I was wondering if everyone could condense there info into one thread. Im recieving my sg580m in the mail today and was wondering a few things before i even open it.

1. Whats the best settings to make it perform the best "picture taking function"?
2 What are setting for wireless function to work and send pics right?
3. What sd card is everyone using..what brand size and class
4. what cell providers have worked the best """best plan""
5. Ive seen some guys program setting to sd card. How do you do that..Or does cam do that ..and what should they be.

I would like any feed back and i apologize for being redundant but I just really want to know this thing inside and out to make it the easiest.

After i get it figured out i will post all my positives and negatives and step by step instructions to maybe help someone else

THANKS AGAIN
LARRY

Welcome to the forums. There's been quite a bit of talk about this cam already on here. You'll wanna just look back at previous dates to find the info. With that said, we'll still talk about it. For me, I have my cam set at 30 sec intervals, others have good luck at 1 min. The settings are pretty much what we have posted here in the reviews, or are the same as what comes mentioned with the cam... providing they'll actually work in your area. I use a 2 gb Sandisk card. The " best plan ", is the one that works...lol. I use AT&T 200 text msg plan a month at this time of year since there's no antlers running around & deer movement is much different now... it's only 5$. Their unlimited plan is $20 a month. You don't need a data plan & be prepared for the sales people unfamiliararity with what your trying to explain to them. The best thing you can do is take the cam with you to the store. You need the settings already installed on your card for the cam to be able to send anything. As far as I can tell, my cam is sending every pic it's taking. It's also quite possible you may get a bad sim card... I originaly did. On my cams screen, the reception strength level bars do not show up & the "x" for the sim card is always there too. If I had a data plan, they'd work, but don't worry if yours don't show up too. The pics on the card are very good, what's sent is not. I just keep the same card in the cam & rarely visit it. When I think there's a lot of pics in it, which will be a while, since I'm not getting much activity, I'll just go up & delete 'em. Good luck !

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1 Moultrie M150 Panoramic
1 Moultrie M880
1 Moultrie M80 XT
1 Moultrie ReAction Cam
1 SG 550
1 SG580M
1 Ltl Acorn ...mms function retired
1 Covert " Code Black " mms
1 Covert MP6
1 Plot Watcher Pro

I put mine out about a short while ago and I LOVE it. As far a settings go, here is what I discovered...

Set the PIR sensitivity to high or it will only take pics of objects that are VERY close.

Set the interval at 1 min or if you have a lot of movement at one time, the flash doesn't have time to reset fast enough. You will have some good pics and some all black ones sent to you.

I run two 4GB SanDisk cards. I loaded the settings file listed on the review page on both cards and switch them out each time I go out to the cam (I only make it out to the place once or twice a month and 4 gig holds a TON of pics).

I use AT&T for my cell service and I have a family plan with the wife's phone on it. They added a line for $5 a month and sense we have unlimited texting on our regular plan, that is the only extra charge. they did make me buy the sim card for about $15.

Seeing as I don't get out to my place very often, I put an external battery with a solar panel on mine. I listed how on an earlier thread. It has now sent 451 pics and no signs of slowing down.

Here are the links to the review page with the settings on it and the thread with the external battery info.
http://www.chasingame.com/index.php?id=193
viewtopic.php?f=34&t=19546

I hope all this helps.
Thanks!!!
Matt

thanks..this is great info..

My cams didnt come the mail today. but my question is.. how do you get the settings you listed on the sd card..

You put the card in the camera and on the menu it will offer you "format". Choose yes and it will put the file on the card. You can then input the info from the camera, using the remote, but DO NOT DO THIS!!! You will drive yourself crazy clicking the remote. Turn the camera off and remove the card. Put it in your reader and bring it up on the computer. You will see the file loaded on the card. Open the file and make the lines of text look EXACTLY like the ones on the review (if your are using AT&T) with the number and/or email address you are having it sent to. Put the card back in and you are done. This will make alot more sense when you get the camera and you are playing with it.
Thanks!!!
Matt

thanks for help ..really appreciated..saving me precious time...Ill have to get a card reader...what kind do you use

never mind i just figured out sd card reader...ordered one

Hi Larry,

Here's a reprint of what I posted on another thread:

The cheapest and best way to operate a 580M is to use what AT&T calls a GoPhone plan. There's several GoPhone plans to choose from; choose the GoPhone plan where you pay for phone calls by the minuite. It doesn't matter if the plan bills phone calls at $100 per minuite or 10 cents per minute because the camera never makes any calls. Add a "text message" package to your pay by the minute plan; I use the 1000 text per month for $9.99 package....that's all you need to do, it'll cost you $9.99 per month to operate you camera.

The AT&T terminology is important to understand: You'll first choose a phone "Plan", then you'll add a texting "Package"

The AT&T store might be confused about how to get you set up...just print out my explanation, take it and your camera to the AT&T store. For simplicity sake they may have you purchase a $19.99 GoPhone and get it set up as I've mentioned, then you'd simply remove the SIM card from the phone and put it in your camera.

I didn't go to the AT&T store....I just bought a $19.99 GoPhone at Walgreens and activated it online. The GoPhone came with $15.00 air time credit, so the phone that I didn't need, really only cost me $5.00. Actually, it's best to have the phone to get the account opened and service started...then once you've got the phone set up and sending text messages, you're ready to move the SIM card over to the 580M.

_________________
Pat Murphy

I'm a micro manufacturer and on-line seller of Trail Camera Mounts and Accessories.
Please visit my store.
Details & Free Shipping: http://www.murphymetalart.com/trailcameramounts.html

thanks pat..i appreciate it

The manual that comes with the camera is literally too small to read.
You can download and print a large, readable manual at this link:
http://www.hcodealer.com/download/sg580 ... manual.pdf

_________________
Pat Murphy

I'm a micro manufacturer and on-line seller of Trail Camera Mounts and Accessories.
Please visit my store.
Details & Free Shipping: http://www.murphymetalart.com/trailcameramounts.html

I went out and bought my go phone and signed up for a 9.99 1000 text package. I paid 15 for the phone and got a 15$ free credit towards phone. I like the idea that i can use phone to verify everythings working before i put sim card into cam...thanks for your help everyone...

so my setting should look exacltly like the ones in the chasing game forum or do i need to get them from provider..im using at&t

havent gotten this puppy running yet...Is the ip address tied to each camera..does it change

will the settings in review on cg work on my cam due to fact im using att go phone plan...i had them unlock card..first problem.haha

Larry,

I think that I used the AT&T settings that were posted on CG. When I get home this evening I'll check and post my exact SIM card settings....I'm using the AT&T GoPhone , just like you.

_________________
Pat Murphy

I'm a micro manufacturer and on-line seller of Trail Camera Mounts and Accessories.
Please visit my store.
Details & Free Shipping: http://www.murphymetalart.com/trailcameramounts.html