Cuddeback Cuddelink Series User manual

Operang Manual
Manual number 1.6.1
(Firmware version 7.7 and greater)
This manual explain CuddeLink operaon for all CuddeLink cameras,
CuddeLink Cell, and CuddeLink Home.
For online video training scan QR code
with your cell phone or visit
www.cuddeback.com/learn/cuddelink

2
CuddeLink Quick Start Guide
Here is a summary of the steps you need to perform to
deploy a CuddeLink network. For complete details refer
to the remainder of this manual.
STEP 1. Take 1 CuddeLink camera & make it the HOME
camera
1. Set CL MODE to HOME
2. Set CL CHANNEL to 1 thru 16 (pick any number)
3. Set CL LOC to 001
STEP 2. Deploy HOME camera
1. Go to the locaon you want to deploy the HOME
camera
2. Set the camera sengs (date, me, delays, etc.)
3. ARM and deploy the camera
STEP 3. Assign all your other cameras as REMOTE
cameras
1. Set CL MODE to REMOTE
2. Set CL CHANNEL to the same channel you set on
HOME
3. Set CL LOC to 002 (we recommend numbering each
camera consecuvely starng with 1 for HOME, 2
for 1st REMOTE, 3 for 2nd REMOTE, etc.)
4. Repeat these 3 steps for all your REMOTE cameras
STEP 4. Deploy REMOTE CAMERA
1. Go to the locaon you want to deploy the REMOTE
camera

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2. Enable the CL LEVEL menu and wait for a signal level
to appear (- - means no signal, and a number
indicates a signal. If you do not get a signal within 3
or 4 minutes or signal is less than 15 you must move
closer to the HOME camera or closest Remote
camera.)
3. Set the camera sengs (date, me, delays, etc.)
4. Deploy and ARM the REMOTE camera
5. Repeat these 4 steps for all your REMOTE cameras
STEP 5. Deploy addional REMOTE CAMERAS
1. Repeat Step 4 for all your REMOTE cameras
STEP 6. Read this manual
1. Read this manual for full details on performing the
above steps, and for detailed instrucons.

4
R E AD T H I S M A N U A L
The diculty with explaining CuddeLink concepts is it is
easier to use CuddeLink then it is to explain. We
recommend you read this manual twice. Aer which you
will nd setup and deployment very easy.
Online Videos
We also recommend you watch our tutorial videos at
www.cuddeback.com/learn/cuddelink.
Email Support
Due to the advanced nature of this technology we do not
oer phone support. All support must be via email. Visit
www.cuddeback.com/support/contact to email us and
your quesons will be answered by the engineers and
technicians who designed CuddeLink.
SD Card
Every CuddeLink camera must have an SD card installed.
Any size card from 2GB to 32GB can be used. We
recommend you use name brand quality SD cards.
Baeries
CuddeLink requires more power than a convenonal trail
camera. DO NOT USE CHEAP or USED BATTERIES. Only
use name-brand, from-the-store-new baeries.
Videos
This wireless transmission does not have sucient
bandwidth to send videos. For this reason CuddeLink
does not send videos and video mode is disabled when
CuddeLink is enabled.

5
What CuddeLink Does
Hunters know the importance and benets of using
mulple trail cameras. But checking these cameras can
be a me consuming task that takes away from hunng
me and pollutes the area with human scent.
Cuddeback’s patent pending CuddeLink eliminates
checking mulple cameras and ulizes 1 camera as an
image depository for up to 15 remote CuddeLink
cameras.
CuddeLink is a wireless network of cameras that transmit
their images to 1 camera. The image collecon camera is
called the HOME camera, and the transming cameras
are called REMOTE cameras.
The cameras can be deployed in any arrangement with
the only requirement being that each camera must be in
radio contact with another camera and have a link back
to Home. Transmission range is highly terrain dependent,
but in a forest a range of over 1/3 mile is common,
allowing for an end-to-end link of over 4 miles. In open
terrain we have tested camera-to-camera transmission to
over 1 mile.
Typical Range
One CuddeLink equipped camera must be the HOME camera.
HOME is the camera that collects images from the REMOTE
cameras.

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What CuddeLink Cell Does
There is 2 cell modes that are automacally set by the
camera based upon how you use the camera.
CuddeLink Cell Mode
Images from all cameras on a CuddeLink network are sent
to the user’s email address. Only 1 cell service is required
for up to 16 cameras. Cell product sold separately.
Standalone Cell Mode
CuddeLink Cell also operates in
standalone mode where only
images taken by the camera are
sent to the user’s email. This
mode is used when the cell
camera is not part of a CuddeLink
network. Cell product sold
separately.

7
TERMS
CuddeLink is Cuddeback’s trademark name for
Cuddeback’s network enabled trail cameras.
CL is an abbreviaon for CuddeLink.
Network refers to a collecon of CuddeLink cameras that
are in radio contact with each other.
Home refers to the camera or device that collects all
images.
Remote refers to cameras that transmit images to the
HOME.
Repeater refers to a device that acts as a relay staon on
a CuddeLink network. The REPEATER does not take
pictures, it only transmits images from one node to the
next node.
Node is a general name for any home, remote and
repeater on the network.
Chain is 2 or more cameras that are linked together via
the CuddeLink network.
Link is 1 connecon from 1 camera to the next camera.
High Resoluon Image is the full size image recorded by
the camera. These images are always saved on the
camera’s SD card.
Thumbnail Image is a compressed image that is much
smaller than the original image taken by the camera.
These are the images transferred to Home. The full
resoluon image is available on the Remote camera so
you do have access to it if needed.

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Geng Started with CuddeLink
All CuddeLink cameras must have an SD card installed.
The HOME camera saves the images it records & images
from the Remotes cameras on the SD card. We
recommend a 4 or 8GB card. A 4 GB card will hold 10s of
thousands of CuddeLink images.
The REMOTE cameras saves high resoluon images on the
SD card and saves a thumbnail image in a TX_QUEUE
where they are queued for transmission to HOME. A 2GB
card or bigger should be used.
Press MODE then press
MORE
Set up HOME camera
Set the normal camera parameters as explained in the
camera’s manual. Date, me, camera delays, etc.
Set CL MODE to HOME by pressing UP as needed.
Aer CL MODE is set to HOME, press MORE to connue.
Press UP or DOWN to
select Home
This guide assumes you know how to navigate the
camera’s user interface. All the sengs explained in this
secon are in the LINKMENU item. To access the
LINKMENU press MODE unl COMMANDS is selected,
then press MORE unl LINKMENU appears, then press
UP.

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That is all you need to do. The HOME camera is now
setup properly. Deploy and ARM the Home camera
(Press MODE unl ARM is selected).
Note—the Home camera must be armed for the CuddeLink network
to funcon.
Set CL LOC to 001. This is a Locaon ID number used to
idenfy each camera. We recommend HOME always be
set to 001.
Skip over CL INFO by pressing MORE
Press UP to set CL LOC to 001
Set CL CHAN to any number. You can leave this at 1 but
we recommend you change this. Pick any channel, but
remember what you selected as all cameras must be set
to the same channel.
Set CL CHAN to any number

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Set up the REMOTE camera
Set the normal camera parameters as explained in the
camera’s manual. Date, me, camera delays, etc.
Set CL MODE to REMOTE then press MORE.
Press UP or DOWN to
select Home
Set CL LOC to 002. IMPORTANT – all cameras should
have a unique CL LOC (locaon) number. We
recommend you set Home to 1 and set remotes as 2, 3, 4
and so on.
Press UP to set CL LOC to
002
Set CL CHAN to the same channel you set on the HOME
camera. IMPORTANT – all cameras must be set to the
same channel.
Set CL CHAN to same
channel as HOME
Leave CL DELAY and CL COUNT in the default sengs of
CL DELAY 5 and CL COUNT 250.
Leave these set to
defaults

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Connue to deploy all your Remote cameras in a similar
manner. When deploying a Remote it is good pracce to
enable CL LEVEL while next to a Home or Remote camera
that has been successfully deployed and armed. When a
CL LEVEL appears on the camera begin moving to the
new locaon. This method makes it easy to monitor the
connecon status as you move about.
Press MORE to view CL LEVEL and observe the display. At
rst - - - - will be displayed to indicate no signal. Aer a
minute or 2 a number will appear that represents the
signal strength. If the strength is displayed you can ARM
and deploy the camera.
If a signal is not displayed within a few minutes you may
be too far from the HOME camera, or HOME may not be
ARMed.
IMPORTANT – CuddeLink transmission distance varies with terrain
and distance and can be from 2/10 of a mile to over a mile. Typical
range in a forest is 1/4 mile. You must use CL LEVEL to verify you
have a signal before you deploy a remote camera.
Aer a signal is received you must ARM the camera
before deploying addional remote cameras. (Press
MODE unl ARM is selected).
Signal will be displayed as GOOD or WEAK. Dashes indicate no signal is received.

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1st Screen 2nd Screen Explanaon
01 / HOME 001 OK 1st node is HOME with CL
LOC 001. Baery is OK.
02 / CAM 005 OK 2nd node is a remote
camera with CL LOC 005,
baery OK.
03 / CAM 003 LO 3rd node is a remote
camera with CL LOC 003,
baery LO.
Note—CL INFO is also available in the ARMED INFO menu
which is accessed by pressing MORE, UP, or DOWN when the
camera is armed. See camera’s operang manual for details.
CL INFO. It is good pracce to verify that all your cameras
connect to Home. Aer deploying your remotes you
should return to the Home camera and use CL INFO.
Acvate the LINKMENU as previously explained, then
press MORE unl CL INFO. The rst CL INFO display will
show CL INFO and the number of cameras on the
network. From the main CL INFO display press UP and the
status of the rst camera will be displayed. Connue to
press UP to display the status of each camera.
Note - depending upon how many cameras you deployed it may take
several hours for the CL INFO to update. If all Remotes are not shown
you should wait a few hours and check again. If a camera fails to
display see the Troubleshoong secon of this manual.
These 2 displays will
toggle

13
Checking the HOME camera
Checking the CuddeLink HOME camera is similar to
checking a convenonal trail camera.
• Press UP to put the camera into Armed-Info mode.
DO NOT turn o the camera!
• If you connue to press UP status of the Home
camera will be displayed.
• Remove the SD card and use your normal image
viewing method.
On the SD card is folder named \\DCIM\400CUDDY.
Within this folder are images from the CuddeLink remote
cameras. If you used a unique CL LOC then each remote
camera’s images will be in a dierent folder within the
400CUDDY folder.
The images taken with the HOME camera are in the
\\DCIM\100CUDDY folder.
Above - Contents of Home SD card. Images from Remote
cameras are in the LOC__### folders.

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SETTING RANGE DESCRIPTION
CL MODE
OFF, HOME,
REMOTE,
REPEATER
One camera must be set to HOME. All other
cameras must be REMOTE or REPEATER.
CL LOC 000 thru 999
This assigns a LOCATION ID to each camera.
Assign each camera a unique idencaon
number.
CL CHAN 1 thru 16 Every camera on the network must be set to
the same channel.
CL INFO Not applicable
Displays status informaon for each remote
camera that is connected. Press UP or
DOWN to cycle thru the cameras.
LINKMENU Overview
The LINKMENU items will dier depending upon if a
camera is congured as a HOME, REPEATER or REMOTE.
Repeater Menu Items
Home Menu Items
SETTING RANGE DESCRIPTION
CL MODE
OFF, HOME,
REMOTE,
REPEATER
One camera must be set to HOME. All other
cameras must be REMOTE or REPEATER.
CL LOC 000 thru 999
This assigns a LOCATION ID to each camera.
Assign each camera a unique idencaon
number.
CL CHAN 1 thru 16 Every camera on the network must be set to
the same channel.
CL LEVEL Signal strength
- - - - to 99
Use this to verify the camera is on the
network and how strong the signal is.

15
Remote Menu Items
SETTING RANGE DESCRIPTION
CL MODE
OFF, HOME,
REMOTE,
REPEATER
One camera must be set to HOME. All
other cameras must be REMOTE or
REPEATER.
CL LOC 000 thru 999
This assigns a LOCATION ID to each camera.
Assign each camera a unique idencaon
number.
CL CHAN 1 thru 16 Every camera on the network must be set
to the same channel.
CL COUNT ALL, 25, 50, 100,
250
Sets the maximum number of images that
will be queued to send. Deletes the oldest
images to make room for the newest.
CL LEVEL Signal strength
- - to 99
Use this to verify the camera is on the
network and how strong the signal is.
CL CLEAR Not Applicable Press UP and all images queued to transmit
will be erased.
Cauon! Make absolutely sure of the following:
1. All your cameras* are set to the same CL CHAN
2. Each camera has a unique CL LOC number
3. You have a CL LEVEL when you deploy a remote or
repeater.
* Cameras also refers to Repeaters and Home Plus

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CL MODE sets the camera’s CuddeLink mode. Choices
are OFF, HOME, REMOTE, REPEATER. Press UP or
DOWN to select, then press MORE to connue
programming addional CuddeLink sengs.
OFF – use this if you do not want this camera to be part
of a CuddeLink network. The CuddeLink radio will be
disabled.
HOME – Set Home on the camera that collects images.
Only 1 camera can be set to HOME.
REMOTE – Set Remote on the cameras that take pictures
and transmit the pictures to the HOME camera.
REPEATER – use this when you need a repeater to
transmit images, but you do not want the camera to
record images. Refer to REPEATER secon laer in this
manual.
CL LOC (LOCATION) assigns a unique number to each
camera on the network. We strongly recommend each
camera has a unique number. Refer to secon CAMERA
NAMING for our recommendaons on how to use this
seng.
CL CHAN (CHANNEL) sets the radio frequency the
cameras use to transmit images. All cameras on your
network must be set to the same channel. CuddeLink
has 16 available channels numbered 1 thru 16. You can
choose any number you like, but do not choose a
channel number used by another network in the
immediate area.

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Neighbors. If an adjacent land owner is using CuddeLink
you must be on dierent channels. To determine if a
neighbor is using CuddeLink turn o your Home camera
and use the RF LEVEL on a Remote camera to listen for
radio trac. If a numerical signal is displayed you must
select a dierent channel. With 16 channels available
you should be able to nd a clear channel.
More than 16 cameras. A single CuddeLink network is
limited to 16 cameras. If you require more than 16
cameras you can deploy addional networks. Each
network must be assigned a unique CL CHANNEL.
CL LEVEL (Remote only). CL LEVEL is a signal strength
meter. The range is 10 (poor) to 99 (best). A level
above 20 is sucient for reliable image transmission.
We have successfully deployed networks with signal
level as low as 10, however, for best performance try to
keep the levels at 20 and above.
• A display of - - - - indicates no signal is received.
• It may take up to 2 minutes for the CL LEVEL to
detect a signal. If a signal is not received within a
few minutes you must move closer to the nearest
acve camera.
• It is good pracce to enable CL LEVEL while next to a
deployed camera and then move away from that
camera with the CL LEVEL displayed. This allows you
to monitor the level as you move further from the
deployed camera.
• CL LEVEL will vary and you may see the level
uctuate as you are observing and from day to day.

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• If a signal cannot be received you will need to move
closer to a connected camera. If you never receive a
signal verify the HOME camera is ARMed and the CL
CHAN is set to the same number on all cameras.
CL INFO (Home only) displays the status of nodes on the
CuddeLink network. This was previously discussed in the
Geng Started secon.
CL INFO le. A detailed status report is available on the
Home camera’s SD card. Click the le Cuddelink.html in
the DCIM\400CUDDY folder. Your computer’s web
browser will display a report that shows detailed status of
all cameras on the network.
Look for red & yellow ! symbols on the chart. Those are warnings for
signal strength, baery or SD card potenal issues. Calculang…
indicates that the signal level is not known yet. Links indicates how
many other cameras the images route to get Home.

19
Camera Naming: using CL LOC & CAM ID
Keeping track of the physical locaon and images from
15 remote cameras is not easy. CuddeLink has 2 features
to simplify camera/image management.
CL LOC. You probably do not want images from 15
cameras saved in one folder on your SD card. The Home
camera saves the images from each camera in unique
folders based upon the remote camera’s CL LOC seng.
We recommend you assign each remote camera a
unique CL LOC number which will determine where
images are saved on the HOME camera’s SD card. For
example:
DCIM/400CUDDY/LOC__001 this is the folder where
images from camera CL LOC 001 are saved.
DCIM/400CUDDY/LOC__002 this is the folder where
images from camera CL LOC 002 are saved.
DCIM/400CUDDY/LOC__003 this is the folder where
images from camera CL LOC 003 are saved.
(Visit CuddeLink.com Learn secon for using CL LOC to
idenfy remote cameras when you move them).
CAM ID. With 15 remote cameras it can be dicult to
determine where an image was taken. We recommend
you use CAM ID to dene the locaon of the camera as
this will make it easy for you to determine where the
images were taken. Each me you move the camera you
should assign a new CAM ID that denes the new
locaon. Some examples of names that we have used
are POND FIELD, VISION TRAIL, HILL TOP. The CAM ID is

20
printed on the image and makes it easy to determine
where an image was taken.
See the camera’s operang manual for instrucons on
how to set CAM ID.
Understanding Transmission Range
The CL LEVEL command is a signal strength meter you use
to verify radio recepon. The range is - - - - to 99 with
descripve words to simplify the meaning. A signal of
GOOD is sucient to assure image transmission. It is ok
to have a signal of POOR, but we recommend you try to
not use POOR unless at the end of a chain.
We recommend using a map based GPS or online aerial
photos to help deploy cameras. A map will allow you to
check distance between cameras and observe actual
arrangement of cameras.
Note – Google My Maps is an excellent tool to manage
camera locaon. My Maps uses aerial photos and allows
you to place pins where cameras are located and measure
the distance between cameras. Use your web browser
and search for Google My Maps for more informaon.