Cuddeback EXCITE User Manual

Some of Cuddeback pro staff with
their favorite “Cuddy Bucks”

“Cuddeback takes great
pictures, is extremely reliable
and the batteries last forever!”

Jay Gregory –
Host, The Wild Outdoors

“As a TV producer and bow
hunter for ESPN... I primarily
look for ‘Cuddy Bucks’ walking
during camera light hours.
Thanks Cuddeback!!”

Tom Miranda– Advantage Adventures

cuddebackdigital.com

“When I’m in search of a big
buck, I use my Cuddeback.
This buck is one that I have
been after for the past couple of years.
Each year I get a photo of him, confirming
that he is still alive.”

Pat Reeve – Driven 24/7

“It’s photos like this that
make me proud of my
food plots and put in the
extra effort in the fall!”

Mike Wheeler – Wheeler’s Whitetails

Non Typical, Inc. 860 Park Lane,
Park Falls, WI 54552
1-715-762-2260

Owner’s Manual

The #1 digital scouting camera

CuddeView is the ONLY device you

need to view, transfer and delete your
digital scouting camera images.

New from Cuddeback ... the

CuddeView 4-in-1 Field Viewer

1. View images in the field -

Use CuddeView to view your scouting camera images in the field.

4. Transfer images -

2. View images on your computer -

CuddeView serves as a PC or laptop card reader so you can download
images to your computer for viewing or storage (cable included;
requires USB port and Windows XP/Vista operating system).

Eliminate card swapping! Check each scouting camera and, using
CuddeView, transfer images from each camera’s CF/SD card to a
single, high-capacity (we recommend 2.0GB) SD/CF “archive” card.
Once the images are transferred, delete the images from the
camera card and re-insert the clean card into your camera.
The archive card now holds all your images.

3. View images on your TV -

CuddeView comes with a TV cable so you can see your scouting
camera images larger-than-life on your TV (TV requires RCA
video-in port).

To learn more, visit

Cuddebackdigital.com

•

Compatible with CompactFlash and SD cards

•

Built-in rechargeable lithium battery

•

Built-in LED light

•

View, transfer or delete images

•

Includes FREE CuddeVision Image
Management PC Software that will help
you organize your scouting camera images

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~ 2006 Contest Winner ~

Cuddeback Digital Photo and Video Submission

We want to see your images and videos in our online gallery. The top
photos/videos are selected each year by scouting camera expert Walt Larsen
and placed in categories for the Cuddeback Digital Scouting Camera contest.

You pick the winners!

Great Cuddeback prizes are awarded for best images and videos during our
Cuddeback Digital Scouting Camera Contest .
for details and to enter your images into our photo gallery.

By submitting images, you give Cuddeback permission to use the submitted images for any and all market­ing purposes, no monetary compensation will be awarded. Images that are not Cuddeback or images that
have been altered in any way will not be considered for contests.

Visit www.cuddebackdigital.com

Excite

Table of contents

CuddeView . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 - 3

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Cuddeback Stores Images on Compact Flash Cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Step 1

Familiarize yourself with Cuddeback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Step 2

Turning Cuddeback ON/Installing batteries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 - 10

Step 3

Learn the Keypad & Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Step 4

(S KEY) is for setting up Cuddeback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 - 12

Step 5

(M KEY) is for controlling Cuddeback . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Step 6

Attaching Cuddeback to a Tree . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Step 7

Checking Cuddeback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Step 8

Viewing Images . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 - 18

Turning Cuddeback On and Off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Motion/Heat Detector Sensitivity Level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Formatting the Compact Flash Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 - 22

Diagnostics Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 - 23

Displaying the Model of Cuddeback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Technical Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 - 24

File System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Image & Event File Format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Detection Zone & Sensitivity Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

TV Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Warranty Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 - 28

Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

BearSafe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 - 31

4

5

Introduction

The Cuddeback Excite gives you the fast trigger speed and long battery life Cuddeback is
famous for! It features a custom 2.0 megapixel digital camera and a premium strobe
flash that illuminates out to 40 feet! You can adjust the delay and the sensitivity. The
Excite will give you years of reliable performance!

We have tested various
brands of batteries and these
are our results.

A. Rayovac - 800 images at

25 degrees, 1600 images
at 70 degrees

B. Duracell - 600 images at

25 degrees, 1400 images
at 70 degrees

C. Energizer - 500 images at

25 degrees, 1200 images
at 70 degrees

D. Other brands - other battery

brands typically took less
images

E. Below 25 degrees battery

life will be less than shown

Test Method

set to take 4 images per hour,
with 50% of them being flash
images. Test results are for
comparison only, your actual
results may be different.
Temperature, flash operation,
video mode, battery age, and
other factors can affect bat­tery life.

- Cameras were

What You Need...

Before you can use your Cuddeback, you
will need the following items:

1)

One or more Compact Flash Cards. We rec­ommend a size of 256MB or bigger. The
higher the number on the card, the more
images that can be saved on the card.

2) Four D Cell Batteries (we recommend
Duracell or Rayovac).

comparison table on the left.

3) A #25 Torx screwdriver if you want to attach
the camera to a tree with the supplied screw.

4) A bungee, strap, or wire if you want to attach
Cuddeback to a tree without the Torx screw.

Refer to the battery

TIP - We do not recommend attaching Cuddeback to a tree with a strap or bungee.
Rodents may chew the strap causing the camera to fall from the tree. If you do not use
the security screw, we recommend that you use wire to secure Cuddeback to the tree.

The following items are optional:

A

5) A small padlock if you want to prevent

tampering. Note: Only certain sized padlocks
will fit.

See diagram at right for measurements.

C

B

6) USB cable if you want to attach Cuddeback to
your computer's USB port.

7) Video cable & TV if you want to view images
with a TV.

CUDDEBACK STORES IMAGES ON
COMPACT FLASH CARDS

Images are stored on a Compact Flash card
(not included). The Compact Flash card slot
is located on the bottom of the camera.

• Install the card. There is a small lip on the

card. The lip needs to be pointed down
(towards the batteries). Slide the card in
firmly.

• Remove the card by pulling the card out.

• You can use any type of Compact

Flash Card.

WARNING

Remove or insert CF card ONLY when
slide switch is in the OFF position.

A Shackle Diameter 3/16"
B Vertical Clearance 9/16"
C Horizontal Clearance 5/8"

LEARN - We suggest you have your
Cuddeback and batteries with you as
you read this manual and perform the
steps described. In short time, you
will have mastered your Cuddeback.

Shown actual size

Figure 1

6

7

STEP 1 -

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with Cuddeback's parts.

FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF WITH CUDDEBACK

Fresnel Lens

Flash Lens

Figure 3

LED

Camera window

Battery

100%

Figure 4

Figure 5

STEP 2 - TURNING CUDDEBACK ON

1) Slide the On/off Switch to the OFF position
(figure 4).

Remove the Compact Flash card if it is

2)

installed (figure 5).

3) Install 4 brand new alkaline D cell batteries.
(figure 6).

Duracell brand batteries only!

4) Install the Compact Flash card.

5) Slide switch to ON. Do not press any key

at this time.

6) In a few seconds the battery level will be

displayed (figure 7). In a few seconds the
date & time will be displayed (figure 8).

We recommend Rayovac or

USB port

TV connection port

Battery plate screw

On/Off switch

Flash Card
port

8

LCD screen

Operation keys

Mounting hole for
wood screw (wing
nut/bolt included for
alternative mounting)

Sensitivity adjustment

Cover screw
receptacle

Figure 2

4/05/06
11:13 AM

Figure 7

Figure 8

TIP - Always remove the Compact Flash
Card when removing or installing batteries.
This will make it easier to remove the bat­tery plate and prevent damage to the card.

TIP - Don't be afraid to press the keys to
learn Cuddeback operation. You can not
damage your Cuddeback by pressing keys.
If you need to start over slide the power
switch to OFF, and then back to ON to
restart Cuddeback.

9