The Cuddeback Cuddelink L Series Trail Camera has changed the way that I gather intel from my hunting properties. Years ago, I placed traditional, non-cellular trail cameras everywhere I could to gather as much information about a specific buck or learn more about the area that I was hunting. Taking inventory of the bucks and the wildlife that call my hunting spot home is an important strategy when planning for success.
As technology increased, the introduction of cellular trail cameras revolutionized the way we used trail cameras to gather data from the field. There’s no need to pull SD cards and contaminate our hunting area. Plus, you don’t have to wait for weeks at time to see what is walking by your trail camera anymore. Cellular trail cameras allow photos are transferred directly to your smartphone or computer minutes after a deer walks by.
This advancement in technology is met with one major hurdle, you have to have cellular service in the area to send the photos. Until now!
The Cuddeback Cuddelink L Series Trail Cameras work in a series that gathers photos via radio frequency that transfers them to the home base cellular camera. The home base camera transmits the images to you via cellular service. You can place the CuddeLink L-Series Remote Cameras in areas that don’t have cellular service up to two miles away from the home base camera. This is the most unique trail camera system on the market and it’s brought new life to old hunting spots that have limited cellular service.
Cuddeback Cuddelink L Series Trail Camera
Not Wi-Fi, not cellular, CuddeLink is a private wireless network where up to 23 cameras send their images to a central home device. Camera-to-camera range is typically ¼ mile in a forest and increases as terrain opens. To further increase range CuddeLink cameras daisy-chain from camera to camera to transmit images 2 miles or more.
Retail: $450 (Starter Kit)
- Cuddelink L-Series Cell Home – $130 each
- Cuddelink L-Series Cameras – $180
- Transmits photos from camera to cell home through radio frequency
- Cell Home is the only camera that has to be connected to LTE service
- Transmit photos from areas where cell service isn’t available
What is Cuddelink and How Does it Differ From Other Cellular Trail Cameras?
The Cuddeback CuddeLink L-Series Cellular Trail Camera is a private wireless network where up to 23 cameras can send images to a central home device. Images are not transferred via cellular service, they’re transferred via radio frequency. This allows the cameras to transfer images from camera to cameras without the use of wifi, Bluetooth, or cellular service, which is unlike any other trail camera on the market.
The typical camera-to-camera range is approximately ¼ mile in a forest and increases as the terrain opens. You can increase the distance that CuddeLink cameras spread out from the home base camera by daisy-chaining them from camera to camera to transmit images from 2 miles away or more. You only need one cellular data plan per home base camera, meaning you can cover an entire property with cameras for the cost of one camera.
Cuddelink is a system that requires a home base cellular camera to be placed in an area of service and the remote cameras to be placed throughout a property where service isn’t available. You can piggyback them together out to two miles away from the home base camera and will only have to pay one single cellular data plan on the home base camera.
Features of the Cuddeback Cuddelink L Series Trail Camera:
Camera Features
- CuddeLink IR uses 850nm IR LEDs for longest night illumination with excellent image clarity and illumination range exceeding 100 feet.
- High-definition image sensor optimizes image clarity for LTE delivery and phone viewing.
- 3rd generation animal detector with 7 sensitivity settings.
- Camera Delays from 5 seconds to 1 hour.
- Patented Auto Camera Delay dynamically adjusts delay based upon animal activity.
- Two time-lapse modes – patented Prime Time operates only in mornings and evenings, and conventional time lapse.
- 1/4 second trigger speed means more deer and fewer blanks.
- Patented CuddeLink network technology.
- High gain CuddeLink antenna for improved performance.
- Built in user interface for setup at the camera. When connected to a CuddeLink Cell system settings can be configured with mobile app or web browser.
- Date and time set automatically from the CuddeLink Home.
Additional Features
- Compatible with all series CuddeLink cameras – J, G, K & L series.
- Compatible with all current Cuddeback power accessories and Genius mounts.
- Requires 4D batteries (not included).
- Requires SD card up to 256GB in size (not included).
- Designed by Cuddeback in the USA.
- 5.2.1 Warranty includes 1 year standard warranty, 2 years with online registration, 5 year reduced cost replacement.
How is the Battery Life on the Cuddeback Cuddelink L Series Trail Camera?
The Cuddeback Cuddelink trail cameras require the use of D batteries, unlike most trail cameras on the market. After testing, I fully support the reasoning behind the utilization of D batteries over AA batteries. The issue with battery life isn’t with the remote cameras, but instead, it’s the home base, and for good reason. The transmission of every photo taken that’s connected to the home base is funneled through the home base camera. This means that the home base is working the hardest and using the most energy.
During testing, I found that the home base camera died after 1,351 images were transferred from the remote cameras to the home base. The remote cameras were still taking photos but they couldn’t be received by the home base and sent to the Cuddeback app for me to review before the base was dead. I’m not going to knock the battery life on these cameras because it’s too easy to place the home base in an area with good sunlight with a solar panel and you can even buy an external battery pack. The remote cameras have each taken more than 2,000 images and they’re still going strong. The best part is, they were still taking photos while the home base camera was dead.
My Favorite Feature of the Cuddeback Cuddelink L-Series Camera
It’s already been stated but my favorite feature of the Cuddebeack Cuddelink L-Series trail cameras is the ability to have images transferred to my phone from places where I don’t have cell phone service. The unique image-transferring technology through radio frequency is unlike any other trail camera on the market. You can space the remote cameras in distance of up to 1/4 mile and piggyback them away from the home base camera up to two miles away. This allows all of the trail cameras to communicate with one another and transfer the images back to the home base camera, which is the only camera you have pay to have cellular service on.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Cuddeback Cuddelink L Series Trail Camera
- How many cameras can I connect using the CuddeLink network?
- Up to 24 cameras can join the CuddeLink network and you’ll only need one home base camera connected to an LTE data plan.
- What power options are available for the cameras?
- The cameras run on D batteries, rechargeable batteries, and solar panels. I recommend using an external power source on the home base camera and you can get by with using D batteries in the remote camera. Now, the more photos it takes, the quicker they’ll die.
- Can I control the cameras remotely?
- Yes, via the mobile app and web browser.
- Do the cameras require a cellular plan?
- The CuddeLink home base camera will require an LTE network connection that can be purchased through Cuddeback. However, the connected Cuddelink cameras do not need a cell plan. Basically, it’ll only cost you the amount of one camera to operate a wide variety of cameras.
- What are the ranges that the Cuddelink Remote Cameras can be placed from one another?
- The Cuddeback remote cameras can transmit images from camera to camera or to the home case cellular camera from 1/4 mile or more. You can piggyback them up to 2 miles away from the home base camera.
- What type of batteries do the Cuddelink Cameras take?
- D Batteries. You can also utilize solar panels and external power sources as well.
PROS:
CONS:
Which Cellular Providers Work w/ the Cuddeback Cuddelink L Series Trail Camera?
The Cuddeback Cuddelink utilizes both Verizon and AT&T to connect to the nearest tower to ensure you have the best service available in the area. Most trail cameras have this feature nowadays. The dual antennas ensure that your camera communicates quicker and better with less service required. This is a must-have feature to ensure that you’re getting the best product available.
The Cellular plan is billed through Cuddeback, which makes it quick and easy to buy a trail camera and put it to good use.
How is the Image Quality on the Cuddeback Cuddelink L-Series Trail Camera?
The Cuddeback Cuddelink L-Series cameras leave room for improvement in image quality. They don’t take picturesque images that you’d frame for your man cave but they good enough photos to gather the necessary data on a buck or target animal. I’m not one to get too worked up over image quality as I’m not looking for beautiful photos, I’m looking for data that will help me kill some big bucks!
Cuddeback Cuddelink L Series Trail Camera Review Summary
The CuddeLink L-Series Cameras are a must-have for properties where cellular service is limited. For me, hunting in remote areas often reduce the usefulness of cellular trail cameras and confines them to the ridgetops where LTE service is available. This limits my intel that I’ve gathered to a small portion of my hunting areas until now! The Cuddelink system is a game changer for properties that offer limited service as you only need cell service in one location and can daisy chain the cameras together to transmit images through radio frequency to the home cell camera. This has drastically changed the way I hunt in southern West Virginia where cell service is virtually non-existent unless you’re on top of the ridge. Now, I can receive photos directly to my phone from virtually anywhere. Also, this camera system has saved me a lot of money on my cellular trail camera bills, reducing my monthly payment drastically.
The only downside is that if you hunt multiple properties and if they’re not close enough together, you’ll need multiple home base cameras and plans. However, the Cuddelink system has the ability to replace my standard SD card cameras and keeps me from adding additional pressure to the area when checking cameras! There are cellular trail cameras that take higher-quality images and videos, but none of them offer the ability to send photos from areas where cellular service doesn’t exist.
The CuddeLink 2+1 Starter Kit is a must-have system for you hunting arsenal!
Ready to buy? The Cuddeback Cuddelink L Series Trail Camera Review is widely available and many online retailers or you can buy them directly from Cuddlink!
AUTHOR BIO
Hi, I’m Camron is the owner of Hunting Gear Deals. I’m an avid bowhunter with a knack for finding smoking deals on hunting gear. Currently, I work in the oil & gas industry as an Environmental, Health, and Safety professional but my goal is to continue to grow Hunting Gear Deals and turn it into a full-time job.
Instagram- @huntinggeardeals
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