Moultrie Camera Issue

I am having some issues with my Moultrie M100. When I put a new, formatted chip into the camera, I will get about 3 pictures to save to the chip. Once the screen goes blank, it will take pics (I can see the IR lighting up) but it won’t save the images to the chip.

What makes it more strange, is that it will take and save videos all the time. Anyone have any thoughts? I can’t get a hold of Moultrie right now and I would like to get this camera in the woods on picture mode. If not, I guess video will have to do.

Has it saved onto that same card just fine before?

The best advice would be to try a different chip and see if it has the same issue… If not I’m thinking your chip may need to be reformatted… There should be an option in the menu to reformat. Another possibility would be there may be a little slider on the left upper corner of the chip that turns it to read only. If no chips work then probably need a SW update in the camera.

Yeah I have tried multiple chips with the same success on all of them. The most frustrating thing is that it will take video and write video to the chip. While it is doing that it occasionally takes a still shot and writes it to the card as well. Typically this is referred to as “Hybrid Mode”. However, I am set on “Video Mode”. When I switch it to “Hybrid Mode” it doesn’t work at all. When set to “Camera Mode” it works only when the little screen is on.

I had to have the camera reset via phone with Moultrie last year and then lent it to my hunting partner cause I sat most of last season out. He never had any success getting it to work and I have put off fixing it until now, when I want it in the woods most.

I tried downloading the firmware update onto one of the chips, but I can’t seem to remember, or find online, how to install the update once the chip is put back into the camera.

Since you’ve pretty much eliminated the chip as the culprit, I’m right with you on the firmware update.

Here’s something I found with a quick Google that sounds like it’s the process for doing the update: http://www.ehow.com/how_8284453_update-software-moultries-trail-camera.html

Otherwise, read on Moultrie’s website the processes for updating other models. Generally, these don’t vary a lot from model to model, the ones I’ve done all involve putting the new version of the FW on the chip, insert it, pushing/holding a button, etc. So what works for one model may well work for your model if the above procedure isn’t correct.

If the FW update doesn’t work, I’d say cut your losses. Send it in and see if they can repair it, but in the meantime maybe a good excuse to add to your camera fleet.

Grouse

I had the same issues with my moultrie camera and it turned out a fresh set of batteries is all it needed. Also my camera would stop taking night photos at 30% battery life.

Thanks for the link Grouse, but I already gave that one a go and no luck. I would love to add a camera or two, but the new Matthews eliminated my outdoor “allowance” for a while.

The battery option was tried too.

Well I tried looking at the firmware update process for a newer camera. It installed the firmware and I got 106 pictures of myself doing dishes tonight….which is about 105 too many.

Thanks for the idea Grouse…I owe ya a beer if we ever meet!

Jackpot! Tweet that out under #awesome. Basically, AFAIK there are only 3 things the customer can “fix” on a trail cam, the card, the batteries, and the firmware. I’m glad it worked out.

Grouse