Tapo C510W Evening Problems
I have recently installed a Tapo C510W and each evening the camera has stopped streaming and usually turns up into its racket and the light turns red. Tonight it has at least now stopped turning up but is frozen and does not stream. The green light is on.
It works during the day. It is on the same network as my iPad and iPhone and while being outside, it is not a huge distance from the router. The phone and iPad work fine within this range from the router.
I am pretty much at my wits end trying to get this device to work properly now and would appreciate any help
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Hi,
Please confirm the following information about the reported phenomenon.
1. What do you mean by saying the camera "turns up into its racket"? Does the camera tilt its lens up until it's physically covered?
2. Is your camera connected to the original power adapter and cord that comes with the camera in the package? If not, please use the original power adapter and cord, then check whether the camera works fine.
3. When the camera is working, please go to its Device Settings > Device Info page, tap the Wi-Fi icon, and check the RSSI value.
4. On the Tapo app > Cameras tab > Home/Away mode card, does your camera include? In the Tapo app > Smart tab, are there any shortcuts or automation entries for your camera? If so, what shortcut or automation entries have you configured for your camera?
5. What are the hardware and firmware versions of your camera?
Best Regards
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@Solla-topee Apologies for the delay in responding.
1. Typo - the camera turns up into its 'bracket'. Yes, it faces upwards and either flashes red or static red.
2. The camera is connected with the original cord and power adaptor but has a 10m extension cable attached from camera to original cord/adaptor. I am sure you can appreciate that 3m is nowhere near long enough to connect between an internal socket and external device.
3. I see a value recorded against signal strength of -89(RSSI). Is this what you are meaning?
4. Yes my camera is shown in the 'Home/Away' tab. There are no Automation added for the camera.
5. The hardware version is 2.0 and firmware is 1.2.1
I hope this answers all your questions. Today I have moved the camera outside the house to see if things improve. So far it is variable.
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Hi,
The abnormal phenomenon you experienced in the evening may be related to the extension power cord. It's recommended to move the camera's location and connect it only to the original power adapter and power cord, then test whether it works fine day and night.
The -89 dBm signal strength is too weak; it indicates a poor connection between the camera and router, which can easily cause disconnections. It is recommended to move the camera and router closer together and ensure the RSSI is above -60 dBm for a better performance.
Best Regards
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@Solla-topee I appreciate your response.
1. The supplied power cable is only 3m and I am sure, as I already said, this is not long enough to provide reasonable flexibility when it comes to positioning. When feeding a cable through ceiling, lofts and soffits, a significantly longer cable is required and if essential should be supplied. Or at very least, a warning be given that a close source of mains power is required. For me, to do what you suggest would mean extending my mains supply into my loft, close to the eaves and only then connecting the camera. This is practically unacceptable, since it would mean accessing the loft every time the power requires to be switched off or on for the device. I also think it unsafe to locate a mains power outlet so close to the edge of the roof.
2. I have now purchased a TP-Link RE300 WIFI extender and the RSSI is now -58.
I do appreciate your help with this matter but I am very unhappy that this process which is advertised as relatively simple and straightforward has proved to be quite costly and still is not working. Last night, despite the significantly improved signal, the camera again stopped working - as it has done every evening since it was purchased and installed.
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Hi,
Typically, we recommend powering the camera only with the original power adapter and cord, and you can find the power cord length info in the camera's Datasheet on our official website before purchasing.
In your situation, please try to unmount the camera, power it with the original power adapter and cord only(without the extension power cord), and then test if it's working fine, even in the evening.
If so, the Tapo C510W may not be suited for your scenario if an extension power cord is required. You can go to this link to see if any battery-powered camera models interest you, and then contact your retailer to see if you can change the model or return your camera.
Best Regards
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I was aware of the length of the cable but was not aware that the device was unsuitable for an extension cable. Furthermore, as I have explained, for an externally mounted camera, I would think that most people use some form of extension.
This morning, I did connect the supplied cable directly to the camera despite the fact that this was, as I say, very difficult given the restrictions of the cable.
So far, I have had to buy extension cables, WIFI signal boosters and spent many wet evening up a ladder trying to get this camera to work. I am pretty sure my circumstances are not unique and therefore it should be made clear on the sales material that there are issues with this device that make it suitable only for very specific circumstances. And, they could perhaps supply a cable that is a realistic length.
As for trying to replace it with a battery one? I am not sure that the supplier will be very sympathetic to me returning a device which is 'unsuitable' and used meaning that I will have to pay further significant expenditure.
Hopefully, there will be many who read this post and realise that this device is not as easy to instal as is suggested.
Finally, do you know who I can complain to regarding this issue?
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