I hardly ever had any trouble with signal locking on. You using AT&T SIM card? Also, It's been a while since I've used it, so I can't really remember the light sequence once it locks on. I thought it blinked slowly when it has a signal.

I got the prepaid Sim from WalMart. You can activate it from a cell phone but the problem I had with that was the plan I wanted wasn't listed as a choice during activation. The plan I use is the $2 a day plan. You are only charged when you send a text, then it's only 2$ for the whole day. Calls don't cost anything. I wound up calling the AT&T number for prepaid service and they activated it and added the plan. When you do that, go ahead and get them to deactivate the voicemail. You can also have them assign the IMEI number from the relay, but I've found that isn't necessary. It's a pain to call in but probably the best method. On another note, I see there are a bunch of videos cameras that at cell operated now using AT&T and other cell service that will alert you when there is motion in front of them. One of them is reolink. I think that would be perfect for what we are trying to do. Not sure what the cheapest plan would be for that though. Maybe adding a line to my family plan, not sure. Would be awesome to have a video feed when needed. The Moultrie camera has worked well too though. Once the pigs settle in eating the corn the delay doesn't really hurt.

@@uhoh71 Great!!! This is the info I was needing. Appreciate it. We are using SpyPoint cameras now. Not sure what service it is using since a buddy is the one who set the camera service up. They work well though. Their app is not bad to use when receiving photos. Seems that out if all the cell carriers AT&T has the most coverage for being out in the sticks.

It's not much draw at all. I believe it's around 60 milliamps or . 060 amps. The panel I've been using is made by Coleman and it trickle charges at about 1.5 amps. The battery stayed at full charge the whole time. The battery is a flooded lead acid car cranking battery. And it does well. The only reason I'm using it is cause I had one sitting around not being used. If you buy one get an AGM type battery like is used in an ATV; sealed lead acid glass mat type. Then you won't have to worry about acid vapors corroding stuff. Although, I haven't had any problems with that. Look on eBay for a YB16CL-B battery. I had one of those in it for a while and it was perfect. However, I sold it with a 4 wheeler I was getting rid of. Perfect battery for the trap. The solar panel I have is between 12 and 15 watts if my memory serves me correctly.

I caught 7 in it one time. Five adults and 2 piglets.

I made sure to put the corn in the back. Also, the door drops super fast

@@uhoh71 Perfect, this is about the typical sounder size we get (Blueridge mountains). Every now and then we see a mega sounder. I am going to start buying the components and start the build soon. Luckily my neighbor is a semi retired commercial electrician and he has offered to wire it up for me. Me and a buddy are going to work on the hay ring. Looks like I may have to get one at Tractor Supply. Local farmers tend to hang on to them

@@uhoh71 I also read in your ‘wiring’ video I believe, that you’re running off one battery now? What battery are you using now? How does this effect wiring setup and parts? I’m sure my electrician will know but I’m curious.

@@user-pj2hp4ig4o Yea, I'm using only one battery. It's a marine deep cycle. I just moved the battery leads from the extra battery over to the one battery. It doesn't require but about 20 to 25 amps to activate the popper solenoid. A deep cycle battery can handle that easily. Plus, I have a Coleman trickle charging solar panel attached which works better with a deep cycle battery.

Go to Walmart and ask for an AT&T prepaid Sim. Use an old cell phone to activate it. Use the code for a $2 a day plan and put $10 on it, which is the minimum required to use the plan. It only uses your funds when texting so when you call the trap it doesn't charge you. The Kiao relay has a sliding tray to insert the SIM into once it's activated.

I went to using just one battery. The board draws so few amps one battery is enough to actuate the solenoid and run the board without problems.

I ran dedicated wires to the board from the battery so as to not have a fluctuation in current when the solenoid is fired by the board. It is run directly from the battery to the board, Positive and negative. I used the smaller micro fuses in that, I believe 2.5 amps since the board draws so little of power. I think that a 2.5 amp fuse was as small as I could find. For the solenoid firing the lock popper solenoid I ran a heavy Gage wire, around a number 12 straight to the one lug of the lawn mower solenoid with about a 20 amp fuse. If I remember correctly it would blow a 15 amp fuse. I tapped off of that wire for power going through the kiao relay then back to the trigger on the lawnmower solenoid. On the other side of the lawn mower solenoid, out side, the power wire goes to the power connector on the lock popper. I ran a small wire from the battery negative to the mounting bolt on the lawn mower solenoid on one side and a wire from a mounting bolt on the other side of the solenoid to a mounting bolt on the lock popper to bond it all.

I haven't. I may try and do that sometime soon. Been busy with hunting season.

@@uhoh71 how do I go about making me one of these bud I have a bunch of trap shy hogs an im hoping this setup will work

I've been using a Moultrie mobile MV1 modem and a M40i camera. Sends photos to my phone. I consistently receive them within 2 minutes of being taken. Works well. They usually settle in when eating. A video system would be better just haven't wanted to spend the money to build it.

It has a SIM card tray. You can remove it from the SIM tray.

I did that to keep from damaging the relay in the board. I had an electrical engineer tell me that repeated high amps through those small relays would eventually damage them from arcing when they actuate. Now only an amp or so goes through the board relay which should allow it to last indefinitely. I read somewhere were a guy suggested you could put a resistor of a certain size across the in and out of the board relay to keep it from arcing. Can't remember the suggested size though. You see this done on golf cart solenoids to keep the high current from burning them out.

kzfaq.info/get/bejne/nruYjJV63tDdh4k.html

I bought it off of eBay. It was a little over $20. I'll post a link and we'll see if it works. rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F131570934249

@@uhoh71 Who do you have your sim card/ cell phone service through?

@@shawnlennon6203 I use the AT&T prepaid sim. I chose the $2 a day plan. I had to call them to get that plan, for some reason it isn't given as a choice when activating it by computer. It you use a phone to activate it, you may get that choice without having to call them.

@@shawnlennon6203 I noticed that you can get SIM cards on Amazon for relays and stuff cheaper than AT&T. You just need a card for the GSM network with text and voice. Saw some for around $5 or so. May be a cheaper way to trigger the relay.

Well... Actually, they have a much better antenna than your phone so often times they can and do. There has to be a hint of a signal though. Definitely ain't going to work if there is zero service.

Robert Boyd well of thanks man I always wondered that I guess I can replace that for a car key fob and just sit in the stand

He posted it four years ago

The gsm relay is made by a company called KiaoTime and is on Amazon. The lock popper came from eBay. They are on Amazon as well. There is a link to the lock popper in one of the comments. The relay I have is the GSM Auto version.

Amazon

I'll put a video on there soon showing the details of the controller/wiring.

I use a cellular game camera. Moultrie MV1 and a Moultrie M40i game camera. Has about a 2 minute delay but works sufficiently.

FYI, I put up a video on how it's wired.

Walmart. It's an AT&T pre-paid sim. I do the $2 per day deal. You can close the trap by calling it and that doesn't cost against your $2 a day. You are only charged the $2 for text or data. With that said, I bet you could do FreedomPop and be way cheaper. Something like $5 a month.

@@uhoh71 Awesome! Thank you sir!

Do you have to pay a monthly fee to att?

For the $2 per day plan, you have to put a minimum of $10 a month on it whether you user it or not because the $10 expires each month. I do usually use most of the $10 each month sending texts to check signal and change settings etc... I haven't used it in a while, but I may try the FreedomPop card next because you can pay 12 months at a time and I think the minimum is $50. That works out to less than $5 per month.

@@uhoh71 I looked that up. I'm going to give them a call

I don't have anything drawn up. Sorry.

@@uhoh71 ok thanxs

Robert Boyd how did you program the box

Yes how did you program the box? Did you have to program the board to a certain phone number to call it from and if you did please tell how you did that.....thanks