Cam stopped emailing pics
So I've browsed through the dozens of threads on "cam stopped sending pics" topics and I still feel the need to post. Here's the situation:
Been running a spartan gocam (GC-A4GB) "ATT" version. I am using a google fi sim card in it (therefore the network is actually t-mobile), my plan has unlimited data and is current, and the camera has worked flawlessly since mid August running over a feeder with great service (full bars).
Yesterday, I replaced the dead camera batteries (with fresh duracell optimum's, all tested beforehand), changed out the SD card (with a class 10 32GB sandisk card) and moved the camera to a different location over a different feeder. In this location the camera still gets 3 bars, my cell phone which runs off the same service gets good service, but the signal strength is not as good as the first location.
Here's the thing. The camera get's what appears to be "good" service in set up mode. The camera will send a test picture immediately with zero delay to my phone. When I turn the camera to "ON" a the camera still takes photos, but it will not send any to my phone. None. Zero. I am not using premium, and frankly have no interest using premium. Everything is set to Auto and Instant.
I was expecting some pictures to start rolling in overnight, because maybe there was an adjustment period to the new area with weaker service, but nope. It just doesn't make sense to me how to camera can send a test picture with zero issues (I tried three times a few hours apart while doing work up at hunting camp), but will not send a picture when set to ON.
Hello test comes out OK, too. I am guessing y'all are going to say I need to update firmware, try a different location, etc, but just wanted to make sure I am not missing anything. I have limited time to work when I get up there and screwing around with a camera for an hour or two is something I'd rather avoid if possible.
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You are right about updating FW. The latest FW was issued to deal with connectivity issues exactly like you describe.
That camera is designed to work on the AT&T network. There are some APN settings that can be changed, but they are only for Spartan and AT&T SIMs.
Here are the notes I have on APN. You can try those if you want to, but the two of us here who help out are not familiar with running the cameras on networks the aren’t intended to be run on.
With the camera in setup mode, on the camera, fourth menu tab, Diagnostic, APN Setting, password is 123456, OK.
Spartan SIM should be APNSP. AT&T should be either APNBR or APNBL (choose whichever one it isn't already)
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How far apart are the two places where you had the camera? Can you take it back to the original location and see if it works ok? I would also put the original SD card back in the camera to rule out the new one possibly being bad. Did you format the SD card in the camera when you installed it? Like Liz said, the firmware update is needed and that might help you out.
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The camera is about 3,300 feet as the crow flies from the first location. It's also lower in elevation when compared to the first location, but not down in a deep creek bottom or anything. It's still on a ridge top where I get good service for my phone.
So since my first post I have received one email with pictures. They were numbered 127 and 128, so pictures are being taken regularly. I've checked my spam folders for more, but I only can find the one email. And according to the data usage monitor I can access via Google fi's website the camera is using a decent chunk of data every day, but yet I am not getting the pictures. I'll make sure to update next time I can get my hands on the camera. Interested to see if the firmware update does anything or if I just need to move the camera somewhere else.
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I have had AT&T cameras that I had to walk out of their “home” about 30 yards to get them connected to the network then walk them back “home” to set them up. You’re talking about over half a mile, which can definitely be the difference between good service and marginal (or even no) service.
Cameras sending to email shouldn’t be using a lot of data unless you are getting a ton of pictures. Now if the camera is on the network retrying, it might be sending and failing and sending and failing. -
If the camera isn't sending pics via the app, it's not going to send them via email, either. If you want emailed pics (just pics, no videos, no large thumbnails, not changing camera settings), you can set the camera to Auto and input an email address.
Is your camera an A4G? Some of the A4G are experiencing network connection problems. Unfortunately, that means that pictures can't be sent and the firmware can't be downloaded over the air (app or portal request). You're going to have to download the firmware and install it manually when you go to the camera. Even if you choose to switch to Auto rather than premium, you'll need to update the firmware.
Here's the download page. Scroll down to find the file for your camera. You probably don't have the camera in hand, so you'll need to format the SD card in your computer, then save the file to the SD card. The instructions for installing the FW are below the table with the downloads.
https://my.spartancamera.com/downloadI'm not sure how computer-comfortable you are so here's a video on how to download the FW file.
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Christian in a perfect world that's the way it's supposed to work. This update addresses connection issues so it may take a while for the update to complete and in some cases a trip to the camera is necessary. If you are close to the cams a manual update is the fastest and safest way to update the camera.
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Christian,
In theory, you can. But if the camera is not installing the FW OTA, then you're probably not going to have any luck trying to force it to download to the camera in the field.
This firmware is to resolve a connection issue. The connection issue is preventing the usual OTA FW from completing.
The only way to be sure that you're going to be able to update the FW is to put the FW on an SD card and update manually using the option in the third menu on the camera. You don't want to take a chance (or at least I wouldn't want to take a chance). With the FW on the SD card, you know you'll be able to update. Just be sure that the FW file doesn't have any spaces, parentheses, hyphens, etc.
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I will try it. But not happy paying for a camera that doesn’t work and no way to trouble shoot on a phone. There’s a lot of people on here that need some answers and some credit given back to them this is obviously a big problem. And on the weekend when I will be handling this there will be nobody to talk to when I drive 2 hours away. If it doesn’t work forced to bring them back and miss another week of pictures
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There are tens of thousands of cameras out there. For the people affected, it's a huge problem, but there are a lot of people who aren't affected. I'm not trying to minimize your problems, by any means.
Do you have a computer connection in the field? It can be tough to troubleshoot in the field if it's not the usual problems and you've already been through that.
Make sure that the file name is FW96650.OTA (no spaces, parentheses, hyphens, or extra numbers).
You will need one SD card for each camera unless you are going to tote a computer with you and copy the FW file to the SD card at each camera. The camera erases the file once the update is done, so you can't use the same card in each camera.
Johnny and I do check here on weekends when we can but the office is closed on weekends.
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Christian, I’m having the same problems too and I’m in Alabama. Camera stopped takin photos 10/3. Not happy I spent 300$ on a camera that half ass works. So what’s the solution to this problem that I can try from my phone till I can go diagnose problem manually this weekend at my farm which is 2 hours away. Thanks
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Tyler,
What model camera? GC-what?
There are any number of causes of cameras stopping working. Whether yours is this connection issue or not depends on the model.
Among the things that can cause the camera to stop working, in no particular order:
- dead batteries (more common than you might think, especially with lithiums, which can show 5.7 V until they die)
- bad SD card (not up to specs, or one that is up to specs that just goes bad for no apparent reason)
- out of data (less common now that more AT&T cameras are on Spartan plans that auto renew rather than AT&T Buy-A-Session)
- out of premium credits (less common now that a lot of cameras are on Spartan data plans or Bluegrass or CellCom or Nex-Tech, but possible with Verizon, AT&T Buy-A-Session, and I think US Cellular)
- out-dated firmware
- damaged antenna (much less common than any of the above)
- camera stolen or tampered with (much less common than any of the above)
Look at the latest status report. Is your camera still sending status reports, at least the midnight one? Is it showing today's date? If so, it is still online, so that's a good thing. Your issue may be the connection issue and you'll have to do the firmware update, probably manually.
If the camera is not sending status reports, then it could be one of the above things or maybe something entirely different, but those are the most common. I have helped several people today whose problems were resolved with a different SD card.
There may not be anything that you can do to diagnose the problem remotely. I use messenger on FB on the Spartan Camera page and walk people through checking all the above when they have their camera in hand, but that's not going to do you any good.
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Elizabeth, I ran a report on it and I guess that fixed it cause pics started trickling in. It is still sending status reports every night at midnight and showing today’s date. Still gonna check firmware and make sure it’s up to date when I go check it this weekend to prevent anything from happening. Appreciate the help
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