Tapo C420 Clips Settings
Can you please explain to me in-depth what the three clips settings really are? I have them set like so:
Reteigger time: 10 sec
Record buffer: 6 sec
Clip length: 40 sec
But the longest clip I get is 34 secs even if there is still motion. Does that mean that the camera stopped sensing the motion at 28 sec and it just added the record buffer of 6 sec resulting to a 34 sec video?
When does the retrigger time come into play?
What happens if there is motion, the camera starts recording, then the motion stops, then there is motion again during the record buffer window? Will it stop the buffer and continue recording until the max clip length? Or will it discard the motion detection because it is already in the buffer window?
You need to write a good documentation regarding these settings. I cannot find an in-depth explanation anywhere in your site!
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Hi,
1. If the clip length is set to 40s, usually, the longest clip length can up to 40s. For example, if there is motion always, the camera will keep recording, and the maximum clip length is 40s, if the motion lasts 35s, the clip length can up to 40s because the record buffer is 6s.
If your longest clip length is 34s, please help confirm the following information.
1) On the camera's Device Settings>Device Info page, tap the Wi-Fi icon and send me the signal strength value.
2) You can try to move the camera close to the hub or move the hub close to the camera, and check if the longest clip length will change.
2. The Retrigger time will take effect after the Record buffer time runs out. If there is motion, the camera starts recording, then the motion stops, and then there is motion again during the record buffer window, the camera will continue recording until the whole clip length is up to 40s.
Best Regards
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Can anyone from Tapo help me out here? @Solla-topee ???
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Hi,
1. If the clip length is set to 40s, usually, the longest clip length can up to 40s. For example, if there is motion always, the camera will keep recording, and the maximum clip length is 40s, if the motion lasts 35s, the clip length can up to 40s because the record buffer is 6s.
If your longest clip length is 34s, please help confirm the following information.
1) On the camera's Device Settings>Device Info page, tap the Wi-Fi icon and send me the signal strength value.
2) You can try to move the camera close to the hub or move the hub close to the camera, and check if the longest clip length will change.
2. The Retrigger time will take effect after the Record buffer time runs out. If there is motion, the camera starts recording, then the motion stops, and then there is motion again during the record buffer window, the camera will continue recording until the whole clip length is up to 40s.
Best Regards
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What you described is exactly my understanding on how the camera works. Right now, I set the cameras to have a max clip length of 120 seconds and the recorded clips I see are almost all short (around 8 to 15 seconds) and it is very evident in the recordings that there is still motion in the area when the recording stops. So there's really something wrong with this camera.
1) I see two bars in the signal strength of the camera in question.
2) I tried moving the hub closer to the camera already and there is no change.
I also don't understand how signal strength has anything to do with this issue? The signal is needed so the camera can record directly to the microSD inserted in the hub. And obviously, it is doing that already. I had a lot of clips per day (since the camera is installed in the garage) but 95% of them are 8 seconds in length.
I also have a support case opened for this issue if you want collaborate with your peers: TKID240226966
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@kevindd992002 I'm following your thread...
If Tapo use your support ticket to progress things please keep this thread updated as well.
Thanks 
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@HmmmUK I definitely will. Are you having the same issues?
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@kevindd992002 Thanks. I've not long had my C420s and still getting my head round things 
Second set ordered as I'm pretty impressed, just trying to set everything up to meet my needs.
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Hi,
1. The camera's signal strength may affect the speed of storing video clips to the microSD card, and this factor may affect the video clip's length.
2. I have escalated your case to the tech team, and they will likely reach out to you via email to continue troubleshooting your issue. Please check your email box and confirm.
Best Regards
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1. I see. Fortunately, the camera has two bars of connectivity to the Hub so I doubt that that is the problem.
2. Yes, I just saw the email and will reply to him with the troubleshooting information they need. I hope we can get to the bottom of this.
Thanks for the help!
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