Acorn Cellular Trail Camera Testing

Fig 1:  Acorn 5210MG and 6210MG
Cellular Trail |Cameras

I often get asked about how I test trail cameras and in particular the cellular versions so here is a brief overview of my test bench setup.

Figure 2 shows the complete assembly of test card, timer, meters and screen monitor.

The test card enables  a basic evaluation of the camera's lens performance and focusing.

The laptop screen shows a timer and clock, the former of which is used to test the camera's trigger time and also time longer events such as image/video sequences, network transmissions and time lapse functions et.c

The timer is triggered by a manual slider and paddle ( figure 3 ) which also triggers the camera at exactly the same time. The resulting photograph taken by the camera captures the timer and shows how long in tenths of a second, it took the camera to wake up and fire its shutter. This is the camera's trigger

Garden Birds Close up with Ltl Acorn 5210A and 6210MC

Fig 1:  Blue Tit - 5210 at 45cm - 640 x 480 pixels crop from 2560 x 1920

Following on from my last post these are a few full size crops from the original images taken during the first close up tests.
Compare figure 1 top (crop) with figure 1 (full size image) in my last post.

All the original images are 5MP 2560 x 1920 pixels and the crop is 640 x 480 pixels.

Click on an image to view a slideshow.

Close Focusing with the Acorn 5210A Trail Camera

Fig 1:  Great Tit and Blue Tit trying out the feeder I'm 
using for the close focus tests with the Acorn 5210A
Click image to view full size

There have been a number of close focus experiments with trail cameras recently carried out by users of these cameras.

Adrian Jevons using an Acorn 6210 http://ourwildlifegarden.weebly.com/

Kate MacRae using Bushnells http://wildlifekate.wordpress.com/category/close-up-kit/

Both have achieved good results applying external close up lenses of various diopters.

Kate has produced her own piece of

Downloads for Ltl Acorn Trail Cameras.

Fig 1:   Acorn Manuals,
Set-up Software and Firmware Downloads

In this post:
Ltl Acorn Camera Technical Support
Instruction Manual Downloads
Camera Set-up Software Downloads
Firmware Downloads
6210MG Connection Problem

Technical Support

My workload has become very heavy in recent months and a good part of it is dealing with basic requirements such as providing manuals and software which is sometimes missing from the CD supplied with the Acorn cameras.

Using GPRS/SMTP with Ltl Acorn Trail Cameras

Fig 1: Ltl Acorn 6210MGX

Sending Emails via SMTP from an Acorn Trail Camera.

This post is a follow up to the instructions for using SMTP with the 6210, back in September this year.

Read this post carefully, follow my instructions exactly and I guarantee it will work.

Post updated on 21.12.2012

I have difficulty testing the wireless functions, because I am in a marginal network coverage area. Each test entails my doing a 10 mile round trip to test settings, but recently I decided I would have to bite the bullet.

This article is a brief practical instruction on how I achieved a working set up.

The difficulties highlighted in our previous report were:
1) The need to have an email address where the local name is the same as the username. e.g ronbury@ronbury.co.uk
2) Finding an SMTP service that allowed non SSL use.

The email address was easy. I turned to NamesCo, a UK based company I've dealt with before; and who provide excellent services and support. I purchased a domain name [ronbury.co.uk] costing 13.99 GBP for three years, which provided an email address and a free

6210 Delivery update and Firmware/Software News

I'm now happily in a position to confirm outstanding order delivery dates for the new 6210MGX and MC models.

The first MGX camera shipment was in Paris early this morning and weather conditions permitting, will be processed and sent DHL next day delivery, by Thursday/Friday of this week.

The MC shipment has been slightly delayed and is due to arrive on the 17th December. These cameras will be processed and sent DHL next day delivery, by Wednesday 19th of December.

Extra stock is also arriving with these shipments and is selling quickly; so for delivery before Christmas, I would recommend you order now.

New set up software and firmware is now available.
I'll be posting about the updates and new menu features as soon as I've completed my evaluations.

I sincerely hope we wont be experiencing any more delays in the future and I promise to try not to find any more problems which require a major case update

My personal thanks to all our customers for being so patient.