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Anyone have any success with spypoint support in the last couple of weeks?
Chat - they start a chat and then just abandon it.
Facebook - if it's a problem them can't fix quickly, they just delete the post. Have had two deleted since Thursday.
And telephone. Well it always was a joke, but now they just don't answer, which is probably better than it was.
I have two non-functional cameras now - these are the top end $500 buck ones.
what have you tried so far? Maybe the support can come from here.
I used to have trouble with the micros, until I started doing an update every spring/fall before I put them out.
Two link-s cams. I set them up on Sept 17, set transmit on each picture, tested them and all was good.Quote:
Originally Posted by machron
About 4 days later they both quit transmitting.
On Oct 2, put in new batteries, new sim cards and update the firmware.
On Oct 6th both cams began transmitting only at noon. On Oct 9, one of the cameras quit completely.
I now see that the cameras have a feature when 4 transmissions are missed, they go into survival mode where they only transmit once per day.
These cameras are only about 2.5k from the cell tower and one of them (the one that has quit) has line of sight to the tower. You can see the tower lights from the camera.
What I'm trying to figure out is how to fix this - either a later firmware fix without this "feature", or a way that I can manually restart the camera every 3-4 days.
After over an hour of no meaningful response from the chat, I get this:
"For this, I'm still consulting the team. I will be emailing you this matter and the resolution for this issue. I appreciate your patience in staying online and I apologize for the wait time.
I will resolve this within the day.'
Not sure, but I think I just got told to go away. If I wanted email support - which I don't because they don't respond", I would have emailed. Looks like they don't understand the concept of a "chat".
I have some spypoints too, the spendy ones, and the service has been spotty to say the least. Don't know if its their servers that are overwhelmed, or the cameras that dont work properly. Some don't update for days then suddenly start working, others no problems. I have done everything - proper batteries and SD card, and latest firmware.
As compared, I have had ZERO issues with my Tactacam Reveal Xs at the same location. Stronger signal, better pictures and never a single glitch. Did I mention that they are less than half the price of the spypoints?
I would love to support Spypoint more as they are a Canadian company, but they are not making it easy.
Werner, I have had tremendous luck with the chat , sometimes it is a bit of wait to get someones attention but they tell you what number you are in the que.
I will be reaching out to them on a camera later today, I will let you know.
I ve had some transmission issues, but have found this to be in very high wind conditions only.
I do regularly update firmware regardless,
WHen you did the update, did you open up the file before transferring?
If not you had transferred the file in a zip format, you have to open it up once its downloaded on your pc being transferring,
I made that mistake before
I contacted them last week via chat to see if they could do a remote firmware update as my camera is out in the woods.
I tried the chat function twice, once at 5pm (no response), then again the next morning. The wait time was less than 5 minutes, but they wouldn’t do the firmware update remotely; they said that I would have to it myself.
I can’t say that I’ve had any serious issues with my SPYPOINT camera or Cell Link units. Their customer service gets a lot of complaints.
I did buy a couple of spare antennas and link cables just in case though.
Wow I was thinking of getting one of these but several of you on here have had issues.
I hope you get them fixed.
It’s weird that some cameras work and some don’t.
Signal strength fluctuations from tower?
Stay on current updates.
My cameras are running 90% or100%. Signal strength.
And they are working perfectly.
My two run 90% and 75% cell reception when I power cycle them, but the longer they are up.Quote:
Originally Posted by glen
Both cams are within 2.5km of two cell towers, and from the 90% cam, you can see the lights on both towers.
Spypoint has a feature where if they miss 4 transmissions, they go into one try every 24 hours (survival mode they call it).
This makes the poor comms software even worse.
Both cams mounted in the same security boxes worked flawlessly last fall, except for the 3 day spypoint network outage.
So far this fall, I've spent more time trying to get the cams working than I have deer hunting.
My cameras are working perfect.
Hope you get yours working too.
Everything you need to know about spypoint - this is from des moines BBB - but others are similar.
How do you achieve a 1.16/5 rating when the lowest a customer can give you is 1.0?
https://www.bbb.org/us/ia/des-moines...stomer-reviews
I give my cameras 5/5 review.
I would have given mine a 4/5 review until they quit working... Now I have a couple of $500 paperweights.Quote:
Originally Posted by glen
sorry to hear your having issues, My only problem was due to signal dropping at my site, and I see that on my cell phone all the time while there as well so not actually a camera issue.
And just so you know the Facebook page is not a spypoint page, its is just a group of camera users, although a guy from spypoint does help a lot. But if your posts are being deleted, its not spypoint deleting them. Its the admin and you must be violating a user rule.
not saying its your issue, but a good chunk of the issues I read about are actually user error. Seems many just put them out in the bush and don't take the time to understand how they actually work. Lots of good youtube videos and videos on spypoints website to learn from.
I had issues in the spring when I put cell link out. Wouldn't transfer pics. Camera would go into sleep mode and not come back on. So replaced the camera, updated firmware, formatted the cards, put new batteries in. 100% signal and everything working great in the field. But still no pictures. Got tired of driving to where the camera is every few days so I took the cell link off and just ran camera. I may try it again in the spring. I thought the micro link would be better but don't think I'll waste my money. Buddy runs reconyx cell cams with great success. May have to bite the bullet and get one.
As I said before, try a Tactacam Reveal X. At $179 and in stock at Cabela's ( https://www.cabelas.ca/product/14730...r-trail-camera ) they are way superior in every way and their customer service is really good, not that you will need it as they work flawlessly - 10/10!
Superior in every way except cost I guess. I really hate monthly/yearly fees. Maybe just my pet peeve but I avoid them any where I canQuote:
Originally Posted by Ahuntr300
True, you do not get free 100 free pictures a month and you have to buy a plan. However, I spent $350 for the spypoint so I think I prepaid for the 100 free pictures a month as the camera cost me almost 2 times as much as a Tactacam. With the savings I can pay for 2 years of subscription for the Tactacam. Not to mention the savings in gas to fetch a camera that does not work every two weeks and the time saved calling tech support.Quote:
Originally Posted by FishHog
That's a huge problem I encountered with the facebook group. Too many of the admins jump to the "user error" fault assumption... Or the poor signal fault blame.Quote:
Originally Posted by FishHog
I've been using the link-s since 2018, and as strange as it may seem, I actually know a bit about how it works.
I've also been working in the software/communication industry for the last 40 years - so I know a bit about that too.
Yet when I encounter a problem - near identical with two cams - I have one bunch of people telling me its user error and another bunch telling me it's a signal problem.
But here's what I think - if it's a problem that can be resolved by power cycling the camera - it's a firmware problem and spypoint should be working on fixing it.
A couple of things I did pick up that were useful were from other users as myself trying to resolve issues:
- a feature has been added to the firmware where the camera goes into "survival mode" and only transmits once every 24 hours regardless of settings - Not sure who would have thought this is a good idea - but it is likely behind a lot of the failures being reported
- the other is that there is a bug in the firmware where if you change the camera settings, sometimes you need to power cycle the camera to make it work afterwards. Not very good for a remote camera. And if you are having transmission problems - what do you do? Increase the transmission frequency - a setting change and then the camera stops after the next transmission.
Thank you for your insight.
You’d think they have done this a few years now and would have all the bugs worked out by now.
So what you are saying don’t change the settings too often as you risk disabling the camera - very interesting.
Re the power cycling, maybe that is a feature they should add to the app.
It’s all very frustrating when some work and exact other ones don’t. Is it because of different hardware revisions? Puzzling.
Werner, Sorry did not come back and report.,
I contacted Spypoint via chat, and they resolved my issue, and are replacing my camera,
It took a lot of question as they were trying to establish a reasonm, but in the end they are sending me a new camera,
I really do like the chat help. In some cases, you will get someone that is not helpful, and I have on 2 occasions, just said thank you very much and then I wait 10 min and re do chat get someone else and they resolve the issue right away,
So you had a bad camera. I wonder what was wrong with it.
I have 2 of the spypoint micros and haven't had a problem in 2 years. My signal strength ranges from 0 to 40% but no leaves are falling it has stayed at 40%. I will take the 100 free pictures a month, as that seems to do me quite well.
I gave up with the online chat function and phone them direct after 15 mins of trying a few things with camera in had they told me a new one will be shipped one week later i have it.
Doesn’t sound like a reliable product.
Was looking at the new Bushnell, anyone try that one? At least we know they have excellent customer service and support
I have had 3 Non-Cellular for a number of years, I have been very happy with them. Over the past year I have added Cell-links to each of them. My cellular reception has been like everyone else, it ranges from time of year to location, within the same concession it ranges from 0 to 100%. Working in the telecommunication industry I have an understanding of the reasons behind why and how. I have added an external antennae, which has helped, only advice it to take a buddy, it's a pain going up and down the tree to test, the doing it again to change the side of the tree it's on.
A few weeks ago I put out my first Micro-link, I have been very happy with it so far.
BUT; I had let a Force Dark go dead, the batteries died and I let it go for a few months, when putting out the new camera, I changed all the batteries in each device. The Force Dark's screen lights up, no menu appears, after 30 seconds it power downs. I have tried other new batteries, I downloaded the newest version of software, opened it followed instruction to update; but the screen just does the same, comes on with no menu. I am about to try the chat feature for support, I will update later.
Well, the first guy hung up on me, the second was a .ittle more helpfully, he wants me to reattach the Cell-link so he can test it. This will have to wait. I have a Force 20 that I am attaching the Cell-link to this afternoon. I would rather have visibility in the field right now. I have my target buck appearing, almost in daylight... I need to quickly hang a stand to cover an inside corner. The Force 20 and Cell-link will be covering a different location to assist in pinpointing travel routes.
I will try later today and not mention it was attached to a Cell-link, the issue is with the camera. Internal back-up battery?
SPYPOINT sells a lot of cameras. The Micro was one of the first cell cameras out and I don’t know if any other company makes a unit like the Cell Link. Lots of people have experienced problems and I think the company’s poor customer service over-shadows the tech issues. Other guys haven’t had issues and happy customers are less likely to provide feedback. IMO when a company outsources to the cheapest manufacturer in a country in another continent with no minimum wage, it’s not surprising that there are quality control issues! This is sad because SPYPOINT has Canadian roots.Quote:
Originally Posted by Deer Hunter
Yes, it is sad because my first preference is always to buy Canadian but they have to be a quality product with good support.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sam Menard
Spypoint is a bad word around me. I will admit I haven’t bought one of their cameras ( only because I had an abundance of regular trail cams ). I added a cell link 2 years ago. It hasn’t lasted through a season yet. It has been replaced a couple of times and just dies and won’t send pics. To put it in perspective it recently died September 30 and I’ve been dealing with customer service ever since.
I was talking to a fellow consumer at cabelas the other day and he said he had a micro link that wouldn’t work when it got wet.
The only good thing I’ve got from spypoint is the external 12v battery pack. Saves a fortune in batteries.
I did take a hard look at the Tactacam Reveal X ( wish they had a SK in the store ).
I have 2 micro link cameras. Both worked well until a battery died on one (wires chewed and shorted by raccoons). The one in question was 2 years old. I chatted with the online agent tonight, and within 40 minutes she has one on the way to replace the one that has failed. No receipt needed, BTW. Best service of ANY trailcam I have ever had, and I have had a bunch. Spypoint is OK by me!
Consider yourself lucky. I have seen so many reports of different issues with those including customer service that I would never consider buying one ever.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ouzel
I have a lot of experience with spypoint tech support. They don't know anything that you can't find on the web site. They've taken a page from the playbook of India's tech support industry where they tell you to go do something that a) will take a while or b) you can't do until you have the camera in-hand. This gets you off their back for a few hours or days. I suspect the chat group support is off-shored - they are a whole different level of stupid. The telephone guys are a bit better, but again - they give you the same steps which (if you're having transmission problems) are irrelevant. New SD card, reformatted, replace batteries - these don't affect cell reception. However, the power cycle you do when you do these does make it work better for a couple of days.Quote:
Originally Posted by smitty55
Let Spy Point HQ know their products are being severely bad mouthed on hunting forums and maybe they'll pay a bit of attention.
I was thinking of buying some of these but the more I hear about the issues people are having I probably won't.
I have noticed on cell phone that after 3 years they don't seem to pick up a signal as well. Places I use to get a full signal I don't now but my son who has a new phone gets a good signal. I guess after times the components degrade maybe these trail cams are the same cheap components.
Thats a good point and could be part of the issue. I listened to a podcast a while ago that had an interview with a trail cam manufacturer. He said there are various grades of electrical components. If I remember right something like base, high, gov't and medical. Medical being best, the cheapest often lasting only a year. He said price is significantly different, so cheap cams use cheap components.Quote:
Originally Posted by greatwhite
The motion detection sensor seemed to be what he focused on the most, and said the cheap ones typically last a year in an outdoor environment, the top of the line should be expected to be more like 7.
That being said I have 2 cheap Wildgame Innovation cams at the cottage for security that are going on their 8th year and still working, but I've had others fail in just over a year, so who knows.
Good explanation. Cheap in, cheap out.Quote:
Originally Posted by FishHog
I would definitely pay more for higher grade and more reliable cellular cameras. With the price of gas these days, these would pay for themselves in no time by not having to visit them every 2 weeks to reset them or fix them.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ahuntr300
Except that they are not cheap. A link-s is ***SUPPOSED TO BE*** top of the line cell/solar camera. $600 CAD.
For that price, I do expect a bit of customer support.
Can’t argue with you thereQuote:
Originally Posted by werner.reiche
Email Jimmy Angers VP or Yan Gagnon President, they have LinkedIn profiles.
Follow up to my previous post - I received my replacement Link micro today, which works perfectly. It came a day early. I only texted with Spypoint 4 days ago, and I am back in business. I have no complaints.