Hi from Slovakia (Central Europe). I hunt foxes and boar over bait here, and I wanted to know what comes in at night without driving out every day.
I had an old Android phone in a drawer, so I wrote an app for it: Strixeo. Full disclosure, I'm the developer.
How it works:
- The old phone hangs on a tree at the bait site. At night it runs a small USB-C thermal camera (Thermal Master T2 Max) plugged into it. No IR glow, nothing for the animals to see.
- When something warm moves in, it takes a photo, identifies the animal right on the phone, and sends the picture to my regular phone.
- Power is a Makita 18V tool battery. In the cold it lasts about 5 days.
- Any SIM works, including the cheapest prepaid plan (or Wi-Fi if the spot is near the house). No camera-locked subscription.
What it does well: a fox came in and it was named at 93%. Deer at about 120 yards were still reported as "something warm."
What it doesn't do: name the species that far out. That works to about 25–30 yards. I'd rather it say "don't know" than guess wrong.
The app is free, Android only, and I don't sell any hardware.
I'm looking for people to try it and tell me what doesn't work. Criticism is more useful to me than compliments.
Google Play: Strixeo – Wildlife Trail Cam - Apps on Google Play
One more thing I'm testing for night work, not built yet: a thermal cue in the corner of your eye instead of a thermal screen, so you keep your night vision. Would that be useful to you? Walk in the dark and be told — Strixeo
Photos from my bait site below.
I had an old Android phone in a drawer, so I wrote an app for it: Strixeo. Full disclosure, I'm the developer.
How it works:
- The old phone hangs on a tree at the bait site. At night it runs a small USB-C thermal camera (Thermal Master T2 Max) plugged into it. No IR glow, nothing for the animals to see.
- When something warm moves in, it takes a photo, identifies the animal right on the phone, and sends the picture to my regular phone.
- Power is a Makita 18V tool battery. In the cold it lasts about 5 days.
- Any SIM works, including the cheapest prepaid plan (or Wi-Fi if the spot is near the house). No camera-locked subscription.
What it does well: a fox came in and it was named at 93%. Deer at about 120 yards were still reported as "something warm."
What it doesn't do: name the species that far out. That works to about 25–30 yards. I'd rather it say "don't know" than guess wrong.
The app is free, Android only, and I don't sell any hardware.
I'm looking for people to try it and tell me what doesn't work. Criticism is more useful to me than compliments.
Google Play: Strixeo – Wildlife Trail Cam - Apps on Google Play
One more thing I'm testing for night work, not built yet: a thermal cue in the corner of your eye instead of a thermal screen, so you keep your night vision. Would that be useful to you? Walk in the dark and be told — Strixeo
Photos from my bait site below.
