How to Set Up a SPYPOINT Flex-M

On this page (9 sections)

1. What do you need before you start?
2. How do you activate the Flex-M in the SPYPOINT app?
3. How do you install the antenna and microSD card?
4. How do you turn on the Flex-M for the first time?
5. How do you format the card and take a test photo?
6. How long until the camera reports, and what do you check?
7. How should you mount and protect the Flex-M?
8. How do you keep the Flex-M running all season?
9. What should you check before you walk away?

To set up a SPYPOINT Flex-M, activate it in the SPYPOINT app, screw in the antenna, insert a microSD card, and turn it on to let the firmware download. Then format the card, take a test photo, and wait for the camera to report to the app.

The whole job runs through the app and a few buttons on the camera. You don't need WiFi, and the camera picks its own cell carrier.

Plan on about an hour, mostly waiting on downloads and that first report.

What do you need before you start?

Gather a microSD card, AA batteries or a SPYPOINT solar panel, and your phone with the SPYPOINT app installed. The Flex-M needs all of these before it can send its first photo.

The camera does not include a microSD card, so buy one before setup day. The box holds the camera, an antenna with a gasket already fitted, an installation strap, two preactivated SIM cards, and the user manual and quick start guide.

Power is the other half. The Flex-M runs on AA batteries, or you can pair it with SPYPOINT solar panels (sold separately) for extended autonomy.

Think about how you'll power it before you climb a tree.

Check your spot's cell coverage too. The camera needs a signal to send photos, and a weak spot will slow every step after activation.

How do you activate the Flex-M in the SPYPOINT app?

Open the SPYPOINT app, log in or create an account, and add the camera as a new device. Activation links the camera to your account so photos land on your phone.

Go to the cameras tab and tap the icon at the bottom right of the screen. Follow the prompts to add a new device, then scan the QR code on the camera when the app asks.

The Flex-M ships with mobile activation and on-camera buttons, so most of the work happens in the app. Keep the camera powered and near your phone while you finish the steps.

Once activation is done, the app handles your plan. The free photo transmission plan sends up to 100 photos per month with no fees.

Paid plans start at 5 dollars/month for 250 photos or 15 dollars/month for unlimited, billed monthly or annually with no activation fees.

If you're still deciding whether a cell cam earns its keep, read are cellular trail cameras worth it before you commit to a plan.

How do you install the antenna and microSD card?

Screw in the antenna first, then slide the microSD card into its slot with the text facing up. Both steps are physical, and getting them right avoids a failed first connection.

The antenna threads onto the camera and needs to sit snug. The gasket is already installed, so don't remove it.

For the card, the printed text should face up when it goes in. Push it until it seats, and don't force it.

A card that's half in will stop the camera from saving photos.

This is also the time to load batteries or connect a solar panel. The Flex-M runs on AA batteries, and lithium cells suit cold weather and long stretches between visits.

How do you turn on the Flex-M for the first time?

Turn the camera on and let the first power-on sequence finish. The camera initiates a remote download of the latest firmware, and that can take up to 15 minutes.

The camera is ready when all the lights are off. Don't press buttons or pull the card while that download runs.

If you interrupt it, you may need to start over.

Once the lights go out, you can move on to formatting the card. This is the point where the setup stops being a waiting game and starts giving you feedback.

Check that the camera sits level and the antenna points up before you leave it. A camera strapped at an odd angle sends photos of empty ground or sky.

How do you format the card and take a test photo?

Hold the FORMAT button for five seconds, then press TEST to send a photo to the app. The format wipes the card clean so the camera can write to it without errors.

While the card formats, the FORMAT LED blinks green. Wait for it to finish before you press TEST.

Formatting a card that's already full of old photos is the step people skip, and it's the one that causes the most trouble later.

The TEST button sends a photo straight to your SPYPOINT app. That photo proves the camera, the card, the antenna, and the cell connection all work together.

If the test photo arrives, you're nearly done.

If no photo shows up, give it time and try again. Then check the antenna, the card seating, and the batteries in that order.

How long until the camera reports, and what do you check?

The camera can take up to 30 minutes to report to the app after setup. Once it reports, open its status in the app and confirm the connection.

The app shows your camera's status, so this is your proof that everything is working from a distance. A camera that reports will send photos as wildlife or people trigger the motion sensor.

The Flex-M also supports Constant Capture, which lets it send and capture images at the same time. That means a slow connection doesn't make it miss activity in front of the lens.

If the camera doesn't report, don't assume it's broken. Move it a few feet to a spot with stronger cell coverage and run the test photo again.

Cell signal is the usual culprit.

How should you mount and protect the Flex-M?

Strap the camera to a tree or post about chest height and angle it slightly down the trail. Then lock it down so weather and theft don't end the job early.

The Flex-M is rated IP65 water-resistant and built for outdoor use, so it handles rain and dust. The included strap gets it onto a trunk quickly.

For longer deployments, the SB-500S steel security box fits the Flex-M. It's 16-gauge zinc-coated steel with a front padlock hole and side holes for a cable lock.

It also has mounting holes in the back for screws or lag bolts.

Point the lens away from branches that move in the wind, since a swaying twig will fill your photo feed. Clear the view before you walk away.

If you're also setting up a hunting blind this season, check when to set up a ground blind so your camera and blind are ready together.

How do you keep the Flex-M running all season?

Use lithium AA batteries or a SPYPOINT solar panel, and keep the lens and solar panel clean. Power is the main reason a cell camera goes quiet mid-season.

The Flex-M pairs with compatible SPYPOINT solar panels for extended autonomy. If you go the battery route, lithium cells hold up in cold weather and store for years.

The Energizer Ultimate Lithium AA pack is a sensible spare to keep on hand. The cells perform from -40F to 140°F and hold power in storage for up to 25 years.

Wipe the lens with a soft cloth when you check the camera. A dirty lens blurs every photo and makes the BUCK TRACKER AI sorting less useful.

Review your plan as the season goes. The free 100 photos per month covers light scouting, but a busy trail will burn through that quickly.

Compare plans and carriers in our guide to cellular trail cameras if you want to weigh options.

What should you check before you walk away?

Confirm the camera reported, the test photo arrived, and the mount is tight. Those three checks catch nearly every setup problem before it costs you a week of photos.

Then set your expectations. The first photo after setup may take a while to arrive.

The app shows the camera's status, so check there before you drive back out.

The Flex-M sends photos to your phone, tablet, or computer through the app, with no WiFi needed. Personalized maps and weather updates sit alongside the photo feed.

If you're comparing cell cams before buying, our Moultrie Edge 2 review covers another option in the same class.

Setting up the SPYPOINT Flex-M comes down to the app, the antenna, the card, and a test photo. Get those right and the camera reports on its own from then on.

Run the test photo every time you move it, and keep spare lithium cells in your pack.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a microSD card for the SPYPOINT Flex-M?

Yes. The Flex-M does not include a microSD card, so buy one before setup.

Insert it with the text on the card facing up.

The camera formats the card for you when you hold the FORMAT button for five seconds.

How long does the Flex-M take to set up?

Allow about an hour from unboxing to a confirmed connection. The first power-on firmware download can take up to 15 minutes, and the camera can take up to 30 minutes to report to the app.

Budget extra time if cell coverage at the spot is weak.

Does the SPYPOINT Flex-M need WiFi?

No. The Flex-M sends photos over a cellular network, so the app works without WiFi.

You still need cell coverage where the camera hangs.

The camera picks its own carrier, so you don't swap SIMs or choose a network.

How many photos does the free SPYPOINT plan send?

The free plan sends up to 100 photos per month with no fees and no commitment. Paid plans start at 5 dollars/month for 250 photos or 15 dollars/month for unlimited, billed monthly or annually with no activation fees.

One plan covers one camera.

Why won't my Flex-M send a test photo?

Check the antenna is screwed in, the microSD card is seated text-up, and the camera has fresh batteries. Give it time, since the first report can take up to 30 minutes.

If it still fails, move the camera to a spot with stronger cell coverage.