Originally posted @ £21.64: ***PRICE HAS NOW GONE UP TO £24.41***
I recently bought two of these from a recommendation off this very website and would like to promote them once more because they are simply fantastic.
The app is in Chinese (some bits are translated to English), but is very easy to work. The 1080p wide angle lens is similar to that found in a dashcam if any of you have one.
These are be powered by micro usb, so can be used anywhere - even using a portable power supply (usb powerbank).
If you have pesky pets or a child you'd like to keep your eye on in real-time whilst in another room, then these are perfect and at under £25 they're an absolute steal.
Top comments
djames108 to sie1984
22 Mar 177#5
mains USB charger....... :stuck_out_tongue:
mk-donald
22 Mar 174#33
Just some random observations as had one of these for a couple of months, and I stand to be corrected on them:
Mi Home is the Android app that integrates it with other Mi Smart Gateway/Yeelights etc.
Camera works on regular g WiFi 2.4
Needs an external power supply fed to it thru its microUSB port ie 5V allegedly 1A from memory but I use an old mains rated 0.5A one.
As has been mentioned the app's controls/menus are only partially and poorly translated so haven't deduced yet fully how to exploit/understand it fully.
The Motion alarm with auto video recording only records for 15 seconds to local SD
The motion detection is unsophisticated and eg picks up passing headlights here so not usable for alerts.
Time Lapse works to local SD card
Low light viewing (no light!) via built in InfraRed good
The Mi Home app works locally and remotely to look at live over WiFi and over eg Vodafone 3G/4G but isn't always 100% reliable, especially if I've used the 'off' button to turn the camera off between remote monitoring.
The app can also "pull" ie download a snap/video file from the camera SD to the app for viewing, but playback control is pretty limited - and it's SLOW at that from the limited trials I've done
The Mi Home app itself keeps getting updated - and will update the camera firmware too - and keeps getting better & "more english" but it isn't flawless - eg has a bug that keeps randomly requiring a re-log-in and sometimes won't move from id to password field on first update (and briefly had a crash bug that wouldn't allow the Mi Smart Gateway to add devices through the software - you had to do it manually using the button on top of the Gateway)
It looks as if there is a HACK site where (trustable?) people have updated the firmware to make it far more capable, and that's a topic I intend to look into.
Conclusion : to get into the WiFi camera with remote viewing capabilities it's a cheap entry-level that will help you find out what features you want/need/value.
All comments (43)
teerex
22 Mar 171#1
I've heard these can be difficult to set up? OP, what's your experience of this?
tek-monkey
22 Mar 17#2
Also interested in these, I'd prefer to run a few through some desktop software if possible.
sefgrt123 to tek-monkey
22 Mar 17#12
Yeah i've google'd it and there are ways, but nothing I'm clued up enough to work out haha.
sie1984
22 Mar 17#3
Is there an option to run from mains as opposed to USB
djames108 to sie1984
22 Mar 177#5
mains USB charger....... :stuck_out_tongue:
sefgrt123 to sie1984
22 Mar 17#11
Just via a usb plug (which is supplied), like an iPhone.
rafe17
22 Mar 17#4
Can you record the video feed to your phone via the app or does it just record to the micro SD card?
sefgrt123 to rafe17
22 Mar 171#10
Yeah you need an SD Card, but once in you can record and download to your phone/tablet.
shinds
22 Mar 172#6
They don't do a proper English version of this?
sefgrt123 to shinds
22 Mar 17#9
The camera is pretty self explanatory, but the App is not fully translated. They're getting there though as more is now in English than when I first downloaded the app.
naeembashir
22 Mar 17#7
can you download the app onto a samsung or lg smart tv?
sefgrt123 to naeembashir
22 Mar 171#8
If full android play store then shouldn't be an issue.
pete1993
22 Mar 17#13
Curious about these as well. You talk about this being useful for keeping an eye on pets or kids in another room real-time - is it possible to do that remotely as well, if you're not connected to the same WIFI network?
sefgrt123 to pete1993
22 Mar 17#14
Yes - however if you're on EE 3G/4G the app doesn't work (i've not contacted them yet to ask why). But my other half is on o2 3G/4G and the app works remotely perfectly fine for her. Haven't tested other networks though.
PointDex
22 Mar 17#15
It's OK, but not very clear when things moves
sefgrt123 to PointDex
22 Mar 171#16
It's not broadcast quality, no, but it is most definitely watchable. Motion is smooth for me and clarity not an issue :smiley:
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Opening post
I recently bought two of these from a recommendation off this very website and would like to promote them once more because they are simply fantastic.
The app is in Chinese (some bits are translated to English), but is very easy to work. The 1080p wide angle lens is similar to that found in a dashcam if any of you have one.
These are be powered by micro usb, so can be used anywhere - even using a portable power supply (usb powerbank).
If you have pesky pets or a child you'd like to keep your eye on in real-time whilst in another room, then these are perfect and at under £25 they're an absolute steal.
Top comments
Mi Home is the Android app that integrates it with other Mi Smart Gateway/Yeelights etc.
Camera works on regular g WiFi 2.4
Needs an external power supply fed to it thru its microUSB port ie 5V allegedly 1A from memory but I use an old mains rated 0.5A one.
As has been mentioned the app's controls/menus are only partially and poorly translated so haven't deduced yet fully how to exploit/understand it fully.
The Motion alarm with auto video recording only records for 15 seconds to local SD
The motion detection is unsophisticated and eg picks up passing headlights here so not usable for alerts.
Time Lapse works to local SD card
Low light viewing (no light!) via built in InfraRed good
The Mi Home app works locally and remotely to look at live over WiFi and over eg Vodafone 3G/4G but isn't always 100% reliable, especially if I've used the 'off' button to turn the camera off between remote monitoring.
The app can also "pull" ie download a snap/video file from the camera SD to the app for viewing, but playback control is pretty limited - and it's SLOW at that from the limited trials I've done
The Mi Home app itself keeps getting updated - and will update the camera firmware too - and keeps getting better & "more english" but it isn't flawless - eg has a bug that keeps randomly requiring a re-log-in and sometimes won't move from id to password field on first update (and briefly had a crash bug that wouldn't allow the Mi Smart Gateway to add devices through the software - you had to do it manually using the button on top of the Gateway)
It looks as if there is a HACK site where (trustable?) people have updated the firmware to make it far more capable, and that's a topic I intend to look into.
Conclusion : to get into the WiFi camera with remote viewing capabilities it's a cheap entry-level that will help you find out what features you want/need/value.
All comments (43)