Yet Another No Pictures Sent

Comments

25 comments

  • Elizabeth Swoope

    What model camera? GC-what? 

    Is your firmware current? What are the specs on your SD card?

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  • Craig Kowalski

    All are GC-A4Gb. Yes. Class 10 32GBs. Spartan is side stepping the issue. All these users having the same problem and it’s deflecting. They worked prior and just stop working. Fix the problem.

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  • Elizabeth Swoope

    So you updated the FW within the last week?

    They're working on the problem, which is why a FW was released a few days ago.

    The connection issue did not affect all (or even most) A4G cameras. Spartan has been working on the problem, not side-stepping the issue.

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  • Craig Kowalski

    FW updates via the air are not working. Therefore, remote cameras have to be picked up defeating the purpose of having a cellular camera.

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  • Elizabeth Swoope

    I was able to update mine but I know that some don’t. My white flash test camera isn’t updating OTA, but my six A4Gb did update OTA. The problems seems to be more with newer cameras.

    Remote cameras don’t have to be picked up, but you do have to go to them with the FW on the SD card and update in the field. It doesn’t defeat the purpose of having a cell camera, but it’s definitely inconvenient. 

    In an ideal world, a fix wouldn’t have been needed. Unfortunately, it isn’t an ideal world. There is a fix available. 

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  • Craig Kowalski

    All my cameras are updated at of 9/30/19. What’s the answer beyond the update push?

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  • Elizabeth Swoope

    I don't understand what you mean by "what's the answer beyond the update push?"

    The FW was released to deal with some connection issues that cropped up. Spartan has no control over anything that AT&T does when they tweak the network. If AT&T makes more changes to the network, there will be more firmware updates. It's the nature of the beast, just like computers and phones get updates periodically.

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  • Craig Kowalski

    Back to my original statement. Everything else is blamed, but the Spartan equipment. It’s deflecting. AT&T and Verizon aren’t changing a network because of trail cameras or upgrading towers because prepaid SIM cards.

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  • Elizabeth Swoope

    I didn't say that they were, but they do make changes, and when they make changes, sometimes Spartan FW had to be changed. That's not deflection.

    Those companies make changes for their own reasons, just like computer companies and phone companies and software companies make changes. When a change breaks something, Spartan has to make adjustments. Yes, it's Spartan equipment, but FW is being updated in response to the carrier changes. I guess I'm completely missing your point. Spartan is supposed to know what changes are going to be made ahead of time? The devices are carrier certified. I'm not sure what else Spartan can do.

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  • Christian Byars

    I have 2 a4g cams haven’t gotten a picture in 3 days and the FW will not update

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  • Craig Kowalski

    I get it. I worked for cellular telecommunications for five years. These problems shouldn’t be happening. Problem is cameras are hundreds of miles away. That alone calls for a sale on cameras. We buy them to save time and function.

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  • Elizabeth Swoope

    Craig,

    So cell carriers never make changes that cause problems with equipment? Spartan cameras are the only equipment that has ever "broken" because of carrier changes? Okay. I don't claim to be a cellular telecommunications person, although I have several decades of experience with computer stuff. I'll take your word for it that carrier changes have never broken anything but some Spartan cameras.

    Christian,

    You may have to do a manual FW update. Are your status reports showing current dates/times, you're just not getting pics?

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  • Craig Kowalski

    What is the answer to the FW being updated, status report showing as of today and no pictures?

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  • Elizabeth Swoope

    Craig,

    Again, I'm not sure what your question is. If the firmware will not update over the air, you will have to update it manually. The problem is a connection issue. Unfortunately, that is preventing the camera(s) from doing much of anything other than sending status reports so it can't send pictures and it can't download the firmware.

    The reason that I asked about the date of the status report is because if the date is today, the camera was still up and contacting the server as of today. If the date is several days ago, then it's possible that the batteries are dead or something else is keeping the camera from contacting the server at all. Unfortunately, as you well know, there are several things that can and do go wrong with cell cameras and you have to consider them all. It's not about an "answer", it's about trying to get information.

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  • Craig Kowalski

    Again, FW is up to date as of the 30th. Status report sent today. No pictures are sent. What’s the answer?

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  • Elizabeth Swoope

    Craig,

    I have no idea. You will have to take that up with real tech support. This isn't it. Johnny and I are not regular Spartan Camera employees. We are test team members. For the usual stuff (settings, SD card problems, basic FW updates, etc.), we can usually get people up and running but this isn't that situation.

    In your case, I suspect that defaulting the cameras may take care of the problem, but if it were me, I'd do a manual reinstall of the firmware first (even though the firmware is supposedly current) and then default the camera. But that's me.

    I wish I had an answer, but I don't.

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  • John Lockburner

    Craig, where are you getting your data from? Do you have any photos especially at night with anything other than P5 showing. You say ota updates aren't working but your firmware is up to date, did you do manual updates? Is your SD card speed 80mbs or higher? What type of batteries are in the camera? Any external set up?

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  • Craig Kowalski

    John, are you an employee of Spartan?

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  • John Lockburner

    Yes, do beta testing and remote tech support. I am not at headquarters and don't have the access to information that inside tech has though.

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  • John Lockburner

    If you would like to email me your portal log in information I'll see if I can find anything. My email is Johnny.lockburner@spartancamera.com

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  • Craig Kowalski

    What data are you speaking of? I OTA updated and manually updated two. 32GB 10 class 80x. Brand new lithium’s replaced twice in two weeks. They aren’t cheap...

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  • Craig Kowalski

    Email sent. I gave up calling tech support. I can’t place a hundred calls a day.

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  • John Lockburner

    The cameras data, are you getting it though ATT directly or through Spartan? With tech you just have to call or email once and leave a message, they return calls in the order they are received

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  • John Lockburner

    Got your email

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  • Craig Kowalski

    AT&T. The last time I tried with Spartan it charged me $20 a day for daily access. I stopped. Been using AT&T directly with zero issues. I’m not calling tech support. I don’t have the time to keep calling. Called last week. Left a voicemail. No return call yet. A friend has tried also. He gave up trying to reach someone. But, last I heard Spartan is a one man band.

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