With 5G cellular services just on the horizon, you may be asking yourself if you need a 5G game camera. In this guide, we’ll discuss what all the rage is with 5G and how it could make monitoring your deer feeders and game trails with a cellular game camera even better.
Unfortunately there are no 5G trail cameras currently available, but you can bet that once 5G capable cell towers and the infrastructure to power it all are in place; 5G will soon become the norm.
The following are what you can expect from 5G capable game cameras and how the increase in efficiency can best be used for remote monitoring.
What is a 5G trail camera?
5G stands for 5th Generation since it’s the fifth generation of mobile communications. You may be familiar with or currently using 4G LTE, which is the 4th Generation.
5G has the potential to be 20 times faster than 4G. This means you can download data 20 times as fast on a 5G network as you could on a 4G network. For cellular game cameras, this means you’ll be able to transmit data even easier in real time.
5G has a peak speed of 20 Gb/s while 4G can only transfer data at 1 Gb/s. Keep in mind these are peak transfer rates that would be hard to replicate in the real world, but even achieving half the 5G speed would still be a huge increase in the speed of data transfer.
Overall, 5G should significantly improve the bandwidth, capacity and reliability of cellular broadband far more than previous generational shifts.
Bushnell offers a great 4G LTE cellular game camera.
- Finally, a high-performance cellular trail camera family that’s easy on the wallet. The CelluCORE Cellular Trail Cameras are feature-rich and easy-to-use
- They connect, receive, and sort high-quality images faster and hold up with rugged reliability season after season. You’ll get clear day and night photos sent right to your devices, plus long battery life, and simple setup
- Verizon (V20) - Make setting changes through your phone. First 30 days FREE (a Dollar15 value!) No contracts – start and stop any time. Data plans starting at Dollar10 based on usage
- Works with OnX Hunt: Tracking and predicting Whitetail movements to create better hunts just got easier with Bushnell plus onX. Simply add your Bushnell cellular trail cams to your onX hunt account, and you’ve got all your images and info from every camera location in one app.
- Up to 6 Month Battery Life, 12 AA removable battery tray for easy change, Two-year limited warranty, Up to 32GB (card not included)
How 5G Cellular Game Cameras Could Revolutionize Remote Monitoring
5G offers improvements across the board to bandwidth, latency, and reliability. This means a platform that is easier to access remotely, transmit large amounts of data such as photos and video, and double or triple the data capabilities of your current trail camera setup.
Lower Latency
Latency is all about the responsiveness of the system. 5G uses new and so far rarely used radio millimeter bands in the 30 GHz to 300 GHz range. Current 4G networks operate on frequencies below 6GHz.
Low latency is one of 5G’s most important attributes, making the technology highly suitable for critical applications that require rapid responsiveness, such as remote vehicle control. This low latency can also make for viewing cellular game cameras even easier with the ability to change settings and features quickly.
Improved Range and Connectivity
Connectivity issues have always plagued 4G game cameras and 5G looks to improve upon those deficiencies. The radio bands that 5G uses offer a greater range and better connectivity for remote monitoring.
5G is also better suited for devices that use the Internet of Things (IOT) and increases the ability of these devices to work with each other. Not only will you be able to monitor game cameras on the most remote parts of your ranch, but your cameras will be able to link to each other easier as well for a more secure game camera setup.
Increased Battery Life and Overall Capability
Expect 5G to be more efficient in just about all aspects of onboard technology. From decreased processor usage to streamlined networking, 5G cellular game cameras will provide a platform with increased battery life and a reduction in wasted resources.
The overall capability of 5G game cameras exceeds 4G LTE by double and triple in just about every category. 5G will provide increased download speeds, greater bandwidth, reduced latency, and improved signal strength for remote monitoring.
When Can We Expect to See the First 5G Trail Cameras?
The first 5G cellular game cameras should be available in 2021. The 5G infrastructure is still in its infancy, but expanding rapidly. Cellular providers are using existing towers to install 5G antennas, so this cuts down on the need for new construction considerably.
It’s important to note that 5G isn’t being designed to replace 4G in its entirety. 5G is being implemented to supplement 4G and offer a better experience where available. It is possible 5G replaces 4G eventually, but don’t expect it to happen anytime soon.
What’s the best 4G LTE cellular game camera available in the meantime?
If you don’t want to wait for a 5G game camera, there are several 4G LTE game cams that are great at remote monitoring. The best that I’ve used is the Cuddelink 4G LTE Game Camera.
The CuddeLink Camera System was designed with the purpose of scalable monitoring. Because it’s capable of working with up to 16 cameras in unison, it can be customized to monitor even the largest hunting ranches or properties.
It starts with a “home” camera that acts as the central hub. It connects either through a wireless or cellular connection with other Cuddeback cameras placed within ½ mile of it and receives data from each device. The data from all cameras is then relayed from the home device through cellular connection to be viewed remotely.
Cameras can also be daisy chained together to cover wide expanses of property. A chain of cameras all working together can monitor areas of up to 4 miles wide. The Cuddelink is great choice for cellular monitoring until 5G cameras hit the market.
- Bundle Includes: Cuddeback CuddeLink Cell Trail Camera (Verizon), Cuddeback CuddeLink Wireless, 3rd Gen Sensor, Low-Glow IR LED Camera with Antenna, Strap and Mount, Cuddeback Super Solar Power Bank, Cuddeback Genius PTL Mount for Trail Cameras, 4-in-1 Card Reader with Micro USB, USB-A, Lightning & USB-C Ports, and 32GB Ultra UHS-I SDXC Memory Card
- Cell Mode 1: Cell Mode 1- the CuddeLink Cell exceeds the performance of other cellular trail cameras - LTE service, 1/4-second trigger speed, long battery life and 20MP images
- Cell Mode 2: Cell Mode 2 is where CuddeLink Cell crushes the competition
- Industry Leading Performance: The CuddeLink Cell features Cuddeback's best technology. Cuddeback's patented Power House technology uses super capacitors to store energy - allowing the camera to deliver 3 times the power to the LEDs. The result is more range, better image quality, and less motion blur
- Cuddelink Compatible: Remarkably, CuddeLink products are compatible with each other. You can create a network with a mix of G camera, J cameras, and Home products. Cameras automatically connect and send images from up to 23 Remote cameras to 1 Home camera. So instead of paying for multiple cell plans, you can have up to 24 cameras on 1 cell plan
Bottom Line
5G cellular connection is the future of wireless connectivity. The infrastructure is currently being built in the U.S. and it’s only a matter of time before the majority of electronic devices start using it; including game cameras.
5G is the 5th Generation of mobile communication and will someday replace the current 4G system. Manufacturers have not designed any 5G capable game cameras yet, but the projections look very promising.
5G is twenty times faster than 4G. It will be the greatest generational shift of all broadband developments to date. This incredible increase will make all cellular devices faster and more efficient than ever.
The first functioning 5G systems are scheduled to be in place by the 4th quarter of 2020 and the first 5G capable game cameras are expected to be released in 2021.
5G mobile connectivity is on the horizon and looks to revolutionize the cellular game camera industry. Look for the first 5G cameras to hit the market next year.
Interested in other game camera reviews? Check them out here.
Last update on 2024-02-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
My one and half year old spypoint cellular camera uses 4G and in our remote area it does not work via cell tower transmission. My 3g/4g cell phone also did not work too well at the same location using 4g got only 1 bar or less. I added an antenna booster and placed it 10 feet up the tree and no improvement to the signal. My new android phone purchased 2/18/2022 has 4g/5g and works just fine at the remote location using 5g with 4 bars reception. I have been taking the camera in town to initially set it up then I switch out the cards every 3 days to view on my laptop. I will not buy another cell camera until it is 5g compatible due to my reception situation.