Spartan Ghost Cam 4G Review
The Spartan Ghost is a 4G/LTE Verizon cellular trail camera. The Ghost takes excellent pictures and has impressive battery life (5.5 months). The detection circuit is well below average making this a good bait station or feeder camera trap but an ineffective camera for a fast-moving setup (i.e. game trail). - TCP Staff
Model #GC-G4GB | Ghost 4G Owner's Manual
Trailcampro Comprehensive Score:
79/100
Spartan Ghost Cam Cellular Trail Camera Review
Pros
- Excellent picture quality
- Great battery life for a cellular camera
- Has an internal rechargeable battery for extra battery life
Cons
- Poor detection circuit
The Spartan Ghost Trail Camera (Verizon) uses a 4G/LTE Quectel EC25-V module that allows this camera to operate on Verizon 4G/LTE towers.
Photo resolution: 8 mpxl
Flash Type: No Glow IR
Day pictures are really good as the pictures have solid clarity, good color, and overall depth on each image. Night pictures appear to have exceptional flash range, are even throughout the image, and offer solid contrast. We consider picture quality to be excellent on the GC-G4GB Spartan Ghost Camera (Verizon).
What if you purchase from us and aren't happy with the image quality?
This is a common question and we have a very simple solution. Call, email, or chat with us and we can take a look at the images and offer suggestions or immediately tell if something is wrong with the camera. If so, we will warranty the camera for you (with the free 2-Year warranty you receive from us) or return the camera for a full refund (within 90 days of purchase). You have control of the process, remember, we work for you.
Megapixel Ratings:
In the past, many people get confused with the megapixel rating trail camera manufacturers advertise. Companies inflate the mpxl rating to attract eyes to their products. They do this through interpolation, which digitally adds megapixels to a photo without actually improving the picture.
The best way to judge picture quality is to look at actual pictures. You will notice this the most when you zoom in on a full-size image that a camera has taken. The details of the photo will appear hazy or even digitized. This is normal, and to be expected.
Picture & Video Resting Power (on): 0.76 mW
Picture Daytime/Nighttime Power Consumption: 30.74 Ws | 32.5 Ws
If this GC-G4GB Spartan Ghost trail camera took 15-day pictures and 15-night pictures every 24 hours, it would last 5.5 months on a set of lithium batteries. This is extremely good for a cell camera.
Picture Trigger & Recovery Speed: 1.33 s. | 46.8 s.
Detection Range & Angle: 70 ft. @ 32.3° Detection Angle (42.5° field of view)
Picture trigger speed is very poor but the recovery time is relatively fast. The detection range is limited to 70 ft. and the detection angle is about 10° narrower than the field of view. Overall, this is a poor detection circuit.
Dimensions: 6" x 6" x 5"
Battery Type: 12 AA
External Battery Jack: 12-volt
SD Card Size: Up to 32GB
Case Design
The case design is similar to other Spartan cellular models in both design and color. It does feel a touch more flimsy than the higher priced Spartan 4G, but overall, the case design is quite similar.
The camera's latch is oversized and easy to manipulate but the hinge to the camera has a bit of play in it, meaning it has a slight "wiggle' when opening. We do like that the Ghost has two threaded inserts (one on the back and one on the bottom) for a Slate River Mount. The Ghost also has a python bracket on the back of the camera.
The GC-G4GB Spartan Ghost Verizon trail camera has an internal battery that can be charged via a 12-volt external power source. We recommend doing this before putting the camera in the field as it will give your battery life a boost.
GPS Function
One of the cool features of the Spartan Ghost is the GPS function that allows you to track the camera or be notified of the camera being moved. You can read and learn about it here.
Camera Setup
Cellular Setup Instructions for a Spartan Ghost Verizon
Cellular setup on the Ghost is not the worst we have seen but certainly not the easiest. Having to toggle between the website and the app to get the camera running is neither intuitive nor efficient. The step-by-step instructions below are from Spartan. They are fairly accurate but make sure you go on spartancamera.com and buy the data before you get the registration code.
- Download the Spartan Camera Management App
- Click Register to create an account, or Login if you have an existing account
- Check your email and click the activation link
- Return to the app. Login, and click the + located in the upper left corner
- Either scan camera's MEID/IMEI barcode by tapping the icon on the right, or manually type the MEID/IMEI numbers
- You will then be prompted to purchase your data service. If you already purchased your data, please click yes
- Follow the instructions on the screen to locate your registration code for the camera. Input the code and click add
Durability
At this time, we do not have any durability concerns but will update this review if anything arises.
Keep in mind, our 2-year warranty program is your free insurance program in case something goes wrong with a camera you purchase from us. This warranty protects you from any manufacturing defect the camera might experience for two years.
The Spartan Ghost is a 4G/LTE Verizon cellular trail camera. The Ghost game trail camera takes excellent pictures and has impressive battery life (5.5 months). The detection circuit is well below average making this a good bait station or feeder camera trap but an ineffective camera for a fast-moving setup (i.e. game trail).
Since 2005, our mission has to been to provide consumers with unbeatable value, advice you can trust, and customer service that exceeds expectations. There are plenty of places you can choose to do business with, if we are lucky enough to earn your support, we promise to give you our undivided attention. Trailcampro has grown each year not only by relying on your happiness but on the assumption that if we blow you away with customer service, you will brag about us to your friends (have you seen our referral/reward program?).
As always, if you have additional questions, feel free to call, email or chat with us. We look forward to helping you find your next trail camera!
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FAQ's: Spartan Ghost Cam Trail Camera
Q: How do I view the pictures?
A: There are a number of ways to do this. Pictures/videos are stored on the SD card you place in the camera. Here are some other methods for viewing images:
- View pictures on your computer. Plug the SD card in a desktop computer or laptop via the built-in SD card reader or use a USB reader if your computer doesn't have one. This method works for most tablets as well. With this method, we recommend having two SD cards per camera so you can swap them in the field.
- Trail Camera Viewers. While more expensive, handheld viewers are useful if you don't have a smartphone or run multiple trail cameras.
Q: Will this trail camera trigger on small animals (birds, rodents, etc.)?
A: Trail cameras detect on a combination of heat and movement, so, yes, small mammals will trigger the camera. However, if you are going after smaller warm-blooded mammals, we recommend getting the camera closer to your target. For best performance, place the camera in an area that would enable picture detection from 3 - 20 ft.
Q: Can animals see the infrared flash on this camera?
A: This is somewhat controversial. Humans can't see the flash as the nanometer spectrum is above what the human eye can detect. It's also much harder for an animal to see, but that could depend on the species of animal as different species see in different light spectrums.
Q: Where can I purchase this camera?
A: From us! We hope to woo you with our incredible charm, two-year warranty, 90-day returns, free continental U.S. shipping, and technical expertise.
Seriously, though, we know you have plenty of options of where to spend your hard-earned money. The internet can be the wild, wild, west of too-good-to-be-true deals. If you choose to do business with us, we will go out of our way to make sure you are happy with the camera you select and the service we provide you.
We are passionate about testing and reviewing trail cameras, but most importantly, we are passionate about treating our customers the right way. We do things differently from what you have come to expect from other internet retailers and we hope you give us the opportunity to prove that to you.
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