I’m just guessing now but could it be that the camera is being affected by conflicting signals even inside?
I had that problem once and discovered it using a wifi analyzer program on my android.
I ended up changing the wifi broadcast channel on the router and it fixed that problem.
The part I can’t figure out is the time frame of your problem. It almost sounds like its being knocked off by another item at certain times.
Is the fixed IP address outside of the DHCP table?
I understand your frustration but hopefully with everybody’s help here we can figure it out…
I’m not giving up, I want this foscam to work! The static IP is outside of the DHCP leased addresses, but I’ll change it to even further outside of the range.
I’ll look into a different broadcast channel - I did it when I first installed the wireless here, but I’ll do it again.
Over the weekend I’m going to try the camera with a DHCP address, too, to see if that will help - I thought putting it on a static IP would take out one more variable, but we’ll see.
Sorry to hear about your problems with the camera. As far as my Foscam PTZ goes I had it on Wifi for 4 months and it never lost connection (that I could catch). It wasn’t far from the router, which I have the luxury of sticking in the attic in the center of my house, maybe 10’-15’ away. Also it is communicating directly with my Fios Router (Static IP using WPA/WPA2) and not through any access points.
Dumb question but, is your power cord connected directly to the camera or are you using a POE injector kit? I’ve found the standard power supply doesn’t travel very far over POE (Power Over Ethernet). Last resort suggestion…
We are very surprised about the involvement of our company’s name on this forum and would like to set a couple of facts straight:
You have purchased a FI8918W from us, not a FI8908W. The FI8908W was discontinued aprox 6 Months ago.
The camera you purchased needs to be properly integrated into your LAN network environment.
You are not the first customer facing this problem among the thousands of deployments we have had, and the main reason is a duplicate IP Address assigned by your router in the network.
The only solution to this problem is to find the device on the network which is creating the problem. It could be the Router itself, or another device like a computer, laptop etc, which at the time of joining the network will make the camera disconnect.
A second common problem is an instability created by a neighboring wireless network.
This problem can be identified and troubleshooted by connecting the camera via an Ethernet cable to the router.
Without understanding the route cause, you will not be get the camera working.
www.IPCam-Central.com is providing a remote installation service for customers who need support.
The remote troubleshooting of a network is a time consuming process and therefore has a cost.
We offer it at a fixed price with a money back guarantee. You have the option to use it, if so desired.
IPCam-Central.com return policy enables you to return the camera for a full refund of the camera cost within 30 days from purchase.
IPCam-Central.com will also replace the camera free of charge, in case the camera is found as defective. Obviously the comments left by you on this forum indicate that the camera is working properly to the point it freezes.
If desired, you have the option of returning the camera and an RMA was issued based on your request.
The use of a more business like language on this forum will be appreciated. Only an understanding of the root cause of the problem will get you closer
to a resolution of the technical problems you experienced.
I realize what model number I purchased. In the interest of not starting a new thread on a related topic, I appended to a current thread.
I’m well aware how to “properly integrate devices into my LAN environment”
(3.?) As I told you in the email, there is no duplicate IP address within in my network environment. I’ve tried many different static IP addresses that are outside of the set DHCP addresses available. I’ve tried the camera with DHCP and had similar (albeit, worse) results.
I’ve used IP Scanner over the past week to be sure that there are absolutely no IP conflicts within my network.
I use iStumbler to make sure that my wireless network is not in conflict with any other networks within range.
I also do not have any 2.4GHz phones in the house and have not used the microwave since installing this camera.
I understand that - that’s why I emailed for your support as well as posting in this topic where people might have had the same issues.
I’m not going to troubleshoot it with an ethernet cable. I did not buy it to be tethered to my router. If it doesn’t work with wireless it’s useless to me.
I also refuse to pay $60 for you to set an IP address on the camera for me.
It’s going in the mail tomorrow.
“Business like” language? I’m not a business. I’m a frustrated customer who has described a product you’re selling as ‘a POS’ (it is – it cannot hold a wireless connection). I described your support as ‘worthless’ (it is – it has no ‘worth’ to me).
Set a static IP assignment on your Foscam. Here is an example from my network
Foscam → Basic Network Settings
Obtain IP from DHCP Server: UNCHECKED
IP Addr: 192.168.1.127
Subnet: Mask 255.255.255.0
Gateway: 192.168.1.127
DNS Server: 192.168.1.127
Http Port: 81
Reserve the IP address in your routers DHCP Reservation list, supply the mac address (from bottom of foscam) and the ip address set in Foscam settings in step 1 ie
Set a port forward in your router for port 81 to your Foscam this routes any internet request on port 81 to your Foscam (such as http://www.yourdomain_or_ip.com:81) . You’ll find port forwarding sometimes under applications/gaming on some routers, and under port forwarding on others. You want to set a “Single Port Forward”
Router → Single Port Forwarding
Name Ext Int Protocol IP
Foscam 81 81 TCP/UDP 192.168.1.127
determine what your external ip address is (assigned by your internet provider). if you have a dynamic IP address with your internet provider then use http://www.whatismyip.com to see what IP they’ve assigned you. Then to test it try that ip address and append :81 in your browser. You should be able to access the foscam from outside your local network using this. For example if your external IP is 66.163.62.183 then type into your browser http://66.163.62.183:81
If you have a dynamic IP as most people do (static IPs are typically offered as a premium charge, most people don’t have them) your external IP address will change periodically, ie when you reset your DSL/CableModem or depending on the IP expiration settings your provider has set in your modem. In order to give you a consistent way to access your home network remotely regardless of how often your IP changes, you can use dyndns. Most routers support dyndns.
You simply create a free dyndns account on dyndns.orgMy Dyn Account and choose a free domain name like myname.dyndns.org They will try to upgrade you to pro and premium services, but you don’t require them. The free ip hosting service is all you need. After you create your dyndns free account, go into your router and look for dyndns, or ddns, or dynamic dns.
That should do it. Then you should be able to access your foscam from outside your home network with any browser by entering http://myname.dyndns.org:81
hope that helps,
sk
[/quote] Hi Everyone, I need your help if you would be so kind. I live in the UK and have 4 x IP cams there. I have email alerts set up using GMX.com and it works great. I also use Blue Iris on my PC.
At the moment I am in the Philippines and I have just set up 4 x Focams and they work great on Lan. I have set up GMX email acounts but because here the internet is dynamic and not static like the UK when I submit and test email I get the message server error.
Can somebody help me get this working as we fly back on the 14th July and I wont be back for at least a year.
[quote=“IPCam-central.com, post:166, topic:165921”]We are very surprised about the involvement of our company’s name on this forum. www.IPCam-Central.com is providing a remote installation service for customers who need support.
Bet regards,
David K IPCam-Central.com[/quote]
i just got my foscam 8918 last week. I emailed IPCam Central twice who responded in less than 24 hours and my initial problems were resolved. This forum was a big help in my setup. Although my setup is not complete (no movement, no pan/tilt, but there is video), I will not return the camera because the price is reasonable and vera2 detected it automatically. compared to my panasonic BLC230 which i bought for $352 a year ago and until now is not integrated with vera2 - it was in my vera with the help of Mr Ovidiu but disappeared when I upgraded to UI4. Just my 2 cents. thanks.
I can walk you through the steps to get the Pan & Tilt working if you want.
What camera plugin are you using for this camera…
The Generic or the Panasonic PTZ?
JOD.
*Edit. The first step is to download the “@shady special” which is the modified I_PanasonicPTZ.xml from here
Next, goto Mios developers => Luup files and scroll to the bottom of the page, click Browse and locate the I_PanasonicPTZ.xml you downloaded above.
Click Go to upload the file and watch that the file successfully uploads. Then click SAVE and wait for the engine to restart.
The next step depends on if you are using the Generic plugin or the Panasonic PTZ.
If you are using the Panasonic PTZ plugin you should be all set.
If you are using the Generic plugin, copy and paste I_PanasonicPTZ.xml into the impl_file area located under the Advanced tab of that plugin.
Then click SAVE and wait for the engine to restart. You should be all set.
I can walk you through the steps to get the Pan & Tilt working if you want.
What camera plugin are you using for this camera…
The Generic or the Panasonic PTZ?
JOD.
*Edit. The first step is to download the “@shady special” which is the modified I_PanasonicPTZ.xml from here
Next, goto Mios developers => Luup files and scroll to the bottom of the page, click Browse and locate the I_PanasonicPTZ.xml you downloaded above.
Click Go to upload the file and watch that the file successfully uploads. Then click SAVE and wait for the engine to restart.
The next step depends on if you are using the Generic plugin or the Panasonic PTZ.
If you are using the Panasonic PTZ plugin you should be all set.
If you are using the Generic plugin, copy and paste I_PanasonicPTZ.xml into the impl_file area located under the Advanced tab of that plugin.
Then click SAVE and wait for the engine to restart. You should be all set.[/quote]
Thanks JOD, I am not very techy. I am using Generic IP Camera although I also have the Pansonic PTZ in the MIOS market place section. Shady special already downloaded to my desktop. Upload is successful but the “red save button” on the top right corner of MIOS is not available. Anyway, I went ahead and copy and paste the Shady special to the imp_file in the advanced tab of the generic IP camera. Then i clicked “add” and says “succeed, new device data added”. However, the “impl_file” returns to a blank field. Maybe the problem is after uploading the Shady special successfully, the red save button is not available.
hi JOD, thanks for your help. really appreciate it. everything is now working (so far). it’s in my vera2. i can also connect through the internet using my DDNS domain host name, username and password away from home. free app "cam viewer for iphone is also great especially the patrol button. the only minor problem is the buttons are the opposite: click the left button and the camera goes to the right, same with up, down buttons (i can live with that). i already downloaded the VLC media player but still no sound. thanks again JOD and everyone in this forum.
[quote=“waltzer11, post:176, topic:165921”]the only minor problem is the buttons are the opposite: click the left button and the camera goes to the right, same with up, down buttons[/quote]Yes, I did try to change the Left / Right controls by exchanging the command=6 with the command=4 and vice versa. See here. But it returns a Lua error, it’s on my list to revisit and take another look at it.
The Up / Down controls work correctly in my setup.
[quote=“wilsonworx, post:177, topic:165921”]Sorry if I’m missing the obvious, but I don’t see the attached file in the link to @shady…[/quote]@wilsonworx,
You may need to have a certain number of posts under your belt before you can see attachements.
Can someone chime in if that’s the case? How many posts?
So for my Brave New Vera2, I decided to clean my approach up. I installed the Foscam 8918 as a Generic IP Camera. I uploaded my custom implementation file (which I named I_Foscam_9818.xml). And then took the camera instance and changed the “I” file in the advanced settings tab to point to that. This way, if I do decide to drop the $$$ for a Pannie at some point, its install can just go by the book (and wizard). Works fine.
