Stealth Cam DS4K Transmit Cellular Trail Camera Review
The Stealth Cam DS4K Transmit balances some cool innovative features, decent picture quality, and a dual cell carrier modem with below average battery life and average detection capabilities. - TCP Staff
Model #STC-DS4KTM
Trailcampro Comprehensive Score:
74/100
Stealth Cam DS4K Transmit Review
Pros
- Solid image quality for a no glow Stealth Cam DS4K Transmit trail camera
- Works on both AT&T and Verizon towers
- Really innovative smartphone app setting to change black/white photos to color at night(see Quality of Design section of this review)
Cons
- Not the fastest detection circuit
- Below average battery life
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Photo resolution: 32mpxl (interpolated)
Flash Type: No glow IR
Daytime pictures appear to be solid and above average in contrast, color, and clarity. A few of the photos have been a touch out of focus but the vast majority of them have been clear. Night pictures display about the amount of flash range that one should expect from a no glow camera (fairly limited). This camera would do best in an area that has trees or something in front of the camera to bounce the light off and illuminate the photos. The DS4K Transmit does seem to stop motion really well at night. Check out the sample photos below to see photos from our field cameras.
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Night IR Blur Test The equipment for the test consists of a target moving along a track from left to right at a constant speed controlled by a stepper motor and a sensor to trigger the capture of a picture near the center of the field of view of a trail camera. The target is moving at 1.25 feet per second and is 10 feet from the camera at the center of field of view. The test is conducted in a dark room. Two pictures are taken, one with the target not moving and one with the target in motion. A visual comparison can now be made of the two pictures. All settings that affect the quality of night photos will be tested. |
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Progressive W/ Motion |
Progressive No Motion |
Progressive W/ Motion |
Progressive No Motion |
Standard W/ Motion |
Standard No Motion |
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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 Stealth Cam DS4K Transmit trail 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): 0.8 mW
Picture Daytime/Nighttime Power Consumption: 84.8 Ws | 85.6 Ws
If this camera took 15-day pictures and 15-night pictures every 24 hours, it would last 2.5 months on a set of lithium batteries.
Picture Trigger & Recovery Speed: 0.52 s. | 63.3
Detection Range & Angle: 60 ft. @ 47.3° detection angle (37.6° field of view)
The trigger speed is average and he recovery time is on the slow side. The detection range is 80 ft., which is great, but the detection angle is significantly wider than the field of view. You can expect a few false triggers from that. Overall, the detection circuit leaves something to be desired but would work fairly well on food plots or bait stations.
Dimensions: 5.5" x 4" x 4"
Battery Type: 12 AA (we recommend Lithium)
External Battery Jack: 12-volt
Case Design
The first thing you will notice when holding the DS4K is the thickness. It is a bit thicker than other cellular cameras but the face of the camera is a relatively average size. The large oversized latch opens and closes easily, revealing a small LCD setup screen and a battery tray that requires 12 AA batteries (we only recommend lithium).
Once on, there are a series of lights that will blink green until the camera is fully connected. You will find that you can't turn on the menu screen until all the lights have completed their set up. The set up options are fairly limited but easy to navigate.
On the back of the camera is a mount for a python cable lock and a slate river threaded insert can be found on the bottom of the camera. Overall, case design is solid but not a real stand out.
The Stealth Cam DS4K Transmit has a cool and interesting setting that converts the night photos, which are black and white, into color photos. This has worked really well for wildlife but not something we would trust the color to be accurate on. We have tried in different mediums and the color "guesses" are inconsistent and not entirely accurate (for cars, shirts, etc.). Here is an example of wildlife color swaps:
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Camera Setup
Cellular Setup
The DS4K Transit is capable of working on either Verizon or ATT towers. Included in the box is a sim card for each, just activate the sim card from the carrier you wish to use. There are no differences in price between the two.
- Insert SD card and Lithium batteries.
- Download Stealth Cam Command Pro app and create an account.
- Add a new device and simply scan the QR code that is under the battery tray.
- Choose your preferred data plan. Insert SD card (carefully, it is fairly hard to insert).
- Turn the camera on, wait for all 3 green lights to appear and then go off. If there is an error, make sure you put the sim card in correctly (we did not the first few times)
Data Plans
| Monthly Plans | Annual Plans | Elite Hunter Plan Features |
| $5 - 600 photos* (50 mb) | $4 - 600 photos* (50 mb) | $5 per month |
| $10 - 2000 photos* (100 mb) | $8 - 2000 photos* (100 mb) | Automatic filtering of bucks, does, hogs and turkeys |
| $20 - Unlimited photos | $15 - Unlimited photos | 2- year cloud storage |
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$50 - Bundle Pro
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$40 - Bundle Pro
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Security monitoring sends notifications in the event of attempted camera activation on an unauthorized account |
| Request HD Photos | 5 cents each | 1080p |
Durability
Our initial shipment of Stealth DS4K cameras were all completely defective. The sim card numbers did not match up with the ICCID/IMEI number (s) from the camera. Luckily, we never sold any of these and we sent them back to Stealth Cam immediately. Thus, our current inventory does not contain any of those issues. However, it would not surprise us if a bunch of those cameras made it into consumer hands via other retailers.
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.
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: Trail Camera
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.
All test results are achieved through the use of proprietary equipment used exclusively by Trailcampro. Any re-publication of this data without prior written consent is strictly prohibited by law. COPYRIGHT TRAILCAMPRO, L.L.C. 2023, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.Â
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