316
Votes

Need to change Wifi SSID without resetting the Cameras

 
316
Votes

Need to change Wifi SSID without resetting the Cameras

304 Reply
Re:Need to change Wifi SSID without resetting the Cameras
8 hours ago

@Home_Cameras 

 

I for one, will say "NO", for changing WiFi SSID without resetting the camera.

 

For years, I've setup "Smart Home" WiFi using the TP-Link Omada setup, using wired routers, switches, WiFi Access Points in homes.  But you think this is too expensive, it isn't if you're renting those "Pods" that your ISP's subscriber (PoEW) Modem/WiFi/Router combo lets you extend your WiFi coverage (or worse, you bought a Mesh product, yes I know TP-Link makes residential Mesh products).

 

For smaller homes, one Access Point per floor, if put in the middle and a controller is necessary for most use, the outer lying areas won't get the best speed, but if you need it, then 2 per floor.  Now some of these units are ~$100 per device.  Your "Pods" from your ISP are about $5-7/per Pod per month, that adds up.

 

Having an Omada controller and Access Points managed by that controller will allow seamless moving between Access Points with proper hand-off.  Mesh "Pods" (or any mesh network), talk to the next one in the chain, not back to the original, this is done because the mesh is meant to be laid out in a specific manner.  Having your own Access Points removes you from having to deal with the ISP's modem subscriber (PoEW) Modem/WiFi/Router combo being replaced (for some reason) and the SSID changing (and possibly the network configuration).  Put a switch in with PoE (Power over Ethernet) and you can run the controller and the Access Points with it, a small battery backup to run the whole thing, means your internet stays going in a power failure.

 

Now onto the camera, if you're using your ISP's subscriber (PoEW) Modem/WiFi/Router combo for connecting your cameras, you're doing it wrong and you shouldn't ask for the SSID to be changed without a factory reset.  Factory Reset is the main method of changing WiFi based cameras typically used by quite a few alarm company camera manufacturers (at least the one's I've dealt with, even their doorbells need it too), so TP-Link is following the industry.

 

The better solution:

 

With Omada, settings of devices is stored on the controller.  If a device fails and you have to replace it, you can export that device's settings to the new one.  See where I'm going here?  Tapo should offer the ability to backup each camera's settings under a profile name, when you Factory Reset the camera, you could then re-import those settings back into the camera afterwards, plus if the camera dies due to something and you have to replace it, the migration will make replacing it easier.  This is the proper way to do this, as the settings should lack any network configuration data, to avoid issues when your ISP changes the SSID (and possibly their default network configuration) on their rental equipment.

 

And the "all asked question", "Can Omada manage Tapo devices?"  And the answer is "No."  The future may change that, have to wait and see, but there is VIGI, but as of writing, there is no WiFi capable cameras available.

#312
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Re:Need to change Wifi SSID without resetting the Cameras
6 hours ago

Hi @Home_Cameras,

 

What you are suggesting is that instead of managing our TAPO smart cameras using their mobile app, we should be using TP-Link's "Omada" tool instead - a tool designed to manage routers, switches, access points - and which doesn't support TAPO's cameras.

 

Nor is there a facility to export (and import) TAPO camera configurations in the way that you have described.

 

(Both are points which you acknowledge yourself)

 

So, in summary, you are suggesting two new feature requests: a config export/import capability and an enhancement to a network management tool that is not supported on this forum. (I suspect there would also need to be some new remote management API's added to the cameras)

 

To be blunt, if you genuinely want TAPO / TP-Link to consider your ideas, I think you would be better off raising them as new Feature Requests instead of muddying this one.

I also think that what you are suggesting is more of a enterprise solution, for large scale multi-site corporate implementations - and not the market which TAPO is trying to serve.

 

Finally, even if TAPO and TP-Link were to make the other changes you have suggested, there would still remain the problem that the wi-fi SSID is immutably embedded into each TAPO camera's config, which is the very thing which this Feature Request is asking to be changed.

 

 

#313
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Re:Need to change Wifi SSID without resetting the Cameras
5 hours ago

FUN FACT! Today is the 999th Day (Not Kidding) That the Original post was made!

 

Anyone want to join the 1000th day Celebration tomorrow? 

#314
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Re:Need to change Wifi SSID without resetting the Cameras
an hour ago

  @BYTE-BUiLDERS 

 

What total nonsense.

 

I suggest you go off & find an Omada forum to post in.  I don't think you actually have any 'real world' experience of using these TP-Link Tapo cameras at all and the trouble they cause the average *consumer* when they need/want to modify the WiFi config.  What are you suggesting, that TP-Link should market their Tapo cameras as "only compatible with TP-Link Omada" ?  Get real. TP-Link are not going to do that.

 

It's clear that TP-Link are not going to implement the requested 'modify WiFi config' feature - I suspect because they long ago discovered that it's not possible due to hardware restrictions.  And their lawyers have probably told their management team, that if they admit this publicly, then they will be opened to legal action or a mass product recall.  So TP-Link really want this issue to just die quietly - hence the complete 'radio silence' imposed on this issue by them.

#315
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