Tasco 119270CW, 119271CW Instruction Manual

Trail Camera Instruction Manual

02-18

Model #: 119270CW/119271CW

(en FRANÇAIS p. 20)

2

IMPORTANT NOTE

Congratulations on your purchase of one of the best
trail cameras on the market! Please refer to the notes
below and the instructions in this manual to ensure that

you are completely satised with this product.

If your Tasco® Trail Camera does not seem to be
functioning properly or if you are having photo/video
quality issues, please check the Troubleshooting/
FAQ section on pages 13-16.
Problems are often due to something simple that was
overlooked, or require only changing one setting to
solve.

If your problem continues after trying the solutions in
the Troubleshooting/FAQ section, please call Tasco
Customer Service at [phone]. In Canada, call
[phone].

Tasco recommends using 8 Energizer® Lithium AA batteries
in this trail camera to obtain maximum battery life.

Do not mix old and new batteries.
Do not mix battery types-use ALL lithium or ALL alkaline.
Rechargeable batteries are NOT recommended.

Tasco recommends using SanDisk® SD and SDHC Cards (up
to 32GB capacity) in this Tasco trail camera.

3

INTRODUCTION

About the Tasco Trail Camera

Your new Tasco

®

Trail Camera is a digital scouting camera.

It can be triggered by any movement of live animals in a
location, detected by a highly sensitive Passive Infra-Red
(PIR) motion sensor, and then take high quality photos (6MP
or 8MP resolution, depending on model), or video clips (720p,

10 seconds length).

The Tasco Trail Camera consumes very little power (< 0.5mA) in
a stand-by (surveillance) state. This means it can deliver up to

six months stand-by operation time when the device is powered

by eight AA alkaline batteries, and up to twelve months utilizing
eight lithium AA batteries (30 images per day, 15 w/ash). Once

motion in the monitored area is detected, the digital camera unit
will be triggered at once (typically less than 1 second) and then

automatically take photos or videos (your choice). The Tasco

Trail Camera is equipped with built-in infrared (IR) LEDs that

function as a ash, so that it delivers clear photos or videos (in

black & white) even in the dark, and it can take color photos

or videos under sufcient daylight. The Tasco Trail Camera is
designed for outdoor use and is water resistant.

PARTS and CONTROLS

Release the two latches on the right side of the camera and

swing the front cover over to the left to access the controls. A
3-way power/mode switch is used to select the main operating

modes: OFF, AIM, and ON (Fig. 1).
When the power switch is set to the AIM middle position, the

camera is in Setup Mode. The AIM position can also be used
to verify the area the camera will monitor. The LCD Display
will show the camera’s current settings in Setup Mode. The

Up, Down and OK keys are used to set the date and time

(to be imprinted on each photo/video), change the interval or

“detection delay” time between images while an animal remains
in range of the camera’s sensor, select Photo or Video capture
mode, set a camera ID number for your reference, and format

the SD card (erase all les). Once you setup the camera, switch
it to ON for normal operation.

4

AIM/Status

LED

Light

Sensor

Power/

Mode

Switch

(ON/AIM/OFF)

PIR

Sensor

Battery Tray Eject Button

Lens

LCD
Display

IR Flash
LED Array

“Up” Key

“OK” Key

“Down”
Key

Fig. 1

Eject Button

Fig. 2

Card Slot

Fig. 3

5

INSTALLING BATTERIES and SD CARD

Before you begin to use your Tasco Trail Camera, you will rst
need to install a set of batteries and insert an SD card. Although

that may only take you a minute, there are some important
notes about both batteries and SD cards you should be aware
of, so please take the time to read the following directions

and cautions:

Loading Batteries

Press the Battery Tray Eject Button to release the battery
tray and pull it out for loading (Fig. 2). Switch the camera’s
power OFF when loading/unloading batteries. Be sure to insert

each battery so its polarity (+/- direction) matches the polarity
indications at the bottom of the battery tray. The camera is

capable of operating with only 4 batteries installed if necessary,
but a full set of 8 batteries should normally be used to ensure

the longest operating time. Tasco recommends using eight new
lithium AA (Energizer

®

brand) or alkaline AA batteries. NiMh

Rechargeable batteries can also be used, but they might have

a shorter life span due to their reduced efciency over time and
at low temperature.

Inserting the SD Card

The Tasco Trail Camera uses a standard SD (Secure Digital)
memory card to save your photos (.jpg format) or videos (.avi

format). SD and SDHC (High Capacity) class 4 or higher speed
cards, up to a maximum 32GB are supported.

• Make sure that the write-protect switch on the side of the

card is “off” (NOT in the “Lock” position). With the power

switch in the OFF position, insert the SD card in the slot
on the lower right side of the camera (Fig. 3) until it clicks

in place. If the wrong side of the card is facing up, you

will not be able to insert it without force-there is only one

correct way to insert cards.

• If the SD card is not inserted correctly, or no card is in

the slot, “C A r d” will appear on the LCD Display, and the
camera will not operate (Fig. 4, next page). Other card
status display messages: “F U L L” indicates the card’s

memory is full, with no remaining room to store les (see
below). “E r r” means there is a card reading error (try a

different SD card).

6

• Formatting the SD card before using it for the rst time

is recommended, especially when a card has been used

in other devices. This can be done using the camera’s

“Format” function (pg. 8, “SD Card Format”). Make sure
you have backed up (saved to your computer) any

les you want to keep on a previously used card, as
formatting erases ALL les.

• To take out the SD card, just gently push in the card (do

not try to pull it out without pushing in rst). The card is

released from the slot and ready to be removed when you

hear the click. Be sure the camera’s power is switched

OFF before removing or inserting SD cards.

SETUP MODE

Once batteries are installed and an SD card is inserted, you’re

ready to go into the Setup Mode to get the camera ready to use,

with all options set to your preferences. While this can be done
in the eld (no computer or internet access is needed), most
users will likely want to setup the camera at home, in advance.

There are only a few settings to make, so the process is quick

and easy. To start setting up your Tasco Trail Camera:

1. To enter Setup Mode, move the Power Switch to the

middle (AIM) position (Fig. 1). The display will come on
and show the initial Setup screen (Fig. 5). Note: Don’t
worry if you notice the STATUS LED ashing during the
Setup process-this is normal, as the AIM position of the
switch has a second function that will be covered later in

this manual.

2. Press the OK key to begin. When the display ashes, you

can use the UP and DOWN keys to change the setting of

the currently selected option or item.

3. When you nish changing a setting (or leaving it set “as

is”), press OK to lock in the setting and move on to the

next option/item. If there is a setting that you don’t need or

want to change from the default or current setting, simply
press OK to conrm and skip to the next item/option.

Once you go through the Setup Mode items and change
a few settings, you’ll quickly see how this works.

7

Fig. 4

Fig. 5

Fig. 6

Fig. 7

Fig. 8

Fig. 9

Fig. 10

Fig. 11

SETUP MODE

8

Setting Time and Date (Fig. 6)

After the Initial Setup screen, the next few display screens will
allow you to set the current time and date, so the time/date

stamp imprinted on all your photos and videos will be accurate

when captured by the camera. To change the Time and Date to

be current, starting at the default “12 : 00” screen (see Fig. 6):

1. Press OK and use UP/DOWN to set the hour (24 hr/
military time format). Press OK to conrm.

2. Use UP/DOWN to set the minute. Press OK to conrm.

3. Use UP/DOWN to set the month. Press OK to conrm.

4. Use UP/DOWN to set the date. Press OK to conrm.

5. Use UP/DOWN to set the year. Press OK to conrm and
move on to the next Setup item, Interval Time.

Setting Interval (Detection Delay) Time (Fig. 7)

The Interval or Detection Delay option lets you set the time
between captured images when an animal remains within the

camera’s sensor range after it is rst detected and the camera
is triggered. Use UP/DOWN to select 5 sec (display shows

“00:05”), 15 sec (default value), 30 sec, 1 min (display shows
“01:00”) or 5 min. Press OK after setting.

Setting Capture Mode (1 photo, 3 photos, or video) (Fig. 8)

Use UP/DOWN to select your preferred image capture mode:

Single Photo per trigger (display shows 1 + a still camera icon),
Rapid Sequence of 3 Photos per trigger (display shows a still

camera icon + 3) or Video Clips that are 10 seconds long at
720p resolution (display shows a movie camera icon). Press

OK after setting.

Setting Camera ID# (if using multiple cameras) (Fig. 9)

Use UP/DOWN to select a reference ID# (from “01” to “99”) for

this camera, which will be imprinted on all photos/videos along
with the time & date. If you are only using a single camera to

monitor an area, simply leave it set to the default “Id : 01”. Set a
second camera that will be used in a group of multiple cameras
to “02”, etc. Press OK after setting.

SD Card Format (delete all les) (Fig. 10)

The display will show “FOrN” (see Fig. 11). CAUTION: be sure

9

to backup and save any/all les you want to keep rst, as
formatting will clear the card completely of all les-they will
then be difcult or impossible to recover from the card.

If you are sure you want to format a previously used card, use
UP/DOWN to change the “N” after “FOr_” to “Y” (Yes), then
press OK to conrm and delete all les from the card.

Restore Default Settings (initialize camera setup) (Fig. 11)

The display will show “dEFN” (see Fig. 12). To return the
Interval, Capture Mode, and Camera ID# to their original,
“factory default” settings, use UP/DOWN to change the “N”
after “dEF_” to “Y” (Yes), then press OK to conrm. Note: your

time and date settings and camera ID# will not be changed
from their current settings to the original defaults, and your SD
card will not be formatted. Only the Interval and Capture Mode
settings will be restored to their defaults.

MOUNTING AND AIMING THE CAMERA

Mounting

After setting the camera’s time/date and other options to your

preferences, you’re ready to take it outside and begin capturing

images of animals in the area you want to monitor. When

setting up the Tasco Trail Camera for scouting game or other
outdoor applications, you must be sure to mount it in place

correctly and securely. We recommend mounting the Tasco
Trail Camera on a sturdy tree with a diameter of about 6 inches.

To get the optimal picture quality, the

tree should be about 16-17 ft. away

from the place to be monitored, with

the camera placed at a height of 2.5-

3.5 ft. Also, keep in mind that you will

get the best results at night when the

subject is within the ideal ash range,
no farther than 40 ft. and no closer
than 10 ft. from the camera.

There are two ways to mount the
Tasco Trail Camera: using the
provided adjustable web belt, or the

tripod socket.

Fig. 12

10

Using the adjustable web belt: Push one end of the belt
through the two brackets on the back of the Tasco Trail
Camera (Fig. 12). Thread the end of the strap through the

buckle. Fasten the belt securely around the tree trunk by
pulling the end of the strap rmly so there is no slack left.

Note: it is not possible to use a cable lock (in the upper part of
the bracket) and the web belt at the same time.

Using the tripod socket: The camera is equipped with a
socket at the bottom end to enable mounting on a tripod or

other mounting accessories that use a standard1/4-20 thread.

Sensing Angle and Distance Test

To test whether the Tasco Trail Camera can effectively monitor
the area you choose, this test is recommended to check the
sensing angle and monitoring distance of the Tasco Trail

Camera. To perform the test:

• Switch the camera’s Power Switch to AIM. You can

ignore the Setup display, no need to change any settings

(provided you already set the time/date and other Setup
Mode options in advance).

• Make movements in front of the camera at several
positions within the area where you expect the game or

subjects to be. Try different distances and angles from
the camera.

• If the AIM/Status LED (Fig. 1) blinks, it indicates that
position can be sensed. If it does not blink, that position is
outside of the sensing area.

The results of your testing will help you nd the best placement
when mounting and aiming the Tasco Trail Camera. The vertical

height away from the ground for placing the device should vary

with the animal size appropriately. In general, 3 to 6 feet is
preferred.

You can avoid potential false triggers due to temperature and
motion disturbances in front of the camera by not aiming it at a
heat source or nearby tree branches and brush (especially on

windy days).

Switching ON the Camera

Once you move the Power Switch to ON, the AIM/Status LED
will blink for several seconds. This gives you time to close

and lock the front cover of the Tasco Trail Camera and then

walk away. During this time, the AIM/Status LED will blink

11

continuously. After it stops blinking, the PIR sensor is active,

and any motion that is detected by it will trigger the capture of
photos or videos as programmed in Setup Mode. Be sure you

have read the camera Setup Mode section. Please note, the
PIR is strongly sensitive to ambient temperature. The greater
the temperature difference between the environment and your
subject, the farther the possible sensing distance.

Before leaving the camera unattended, please check for the
following:

• Are the batteries inserted with correct polarity and is their
power level sufcient?

• Does the SD card have sufcient available space and is
its write-protection (lock) switch off?

• Is the Power switch in the ON position? (do not leave it
set to AIM).

SAVING/VIEWING THE FILES ON YOUR COMPUTER

After you have setup, mounted and activated your Tasco Trail

Camera, you will of course be eager to return later and review

the images it has captured for you. The best way to do this is

to switch the camera OFF and remove the SD card so you

can take it home to download and review your photos/videos at
leisure. To continue using the camera, simply insert another SD

card (format it rst in the Setup Mode menu if necessary, after
making sure you have backed up any les you want to keep

that are left on a previously used card) and switch the camera
back ON. The time/date and other settings made in Setup Mode
will remain unchanged as long as the batteries remain in the

camera and provide adequate power for it to operate.

Downloading and Reviewing Files From the SD Card

Insert the SD card you removed from your
camera into the SD card slot of your computer
if it has one, or the SD slot of a USB card reader
accessory (follow the directions provided by the

manufacturer). Depending on the computer’s

operating system, the SD card’s icon and name
will then be visible on your desktop, under
“Devices with Removable Storage” in “My
Computer” or in a list of drives and connected

devices. Double click the SD card or card
reader’s icon to open it and view the le names

Fig. 13

12

(you may need to open an additional folder or two within the

rst level). Note: some computers and operating systems may
automatically launch a pop-up window that lets you view or
save the photos/videos on the card soon after it’s inserted.

Alternatively, you can connect a compatible USB cable (not
included) to the USB port on the right side of the camera (Fig.

13) to your computer-this is less convenient as it requires

removing the camera from the tree. The camera then effectively

becomes an SD card reader (USB “mass storage device”)

and can be used as described above. If the SD card is not
recognized by the computer after 30 seconds (with the card in

the camera), try switching the camera to ON or using a different

USB port on the computer (not an unpowered USB hub). Note:
the mini plug jack next to the USB port is for factory service and
diagnostic usage only. Do not connect any device to it.

Each new image or video will be numbered incrementally in

order of the time it was captured. For example, you will see le
names such as “00000001.JPG” or “00000001.AVI”. Through
the le format sufx you can distinguish whether the le is a
still photo (with sufx .jpg) or a video (with sufx .avi). Your

computer should have the option of allowing you to view the

les as preview images instead of le names/types (Windows:
More Options>Small to Large Icons, Mac: View>as Icons).

Double clicking any individual le will let you view the photo or

video full screen within whatever application is associated with

that le format.

Select any/all les you want to backup and drag or copy/paste

them to your computer’s hard drive wherever you normally keep

photos and videos. You may want to create a new folder named
“Tasco Trail Cam” or another specic title to keep them separate
from family photos, etc. Once the card’s les have been backed
up, you can delete any that you decide not to keep.

The same card can then be returned to your Tasco Trail Camera

for future use. Use the format feature in Setup Mode to erase

the entire card if you want to have its full capacity available to
store as many images as possible before it becomes full and
you need to go through this remove > download > backup >

format > reuse process again. Using higher capacity cards and/

or swapping out multiple cards will allow you to do this less

frequently.

13

TROUBLESHOOTING / FAQ

Camera takes continuous images of no subject

A camera has what is known as a “false trigger” if the PIR sensor

thinks that there is motion and heat in front of the camera lens

when there is no subject in the image. These “False Triggers”

are the result of placing the camera in an environment where
there is motion associated with tree branches creating motion
in front of the camera or an area where there is high heat in the

foreground and any motion from wind could set off the camera.

Setting a camera up over water is also a potential cause for this

issue. To remedy this situation:

1. Try moving the camera to an area that does not have any

of these issues or remove potential obstacles near the

lens if possible.

2. If the camera continues to take images when there is no

subject in them, test the camera by placing it in an inside
environment and aiming at a location where there is no

motion.

3. If the camera continues to take images with no subject,
then there is probably an electronic component issue. If

this is the case, please contact Tasco customer service to

send the camera back for repair.

Battery life is shorter than expected

1. Battery life will vary with operating temperature and the
number of images taken over time. Typically, the Tasco

Trail Camera will be able to capture several thousand

images before the batteries die.

2. Check to make sure you have used new alkaline or
lithium batteries. Tasco recommends using a full set of

8 Energizer® Lithium AA batteries to obtain maximum
battery life.

3. Make sure that the power switch was turned to the ON
position and that the camera was not left switched to AIM

(Setup mode) while in the eld.

4. Make sure that you are using a good quality name brand
SD card in your camera. Tasco recommends SanDisk®
brand SD Cards up to 32GB. Our experience indicates

that poor quality SD cards can sometimes reduce your

Tasco Trail Camera battery life.

14

Camera stops taking images or won’t take images

1. Please make sure that the SD card is not full. If the card is

full (display indicates “FULL”, the camera will stop taking

images.

2. Check the batteries to make sure that they are new
alkaline or lithium AA batteries. See note above about
short battery life.

3. Make sure that the Power/Mode Switch is in the ON
position and not set to OFF or AIM.

4. Make sure that you are using a good quality SD card in
your camera. Tasco recommends SanDisk

®

SD Cards up

to 32GB.

5. If the SD card has its write protect switch in the lock
position, the camera will not take images.

6. If you have used an SD card in another device before

inserting it in your Tasco Trail Camera, you might want
to try formatting the card using the “Format” option in
Setup Mode (pg. 8). Make sure you have backed up any

important les rst, as formatting will erase all previous
les. In some cases, other devices may change the

formatting of the SD card so that it will not work properly

with the Tasco Trail Camera.

Camera won’t power up

1. Make sure that you have installed all batteries in the
battery compartment, lling all battery spaces with no
“gaps”. Note-the camera may be operated with only 4

batteries if necessary, but they will need to be changed
more frequently.

2. Tasco recommends using a full set of 8 Energizer

®

Lithium AA batteries.

3. Make sure that the batteries are installed correctly,
observing proper polarity. Always place the negative (at)

end of each battery in contact with the spring side of its

slot inside the camera.

4. After moving the switch from “OFF” to “AIM” or “ON”,

make sure that the switch is correctly in position to ensure

the proper mode (avoid positions “between” two modes).

5. Do not move the switch directly from “ON” to “AIM”­always move the switch all the way down to “OFF” rst,
then back up to “AIM”.