Bushnell 119588c Lightning Fire Trail Camera

Model#: 119588C 02-14

I N S T R U C T I O N M A N U A L

Lightning Fire Trail Camera

119588C Lightning Fire Trail Camera 1LIM_021814.indd 1 2/18/14 10:29 AM


Page Index

Introduction 5

Parts and Control Panel Guide 6-7

Battery and SD Card Installation 8-9

Using the Menu System 10-12

Parameters/Settings Reference 13-16

About the "Mode" Menu (Animal Activity Presets)

17

Time Lapse Operation 18-20

Setting the PIR Sensitivity Switch 20-21

Mounting and Positioning the Camera 21-23

Viewing and Deleting the Photos/Videos 24-25

More About Downloading 26

Troubleshooting/FAQ 27-31

Technical Specifications 32

Warranty 33


4

IMPORTANT NOTE

Congratulations on your purchase of one of the best trail cameras on the market! Bushnell® is very proud of this camera and we are sure you will be pleased with it as well. We appreciate your business and want to earn your trust. Please refer to the notes below and the instructions in this manual to ensure that you are completely satisfied with this product.

If your Bushnell Lightning Fire 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 27-31. 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 Bushnell Customer Service at (800) 423-3537. In Canada, call (800) 361-5702.

Bushnell recommends using Energizer® Lithium AA batteries in the Lightning Fire Trail Camera to obtain maximum battery life

Do not mix old and new batteriesDo not mix battery types-use ALL lithium or ALL alkaline

Bushnell recommends using SanDisk® SD and SDHC Cards (up to 32GB capacity, Ultra® or Extreme® series for Hi Res video)

in the Bushnell Lightning Fire Trail Camera


5

INTRODUCTIONAbout the Bushnell ®Lightning Fire® Trail Camera

The Bushnell Lightning Fire Trail Camera is a digital scouting camera. It can be triggered by any movement of game in a location, detected by a highly sensitive Passive Infra-Red (PIR) motion sensor, and then take high quality photos (up to 8MP), or video clips.

The Bushnell Lightning Fire Trail Camera consumes very little power (less than 0.2 mA) 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 AA alkaline batteries, and up to twelve months utilizing lithium AA batteries. Once motion in the monitored area is detected, the digital camera unit will be triggered at once (typically within one second) and then automatically take photos or videos according to previously programmed settings. The Bushnell Lightning Fire Trail Camera is equipped with built-in "black" infrared LEDs that function as a flash, so that it delivers clear photos (in black & white) even in the dark, and it can take color photos or videos under sufficient daylight. The Bushnell Lightning Fire Trail Camera is designed for outdoor use and is resistant against water and snow.

The Bushnell Lightning Fire Trail Camera has many outstanding features, including :

• Time Lapse (AM & PM)-The “time lapse” feature added in last year’s models has been enhanced with the addition of the option for a second block of recording with its own start/stop times. Trigger signals generated by nearby wildlife activity will still generate additional photos/videos as they normally would, independently of the Time Lapse operation.

• DVD Quality video resolution (720x408) with audio (daytime only)

• Widescreen (16:9) or standard (4:3) format videos and photos

• Imprints images with user or camera name, temperature, moon phase,

• Date and time imprint

Applications

The Bushnell Lightning Fire Trail Camera can be used as a trail camera for hunting or scouting game. It is also suitable for surveillance usage.


6

PARTS AND CONTROL PANEL GUIDEA powerful but logical series of onscreen menus is navigated via 4-way arrow keys and an "OK" button (next page), allowing you to quickly set the camera's options to suit your personal requirements and preferences.

LEFT SIDE (USB & SD)

INSIDE VIEW (CONTROL PANEL and BATTERIES)

Power Switch

PIR Sensitivity Selector

Up/Down &Left/Right

Arrow Keys

Setup Button

OK Button

Battery Compartment

USB PortSD Card Slot


7

LED IR Flash

PIR Indicator

Lens

Lock Hole

PIR Sensor

FRONT VIEW

Latch

Light Sensor

Video Mic


8

INSTALLING THE BATTERIES AND SD CARD

Before you begin learning how to use your Bushnell Lightning Fire Trail Camera, you will first 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

After opening the two latches on the right side of the Bushnell Lightning Fire Trail Camera, you will see eight slots for the required AA batteries below the control panel and display.

Bushnell recommends using lithium AA (Energizer® brand) or alkaline AA batteries. NiMh Rechargeable batteries are not recommended, as the lower voltage they produce can cause operational issues.

Install the batteries, making sure to observe the polarity marks inside the battery compartment (negative or “flat” end of the battery against the long silver contact tab of its battery slot). Keep the fabric strip below the first row of batteries, so it can be used to help remove them later.

Inserting the SD Card

An SD Card (not included) is required for using the Bushnell Lightning Fire Trail Camera, as there is no internal memory. Insert the SD card (with the camera’s power switch in the OFF position) before beginning to operate the camera. Don’t insert or remove the SD card when the power switch is in the ON position.

The Bushnell Lightning Fire Trail Camera uses a standard SD (Secure Digital) memory card to save photos (in .jpg format) and/or videos (in .avi format). SD and SDHC (High Capacity) cards up to a maximum 32GB capacity are supported. High speed SD cards are recommended if you will use the 720p video resolution setting. Before inserting the SD card into the card slot after opening the camera’s front cover, please make sure that


9

the write-protect switch on the side of the card is “off” (NOT in the “Lock” position). The following describes how to insert and remove the SD card:

• Insert the SD card into the card slot with its label side upwards (see below). A “click” sound indicates that the card is installed successfully. 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 installed correctly, the device will not display an SD card icon on the LCD in SETUP mode (the SD card icon displayed after switching to SETUP mode will have a “lock” symbol inside it in it if the card is locked). Formatting the SD card by using the Bushnell Lightning Fire Trail Camera’s formatting parameter in the "Advanced Setting" menu before using it for the first time is recommended, especially when a card has been used in other devices (see pg. 23, “Format” for details).

• To take out the SD card, just gently push in the card (do not try to pull it out without pushing in first). The card is released from the slot and ready to be removed when you hear the click.

Once you’ve installed batteries and an SD card, you could simply take your Bushnell Lightning Fire Trail Camera outside, strap it to a tree, switch it on and leave-and you might get some great photos that are exactly what you wanted. However, we highly recommend that you first spend some additional time indoors with this manual and your camera until you know a bit more about its features, capabilities, and how to access them. If nothing else, you’ll probably want to at least set the date and time so the camera will imprint them correctly on your photos as they are taken, learn how to set the camera to shoot video clips instead of still photos if you like, and read some tips about mounting it on a tree.

WARNING: Be sure the camera’s power is switched OFF before inserting or removing SD cards or batteries.


10

USING THE MENU SYSTEM

The Bushnell Lightning Fire Trail Camera operating system is organized into five different menus (groups of parameters or options shown on the LCD display) which enable you to change the camera's various settings to suit your preferences (based on where you will place the camera, intended subject you wish to capture, etc.) or simply check the camera's operational status to make sure it will work properly.

Let's dive in and look at the first menu, "Camera Status", which provides three simple status checks: 1. Slide the Power Switch up to the ON position. After displaying

"Bushnell TrailCam", followed by the date and time, the camera will briefly verify the current battery power level and available SD card memory ("Reading Disc"). If you did not insert a card, the display will indicate "No SD Card" and the camera cannot be used.

2. Once the display reads "Camera Status", press OK to enter the Camera Status menu.

3. The display now shows the total number of photos ("Img") and/or videos ("Mov") that the camera has captured and stored on the SD card (which will be 000 if you are setting up the camera for the first time).

4. Press the RIGHT arrow key to check the current battery power level percentage.

5. Press the RIGHT arrow key again, and the display will show the remaining percentage of storage space available on the SD card ("FreeDisk ___%").

6. Press the RIGHT arrow key-you are now back at "Img:/Mov:" again as there are only 3 options in the Camera Status menu.

7. To exit the Camera Status menu, press the SETUP button (next to the arrow keypad).

When the display shows the title of a menu (Camera Status, etc.) you can enter that menu by pressing the OK button, or you can switch to another menu group by pressing the RIGHT or LEFT arrow keys. Try selecting another menu now:1. When "Camera Status" is shown on the display, press the RIGHT

arrow key.


11

2. You will see the name of the next menu group, "Basic Setting". Let's enter this menu and try changing a setting (the Camera Status menu had no user settings to make, it just monitors battery and card status).

3. Press OK, and the display shows the first Basic Setting option, "Set Date".

4. Press OK to confirm you want to change the settings. 5. You can now use the UP or DOWN arrow keys to change the month,

day or year (hold the key down to change the setting rapidly). Press the LEFT or RIGHT arrow key to select which one of those fields you want to set.

6. When finished setting the date, press the OK button.7. To go to the next option in the Basic Setting menu, press the RIGHT

arrow key.

Press OK and use the arrow keys as you did for Date above to set the Time, then press OK again once you have set it. Press the RIGHT arrow key to view the next option in the Basic Setting menu (Set Delay). For now, don't change this from the factory default setting of 10 seconds. 1. Press the RIGHT arrow key again, then OK. The "Cap Mode"

parameter allows you to select "Img" if you want to capture still photos, or "Mov" for videos (Videos are daytime only-at night in Mov mode, a rapid sequence of 10 photos per trigger is captured).

2. Press the LEFT or RIGHT arrow key so your preference is highlighted (blinking), then press OK to confirm (lock in) the setting.

3. Press SETUP to exit the Basic Setting menu. Hopefully at this point you are becoming familiar with how the arrow keys and OK button are used to navigate the menu system and make changes to the settings of the many options and features. The tables on the next few pages list all of the parameters found in each menu, their settings (or range) as shown on the display, and a brief description of their function and operation.

If you want to take some time now exploring the Bushnell Lightning Fire Trail Camera's menus and practice changing settings, no need to worry that you might "mess up" the camera.


12

You can restore the original factory settings of all parameters in all menus by following this process:1. Make sure you have exited all menus by pressing the SETUP button.2. Press the LEFT or RIGHT arrow key until you see "Advanced Setting".3. Press OK to enter the Advanced Setting menu.4. Press the LEFT or RIGHT arrow key until you see the "Default

Setting" option, then press OK.5. Press the LEFT arrow key so that "Yes" is blinking, then press OK to

confirm. The display will indicate "Finished". 6. Press OK, then SETUP to exit the Advanced Setting menu. All parameters/options have now been reset to their original defaults (you will need to set the date and time again). These defaults are a good starting point and represent the most common or popular settings for the camera.

However, you may know you want to use your camera in a particular way, or discover after gaining some experience after using it for awhile that you would prefer the camera to capture fewer (or more) images at longer (or shorter) intervals. Maybe you want to try out the Time Lapse feature.

Once you know your way around the menus, pressing a few buttons on the control panel will let you do all that and more!


13

Parameter Settings (Bold=default)

Description

CAMERA STATUS MENUImg:Mov:

none(0000-9999 displayed)

Displays # of photos (Img) and/or videos (Mov) that have been captured by the camera.

Battery % none Displays battery power level (0-100%)

Free Disk % none Displays remaining free storage space on inserted SD card (0-100%)

BASIC SETTING MENUSet Date Month/Day/Year

(see pg. 15 for imprint example)

Use Up/Down arrow keys to set current date (Left/Right arrow keys select Month/Day/Year field)

Set Time Hour : Minute Use Up/Down arrow keys to set current time (Left/Right arrow keys select Hr or Min)

Set Delay Range=0-10 Minutes : 0-59 SecondsDefault=00:10 sec

Sets delay time (min:sec format) between accepted PIR trigger signals to control frequency of image capture (Left/Right arrow keys select Min or Sec)

Cap Mode Img, Mov Select "Img" to capture still photos, "Mov" for videos*

Img Size 3M, 5M, 8M Sets resolution of still photos in megapixels. Higher resolution produces better quality photos, but creates larger files that take up greater % of disk (SD card) space (has no effect when Cap Mode=Mov)

Img Ratio 4:3, 16:9 Sets standard (4:3) or widescreen (16:9) ratio (format) for photos and videos

Parameters/Settings Reference for All Menus

* Videos are daytime only-at night in Mov mode, a rapid sequence of 10 photos per trigger is captured


14


Description

BASIC SETTING MENU (continued)Img Num Range: 1 to 10

(Default=1)Sets number of images captured per PIR trigger signal. The photo # will be imprinted on each photo in a sequence (e.g., with Img Num set to "3", "2/3" indicates the second photo in each series of three taken per trigger)

Mov Size 640, 720 Selects high or low resolution for videos: 640x480 or 720x408 pixels per frame (@25 fps) (has no effect when Cap Mode=Img)

Mov Time Range: 5-60 seconds(Default=15 sec)

Sets length per video clip (has no effect when Cap Mode=Img)

MODE MENU (Animal Activity Presets)Basic (Default) No special settings-for general

purpose operation covering a wide variety of animal behavior

Feeder For animals within a smaller area, moving less, nearer to camera. A sequence of 5 photos are captured per PIR trigger, with a 5 second delay between photos.

Stand

For animals scattered over a wider area, moving more frequently, at farther distances from camera. A rapid sequence ("lightning fire") of 10 photos are captured per PIR trigger.

Travel For animals moving in linear path at medium distances. A rapid sequence ("lightning fire") of 5 photos are captured per PIR trigger.



15


Description

ADVANCE SETTING MENUTime Lps On / Off Select "On" and press OK button to

activate time lapse operation. See "Time Lapse Operation" on pg. 17

Interval(Only If Time

Lps=On)

Range: 1-60 minutes(default=10 min)

Determines how often a new photo or video is recorded within the block of time defined by Start/End settings.

Start AM(Only If Time

Lps=On)

Hour : Minute (default=6:00) (6 AM)

Sets time that 1st (morning) block of time lapse recording begins.

End AM(Only If Time

Lps=On)

Hour : Minute (default=8:00) (8 AM)

Sets time that 1st (morning) block of time lapse recording stops.

Start PM(Only If Time

Lps=On)

Hour : Minute (default=17:00) (5 PM)

Sets time that 2nd (evening) block of time lapse recording begins.

End PM(Only If Time

Lps=On

Hour : Minute (default=19:00) (7 PM)

Sets time that 2nd (evening) block of time lapse recording stops.

User Name none (select letter or number for each character)

Press OK button and enter name for user or camera using arrow keys. This will be imprinted on all photos, along with the date, time, moon phase and temperature. See example below.


User Name

Temperature

Moon Phase

Date Time

Photo # in a series (see "Img Num")

(as set in Basic Setting menu)


16


Description

ADVANCE SETTING MENU (continued)Format SD Card

Confirm?>Yes / No Press OK button. Select Yes and press OK again to format SD card (delete all files). The display will indicate "Waiting", follwed soon after by "Finished when formatting is complete. BE SURE ANY FILES YOU WANT TO KEEP HAVE BEEN DOWNLOADED/BACKED UP ON YOUR PC BEFORE FORMATTING THE SD CARD !!

Default Setting

Yes / No Select Yes and press OK button to restore all menu settings to original factory default values

Firmware Ver none Press OK button to display current firmware (operating software) version for diagnostic/customer service reference

PIR TEST MODEPIR TEST none Press OK button. PIR indicator light

on front of camera flashes when PIR trigger is generated. Use to test PIR sensor coverage area after mounting camera.



17

ABOUT THE "MODE" MENU (Animal Activity Presets) A special menu, shown on the display as "Mode Basic" is located between the Basic and Advanced Setting menus. This simple menu is really just a single parameter with four available settings, one of which is the default "Basic". After pressing OK when "Mode Basic" is displayed, you can select any of the other settings (Feeder, Stand or Travel) by pressing the UP or DOWN arrow keys.

These settings are essentially "presets" that adjust multiple parameters to generate a series of photos (with or without a delay between the images), designed to help better cover some common types of game activity. The default "Basic" setting (what you get if you don't press OK and use the arrow keys to select a different mode) applies no special settings, so the camera's operation is based entirely on your current settings of the various basic and advanced parameters. Here is a description of the function of the other available Mode settings:

Mode Preset Name

Size of Area

Type of Animal Motion

Photo Sequence Settings

Feeder Small Less frequent, close to camera

A sequence of 5 photos are captured per PIR trigger, with a 5 second delay between each.

Stand Wide More frequent, farther from camera

A rapid sequence ("lightning fire") of 10 photos are captured per PIR trigger.

Travel Narrow Band

Parallel to camera, medium distance

A rapid sequence ("lightning fire") of 5 photos are captured per PIR trigger.


18

TIME LAPSE OPERATION

Time Lapse is a powerful feature which allows you to more effectively monitor a large or distant area. With the "Time Lps" option set to “On”, the Bushnell Lightning Fire Trail Camera will take a photo (or record a video clip) automatically at your choice of intervals (for example, once every five minutes) during two blocks of time (AM & PM) you define for each day, without requiring a trigger from an active animal. This has the advantage of giving you the ability to monitor the edge of an area that might be 75 or 150 yards away from the camera- out of the PIR sensor’s range. The result is an effective range much greater than it would normally be, with the camera dependant on triggers generated by nearby animals. This is a great tool for covering a larger area with only one camera.

If an animal does enter the area covered by the PIR sensor and generates a trigger event during a time in between the Time Lapse intervals you set, the camera will capture an image or video just as it normally would, based on your other menu settings. Here’s how to setup and use Time Lapse:

1. Be sure you’ve set the current time in “Set Time” (Basic Setup menu) first, so your Time Lapse recording will stop and start at the correct times of day.

2. Enter the Advance Setting menu, and scroll to the "Time Lps" parameter. Press OK to select it.

3. Select "On" (press Left arrow key so it blinks, then press OK). A series of additional parameters that are only available when Time Lapse mode is turned on are now available on the display. The first of these is "Interval".

4. The Interval parameter determines how often a new photo (or video if you set Cap Mode to "Mov") is recorded during the AM and PM blocks of time*. The default is once every 10 minutes, but you can set it to any value from 1 minute up to 60 minutes. Set the Interval to your preference (or leave it on the 10 min. default value) and press OK. Note that for videos, "Interval" is independent of the length of each video recording (which is set by the "Mov Time" parameter)-it’s how often videos are recorded, not how long each one

* Videos are daytime only-at night in Mov mode, a rapid sequence of 10 photos per trigger is captured


19

lasts.5. "Start AM" is displayed next. Set this to the time you want your

morning block of time lapse recording to begin, then press OK. The default is 6:00 (6 AM local time). A wide range of time is available-the AM start (or end) time can be set anywhere from 00:01 (one minute after midnight) to 11:59 (one minute before noon).

6. "End AM" is displayed next. Set this to the time you want your morning block of time lapse recording to stop, then press OK. The default is 8:00 (8 AM local time). You don't need to worry about accidently setting an end time that is before the start time-the camera will not allow that.

7. "Start PM" is displayed next. Set this to the time you want your afternoon or evening block of time lapse recording to begin, then press OK. The default is 17:00 (5 PM local time).

8. "End PM" is displayed next. Set this to the time you want your afternoon or evening block of time lapse recording to stop, then press OK. The default is 19:00 (7 PM local time).

9. The display should now be back at the "Time Lps" screen. From here you can press the RIGHT arrow key to exit the Time Lapse related settings and move on to the next parameter in the Advanced Setting menu ("User Name"), or keep pressing OK repeatedly if you want to review your time lapse settings (Interval and Start/End times). If you made an error or want to change any of the settings, simply use the UP/DOWN arrow keys to change the setting before pressing OK. Press SETUP at any time to exit the Advanced Setting menu group.

Let's say you decide to turn time lapse recording on, and have set the interval to 7 minutes, the AM start and end times to 5:30 and 8:30, and the PM start and end times to 5:00 and 7:00. Here's how the camera would operate based on those settings:

• Before 5:30 AM, the camera would operate normally, based entirely on the settings you've made in the Basic Setting menu. A photo or video is captured only when animal (or human) activity within the range of the PIR sensor triggers the camera.

• Starting at 5:30 AM, the camera switches to time lapse operation, and a photo or video (which one still depends on your Cap Mode


20

setting in the Basic menu) will be taken once every seven minutes until the first time lapse block ends at 8:30 AM.

• Between 8:30 AM (end of the first time lapse block) and 5:00 PM (start of the second block), the camera returns to normal operation, with no images captured unless the camera is triggered by nearby activity.

• From 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM, the camera operates in time lapse mode again, with a new photo or video captured every seven minutes.

• From 7:00 PM until 5:30 AM the next day, the camera returns to normal operation.

Remember, Time Lapse recording is independent of normal triggers due to animal activity–even if no animals enter the IR sensor coverage zone, an image or video will still be captured every 7 minutes during the block(s) of time. Note: Time Lapse settings of frequent intervals and/or long periods between start and stop time can reduce battery life.

CAUTION: When using Time Lapse in video mode, do not set an Interval time of less than 5 minutes (especially with Mov Time settings longer than 10-15 seconds), to avoid potential overheating of the batteries and electronic components, which could cause operational failure or damage to the camera.

If an animal triggers the camera “in between” the 7 minute intervals, it will be recorded, same as it would if you had setup the camera with Time Lapse turned Off. In other words, the time lapse generated images are captured in addition to, not instead of, normally triggered images. Time Lapse is a great way to discover what's going on in an area beyond the limit of the zone covered by the PIR sensor (at edges of a large field, for example).

SETTING THE PIR SENSITIVITY SWITCHThe slide switch to the left of the power switch on the control panel with H/M/L positions allows you to set how sensitive the PIR (passive infra-red) sensor is to the heat produced by a live animal. The hotter the air temperature is, the more difficulty the camera will have detecting an


21

animal as it does not "stand out" as much from the surrounding warm environment. The opposite problem can happen in cold weather, with the camera capturing images too often, triggered by anything even slightly warmer than the frigid air.

These temperature related problems can be minimized by setting the PIR sensor sensitivity switch to "H" (high sensitivity) when the camera will be operating in a hot environment. This will make the camera more sensitive to even slight differences in temperature between a live animal and the warm air it is moving through. The opposite applies also-in cold weather, set the switch to "L" (low sensitivity) to reduce false or too frequent triggers when it beomes much easier for the camera to detect warm, live subjects against the cool background environment. If the air temperature is expected to be moderate, or change from one extreme to the other during the time you will leave the camera unattended, set the switch to "M" (medium) sensitivity.

MOUNTING AND POSITIONING THE CAMERA

Mounting

After you’ve set up the camera’s parameters to your personal preferences at home or in your truck, you’re ready to take it outside and slide the power switch to “ON”. When setting up the Bushnell Lightning Fire 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 Bushnell Lightning Fire Trail Camera on a sturdy tree with a diameter of about 6 in. (15cm). To get the optimal picture quality, the tree should be about 16-17 ft. (5 meters) away from the place to be monitored, with the camera placed at a height of 5-6.5 ft. (1.5~2 m). Also, keep in mind that you will get the best results at night when the subject is within the ideal flash range, no farther than 45’ (14m) and no closer than 10’ (3m) from the camera.

There are two ways to mount the Bushnell Lightning Fire Trail Camera: 1) Using the adjustable web belt: the photo on the next page illustrates using the web belt with the Bushnell Lightning Fire Trail


22

Camera. Push one end of the belt through the two brackets on the back of the Bushnell Lightning Fire Trail Camera. Thread one plastic buckle part onto each end of the belt. Fasten the belt securely around the tree trunk by clicking the buckle ends together after tightening the belt so there is no slack left.2) Using the tripod socket: The camera is equipped with a socket on the back (see photo) to attach the optional Deluxe Tree Bracket (Model# 119652C) or other mounting accessories with a standard1/4-20 thread.

Sensing Angle and Distance Test

To test whether the Bushnell Lightning Fire Trail Camera can effectively monitor the area you choose, this test is recommended to check the sensing angle and monitoring distance of the Bushnell Lightning Fire Trail Camera. To perform the test:

• Move the power switch to the ON position. Once the display changes to "Camera Status", press the LEFT arrow key once. Press the OK button to enter the PIR Test Mode.

• 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 red PIR indicator LED light (below the lens, on the right) flashes when you move, it indicates that position can be sensed. If it does not flash, that position is outside of the sensing area. Adjust


23

the camera's placement if necessary to ensure it covers the area you have in mind.

• When you're done with the PIR test, press SETUP to exit PIR Test Mode. Leave the power switch in the ON position if you're ready to leave the area and let the camera begin capturing images.

The results of your testing will help you find the best placement when mounting and aiming the Bushnell Lightning Fire Trail Camera. The 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 or brush (especially on windy days).

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. The average sensing distance is about 45 ft.

Switching ON the Camera

About 60 seconds after you switch the camera to ON, and after the last control button was pressed (OK, arrow keys, Setup), the red PIR indicator light will blink rapidly several times. This gives you time to close and lock the front cover of the Bushnell Lightning Fire Trail Camera and then walk away. After the PIR indicator stops blinking, the PIR is active, and any motion that is detected by it will trigger the capture of photos or videos as programmed in the SETUP Menu. Be sure you are familiar with the parameters in the Basic Setup menu (as well as the Time Lapse parameters if you are using that feature), and have set them to your preferences. Before leaving the camera unattended, please check for the following (the Camera Status menu allows you to check battery level and SD card space):

• Are the batteries inserted/connected with correct polarity and is the power level is sufficient?

• Does the SD card have sufficient available space and is its write-protection (lock) switch in the off (unlocked) position?

• Is the Power switch in the ON position?


24

VIEWING AND DELETING THE PHOTOS/VIDEOS

After you have setup, mounted and activated your Bushnell Lightning Fire Trail Camera, you will of course be eager to return later and review the images it has captured for you. There are several different ways this can be done.

Reviewing Images Directly From the SD Card

This is the most popular method of viewing images. Since unmounting the camera and taking it to your computer isn’t very convenient, you may find it easier to just take the card out. By removing the SD card (swapping it for a new empty card if you like) and taking it to your home or campsite to view the images by using an SD card “reader” (user supplied) connected to your computer (some computers and TVs have a built in SD card slot), you can leave the camera on the tree, ready to capture more images. Once connected, the card reader works the same way as described below-please read that section if you have any problem finding your files.

Reviewing Images by Connecting the Camera to a Computer

You can always unmount the entire camera from the tree and connect its USB port to a computer-it will be recognized as a “removable disk”, without the need to install any drivers or software. When using a PC or Mac to view the files captured by the Bushnell Lightning Fire Trail Camera, make sure the power switch is in the ON position, then connect the camera to the computer with the supplied USB cable. The camera's display will indicate "PC Connect", and the SD card in the camera's slot will appear on your computer desktop or list of connected drives/external devides. Use the software bundled with your computer (Windows Media Viewer, QuickTime, etc.) or your choice of compatible commercial software to view the photos and/or videos saved on the SD card in folders named "100MEDIA", "101MEDIA", etc. (a new folder is created each time the camera is switch from OFF to ON). Through the file format suffix you can distinguish whether the file is a still photo (with suffix .JPG) or a video (with suffix .AVI). If your computer does not have compatible software already installed, a wide selection of freeware or shareware software apps


25

that allow you to view and edit JPG photos and AVI videos is available on the internet.

The Bushnell Lightning Fire Trail Camera supports 3 kinds of file system formats, FAT12, FAT16, and FAT32. The default value is FAT16 to save photos and videos. Here are some related notes:

• You don’t need to be concerned about the file system format of the Bushnell Lightning Fire Trail Camera unless your equipment has problems reading the SD card. If this happens, please format the SD card with the Bushnell Lightning Fire Trail Camera or in your computer first and then insert the card into your Bushnell Lightning Fire Trail Camera and try again.

• The default file system format of the Bushnell Lightning Fire Trail Camera is FAT16, which most computers can read. If you format an SD card for the Bushnell Lightning Fire Trail Camera in your computer, you should choose the file system format FAT16. Normally FAT16 is recommended unless you have another image viewer that uses FAT12 or FAT32 format.

Deleting Photos or Videos• All photos and videos may be deleted by using the "Format SD

Card" parameter, so you can use the full capacity of the card again after you have downloaded the files to your PC.

NOTE: after formatting the card, the deleted files can’t be restored!

Be sure to download/back up any images you wish to keep before using the Format parameter on the Bushnell Lightning Fire Trail Camera.


26

MORE ABOUT DOWNLOADING

To download your photos/videos to a PC or Mac, first make sure the Bushnell Lightning Fire Trail Camera power switch is in the ON position. Connect the supplied cable to the camera’s USB port, then directly to a main USB port on your computer-do not use front panel/keyboard USB ports or unpowered “hubs”.

The Bushnell Lightning Fire Trail Camera will be recognized as a standard “USB Mass Storage” device (this may take several seconds the first time you connect it). If you would rather leave your camera in the woods and just pull its SD card out, an SD card reader works the same way as described in this section once the card is inserted and the reader is connected to your computer.

With Windows XP or later, you can then simply use the options in the pop-up window to copy, view, or print your photos (right).

On all Windows OS, the Bushnell Lightning Fire Trail Camera will also be listed as a “Removable Disk” if you open the “My Computer” window (on Macs, an icon will appear on your desktop). The Bushnell Lightning Fire Trail Camera’s photo files are located in the “1xxMEDIA” folder on this “Removable Disk”. Video file names will end with “.AVI”. You may copy the photos/videos to your hard drive as you would any file-just copy/paste or drag the file names or icons to your drive or desktop.

After the photos are copied to your hard drive, you can disconnect the Bushnell Lightning Fire Trail Camera. (On Mac computers, drag the “disk” that appeared on your desktop when the camera was connected into your Trash to “eject” it before disconnecting.) The standard .JPG (jpeg) format photo files from the Bushnell Lightning Fire Trail Camera may be viewed and edited with any photo software you choose to use. The .AVI video files may be viewed with the Windows Media Player or QuickTime (normally provided with most computers, or available as a free download).


27

Camera takes continuous images of no subjectA 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 of this issue. To remedy this situation:

1. Try moving the camera to an area that does not have any of these issues or try changing the sensor level on the menu settings.

2. If the camera continues to take images when there is no subject in them, try placing the camera in an inside environment and aiming at a location where there is no motion.

3. If the camera continues to show issues, then there is probably an electronic component issue. If this is the case, please contact our customer service to send the camera back for repair.

Battery life is shorter than expected1. Battery life will vary with operating temperature and the number

of images taken over time. Typically, the Bushnell Lightning Fire 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. Bushnell recommends using Energizer® Lithium AA batteries in your Bushnell Lightning Fire Trail Camera model to obtain maximum battery life.

3. Make sure that you are using a good quality name brand SD card in your camera. Bushnell recommends SanDisk® brand SD Cards up to 32GB (Ultra® or Extreme® series for HD video). Our experience indicates that poor quality SD cards can sometimes reduce your Bushnell Lightning Fire Trail Camera battery life.

TROUBLESHOOTING / FAQ


28

Camera stops taking images or won’t take images1. Please make sure that the SD card is not full. If the card is 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 camera power switch was left in the “ON”

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

Bushnell recommends SanDisk® SD Cards up to 32GB (Ultra® or Extreme® series for HD video) .

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 Bushnell Lightning Fire Trail Camera, you might want to try formatting the card using the “Format SD Card” parameter in the Advance Setting menu (make sure you have backed up any important files first, as formatting will erase all previous files). In some cases, other devices may change the formatting of the SD card so that it will not work properly with the Bushnell Lightning Fire Trail Camera.

Camera won’t power up1. Make sure that you have installed a full set of 8 batteries in the

battery compartment, starting with the lower row, filling battery spaces 1-4 with no “gaps” before adding another row of 4 batteries above it.

Bushnell recommends using 8 Energizer® Lithium AA batteries in your Bushnell Lightning Fire Trail Camera.

2. Make sure that the batteries are installed correctly, observing proper polarity. Always place the negative (flat) end of each battery in contact with the spring side of its slot inside the camera.



29

Still Photo and/or Video Quality Problems1. Night photos appear too dark

a. Check the battery indicator icon to see if battery power is full. The flash will stop operating near the end of the battery life. b. You will get the best results when the subject is within the ideal flash range, no farther than 55’ (16.8m) from the camera. Subjects may appear too dark at greater distances.c. Please note that when the "Img Num" parameter is set to capture a series of several photos with each trigger, or with very short Interval settings when time lapse mode is on, some images may appear darker than others due to the quick response and rapid retriggering of the camera, allowing less time for the flash to fully recharge before firing again.

2. Daytime photos or videos appear too darka. Make sure that the camera is not aimed at the sun or other light sources during the day, as this may cause the auto exposure to produce darker results.

3. Night photos appear too brighta. The subject may have been too close to the camera (less than10ft/3m).

4. Daytime photos or videos appear too brighta. Make sure that the camera is not aimed at the sun or other light sources during the day.

5. Photos with streaked subjecta. In some cases with low lighting conditions and fast moving subjects, the 5MP or 8MP resolution settings may not perform as well as the 3MP setting. b. If you have multiple images where fast moving subjects produce streaks on the photo, try the 3MP setting instead.

6. Red, green or blue color casta. Under certain lighting conditions, the sensor can become confused resulting in poor color images.b. If this is seen on a consistent basis, then the sensor may need servicing. Please contact Bushnell customer service.



30

7. Short video clips—not recording to the length seta. Check to make sure that the SD card is not full.b. Make sure that the camera has good batteries in it. Near the end of the battery life, the camera may choose to record shorter video clips to conserve power.

Date/Time imprinted data is incorrectMake sure that the Date and Time settings are correct (current) in the Basic Setting menu.

Photos Do Not Capture Subject of Interest1. Check the PIR sensitivity switch setting. For warm temperature

conditions, set the slide switch to "H" (High) and for cold weather use, set the switch to "L" (Low). For variable or moderate weather, use "M" (medium).

2. Try to set your camera up in an area where there is not a heat source in the camera’s line of sight.

3. In some cases, setting the camera near water will make the camera take images with no subject in them. Try aiming the camera over ground.

4. Try to avoid setting the camera up on small trees that are prone to being moved by strong winds.

5. Remove any limbs which are right in front of the camera lens.

PIR Sensor LED Flashes/Doesn’t Flash1. When the camera is in the “PIR Test” mode, the red PIR indicator LED

on the front of the camera will flash when it senses motion. This is for setup purposes only and will help the user aim the camera.

2. During use, the LED will not flash when the camera takes an image. This is to help keep the camera hidden from game.

Camera won’t retain settings Make sure that you have been saving the changes to any parameter

settings that you made while in Setup mode, by pressing “OK” after changing the setting. If you don’t save your new setting after changing it, the camera will continue to use the original default setting for that parameter.



31

Moisture or Ants Inside Camera1. To ensure humidity or rain is kept out of the camera, secure the DC

In plug firmly in place.2. Ants can be attracted by low level electronic vibrations, and enter

through any gaps between the exterior and interior of the camera. Make sure the DC In plug is securely attached.

Time Lapse (Time Lapse) not working properly1. Make sure that the AM (or PM) Start and End times are not set to

the same time (e.g., both AM times to 6:00 or both PM times to 18:00).2. When using Time Lapse in video mode, do not set an Interval time

of less than 5 minutes (especially with Mov Time settings longer than 10-15 seconds), to avoid potential overheating of the batteries and electronic components, which could cause operational failure or damage to the camera.

Difficulty removing the batteries If you made sure the blue fabric ribbon was placed underneath the

bottom row of batteries before they were installed, you should be able to pull on the ribbon to help remove those batteries later. If not, it may be helpful to use a small screwdriver or knife (carefully applied, with minimum pressure) to pry up one end of each battery to remove it.

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

Rechargeable batteries are not recommended.



32

Image Sensor 5 Megapixel Color CMOS

Maximum Image Size @ 8MP: 3200x2400 pixels (4:3)/3840x2160 pixels (16:9)

Lens F = 3.0; FOV=52°; Auto IR-Cut-Remove (at night)

IR-Flash Range up to 55 ft. (16.8 m)

Display Screen Monochrome LCD Display: 18x38mm

Memory Card SD or SDHC Card, Maximum capacity 32GB

Internal RAM n/a (no internal memory)

Picture Size8MP = 3200x2400 (4:3)/3840x2160 (16:9); 5MP = 2560x1920 (4:3)/3072x1728 (16:9); 3MP = 2048x1536 (4:3)/2304x1296 (16:9)

Video Size 640x480 or 720x408 pixels per frame @ 25 fps

PIR sensitivity 3 sensitivity settings: Low/Normal/High

Response Time 0.39 second

Triggering Interval 1 sec. - 10 min. programmable (default=10 sec.)

Photo Series 1— 10 images per trigger, programmable

Video Length 1-60 sec. programmable (default=15 sec.)

Power Supply 8x AA batteries (lithium or alkaline) required. Rechargeable batteries are not recommended.

Stand-by Current < 0.2mA (<7mAh/day)

Power Consumption <130mA (750mA-1.5A with IR flash firing)

Interface USB; SD card slot

Mounting Strap; ¼-20 attachment

Operating Temperature -20 - 50°C

Operating Humidity 5% - 90%

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS


Specifications and designs are subject to change without any notice or obligation on the part of the manufacturer.

Your Bushnell Lightning Fire Trail Camera is warranted to be free of defects in materials and workmanship for one year after the date of purchase. In the event of a defect under this warranty, we will, at our option, repair or replace the product, provided that you return the product postage prepaid. This warranty does not cover damages caused by misuse, improper handling, installation, or maintenance provided by someone other than a Bushnell Authorized Service Department.

Any return made under this warranty must be accompanied by the items listed below:

1. A check/money order in the amount of $10.00 to cover the cost of postage and handling

2. Name and address for product return3. An explanation of the defect4. Proof of Date Purchased5. Product should be well packed in a sturdy outside shipping carton,

to prevent damage in transit, with return postage prepaid to the address listed below:

IN U.S.A. Send To: IN CANADA Send To: Bushnell Outdoor Products Bushnell Outdoor ProductsAttn.: Repairs Attn.: Repairs9200 Cody 140 Great Gulf Drive, Unit # BOverland Park, Kansas 66214 Vaughan, Ontario L4K 5W5

This warranty gives you specific legal rights. You may have other rights which vary from country to country.

©2014 Bushnell Outdoor Products

ONE YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY


FCC COMPLIANCE STATEMENT:This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation.

Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.

This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:

· Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna. · Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver. · Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected. · Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

The device does not contain any user-serviceable parts. Repairs should only be made by an Authorized Bushnell repair center. Unauthorized repairs or modifications could result in permanent damage to the equipment, and will void your warranty and your authority to operate this device under Part 15 regulations.

The shielded interface cable which is provided must be used with the equipment in order to comply with the limits for a digital device pursuant to Subpart B of Part 15 of FCC Rules.



©2014 Bushnell Outdoor Products

For further questions or additional information please contact:

Bushnell Outdoor Products9200 Cody, Overland Park, Kansas 66214

(800) 423-3537 • www.bushnell.com


Documents

Bushnell 119588c Lightning Fire Trail Camera