Testing Low-Cost (cheap) Amazon Antennas: Can I Improve Cell Signal Tactacam and Spypoint?

~ HuntingFarmer Merch~
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I test cellular signal with the Tactacam Reveal X and the Spypoint Flex. Thanks for watching. Feel free to leave any remarks or questions in the comment section below. Please subscribe if you haven't yet, after all, it's FREE!!!
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#HuntingFarmer​ #Spypoint #Tactacam

[@HuntingFarmerOfficial]

In my testing I turned each trail camera OFF before removing the antennas. I would re-boot the camera each time I tried a new antenna or tried a new position or the antenna. I also checked the app for the cell cam to see if it showed a difference in signal strength vs the reading on the camera itself.

[@georgemullin7772]

Maybe so but you shouldn't have to go back in the woods to to reboot the spypoint, that's what we did twice so no good be aware there junk customer service is no good either

[@madhuntsadventures]

Good info, Dave. Thanks for testing that out and sharing the results with all of us. Very helpful.

[@HuntingFarmerOfficial]

I appreciate you watching 👍

[@MarkJLarsonOutdoors]

Well it was worth a try! I can't believe the first one broke right off the bat! Thanks for sharing and saving everyone the hassle! Good luck with everything my friend!

[@HuntingFarmerOfficial]

I appreciate you watching Mark 👍

[@PBAdventures146]

I've always wondered about those Extension antennas but I've thankfully never tried them based on what I'm seeing. I've been tempted in the past based on some of the bad areas I've had cell reception out of state. Looks like I'll be saving my money! Thanks for answering that question! Love the Hoodie!! Thank you!!

[@HuntingFarmerOfficial]

I like the hoodie as well 😁
Thanks for watching. I appreciate it 👍

[@WildlifeTrailcamUK]

It’s great to see your test, nice idea! It’s always interesting to find out whether a budget alternative is a good option or too good to be true!

[@HuntingFarmerOfficial]

I appreciate you watching 👍

[@daveshsb]

I enjoyed the effort Dave! I really like how 1/2 of the testing pool eliminated itself prior to the actual test! Too Funny! Good stuff!!

[@HuntingFarmerOfficial]

Haha! Thanks for watching Dave 👍

[@NorthMissouriOutdoors]

Great review on the camera antennas

[@HuntingFarmerOfficial]

Thank you Randy 👍

[@Packsalot]

Nice job on your test, Dave. Interesting that there was not improvement. I thought there might have been something even if it was just a little. Take care and have a wonderful day.

[@HuntingFarmerOfficial]

I appreciate you watching Steve. Thank you 👍

[@hunkereddownoutdoors]

That is an interesting test, Dave. I was thinking it was going to help. Glad you tested this out for us. Luckily both of my cell cams pick up pretty well but I can see where a lot of times cameras are in remote areas not picking up well. Maybe you will come across a good solution one of these days. It was cool to see it snowing too there haha.

[@HuntingFarmerOfficial]

Thanks for watching Ronnie. I appreciate it 👍

[@hunkereddownoutdoors]

@@HuntingFarmerOfficial You’re welcome buddy.

[@GardenTractorBoy]

That was a very interesting test, thanks

[@HuntingFarmerOfficial]

Thanks for watching 👍

[@basicinfo.9315]

Antennas require a reflective ground to produce either an omni directional ground plane or a directional beam. This is the reason you see cb antennas mounted in the middle of the roof or trunk lid. It uses the grounded metal surface of the car as a reflecter. Same reason you will see 3 or 4 aluminum rods or poles mounted horizontal at the bottom of a vertical pole (Antenna). I believe those little Antennas would work better if they was mounted in the middle of an 18 inch dish that they use for satellite TV. Lots of work for a cell camera but I believe they would work.

[@HuntingFarmerOfficial]

I appreciate you watching and sharing your knowledge! Thank you 👍

[@1000000trs]

Absolutely right. It is rare that a cheap antenna will improve your signal. Maybe sometimes when the extension cable gets you above an obstacle, but that's all. This comes as no surprise: what decent trail cam brand would skimp on a bar of signal connecting quality, to make their product about 5 bucks more competitive.

[@JohnAmes]

Some great information my friend

[@HuntingFarmerOfficial]

Thanks for watching John 👍

[@AckBoater]

Thanks for warning us not to waste our money on those cheap Chinese antennas.

[@NorthMissouriOutdoors]

Agree it was a waste of time and money

[@HuntingFarmerOfficial]

Thanks for watching 👍

[@FishfearmeStudios]

That was good info. Helps me save money.

[@HuntingFarmerOfficial]

Thanks for watching 👍

[@tothemaxxoutdoors4771]

Great idea Dave!!! You must think of a million things while working the farm….😁

[@HuntingFarmerOfficial]

Haha! So true 😜
Thanks for watching Matt 👍

[@CoffeyOutdoors]

great test brother

[@HuntingFarmerOfficial]

Thanks for watching 👍

[@jimowens381]

I bought the same antenna from Amazon, the one that didn't break. My camera didn't indicate that the signal was any better BUT after I installed it and ran it about 8ft up the tree, I did start getting alot more pics. So I don't know what to think. Thanks for your review.

[@HuntingFarmerOfficial]

Thanks for watching and sharing your experience. That’s good information 👍

[@preston1614]

You could try purchasing a ground plane kit or making one yourself with a cookie sheet. A lot of antennas require a ground plane to work at all, without one it cannot have any gain.

[@RodFather]

I appreciate your reviews and have made purchases because of them. One test that I would like to see would be field of view. I like the image quality of the browning cameras, but haven’t bought because of narrow field of view. The browning hp5 has a 40 degree field of view, vs the campark tc06 with a 120 degree, etc…

[@HuntingFarmerOfficial]

Thanks for watching and for your suggestion 👍

[@SlayermikeFishingandMORE]

Great info Dave I belive in that moto too about getting what you pay for

[@HuntingFarmerOfficial]

Thanks for watching 👍

[@donsscooters]

I've had good improvement from those cheap Black plastic round antennas like the one you broke. This was using Spypoint Link. They're junk compared to the newer cameras. I attached the metal bracket and a coat hanger was attached to that. I use a long stick to raise it up and place it high as possible in a tree limb. These cams would not work before and the signal NEVER appeared better on the cameras indicator, however they all send pics after installing these. It may take several hours to get a pic, but they work as good as a POS can work. LOL. These cams are 4 years old and I use them in the middle of nowhere on gates and stuff but not on important deer trails. Deer hate the flash.

[@HuntingFarmerOfficial]

I appreciate you watching and sharing your experiences 👍

[@bkbowhunter1]

Cool test I was wondering if would help thanks for the info

[@HuntingFarmerOfficial]

Thanks for watching 👍

[@1Whitetail]

Like you said you get what you pay for....most of the time, enjoyed your test.

[@HuntingFarmerOfficial]

Thanks for watching. I appreciate it 👍

[@brianm2152]

Those bars on the cameras have a pretty wide range. For example, you could have 2 bars lit and be anywhere from maybe 2.0 to 2.9 signal strength. What would be more interesting is to walk either to or from your wifi hotspot and see if the antennas dropped to 2 bars further from the hotspot. I have one video camera on the edge of my wifi that is hit or miss. Maybe all I need is enough gain to make it act like it is just 10 feet closer. I hate even wasting $10 for something that doesn't work.

[@jedidiah5131]

I have found that 2 bars with the original antenna my camera wont connect...but if I use my external tree mounted antenna I still only get 2 bars but my camera will transmit......this is true for several of my cameras.....

[@HuntingFarmerOfficial]

Thanks for sharing your experience. That’s good information. Thanks for watching 👍

[@huntnfishnuts5880]

Do you think it would have made a difference if they were even higher up Dave sometimes it's the topography that effects signal like a ham radio ?

[@HuntingFarmerOfficial]

Thanks for watching. It may help to go higher than the 10 foot I tried.

[@JK-pf4um]

Did you try the spypoint antena , and so did it give you a better signal

[@ArielleViking]

It was worth a try and a good test so that we know to save our money and not buy something that won't make any difference. 👍

[@HuntingFarmerOfficial]

I appreciate you watching 👍

[@nicolasplemmons4612]

Spypoint sales a 15ft antenna extension that does makes a difference for my flex cam

[@HuntingFarmerOfficial]

Thanks for watching and for the information 👍

[@jamyclao]

DO those Adaptor works on browning cellular cams?

[@HuntingFarmerOfficial]

I’m not sure, my only Browning cell camera has a built in antenna and these antennas won’t work with it

[@ronshaulis7366]

Let’s go spypoint

[@HuntingFarmerOfficial]

I appreciate you watching 👍

[@meditationbysojolakter]

Nice👍👍

[@HuntingFarmerOfficial]

Thanks for watching 👍

[@radioace318la]

take it from a broadcast engineer. those two antennas are crap. Those are omnidirectional and have nothing to plane from. You need a directional high-gain antenna. Pasternack Yagi type is the best for this sort of application. Remember, the higher in the air the better. Low-loss coax cable is a plus. This is all I use here in N/W Louisiana in my remote lease in Natchitoches Parish.

[@HuntingFarmerOfficial]

I appreciate you watching and for sharing your knowledge! Thank you 👍

[@willloy8901]

Have you found any antenna that actually improves signal reception?

[@HuntingFarmerOfficial]

None that help dramatically. There are some expensive directional options that get good ratings, but I have not tried them myself

[@willloy8901]

@@HuntingFarmerOfficial I already have been using elevated antennas with a slight degree of success, but I have areas where nothing seems to help with signal gain. Hills &hollers of east tn are geographical oddities…

[@georgemullin7772]

I bought 2 spypoint in one week either one worked they both quit after 6 photos or so junk I'll never buy spypoint again there is better antenna out there, thanks

[@HuntingFarmerOfficial]

I appreciate you watching and for sharing your experience

[@BuckHunterNb]

Ramble on more why don't ya

[@jasonstclair1329]

Why repeat every statement you say ?