen, the camera is in the process of transferring photos from the camera's internal memory to the SD card. More numbers should appear afterward. If "--" lasts longer than five minutes, you could be experiencing another problem, and you should try again with new batteries. If the problem persists, you are experiencing fault code FC02.
Step 3
Look at the LCD for a number. The number should be the number of days you have used the camera. If no numbers appear, you may need to upgrade your software, which can be done at Cuddeback website.
Perform User-Interface Test
Step 1
Turn the rotary knob to "Time." Press "A" to set the hour and "B" to set the minutes. If the time cannot be set, the camera requires service. This is fault code FC03.
Step 2
Turn the rotary knob to "Date." Press "A" to set the month and "B" to set the date. If the date cannot be set, the camera requires service. This is fault code FC03.
Step 3
Turn the rotary knob to "Year." Press either "A" or "B" to set the year. If the year cannot be set, the camera requires service. This is fault code FC03.
Perform Camera Test
Step 1
Press the shutter release on the camera to make sure it is working correctly. Make sure you have the SD card in place, and turn the rotary knob to "Test." Hold down the "A'' button until you see a zero appear on the screen.
Step 2
Press the 'A' button two times until "Pic" appears on the screen. Next, press the "B" button to trigger the camera. The image should transfer to the SD card after about 15 seconds. Turn the rotary knob to "Off."
Step 3
Place the SD card in a viewing device such as a viewer or PC. You may not see high quality images, but if you see an image, the camera is able to take photos. If no image can be seen, you may need to visit the Cuddeback website for advanced testing methods.
Perform Flash Test
Step 1
Place a quarter over the camera lens. Make sure the SD card is in place.
Step 2
Turn the rotary knob to "Test." Hold down the "A'' button until you see a zero appear on the screen. Press the "A" button two times until "Pic" appears on the screen.
Step 3
Pay attention to see if the flash or IR LEDS work. Press the "B" button to trigger the camera. Turn the rotary knob to "Off."
Step 4
If the flash or IR LEDs did not activate, make sure that the camera lens is covered, and repeat this test. If the flash or IR LEDs still do not work, the camera requires service. This is fault code FCO6.
Perform Motion\Sensor Test
Step 1
Set the knob to "Test," and "----" should be shown. Make sure that the cover is closed completely and securely tighten it with a thumb screw.
Step 2
Place the camera outdoors where you can move past it freely. When you mount the camera on a tripod, make sure it is level and at a height where you can be seen.
Step 3
Walk back-and-forth starting at 10 feet from the camera, while looking at the camera's red LED. Make sure to walk past the camera completely and to wait 10 seconds between each walk. The red LED should flash when you walk past the camera. If the light does not flash, the camera requires service. This is fault code FC04. If the light will not stop flashing, even when you are not walking, the camera requires service. This is fault code FC05.