Tips and Tricks

Get the most out of your OcuTrap with these best practices and pro tips.

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Powering Off the Trap

When you're not using the trap, power it down properly:

1. Hold the power button for 3 seconds until the device powers off

2. The trap will send a final status update before shutting down

3. This ensures a clean disconnection and protects the electronics

Proper shutdown prevents unnecessary battery drain and extends the trap's lifespan.

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Maximizing Battery Life

Deployment Tips

• Strong cellular signal — Poor signal causes the trap to work harder to stay connected, draining battery faster

• GPS interval — Keep at 8 hours (default) or disable if you don't need location tracking

• Camera timelapse — Set to 6+ hours or disable if you only need capture photos

• Firmware updates — Keep updated for the latest battery optimizations

What Drains Battery Fastest

1. Poor cellular coverage (constant reconnection attempts)

2. Frequent GPS updates

3. Short camera timelapse intervals

4. Cold temperatures (reduces battery capacity)

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Optimal Trap Placement

For Best Captures

• Position trigger sensor 6-10 inches inside the cage to ensure the animal is fully inside before the door closes

• Place bait behind the sensor so animals must pass through the detection zone

• Level ground helps prevent tilt alerts when armed

For Best Connectivity

• Avoid metal buildings or dense structures that block cellular signal

• Test signal strength before leaving the trap — check for cyan breathing LED

• Clear sky view improves GPS accuracy

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Animal Sensor

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How Detection Works

Sensor Field of View

The Time-of-Flight sensor projects a 20-degree field of view from the center of the pod into the trap, constantly monitoring for movement.

Detection Process

1. Object enters detection zone (300-450mm) — Sensor starts tracking

2. Verification — System confirms 3+ consecutive readings to avoid false triggers

3. Object enters capture zone (0-250mm) — Trigger confirmed

4. Door closes — Capture photo taken and alert sent

Why This Matters

Unlike traditional traps that use a mechanical trip pan, OcuTrap uses a distance sensor to detect the animal's position. This method:

• Improves accuracy

• Minimizes false triggers from rain, debris, or vibration

• Allows remote monitoring without physical trigger mechanisms

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Testing the Trap

This video shows how your OcuTrap works once it's set up and ready to catch animals.

Test Before Deploying

1. Arm the trap using the app

2. Wave your hand through the detection zone

3. Verify the door closes and you receive an alert

4. Disarm and reset for deployment

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Trigger Settings

Capture Distance

• Default: 250mm (about 10 inches)

• Adjustable range: 125mm–1000mm

• Tip: Smaller values = animal must be closer before triggering

Timing

• The sensor must register continuous presence before activating

• This timing reduces false triggers while ensuring the animal is fully enclosed

• Timing is optimized in firmware and cannot be manually adjusted

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Reducing False Triggers

If you're getting unwanted captures:

1. Increase capture distance — Makes the trigger less sensitive

2. Check sensor window — Clean any dirt, debris, or condensation

3. Reposition the trap — Avoid areas with blowing debris or heavy rain entry

4. Review pre-capture photos — See what's triggering the trap

The dual-zone verification system filters out most false triggers from rain and debris automatically.

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Getting Better Images

In Daylight

• Images are automatically color

• Adjust image rotation if the camera view is upside down

• Use higher camera quality settings (3-6) for more detail

At Night

• IR LEDs activate automatically below the dark lux threshold

• If images are too dark: Lower the dark lux threshold or increase minimum IR brightness

• If images are washed out: Decrease maximum IR brightness

General Tips

• Keep the camera lens clean

• Use image cropping to remove cage mesh from the frame if needed

• Higher quality = larger files = longer transfer times

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Using Pre-Capture Alerts

Enable Pre-Capture Alerts to get notified when an animal is approaching:

• Sends alert when object enters detection zone (before capture)

• Includes a photo of what's approaching

• 2-minute cooldown between alerts to prevent spam

• Great for monitoring activity without captures

Use cases:

• See if non-target animals are visiting

• Monitor animal behavior patterns

• Verify trap placement is attracting targets

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Button Shortcuts

Learn the physical button controls:

Action	How To
View status	Single press User button (5 second display)
Open/close door	Double-press User button + hold 5 seconds
Arm/disarm	Press User button, then Power button
Power off	Hold Power button for 3 seconds
Wake from hibernation	Press Power button

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Seasonal Considerations

Cold Weather

• Battery capacity decreases in cold temperatures

• Expect shorter runtime in winter

• Consider the 10Ah battery for extended cold-weather deployments

Hot Weather

• Temperature alerts will notify you if internal temps exceed 45°C

• Shade the trap if possible in extreme heat

• Electronics are rated to 45°C operating temperature

Wet Conditions

• The enclosure is weather-resistant but not waterproof

• Avoid submerging or prolonged heavy rain exposure

• Condensation on camera lens can occur — see Condensation on the Camera

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Multi-Trap Management

If you're managing multiple traps:

• Name your traps clearly in the app for easy identification

• Use the map view to see all trap locations at once

• Share traps with team members using appropriate permission levels

• Stagger GPS intervals if deploying many traps to spread data usage

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Before You Leave the Field

Checklist before leaving your trap:

• LED shows breathing cyan (connected)

• Battery level is sufficient for deployment length

• Door opens and closes properly

• Trap is armed (yellow LED)

• GPS location is updated

• Bait is positioned behind sensor

• Trap is level and stable