Cuddeback Attack IR 5MP Game Camera

This review is for anyone getting ready to purchase a Cuddeback camera. . I purchased a Cuddeback IR in December of 2010 and immediately registered it to get the 18month warranty. Cuddebacks web site... Free Extended Warranty of 18 months if the user registers on-line and the Activation Date is within 2 weeks of the on-line registration date. I used it for a little over a month in January 2011, removed the batteries and stored it away. I am a retired teacher and I am very meticulous with my equipment. In July I saw a nice buck by my workshop and wanted to get some pics. Put some batteries in my Cuddeback IR and it would not turn on. Here is what the Trouble Shooting section and a Cuddeback representative had me do... a. The camera will display 4 digits for a few seconds, such as "02 06." These numbers represent

Stage 1 Software.i. If numbers do not appear on LCD repeat this test with new batteries. If the problem Persists the camera requires service, Fault Code FCO1. I sent my 7 month old, $220, Cuddeback IR into Cuddeback to receive warranty service as they requested.

They sent it back to me and said there was a battery issue and it was not covered under the warranty. I knew there was not an issue with the batteries (Die Hard) I was using but I could do nothing. I had a new camera that would not turn on. Determined to try something I sprayed contact cleaner on the rotary dial, turned the dial around a couple of times, put fresh batteries in and the unit turned on. I thought it was fixed. It would not take pictures but all of the other display functions worked. I thought I would contact Cuddeback again and here are the steps I went thru with Cuddeback to diagnose the problem ...

a. The camera will display 4 digits for a few seconds, such as "02 06." These numbers represent Stage 1 Software.i. If numbers do not appear on LCD repeat this test with new batteries. If the problem Persists the camera requires service, Fault Code FCO1.

b. After a few seconds "--" will be displayed.Tech Note

i. If the data on LCD remains "--" for more than 5 minutes repeat this test with new batteries. If the problem persists the camera requires service, FCO2

I did the stage 1 test and code "0205" was displayed and it did not go on to display "--". The Trouble Shooter said to send it in for warranty work (FC01). The representative said she would check and see if my Cuddeback was covered under warranty. She called me back in a half an hour and told me it was not covered under warranty and tried to get me to buy a reconditioned Cuddeback IR for $75.00 plus shipping and handling or upgrade to their next camera up for $150.00 plus shipping and handling. I just wanted to let everyone know Cuddeback does not honor their warranty. Be careful if you buy from Cuddeback

I have had the camera for one day. I have two different owner's manuals, one that came with the camera and one that I downloaded. I went into town and bought different SD cards, as I thought perhaps the ones I had were the source of the problem. bottom line I can't get the thing to take any pictures. I tried it by using the SD card and I tried it using the internal memory and then transfer the images to an SD card. Nothing. bupkis. Well, maybe I am doing something wrong. So I called Cuddeback's so-called customer service. First off, the voice mail told me that I was number 8 in line. Okay, I can put up with that. Then, when a live person answers the phone, she wants my name and phone number . Okay, fine. It takes her three times before i got the spelling of my name correct. It took four, count 'em, FOUR attempts before she got my phone number right. then, the kicker. She says, "A tech rep will call you at this number sometime in the next four to five days to give you some assistance". Four or five days??? I am supposed to carry my cell phone around for four or five days, along with the camera and the accessories, maybe in a back pack, on the chance some clown is going to call me?? Have you ever had such a pathetic excuse for "customer service" or "tech support"??? I am returning the whole package for a refund.

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Do not waste your time on this camera. Cuddieback sent out a batch of bad cameras. The IR sensor fail due to tempreture changes and the camera will not take dusk, dawn, and night time photos. I sent mine back to Cuddieback on my dime with them admitting there are issues with this camera. Two weeks later I get the camera back with updated firmware and the camera is now dead and will not power up. Changed batteries and still no luck. Now I have been trying to call this company and having no luck with getting a live person on the phone. Good news is the local shop I purchased it from will exchange it for a different brand maybe a Stealth Cam.

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The Attack IR gives you great pics and plenty of them. I own another earlier version from Cuddeback and the batteries always run down sooner than they say. I have over 700 pics from the Attack IR and the batteries are still at 99%. I don't know if this will hold true when the temp drops, but so far so good. The infrared pics are really high quality as are the daytime pics. The USB download is a nice way to transfer the pics but it does take a little time ( 5 mins. for 500 pics ). The menu ( a dial and 2 push buttons ) is easy to use once you get the sequence down.

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Camera failed from a manufacturers defect but because it was in use for more then 180 days (so much for a year warrantee) it is not covered. Customer service made no attempt to satisfy me, wanted a min of $75 to fix, maybe more. I have since bought 3 moultrie m-80's and all three have been working fine at $100 less apiece and have ordered a reconix (almost $500 but if it works it is worth it). Avoid all Cuddeback products unless quality and customer service are not your priorities, but you are not buying Cuddeback because it is the least expensive so I can't think of why I would buy one at all.

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