Hi, I've setup my Tapo H500 in a couple of months and I'm trying to get its full potential considering its price. As advertised, I intended to use it mainly as part of the camera security system and doorbell interface, as well as a common hub for multiple device integration.

 

HDMI Screen Mirroring is an essential feature in this regard, as it would allow me to check cameras live streaming, including from the doorbell. Unfortunately, it is being a commonly overlooked feature, probably due it's infamous instability and frequent streaming failures, even with a fast Ethernet connection and strong WIFI signal. So naturally, with disappointment and until recently, I had to rely on other apps for a better streaming experience.

 

However, I found the new firmware updates with quite significant improvement on streaming quality (yet still with some delay I hope will be gradually corrected), and I am now exploring this feature to get the most of if, and here is what I found it would be extremely useful to have.

 

 

FEATURES REQUEST

 

• Change Dashboards to stream via AUTOMATION

 

Objective: a trigger would change the cast to a specific dashboard set with the respective device live streaming. Example scenarios I would like to set up:

 

Doorbell press / H500 ringing - if I'm home, this trigger would wake the TV/Monitor on the H500 HDMI input, with a specific dashboard (where the doorbell camera is set) already selected;

 

Camera detection - having an event notification, if suitable for the moment, I could rapidly turn on the TV/Monitor on the H500 HDMI input, having the dashboard with the triggered camera already selected;

 

 

• Change Dashboards to stream via SHORTCUT

 

Objective: clicking the shortcut (and its respective widget) would rapidly and easily change the cast to a specific dashboard set with the intended camera live streaming, which can be useful for surveillance purposes and fast event monitoring.

 

 

 

To sum up:

 

What I can do: for both the above exemplified scenarios, I already can automatically and/or rapidly wake up a TV on the H500 HDMI input in case of an event (via other apps automations, ex.: Google Home, Smartthings, etc);

 

What I cannot do: automatically and rapidly select the intended dashboard, set with a specific camera layout, via H500 Screen Mirroring;

 

What would improve: to select the intended dashboard (and check who pressed the doorbell or investigate an event that caused a camera detection), it is true that I already have 3 options:

• reach the H500 and click in two simultaneous keys repeatedly to manually navigate through the dashboards presets until I find the intended camera streaming, which can be unpractical if the hub hidden for safety purposes (as a NVR should be) and if multiple dashboards are set (as in a useful security system);

• navigate in the Tapo app » Tapo H500 » Screen Mirror » Select the Dashboard to stream, which in a stressful situation is slow and cumbersome;

• wait until the automatic dashboard carousel reaches the one with the intended camera, until it goes away again after expiring the time, which naturally isn't feasible.

It is easy to understand that none of the already existent options is efficient nor practical in any of these scenarios, nor suitable for a true camera security system and a potential doorbell interface as the H500 should be.

 

 

I hope you can find these features request as useful as I do, to allow a quick implementation and exponentially increase the importance of the H500 Screen Mirroring feature, and the experience with the H500 as a whole.

 

Thank you in advance.