IP4M-1053EW - Not able to connect to Camera

[HappyCamper]

About a month ago this camera ceased to connect to my network and hence ceased to send video to the NAS. I am concerned that it is bricked - but want to try options to see if it is for sure unredeemable. Yes, I understand the camera is a few years old.

What I know/have done.

• Removed camera from mount and brought it inside to known good POE injector/Network connection
  will power up when connected and Pan/Tilt initializes and fan turns on. The ethernet connector next to the camera was inspected and cleaned with a pencil eraser and blown with compressed air then inspected and looks good.

• Router recognizes camera is on network and assigns IP via DNS.

• IP-Config tool does not find camera

• AmcrestViewPro app will not locate camera via QR code

• Manual entry of IP results in timeout in login

• Removed back cover to access reset button. Used Hardware reset process and the camera did not do anything except click internally (no P/T movement). IP on router showed a disconnect and reconnection at about 30 seconds of holding the reset button.

• Tried a SD card but no video recorded. Likely I did it wrong.
  
  At this point I would appreciate any ideas or thoughts.
  
  Thanks in advance.

[Revo2Maxx]

Hello and Welcome to the forum

Sorry to hear about your problems with your camera..

So it sounds like you have done a good bit of Testing and in truth found that in fact your camera is sad to say most likely dead..

Question without to much INfo what part of the world are you in? USA. N, S, E or W? Or some other part all together?

So I am clear

Camera when you connected it to your Switch was able to turn on the ACT lights and shows that there is status going to and from the camera? I mean you did say that the Router was able to give it a IP (Or Registered it) question is was that camera ever on a Static list within the Router? I don't mean did you setup a Static IP in the camera but that is important as well. I am wondering if within your Router did you setup the camera to have a Static Rule?

Next so I understand, you say that you get a IP address, What happens when you use command prompt and or a program to Ping that IP address?

Micro SD card only goes in 1 way it will hang up if you try the wrong way..

So there are some things that can be done for testing Board level. However if your camera is under Warranty I wouldn't take it apart anymore then just the MSD Slot area.. However if you have tools for testing then you could take the camera apart, For that Camera you would need to remove 4 screws from the 2 sides, then there will be 4 screws that hold the cameras head body to the case. Once you remove that you will want to remove the 2 motor wiring from the PCB. Once them 2 wire sets are removed put 2 of the 4 screws back to hold camera together I always do top left and bottom right. Then when you power on the camera while testing the camera don't do the dance..

Now for the next part it is little bit harder.. The Camera module will need to be Removed (4 screws) and taken apart. You will need a Micro Set of drivers for taking out screws. There are 3 that hold cage to the lens and around 6 that hold cage together.. Once the cage is apart there will be 3 wires sets, 2 flat cables one for camera other Lens control. You will want to make it so you have access to the camera control PCB that is the board that is inside the cage only access is by removing the cage.. However before doing that...

Before doing the step above I would maybe test the Camera board for power. There are 3 testing ports on the camera board that is the pcb that is on the back of the LENS.. the testing pads are very small and your looking to see if the camera is getting right Voltage. I can't remember the full values right now however I know or think is 1.8v, 3.3v and I think the other is like 1.28v or something like that The Values are posted on the PCB next to the pads. One of them is by the cross brace under Chip cooler pad, so will need to be careful not to short out if cage is left on when testing... If they are not on the camera board then you know that your looking for a Voltage Regulator issue however that is still going to be on that board that is connected in the cage with the lens..

For best results and fastest once you have the 2 parts of the cage off and lens and PCB in side cage removed I would do a Visual inspection of the PCB before putting the camera, lens and PCB back together just laying on the desk without the cage for access you will want to make sure lens and PCB don't make contact to short out anymore items.. However looking over all parts looking for damage. If no damage then things get harder seeing there is no Schematics for these and would all have to be tested and component level testing.

If someone was to buy it that way it would be hard to know if it was Software Bricked Being the owner only you would know if it was software related then that is something someone might be able to have Amcrest Reprogram for a price however I am not sure if they do that there in TX or not..

[Revo2Maxx]

Give you an idea of what I am talking about cage PCB and screws this is a Module form one of my 37x PTZ cameras..

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[Revo2Maxx]

Also the camera in pictures has more test ports then the Amcrest camera module. People don't make cameras like the one in pictures with that much in test ports and repair ability. Most camera modules today are Guess and test over and over until you get it figured out.. The pictured unit also has values with good part numbers for regulators and other IC chips where most of the others from today standards are chips with markings that are hard to find replacements..

Had a camera on my Repair bench for 6 months because of parts that I couldn't find.

In the top picture the TP next to a Copper pad is for testing and that camera is from 2011

Here is a better picture of the Camera PCB not to be confused with the main PCB.. However it will be the PCB where the 3 test point are that I was talking about.. again this isn't your camera module just one of my 37x units..

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[HappyCamper]

Thanks for the quick reply.

I reside in Utah, USA. The camera is on the SE corner of the house and gets full sun for the bulk of the day.

Upon connection to the LAN, the switch lights show an active connection, though the flashing is not as fast as I would think. Yes, there was a DHCP reservation set. I have removed that and only the dynamic address is being used. Ping returns a response in the 1.9 ms range. If I disconnect the ethernet cable Ping times out as expected.

The micro SD card thought was to see if I could record images independent of the network. I need to play some more with that.

The camera is 3+ yo and is out of warrantee. I might try contacting Amcrest to get their thoughts prior to cracking open the cage or removing any boards. I am interested to see if the voltages are within the nominal range or not. I certainly wish I had a scope but will make do with my voltmeter. I appreciate the pictures and the detail in the response. However, I think it is quite likely that the camera has failed beyond simple repair and with its age there is not much likelihood of parts.

Thanks again for your response. It has been appreciated.

Regards,

[Revo2Maxx]

Well I don't think the camera is beyond repair. Yes it will be hard to track down and repair without a good Schematic or without the right tools. However it is your camera and you would have better idea about that then I.

The camera does have a built in Heater and Cooler (fan) the heater is a normal tape heat strip that sits on the Fan..

If there was no bad camera actions from before it stopped working then I am going to guess it will be repairable. However if there was some issues with video glitches and or CMOS Sensor..

Please note that when a CMOS Sensor goes bad or starts to go bad there will be lines that go across the video or photos. Not the same as the type that float from bad power source of older type cameras. In the picture or Video there would be many lines in it..

If you have it connected to a NVR and that NVR has footage or even taken some snapshots from the events I would love to see a photo or 2 and or a screen shot of a playback from recorded footage.

However I am not going to say that it can't go all at once it is just not likely event. I have some very old TECH PTZ cameras that I have had since 2010 2011 and since. I have repaired a good few of my own and some of my Friends cameras as well. Only PTZ camera I have not been able to repair is one that has had a bad Sensor..


About connecting to a Micro SD card. There might be an issue with installing one now. If it didn't have it to start with I am not sure it will be setup for Recording Events out of the Fresh Install or after a Reset. Been to long to remember and I guess I could Reset one of my PTZ cameras to find out. My 853 isn't local and don't have access for some reason the NVR won't let me access VIA remote after putting it back up

Here is some pictures of my 853 and 850 main board and the second picture is from the 853 camera baord where the 3 test pads are.

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[HappyCamper]

Thanks for the helpful information. Unfortunately, no video seems to be available as the NAS deletes files older than 30 days. It had been dead a couple weeks when I checked. At that time in reviewing the video it appeared normal until it wasn't.

I am getting ready to probe out voltages tonight so we will see how that goes.

Regards,

[Revo2Maxx]

Because of the way you are talking about it having Network ACT even if only for a moment my guess is that when you get it open, and can see the Network LED's they will also show some type of activity. If there was none then that could narrow it done some.

Keep in mind even with the Camera Module removed from the housing if the 2 sets of wires are not removed from the Stepper motors the housing will still do the normal startup dance. Only info after the fact comes from the camera module for pan and tilt before then it is just the houing that is doing a startup check.

So the LEDS if you look at the first picture of my last post, on the right that is the 853 my guess is your 1053 will be something just like it only difference will be yours 4mp camera over my 2mp.. I am guessing that yours will be setup just like it.. anyway the LEDS are at the lower part of the board next to the Micro SD slot.

Keep in mind. If the Ambarella chip is damaged then that is going to be just as hard to repair as the camera sensor. Infact might be harder because it would require the chip to be Programmed.

[HappyCamper]

It appears to be communications related. Ping results are being intermittent. Think I will check with Amcrest Monday but other than that I will place this in the parts bin.

Thanks for your Assistance

[Revo2Maxx]

Well it is hard to say what is odd is that one I had that had Communications issues with had no lights and the router never gave it a IP or ever even noticed that it was turned on.

So the Chip for Network is a very small 33pin chip again this is a guess seeing I have not touched the 1053 and going off my 853 main board.. Anyway it is about 5/16 to 3/8in square. On my board pins 3, 4, 5, and 6 go though the board through VIAS. I personally don't know if it is more then a dual layer as it does look like it could be multi layer.. On my board that is how it is anyway because the network transformer is on the other side of the PCB. If you don't have a fine tip multi meter tip you will want to follow the tracks to something large enough to get the tip you do have on for taking some numbers. This is a Schematic for the RTL8201F and may not be 100% the same as what is in the 1053 however my guess it will be as close to the numbers as stated on the sheet. Maybe it can help guide you to the issue if that is something you feel you want to do. Just note that replacing it will require some soldering skill and tools that normally most home users don't own. Cheap hot air station could cost more to the owner from damage, then a good quality one from Weller, Hakko or JCB. Just saying..

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