WIFI camera in AP (Access Point) mode

          The vast majority of customers who decide to purchase and install a camera, choose the option of configuring the camera in such a way as to have remote access to it, i.e. at any time they can preview the live image and watch recorded video recordings. This way of accessing the camera gives us a greater sense of security and confidence that nothing bad will happen, and even if we do - we will be able to find the culprit or prove the effects of storms, storms or hurricanes.

          There are also situations in which we want to protect our property away from the place of residence, but due to the lack of Internet connection or unwillingness to incur higher costs related to, for example, the purchase of a GSM camera using mobile Internet (the cost is usually twice as high as the camera WiFi) we are looking for another alternative. And here comes some functionality of WiFi cameras that we can use.

          In principle, the installation of a WiFi camera operating in the AP (Access Point) mode in this case is no different from the "normal" installation of a WiFi camera that we add to the WiFi router in the home network. We have to mount it correctly, preferably with a dedicated holder to hide the wires, insert the SD card in advance to save the image from the camera and provide power. After such preparation, the camera is actually ready for operation, because immediately connected to the power supply, it starts recording everything that the eye of the camera lens sees. So how to get to the camera to check if it works and actually records?

          Since we decided to install the camera without access to the Internet, we must be aware that we will be able to connect to it only when we are close to it, i.e. within a few meters. Connection with the camera is possible thanks to the fact that it works in the so-called AP mode, i.e. Access Point, which means that it behaves like a WiFi router, i.e. it broadcasts its WiFi network with a specific name, so knowing the name of this network and the password to it, we can connect to it. In practice, it looks like in the pictures below - we search for available WiFi networks on the phone, point to the camera, enter the password and connect to the network without the Internet:

          After such connection, it remains to add the camera in the CamHiPro application and we have access to the live image preview, recorded videos and modification of the camera settings (full manual available at the link - LINK TO THE MANUAL. It is important to remember to update the time on the camera and using the application CamHiPro change the settings according to the example below, otherwise the recordings will be saved with the wrong date, making it difficult to search for recordings - Settings - Time settings:

After changing the time, the camera will restart and the time should be changed to the current one. Avoid selecting the option "Synchronize the time of the phone with the device", because then the time change will occur only for the time when we connect to the camera via the CamHiPro application, after which it will show the outdated one again.

From the wide range of Zintronic products, most available WiFi cameras can be used in AP (Access Point) mode. These are mainly Zintronic cameras of the A and P series and the AC04 camera - connection manual - LINK TO THE MANUAL, while the B5 WiFi camera, the only one in the B series offer, does not support the active AP operating mode. A detailed list of models and thumbnails of camera images is presented in the table:

          Customers who decide to purchase a Zintronic camera and use it only in AP (Access Point) mode must be aware that in the event of a power loss, i.e. a power outage, the camera will automatically reset the time settings after restarting, which will go back to the factory setting , i.e. 2 or 3 years back (usually until March 2019). This means that it will start recording again, but with a changed date, which in turn will make it difficult to find the video files. Therefore, after reappearing at the camera's installation site, after connecting to its WiFi network, check the date on the camera. If it is out of date, it will mean a power failure, it is advisable to change it to the current one. After the power was restored, the camera continued to record, but with a different date. If we fail to find these recordings from the application level, and we know that something important has happened at that time, which we need to play or share, we have the option of removing the SD card from the camera and using the adapter to insert it into the computer. The content of the SD card will show us directories with the dates when the recordings were made, both the current ones and those with a changed date - an example in the photo below (we have a folder with the date 10.03.2019 here):

          This is an inconvenience, but if we are aware of such a situation and know how we can access the recordings on the SD card, it will be much easier for us to accept this fact.

          As for most applications, we strongly recommend installing a WiFi camera with configuration for a home WiFi network, because only then we have full access to it, including recordings and settings. This allows us to decide at any time when and for how long we want to use her work. The option of functioning the camera in AP mode is possible, but it is associated with a completely different use and can cause some problems. Nevertheless, with this article, we want to expand the awareness of our customers, who are increasingly asking about this way of using cameras, and give them a choice of options that best meet their expectations.