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Camera Settings Reference

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Here are brief descriptions of each camera setting that are available on the app/web site and/or in the camera menus.

* = Only available on the camera menu.
+ = Only available with premium.

 Description / Image From 

When using Premium, this information identifies the camera on the Home page of the app and on the website on the Camera Management page. When using Auto (receiving photos to email), this is set on the camera under Menu > Wireless > Image From and will appear as the subject of each email.

Camera Mode+

This sets whether the camera takes Photo, Video, or Photo+Video. In Photo or Video modes, the camera will take/send the photo(s)/video. In Photo+Video mode, it will take a photo and start recording a video two seconds after it takes the photo. The camera will send the photo but it will not send the video unless you request it using the app or website. Video transmission is only available when used with the Premium Service.*

Older 3G models that are not capable of sending video: 

  1. Do not have the Photo + Video option. 
  2. When set to Video, the camera will save the video to the SD card but it will not transmit it. If the camera was using Premium Service before you changed to video, it will continue to send the scheduled event 1 status report so that you can change the Camera Mode back to Photo using the app or portal instead of having to do it from the camera.

Nametag

This is up to 8 characters that will appear on the photo info strip if Time Stamp is on. It is available on 4G and later models, as well as the GC-ATTxb/i, but not on the older 3G models. It is different from the camera Description.

Photo Size

This is the resolution of the photo that is saved to the SD card (3 MP, 5 MP, 8 MP). This is the size photo that will be send if you request the HD photo after viewing the thumbnail. See Thumbnail Size for information on the resolution of the thumbnails that are transmitted when the camera is triggered.

Photo Burst

In Photo mode, the camera can be set to take 1, 2, or 3 photos each time it is triggered. The 4G models and the GC-ATTxb/i will transmit all photos taken if the camera is in burst mode. The original 3G models send only 1 photo (the last one taken if the camera is in burst mode) but all photos are saved to the SD card.

Burst Interval

Ghost models only. This is the time the camera waits between photos in the photo burst when Photo Burst is set to 2 or 3.

Thumbnail Size+

This is the resolution of the thumbnails that the camera sends whenever it is triggered.
There are two options, Normal (640 x 480), and Large (1280 x 960). Large is recommended for image clarity and Normal for faster transmission speed. (Cameras not using Premium Service can only send Normal thumbnails.)

Video Length

This is the length of the recorded video, in seconds, when the camera is in Video or Photo + Video mode. 4G and GC-ATTxb/i models can send videos with the Premium Service. The older 3G cameras can record videos to the SD card but cannot send them.

Video Format

This is the resolution of the video that the camera records when triggered. Video resolution can be set to either 320 x 240 or 1024 x 576 on cameras that can send videos. When send mode is off or if the camera cannot send videos, the video resolution can be set to either 640 x 480 or 1280 x 960.

Video Record Sound

You can choose whether or not the camera records sound when in Video or Photo+Video modes.

Sensitivity

This is how sensitive the camera is to a differences in temperature between moving objects and the environment in its field of view. It's recommended to use Normal unless there are detection problems. Low is for temperatures colder than 10° F, Normal for between 10° F and 80° F, and High for temperatures higher than 80° F. Off is for when you don't want the camera taking any motion-triggered photos at all, as may be the case when using time lapse for certain purposes like documenting a construction project.

Trigger Interval

This is the "quiet time" between when the camera finishes sending a motion-triggered photo or video and when it is allowed to take another one. When the camera is triggered by motion, it will take and send the photo or video, then it will wait for the specified Trigger Interval before it will take another motion-triggered photo or video. While the camera is sending, it cannot take another photo or video. The trigger interval starts after the camera has uploaded the latest photo or video. For example, if the camera takes 25 seconds to upload a photo and the trigger interval is set to 30 seconds, then the amount of time between photos is 55 seconds.

Timelapse Interval

This setting triggers the camera automatically every Timelapse Interval. For example, if this is set for 1 hour, then the camera will take a photo or video every hour whether or not there is motion. It will also take/send motion-triggered photos or video unless Sensitivity is Off.

Start-Stop 1 and 2

These two settings are used to specify the times when the camera can take pictures and what settings it uses for Trigger Interval and Timelapse during either or both times. When one or both of these is set, the camera will ignore the normal Trigger and Timelapse interval settings and use the settings under each Start-Stop instead.

Example 1: If you set Start-Stop 1's start time to 6:00 AM and stop time to 8:00 PM, then the camera will only take pictures from 6 AM to 8 PM.

Example 2:  If you set Start-Stop 1's start time to 6:00 AM and stop time to 8:00 PM and Start-Stop 2 for 12:00 AM through 6:00 AM (with a different trigger interval or perhaps timelapse), the camera will take pictures from 12:00 AM and 8:00 PM but will not take pictures from 8:00 PM to 12:00 AM.

If you want the camera to work all 24 hours, but with different settings, you must use Start-Stop 1 to cover part of the day and Start-Stop 2 to cover the remaining hours of the day.

Work Days

Ghost models only. This allows you to select which days of the week you want the camera to operate. 

Note: "Every day" scheduled events will still occur, just not motion-triggered or timelapse pictures/videos. 

Camera Region

You can set which region of the world the camera is to be set in.

Camera Time Zone+

This is the time zone that the camera's internal clock will sync to and is set using the app or website (Premium Service).

  • Eastern: select New York
  • Central: select Chicago
  • Mountain: select Denver
  • Pacific: select Los Angeles

Clock*

Set the time on the camera itself only when using Auto (photos to email) or when using the camera as a regular trail camera (Send Mode is off). Otherwise, use the Camera Time Zone setting in the app or on the portal to set the time.

Time Stamp

This turns on or off the information strip at the bottom of each photo. The info strip displays the following information: 

  1. Name tag (not available on older 3G models)
  2. Camera trigger type^
  3. Time when the photo was taken
  4. Moon phase
  5. Temperature
  6. Power level^^

^ Camera trigger type

  • M = Motion
  • E = Schedule Event / Manual Photo
  • T = Time lapse
  • S = Real Time / SMS command
  • F = Photo taken after Format SD card.

^^ Power level: 

  • P5 = full voltage
  • P3 = voltage getting low-
  • P1 = voltage very low change batteries ASAP
  • P0 = batteries are just about dead. 

- Fully charge rechargeable batteries may show this because they start with a lower voltage than alkaline or lithium-ion batteries.

When using a Ghost model with a direct-connect solar panel, we recommend you use AA batteries in the camera. The solar panel will only charge the camera's internal battery, which is only intended for a backup. Without the AA batteries, the camera battery meter  level will show P1 or P0.

Ghost battery information
Non-Ghost battery information

Arm Camera*

Ghost models only. (OFF-ON switch positions only). Use this to arm the camera manually if you don't want to wait 3 minutes for the camera to arm itself, which it will do if there is no interaction with the keys for 3 minutes. 

Flash Power

You can set the flash power to either LOW or HIGH, depending on how much light is needed. Low flash is suitable for close targets and uses less power than high flash.

Note: The flash needs to bounce off a "backdrop" (e.g., trees/shrubs in the background, a wall) in order to illuminate the scene. Flash illumination varies depending on the distance to the subject and the backdrop.

Format

This option format and erases the SD card that’s in the camera. This should be done every time an SD card is inserted into the camera, especially if the SD card has been used in a different device.

When using Premium Service, for some models you can also request to format the SD card from the Status Report page in the app or in Camera Management on the website. The camera will take and send a photo with F on the info strip once the SD card format request is complete. This option is not available on all camera models, but make sure your camera's firmware is up to date in order to be able to use it if your camera supports it. Please follow articles for App Updates for the latest development.

Overwrite

This option that is on by default. When the SD card is full, the camera will write new photos and videos over the oldest photos and videos on the card so that the camera will continue to work. (Note: If the SD card is full and your camera seems to have quit taking/sending photos but it is still sending status reports, try formatting the SD card. If your camera supports requesting Format from the app or web site, this may fix the problem and keep you from having to make a trip to the camera to format the SD card manually.)

Default*

This is an option in the camera’s System menu. It resets the camera to manufacturer's default settings. The default settings differ depending on the camera model and firmware version. Most models will reset to Send via Premium and previously-entered data such as recipients will be deleted.

  1. Reset the camera to defaults.
  2. Turn the camera off and back on.
  3. Make sure that Send Mode and Send Via are set the way you want them.
  4. Take/send a manual photo.
  5. If taking/sending the manual photo is successful:
    1. Auto: reset all your settings then turn the camera on.
    2. Premium: request a setting update from the app or website, take/send another manual photo to trigger the setting update, then turn the camera on.
  6. Walk-test the camera to be sure it is working the way you want it to.

Information

This is in the System menu. Information displays the Model of the firmware, the camera's IMEI/MEID, the date/version of the firmware currently on the camera, and the MCU version, which is also part of the firmware. You can use this information to make sure that the camera's IMEI matches the IMEI printed on the sticker inside the camera. You can also confirm that the firmware is up to date and the firmware that's installed is for the correct model.

Password*

This option that is only available in the camera’s menu. It allows you to set a password for the camera. Every time the camera is turned to Setup or on, the camera will require that you enter the password.

Note: There is no way to recover the password if you forget it. If you don't remember setting the password, then the password menu might have gotten turned on by accident without setting a password. Try 000000. If that does not work, you will have to get an RMA from Spartan Camera so that you can return the camera to us, along with proof of purchase, so that we can reset the password. In order to prevent a thief from sending a stolen camera to be reset, we will require proof of purchase.

Beep*

This setting controls whether the camera beeps whenever you press any of the camera's buttons. You can turn it on or off here.

FW Update

This is used to update the camera's firmware manually. In order to do this, you must have downloaded the correct firmware file from our website and copied it to an empty SD card. When you choose this option, the camera will check the SD card for a firmware file to use to update the camera. If there is a firmware file on the SD card, the camera will update and then restart.

If there is no firmware file found on the SD card, (either you didn't copy one to the SD card or you copied a file with the wrong name), you will see the message "No file found". 

You can find the firmware files to update your camera's firmware manually by going to my.spartancamera.com, Support > Support > Firmware/Software > Download Page or by clicking this link.

If you are using Premium Service, you can request an OTA (Over The Air) firmware update. On the app, there will be an orange Update button on the Status Report page if your camera's firmware is not current. On the website, log in, then Camera Management > Cameras Menu > Firmware Update.

Firmware updates

LED Indicator*

Turns on or off the LED indicator on the front of the camera that blink while the camera is in Setup mode to let you know that the motion sensor is active, or when set to ON mode for the first few seconds to let you know that the camera is getting ready to take a photo.

About

This tells you the HW version and FW version of the camera (only on some models).

Debug Switch*

The Debug switch is available on 4G models with the most current FW updates. When this off, the camera creates a .txt file log on the SD card whenever the camera encounters an error. When turned on, the camera creates a log for everything it does. This log information is very useful to the developers when trying to identify and fix issues with the camera.

Send Mode / Send Photos

These settings control whether the camera works as a cellular camera (transmitting photos and videos) or as a regular trail camera. In the camera's menu, the setting is called Send Mode (Instant or Off). When set to Off, the camera functions as a regular trail camera. When set to Instant, the camera transmits photos (and videos, if it has that capability).

When using Premium Service (app or website), the setting is called Send Photos (on or off). When Send Photos is on, the camera transmits photos/videos. When Send Photos is off, the camera takes and saves motion-triggered photos to the SD card but it does not send them. The camera still functions as a wireless camera to complete all scheduled events each day at the designated times. This gives you the opportunity to change the settings and turn Send Photos back on.

Send Via*

For current models, the options for Send Via are Premium (to app and website) or Auto (to email). For some older models, Lite, MMS, or Internet are also options.

In Premium mode, pictures and videos are sent to the Spartan Camera account the camera is registered to and are available on the website and app. In Auto, the camera sends photos to the Recipient (email address) entered in the Recipient option camera’s Wireless menu.

For more info, please see this article: Premium and Auto Feature Comparison.

Register Camera*

When the camera is set to Send Via Premium, this option retrieves the registration code needed to add the camera to your Spartan Camera account using either the app or the website. 

*Note: If the camera is deleted from the account (deleting from the app or the website), the camera will have to be registered again in order to add it back to the account.

Power Saving

When the Power Saving is on, the camera is not connected to the cellular network until it is ready to send a photo, video, or status report. This conserves battery power.

When Power Saving is off, the camera stays connected to the cellular network. The camera sends photos several seconds faster because the it does not have to reconnect every time it sends a photo but this has a significant negative effect on battery life. 

Real Time

This is a function only on some older 3G cameras. When it is on, the camera stays connected to the cellular network all the time instead of only when it has something to transmit. For some carriers, if the camera is on a data plan that supports SMS messaging, you can send a text command to the camera's phone number to get it to take a picture or send a status report.

Photo Encryption

This will encrypt transmitted photos and videos, which can only be viewed on a computer running Microsoft Windows using the decryptor software available on our Support Download Page. You must process photos downloaded from the website using the decryptor on a Microsoft Windows computer.

When Photo Encryption is on, the photos that are transmitted to the website and app look like a computer with a lock on it. The original photo saved to the SD card is not encrypted so you can view the photos directly from the SD card.

Daily Limit

This sets the maximum number of photos the camera is allowed to send each day. For example, if you set it to 25, then the camera will send up to 25 photos, then any photos taken after that will not be sent although they will be saved to the SD card.

On the camera, you can set the daily limit by going to Wireless > Send mode > Instant and press OK. You can also set this in the app or on the portal.

The limit counter starts at the time when the camera setting has been implemented. The picture count restarts at midnight each day based on the clock setting in each camera.

A better way to control the number of pictures may be to set a longer trigger interval to reduce the number of photos taken and spread them out throughout the day rather than meeting the limit in the early part of the day.

Scheduled Events 1-10+

These settings are only available when using Premium Service (in the app or on the website). They allow you to schedule the camera to either Send a Status Report, Take a Photo, or set up Batch Sending (Ghost models only). Scheduled Event 1 sends a status report every day. The only thing you can change for this event is the time, which defaults to midnight. This makes the camera check in at least once a day to get settings updates and requests. The other nine events are available for you to request a photo, status report, or batch send event (Ghost models only), either every day or only a specific day. You can set only one type of scheduled event at any given hour of the day.

Batch Sending:

  • Batch Sending is ONLY available on Ghost models.
  • Set Camera Mode to Photo or Photo+Video. then scroll down to Scheduled Events. You can set the Event Type to Batch Sending for any scheduled event(s) from 2 to 10. Then set the time that you want the camera to send the batch. .
  • When there is at least one Batch Sending event, the camera will not send any photos until the scheduled Batch time(s).
  • For each Batch Sending event, the camera will send up to 200 photos, with each photo taking approximately 7 seconds to send. Thus, 200 photos will take a little over 20 minutes to send. 
  • If there are more than 200 photos when the Batch Sending event is performed, any remaining photos will be sent during the next Batch Sending scheduled event. 
  • Batch Sending is not available when the camera is in Video mode. If Batch is turned on, and you switch from Photo or Photo+Video to Video mode, you will get a pop-up warning that will say if you switch on Video mode, it will turn off all Batch Scheduled Events. Press “Cancel”, and your settings will not change, if you choose ok, it will turn off any scheduled event that is set to Batch.

Diagnostics*

This is a sub-menu in the Wireless menu on the camera and has a few important options for troubleshooting. The camera must have cellular signal in order to use any of the options in this menu.

Hello Test

Makes the camera ping the server to verify that there is a working data connection (meaning that the camera has an active data plan).

Activation Reboot/Data Reboot

This step is required for 3G Verizon and 3G US Cellular cameras that have been newly activated or reactivated. The camera will dial a code, *22899, to the cellular carrier and activate the camera on its network. PLEASE NOTE: This action must be done with the camera connected to a tower belonging to the cellular carrier. This will not work if the camera is roaming.

It is best to perform this activation near a store belonging to the carrier because these stores are usually located near a home tower in order to activate devices sold in that store. Verizon’s network coverage is widespread enough so that most Activation/Data reboots will work just about every where. Only if you are in the most remote, low Verizon signal area are you likely to need to go to a Verizon store. US Cellular, however, is a smaller network, so it is highly recommended that you set up your 3G US Cellular camera while at the store activating the data service.

Network Status

Tells whether or not the camera is within the home network of the carrier or roaming on another network. The Activation Reboot/Data Reboot can only be performed when the camera is within the home network, not when roaming. Please refer to the information above in Activation Reboot/Data Reboot. 

Camera MDN

Displays the camera’s phone number. If it is inactive or unavailable, the camera will display all zeroes with three random digits. The phone numbers is only needed when using Real Time. 

APN Settings

This setting is available for all AT&T model cameras and Verizon 4G model cameras that have a firmware dated after January 2018.

For AT&T cameras, the APN setting should be set based on the camera's data plan provider. If the data plan is purchased from Spartan Camera, then the camera should be set to APN-SP. If the data plan is purchased from AT&T (either by adding the camera to your cell phone plan or through Buy-A-Session/DataConnect), then it should be set to APN-BR or APN-BL.

For Verizon, there is currently only one functioning APN network setting, and that is Public APN. There once was a “Private APN” setting, but it is no longer available. 

Module FW Update

This is used to update the camera’s wireless module firmware. When updating, make sure the camera has the correct regular firmware version before updating the module firmware. This process can take as long as 10 or 15 minutes to complete so make sure that the batteries in the camera are fresh before performing this update.

Camera Locator+

Ghost models only, except not available on the GC-W4Gb. This enables the camera to retrieve its geolocation when camera movement is detected. The information is also transmitted with scheduled event 1 so it is updated once every 24 hours if the camera is not moved.

Camera Tracker+

This enables Camera Locator even when the camera is OFF. Camera Locator must be on for this work.

 

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