Settings reference

Use this reference to check every configurable OcuTrap setting, including ranges and defaults.

Note: After changing settings, a reboot of the trap is recommended to ensure all changes are applied correctly.

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Capture & Detection Settings

Detection Zones Explained

OcuTrap uses two steps to verify captures and reduce false triggers:

• Detection area (out to ~34 in / 875 mm from the sensor): The animal is approaching; you may get a pre-capture alert
• Capture zone (your set distance, default ~8 in): The door closes when the animal reaches this point

This two-step check prevents false triggers from rain, debris, or quick movements.

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Camera Settings

Camera Quality Levels

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Battery & Power Settings

Battery Alert Thresholds

Voltages shown are for the 5,200 mAh pack. The 10,000 mAh pack uses 10.2 V (20%) and 10.0 V (10%).

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Temperature Alert Settings

These alerts watch the outdoor weather at the trap's location, not the trap's own internal sensor. The trap's location can come from its GPS fix or from a location you set manually. See Temperature alerts below.

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GPS & Location Settings

For timing, compatibility, and manual requests, see GPS.

GPS Behavior Details

Unreleased v1081 candidate: With GPS enabled, startup searching becomes eligible after 30 seconds when other work permits. A fixed 15-minute window starts at first receiver power-on; the first valid fix is sent promptly, with better estimates at most once per minute. Camera pauses use that same deadline.

Later manual and scheduled requests send the first acceptable fix, then refine for two additional minutes. Improvements must reduce estimated horizontal error by at least 10% and are sent at most once per 30 seconds. Photos or captures end later refinement after a successful fix; sleep and shutdown also take priority. Armed offline sleep does not guarantee a full startup window.

Firmware v1073-v1077 waits 15 minutes before the initial automatic attempt. Outside the candidate startup window, search limits remain three minutes for the first attempt and two minutes for later attempts, before refinement. Valid fixes require fresh position data and at least five satellites; satellite count alone is not an accuracy guarantee. Failed searches preserve the last known location.

Battery choice: Six hours is the default, not a measured optimum. Choose a longer interval or Disabled for a trap that stays in one known location. Manual Location remains available when disabled. There is no four-hour option.

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Accessory Port Settings

The 12V accessory port can power external devices like dispensers, pumps, or other add-on hardware.

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Capture Alert Settings

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Hardware & Feedback Settings

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Image Cropping Settings

These settings remove portions of the image before processing. Values are percentages of the image dimension.

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Enhanced door closing and EDC backoff

Enhanced Door Closing re-seats the door after every close, including closes on a capture. The door backs off slightly, then drives closed again to seat under the locking rod. This improves the chance the door locks. It does not confirm the lock. Enabled by default. Turn it off only if support asks. See Enhanced door closing.

EDC Backoff sets how long the door reverses during Enhanced Door Closing. A higher time reverses farther; a lower time reverses less. Options run from 30 to 130 ms in 10 ms steps. Default is 50 ms, and most traps calibrate between about 40 and 120 ms.

Every trap door is slightly different, and a fully charged battery can move the motor faster. Both too little and too much reverse can leave the door on top of the fixed locking bar:

• Door does not retract enough to re-seat: raise the value by 10 ms.
• Door retracts so far that it begins to lift and lands on top of the bar again: lower the value by 10 ms.

Start at 40 ms and change one step at a time, testing with a fully charged battery. Pass only when repeated cycles finish underneath the bar every time. See Enhanced door closing for the complete calibration and optional recovery test.

Requires trap firmware v2.3.2-1010 or newer. Older firmware ignores this setting. Only applies while Enhanced Door Closing is On. If adjusting it does not fix the door, the mechanism needs physical inspection. Contact support.

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Temperature alerts

Only a trap that has neither, one that has never reported a location and never had one set, cannot check the weather. If that happens, set the location yourself and the checks begin at the next interval.

The selected interval determines how often the weather is checked.

Until the first check comes back, the card shows Not checked yet and no temperature. Checks run on a schedule rather than the moment you switch them on, so give it up to an hour to fill in.

Temperature limits use the selected unit system, shown as Imperial in the interface. Above Upper Limit sets the maximum temperature; an alert is sent if the outdoor temperature at the trap rises above this value. Below Lower Limit sets the minimum temperature; an alert is sent if the outdoor temperature at the trap falls below this value.

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Image cropping

Cropping adjusts how images are cropped before being processed or uploaded. Use it to remove unnecessary areas of the image, reduce file size, or focus on a specific region inside the trap.

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Settings Locations

Settings are accessible in different locations:

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Tips for Optimal Settings

For Maximum Battery Life

• Set GPS Update Interval to Disabled if you do not need automatic location tracking
• Use Camera Quality level 1 to 2
• Set Camera Time Lapse to 6+ hours or disable
• Reduce Maximum IR Brightness if images are overexposed

For Best Image Quality

• Use Camera Quality level 4 to 6
• Adjust Dark Lux Threshold based on your deployment (lower = earlier IR activation)
• Fine-tune IR brightness settings for your environment

For Fastest Response

• Choose an enabled GPS Update Interval to keep the map current
• Enable Pre-Capture Alerts to see animals approaching
• Use shorter Capture Alert Intervals if monitoring actively