Camera stopped sending photos
I have GC ATTb camera that quit sending photos by text to my phone. I updated the firmware and set it to send photos to my email. It sent two photos to my email and then stopped sending photos again. I tried to send a photo to email manually and that worked a couple of times but now that does not work either. My data plan with ATT is current and I have strong reception. I formatted and tried a new SD card but that didn't help. Camera fails the "Hello Test". Tried registering the camera and that failed. Set the camera to default but that didn't change anything. I'm not sure what else to do.
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Have you checked to make sure that AT&T is still offering 3G service in your area?
What are the specs on the new SD card that you tried?
Failing the Hello test means that the camera does not have a data connection. That can be the data plan, SD card, or something wrong with the antenna. -
3G service may be the problem, I guess if my camera is 3G and the service is 4G then the reason for buying this camera is now useless. Kind of a big waste of money.
I use the proper SD card as instructed, antenna is fine, and I use the same data plan as I always have.
So does this mean every time the service changes the current cameras ability to email photos is rendered useless?
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That camera is a very old model. It dates back to early 2015, I think. I’m still running one that was deployed the end of August 2015 (after they had been shipping several months) and just took a couple out of service. I’m planning to run mine until the end of this year when 3G sunsets if I can.
We went through this with cell phones (analog to digital, 2G to 3G and now 4G and 5G), TVs (analog and then digital). Windows XP, 7, 8, and 10.
Have you called AT&T to see if there is 3G service in your area still? Have you taken the camera to another area where it might be working from a different cell tower?
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It was 2015 when I bought it. I have not called AT&T. I have tried the camera at my cabin in the woods and at my house in Houston. It doesn't work at either location but it used to work at both locations. Sounds like this camera is going to be demoted to a regular field camera rather than for security use.
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Have you tried cleaning the contacts on the SIM by rubbing them with a pencil eraser? Failing the Hello test means no data connection. That can be a bad SIM, no data plan, a problem with the antenna, a problem with the SD card, or a problem with the SD card.
There’s a place to change the APN. See if you can make these instructions work.
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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Progress has been made. I changed the APN setting to APNBR or APNBL, cant remember which one, but either way the Hello Test passed. I then tried to manually send a picture to email but received the message "server error". Next I received an email from Spartan stating I have no premium credits so photos are being rejected. So the camera will no longer work by just purchasing a data plan through AT&T buy a session?
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I’m stumped on that one. The things that I can think of would affect the camera taking photos (sensitivity set to normal, start-stop times).
Time to get in touch with real tech support. 770-582-0004 or support@spartancamera.com. If you get voice mail, leave a message with your contact info.
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Formatting the card in the camera did help but things are still not as good as I would like. Pictures are sent by text about 10% of the time, they are sent to my yahoo email about 80% of the time, and the gmail account about 90%. Reception is very good in my area, all the bars are showing reception. I think I will buy a new SD card and try that one rather than using the old ones I have laying around.
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Wade, first thing I would do is try a new SD card that's to spec even if the one you have is and be sure to put it in the camera. If that doesn't work scroll up in this thread and follow the instructions for changing the APN, be sure to follow them closely because the settings change will be different depending on if you are getting your data from Spartan or ATT. If you are still having issues after that try turning real time on in the camera settings and see if that makes a difference.
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Here are the instructions for changing the APN:
With the camera in setup mode, on the camera, press the Menu button, 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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