Xiaomi Ants HD IP Camera (Dropcam Clone) for less then €30

McG

Works fine with new software/firmware but no sound from camera (can play sound back through it but it's not sending anything to the app). Video is perfect.

yoshimitsu

I'm in the same situation as an earlier poster: bought 2, still in box... i'm dreading the set up process. I'm waiting for the official iOS app and/or a foolproof way to view/record stream through VLC on a PC. I keep on monitoring en.miui.com for updates but so far still dead in the water.
If anybody finds any other resource/forum/help pls share!

Big Nelly

Took delivery of one of these cameras last week or before. Only got chance to set up last night, using it for baby camera. Took ages to get the camera working with Iphone. I am not using the app linked on here. I scanned a QR code on the instructions and it brought me to download iphone app. It is green icon and version 1.2.0. The name of the app is in chinese.....green with white MI in writing and then roof with chimney over the MI if that helps??

To get working I had to push the reset button, it spoke something in chinese(well i guess chinese), then yellow light flashed and tried to add via phone. What I found happening was it would scan till 100%, say no camera found. Blue light would go on camera, reset camera. Would say something, Yellow light flashing, start searching again, then would say something again from camera. App would go to 100% and say it couldn't find camera. Then it would kick out and camera would be added.

I tried to add another phone but seems you can only have one main user. So had to reset a few times. I had MI account from the Miband so got that up and running quickly. Trying to add wife phones and so far doesn't seem to allow me to nominate her via the option in app but could be because I just created her account yesterday

Picture etc is ok, just using for baby monitor. Audio works ok via phone and talk feature works. Will do the job. Checked from work and can get a picture up on iphone.

I found it pretty easy to set up when compared to the other camera I have installed. I bought Tenvis from Amazon, the software to install the camera has to be installed on laptop and took ages for it to pick up the camera. Once it picked it up I had loads of issues adding it to wireless network, then I had to open ports on router etc. Now I didn't know what I was doing so didnt help but was not easy. I found this camera easier but would be alot better if some sort of English was included.

This camera when I added it, popped up and said new firmware and to slot in SD card, popped it in, rebooted camera to pick up SD card and then it upgraded the software. Happy days.

yoshimitsu

Cheers Big Nelly. looks doable. Will try over the weekend

ballooba

Has anyone else had issues inserting an SD Card? I use a 64GB SDXC card and it goes into a reboot loop when I insert the card.

toddunctious

ballooba wrote: »

Has anyone else had issues inserting an SD Card? I use a 64GB SDXC card and it goes into a reboot loop when I insert the card.

32gb is max supported

ballooba

Balls. Any idea how much is required to do the firmware update? I have a 1GB and a 64GB.

Nforce

1GB card will be fine for the firmware update.

Big Nelly

Not sure if any help, I took a pic of QR code and attached to this post, if you can open this will bring you to the app I used.....I wonder if this is any better/worse than app linked on here?

savemejebus

New Smarthome App available and seems to be fully translated. Download from http://xiaomi.eu/SmartHome_2.5.3_60133.apk.

Just installed it and it is working much better than the previous one.

I finally managed to connect with the Smart Home app! I still think the software is mental though. The most embarrassing things is that the time stamp of the video feed in the top left is 8 hours ahead of Irish time....I just don't know how to fix it..:D

sinjin_smythe

savemejebus wrote: »

New Smarthome App available and seems to be fully translated. Download from http://xiaomi.eu/SmartHome_2.5.3_60133.apk.

Just installed it and it is working much better than the previous one.

Ive downloaded the file but my phone doesn't recognise it, any ideas?

eamonnq

weedhead wrote: »

Ive downloaded the file but my phone doesn't recognise it, any ideas?

Rename it so the file extension is .apk

When I downloaded it on the phone is came with .man extension, renamed it and it installed. Have not done anything else with it yet, just installed the app.

sinjin_smythe

eamonnq wrote: »

Rename it so the file extension is .apk

When I downloaded it on the phone is came with .man extension, renamed it and it installed. Have not done anything else with it yet, just installed the app.

cheers, that worked

Has anyone downgraded the firmware successfully? Currently I can't browse the contents of my SD card in my browser. Nor can I view the rtsp streams. Just wondering might it cause me more trouble than it's worth!

toddunctious

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Has anyone downgraded the firmware successfully? Currently I can't browse the contents of my SD card in my browser. Nor can I view the rtsp streams. Just wondering might it cause me more trouble than it's worth!

Ye I downgraded to version that let's you do the above
After I finally got it going
You need to have old firmware on a sd card then reset the camera insert card and wait for it to update

Nice one, thank you!! Don't suppose you have a link to the firmware to save me a bit of searching?

edit: Think this is the solution:

http://en.miui.com/forum.php?mod=redirect&goto=findpost&ptid=70205&pid=1616543

toddunctious

That's it

OREGATO

Just received a letter from customs looking for the receipt!

Any ideas on how much the charges are for this item?

Cheers,

O

Depends on how much you paid....mine cost €35 so €8 charge + €7 An Post handling fee = €50 and lots of resentment.

eamonnq

Right I downgraded the firmware so now I can access the recording through my browser. Haven't tried the live stream/rtsp feature yet. One thing I noticed when taking out the micro sd I've had in there for the last two months was that there was only today's and the last three day's recordings. So it would seem anything over 8GB would be overkill.

eamonnq wrote: »

If you can get the IP address of the camera and open it in a browser it will let you browse the contents of the micro sd card ( the recordings), have not found a way to set the IP address though as it keeps changing, so accessing it from outside your home network is a struggle.

Why didn't you just bind the camera to a static ip address in your modem's settings? Then you could do some port forwarding (port 80?) and use a service like no-ip.com.

eamonnq

Deleted User wrote: »

Why didn't you just bind the camera to a static ip address in your modem's settings? Then you could do some port forwarding (port 80?) and use a service like no-ip.com.

Because to do that I would probably need to know 'how' to do that, I did try something like IP Address reserve by attempting to tie the MAC address to the IP address, but it did not seem to have the desired effect.

Ah I see sorry. Well unless you turn off your modem/router I don't see why the internal ip address would change. For the live streams I just port forwarded 554 and then put my external ip address into:

rtsp://(MY EXTERNAL IP):554/ch0_0.h264

Put that into VLC and it's working fine (I think, will check for sure at work tomorrow).

I can't figure out if it's possible to access the sd card externally...I don't think it's possible.

OREGATO

Ok, I've managed to get this now, build quality looks pretty good.

In terms of setting up, can someone just write a post to explain how to do it?

Is there a way to hook this up to other apps instead of the ones recommended on this thread?

Has anyone found a way to get the IP address of this camera yet?

OREGATO

OREGATO wrote: »

Ok, I've managed to get this now, build quality looks pretty good.

In terms of setting up, can someone just write a post to explain how to do it?

Is there a way to hook this up to other apps instead of the ones recommended on this thread?

Has anyone found a way to get the IP address of this camera yet?

Update, managed to get it up and running with the app linked a few pages back, relatively simple.

One question, does the camera automatically record if it picks up movement? It doesn't seem to from what I can see..

Is there a way to get the IP address of the camera as well?

eamonnq

You can probably see the IP address on your router settings.

I can see mine, but just can't set it.

OREGATO

Thanks eamonnq,

You mentioned a few pages back that the timeline goes orange when there is a recording based on motion detection, this doesn't appear to be working for me, I have an SD card in the device but I can't seem to see any via the app.

Also, the default seems to be SD quality and every time I set it to HD, the next time I go back into the app, it's in SD. Any ideas how to change this permanently?

Thanks in advance

stevire

Using the Chrome Extension - ARC Welder, you can run the Smart Home apk and view your video stream etc. Works pretty well! Easier than setting up port forwarding and rtsp streams....

Skippy along

Got mine last week downloaded the apk file I'm able to view the camera on my android phone but the picture seems to be playing in slow motion it's driving me nuts any help please

OREGATO

Any chance anyone would have one of these and are not using it? I'm looking for another one for a friend if you want to sell it?

Drop me a pm?

Thanks, O

OREGATO

Bump - How's everyones experience with this camera?

I've just ordered the night version one from Aliexpress now too. The one I have is working pretty well although the camera clock time is annoying as the recordings can be all over the place? Anyone any ideas how to change the clock time?

crasy dash

OREGATO wrote: »

Bump - How's everyones experience with this camera?

I've just ordered the night version one from Aliexpress now too. The one I have is working pretty well although the camera clock time is annoying as the recordings can be all over the place? Anyone any ideas how to change the clock time?

Do you have a link to the night version you ordered?
Wanted to order one but previous postees said that it wasn't any good at night

Is there a newer version how much did it cost you?

Thanks
Dash

OREGATO

Hey Dash,

Here you are: http://www.aliexpress.com/item/original-Xiaomi-Smart-Camera-Xiaomi-xiaoyi-Small-ants-smart-webcam-for-smart-home-life-z/32225787558.html I'm not affiliated with the buyer or anything, I did a search on Aliexpress and read the reviews for them, a lot of positives and mentions of fast dispatch and fast enough delivery. I ordered yesterday afternoon and it was dispatched overnight with tracking.

Cost wise, I think it's only a few quid more than the non night time version, works out at $39.99 but not sure on the conversion to euros.

HTH,

O

air

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Right I downgraded the firmware so now I can access the recording through my browser. Haven't tried the live stream/rtsp feature yet. One thing I noticed when taking out the micro sd I've had in there for the last two months was that there was only today's and the last three day's recordings. So it would seem anything over 8GB would be overkill.

Is this still an issue with current firmware?
Do the recordings roll over by date before the SD card capacity is filled?

Not sure about the current firmware mate. Also I was wrong about the recordings. I checked my 32GB Micro SD and it was full and it's a case of the oldest stuff getting removed first.

Skippy along

Posted a few weeks ago but got no replies anybody have any ideas baby on the way soooon... Got mine last week downloaded the apk file I'm able to view the camera on my android phone but the picture seems to be playing in slow motion it's driving me nuts any help please

Gran Hermano

I hadn't heard xiaomi were updating it with a new model including built in IR.
Like most cameras you'll end up with the IR light reflecting on the glass if you're using it through a window at night.
My ant cam works well at night and just using ambient street light. Needless to say it won't work in complete darkness but works better than I'd hoped in low light.

I've held off updating the firmware. Do we still have the issue whereby the latest firmware will not let you use 3rd party apps because we don't have the username and password? I need the ability to use the one app or PC program to view several brands of IP cams at once. I can do this with the older firmware.

OREGATO

Skippy, what type of internet connection do you have? my streams pretty well, it's not perfect and can be a little choppy but it's still watchable.

In terms of low light, I'd agree with Gran that the current model works ok in low light, pitch dark, you won't see anything but I guess that's why I'm going to try out the newer model.

I've updated the app to the latest and in one of the release notes, it did mention that it was adding in support for the IR on the new camera so it'll be the same app.

My biggest gripe is the time different as it really messes up with the recordings time line in the app.

Gran Hermano

I believe the time issue is due to how the camera syncs with the xiaomi servers and that's why it's showing Chinese tme zone. I haven't seen a work around. As you said O it is annoying when using time line to click on old re ordinhs in-app.

Skippy's issue sounds more like a WiFi issue.

Skippy along

yeah looks like wifi issue gonna have a look at my modem and go from there.. its a pain in the circle thing

Skippy along

Skippy along wrote: »

yeah looks like wifi issue gonna have a look at my modem and go from there.. its a pain in the circle thing

Finally got it going wasn't my wifi had the wrong app used this one https://www.dropbox.com/s/nrv89jh633qf196/smarthome.apk?dl=0

I'm fed up of mine. The inaccurate time and unreliable apps are just too much hassle. Saw a glowing review of a Y-Cam Homemonitor HD in WebUser magazine and ordered it on Amazon.

stevire

Deleted User wrote: »

I'm fed up of mine. The inaccurate time and unreliable apps are just too much hassle. Saw a glowing review of a Y-Cam Homemonitor HD in WebUser magazine and ordered it on Amazon.

No problems here, I just use the official apps provided by Xiaomi. They support English as a language.

There's no comparison between a camera <$30 and a camera ~$200??

Gran Hermano

Not the xiaomi ant, but looks like my memory have a job lot of the Clever Dog WiFi camera on sale. Price starts at GBP25 plus delivery but discounts if you buy 2 or 3. Seems to be an unknown brand and not much info online. App reminds me of the Belkin cams. Delivery from UK/Channel Isles so should be quicker than ordering via China. I'm not gone on the design but looks like worth a punt at that price.

http://www.mymemory.co.uk/Clever%20Dog/All-Products

Gadgetman496

Gran Hermano wrote: »

Not the xiaomi ant, but looks like my memory have a job lot of the Clever Dog WiFi camera on sale. Price starts at GBP25 plus delivery but discounts if you buy 2 or 3. Seems to be an unknown brand and not much info online. App reminds me of the Belkin cams. Delivery from UK/Channel Isles so should be quicker than ordering via China. I'm not gone on the design but looks like worth a punt at that price.

http://www.mymemory.co.uk/Clever%20Dog/All-Products

Pitty it only supports wireless b & g, no N

bossdrum

gadgetman496 wrote:

Pitty it only supports wireless b & g, no N

Excuse my lack of knowledge, but how does that affect the camera by not having N?

If you have your router set to "N only", which is the fastest and newest, then you'd have to go messing around with things to get the camera to connect to your network.

razor12345

Hi

Can this camera be configured to capture images when the motion sensor is activated and emailed to a defined email address

Cheers

Ray

machiavellianme

Deleted User wrote: »

I'm fed up of mine. The inaccurate time and unreliable apps are just too much hassle. Saw a glowing review of a Y-Cam Homemonitor HD in WebUser magazine and ordered it on Amazon.

Any feedback on this? How's it working out?

MoodeRator

Would this cam work well as just a "plug and play" USB webcam? Or would there be better options for me?