Grid Connect tips, tricks and help

[CSParnell]

Hi all,

I thought it may he good to have a feed where we could share any tips and tricks to do with any of the Grid Connect Range being Arlec, Deta, Verve, Orion.

I am learning from trial and error and really just accident so sharing with others and sharing back we may be able to create some good learning information for us all.

Please post below starting with what the trick is as the title then how to do so as the body of information.

Carl 

[RJsPlace]

@CSParnell @Jason @GreenHouse @MitchellMc @EricL 

Hi everyone,

I replaced the camera but this time installed an SD card.

Arlec also suggested that if I had shared the camera with another person (through the share setting) that may affect pairing to WiFi. I hadn't shared it in that way but installed the Grid Connect App on my partner's phone and used the same log in. Whether that is the same as sharing, I am not sure. 

I uninstalled the app from that phone, removed the camera device from my app and reinstalled it and everything is working fine, including recording events. As it happens, the internet dropped out mid-morning, and once again, the app shows the device offline, and would not reconnect. 

What is interesting is that after I reset the camera again, I was able to playback recorded events that it continued to record while offline.

I have advised Arlec this morning of what has happened and awaiting a response to keep you posted.

Cheers  

[GreenHouse]

Hey Google. Activate (‘Scene Name’)

Not sure if this is generally known but . . .

Rather than using the Grid Connect App on your phone to activate any of your Scenes, you can (if you have a Google Mini and Google Home setup etc) use the Voice Command:

    Hey Google. Activate (‘Scene Name’)

In my case for example . . .

     Hey Google. Activate Away

(Where ‘Away’ is the name of a Grid Connect Scene I created to turn everything OFF and activate a night light etc when I walk out the front door.) Obviously, you can use the ‘Name’ of any one of your Grid Connect Scenes.

(I don’t know how or where I found out about this facility, but unless I’m away from home, I never use my phone to activate Scenes - I only use voice commands.)

[CSParnell]

Yep @GreenHouse and you can set up a chain of events this way too. 

It is also a good way to automate different brand devices together. 

Don't expect miracles from Google Automations like you will see from Home Assistant but it's a nice easy way to achieve things.

Samsung Smart Things and IFTT is another method too.

[CSParnell]

@RJsPlace what model camera is it?

[CSParnell]

@RJsPlace 

" 

Grid Connect Outdoor Pan & Tilt Security Camera with Spotlight offline after no power or WiFi

Friday

After installing the Grid Connect Outdoor Pan & Tilt Security Camera with Spotlight, my first Grid Connect product, it does not automatically reconnect to the WiFi Router after either or both a power outage and restarting of the router.

I came across this issue after testing both power and no WiFi in the event I was away from home. I did three duration tests of 10 seconds, 1 minute and 5 minutes. 

Each time, the camera needed to be removed from the Grid Connect App, reset the camera and reinstall it back in the App. Once installed each time, it works flawlessly for long periods.

The Router is a D-Link DWR-921 2GHz band only, with up-to-date firmware, and located within 7 metres from the camera and passes through one standard wall and has a typical WiFi signal strength of 70%. The Router can manage up to 14 devices, of which only 9 devices are always connected. All of these devices automatically reconnect. The Router name used during setup is correct and no password is used.

This camera has every feature I like and need, but just a shame it has this one problem.

Information from Grid Connect says the camera should automatically reconnect. I am considering temporarily connecting a LAN cable to see if that solves the problem. Otherwise, I am seeking any assistance or guidance to resolve the issue. "

Just a thought you have said you don't need a password to connect to the wifi device I'm wondering 2 things.

1. If the camera is looking for a.

Name - WiFi name & Password - something and not 'null', can you issue a password to the router to test.

2. If you can connect using the wifi routers SSID instead of the router name, found on the bottom of the wifi device.

Sometimes programing has errors and it is overlooked that it needs to use the same credential pathway as standard login for on event of fail. 

Worth a try anyways.

[CSParnell]

After installing the Grid Connect Outdoor Pan & Tilt Security Camera with Spotlight, my first Grid Connect product, it does not automatically reconnect to the WiFi Router after either or both a power outage and restarting of the router.

I came across this issue after testing both power and no WiFi in the event I was away from home. I did three duration tests of 10 seconds, 1 minute and 5 minutes. 

Each time, the camera needed to be removed from the Grid Connect App, reset the camera and reinstall it back in the App. Once installed each time, it works flawlessly for long periods.

The Router is a D-Link DWR-921 2GHz band only, with up-to-date firmware, and located within 7 metres from the camera and passes through one standard wall and has a typical WiFi signal strength of 70%. The Router can manage up to 14 devices, of which only 9 devices are always connected. All of these devices automatically reconnect. The Router name used during setup is correct and no password is used.

This camera has every feature I like and need, but just a shame it has this one problem.

Information from Grid Connect says the camera should automatically reconnect. I am considering temporarily connecting a LAN cable to see if that solves the problem. Otherwise, I am seeking any assistance or guidance to resolve the issue. "

Just a thought you have said you don't need a password to connect to the wifi device I'm wondering 2 things.

1. If the camera is looking for a.

Name - WiFi name & Password - something and not 'null', can you issue a password to the router to test.

2. If you can connect using the wifi routers SSID instead of the router name, found on the bottom of the wifi device.

Sometimes programing has errors and it is overlooked that it needs to use the same credential pathway as standard login for on event of fail. 

Worth a try anyways.

[RJsPlace]

@CSParnell @EricL @MitchellMc @Jason @GreenHouse 

@CSParnell you were correct that the router needs to have a password and that the camera is looking for one. 

I followed up your thought on some Grid Connect and IP camera forums, and that was the answer.

So I tested power and internet outages and the camera reconnects.

I want to say thank you to the Bunnings Team here for your ongoing prompt support with suggestions and thoughts. I also thanked Arlec Tech for their ongoing support.

Cheers.

[CSParnell]

@RJsPlace Good result.

HTTP / TCP protocol can be fidly at the best of times and then you throw Auth into it and yeah things can get messy. 

Any other questions ask away

[EricL]

Hello @RJsPlace 

I'm glad you've managed to find the solution to the camera not connecting back to the router. If you have any other projects on the go, please remember to post an update. I'm sure our members will be keen to see what you're working on.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

[davejonesau]

Hi all. 

Sorry. Odd format for a forum so not sure if this should be a reply or a new post. 

I’ve automate a number of devices at a remote club on off grid power. Very impressed so far. 

Does anyone know where I can find out what changes to icons in the app mean?

Eg see freezer. What’s the change to the 2 & the raindrop mean? It’s just the simple Arlec switch block. 

Dave

 

 

 

[GreenHouse]

Welcome to the forum. I’m sure other members would be keen to learn about any of your interesting innovations.

Not sure about ‘2 and the raindrop’ Deta icon. I think the three bars in the Arlec icon are meant to indicate the device and app are able to record/graph current and power use.

The icons are chosen by the different manufacturers to help the user identify and differentiate between the various devices in use.  Apart from that, they have no other function.

The Grid Connect App gets updated from time to time and I assume it is possible they may change the icons to make them look ‘fancy’ 😁.

However, any change to an icon's appearance won’t affect the functionality of the device.

As you may know, you can upload your own icon picture to use instead. You can take a photo of the device or item being controlled etc or upload a suitable clip art image.

(Click on the required icon, click the 3 horizontal bars, click the pencil icon and then click the ‘Icon’ option etc.)

This may help you more easily identify a particular device. I’ve done both - taken photos of the device and used a nice clip art image. Looks great without changing the functionality of the device.