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This 3G cell camera is discontinued, you can shop new cellular trail cameras here.
Model # GC-VZWb (Verizon Model) or GC-VZTb | Cellular Setup Instructions
Pros
Cons
Trailcampro Analysis
The HCO Spartan GoCam No Glow is an infrared cellular 3G trail camera that does not emit any visible light when it takes a photo at night. For this reason, we would classify the Spartan No Glow as both a wildlife and a security camera. This model works on Verizon towers but can send emails/texts to any phone no matter what carrier the phone uses.
One of the biggest challenges for cellular cameras the last several years has been the availability and hassle of getting the correct sim card. The Spartan GoCam has simplified the process and erased the need to go to a local AT&T or Verizon store and haggle over which sim card to get. The cellular setup for this camera can be done with your home computer, in just minutes. There is no contract and you can start/stop service at any time. We will talk more about cellular setup a little later, for now, let's see what else the camera has to offer.
Photo resolution: 8, 5 or 3 mpxl | Video Resolution: No video in cell mode | Flash Type: No Glow Infrared
The sample pictures you will see in this review are directly from the camera, via email. Any picture that is emailed from the camera is a compressed file, so the resolution and size are smaller. The full-size image will be saved on the sd card.
Cellular pictures are always hard to evaluate because of the pixelation from the compression of the file. However, day pictures are solid and possess decent color. Night pictures have less flash range from the red glow Spartan GoCam, but the flash range is still good enough for most uses.
If you are wanting the camera for security surveillance, face recognition will be the toughest part for any infrared trail camera. Make sure you check out all our photos below. You will notice night pictures will greatly depend on how fast the subject is moving as to whether there will be blur or not. Overall, night pictures are good for a no glow infrared cellular camera, however, don't expect a perfectly clear picture to prosecute someone with. Cellular cameras are best for alerting you immediately when someone is in a place they aren't supposed to be, not for prosecution.
[powr-image-slider label="2907012"]
If you sign up for the premium service, the picture resolution can be set to 1280 x 960. This makes a huge difference in picture quality.
Resting Power (on): 0.84 mW | Daytime Power Consumption: 71.96 Ws | Nighttime Power Consumption: 71.35 Ws
The camera operates on 12 AA batteries. We only recommend lithium batteries for this camera, as they deliver a high and consistent voltage that alkaline and rechargeable batteries simply can't maintain.
If this camera took 15-day pictures and 15-night pictures every 24 hours, it would last 2.4 months on a set of lithium batteries.
Picture Trigger & Recovery Speed: 1.02 / 41.1 s. (Verizon) | Video Trigger & Recovery Speed: No video in cell mode | Detection Range: 100 ft.
This model has a one-second trigger speed and takes 64 seconds to send a photo and recover, awaiting the next triggered event. These times are very middle of the road.
The detection range is 100 feet, which is very good. The detection zone is large enough to cover a big area, allowing you to monitor open areas whether you are using the camera for security or wildlife.
Dimensions: 6" x 5" x 3.25" w/o antenna | Battery Type: 12 AA Batteries | External Battery Jack: 6 Volt
Ease of use is our favorite category for this camera. Cellular setup has given us nightmares lately with some of the cellular trail cameras. The GoCam can be setup from your home computer, in just a few minutes.
HCO Spartan Gocam No Glow Verizon Reviews Setup Process:
This is for the HCO Spartan Gocam Verizon reviews portion of this review. Activate the service at http://www.hcooutdoors.com/products/service/vzwservice.html.
As with any cellular camera, the Spartan GoCam needs good Verizon cellular reception. We recommend taking a Verizon phone to the area you will set the camera, taking a photo with your phone and texting it to someone. If the picture goes through quickly, the camera should work in that area. One or two bars of reception will not be good enough for this camera. You need a minimum of 3.
While conducting the HCO Spartan Gocam no glow Verizon review, we found the camera is only capable of sending pictures to an email address, it does not text pictures to a phone. However, you can bypass that by entering the phone number as5555555555@mms.att.net for AT&T phones or 5555555555@vzwpix.com and it will come as a text message.
Setup is relatively simple, but we are available for consultation for our customers. Due to cellular setup taking quite a bit of time via a phone call, we do charge $30 to walk you through setup if you do not purchase from us. If you did purchase from us, we will spend any amount of time walking you through it free of charge.
GoWireless Premium
HCO has a premium service you can subscribe to for $4 per month. Benefits include:
Since HCO charges for this service, we did not include these benefits in our rating of this camera. If they were to give it away for free (which we think they should do), then our ratings would reflect these added benefits.
Case design is pretty flawless in our eyes. The latch is big, sturdy and easy to operate (even with cold fingers!). There is a threaded insert on the bottom of the camera for a Slate River Mount and the back bracket is designed to fit a Python Cable as well.
This is a new camera so durability is unknown at this time. From the design and "feel" of this camera, we wouldn't expect any problems but we can't say that with any certainty.
HCO Spartan GoCam No Glow Conclusion
The HCO Spartan GoCam No Glow Verizon is one of our favorite cellular security cameras. The big detection zone, picture quality, and excellent case design make this an excellent choice for anyone who needs a cellular wildlife camera. Most importantly, the cellular setup is extremely easy and affordable. This would be a good nighttime security camera as the no glow infrared flash would not give away the camera's location.
Enjoy our HCO Spartan No Glow Reviews? Please consider purchasing your next trail camera from us.
Read Reviews From All the Game and Trail Cameras
Additional Resources:
Trail Cameras that Send Pictures to Your Phone
Manufacturer Specifications
Buy your next trail camera or accessory from us and we will protect your purchase with our 90-day return policy and our exclusive 2-year warranty.
Most manufacturer warranties are only one year. In our opinion, that isn't good enough. Our customers get a two-year warranty, directly from us.
Trailcampro's 2 Year Warranty
If the trail camera you purchase from us goes defective within two years of your purchase, we will quickly replace it.
We strive to make the warranty process as quick and easy as possible. Simply fill out our warranty form.
Trailcampro's 90 Day Return Policy
We believe you have the right to return any game camera that does not meet your expectations within 90 days.
Our return policy lets you field test products, at no risk to you!
Want to talk to a trail camera expert? Contact our friendly staff.
Read our Customer Testimonials to find out what our customers have been saying about us!
Domestic Shipping Options HCO Spartan Accessories
Here are a few of the accessories we like to use in the Spartan No Glow.
Energizer Ultimate Lithiums | 12 Pack
$29.95
- There is no downside to using lithium batteries. Long battery life, extreme durability and better night pictures. You will be happy you did.
$31.95
- Use this to protect your new camera from bears and thieves. It provides much-needed peace of mind when leaving your camera out in nature.
$19.95
- Use this with the security case, or just the camera itself. The Spartan has brackets on the back specifically for this lock.
Start at $5.95
- SD cards store your pictures and videos for easy removal. We give you a free SD card with the Spartan No Glow, but most people use a second card. If you have two cards, you can swap them out when you retrieve the pictures.
Verified Customer Reviews
We ensure that every customer review comes from one of our real customers and not someone who works for the competing trail camera manufacturer. These are verified customer trail camera reviews that you can trust.
We would love your feedback if you purchased this trail camera from us. We want your honest feedback, these reviews are a vital part in helping consumers choose the right game camera.
This 3G cell camera is discontinued, you can shop new cellular trail cameras here.
Model # GC-VZWb (Verizon Model) or GC-VZTb | Cellular Setup Instructions
Pros
Cons
Trailcampro Analysis
The HCO Spartan GoCam No Glow is an infrared cellular 3G trail camera that does not emit any visible light when it takes a photo at night. For this reason, we would classify the Spartan No Glow as both a wildlife and a security camera. This model works on Verizon towers but can send emails/texts to any phone no matter what carrier the phone uses.
One of the biggest challenges for cellular cameras the last several years has been the availability and hassle of getting the correct sim card. The Spartan GoCam has simplified the process and erased the need to go to a local AT&T or Verizon store and haggle over which sim card to get. The cellular setup for this camera can be done with your home computer, in just minutes. There is no contract and you can start/stop service at any time. We will talk more about cellular setup a little later, for now, let's see what else the camera has to offer.
Photo resolution: 8, 5 or 3 mpxl | Video Resolution: No video in cell mode | Flash Type: No Glow Infrared
The sample pictures you will see in this review are directly from the camera, via email. Any picture that is emailed from the camera is a compressed file, so the resolution and size are smaller. The full-size image will be saved on the sd card.
Cellular pictures are always hard to evaluate because of the pixelation from the compression of the file. However, day pictures are solid and possess decent color. Night pictures have less flash range from the red glow Spartan GoCam, but the flash range is still good enough for most uses.
If you are wanting the camera for security surveillance, face recognition will be the toughest part for any infrared trail camera. Make sure you check out all our photos below. You will notice night pictures will greatly depend on how fast the subject is moving as to whether there will be blur or not. Overall, night pictures are good for a no glow infrared cellular camera, however, don't expect a perfectly clear picture to prosecute someone with. Cellular cameras are best for alerting you immediately when someone is in a place they aren't supposed to be, not for prosecution.
[powr-image-slider label="2907012"]
If you sign up for the premium service, the picture resolution can be set to 1280 x 960. This makes a huge difference in picture quality.
Resting Power (on): 0.84 mW | Daytime Power Consumption: 71.96 Ws | Nighttime Power Consumption: 71.35 Ws
The camera operates on 12 AA batteries. We only recommend lithium batteries for this camera, as they deliver a high and consistent voltage that alkaline and rechargeable batteries simply can't maintain.
If this camera took 15-day pictures and 15-night pictures every 24 hours, it would last 2.4 months on a set of lithium batteries.
Picture Trigger & Recovery Speed: 1.02 / 41.1 s. (Verizon) | Video Trigger & Recovery Speed: No video in cell mode | Detection Range: 100 ft.
This model has a one-second trigger speed and takes 64 seconds to send a photo and recover, awaiting the next triggered event. These times are very middle of the road.
The detection range is 100 feet, which is very good. The detection zone is large enough to cover a big area, allowing you to monitor open areas whether you are using the camera for security or wildlife.
Dimensions: 6" x 5" x 3.25" w/o antenna | Battery Type: 12 AA Batteries | External Battery Jack: 6 Volt
Ease of use is our favorite category for this camera. Cellular setup has given us nightmares lately with some of the cellular trail cameras. The GoCam can be setup from your home computer, in just a few minutes.
HCO Spartan Gocam No Glow Verizon Reviews Setup Process:
This is for the HCO Spartan Gocam Verizon reviews portion of this review. Activate the service at http://www.hcooutdoors.com/products/service/vzwservice.html.
As with any cellular camera, the Spartan GoCam needs good Verizon cellular reception. We recommend taking a Verizon phone to the area you will set the camera, taking a photo with your phone and texting it to someone. If the picture goes through quickly, the camera should work in that area. One or two bars of reception will not be good enough for this camera. You need a minimum of 3.
While conducting the HCO Spartan Gocam no glow Verizon review, we found the camera is only capable of sending pictures to an email address, it does not text pictures to a phone. However, you can bypass that by entering the phone number as5555555555@mms.att.net for AT&T phones or 5555555555@vzwpix.com and it will come as a text message.
Setup is relatively simple, but we are available for consultation for our customers. Due to cellular setup taking quite a bit of time via a phone call, we do charge $30 to walk you through setup if you do not purchase from us. If you did purchase from us, we will spend any amount of time walking you through it free of charge.
GoWireless Premium
HCO has a premium service you can subscribe to for $4 per month. Benefits include:
Since HCO charges for this service, we did not include these benefits in our rating of this camera. If they were to give it away for free (which we think they should do), then our ratings would reflect these added benefits.
Case design is pretty flawless in our eyes. The latch is big, sturdy and easy to operate (even with cold fingers!). There is a threaded insert on the bottom of the camera for a Slate River Mount and the back bracket is designed to fit a Python Cable as well.
This is a new camera so durability is unknown at this time. From the design and "feel" of this camera, we wouldn't expect any problems but we can't say that with any certainty.
HCO Spartan GoCam No Glow Conclusion
The HCO Spartan GoCam No Glow Verizon is one of our favorite cellular security cameras. The big detection zone, picture quality, and excellent case design make this an excellent choice for anyone who needs a cellular wildlife camera. Most importantly, the cellular setup is extremely easy and affordable. This would be a good nighttime security camera as the no glow infrared flash would not give away the camera's location.
Enjoy our HCO Spartan No Glow Reviews? Please consider purchasing your next trail camera from us.
Read Reviews From All the Game and Trail Cameras
Additional Resources:
Trail Cameras that Send Pictures to Your Phone
Manufacturer Specifications
Buy your next trail camera or accessory from us and we will protect your purchase with our 90-day return policy and our exclusive 2-year warranty.
Most manufacturer warranties are only one year. In our opinion, that isn't good enough. Our customers get a two-year warranty, directly from us.
Trailcampro's 2 Year Warranty
If the trail camera you purchase from us goes defective within two years of your purchase, we will quickly replace it.
We strive to make the warranty process as quick and easy as possible. Simply fill out our warranty form.
Trailcampro's 90 Day Return Policy
We believe you have the right to return any game camera that does not meet your expectations within 90 days.
Our return policy lets you field test products, at no risk to you!
Want to talk to a trail camera expert? Contact our friendly staff.
Read our Customer Testimonials to find out what our customers have been saying about us!
Domestic Shipping Options HCO Spartan Accessories
Here are a few of the accessories we like to use in the Spartan No Glow.
Energizer Ultimate Lithiums | 12 Pack
$29.95
- There is no downside to using lithium batteries. Long battery life, extreme durability and better night pictures. You will be happy you did.
$31.95
- Use this to protect your new camera from bears and thieves. It provides much-needed peace of mind when leaving your camera out in nature.
$19.95
- Use this with the security case, or just the camera itself. The Spartan has brackets on the back specifically for this lock.
Start at $5.95
- SD cards store your pictures and videos for easy removal. We give you a free SD card with the Spartan No Glow, but most people use a second card. If you have two cards, you can swap them out when you retrieve the pictures.
Verified Customer Reviews
We ensure that every customer review comes from one of our real customers and not someone who works for the competing trail camera manufacturer. These are verified customer trail camera reviews that you can trust.
We would love your feedback if you purchased this trail camera from us. We want your honest feedback, these reviews are a vital part in helping consumers choose the right game camera.
Overall rating: 4.266667 / 5 from 30 reviews.
The HCO Spartan NoGlow Verizon is a 3G cellular trail camera that offers excellent picture quality and ease of cellular setup. It features a no-glow infrared flash, making it suitable for nighttime security surveillance. However, the battery life and trigger speed are average, and night picture quality may not be perfect for prosecution purposes.
Review topics: [quality, price, service, work, value, camera, pictures, app, batteries, cam, cost].
"Very disappointed with this camera, doesn't pick up lots of things and the delay in the delivery to cell phone is slow. I bought it for surveillance st a property and I can drive by it and it won't capture me, this has happened several times, so if it happens when I drive by I know I'm missing lots of other images. Maybe I don't understand how it works but it's definitely not what I expected."
"A little tricky to get the wireless service set up however the ability to get trail cam images remotely (I live relatively far from the property) and not having to disturb the site to check the camera has been well worth it."
"Bought this cam to help with security issues on my property as well as keep tabs on the deer, elk, turkeys and other wild life running around. Camera detection - optimal conditions camera would pick up movement at 80ft. Camera is still too new to discuss battery. The camera takes about 25 - 30 seconds to send a picture and around 30 - 40 seconds to recover. The picture quality for animals is very good, but in regards to security they're not great. That's ok for me because I'm using the camera as an early warning alert so that I know if someone is coming up my long driveway. Overall, I'm very pleased with the speed, quality and functioning of the camera. This is the best cellular camera i've used so far."
"I have multiple Spartan cameras and have successfully filled my tags with quality bucks since I found them in 2015. I also use them as security cameras on my job sites. I have one over the dumpster due to people putting unwanted waste in them. We can use these pictures to prosecute for unlawful dumping. I also use the cameras as time clocks and require all employees to walk past the dumpster on the way in and out of the job. I can also monitor the jobs progress while away based on how full the dumpster is. If you are busy like I am, you can be in multiple places at once with all the intell going straight to your phone. These are great cameras for the money considering the only better camera is nearly 3x the price. $5/month with Verizon plus lithium batteries (which last 3-4 months depending on how many pics) is a very cost effective way to monitor things while you are away."
"We moved out into the country, but recently had a prowler come through our electric gate. Obviously knew the code. We changed the code, but then searched for some device which would text/email me when triggered. None of the self-installed security systems would do this, but happened across this unit. It is perfectly sensitive, has a good field of view at night, and takes around 30 seconds for a trigger to appear as a text message, picture and all. That's enough time for me to get ready for whatever encounter may come. While I thought it was a tad pricy, it has lived up to the billing. So much so am considering another camera further down the road as additional warning. Only downside is there is nightlife out here - raccoons and fox trigger alerts, but its a small price to pay for KNOWING what's there, This would be an excellent camera for monitoring traps or pens!"
"Works good!"
"Just purchased new NoGlow and am using it to signal when ferrel hogs are in my trap - works like a champ! My only dislike, but I knew it going in, is the monthly fee to have the premium package, which is great - just wish Spartan would include it in up-front cost (monthly payment is just petty silliness!)"
"This works great. I use it for surveillance on a remote building and it sends great photos to me. As a note though to avoid frustration: if you live in an area that Verizon leases towers you may not be able to activate it at first as it dials a short code number that those towers may not recognize, but all you have to do is go to where you know you will be on a Verizon tower and you can activate it there in 2 minutes and take it back to where you need it. I just wanted to point this out to those like me that live in an area like this as it took me awhile to figure that out. I just drove 10 minutes and set in the parking lot of Verizon and activated it and went back and hung it and it works great. $5 bucks a month for service added to my plan...you can't beat that. I live in rural Iowa and another company has the rights to the frequency nearby that Verizon uses and Verizon leases space, most people would not have this issue as not to many independent cell services around anymore, but if you do I hope this helps."
"Easy to set up after firmware update. Great customer support. Device performs as described."
"3G IS ONLY WAY TO GO"
