Yi Home Camera

snowstreams · 18-03-2019 12:51pm

What kind of power supply or cable length comes with the outdoor yi camera?
I see that I have an old unused satellite dish beside where i want to place the camera.
Im hoping to use the satelite cable to supply the dc power to the camera, it would save all the drilling etc.

jmBuildExt · 19-03-2019 9:07am

snowstreams wrote: »

What kind of power supply or cable length comes with the outdoor yi camera?
I see that I have an old unused satellite dish beside where i want to place the camera.
Im hoping to use the satelite cable to supply the dc power to the camera, it would save all the drilling etc.

3m cable comes with the camera - its a USB type A connection flying lead, its fixed to the camera. But it just uses the power pins from USB line, its not for transmitting data.
You should be ok using co-ax to run the DC voltage (as long as its not miles long) - you just might have to get creative and make up the connectors.

Blanchy90 · 19-03-2019 10:08am

opinions please I'm hoping to buy a camera today on amazon and I am trying to decide between the static camera or the movable dome camera, I want 1080p and it'll be looking out a window.

I'm leaning towards the movable camera

Alanstrainor · 19-03-2019 10:31am

Blanchy90 wrote: »

opinions please I'm hoping to buy a camera today on amazon and I am trying to decide between the static camera or the movable dome camera, I want 1080p and it'll be looking out a window.

I'm leaning towards the movable camera

Links to the cameras? I have the dafang moveable camera and I've found it very good.

Blanchy90 · 19-03-2019 11:08am

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B077TWMHRS/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A3LDXR48R7LTSM&th=1

https://www.amazon.co.uk/YI-Wireless-Security-Detection-Surveillance/dp/B07CPRK6C5/ref=sr_1_5?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1552990079&sr=1-5&keywords=yi+1080p
The single camera doesn't seem to be available

ted1 · 19-03-2019 11:16am

Blanchy90 wrote: »

opinions please I'm hoping to buy a camera today on amazon and I am trying to decide between the static camera or the movable dome camera, I want 1080p and it'll be looking out a window.

I'm leaning towards the movable camera

Just get an outdoor one. The IR lights used in night mode reflect off glass

Blanchy90 · 19-03-2019 11:17am

Or this one is slightly cheaper https://www.amazon.co.uk/YI-Wireless-Security-Surveillance-Detection/dp/B07CTH3MBN/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1552990497&sr=8-6&keywords=yi+1080p

Blanchy90 · 19-03-2019 11:20am

ted1 wrote: »

Just get an outdoor one. The IR lights used in night mode reflect off glass

I will eventually but I need to sort out power in the attic first.

I want something quick for now to keep an eye on my new motorbike. If the lights are reflecting off the glass I'll cover them, there is a bright led street light beside my bike so should be able to see ok

jmBuildExt · 19-03-2019 11:28am

Id get the dome one. If its on e.g. a window sill you can spin it remotely to look inside the house if you need - the other ones are fixed.
The IR LEDS are configurable from the app.
So you can just switch it off and you wont get a IR reflection on the glass. But depending on your lighting inside, you can still get reflections... if it is behind a pulled curtain you should be ok.
If there is light outside you will still see your motorbike, although the ability to ID a face may be diminished.

Blanchy90 · 19-03-2019 11:34am

jmBuildExt wrote: »

Id get the dome one. If its on e.g. a window sill you can spin it remotely to look inside the house if you need - the other ones are fixed.
The IR LEDS are configurable from the app.
So you can just switch it off and you wont get a IR reflection on the glass. But depending on your lighting inside, you can still get reflections... if it is behind a pulled curtain you should be ok.
If there is light outside you will still see your motorbike, although the ability to ID a face may be diminished.

Thanks for that, it'll be behind blackout blinds and curtains so there will be no light from inside. I hadn't thought about being able to look inside that'd be handy for during the day when were out

Blanchy90 · 19-03-2019 1:17pm

I bit the bullet and ordered https://www.amazon.co.uk/YI-Wireless...words=yi+1080p

Johnboy1951 · 24-03-2019 4:41pm

I received a Yi Smart Camera 1080p in error from Gearbest on Thursday.
I ordered from the advertisement which claimed IP66 rating and Protocol: IP,P2P but none of these seem accurate.
https://www.gearbest.com/ip-cameras/pp_009428210043.html?wid=1433363

Has anyone got a Yi Smart Camera 1080p?

I wonder if there is a Firmware hack for this camera?
I find it very difficult reading those hackers posts to determine which cameras can be hacked and which not ....... or more to the point how to determine what chipset is in the camera.

Any help appreciated.

I will try to return it but do not hold out a lot of hope, TBH.

jmBuildExt · 25-03-2019 12:56pm

Johnboy1951 wrote: »

I received a Yi Smart Camera 1080p in error from Gearbest on Thursday.
I ordered from the advertisement which claimed IP66 rating and Protocol: IP,P2P but none of these seem accurate.
https://www.gearbest.com/ip-cameras/pp_009428210043.html?wid=1433363

Has anyone got a Yi Smart Camera 1080p?

I wonder if there is a Firmware hack for this camera?
I find it very difficult reading those hackers posts to determine which cameras can be hacked and which not ....... or more to the point how to determine what chipset is in the camera.

Any help appreciated.

I will try to return it but do not hold out a lot of hope, TBH.

Send a link to the one you received in error.

Richard tea · 25-03-2019 2:19pm

Im having awful trouble adding a second camera to my cloud subscription. I signed up for the 7 day motion detection up to 5 devices. It looks like it want me to buy a new plan for the second camera. Anyone experience similar cloud issues?

ted1 · 25-03-2019 2:44pm

Richard tea wrote: »

Im having awful trouble adding a second camera to my cloud subscription. I signed up for the 7 day motion detection up to 5 devices. It looks like it want me to buy a new plan for the second camera. Anyone experience similar cloud issues?

Do people bother with the cloud plan ? Same functionality with the SD card.

Alanstrainor · 25-03-2019 2:47pm

ted1 wrote: »

Do people bother with the cloud plan ? Same functionality with the SD card.

The risk is what happens when someone gets a big pole and smashes the camera off the wall and takes the sd card. Maybe if it is very high up this is unlikely, but a concern nonetheless.

ted1 · 25-03-2019 2:51pm

Alanstrainor wrote: »

The risk is what happens when someone gets a big pole and smashes the camera off the wall and takes the sd card. Maybe if it is very high up this is unlikely, but a concern nonetheless.

Fair enough. In my location I think that the risk is pretty low.

jmBuildExt · 25-03-2019 3:02pm

Richard tea wrote: »

Im having awful trouble adding a second camera to my cloud subscription. I signed up for the 7 day motion detection up to 5 devices. It looks like it want me to buy a new plan for the second camera. Anyone experience similar cloud issues?

what plan did you sign up for in the first plaace?
Theres one for 60 per annum that gives you 24 hr recording on 1 camera.
Theres another for the same money which gives you 5 cameras and recording starts when motion is detected.

If you have the second option you should be able to add another camera under Discover->Cloud settings. And I think you then click the "manage" button.

If its the first one, Im not sure if you can switch - but you will have to fork out if you want a second on the same terms.

Edit: Must learn to read the writing first

snowstreams · 25-03-2019 3:58pm

jmBuildExt wrote: »

3m cable comes with the camera - its a USB type A connection flying lead, its fixed to the camera. But it just uses the power pins from USB line, its not for transmitting data.
You should be ok using co-ax to run the DC voltage (as long as its not miles long) - you just might have to get creative and make up the connectors.

I have gotten it to work in the daytime using a 12v - 500ma supply to the coax, then a car-usb adapter at the other end of the coax.
But it seems like the infrared light cant work at night at the lower level of power.
The car adapter can take up to 24v, so I think I'll get a 24v supply (or maybe a supply with higher current) to try to increase the current/power at the cameras end.

I'll cover the outdoor connections with Sugru in the end once I happy with solution.

Johnboy1951 · 25-03-2019 5:41pm

Johnboy1951 wrote: »

I received a Yi Smart Camera 1080p in error from Gearbest on Thursday.
I ordered from the advertisement which claimed IP66 rating and Protocol: IP,P2P but none of these seem accurate.
https://www.gearbest.com/ip-cameras/pp_009428210043.html?wid=1433363

Has anyone got a Yi Smart Camera 1080p?

I wonder if there is a Firmware hack for this camera?
I find it very difficult reading those hackers posts to determine which cameras can be hacked and which not ....... or more to the point how to determine what chipset is in the camera.

Any help appreciated.

I will try to return it but do not hold out a lot of hope, TBH.

jmBuildExt wrote: »

Send a link to the one you received in error.

The camera received is the one shown in the advert linked above ..... it is a Yi Smart Camera 1080p which relies on the Yi app for access etc etc. See pic of underside of camera = Smart Camera = and the Yi app uses the same name.

The specifications in the advert are not accurate, as even the Yi app/site warns it is NOT IP66 rated; no IP or P2P that I can find.

It has been branded Go,comma on the front as shown in the pic.

jmBuildExt · 25-03-2019 5:47pm

No Idea.
Have you set it up on the yi app yet?
At some stage it asks you to in the camera type, or choose the camera you have. Be interested to know what youwill need to pick - does it say it anywhere?

Johnboy1951 · 25-03-2019 5:51pm

jmBuildExt wrote: »

No Idea.
Have you set it up on the yi app yet?
At some stage it asks you to in the camera type, or choose the camera you have. Be interested to know what youwill need to pick - does it say it anywhere?

Yes I set it up using the Yi app.
Got it connecting to the router (eventually -- it needed to be placed next to router!) via wireless and then could connect wired to any DHCP router and it gets an IP address.
It is recognised as "Smart Camera" by the Yi app.

It does respond to a ping

I did also get a picture from it on the app ..... and was able to use the PTZ functions.
Unfortunately I do not have in my possession any modern device to take the app, so it was an horrendous experience setting it up and testing it on a real old slow tablet.

jmBuildExt · 25-03-2019 5:53pm

Yeah I see you said that above (I really need to start reading things more carefully : ) )
I'd doubt if it is supported by the hack that we were talking about earlier in the thread. Never heard any mention of that camera type - and ive read through alot of it.

Johnboy1951 · 25-03-2019 5:58pm

jmBuildExt wrote: »

Yeah I see you said that above (I really need to start reading things more carefully : ) )
I'd doubt if it is supported by the hack that we were talking about earlier in the thread. Never heard any mention of that camera type - and ive read through alot of it.

I guess I was hoping I missed a reference to this camera ...... thanks.
As I do not own (up to now) any Yi gear I was only reading out of general interest.
I might try to sell it on if I get no satisfaction from Gearbest.

Apparently my claim of it being mis-sold has been referred to someone else for decision.
I might know in a day or so what their intentions are.

Johnboy1951 · 15-04-2019 12:52am

Forgot to update my camera saga.

Gearbest refunded the bulk of the monies paid (exchange rates and charges took a bit out of it).

They never mentioned what to do with the camera, so I suppose I can do whatever I wish ..... maybe break it open ans see what chip is in it.

The only port exposed is tellnet 23 which I used tonight to have a peek.
It appears to have drivers for RTSP and such but nothing active.
I was able to ping out to another PC on the LAN and even create a second telnet port which duly opened.

The big surprise is that I could telnet into it by entering root once (presumably as user name) and no password .... it did not even prompt for one!

It does seem like a camera that is crying out for the right firmware

(trying to encourage myself to 'have a go'

)

Johnboy1951 · 15-04-2019 1:24am

Standard Toaster wrote: »

https://github.com/shadow-1/yi-hack-v3/issues/15

A working implementation is out now.
Not sure if/when the code will be made public.

"@shadow-1

I've finally finished my RTSP implementation, it works nicely with Home Assistant, Shinobi and other DVRs.
It is available on the Discord for the supporters of the new project.

I'd like to reward all the people that have put their support on the Bounty by giving them full access to the RTSP on Discord.

Is it possible to close the issue now? Without that, Bountysource cannot mark it as solved.

Thanks,
Crypto"

Apparently this is not going to be released under the GPL .....
https://github.com/TheCrypt0/yi-hack-v4/wiki/Enable-RTSP-Server

NOTE: viewd is currently closed source donationware and can't be compiled. This is mostly to prevent others from monetizing this function, as example Chinese sellers selling pre-hacked cameras and such. Sadly those exist... Keep in mind that you don't have to donate insane amounts! A single year of Yi-Cloud subscription already costs ~40$, to put things into perspective.

I also note that to get it working a 'licence' is required
https://github.com/TheCrypt0/yi-hack-v4/wiki/Enable-RTSP-Server

Run the command camhash and send the generated hash (among with your username and mail address) via this form License Request for viewd.
You'll receive a viewd_xxxxxxxx.lic file which you have to copy to /home/yi-hack-v4/etc in order to continue.
Once done you can start viewd via the command viewd -D, this will start a daemonized version of viewd with no output
Now use rtspv4 to start the RTSP server

I expect this decision will have a negative effect on we ever seeing an opensource implementation for those cameras, as it 'appears' that effort would be duplication.

Bad as things are I am glad his software does not support my camera .... I would hate to think I might be tempted to support this attitude.
His mention of $40 is pushing things a bit too far IMO.
I wonder how those people feel who donated cameras to him as he was then continuing an open source project?

Blanchy90 · 17-05-2019 12:32pm

I think its time to upgrade to an outdoor camera, there has been a few attempts to take my motorbike this week.

MY yi dome camera looking out the window has worked well but I think an outside camera should get a clearer video. Also the viability will hopefully be a deterrent. Does the outdoor camera have a light to show its on?

ted1 · 17-05-2019 12:35pm

Blanchy90 wrote: »

I think its time to upgrade to an outdoor camera, there has been a few attempts to take my motorbike this week.

MY yi dome camera looking out the window has worked well but I think an outside camera should get a clearer video. Also the viability will hopefully be a deterrent. Does the outdoor camera have a light to show its on?

Yes it can be turned off if needed

Blanchy90 · 17-05-2019 1:18pm

ted1 wrote: »

Yes it can be turned off if needed

Cheers I'd prefer it to be on so the camera is more obvious

breakfast roll · 23-05-2019 12:02pm

Blanchy90 wrote: »

I think its time to upgrade to an outdoor camera, there has been a few attempts to take my motorbike this week.

MY yi dome camera looking out the window has worked well but I think an outside camera should get a clearer video. Also the viability will hopefully be a deterrent. Does the outdoor camera have a light to show its on?

Just got myself a yi dome camera but having problems pairing it. Scans QR code but nothing after that. Did you find setup easy enough?

Blanchy90 · 24-05-2019 9:16am

breakfast roll wrote: »

Just got myself a yi dome camera but having problems pairing it. Scans QR code but nothing after that. Did you find setup easy enough?

I think I had to try it a few times before it worked

Manzoor14 · 24-05-2019 9:45am

breakfast roll wrote: »

Just got myself a yi dome camera but having problems pairing it. Scans QR code but nothing after that. Did you find setup easy enough?

Had this issue with one of my cameras, couldn't get it to pair after 20 attempts, using my phone. Installed the Yi camera app on my laptop and tried, paired first time without hassle. Checked the Yi camera app on my phone and the camera was there and worked perfectly.

Changed house, different wifi so i reset the cameras and first one worked paired and set up ok. Same hassle with the second one on my phone. - tried 4 or 5 times before before trying it on my laptop again. Again paired perfectly first time.

I'm at a loss to explain why or how it worked.

Two identical cameras and identical set ups. May not work for you, but it might be worth a try.

03-08-2020 10:20pm

Anyone with one of these noticed they’ve rocketed their prices over the past few days for the subscription?

bbehan202 · 13-08-2020 3:35pm

n/a

Yi Home Camera

Comments