Living in a rural area doesn’t mean farmers won’t fall prey to theft.
In fact, the remote locations of many farmyards make them ideal targets for thieves who will take whatever they can get their hands on. As a result, security needs to be as important on the farm as it is anywhere else.
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One simple and relatively inexpensive solution is to install a security camera system, which can alert farmers in real time to the presence of an intruder.
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The new Defend camera system from Tactacam does exactly that. It’s a motion sensitive camera with its own battery that can constantly recharge itself from a compact solar panel. By connecting to a cellular network, the camera can send images to a smartphone app within a very short time after it detects movement within its field of view.
Each camera is set up with an annual data subscription.
“The big thing with the Defend camera and the reason many people get it is there’s not Wi-Fi (available),” says brand director Cheryl Manor.
“You can put it out in the middle of nowhere, where there’s no Wi-Fi or power. You can have security where it was really hard before.”
A single camera or multiple cameras can be linked to an app installed on a smartphone, which will sound an alert when a new image is received. The image can then be viewed moments after a picture is taken.
Selecting a good location for the camera is key. It should be far enough away from the area of interest so that the camera can detect movement and capture the image before the person, vehicle or whatever caused it passes through its field of vision.
“You want to focus your camera to about 65 or 70 feet away from where you have it placed,” says Manor. “
That’s the optimal place for it. If people are walking close by it, it may not trigger it.”
Two subscription packages are available. The starter plan allows for relaying up to 250 images per month, while the Pro Plan”offers unlimited transfers. The Pro Plan also offers an on-demand feature, where a subscriber can signal a camera to take a picture and relay it back to the app at any given time.
The Pro Plan will soon also make it possible to set a camera to take multiple consecutive images when triggered or capture video for a set duration.
“We have the Plus option, which applies to all cameras on your account,” says Manor.
“If you want to request on-demand photos or video, you can set your camera up to record video. It will take the picture first, send you that picture, then it will start recording video for the length of time you ask it to.
“I’ve talked to farmers who put it over watering bowls. Is it frozen? That’s where the on-demand feature comes in handy.”
The camera can be linked to its own small solar panel that will keep the battery charged and ensure it remains powered up.
The Defender cameras are available from Bass Pro and Cabela’s retail outlets or they can be purchased directly from Tactacam online through the company’s website at tactacam.com.
Retail pricing for the camera is $US149.99. The rechargeable battery and solar panel are listed at $49.99 and $59.99, respectively.
“We do have a warehouse in Canada, so it’s actually shipped out of Canada,” says Manor.
